An: So this is my first ever attempt at writing my own Fanfiction. What urged me to do this was the very little to no Harkon/Dragonborn stories out there and I think the pairing has a lot of potential. So this is my angsty and smutty attempt, with some plot mixed in as well haha. Warning as: As the story progresses there will be a lot of blood and gore, sex, mature language and blood kink. I also took some creative freedom and added vampire lore that isn't necessarily from the elder scroll fandom but I think it adds more intimacy to the story. Also the italic portion of the story is meant to represent the past. Remember, this is my first try so go easy on me but I do want as much feedback as you can give me. With all that boring stuff said please enjoy.

"Give me your heroes

Your sinners and saints

A little temptation

is all that it takes

I've been here forever

I'm your oldest friend

Until I pull on the trigger

The fun never ends"

-Crucify, Ozzy Osbourne

Disclaimer: I don't own the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, all that credit goes to all the amazing creators at Bethesda Softworks. All the original characters belong to me. As does the original story

"By the way my name is Serana. It's good to meet you."

That simple sentence began a complex and beautiful journey. Elvi Erissen thought herself to be a simple Nord; one that would never see battle or explore all of Skyrim's wonderful hidden splendors. She was just happy to get away from the 'home' she had known all her life. She wanted to one day get a house of her own then simply blend in with the rest of society. Her plans drastically changed the day she ran across that Stormcloak rebellion and faced the headman's block for a crime she didn't commit. After her escape she realized that her destiny led her down a much different path; one of adventure, battle and glory. Elvi was more than a Nord. She was a warrior, a companion, and the last Dragonborn. She always loved the feeling of a sword in her hand, but she never thought herself a warrior until she was forced to be one. Upon further exploration of her skills; fighting was like a second skin for her. She was only sixteen when Alduin attacked Helgen and her journey began. She spent a total of three years in Whiterun, which she hadn't intended; but after meeting Kodlak Whitemane she couldn't tear herself away from the magnificent hall of Jorrvaskr. He would always be the greatest influence in her life and the closest thing to a father she ever had. The Companions taught her almost everything she knew about battle. Only after time, she realized she was a much more distinguished dual wielder than any other form of swordsman. Currently she was the only Companion that fought with two swords opposed to one though she had attempted to teach a few new bloods the art of dual wielding only for them to change their style in the end, though she couldn't blame them. She too was guilty of trying different things she probably shouldn't to gain the approval of the inner circle.

Eager to impress, When they came to her and offered her the beast blood...she accepted. Not only did she accept the blood because of this but with Aela's influence she became a devote follower of the Daedric lord of the hunt; Hircine. That seemed like ages ago. Seven years had flown by so fast. Everything was so different than it had been when she originally came to the Companions. If someone had told her then that she would one day lead them; she probably would have decked said messenger in the face. Kodlak was their Harbinger and the idea of losing her shield father was too much to bear. Alas…that day came despite her blissful denial. Yet losing him helped her come to a new clarity. Once she took charge of her brothers and sisters, she rid herself of the beast blood for good. As she also helped Vilkas and Farkas attain the same purity. They were all in agreement that the overwhelming urge to hunt and kill was more of a hindrance to a warrior then an asset. She'd be lying if she said that Kodlak hadn't influence her in this way as well. He was the reason she had her current morals and outlook on life. He taught her what it meant to be a true Nord. To fight for justice. To trust her gut over everything else. She turned from her sordid past and focused purely on the teachings he had given her. She replaced her totems of Hircine for the Amulet of Talos that once hung around Kodlak's neck. For the first time she felt...right. Like she was where she was supposed to be. Once she finally forced herself away from the safety net and one true home that was Jorrvaskr; her accomplishments grew.

She tracked down and destroyed the Dark Brotherhood, stopped a reclusive cannibal cult, united the Stormcloaks with the Imperials and her most shining achievement of all was her fulfillment of the prophecy by killing Alduin. She had to travel to Sovngarde and back to do it but she won in the end. A victory she had never truly believed she would earn. It felt like her entire life led up to those moments and when she finally put things right she felt...lost. What was she supposed to do now? A normal life was something she often dreamed of but now that it was presented to her, she was miserable. When an Orc came to her while she was in Riften and spoke of an order of vampire hunters forming in the fort southeast from the city she couldn't refuse. The vampire population had seemed to have skyrocketed in the past couple of months and they were getting bold enough to openly attack well populated cities. Something bigger was going on and she was determined to find out what it was. She may have been bias from her years as a wolf but Elvi despised vampires. They seemed far less human than any werewolf that she had met. They were twisted, polluted. Her first mission involved the investigation of Dimhollow Crypt, where she had unintentionally awoken a vampire named Serana from a thousand year slumber. Somehow, she couldn't bring herself to so much as raise her sword to the vampire. She looked so confused and lost when she first woke up...it caused Elvi to develop an overwhelming need to protect her so she happily agreed to take Serana back to her family home. In hopes that she might find out more about these vampire attacks on their journey.

She never imagined that she and Serana would actually grow as close as they did. Taking her to her "family home" did not go over very well. She met Serana's father whom she didn't speak very highly of on the way there. After about five minutes of being in front of the man in question she started to see why. The castle was impressive...another little detail Serana had neglected to mention; the fact that she had lived in a castle. Elvi was almost envious of the gorgeous stone structure before her as she walked on the cobblestone bridge, she even considered staying there for the night so she wouldn't have to venture back across the sea alone. That was before she got inside. It was still impressive however; two long rich wooden banquet tables were placed in the main hall with a grand table at the far end of the room. Even beneath her very boots was a thick rug that had an identical partner on the opposite side with a symbol she didn't recognize sewn in the middle of it. Fancy! The second detail that Serana did not mention was that the castle was full of vampires. Not just her father and mother as Elvi had expected...great. Blood literally stained almost everything and Elvi didn't want to touch anything in fear her hand would also be coated in the red liquid. There were dozens of mini kegs on either table which also contained blood considering the thick red drops that oozed from the nozzles. It took everything she had in her not to attack when she saw the bodies of the living 'cattle' lying on the tables and even watched a few of the vampires dig their teeth into them as though they were pieces of meat! Considering the numbers, it was best to refrain. For now. The smell of blood and death was gagging. She could feel that lump in the back of her throat coming up after only a minute or two inside the castle.

She was thankful to be rid of the wolf blood now more than ever, because with the wolf's heightened sense of smell, she probably would have either puked or passed out from all of it. Blood never appealed to her as a werewolf. Though she would never admit it...what she loved about being a werewolf was the hunt. The Adrenaline, the smell of fear, that's what appealed to her. And yes, when you become a creature of the night even such things as fear had a smell. It was sweet...alluring. Harkon offered her his blood, as a reward for the safe return of his daughter and the elder scroll that was held loyally on Serana's back. With it she would be like them. A Vampire lord. Without missing a beat she refused. Her immediate dismissal was not well received and resulted in her to being thrown out of the castle and banished from ever returning. Elvi didn't mourn the loss of being exiled from a vampire hideout, but she was going to miss Serana terribly. What's worse was if things continued the way they did...they would be enemies. That meant it could be expected of her to kill Serana. She didn't know if she could bring herself to do that.

Though Elvi had to admit that Harkon had made an impression on her. Just looking at him made her feel his wicked strength. She couldn't believe how insanely powerful he was. It was both a dream and a nightmare rolled into one. She remembered the way her heart sped up when she realized exactly what this Vampire Lord was capable of. That meant he was a challenge. For the first time since her battle with Alduin she was faced with an opponent that she wasn't one hundred percent certain she could defeat. Though she would never admit it, Elvi often revisited their conversation in the privacy of her mind. She had listened to him prattle on about how his particular race of vampire's were supposedly superior to any of the other clans in Skyrim. It took heroic effort not to roll her eyes as he spoke. When he mentioned something about his wife's betrayal and abandonment she paid closer attention, hoping it might clue her in on the mad man's motives. When offered her his blood she knew the expression in her face was enough of an answer for him. Yet to sway her the Vampire Lord transformed into the very beast that he was. Elvi had managed to keep her face blank and eyes void of fear as she witnessed his transformation but the raw unholy power that exuded from him was a bit…concerning. Once more he demanded her decision with his deep authoritative voice and had Elvi's answer been a bit more cordial perhaps she wouldn't have inspired the reaction she received.

"I refuse the monstrosity that you call a 'gift', Harkon. Keep your tainted blood in your veins where it belongs. I don't need it's power to be mighty." She said firmly. Which caused the vampire's that witnessed their display to hiss at her in response but she didn't care. Elvi kept her eyes on Harkon's all the while, refusing to break the contact. To a primal beast like him; it would be admitting that he had dominance over her and she would never allow him to think such a thing. Their eyes burned into each other for some time before he returned to his human state. Elvi heard Serana sigh as well as step closer to her. Maybe Elvi had crossed the line when she stated her blunt opinion on their race but something about the lord irked her to no end. Harkon's expression softened from his enraged one to curiosity as though he had just been asked a complicated riddle and he was pondering the answer.

"You are bold, warrior." He said flatly as his eyes continued to glare into hers. "You think yourself to be mighty and perhaps you are but you still have much to learn."

"Not from you."

Elvi knew she was pressing her luck but she wasn't about to back down. She had already chosen an unnatural source of power when she took the beast blood, she wasn't about to make the same mistake twice! She was free from all the dark influences now that she was mortal and that was how she would remain. With the blink of her round sky blue eyes, Harkon was standing but a few inches away from her. His sudden closeness caused Elvi to instinctively reach for her Nordic carved swords that clung loyally to her hips but one her hands found their hilt; she was surrounded by Harkon's bloodthirsty henchmen. Elvi prepared for the worst but the vampire lord raised his open hand upwards to signal for them to refrain from attacking her. What drove Elvi mad was the fact that he had yet to tear his eyes away from her own. It felt as though he was diving deep into her subconscious to her very soul. With a small smirk Harkon at last looked away from her eyes to peer down at her hands that were still clenched around her weapons; ready to be drawn at any moment.

"You are very bold." There was amusement in his voice and that curiosity had yet to leave his face. He took another long look at her before he started speaking again.

"So be it. You've made your choice. When we meet again, we will discuss what a foolish one it was but in the meantime make your preparations, hero. You'll need to become much stronger before you have so much as a chance in defeating me."

"I thought I was banished from your hall?"

"You are. Which is precisely why I will be seeing you again. You cannot resist the call of battle from a worthy opponent. It's in your nature. Being forbidden to step foot in my castle will only draw you to me sooner." He said in a matter of fact fashion which set a fire inside of Elvi. Before she could inform the pretentious bastard how utterly mistaken he was, he moved away from her and with the simple wave of his hand; she was hurled backwards and out of the castle's main doors. When she rose to her feet she watched the doors close with a loud thud. Deciding it was best to leave what was well enough alone, Elvi made her way home. Now being assaulted by a wicked and heavy rain that had been vacant when she arrived.

It was almost impossible for Elvi to believe that such a vile man was Serana's father. Everything she had conceived a vampire to be, Serana was the complete opposite. While they had traveled Skyrim together, anytime she spotted a flower or plant she didn't recognize she'd stop and ask Elvi what it was though Elvi often didn't have the answers for her. Despite, Serana would stare at them in wonderment. Something Elvi had gotten accustomed to seeing on a regular basis was a masterpiece to her. To kill boredom one night Serana asked her to tell her a story. She was reluctant at first but Elvi recited a simple children's story for her and Serana hung onto her every word. It took so little to keep her happy and the fact that Elvi would ask her how she was or what she thought about any given subject meant the world to her. She'd even act surprised that Elvi considered her opinion, as though no one had ever consulted her before. The very thought of no one considering her made Elvi sad. She had grown attached to Serana rather quickly and if she was correct she seemed to have rubbed off on Serana as well. Almost every day they were together she would say "Tell me a story" or "Sing that song about the stars again." Serana loved Elvi's voice as well as her eyes. Elvi was no bard but she enjoyed singing. However, she never really cared for her eyes since they were the same sky blue color as her father's. The man that had abandoned his family when she was only four years old. Last she heard, he had been killed by the guard for some petty theft attempt. Disgraceful. But Serana always spoke her admiration for them so she supposed if her eyes were the only trait she inherited from him, it wasn't so bad.

Serana even with their short time together was the best friend she had ever had. Also the most loyal to her, save for the companions. Though most of them now saw her less as a friend and more as a leader and for that she was a little resentful. So if the time came and she had to kill Serana she wouldn't. She just couldn't. Vampire or not, Elvi could sense that she had a good heart; a clean soul. Isran be damned. Not all vampires were monsters. Even if she was being a little hypocritical, she had finally come to see that. May the world forgive her, if saving Serana meant its destruction. If it absolutely had to be done, it would not be by her hand. That much was certain.

When she finally made it back to the Dawnguard, she was shocked to see about a dozen vampires attacking the fort! She drew both of her Nordic swords and sprang into the fray to help her fellow Dawnguard members defend their fortress. She couldn't believe Harkon was already sending vampires to destroy them. In fact, it was a little too unbelievable which caused Elvi to realize what the maniacal lord was actually doing. It was a gesture to prove that he wasn't threatened by them and that he already knew where their hidden fortress was. Isran sent her to recruit two new members in retaliation to the blatant attack and when she returned her heart nearly burst out of her chest! Sitting in Isran's office, she saw Serana waiting patiently for her to return. Elvi ignored Isran's annoyed attitude, and immediately embraced her estranged friend. Serana looked happy to see her, but it was obvious that she was troubled by something. When Elvi inquired what was disturbing her; Serana unloaded the all information she knew about the prophecy that Harkon was trying to fulfil. The end result being the extinction of the sun.

The very thought of an eternal night, chilled Elvi to the bone. Surely such a thing wasn't possible? After Serana told all she had to tell, Isran begrudgingly let her stay at the fort, so she and Elvi ventured outside for a moment of peace from the gawking Dawnguard. Elvi hated the idea of her fellow vampire hunters giving Serana disapproving glares or jibes, therefore she took away their opportunity to. Isran had already given her a hard enough time even though she was offering them assistance. How he kept referring to Serana as "it" was starting to enrage Elvi. Though Serana took it on the chin and as always came up with a smartass reply about how she'd 'remember him the next time she was hungry'. Elvi had to bite her lip to refrain from laughing. She adored Serana's laid back and sarcastic attitude, it was much like her own.

Once they got outside and Elvi felt the night air on her ivory skin as it tossed her blonde hair in every direction; she started to relax a bit. With all this vampire hunting, she had to live as they did; sleeping mostly in the day and hunting at night, it was rather hard to get used to. They sat on the railing that circle around the tower and let their feet dangle carelessly off the edge. The moon was beautiful that night. Not entirely full, but from their view thanks to how high they were from the ground, it looked as though they could reach out and grab it, if they wanted. Elvi enjoyed looking up at the moon now that she was no longer swayed by it. The odd duo sat in a comfortable silence for some time, just gazing up at the stars together.

"I hope the Volkihar weren't too hard on you after your father banned me from your castle." Elvi ventured cautiously. Like almost every topic Serana didn't take it personally.

"No, Father was too concerned about the prophecy and the next steps needed to continue it, to give me anymore consideration. Though I made my opinion on his throwing you out of the castle, very well known. 'Letting you live' didn't seem like an appropriate reward to me. Without you I would still be stuck in that tomb after all." More silence and a bit of relief followed her words. It would've been a shame, if Serana was jeered by both sides. Serana clicked her tongue and continued their conversation delicately.

"You were the main focus for the rest of the night by the rest of the court, however. After father retired to his chambers, every conversation in the main hall featured your name." Elvi raised her eyebrow. The way Serana worded it was odd. Like there was more to tell then just some mortal boldly walking into vampire's castle.

"How so?"

"It's...complicated. I don't know if you would understand."

"Well...I can try."

"Basically my father has never successfully turned a mortal. Everyone you saw in the castle was either sired by my mother or by the lesser members of the court. In a way, his blood is coveted. Any warrior that fulfilled whatever ridiculous demands my father required for the opportunity to be turned by him, died not long after his bite."

"So he meant to kill me no matter what choice I made?" Elvi asked bitterly. Seemed like something the vampire lord would do. Suppose that's what he meant when he said they would 'discuss her foolish mistake'. Discussion being her death versus any actual exchange of words. Serana thought about how to word what she needed to say carefully as she gazed up into the stars. Elvi's mind was fairly open but the ways of a vampire still sounded strange to mortal ears. Nor did she want to frighten Elvi with her assumption.

"I really don't think he wanted to kill you. After your…interesting choice of words, if he had wanted you dead; you would be. Despite his hollow promise otherwise. It was kind of strange…the minute he saw you, you managed to keep his attention. You even distracted him from the elder scroll on my back. Now that's...that's saying something. He must have saw something in you that he liked. My father has never willingly offered his blood to anyone before now. The fact that he chose you was quite the buzz once you left. Turning someone into a vampire is a very personal thing. It's intimate...for us. It's hard to explain. He was also in an irritable mood after your banishment, despite having his long sought after elder scroll in hand. Denying him in front of everyone was probably taken as an insult."

"Forgive me if I don't take much stock in a madman's opinion of me." Elvi said then bit her tongue immediately afterward. She had to remember that Harkon was still Serana's father and she shouldn't speak so harshly about him in her presence. Instead of acting offended, Serana laughed and looked over at her in amusement.

"That's why I like you, you feeble little mortal." she smirked.

"You're not so bad yourself, leech." Elvi said returning her grin.

After a lot of thought and scheming for what felt like hours; the best theory Elvi and Serana could come up with was searching the courtyard in Castle Volkihar for a subtle sign that might tell them where the last Elder Scroll could be. Luckily Elvi still had the Dragon Scroll thanks to the Alduin crisis but according to the Moth Priest that they had tracked down by Isran's order; the two scrolls they did have were useless without the third missing one. Apparently you needed all three to find Auriel's Bow; the instrument needed to complete the prophecy and Elvi was determined to get to it before Harkon. Serana felt good about their hunch so Elvi reluctantly agreed to return to the castle. She wasn't thrilled with the idea of walking over enemy lines simply because of a 'feeling' but Serana assured her that she knew a different and safe way to the courtyard without notice from the Volkihar. Seeing the awe inspiring look on Serana's face forced Elvi to comply but she couldn't shake the dread that consumed her. The warnings were written on the wall but Serana refused to acknowledge them. So therefore, so did Elvi.

(xxx)

Once they made it to the island, everything went according to plan. They had successfully snuck past the guard at the front doors and headed towards the castles hidden entrance that lead through the undercroft. Once inside, they ran into a feral vampire that had stowed away there who planned to train the death hounds at the Volkihar's command to get revenge for their denial. Elvi would have actually rather enjoyed seeing such a hair brained attempt at vengeance. The castle was full of twists and turns, and Elvi was thankful that Serana was with her or else she would have gotten lost ages ago. Serana stopped abruptly, which caused Elvi to run into her. Looking above her; Elvi noticed a trap door in the ceiling (which was the ground floor of the castle) and watched as few skeletons dropped through the opening to join the countless others that littered the floor. It was like something out of a demented nightmare. Never had Elvi seen that many bones piled in one place. The very sight made her sick to her stomach. Especially as she was forced to walk on top of some of them. The sickening sound of bones cracking underneath her boots was sure to stick with her for years to come. She even noticed countless other debris amongst the lost souls that had fed the vampires such as rusted over statues and a dismantled coffin.

When they finally reached the courtyard Elvi was thankful to get out of that maze of death and confusion while being able to breathe fresh air again. Her glee dissipated when her eyes found the massive gathering of Volkihar vampires assembled in the courtyard waiting for them. Elvi's eyes widened and Serana immediately stood in front of her, knowing they would refrain from attacking Elvi straight away if she blocked their path to her.

"I thought this was the only way to the courtyard?!" Elvi whispered as she drew her Nordic swords. Serana's eyes flashed over to the sealed off entrance and then up to the balcony with a scowl. Sure, the courtyard was attainable from the balcony but no one traveled to that tower unless they awaited punishment. When whoever opened the trap door, they must have been spotted after all! It was the only explanation.

"Stay behind me." Serana said firmly and Elvi tried to fight the panic that was threatening to take over her so she would be ready of the upcoming battle.

"Lady Serana, where have you been? Why are you traveling through the castle like this and with that mortal! You know that the Dovahkiin is your father's enemy."

"Leave her be, Garan. Our business is our own. None of you will so much as touch her." Serana stated with venom; powering up both of her spells in either hand in warning. The Dunmer vampire who was introduced as Garan sighed and a few of the lower vampires started inching themselves closer and closer to them. Elvi knew the situation was bad but she couldn't help but feel a little...excited. These vampires were supposed to be better than the common ones that had been thrown their way for all this time. She couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth behind the warnings.

"I was afraid you were going to say that. I will offer you one chance to resolve this peacefully, my lady. Our lord wants the Dovahkiin handed over immediately and an explanation for her presence here, along with your lengthy disappearance. If you cooperate, it will end there. Otherwise our orders are to restrain you and take the Dovahkiin by force."

"I'm not about to hand over the only being I can call friend to that monster! Now I have a warning for you, back off now while you still can. I don't want to have to kill you." Serana retorted. Elvi couldn't help but let a small smile shine on her face despite the pending doom. Good to know their feelings were mutual, even in a time like this.

"Very well Lady Serana." Garan said forming a spell of his own in the palm of his hand. "You made your choice."

At that the battle began. Elvi disobeyed Serana's orders to stay behind her and instantly jumped ahead of her to take the vampires head on. Both of her swords swung from one side to the other with a grace that suggested she was performing some deadly dance. Most of these vampires were used to relying on spells for attack and when she was able to dodge them then get in close proximity; they were fairly easy to dispatch of. Immortality didn't provide much for the bastards when they found a sword in their chest. Only problem was, the amount of thrall's that kept coming their way! They were weak and not very intelligent, true, but with their sheer number combined with the strong true blooded Volkihar vampires, Elvi quickly found herself on the defense. Something a dual wielding master often struggled with. Her offense was flawless but if she ended up backed into a corner, she'd be more or less a sitting duck. Any vampire that got close to her, Serana managed to beam with one of her ice spikes but she was quickly running out of magicka. Serana wasn't the best at hand to hand but she would do what she had to in order to keep Elvi safe! Seeing about a dozen vampires still standing, Elvi resorted to her last ditch effort. She let her attackers get uncomfortably close to her and then...

"FUS RO DAH!" she shouted and let out a sigh of relief when she saw most of them fly backwards, giving her a little time to recuperate before she jumped into the air and stabbed as many of the grounded vampires in their vital areas as she could. Elvi was starting to realize that running may very well be their only option. As powerful as she and Serana were, the numbers had it this round. Even running seemed to be out of their grasp. They were on an island...there was nowhere to run. The second they were able to board the tiny boat that could carry the duo to safety; they would be cornered. As she was battling two decent swordsmen whom she assumed to be Volkihar by the way they were dressed and their skill, the sound of Serana's scream broke her concentration. It's shrill volume pierced through the fog like a knife.

Elvi turned her head to see Serana on the ground. One large vampire was forcing her hands into binds then two more yanked her off the ground in order to keep her pinned. She struggled and fought but Elvi knew with her Magicka drained, she was too exhausted to escape. No doubt it would be too late by the time she healed and recovered it. The sudden fear of Harkon taking his wrath out on Serana gripped at Elvi's heart. She had to make it over to her someway, somehow!

"Serana!" She shouted.

At this blunder, Elvi was reminded that all it took was once false move in battle and you could lose it all. The red headed vampire that had rushed over to attack her moved his Dwarven battle mace with such speed, she barely had time to block, causing the tip of his mace met his target; and even though it wasn't at full force Elvi stumbled backward in pain. His blow had caught her on the top of her forehead a very dangerous place to receive an injury. If she hadn't blocked at all, the sheer force of his attack would have knocked her out or even killed her! She felt her knees weaken as well as her body tremble out of her control. When she looked up and saw the vampire's mace coated with her blood she felt sick. The second vampire she had been dueling with was standing to the side and draining her energy from her, but she was struggling just to keep on her feet to do anything about it at the moment. This. Wasn't. Good. Were they too arrogant in coming here? The man in front of her chuckled and said in his Nordic accent:

"I'd be worrying about yourself if I were you, little girl. Lord Harkon enjoys playing with his food."

Elvi now felt the familiar hot sensation of her blood sliding from her forehead and down her face. She wasn't giving up. She couldn't give up! Not when they came this far! Not when both she and Serana carried an Elder Scroll on their backs! They may as well have handed them to Harkon himself! If she fell this day then Harkon would have half of what he needed to fulfil this accursed prophecy! With this wave of determination, she summoned up as much strength as she could in order to throw one of her blades at the vampire draining her life. It stuck in his chest and just like that, he fell over dead. Next she charged the red haired vampire with all her might. Elvi was able to dodge his mace with fair accuracy but despite all her efforts, she couldn't land a single hit on him. He used the shaft of his mace to jab her in the stomach the second Elvi mistakenly gave him the opportunity. She fell to her knees and never in her life had she felt a stronger urge to puke. It was a small miracle that she hadn't. Elvi attempted to get up but before she could get to her feet, a thrall gagged her from behind and another bound her arms just as they had Serana. It was over...for the first time in years, she had lost. The world around her was spinning and she was too busy fighting unconsciousness from her first injury to struggle.

Next thing Elvi knew; she was being lifted up roughly by her hair, which made her helmet fly off of her head in the process. She winced at the pain but it was muffled by the gag around her mouth. When two muscled thralls carried her off, she at last struggled for freedom only to be punched or kicked for her efforts. The Thralls were gripping and pulling at her arms so tightly, she heard them snap under the pressure. The new agony made it that much harder for her to stay conscious. Her vision was blurred but after some time, she was sure she was being brought into the main hall. Elvi heard Serana shout her protests in the distance but couldn't make out what she was saying. As she tried to focus on Serana's words…she heard a voice that made her skin crawl.

"Excellent. Bring our guest to my chambers and see to it she's nice and comfortable."

It was Harkon. His voice dripped with just as much venom and malice as she remembered. Her head was being forced down in a bow so she couldn't see him properly but she knew he had a devilish smirk on his face. As she was being carted away, she heard Serana in the background once more.

"Father, do not touch her!"

"I missed you too darling." Harkon answered rather snidely. "Thank you for bringing back my elder scroll along with a second one. I'm afraid you will not be entrusted with either again. Take her away. Be sure that she doesn't interfere, I will deal with her later." His voice was forceful and laced with that false kindness he excelled in. It was not a way a father should address their daughter.

Elvi shut her eyes in disappointment. She failed. Now the Dawnguard had to figure out where to get the bow and last scroll on their own. All she could do is pray that her brothers and sisters in arms would succeed where she could not. Just to add to her frustration Serana was trapped and miserable once again. No one, could be happy from this. The last thing she heard was the Serana's voice getting farther and farther away, though she was unsure if it was because she was being dragged off or if Serana was being taken in the opposite direction. She just kept pleading "Father!" over and over again. Then Elvi couldn't fight it anymore and everything went black.

(xxxxx)

When Elvi awoke the first thing she felt was the bitter cold. She was unbearably cold, and her head was still throbbing painfully. In a way, she was surprised that she had awoken at all. She assumed Harkon would have just ripped her throat out and then went on about his business once he got her alone. She realized she was cold because her armor had been removed. Luckily her white sleeveless under shirt was still on and so were her pants, yet her boots and gauntlets had been removed as well. Must have been his way of ensuring that she was utterly defenseless. When she felt that the cloth still wrapped tightly around her mouth, she sighed. Now she really was defenseless. Word must have traveled to the Volkihar that their visitor had been the Dragonborn and they prepared for it properly. When she recalled the incident in the courtyard, she knew this much was true since the Dunmer kept referring to her as 'the Dovahkiin'. If only that title had proven more useful to her in times like this but with her mouth covered, there was literally no way she could attack any vampire that approached her.

Elvi had never taken the time to learn any decent spells since most of her excelled skills revolved around using a sword or bow. She had remained perfectly still since she had awoken and slowly she risked opening her eyes, only to be met by darkness again. She may as well have kept her eyes closed, since she couldn't see so much as two feet in front of her! When she felt herself shivering she was truly surprised by how cold she was. She was a Nord after all, the cold never really affected her race. After a few moments Elvi decided to try and move but she scoffed when she heard the rustling sound of chains. With some more gestures she realized that her arms were chained to the wall while her feet seemed to be shackled to the floor. The chains around her wrists held her up as her weight dug into the cuffs which bruised her ivory skin. Great. Guess it was a little too hopeful to assume that she was just lying in the dungeon somewhere.

When she looked up, she had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from screaming. Two glowing red and gold eyes were now only a foot away from her, where they had been absent before. Those eyes were the only thing Elvi could see in the darkness of the room. Serana had stated several times in their journey that all Volkihar vampires shared the same eyes but Elvi couldn't disagree more. Harkon's eyes were purely that of a predator. The hunger and malice that swirled in them were positively horrifying but Elvi tried her best to slow down her heart rate in hopes the beast wouldn't know how afraid she really was of him, despite her protests to the contrary.

"There you are, I was beginning to wonder if you'd awaken at all." Harkon said pleasantly as though greeting an honored friend. All Elvi could do was growl and tug at her chains to get at him, though even if she could it would've been like a child throwing a tantrum since she couldn't cause him much harm currently. Harkon let out a deep chuckle that sent shivers up and down her spine. With a wave of his hand, four candles ignited in a yellowish glow on a table near them. They provided very little light but at least she could see. When she took a look around, she almost wished for darkness again. All around her were several different types of torture equipment, all coated with blood. She saw spiked tools she didn't even recognize which caused the awful feeling of dread to return to her.

Yet Elvi refused to be intimidated, she vowed that her eye contact wouldn't leave his again! If she was to meet her end this night, she would do so with some pride. He drew even closer to her and gently he tugged at the cloth around her mouth with his index finger.

"Now if I remove this, will you behave like a good girl? Conversation grows dull when only one party can speak, wouldn't you agree?"

Harkon waited patiently for some sort of response; forcing Elvi to nod her head begrudgingly. He reached out and grabbed Elvi's chin with a bruising force. It caused a muffled groan escape her lips. He jerked her head upwards to look at him while stating in a warning tone:

"You should know that if you began to form even one syllable for your thu'um, I could make it over to you and snap your neck before its completion, so do not try my patience. Is that understood, Dovahkiin?"

Elvi gritted her teeth and nodded a second time. Her eyes reflected nothing but pure hatred. Seeming to be satisfied by her response, Harkon yanked the bind from her in one swift flick of his wrist. She took in a quick breath and tried to keep her composure. In a way she just wanted this to be over. Serana had mentioned before that her father thoroughly enjoyed toying with his prey and she didn't want to be counted amongst that endless list of victims.

"Ah see, look how much easier it is when you're obedient."

"What do you want, Harkon?" Elvi asked impatiently at the snide tone of his voice. As afraid as she was and as certain as death seemed, the rage that beast was able to pump through her veins clouded all of her judgment. Damn him to the depths of Oblivion.

"I assume by now you have the elder scrolls, so why don't you just end this now? I am in no mood for one of your games." All she could hope for now was that she angered him to the point of lashing out and killing her before he had time to act out on the torturous; sick fantasies that were no doubt swarming in his head. Harkon chuckled again as he sized up his mark. Even with her hair ruffled, her skin bruised and bloody, he had to admit that she was quite beautiful for a mortal. So much so his eyes soaked up as much of her as he could with each glance. She was very…frustrating.

The little Nord had been on his mind far more often than he cared to admit since her departure from his castle. Since he prey was locked into place he took all the time he desired to admire her properly. Her golden blonde hair swept past her shoulders to her breasts with a single elegant braid gracing the right side while the left remained straight and untamed. Her skin was fair, like most Nords while her eyes were a light sky blue with thick black eyelashes. As his eyes travelled downward he noted her coral pink; plump lips and he couldn't help but fixate on them for a moment. All of these aforementioned qualities were but a few that made her beautiful. What he admired the most was her body. It was toned and muscular but not overly so to lose her hourglass feminine shape. His eyes glanced down at her stomach and through her tight white shirt, he could see the well sculpted muscles of her abs. Nothing like a male's but still perfectly tone and admirable. This girl must have been a warrior most of her young life to have achieved such a figure. He could appreciate a warrior's body; having seen and enjoyed only "civilized women" in his life. How dull and lacking in flavor they were. Not with the Dovahkiin though. No, there was a lot of power in that little body and knowing this thrilled him to no end. Well, little in stature that is, since the girl barely reached his chest in height.

But it was not Elvi's beauty nor power that had enchanted him. It was her pride, her arrogance and her morality. The way she had so easily dismissed his offer to become as he was, indeed had insulted him greatly. She dared to look at him in revulsion and superiority as if she was the one dominating which drove him into a rage. Were he not to have given his word to spare her life, he would have ended it then and there. And yet there was something else intriguing about this girl. Something that made him stay his hand and simply want to engross himself in her. The aura that surrounded her felt as ancient as he was. Her scent was absolutely...intoxicating. He couldn't place it but it was better than the scent of every flower in the forest combined. Sweet but fiery. Of course her blood appealed to him like no mortal he had met before her. Harlon could hear it pumping through her veins. Beckoning him forward to sate a hunger that he had felt since he opened his eyes as a creature of the night. If her scent was enough to drive him wild, he could only imagine what the taste of her blood would do to him.

He reached forward and though Elvi winced away, she was surprised to feel the back of his hand stroking her cheek softly. Elvi gritted her teeth again. She was not a toy! Mmm, her heat. Another charming feature. He could not recall in his life if he had ever met a being or creature with a hotter touch. It almost seared his flesh. It was a refreshing change. What he wanted from her was not revenge. After he acquired the information he needed from her, he wanted submission. He wanted her to feel the humiliation he felt when he was denied in front of his entire court. He had never offered his blood to anyone before her, but the spark in her eyes along with the pure determination that fueled her made him want her. Were she to have accepted his gift, he could make her a terror the likes of which this world had never seen. A demon with an angel's face. He knew that were she obedient, there was nothing out of his grasp and she would feel power as well as satisfaction the likes of which her feeble mortal mind could not comprehend. She would learn. She would know the error she had made; he'd make her submit to him before the end. He'd show her that the path her self -righteousness and "goodness" would take her led nowhere but death.

"You are a hostile little thing aren't you?" he taunted before removing his hand. Were he to have kept it there too much longer he feared she would actually burn him. Though on Elvi's end all she felt was ice. She shivered involuntarily at his touch. It was as though one of Serana's ice spikes had gone right through her.

"And I believe you know, what it is I want. I have the elder scrolls in my possession but they are of little use to me unless I know their purpose. Seeing how you obtained the moth priest before I could, I assume you know more than myself at the moment. And what I am most curious about is why you would be so bold as to return to my castle with my daughter after you were exiled. But then again, I knew you would return to me, didn't I?"

Elvi's only response was a blank stare. The only honor she had left was keeping the knowledge she had left away from him. She had to take it to the grave. She knew Serana would never cave, and perhaps he did too, so she had to keep that silence going on her end as well. Now that her night vision had set in, she continued to stare at him. He looked the same as he had before. Same long dark brunette almost black hair, which was pulled back into a neat low ponytail. His dark hair only made his shock white skin seem all the more pale. He had a neat and trimmed goatee and his Nordic features were plagued by a few wrinkles especially around the forehead and under his eyes. Other than that he looked fairly young considering Serana had to be in her early to mid -twenties before she was turned. His shoulders were broad and he was well built. She would consider him a decent warrior by sight alone were she not to know his strength came from his dark curse. Those eyes...both red and outlined with a yellow gold but their color wasn't what made them so frightening. It was the mad and evil nature hidden in them. No one should carry that much wickedness in their eyes, not even the Daedric Princes in Oblivion. Still, she wouldn't allow herself to be afraid. She had to keep him as far away from fulfilling the prophecy as possible. Despite herself she began to laugh. The concept of her own death had started to set in. Yet he thought she would make her own demise be in vain by spilling her guts to him? Forget it.

Harkon furrowed his brow and tried to calm the overwhelming anger threatened to take over. There she was again, acting as though she was the one in control. That she was the superior. When Elvi calmed down she proudly said:

"I'm not telling you anything! You're a damn fool if you ever thought I would! I am the slayer of Alduin, I kill dragons on a regular basis. Any torture you think will sway me; won't be enough. Any pain that could, would destroy me. So again, how about we skip the formalities and you kill me while I'm chained and defenseless like the coward you are!" Elvi yelled. Her rage coursed through her so strongly, the concept of fear was forgotten. Sovngarde awaited. She would be sharing mead with Kodlak at any moment. When Akatosh called for the last battle she would be sure to enact her revenge during that time, if the beast still lived. This time she would have the opportunity to fight back. Instead of the brutality she expected from him, Harkon merely tilted his head to one side and glared at her. As though he was trying to figure her out. That same damn curious expression he had when they met returned to him, and Elvi now shook with anger instead of the icy temperature in the room. To make her blood boil more than it already was; he too laughed and drew unbearably close to her. It's was almost like he was sucking all the heat from the room. Every time he was close, it felt like ice exuded from his very essence.

"Then it appears you are the fool, if you think that I need to resort to torture or tricks to get what I need to know from you." Harkon said while smirking in her face. "Perhaps you are still not all that familiar with those you hunt. I can make you say or do anything I want. All it takes is a quick bite; enough to break the skin and coat my tongue with your blood then you are mine. And I do mean you will do anything I want you to do." He leaned in closer until his lips hovered just above her ear. Elvi bit her lip and tried not to shiver or squirm. His whisper in her ear made her spasm despite her efforts.

"Even kill all your Dawnguard friends."

Elvi's eyes shot open in horror. She hadn't...she hadn't considered that. She could very well be made into a thrall where she would have only one desire and that would be serving her master. Death was nothing compared to that. Harkon relished in the way that her heart was rapidly beating now. He was beginning to adore the sound. It had stayed at an irritatingly slow pace since they began to exchange words. Her courage was really arrogance in disguise. Sure, the vampire hunter didn't fear for her own life, well not enough to give away her information freely anyway. Yet like all typical "heroes", if you threatened the life of anyone close to them; they began to crack. In truth he had hoped he wouldn't have to resort such measures so he could play with her a little while longer. He liked her defiance and reluctance only so he could squash it! He wanted to watch that light of hope fade from her eyes and see it replaced with the delicious fear along with humbling submission he craved from her. This girl was both toxic and rejuvenating to him. Getting her to bend would be far less satisfying if she was a thrall.

"You would be awake and aware somewhere in the corner of your mind, but you would still have to obey. Watching helplessly as you slaughtered everyone close to you. So, should I spare you the boredom make you my mindless servant now or are you willing to comply? The thought of keeping you as a faithful pet is growing on me." Harkon sneered and Elvi truly didn't know what to do. If she told him, the Dawnguard would never forgive her. Yet if she remained silent she'd be forced to tell him anyway and who knows what else he would make her do. She couldn't imagine the living hell that it would be while being forced to obey some sick vampire's will.

Still, she would be playing into his hands and she didn't much care for that either. Harkon grew tired of her silence and to help her come to her decision he gently pushed her thick blonde hair away from her neck and leaned in close…

"Wait..." she said in an almost whisper. May the divines forgive her for this! Harkon smirked and for the first time he walked away from her to sit in a chair that was placed nearby to watch her confession. He'd be able to tell from that distance if she tried to lie to him. Besides it gave him an excuse to examine her exquisite body again. Elvi let out a low sigh and began in the softest voice she could. Convincing herself that he couldn't hear her and that she wasn't breaking the vow she was sworn to uphold.

"All I know is; you need three elder scrolls to complete the prophecy. Once you have them all, they will reveal the location of Auriel's bow, which is needed to block out the sun. I don't know the bow's location but I already had the dragon elder scroll, since I needed its secrets to defeat Alduin. After the moth priest read from the scroll that was all he said on the matter. Once he had all three he could decipher the rest. That's everything." Elvi finished; now feeling nauseous. It may not be that much information but it was more than she hoped Harkon would ever find out. He sat there in silence for some time which started to irritate Elvi to no end. He stroked his beard and looked at her as if he was trying to glimpse into her very soul. With a sigh he accepted that what Elvi had told him was the truth.

"Well, that's more anti climatic then I anticipated but its still progress, I suppose. Still...that remains my other question for you. Why did you return here when you knew the immediate danger that awaited you were you captured? If I'm not mistaken, the means had to be worth the risk, yes? Unless you desired to continue our delightful conversation, that is." He smirked and Elvi was reminded that his prediction had come to life though it was not in the way he expected. It was still an annoyance to know that she had proven him right to a small degree.

Elvi considered her next words carefully. He didn't have to know why they came back to the castle. It would just bring him even closer to finding the last scroll. That is if they were even correct.

"I thought it would be a good idea to scope out the place to see if you had found any information that had escaped us. See what we were up against and all that." Was the only believable thing Elvi could come up with. She prayed to all the Divines that it was enough for him to buy and all this would just be over. She could only be so lucky.

"Your eyes betray you when you lie, Elvi." Harkon grinned. Elvi bit her tongue in aggravation. Not only because she had been called out for her weak excuse but because it was the first time the vampire lord had addressed her by name and she hated hearing it on his tongue. Every word he spoke was laced with either venom or pretentious kindness. How she loathed him.

"Your well trained exterior hasn't quite mastered the art of falsehood. Now tell me the truth, if I recall correctly you and my rebellious daughter were found in the old courtyard. A place my accursed wife kept to most of her immortal life. As you already know, my wife fled this castle with the missing scroll many millenniums ago. You can't tell me there isn't a connection, so speak!" Harkon said with more authority and force than before. Shit. Looks like he was cleverer then she thought he was. How the hell was she going to dance around this one? Guess she couldn't...maybe if she down played it he would just dismiss their hunch or at the very least she could only hope they were wrong. With a shrug Elvi agreed:

"Okay, you're right. Serana mentioned that her mother told her that she was going to take the scroll in the last place you would everlook and she said you always hated the courtyard. Without anything else to go on, I thought we could take a look around to see if we could find a clue where she might have disappeared to. I doubted we'd trip over her there but it was the only thing I could think of. The whole hiding in plain sight appeal." Elvi said and watched Harkon's reaction closely.

"That courtyard and anything my wife so much as touched before her departure has been examined and calculated, hundreds of times. So to put it bluntly your risk was in vain...still…I suppose it's worth taking another look. Funny how my daughter found it prudent to share that information with you instead of myself." Harkon said bitterly as he tore his eyes away from Elvi to stare at the wall next to him. Valerica was one thing, they hadn't resembled anything close to a husband and wife for centuries but Serana was the only family he had left. He never thought she would turn on him too. Did she not see everything he was trying to do for their kind? For them? Though her rebellious and wayward attitude angered him, he knew he couldn't bring himself to cause her harm. Though he knew a proper punishment for her actions. One that would put her back under his control, for a while at least. He wished he didn't have to use force in order to keep her with him, but what other options did he have? She would see…once the prophecy was complete and everything turned out the way he said it would, she'd understand that all their sacrifices were worth it in the end. It was only a matter of time now.

"Why does she turn from me?" he whispered aloud in his moment of weakness. A fresh wave of disdain swept through him, knowing that the feeble mortal whose company she preferred was now chained, weak and helpless in his quarters. In any given second he could end the pathetic wench's life and there wasn't anything anyone could do to stop him. Yet she was willing to throw everything he had provided for her away for the lesser being. It made no sense to him. Maybe Serana had somehow become as ensnared in this Dragonborn's enchantment as he, though he would never give her any extra effort in her current state. So weak and easily bruised mankind was. Elvi summoned up the rest of her courage and decided to give him a piece of her mind while she still could.

"Maybe because you love your damned prophecy more than you do your own family!" Elvi shouted at top volume. She didn't even have time to blink before the chair Harkon had been sitting in was slung across the room and he was inches away from her face. His hand entangled in her hair and he yanked her head back with such force, Elvi was surprised it didn't snap her neck. He growled a fearsome growl and yelled in her face:

"What would you know of my love or devotion?! You haven't a clue how much I have sacrificed and provided for my family over the centuries! In this life as well as the previous one! Yet they both find the need to reject and turn against me! My plight may seem like a selfish act to you but all of it is for my kind and my daughter." If at all possible Harkon's red and yellow eyes became all the more monstrous. Good, maybe now she could end this. Hopefully the gates of Sovngarde would open for her once again. With the cockiest smirk she could muster Elvi stated:

"Yes, I could tell how much you cared about your daughter when the first thing you asked her after not seeing her in a thousand years was, 'I trust you have my elder scroll'." Elvi braced when Harkon growled again and even moved his hands in the perfect position to snap her neck. He didn't have to prove anything to her! Who was she? Nobody! Dragonborn or not, she was still a feeble mortal to him! Suddenly, he stopped his movements and chuckled when he realized that she was provoking him.

"Clever." he smirked at her. Elvi shuddered at the pure delight that came from his voice. Damn. Now what?! "Why do you wish to rush things, little one? I'm not about to end our fun when we are only just beginning."

Harkon looked her up and down once more. Being this close to her caused him to be engulfed with her heat again. Finally he noticed that she was wearing an amulet of Talos around her delicate neck an object he had missed before. No need for that. With minimum effort he yanked the chain off of her neck and tossed it across the room. Elvi really should have been focused on her life but she couldn't help but whimper at the loss of her amulet. It was the only thing she had left of Kodlak and it was her most treasured possession! He tilted her head roughly to one side and Elvi feared for the worst. Though what came next was not pain nor the sensation of his fangs breaking her skin but instead she sensed his full lips on her cheek. The slick feeling of his tongue trailing up her previous wound on her forehead followed. She shivered and tried to jerk away but he kept her head in place with his grip firmly on her chin. Again his tongue swept up and down her wound, keeping it open so that dribbles of her blood flooded his mouth.

"You taste like sunshine." Harkon said huskily in her ear. Just a taste of her blood exhilarated him. An emotion he hadn't felt in so long, he had all but forgotten what it felt like. Her blood almost burned on his tongue, searing the sensitive buds there. All blood had different tastes and hers was unlike any he had experienced before, nor was he accustomed to the burning feeling it left behind as it slid down his throat. Though his touch and his stare was as cold as ice, his breath was hot on Elvi's neck. She felt herself trembling uncontrollably and hated herself for it. It was both due to the coldness of the room and having Harkon so close to her, not being able to do a damn thing to stop him! She expected him to rip out her throat sooner than be would give her what was actually a tender kiss to her cheek. She could feel goosebumps forming where his tongue explored, though it stung fiercely. A sickness grew in her stomach at his random gesture but it was like him. Inconsistent and manic. Like he was unsure what he should do with her and the only thing he knew for sure was that he wanted her to squirm. Finding her voice, Elvi thought of a snide response.

"What would you know of sunshine?" Nothing but malice rang in her voice. Harkon remained insanely close to her and she could feel the dark laughter in his throat before it left his lips. Going from being delicate to painful, Harkon grabbed a fist full of her hair once more then forced her to look up at him.

"I know it is much like you, hazardous, burning and seemingly out of reach but even the sun bends to the night as you will bend to me before we are through." Harkon said. The predatory smile on his face seemed all the more intimidating with his sharpened teeth exposed and his hand held firmly in her hair. Now that Elvi had a closer look, she saw that his teeth were like Serana's. Most vampires had two fangs but they had four, with two smaller ones next to the dominate ones. An image of Harkon using those fangs to rip into her neck flashed through her mind and she couldn't help but gulp. The panicked heartbeat in Elvi's chest was escalating now. Good, the girl was realizing how little power she held in comparison to him. It only made him want her blood even more, but he stilled himself. Not just yet. Though her blood mercilessly called to him and his want was quickly turning into a need, he'd have to be patient.

"Tell me something Elvi, where does your hatred for my kind come from? A dear loved one killed by a vampire? Tell me you're not so cliché? That story has been told time and time again. Vanilla is the dullest of the flavors." Harkon gave her another toothy grin.

"No, nothing like that. I just find it cowardly to prey on the weak and rely on unnatural powers to get ahead in life. There is no honor in your kind." Elvi said with a snide smile. It felt rather nice to get that out and to a supposed king of the wretched race.

"A noble Nord to the end." Harkon chuckled. If Elvi didn't know any better she could swear she heard admiration in his voice. "Though...I think your train of thought would have changed were you to have accepted my offer. I had high hopes for you Miss Elvi Erissen. You can deny it all you want but I see a lust for power unlike any I have seen, hidden in your heart. You are only happy when you fight, when you hunt and when you kill. Every time you take a life you feel a thrill that you thrive on. It gives you strength. You're self -righteous outlook on life is the only way you can accept your darker appetites while claiming that it's for the 'greater good'. When really, you imprison yourself and what's worse, limit yourself. I could have freed you from your own prison, you would've been whole for the first time in your life. Free from guilt or worry, a force the likes of which this world has never seen! You can't tell me that it doesn't appeal to you."

"It doesn't." Elvi said firmly. She was over the edge with her anger, so much so she didn't care what happened next. How much pain came, or how quickly she died. All she wanted was to rip Harkon apart. She was appalled he would ever claim such things about her! Was this what he wanted to "discuss". Was it why his eyes dug relentlessly into hers? Was the "something he liked about her" this assumed nonsense? He truly was insane.

"And don't you dare act like you know me because you don't! My power is my own, I don't need to make deals with Daedra or blacken my soul just to be strong, nor does anyone! Your precious 'gift' that you go on about is a weakness; a curse not strength." Elvi said with all the hatred in her heart for him. May he spend the rest of his days in a cold, lonely and quiet corner of Oblivion. As expected Harkon delivered a strong blow to her stomach with his knee then grabbed her neck and began to slowly tighten his grip. He gave her enough room to breathe but it was like inhaling ash with every breath she took. Her vision began to blur again which caused Elvi to think that this was the end. His maniacal laughter filled her ears and it rang loudly in her head.

"You see, that is what I loath about you. You are so arrogant to look down on me for taking a power most people would kill for; die for. It just show's your ignorance in this world. Is your Dovah blood a weakness? That is an unnatural power that is both adored and feared is it not? No, your blood is an asset, as is mine. You cling to your beloved morals as a child does to their safety blanket. Too afraid to take a look behind their comfort zone to see the world for what it is. Where are your precious Divines now that you are chained and inches away from death? Have you heard so much as a whisper of praise from them? Not even for saving Tamriel from the world eater? What of the mortals you fight so hard to protect? Do they even know your name, and not your title as Dragonborn? The one I serve gave me what I needed for his worship. What do you have?"

"I don't need their praise. I am simply grateful for the life they gave me. They chose me for this calling. I plan on honoring that decision." Elvi said and felt his grip tighten against her throat.

"I chose you." Harkon said bitterly. A strange look lingering in his undead eyes. His very expression looked…dejected.

Elvi struggled for breath. Even if he let her go, she wasn't sure if she could muster up another witty remark. Nor really contemplate his last statement not that she was interested in understanding the mind of an insane vampire. True...what he said made sense but she wasn't about to change her beliefs anytime soon. This was who she was. Maybe that was what he didn't understand. Everyone felt the need or urge to sin or to act out on their darker urges but that didn't mean you had to. It took her awhile to realize that but now that she did, she was never going back.

From out of nowhere, he released her and to further her surprise she fell to the floor, landing on her knees. As she gasped for breath Elvi realized she had been freed from her chains. When she looked up at him he stated:

"For your triumphs in this world I will give you the honor of dying on your feet, like a true Nord." Harkon explained. Still irritated by her words, but it was okay. She would now learn. Elvi was unsure what she should do. He may have freed her, but she was still without a weapon to speak of. There was a small very faint glimmer of hope now so maybe, just maybe, she could at least break away from him. Where he had strangled her; her throat was aching but now all she could do was hope her thu'um was enough. The second she was standing upright she shouted:

"FUS RO DAH!"

Harkon made a valiant attempt to dodge but he was still caught by the power of her thu'um. It knocked him backwards, along with the other clutter near her. Elvi dove for the table that held all the torture equipment and the only thing she found that was suitable for battle was an elven dagger. She grabbed it in a hurry then whipped back around to dodge the upcoming blow Harkon sent towards her. She was surprised to see that Harkon had remained as his human self and hadn't transformed to the monstrous form he had once shown her. He didn't even draw the sword at his side. Sure she was weakened, but she couldn't help but feel insulted! She slashed her dagger at him but he dodged each strike with ease. Eventually, he caught her by her wrist, and squeezed so tight that she was forced to let go of the only weapon she had. When she brought her free hand up in an attempt to deck him in the face he caught it too. Which left her pinned in his grasp. Harkon relished in the look for terror he had finally brought to Elvi's beautiful face before he pulled her in close, jerked her head to one side and at long last sunk his fangs into her neck.

Elvi let out a scream at the unfathomable pain that filled her entire body. She tried to push him off of her but it was like moving a mountain, he wouldn't budge. She clung onto his broad shoulders and shoved as long as she could until all her strength was taken from her. Eventually Elvi let her hands fall to her sides and her sky blue eyes rolled into the back of her head. The searing pain was slowly being replaced with a soothing feeling. Almost as though she was being paralyzed. She would have said a small prayer in her head but her fogged over mind couldn't think of one nor the words she needed. To make matters even worse, she heard Harkon moan as he was feeding on her at an agonizingly slow pace. He couldn't help it. Her blood was rejuvenating. His first good mouthful was enough to sate his thirst for a decade, he was sure. It was like liquid fire, it both burned and soothed his throat all at once. It tasted almost like a powerful elixir that only the Divines themselves could ever enjoy and the only thing in the world that mattered to him in those moments was tasting more of her. He had to force himself to stop when he felt her heartbeat fading. After he gasped for unneeded breath, he savored as much of Elvi's blood as he could by licking the remainder off his teeth and lapping up the little that flowed out of the wounds he had placed on her. With a quick, almost appreciative kiss to her neck, he let her body fall to the stone floor.

It felt like an eternity to Elvi before she felt the cold stone on her skin. Though she was half out of it, the terrifying reality returned to her mind. She was going to die. The great slayer of Alduin, the destroyer of the dark brotherhood and Harbinger of the Companions was going to die alone, nearly helpless due to a vampire bite in some secluded castle. She never feared death before but now that she was so close to it, a tear rebelliously fell from her eye. She was never going to see her shield brothers and sisters again. Serana, Isran, Celann…no one. Everything she loved in this world was forever out of her grasp. All she could ever hope for in life was the honor of reaching Sovngarde but she couldn't help but think it was too soon. It shouldn't be this way. With her death came the fall of an era…in those quiet moments Elvi knew that without her…the Dawnguard would fail. Harkon bent down to the floor next to her to whisper into her ear.

"Now Dovahkiin, I am a forgiving man, and now you have two options. You can die here, along with your morals. Or you can swallow your pride and accept the gift I am willing to share with you and only you. I will not offer again. Now, will you accept me and all I have to teach you?"

Elvi couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. The only thing she felt was the panic taking over. She didn't want to say goodbye but how could she accept his offer? After all she had done to stop the vampires, could she just throw it all away? At least then she would be alive...sort of...and she could see to it that the damned prophecy was never completed! Harkon had to lean in even closer to her to hear her next word. Even with his elevated hearing, the Dragonborn's voice was barely audible. "...yes..."

Not so high and mighty now, eh Dovahkiin? Ah, submission, what a glorious sight to behold. With a satisfied smirk Harkon gently pulled Elvi up so that all her weight laid against his chest. As her head fell back against him, he savored his last glimpse of those sky blue beauties that looked up at him, knowing that if she survived the transformation they would cease to be. If she perished also acceptable and very likely. Even if she died this night the fact that her holier than thou tune changed the second she was confronted with death was the point he wanted to get across to her. She was fleeting while he was eternal. Her convictions were strong but breakable. Harkon did look forward to teaching her a sufficient way to live however. It was in his maker's hands now.

Harkon brought his wrist to his lips and he used his fangs to bite the main vein in his wrist before bringing it to Elvi's mouth. Through half opened eyes Elvi watched the display and when the blood was brought to her she turned her head away from him. She didn't know that was involved, but then again she had drank Aela's blood all that time ago to become a werewolf, so she shouldn't have as surprised as she was. With a huff Harkon used his free hand to lightly push her head back in the correct direction but didn't force her. She had to do it. She had to choose it. When she was seconds away from certain death, Elvi opened her mouth and let one of the drops of blood slide down her throat. It was enough for Harkon, so he gently propped the back of her head with his hand and brought his wrist to her. She pressed her lips against the wound and reluctantly swallowed the blood that fell into her mouth.

"Drink." Harkon urged and for whatever reason his voice comforted her so she obeyed his order. Licking then sucking on the wound to get as much blood as she could from it. Harkon's vampiric blood was very different than the blood she had consumed to be a werewolf. At the time, the blood was hot while tasting of nothing but metal and earth. It almost made her gag. Now...it was hot too but thick and satisfying. She felt her strength slowly returning to her which was a great relief. Yet all her mind could fixate on was the blood that coated her tongue. It was consuming. Her heart was beating so rapidly she thought it was going to explode at any moment yet she couldn't bring herself to stop. The vampire's blood still tasted like blood which really was the only way to describe the life giving liquid, but it had all the tastes of blood combined. Sweet, salty and sour. It tingled throughout her entire body. Almost as though she had lost control of herself, she sat up slightly then gripped Harkon's wrist, as if she was afraid he'd take it away from her. Harkon couldn't help but chuckle. He hadn't expected her to take to it as well as she was. It was actually rather…

"Drink as much as you will, Elvi. Don't stop until you're satisfied." He encouraged and closed his eyes once he finished speaking. For mortals losing blood could be an unpleasant or even life threatening experience. For vampires on the other hand, it was almost sensual. As his blood left his body it sent shivers up and down his core and adrenaline along with endorphins took over to compensate for the loss. When she released him, he yanked his wrist away and stood. Now to see if she would survive or not. Considering how much of his blood she consumed, it was doubtful but he enjoyed the experience too much to stop her. The more she had in her system, the more it would take over. He was already preparing himself to peel her deceased remains off of the floor.

Elvi couldn't control the bloodcurdling scream that escaped her lips. She felt her body twist and contort with the immense pain running through her. She felt her very bones move and shift in different positions but in her agony she couldn't place what parts of her was changing. If her heart was beating fast before, it was standing still in comparison to the speed it accelerated now. She knew it was going to burst any second and even all of this would've been in vain! She had become accustomed to pain but this level was shattering. After what felt like an eternity, the pain disappeared as quickly as it came and the second she was given relief she took one last intake of breath, before returning to her unconscious state. Her heart returned to a normal speed to show her survival. Harkon studied her for a moment then bent down to her level to check her pulse inquisitively. Before his eyes her skin slowly faded to a snow white color and her once pink lips turned a ruby red. Her already high cheekbones elevated and he couldn't help but look at her in disbelief. She was alive. His first successful turning since his creation all those countless years ago. Excellent.

After a few more moments of contemplation on what to do with the little Dovahkiin now, the door to his chambers burst open and he was filled with the sight of his daughter rushing into the room. Both of her hands were raised and ready to fire a spell at will. Seemed she was willing to fight him just to save her beloved mortal. Hmph, too bad for her that she was far too late. Serana's eyes shifted from him to her supposed friend lying on the floor. She sighed and dropped to her knees next to her. She looked Elvi up and down with a worried expression before asking him through gritted teeth:

"What did you do to her?!"

"I gave her a choice." was the only answer he provided. He really must correct his daughter's need to counsel him. Serana couldn't believe her eyes. Everything she adored about Elvi revolved around her mortality. Her eyes, her strength, her warmth and kindness...now she was trapped and changed like she was. Despite Elvi's high regard for the Dawnguard, Serana doubted they would accept her now. This was all his doing...a demented plot to torture her. Turning Elvi into the very thing she vowed to hunt. He probably did it for his own sick thrill. She was devastated. Elvi wouldn't last like this. All she could focus on was her friend...her only friend. Damn the prophecy, she had to make sure Elvi was okay before ever considering it again! She flashed her eyes up to her father and said firmly:

"I will never forgive you for this."

Harkon knew Serana would inevitably return to him with hatred in her heart and he saw said hatred plainly in her eyes. It was of no concern, he knew it all sprang from the Dawnguard now passed out on the floor. The Dawnguard who was now in his possession, whether either of them acknowledged it or not. Elvi was now his to use as he saw fit. Let's see how far the vampire hunters progressed without their star member working for them. Harkon had, had his daughter turn from him before but it never lasted. With the fortune of eternity such things as grudges and resentment were trivial. Fleeting. At least among family.

"Then you will never forget it. It is you who betrayed my trust, Serana. All for this..." he gestured to the still unconscious Elvi beneath him. To his further disgust, he noted that Serena was gripping the Dovahkiin's hand for support. "…pathetic being. If you desire to leave so badly you are free to, but I doubt your little friend will survive immortality for very long without your guidance, for she will not receive any from me, unless she begs for it. In case you didn't already assume as much, you will not be permitted with either of the elder scrolls nor allowed any knowledge concerning the prophecy's progression. I will end the tyranny of the sun, Serana. Nothing will stop me. You'd be wise to remember that."

At that he stepped around the duo and exited the room, leaving his daughter and new progeny alone. At least now he could ensure a few moments of peace from his foes. The Dawnguard wouldn't recover from this quickly nor would the elder scrolls be so easily taken from him again. Serana sighed and decided the only thing in her power to do was to try and make this change as easy on Elvi as she possibly could. She gently picked her up and mindlessly took Elvi to her room. It was amazing how her father managed to ruin anything and everything decent in her life. She wouldn't let him take Elvi from her too. When she got to her room, she laid Elvi down on her still made bed then sat in a chair next to it. All she could do now was wait until she woke up.