The hours ticked by, and Nathan felt himself grow restless. His muscles kept tensing and he pulled at the shackles to test his weight against them. In the other cell, Mark watched him with worried eyes now as he paced his cage. It wasn't long before Nathan's fangs extended, and his throat seized enough that he kept clearing his throat with strained grunts. Mark slowed his pacing, calling out to him sympathetically. "Nate... Don't think about it. Talk to me." Shaking his head, Nathan growled out through clenched teeth. "I can't... I can smell blood... I NEED it!" Mark gripped the bars, telling him sternly. "Nathan! FOCUS! You are more than your hunger!" Nathan locked heated eyes on Mark, letting out a sharp hiss as he jerked against the shackles. Mark's face paled, but he snapped out at him. "Think about what the consequences! You're not this weak!" Nathan threw his head back, laughing sarcastically before locking eyes with him to answer in a much darker voice that was barely human. "Consequences are for the living! Everything has to eat... and I'm NOT weak!" Nathan slammed his back to the stone wall, letting out a pained groan as his back muscles writhed beneath his skin and bones tore through the skin to allow his wings to grow out.

Mark ran to the door of his cell, yelling out to dark dungeon. "GUARDS! LET ME OUT! HE'S LOSING CONTROL!" A group of guards laughed from somewhere farther away, ignoring them. Nathan arched his back, his wings shaking the speckles of coagulated blood off them. They started to flap, and Nathan rose into the air with his wrists still shackled to the wall. Mark banged and kicked at the bars, before trying to pry his wrists from his shackles. Throwing his head back, Nathan unleashed an ear-splitting screech. He saw the waves of the screech straight through the walls and warm blooded bodies highlighted themselves in red. There were so many warm bodies in the castle. Prey. His attention focused on the closest warm bodies of the guards, and he sniffed the air. He could smell one with a paper cut. Another with bloody nose and another had fresh blood on him. The blood smelled of a fresh kill. Elk. Hissing loudly, Nathan's wings started to flap hard, and he tugged at the shackles wildly. Mark gave up trying to break his shackles and ran up to the bars to yell at Nathan. "Nathan! Calm down!" Nathan unleashed a long strained growl and pulled hard against the metal holding him, using his feet to push on the wall to help his wings.

The metal on the wall creaked and slowly started to bend from the wall. The feeling of it easing, spurred Nathan to keep putting his strength into it. The metal squealed as it bent then tore from the wall. Flying into the center of the cell, Nathan slammed the loose metal into the bar doors hard enough that the chains attached to his wrists shattered off. The shackles hung off his wrists with what remained of the chains as he let out a victorious screech. Then flying to the door, Nathan slammed his hands and feet on it as he attacked it like a wild animal with a desire to get out. Mark banged on the bars between them, shouting out desperately. "NATHAN! LOOK AT ME! NATE?! HEY BLOODSUCKER!" Nathan's stopped trying to bend the bars to glare at Mark with fangs bared. Mark straightened up, growling out to him. "Come get me, leech!" Nathan dropped from the bars, strolling menacingly over to the bars as his body rapidly changed to his large grey skinned vampiric form. Mark stayed his ground, practically barking out to him in challenge. "You want this?" Mark dug his nails into the back of his arm and nicked the skin to let it bleed. The wound wasn't lethal and only bled a little, but it was enough.

Nathan's eyes rolled back before turning solid black as he inhaled the smell of it. While he didn't care for werewolf blood, he was starving enough that he didn't care. Without warning, he slammed into the bars and began to bend the bars open with inhuman strength. Mark slowly took a few steps back, trying to keep his heart from racing. If he did this wrong, Nate would kill him. Nathan wedged the bars open enough to wiggle through them, the protest of metal finally drawing a guard over to see what was going on. Nathan was in the middle of wiggling into Mark's cell, when the guard gasped out loudly. "OH SHIT!" Nathan froze, his attention drawing to the man with a hiss. Mark glanced between them, then yelled out to the man. "RUN! NOW!" The man put a whistle around his neck to his lips and blew instead. Both Nathan and Mark flinched from the shrill sound of it as it echoed off the stone walls. Nathan began to retreat from Mark's cell to head to his door again, until Mark ran up to punch him across the face. The punch would have cracked the skull of a human, but Nathan's body took the hit just fine. Nathan lifted his head to Mark, hissing angrily at him.

Mark jumped at him, then backed up to trigger his primal urge to fight him. Ignoring the guards that were rushing down to the dungeon, Nathan crawled through the bars and charged at Mark with claws at the ready. Mark took rapid deep breaths, hoping he was fast enough to block what was coming. Nathan got within arm's reach, then started swiping at him with long sharp claws. Mark threw his shackled wrists up, flinching from the hit and the shrill ding of Nathan's claws scratching the metal. Staying close, but circling Nathan a bit to keep his blows a bit more tolerable, Mark used Nathan's strength to slowly weaken his shackles. The guards loaded crossbows, taking aim into the cell. Mark yelled to them not to shoot, but they opened fire on Nathan. Nathan's long pointed ears flicked back as the triggers were pulled. Slashing at Mark in one overwhelming hit, Nathan whirled around to knock bolts away with his arms and wings. Mark was sent back into the stone wall as Nathan's hit shattered his shackles and he lost his balance to avoid Nathan's claws that tried to slice his throat on the up swing. When the guards quickly tried to reload, Nathan leapt at the door of the cell and rattled it so hard that the hinges loosened.

A guard raised a hand to conjure a small ball of bright white sunlight to try scaring Nate off the door. Nathan hissed at the light, but it had the opposite effect. Dropping from the door, Nathan kicked the door so hard that the loose hinges snapped off, sending the door crashing into the stone wall, where it impaled itself. The guards started to back away down the hallway, yelling out. "Reload! Keep the light on him!" Nathan raised a hand to shield his eyes from the bright light but casually strolled toward them with a low growl. Coughing, Mark rolled to his feet before yelling out. "RUN!" They ignored them. The front row raised their loaded crossbows and Nathan flashed them a grin before leaping onto the cell bars to avoid the bolts. Mark saw it coming and ran out after the bolts past his cell toward the stone wall. Jumping onto the wall, Mark pushed off it to intercept Nathan as he leapt for the first row of unsuspecting guards. Mark wrapped his arms around Nathan's neck, shifting his weight back to pull Nathan off course. Nathan yelped as he was flipped away from the guards and slammed into the stone floor.

Nathan tried to push up onto all fours, but Mark adjusted over him and looped his arms under his to keep him from pushing up as he held his head. Mark pinned Nathan's forehead to the floor, growling out to the guards to run. Some finally started to process that this was not a fight they'd win and began to retreat. Others waited until Nathan's wings flapped hard enough to lift both himself and Mark off the ground. Mark yelped in pain as Nathan flew up into the ceiling over and over to try knocking Mark off him. Mark tightened his grip on his throat to hold on, choosing to shift his weight from side to side to unbalance Nathan in the air. Landing, Nathan slammed his back into the wall to pin Mark and dug his strong heels into the floor to try crushing Mark to the wall. Mark heard his rib pop and screamed as the pain had him seeing stars. He wasn't going to be able to hold Nathan back for much longer. Just as sharp whines began to leave him, Jack's voice called out confidently from the doorway. "Let him go, Mark!" Mark didn't want to but relented. Releasing him, Mark dropped weakly to the floor as Nathan stepped away from him.

Nathan turned to face him, hissing as he bent down to grab Mark's throat in his hand. He started to lean in to bite him, until he suddenly sniffed the air. Turning his head slowly, Nathan released Mark and strolled toward Jack. Mark looked to Jack with worry. Jack was holding something, but he couldn't see past Nathan. Nathan tensed for an attack, until Jack threw him something. Nathan caught it, instinctively sinking his teeth into it with a vengeance. Jack stuck out a hand to keep other guards from coming down the steps, his eyes on Nathan as he drank heavily. Slowly Nathan sank to his knees on the floor, his arms wrapped tightly around a leather waterskin that had been filled with warm elk blood. He didn't waste a drop of it, his own predatory eyes locked on Jack. He wasn't going to give the waterskin back until he was done. He'd kill him if he even attempted to take it back. Jack's body language was too relaxed though. Allowing Nathan to relax as he fed. Had Jack done something similar with Mark? The guards on the steps whispered and chatted nervously, but Jack remained so collected. Allowing his eyes to drift to Mark, Jack asked him softly. "Mark? Are you alright?"

Mark clutched his ribs, remaining still on the floor when he answered a bit strained. "I think he broke my rib. My whole side is locked up. What happened to you?" Jack gave him a small smile, replying warmly. "I'm fine. I'll help you in a minute. After he's calmed down." Mark nodded, stretching his legs out more comfortably. When the waterskin was completely drained, Nathan pried it off his fangs and set it aside. He could feel his muscles relaxing as warm blood moved through him. It brought a strong sense of relief and peace with it that had Nathan slowly changing back to normal. Jack waited a minute or two longer, then finally moved to approach Mark. The guards cautioned him against it, but he bravely walked by Nate without incident. Isran shoved his way down the steps, then glared at them all as his grip tightened on his hammer. Finishing his healing spell on Mark, Jack straightened up and told Isran sternly. "Are you ready to listen and have a civilized conversation with us. Or do I have to start using my powers to knock in some thick skulls until you do?" Isran narrowed his eyes on him, stepping off the last step while stating aloud unyieldingly. "I am in charge here. Not you. You wanna talk? Put the monsters in their cages and we'll talk."

Nathan got to his feet, causing the guards to raise their weapons at him. Jack stomped out in front of them though to tell Isran in a commanding voice of his own. "You hurt my friends and you'll find out that being in charge won't mean shite. I'm the Dragonborn. You don't keep ME waiting. So, from one leader to another. We're going to talk, but I'm not caging my friends. And wherever you took Escher and Serana... I suggest you bring them to the dining hall. Or I'll tear this place down brick by fucking brick to find them." Isran looked over Jack a moment, then reluctantly growled out under his breath. "Very well. But if they hurt anyone. Their blood will be on your hands... and I won't guarantee their safety." Nathan opened his mouth, but Jack retorted icily to Isran. "The feeling is mutual. I assure you of that." Nathan watched Isran glare one last time at Jack, before reluctantly heading up the stairs and scattering his guards from his path. Jack relaxed slightly, stepping back into Mark's arms, before smiling out softly. "Sorry I took so long. I was hoping they'd come around... but they are stubborn and narrow minded." Mark kissed Jack's temple, whispering to him in a low loving voice. "I was so worried..."

Chuckling, Jack told them both as he pulled from Mark's arms. "I was fine. The room they locked me in was easy to get out of with my magical skills. They weren't expecting a mage like me to be kept here so... There really isn't much they can do to me. Come on. They're making elk for dinner." Cautiously following Jack upstairs to the main part of the castle, Nathan lagged behind Mark a bit. He was still a bit shaken from his hunger and not in the best of moods now. The dusty dining hall went dead silent as they entered. Some people even picked up plates to quickly move away to other long tables. Jack gestured for Nate to sit, then pushed Mark down onto a bench by his shoulders. Collecting a plate from the cook by the fireplace, Jack set the meat in front of Mark. Mark dived into it like an animal himself. Using his hands and stuffing his mouth full. A passing guard dropped a waterskin onto the table by Nate but didn't make eye contact with him. They sat there in the awkward silence for what felt like an hour, before Isran arrived with Serana and Escher. Both of them looked tired and unhappy until they saw them.

Jumping to his feet, Nathan hugged Serana first. When he released her, he gestured to the waterskin, and she dropped down to guzzle the liquid from the nozzle greedily. Nathan then cupped Escher's face with a low snarl. Escher's beautiful face had cuts that weren't healing. They had been bleeding him dry. Nathan lunged for Isran, but Escher caught his arm and told him seriously. "Nate, it's alright. I just need a drink and I'll be ok. Don't." Nathan's chest thundered with a growl, but Escher wrapped his arms around Nathan's chest to keep him still. Iran waited until everyone was seated before easing down into a chair at the head of their table. Staring at them all in turn, Isran began in a guarded tone of voice. "Before you tell me why you're here. I want some answers of my own. From you. No lies." Nathan straightened up as Isran pointed at him. Leaning forward to rest his arms on the table, Isran asked him seriously. "When you didn't come back. We assumed the worst. So, tell me. Tolan was right? There were vampires interested in Dimhollow Crypt?" Nathan's eyes darted to Serana, before he answered coolly. "Yes. Tolan was right. The place was crawling with vampires. He's dead."

Shaking his head with disappointment, Isran grumbled out under his breath. "Damn fool. The Vigilants always had more bravery than sense. I knew he shouldn't have gone." Shrugging off the memory, Isran clearly asked in a more wanting tone. "Did you at least find out what the vampires were looking for in there? Or will you decline to share that. Now that you've sided with them." Staring Isran down, Nathan told him a bit bitterly. "I do know what Lord Harkon wants. However, what he wants won't matter if I can stop him. You let us go and I finish this." Isran raised an eyebrow, dryly blurting out. "You expect me to believe you are still fighting for our side? What do you take me for?" Nathan leaned closer to him, answering in a cool determined voice. "A man that wants to win. Which you won't be able to do without someone on the inside. I'm in. The question is... are you going to let this opportunity go by or embrace it? Because time is not on your side. But I've got all the time in the world." To Be Continued...