Chapter 85
---Victor POV, Several Days Later---
After a series of minor delays collecting the Daedric Items, Julnirsov and I finally arrived at Dimhollow Crypt. Spotting the women’s camp a short walk away from the entrance, we noticed several scorch marks on the ground from where they presumably encountered a group of vampires. Unsurprised by this, as they were after Serana and her Elder Scroll as well, I was happy to see that Cleare had done her job properly.
Having Julnirsov touch down near their camp, my dragonic ally decided to take a nap while we explored the crypt. Thanking him for his continued assistance, I headed down the slope toward camp. Leaping into my arms, as I strolled in, Mylene began showering me with affection and kisses.
“I missed you so much, Victor!”, Mylene informed me, “Please do not make me part from your side again. While I did enjoy girl time with the others, I hated being unable to see you every day. It felt like I was a caged bird all over again…”
“I am sorry, Mylene, I did not take that into consideration when I divvied up the tasks. My assumption was that you would enjoy a bit of time away from me.”, I apologized, as I scooped her up and carried her over to the fire like a princess, “From now on, if you or anyone else has issues with matters like this please tell me.”
“If that is the case…I would like to stay with you as well.”, Roxanne remarked, sheepishly raising her hand, “It is not the same without you around.”
“Alright, the two of you are more than welcome to tag along with me in the future.”, I promised, as I took a seat between Deirdre and Roxanne, “Now then, I want to hear all about your solo adventure!”
While I had already received a full report from Cleare, I wanted to hear their own retelling of events and see the excitement on their faces. Taking turns telling me about everything that had happened since we parted ways in Whiterun, they embellished events a bit to add a bit of spice to their story. Getting me up to speed on everything, Lucoa proceeded to nervously hand over the Elder Scroll to me.
“I know you mentioned something about researching the Elder Scroll for some reason, but I cannot remember exactly why. Can you refresh my memory?”, Lydia asked, with a troubled look.
“You are concern I will follow in the Dwemer’s footsteps and search for a method to achieve immortality, right?”, I stated, fully supporting their reasoning for destroying the Tower of Mzark.
Nodding their heads in unison, everyone held reservations about me researching the Elder Scrolls. Fearful of what I might get myself into, if I did not have a good reason for looking into them, my fiancées wanted me to shelf the subject and move on to something a bit safer.
“I figured that would be the case, but let me assure all of you, I fully acknowledge and understand the dangers this subject has. Manipulating space and time can be fraught with dangers that even I cannot begin to fathom.”, I conceded, happy they were comfortable being forthright with me, “As for why I wish to study them, there are three main reasons. Firstly, there are many races out in space who possess the means and technology to manipulate time, space, and reality itself. I need to be prepared to face those threats on equal footing and these scrolls can help me do just that.”
“And the other two reasons?”, Mylene asked.
“This knowledge will afford me the option to restore your youth and lengthen all your lifespans to match mine. As I have mentioned to all of you, my lifespan is significantly longer than all of yours. While most of you would be lucky to reach one hundred, I will continue living till I am well past ten billion years old.”, I said, looking at my fiancées, “If I obtain this knowledge, I can ensure that we grow old together and pass on to the next life as a family.”
Staring at me for a moment, to ensure this was not a joke, when they realized I was serious my fiancées began to tear up. Understanding now that this knowledge was meant to ensure they could walk alongside me till the day we died, they were all quickly overcome by their emotions. Sobbing loudly while holding one another, my fiancées were astounded by how far I was willing to go to keep our family together.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think you would go this far for us, let alone me. When you made that promise, I assumed it was just to console me fragile heart and convince me to take a leap of faith into your loving arms. To think…you would go to another world…just to fulfill your promises to all of us.”, Mylene choked up, “Words cannot begin to describe how happy I am. Now more than ever I am certain I made the right decision to become your fiancée.”
“Agreed!”, Deirdre whimpered, “To risk erasure just so we could stay together forever...you are truly every bit the man I thought you were.”
“No one has ever gone so far me…”, Olivia cried, “Thank you for taking me as your fiancée!”
“Well actually, in just under two months, we will be calling each other husband and wives.”, I remarked, projecting the very spot I wanted to wed them on, “It took quite a lot longer than I wanted, but I found the perfect spot for our unforgettable wedding venue.”
Quickly quieting down, my fiancées focused on the series of images I was showing them. Falling in love with the spot, just as I had, their tears turned to cheers of excitement. Unbelievably happy to have an official date for our wedding now, it was very apparent to me that I had dragged our engagement on for too long.
“And here I was thinking we would be fiancé and fiancées forever.”, Angelica laughed, wiping her tears away, “You said the ceremony will be in just under two months?”
“Yes, I already booked the venue and had wedding invitations dispersed to our families. All that is left is picking out your wedding dresses, deciding on a wedding theme, and choosing what beverages and foods we will have.”, I said, “I leave those decisions in your very capable hands.”
“If we were not on the top of an icy cold mountain. I would drag you into our tent and show you just how happy I am right now.”, Mylene remarked, as she gingerly cupped my scrotum, “Do not make any plans tonight, you are all ours.”
Nodding their heads, my other fiancées were in agreement with what Mylene had planned. Wanting to get the second scroll and put this frosty place behind us, my lovers quickly started taking down camp and preparing to move out.
---An Hour Later---
Cutting our way through a large host of vampires and their servants, our group eventually entered the large cavern where Serana and the Elder Scroll were sealed. Stopping everyone from entering the space, I motioned for them to stay quiet before pointing to the purple flame altar in the center of the room.
“There is a group of Master Vampires here.”, I warned them, telepathically, “Be wary of their vampiric charms, your armor will not protect you. Olivia, in the event someone falls victim to it, use your Holy Magic to dispel the magic.”
“Understood!”, Olivia acknowledged, with a firm nod.
Leading our group down to the altar, the vampires turned toward us as we drew near. Uncertain if we were with the Dawnguard, Vigilant of Stendarr, or another group entirely, they immediately choose to treat us as a threat. Attempting to quickly encircle us, I used the Force to send them all skipping across the cold floor.
“Alok Krein Yol!”, I shouted, channeling my dragonic magics
(AN: The shout means Rising Sun Fire respectively.)
Flooding the area in front of me with a sea of solar flames, the Master Vampires bellowed agonizing screams which drew their remaining servants to us. Turning to face them as they appeared, the women burned and tore apart every foe that drew near. Slaughtering every last one of them in a matter of minutes, I had the ladies destroy the stone gargoyles in the chamber before meeting me at the altar.
“Is the Elder Scroll further in?”, Lucoa asked, not seeing a containment unit or a scroll anywhere in sight.
“No, it is currently in the possession of the Pure Blood Vampire slumbering beneath our feet.”, I remarked, pushing the last of five pillar into place, “Alright, stand back and watch the magic happen.”
Racing down channels carved into the floor, the altar’s flames quickly reached the pillars I moved, igniting the beacons on top of them. Feeling the ground beneath us begin to shake violently, the altar began to rise out of the ground revealing the Pure-Blood Vampire slumbering within. Sensing the immense power she wielded, Aela, Deirdre, Lucoa, Lydia, and Roxanne, all readied themselves believing she would attack us.
“…*yawn*…where am I?”, Serana inquired, as she stretched her body for the first time in several thousand years, “Who are you people?”
“My name is Victor von Stark.”, I answered, before motioning to the others, “These are my fiancées Aela, Angelica, Clarice, Deirdre, Lucoa, Mylene, Olivia, and Roxanne; and my housecarl Lydia.”
Perking up at the mention of being called my fiancée, Aela shot the others a satisfied grin. Rolling their eyes in response, all of them knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Having intertwined herself well in the group, everyone saw her as an invaluable member of our family who would fight to the death alongside us.
“Quite an unusual group of women you have there.”, Serana said, focusing on Aela and Lucoa, “You are a werewolf, and you…you are a dragon?”
“That is correct.”, Angelica replied, as the other women moved in front of Aela and Lucoa, “Is that a problem?”
“No, I was just commenting that it is an unusual sight is all.”, Serana answered, stepping out of her coffin, “My name is Serana, it is a pleasure to meet all of you. Do you mind telling me what year it is? Everything kind of started running together after a few hundred years.”
“It is currently the two hundredth and one year of the fourth era.”, Lydia advised, as the women sheathed their weapons, “When where you sealed in here?”
“I do not remember the year precisely, but it was sometime in the second era.”, Serana told her, as she began to regain her senses, “So why exactly did you free me? Are you allies of my father, or vampire hunters here to slay me?”
Given the dozens of vampire ash piles scattered across the area, I understood why she might think that way. Quickly clarifying that we were not here in conjunction with either group, I pointed to the Elder Scroll on her back and informed her that was why we were here.
“You are after the Elder Scroll?”, Serana remarked, with a suspicious look, “I can assure you, if you try and take it, things will not end well for you.”
“Knowing full well that your bloodthirsty father is after your blood and the scroll, do you really want to keep ahold of it?”, I inquired.
Surprised that I knew that much about her situation, her suspicion turned to curiosity as I showed no signs of being charmed by her father or his subordinates.
“So my father is still hunting for the scroll and I?”, Serana asked.
“Very much so, the piles of ash you see around us belonged to his men.”, I stated, pulling a Daedric Artifact from my storage, “Maybe this will explain who I am allied with.”
Recognizing the Mace of Molag Bal, Serana appearance paled a bit fearing I would use it on her. Taking a step back, she braced herself for a grueling fight.
<Listen well my child, heed Victor’s words and aid him to the best of your ability. Should you refuse, I will strip the gift I have bestowed upon you from the very marrow in your bones!> (Molag Bal)
“I understand, Lord Molag Bal!”, Serana acknowledged, proceeding to bow her head to me, “My apologies, I did not realize you were Lord Molag Bal’s champion.”
“Do not bother with formalities, I would rather we converse as equals.”, I said, stowing the mace away, “Now then, how about we get you caught up on everything over some mead and roasted meat?”
“Sounds good to me. I have not eaten anything in several thousand years.”, Serana laughed.
Having everyone gather around, I proceeded to use Teleportation Magic to transfer us to Solitude.