Chapter 105: Concerning blood

"So, little fledgling... are you here to ask what you can do for your mother?" Dhaunayne Aundae stared at me, her vivid green-gold eyes unblinking.

"Actually," I replied, "I'm here to ask about what it is to be a vampire... I have many questions -"

"Then you will ask what you can do for your mother." The finely-dressed vampire repeated. "You are asking for guidance - for teaching; these are things I give my youngest children when they join the family. Simply being born into my blood, little monster, is not enough. Being part of my family means doing things for your mother."

There was a long pause, Dhaunayne apparently waiting for me to speak the words she wanted to hear. I studied her for a moment, thinking again how strange she looked: a vampire with striking eyes, dressed in such fine clothes and seated as if upon a throne, on a raised platform - only instead of a lavish throne room, there was nothing surrounding her but a barren, dark and empty tomb.

It did not seem as if I would receive a better opportunity to learn about my existence (nothing is free, I suppose), so:

"What can I do for you... mother?" I finally asked.

At that, Dhaunayne actually smiled, revealing a set of petite - but very sharp looking - fangs.

"Good. Now, as is often the case for our kind, it is a matter of blood. This regards my old family: my mortal family, from very long ago. When I was reborn, my... husband was killed by my sire, but my son - Vilandon - was not. I am curious to know what happened to the boy, though he has probably succumbed to the eventual failing all mortals share, by now." Dhaunayne's eyes had slowly closed as she spoke, but now they snapped open. "Still, it would amuse - and satisfy - me to know his fate."

I waited, remaining silent. If all she had for me was the name 'Vilandon', then I did not see how I could possibly find him. Fortunately, Dhaunayne was not yet finished:

"The last I heard of my old family placed them in the area that is now Sadrith Mora. Start your search there - and take this ring."

The Altmer vampire languidly tossed a finely-engraved silver ring to me.

"That -" she said, pointing to the ring that was now resting in my palm - "is my family crest. High elves have long memories. Show that to a high elf in Sadrith Mora: they should recognise it. Find out what they know, fledgling. Get information that is valuable to me. Go now."

Sure enough, the ring bore an intricate device of swirling patterns and miniscule dots. It meant nothing to me, but I could see how it would be unique.

"Very well -" I said, giving a slight bow and pocketing the ring - "and I should thank you in advance for what you shall teach me."

With that, I slipped my own ring onto my finger, and teleported home to Wolfen castle.


Finding Ashmelech - and then finding Dhaunayne Aundae - had taken quite some time. Hours had passed since my last 'meal', and I was again feeling cold and sluggish. I had intended to go hunting directly - but there, seated in front of the great hall's fireplace, was Sirilonwe.

She was alone, sitting in one of the chairs arrayed around the fire, but she was holding a goblet. It appeared that one of my staff had brought her a drink while she waited - for me.

"Sirilonwe!" I exclaimed. I had not spoken to her since the morning after my return - roughly two weeks earlier. We had exchanged glances on the occasions on which I had passed through the Vivec Mages Guild, but that was all.

"Edward..." she began, but did not move from her seat as I walked over to her; "I've been hearing a lot about what you've been doing... working with the Temple! I don't know how you managed it, but I guess it shows that you are determined to... stay with us, at least."

She did not have to clarify. By "us", I knew that she meant "mortals". There was an awkward pause - I was surprised to see her there, and did not quite know what to say. I was very happy to be speaking with her again, and did not want to scare her away (so to speak) by saying the wrong thing. Eventually, Sirilonwe broke the silence:

"I feel odd offering you a seat in your own castle, but -" She gestured that I should sit in the chair next to hers.

As I sat down, removing my heavy Netch-leather gloves and dropping them on the low table in front of the chairs, Sirilonwe made to place her goblet on the same table; and somehow, her hand brushed mine. There was a sharp intake of breath from Sirilonwe.

"You're freezing!" She exclaimed. "Or... is that just how you are, now - since..."

"I'm not always this cold." I said quietly. "I'll be alright once I've..." I faltered, seeing that Sirilonwe had blanched when she realised what I was going to say - but I finished anyway; "once I've fed."

Sirilonwe stared into the dull orange, dancing flames in the fireplace for a time, and neither of us spoke. I felt that despite my fervent wishes, I had indeed said the wrong thing. And then:

"Edward, I want you to stop hunting."

It felt like a shock through my limbs. Was she serious?

"Siri," I said slowly, "I would die - truly die. I would starve! I told you before: I feed without killing - without even wounding, in the end..."

She shook her head, a look of determination in her large, golden eyes.

"Think about how it must feel to the ones you hunt! Can you honestly say that every one of them does not think they are about to die, when you... No - you must stop. You can stop, because... you can have me."

I just stared at her, struck dumb. It seemed that I would just never, ever know what that woman would say next.

"You told me how you healed them - the ones you... drink from." Sirilonwe explained. "Well, you can heal me too: do the same thing. I can also heal myself, of course."

I found my voice, though it sounded hoarse to my ears:

"You trust me?" I had been afraid, in some ways, of being near her: afraid that I might hurt her. And now she was actually asking me to drink from her...

Sirilonwe shrugged.

"I trust that I won't be in serious danger."

I noticed several shimmering rings on her fingers - obviously enchanted. I suspected that at least one of them held power much like that of an Almsivi or Divine Intervention spell - allowing her to teleport away almost instantly, should she want to.

Sirilonwe remained seated in the old wooden chair, but indicated that I should kneel before her. She held out her wrist.

"Be careful." She said, a light tremor in her voice.

She grunted when I bit into her wrist, her whole body becoming rigidly tense. Very slowly, she began to relax. As I drank, I felt Sirilonwe's hand on the back of my head, her fingers twisting my hair into a strong grip. Ready to pull me off, I suppose... But she did not. I reached up to place my hands on her waist, sending the healing magic into her.

When I was finished, I released her wrist, and watched the wounds close up under the ministration of my healing spell. I felt a pull on the back of my head. Sirilonwe, still grasping a handful of my hair, pulled my head back so that I was looking up at her. There was a strange expression on her face.

"Carry me to your bed." She instructed. "I'm feeling a little faint."


She kissed me as I carried her up the stairwell, careful to avoid my somewhat obtrusive fangs. For my part, I think I was in something of a euphoria after feeding, and not really thinking clearly. I was more-or-less just doing as Sirilonwe said.

I set her down on my bed, and she sat on the edge, slowly undoing the straps on my armour; letting the individual pieces fall to the matted floor with a dull clunk. It took much less time to undress her.

"Alright," she said, taking me by the wrists and pulling me closer, "... be careful with those teeth..."