U.O.T.W. Chapter 56 The Thirst Night

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    As Sotek laid there on his bed, one thing struck him more than anything else... Aela was right, he was exhausted. He replayed events trying to find or remember some clue he missed as to why the Shadowscales were after him but slowly his tiredness overtook his mind and he fell asleep. A good few hours later he was woken up by the Harbinger.

    “I need you to come with me”.

     

    The Harbinger led Sotek outside to the courtyard which was smothered in a silvery sheen from the two moons that had already rose way up in the sky. Farkas, Vilkas and Aela were in the training area waiting for the Harbinger’s and Sotek’s arrival. The moment Sotek walked through the doors Aela froze as her eyes fixed on his. They seemed to be full of fire and life. A single nod from the Harbinger snapped her into action and she silently and hastily walked towards the Underforge with Farkas following behind. She approached the shrine doorway and opened it. Sotek watched it shut behind the two companions with a peculiar interest.

     

    “In a few minutes we will follow them. She needs time to prepare”. As the Harbinger spoke, he watched Soteks curiosity grow with every passing second.

     

    “She needs time? Time for what?” Sotek already knew the answer, he could feel it in the very air.

     

    Kodak’s attention stayed fixed on the secret stone entrance as he quietly hushed the young Argonian.

    “Patience Sotek”.

     

    A few minutes later Farkas came back outside. His whole demeanour seemed sullen as if he was weary of an imminent, oppressive and dark event.

    “She’s ready”.

     

    With that the Harbinger led Sotek and the two brothers inside the Under forge.

     

    Sotek easily recognised Aela’s werewolf form ‘Red’. The moment he laid eyes upon her, his stomach tightened. He could feel his heart hammering like it was desperately trying to break out of his chest. Red let out a low soft growl as if she also recognised him. He slowly walked over towards her and rested his sweaty palm against the side of her face. She closed her eyes the moment she felt his hand stroke her fur.

    “Hello again”.

     

    Red’s eyes flicked open and locked on to him as she shuffled towards him slightly.

    “Ggrrrr”.

     

    Kodlak approached them as he drew a long thin dagger like blade. Both Red and Sotek turned towards him in alarm. Sotek regained his composure first and gently tugged on Red’s forearm.

    “Steady girl… Steady…”

     

    Vilkas watched with fascination at the relationship between Sotek and Red. He found it hard to believe that they’ve only known each other for such a short length of time.

    “It took her ages to let me get that close. Even now she gets funny with us”.

     

    Sotek chuckled slightly despite the nausea which as filling his stomach.

    “We’ve an… Understanding. Don’t we girl”.

     

    She softly growled at him as if to answer before holding her arm out which the Harbinger held the knife to before cutting her arm just above the wrist. Her blood spilled into the bowl.

    “She has decided to offer you her blood. By drinking it you will become a werewolf. I know your Argonian, but this by passes all immunity. You have an idea of what we are, and that most seek a cure. This is your choice”.

     

    Sotek looked at the bowl of her blood, he felt sick and queasy. Even his scales lost their sharp green tint. Surprising everyone, he turned sharply to the stone doorway and rapidly moved towards it.

    “I need air…”

     

    Without another word he left the cave and sat on the steps in the courtyard. He lowered his head until his chin rested against his chest while his breathing became shallow and rapid. Once again his hand held tightly onto the item he had kept in his pocket. He felt dizzy, he could feel his stomach trying to vomit while his palms were all sweaty. Fear gripped him like a vice. He looked up to see the Harbinger and Farkas who were both standing there watching him. Vilkas soon joined them. The three Companions could clearly see how much Sotek was shaking.

    “Now, you didn’t act this way when the two assassins threatened you so I’m guessing there’s more to this”. The Harbinger stated as he sat next to him. “You don’t have to, she will understand”.

     

    “No, you don’t understand… None of you do!” Sotek didn’t look at any of them he just stared blankly at the ground.

     

    “Then explain it to us”. He felt a hand on his shoulder, a touch he knew so well. Looking up into Aela’s eyes he could see she was ok with his choice. “I thought you wanted it. But it’s ok, I understand”.

     

    “You don’t though”. Sotek shook his head at her, took a deep breath then stood up. “I do want it. You know it, all of you. Hell, even Hircine himself I expect…  That’s the problem”.

     

    Aela was confused but this time so was everyone else. Sotek looked at her then went to where she fell ages before.

    “Here… Right here she fell!” As he spoke he pointed to Aela singling her out. Without even meaning to he started raising his voice as he became powered with fear and anger. “She nearly died because he lost control. Her blood spilt here, right here! All because of a weak pathetic Argonian couldn’t keep control. Over there a dummy was completely destroyed because he lost control. But that time he was a fighter, I wasn’t weak or pathetic… he was trained to kill”.

     

    “If he does thiss, and believe me he ssoo wants to do it... Who will sstop me if he ever losse control?... Who?”

     

    “He? oh, 'he' as in you? Sotek if you ever did, then we will stop you..” Farkas stated as he stood next to Vilkas. They both looked at him hard.

     

    “You two will sstop me! Really...” Sotek put his hand in his pocket and for the first time produced the item he hung on to so dearly then slammed it down on the table.  “And what happenss if you don’t”.

     

    Then he went around Jorrvaskr and walked quietly through the town. Aela was the first to pick it up, a old dirty piece of blooded leather with some golden broken fitting hanging off one side. She recognised it instantly. She held it in her hand examining it for a few seconds then she dropped it back on the table in shock. The Harbinger glanced down at it, he too recognised it by the trimming on it.

     

    He turned to Aela who stood there stunned.

    “Aela, it’s yours. It’s a piece of your old armour from his trial”.

     

    She snatched it back up from the table.

    “No it’s not. It belongs to him now”. Then she went looking for Sotek.

     

     After a few minutes she saw him sitting on a step leading into the water by Dragons reach.

    “Hey, you ok?” She asked bluntly.

     

    “Huh? Oh yea I guess”.  Sotek stood up as she approached him.

     

    She walked up to him, then spoke softly so the guards couldn’t hear them.

    “I don’t mind that you didn’t take my blood, that’s ok. But don’t use me as an excuse. That’s not fair to me. If you don’t want to then don’t, ok?”

     

    “Aela, you’re not an excuse. Believe me I want to but...”

     

    She held her old armor piece in her hand then thrust it into his chest.

    “This belongs to you now… It did since that day. That’s why you won’t stand against me isn’t it?”

     

    “Yes…” Sotek spoke quietly, unable to fight her off.

     

    “Then don’t use me as an excuse. If you don’t want to then simply don’t. But if you want to, and I really want you to, then I will stop you. I will, not them,  me... But you gotta do the same for me! If I ever go like that then you gotta stop me…” As she spoke her eyes swelled up from the emotions as she gritted her teeth together.

     

    “Aela, do you go like that?” As he whispered he held the side of her face and felt her cheek slowly rub against his palm.

     

    As she replied to his question she took his hand and pressed it against her chest almost like it was resting against her heart. “Vilkas told me what you guys talked about, about me. So you know I can go like that around spring. We’ll look after each other, me and you. You and me!”

     

    Sotek closed his eyes and once again battled with his emotions. He finally fought them back and regained full control of his stomach.

    “Ok, we have a deal”. Sotek then followed Aela back to the shrine. Aela opened it up then the two of them walked inside.

     

    He stood there looking at the blood in the stone bowl.

    “You promise me, you will stop me if I ever lose control?”

     

    Aela solemnly swore her oath as she smiled slightly at him.

    “I promise, I will stop you…” Then she stood next to him holding him, she expected him to cup a small amount of blood with his hands, but he didn’t.

     

    He lent both hands on either side of the bowl, then submerged his face right in Red’s blood and drank deeply, as much and as fast as he could almost gorging himself on the red life giving beastly liquid.

     

    His stomach suddenly felt like it was on fire while his eyes became totally out of focus. He became dizzy and disorientated as he collapsed on the ground. At the same time all his limbs felt they were being torn off. The pain caused him to double up in agony. Aela knew something was wrong she screamed out for the Harbinger. Soteks eyes turned yellow as his skin lost its richness as he turned a pale green. He was sweating as he started burning up. Shaking violently he started trying to vomit, but his stomach released nothing. He passed out nearly screaming from the pain.

     

    The Harbinger came running in followed by the other two companions.

    “Oh hell, he drank it!” Farkas exclaimed. Then he looked at the bowl which was now nearly empty. “God Aela, how much did he drink?”

     

    Aela was on the floor trying to hold him, but he was shaking so wildly she found it impossible.

    “He’s burning up, do something!” She screamed.

     

    In the space of a few minutes Farkas and Vilkas literally dropped him in a tub half full of cold water. Aela kept his head above the surface so he couldn’t hit it against the sides of the bath. Over a few seconds his violent shaking slowed, then came to a stop. He just lay there unconscious although his breathing was now steady and calm. Under the Harbingers instructions, Farkas and Vilkas picked him up between them and carried him to Aela’s room.

     

    On top of a joist in Jorrvaskr, a large rainbow coloured butterfly sat and watched with great interest. Sheogorath looked down at Sotek and whispered to himself.

    “Oh splendid. Now it’s time for some real fun”.

     

    That night there was a second unexpected visitor, this time however the uninvited guest visited the Harbinger. Kodlak, who was asleep had a strange dream. He dreamt he was a werewolf out on the hunting grounds. A vision of the blood moon suddenly filled the night sky as his masters voice boomed across the land.

    “Listen, and listen well... I have a task for you my hound...”

     

    An hour later Kodlak awoke shaking and sweating profusely. He was burning up but at the same time a cold shiver ran down his spin. Soon afterwards he exited the hall of Jorrvaskr and made his way to the shrine under the Skyforge. In his hand was a vial, which he held on to tightly. “Hircine, I won’t argue with you, you know that. I just wish I knew why”. Minutes later he returned to the hall and hid the vial in a secret compartment which was even hidden from Tilma’s prying eyes.

     

    The next morning Kodlak wondered if it was a dream. He checked the compartment and true enough there in front of him was the vial. Kodlak muttered to himself as he closed the secret hiding place.

    "Why?"

     

    Authors Note.

    I’ve been playing TES games from Morrowind. That was a time when Argonians had disease resistance. As I’m an old Argonian player, I’ve included that in the story.

     

     

Comments

9 Comments   |   Aela The Huntress likes this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 1, 2016
    Fixed.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 1, 2016
    Fixed Paragraph 31 along with Author's Note.
    Spring.... No Comment.....
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  April 1, 2016
    Great chapter, cant wait for spring to come..^^
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 16, 2015
    Both Hircine and Sheogorath are both major players with regards to Sotek. They haven't finished with him by a long way yet...
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  July 16, 2015
    Really cool chapter. I like how everybody has different takes on the Beast Blood. Looking forward to the next one. Very interesting that he didn't change right away and ah, Sheogorath. Always butting  his head where it doesn't belong. Or, well it does, in...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 16, 2015
    Hi Mathias
    Welcome to U.O.T,.W. I hope you like what you've read so far. Reading other peoples work is a really good way to help improve your own work.
  • ShyGuyWolf
    ShyGuyWolf   ·  July 16, 2015
    This is, i believe the first time I read your story.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 16, 2015
    Oh for howling Out Loud... I read this three times to check it.
    *Slaps back of head.
  • Meli
    Meli   ·  July 16, 2015
    A good chapter, and sometimes a difficult one for your characters
    I think there's going to be a major tantrum at some point, not sure if it will be Hircine or Sheogorath lol
    A couple of little things..
    Other there a dummy was completely...  more