Nathan's fangs pressed to Jack's warm skin hard enough that they almost broke the soft skin beneath. However, just as his instincts told him to bite harder, he jerked back. Covering his mouth with his hand, he tried to suppress a soft whine as he scooted back from him. He felt the hungry aggression under his own skin, clawing at the surface to feed. Dashing to his feet inhumanly fast, Nathan rushed from the room and let his instincts run wild. Unable to keep the beast contained, he fell into the darkness of it. Stalking down the hallway, he walked among the shadows. The castle was so dimly lit at night that it was almost too easy to move without being seen. His keen ears and eyes scanned the darkness before he overheard a woman humming in a bedroom. She'd left the door ajar, allowing him to turn invisible as he opened it more. The maid looked up from making the bed, her wide eyes on the door that seemed too slowly open on its own. Shaking her head, she finished fluffing the pillow. Straightening up, she gasped as the door slowly closed and locked. Backing up against the wall, she grabbed her candle and stared off in the dark for any sign of movement.

Walking up to her, Nathan silently blew the candle out to send her into complete darkness. She dropped the candle and took a breath to scream, but he grabbed her neck and squeezed it just hard enough that she couldn't vocalize it. Pushing her up against the wall gently, he pressed himself against her and brought his lips to her throat. He could smell her fear. Could smell the warmth of her blood under her skin. Licking his lips, he brought his fangs to her throat and bit her. She tensed, her hands clawing at his arms until he started to feed. As he fed, her fingers stopped clawing at him and caressed his arms down to his elbows and waist. Her soft whines of distress turned into soft moans of pleasure. His grip on her neck loosened, his knuckles caressing her cheek to calm her more. She tilted her head back at his touch, exposing her neck more. When he finally removed his fangs from her neck, she weakly fell into arms. She'd lost so much blood that her body didn't even have the strength to function or stand. Picking her up, he gently laid her across the bed with little to no effort. Checking her neck, he made sure that the bite was clean and that he'd left no trace of blood on her. He wasn't a messy eater.

After he was sure that she'd be ok, he slipped back out of the room. Making his way back into Jack's room, he sighed to himself. He didn't know if he'd have the strength to keep resisting his blood. There was so much power in it that it teased him. Walking to the bed, he pulled the extra bear pelt blanket off and gently draped it over Jack's body. Even if Jack was sleeping before the fireplace, he wanted him to be warm. As twisted up as he felt, he felt like Jack was suffering enough. Strolling to the bed, he stared at it and swallowed. As tired mentally as he felt, his body felt like it was fine. Laying down on the bed, he stared up at the ceiling feeling like a distant shell of himself. He hated himself and what he was becoming. The more he thought he had control. The more he realized that he didn't. Taking a large gulp from his daedric wine, he shook his head with disappointment. He had to stay focused. He'd help the Dragonborn. Then he'd take him and the Elder Scroll that he might have to Harkon. Drinking a bit heavily, he finally numbed himself out enough to pass out. His dream was a pleasant one. He was fishing with his dad on a little boat. They didn't talk. They just smiled at each other from time to time.

It was a good dream, until something hit his foot and made his instincts flare up. Snatching the pillow, he put it over his face to hide his glinting eyes and extending fangs. From the foot of the bed, he heard Jack tell him as he shuffled around. "Nate, get up!" Composing himself, he muffled groggily out through it. "No... I'm good." Nate felt literally dead to the world. Jack didn't give up. Grabbing his legs, he pulled him to the edge of the bed until his feet limply hit the floor. For a scrawny guy, he was pretty strong and persistent. Nate groaned but didn't move an inch. He only gotten himself to sleep an hour or two ago. Jack kicked his foot lightly, telling him sternly. "I don't have time to waste! Get up!" Rolling his eyes at the ironic statement that was for a vampire like himself, he muffled out through the pillow flatly. "What time is it...?" Nathan didn't hear an answer and thought that Jack had left, until he heard sloshing water. His concern made his fangs and eyes change as Jack suddenly ordered him dryly. "It's time for you to get up! NOW!" Removing the pillow off his face, Nate stared up at Jack who was holding the bucket of water that had been used to keep the wine bottles cold last night. Rolling his eyes at how childish that was, he said shortly in return. "That means it's too early..."

Lifting his head a bit, he squinted from the bright sunlight that filled the bedroom, running his hand through his bangs to push them off his face. Looking back up at the bucket of water, he thought about threatening him, until he felt his stomach surge. Quickly sitting up, he held up a finger to Jack as a gesture for him to wait, before sliding off the bed to his knees. Yanking the toilet bucket beside the bed closer to himself, Nathan heaved up all of last nights wine. Bracing over the bucket on all fours, he worried that blood would come out... but it didn't. The blood and Daedric wine didn't come up. Just the regular wine. Nathan hung his head a bit, his body was starting to reject things now. Did Escher's body do the same? He had so many questions that he couldn't answer. Jack set the water bucket beside him, and Nate shifted to lean over it instead. Washing his face and neck, he winced and groaned out over his shoulder seriously to Jack. "Go. I'll catch up... After I'm done throwing up..." Sighing reluctantly, Jack told him simply. "Fine. I'll have the Jarl bring you something." Noticing the bottles of wine that had been removed from the water bucket, he crawled over to them to snag one, answering casually. "Don't bother. I got this..."

Jack stopped by the bedroom door, asking him curiously. "What are you doing?" Biting the cork off the bottle, Nathan spit it across the room before taking a long swig. His head was starting to hurt from the lack of alcohol in his system. As much as he didn't want to throw it back up... he refused to deal with a headache. He just needed enough to dull the ache. Lowering it with another groan, he shook his head and told him after a hiccup. "Nurturing a hangover... What are you doing?" Tilting his head back against the wall, he tried to fight off how the world was tilting and spinning now. He'd been so distracted with trying to center himself, that he didn't notice Jack rushing up to him. Jack placed his hands on his head, his palms shining with a bright golden light. Nathan raised a hand to stop him but lowered it as he blinked with both disappointment and confusion. His sickness was gone. He couldn't believe that he'd waste energy healing him. Hanging his head, he mumbled out to Jack. "Damn it... There goes my buzz..." Jack patted his shoulder, saying a bit too loud for Nate's keen ears. "You can thank me later! Now let's go!"

Groaning, Nathan stiffly got up onto his feet with the bottle in hand, whining out under his breath. "Ugh... I hate morning people." He understood that Jack was eager to save his lover, but this felt like overkill. He wasn't a morning person normally and it hadn't changed after becoming a vampire. Nothing good happened in the morning. He wasn't even sure how this was going to play out. How would they even capture a dragon? It seemed not only crazy but stupid. Gathering his stuff, he dragged his bag across the ground and sipped from the wine bottle as he followed Jack out. The Jarl and Jack chatted with each other, but Nathan barely listened to it as he hung back from them. After entering the War Room, Jack pushed through a set of large wooden doors to a large grey hall that went to an open castle balcony. They were so high up that Nathan could see the plains of Whiterun in the distance. It was beautiful. He wanted to be a Jarl just so that he could sit on the balcony and drink to that view all day. All around them, men were working to finish up the last minute preparations to a large pillory hanging up in the rafters by thick chains.

Being around so many working humans made Nathan nervous. The smell of them was strong and those that cut themselves had Nathan clenching his jaw. Taking a swig from the bottle, Nathan gulped it down a bit nervously. Heading out to the balcony where fresh air was, his listened to Jack's conversation with the Jarl to distract himself. The plan was for the Dragonborn to lure the dragon into the hall where they'd drop the large bronze pillory onto the dragon and capture it. While the idea seemed sound, Nate was more concerned with what would happen AFTER they caught it. Surprisingly, Jack asked the Jarl in a serious tone of voice. "It won't hurt him?" Nathan turned to look back at Jack with guarded eyes. Did he care what happened to the dragon? Was he not going to torture it for information? Trying to think of a reason to capture a dragon like this, a small smile spread on Nathan's face. Niflheim was hard to access... but Dragons were old enough to know how. If they survived this, he'd be impressed. The Jarl gave Jack a small shrug, mumbling out uneasily. "Well... It has to be dropped on him and it's quite heavy. So, it might hurt him a bit... but I don't believe it will be anything life threatening."

Nathan watched Jack nod with a look that was anxious. He was clearly trying to act more in control than he was... and it was showing badly. Lifting his chin, Jack told the Jarl. "Get everyone ready. I'm going to call him." Jack briskly headed toward the balcony and Nathan's eyes went to the men. As Jack passed them, they stared at him with worried faces. They all were getting nervous. Nathan had only seen one dragon and had nearly lost his mind. He couldn't imagine these guys staying long enough to see one up close and personal. Nathan's eyes drifted to Jack as he walked by him. Reaching the railing, he could see Jack's hands shaking on the stone railing as he stared up at the bright blue sky. He could hear him uttering a prayer under his breath. He looked like he was held together by a thread of hope. Straightening up, Nathan confidently walked up beside Jack. Putting the bottle down on the railing, he moved it closer to him and told him seriously. "Here. Calm your nerves a bit." Jack shook his head without looking at him. Leaning on the railing, Nathan glanced back at the men that were watching them with curiously eyes, before sarcastically telling Jack. "Just a swig. I mean... It's not like you are summoning a dragon or anything."

Nate let a smile cross his lips when Jack chuckled. Looking down at the bottle, Jack slid the bottle back to him, upon saying softly as his smile faded. "I can't. I have to stay focused... or I'll lose him." Nathan nodded to himself a little. It was clear that he wasn't taking about the dragon. Jack's mind was elsewhere. He was letting the burdens of the world weigh him down and the world was crushing him. Sliding the bottle back, Nate firmly told him. "Drink it. Or you'll twist yourself in two. You're too tense. And animals get nervous around tense creatures." Jack scoffed, denying firmly. "I'm fine." Nathan shot him a doubtful look and retorted bluntly. "Jack... If I can sense how tense you are from across the room... then I'm one-hundred percent positive that a dragon will sense it. Not to mention the fact that you are scaring them." Nathan turned to face the balcony better but pointed back over his shoulder when Jack looked at him. Jack's eyes followed where he was pointing, resulting in him turning a bit to see the concerned faces of the men. Nate let him take it in, before sliding the bottle back over to him and commanding him seriously. "Drink it. Relax. Stay loose and calm."

As Jack's fingers moved toward the bottle a bit reluctantly, Nathan patted his shoulder and told him comfortingly. "I got your back." He was going to have to break up this tension before it got any worse. He'd entertained enough crowds to sense when people were getting ready to leave. Drawing his sun sword, Nathan winced from how it threatened to burn him. Raising his sun sword, he began pointing to groups of people and barked out orders confidently. "Alright, Ladies! I want archers by the railing and everyone else out of the fucking way. The goal is to lure it in, people! Let's look pitiful, shall we?" Nathan saw the men smirk to themselves and move into positions. Although, nothing made Nathan feel more confident then hearing Jack chuckle as he took a few swigs from the bottle. He felt like he'd done his job to loosen Jack up. He already looked a bit calmer. Backing up a bit, he watched Jack draw his own sword. Jack bounced in place to loosen up, then told everyone in a loud and clear voice. "Fire at him just enough to get his attention! Once he engages, fall back into the keep doors! We want him to follow us! Stay close! Don't hurt him though! I need him alive!"

Nathan gave Jack a thumbs up when he glanced at him, causing others to do the same thing. The Jarl drew his own sword, moving up beside Jack as he informed him confidently. "We're ready. Go ahead and call this dragon of yours." Jack turned his attention to the skies, muttering out under his breath. "I hope he answers." Nathan braced himself, his eyes locked on Jack as he took a deep breath and shouted with a thunderous voice that filled the skies. "ODAHVIING!" Nathan reached up to rub his sensitive ears. Jack's powerful voice had almost made him go deaf. The sheer power of it, giving him goosebumps. He was glad that it hadn't been directed at him. He couldn't imagine how it would feel. The mountains rang out with the name, then everything faded into an eerie silence. No one uttered a sound. Everyone's eyes scanned the skies for any sign of it. Nathan listened harder than anyone and still heard nothing. Minutes seemed to pass like hours. Jack then hung his head, but Nathan silently inhaled sharply. He could hear the loud flapping of wings in the distance. The dragon had heard and was coming in fast. From next to Nathan, an archer asked aloud to everyone. "You hear that?"

Nathan's grip tightened on his sword and the vampire in him tensed for a fight. He could smell the dragon's scent on the gentle breeze. The Jarl started to back up, mumbling out to the men. "It sounds like it's heading for the city... We should-" Jack raised a hand, drawing Nathan's attention as he cut off the Jarl to snap out. "Nobody move! Listen!" Nathan glanced up at the sky with smirk. He could hear it flying toward the castle. It would be flying into sight any minute now. A loud roar suddenly filled the air in the distance, growing louder as it approached. While men shifted nervously around him, Nathan waited patiently to see it. To Be Continued...