Jack tried to stand his ground, but his magic had made him a bit shaky. Nate turned away from Jack to face the dragon, stating over his shoulder seriously. "Jack, listen to me. This is my fight. So, if you get the chance... run to the gate and don't come back for me." Jack withdrew Dragonbane, sternly snapping back. "I'm not leaving you behind to die!" Nate looked back at him, his bright red eyes peering through his dark bangs as he growled out under his breath. "You can't save me, Jack... I'm already dying." Jack took ahold of his sword with both hands, telling him boldly. "I don't care. We stand a better chance together." The dragon snorted, standing up to its full height as she roared out to them in a powerful voice that shook the stone ruins around her and blasted the ash straight toward them. "GAAN LAH HAAS!" The shimmering force of power was so large it took up the whole courtyard. Jack threw up his strongest ward but had only enough power to fortify himself from the blast.

The blast hit the ward, forcing Jack across the stones to the edge. Jack yelped, glancing back at the fall into a dark abyss. Forcing his foot to slide flat across the ground in order to move forward, he watched in horror as his ward was drained of all power. The shout had absorbed his magic! Gasping, Jack fell to a knee. He could barely conjure a tiny flame on his fingertips. Jerking up to look at Nate, he couldn't believe Nate was still standing. Nate did look just as effected, but in a different way. Nate looked paler. The Dragon flashed them a devilish grin, inhaling deeply. Jack looked for something to hide behind, but there was nothing. This dragon would never let them get close! Nate sheathed his sun sword, then cracked his neck by pressing a fist to the sides of his chin in turn. The dragon shouted again at them and Nate dashed in front of Jack. The blast hit Nate, but his impressively long black talons dug into the stone floor to keep from being pushed back.

With Nate taking the full force of the blast, Jack didn't feel a thing. However, Nate did. Nate fell to all fours, gasping for breath desperately. Jack saw black veins spreading up Nate's neck to his bright red eyes. Placing his hands on him, he tried to heal him. His magic came out in tiny sputtering bursts. It wasn't enough. He had been drained too much. Jack yanked off his bag, pleading to Nate in a panic. "Hang on, Nate! I might have something!" He grabbed a health potion from the bag, but Nate snatched his wrist to stop him. Nate arched his back with a deep animalistic snarl, firmly wincing out to him. "Don't! Save it... for yourself." Jack stared blankly at Nate, watching his pale skin take on a grey tone now. Nate's body was changing rapidly. Blood ran down his arms from something tearing open on his back that caused him to bleed... a lot. Nate's ears grew out longer like those of a bat, while he struggled to tell him through the pain. "I told you... This is... my fight. For you to win... I have to die."

Jack shook his head, then flinched away from Nate. Nate jerked back on his knees, belting out a bloodcurdling scream as a set of leathery grey wings tore through his shirt and sent blood splattering everywhere. The wings lifted Nate off his knees into the air, where the rest of his body changed into a muscular monster that was a cross between a man and a bat. Nate let out a loud screech, showing off sharp white fangs as his hands conjured two sets of spells between massive talon claws. The dragon shifted uneasily, studying Nate with a confused look. Had she never seen a vampire like this? Hell, Jack had read about vampires... but none of them were described as looking like this! Nate landed on the ground, his wings rising menacingly behind him. Nate stared at Jack with a starving look that made Jack's arms breakout in goosebumps. He had trusted Mark not to kill him as a wolf... but Nate? Nate took a step toward him, until the snarl of the dragon drew his attention.

Nate let out a loud hiss at the dragon. The dragon whipped her tail into a building behind her, roaring back at him. Jack scooted off to the side, away from the edge. His magic felt like it was coming back. Nate took off toward the dragon with his fangs and claws at the ready. The dragon let out another shout that was more aimed at Nate, causing the blast to miss Jack by inches as he pressed his back to a building to avoid it. The force hit Nate directly, but only slowed him down a bit. Racing up to the dragon, Nate leapt into the air and attacked its face! Jack swallowed, watching Nate aggressively tear at the scales on the dragon's face. The dragon thrashed its head wildly, clawing at its face and smacking its tail over its nose to try hitting him. Every time she tried, Nate turned into a swarm of tiny bats that kept attacking the dragon's eyes and nose. Jack couldn't believe what Nate was doing. He wasn't trying to kill it... He was making it bleed to feed on it! Nate tore a scale away from a spot around her eye, clinging to her in order to sink his fangs into the soft purple skin beneath.

The dragon jerked her head up to let out a distressed roar that was followed by bright white flames bursting from her mouth. Jack raced out with Dragonbane raised. He had just reached her, when she fell over on her side, causing the ground to bounce beneath Jack. Jack fell to his knees, watching the dragon scream in fear as she clawed at her face. In that moment, Jack hesitated. Dragonbane pulsed in his hand, desiring the taste of her blood too. Yet, as he watched her thrash and panic... He couldn't help feeling for her. Was she really that bad? How long had she guarded Skuldafn? She was certainly more powerful than him, but did that mean she had to die? Staggering to his feet, he picked up his sword with a heavy heart. The dragon suddenly went still across the ground, coiling herself up defensively. She was panting heavily from her exertion and staring at him with curious white eyes. Jack licked his dry lips, lifting his sword, when the dragon jerked to whimper out. "Dovahkiin, Aaz! Mal dovah!"

Jack instantly lowered his sword as his mind processed that. She was pleading for mercy because she had babies?! Sheathing his sword, he watched tears roll down from her eyes as relief flooded her. Without her resistance, Nate fed off her until he was full and then jumped off. The dragon adjusted slightly to look over a mass of ruins that he couldn't see over or even get around. Beside him, Nate asked him in a calmer tone of voice. "You're not going to finish her? She could be lying." Jack never looked away from her. He could tell she wasn't lying. He could see the same love and worry in her eyes that Paarthurnax had around him. Even if she was helping Alduin... Her babies meant more to her. He wondered if Alduin was the father, but it wasn't his place to ask. Taking a calming breath, he told Nate honestly. "I'm not a dragon slayer. I'm not without mercy." Jack turned to walk away, while Nate told him seriously. "Have you thought about this? If she does have babies, they'll grow up..."

Jack stopped, turning slowly to look at Nate, answering gently. "I know. But I'm not going to be known for wiping them out. They aren't all bad. They're scared of me and of the tyrant Alduin. Unlike Alduin, I refuse to be the monster they think I am." Nate nodded, telling him sweetly. "I'm not disagreeing with you. I was just curious what you were thinking." The dragon finally looked back at them, softly purring out. "Kogaan, Dovahkiin. Losei Aaz Fen Ni Bo Vonun." Nate gave Jack a nervous look, but Jack translated for him. "She thanks me and says my mercy won't go unseen." Jack gave her a bow of respect, then told her a sweet departing phrase. "Ven Ahrk Hin Viing." She gave him a bow of her own, responding with the same 'wind under your wings' phrase to wish him well. Jack then turned his attention to Nate's new look, asking nervously. "Are you ok? Did you feed enough? Is that permanent?" Nate chuckled, walking along beside him as he told him. "It's not permanent. I can change back into a more... normal looking vampire, if you want? Otherwise, ya. I'm full and clear headed now. I almost feel supercharged. Her blood was amazing!"

Jack gave him a cautious nod, rubbing his neck discreetly. He was glad that Nate had attacked the dragon and not him. He felt like Nate would have drained him dry. While the dragon might just be missing a pint or two. They made their way through the ruins and up a set of steps to the Skuldafn temple. Nate tore what remained of his shirt off to reveal more of his muscular body. Jack clenched his jaw, looking over Nate's six pack. He even found himself rubbing his own stomach with a longing. Both Mark and Nate had powerful abs... He felt like a puny Dragonborn without his own set. Nate patted his back, trying to cheer him up as he told him. "Don't do that. Don't envy me. You're a better man than I." Jack rolled his eyes, then questioned him suspiciously. "How did you...?" Nate inhaled, replaying a bit distracted. "I can smell it in your blood and by the way your heart is beating... Do you smell that?" Jack shrugged, then turned to see the dragon land on the steps behind them.

They both stiffened, watching her gently put something on the steps. Nate's eyes widened and he crouched down to sweetly coo out. "Oh, my gods! It's adorable!" Jack grinned, watching a baby dragon the size of a puppy stagger to walk on tiny legs. The female nudged the baby toward Jack, before telling him proudly. "Fah Hi." Jack raised his hands, stammering out. "Oh, no! I couldn't do that to you! Keep him!" She shook her head, telling him sweetly. "Zin Zu'u Voth Ok Dein." Jack lowered his hands, while Nate asked him curiously. "She wants you to keep it?" Jack kneeled down to pick the baby up in his arms, answering seriously. "She wants me to honor her by raising it. I... I don't know what to say..." Nate chuckled, telling him with an excited grin. "I'll tell you what I'd say. THANK YOU! You can't say no. Look at those eyes!" Jack chuckled, moving closer to her to put a hand on her nose. The mother inhaled his and the baby's scent. The baby nuzzled the mother's nose, letting out soft cat like purrs. He didn't want to take the baby... but he didn't want to dishonor her either. Holding the little green dragon close to his chest, he told her confidently. "Thank you. I will take care of him. What's its name?"

The mother took a minute, before leaning closer to whisper over the baby dragon with a small magical looking shout that the baby's body gently absorbed. "Tiidgein." The little black and green dragon excitedly shuffled in his arms, while he said under his breath. "Timeless one. I like it." The mother gave him one last smile, before taking to the sky with a soft roar. Tiidgein crawled up onto his shoulders, lifting his wings and roaring with her as she left. Afterward, Tiidgein snuggled his head against Jack's neck with a soft purr. Stroking the dragon's tiny head, he lightly told him. "I can't wait until Mark sees you." Nate chuckled, blurting out. "I'm sure he will love him. And if not... was he really worth saving?" Jack smirked to himself.  Nate pushed open the Temple's heavy doors and Jack quickly followed him inside. Inside was dark and dusty. However, before Nate closed the doors, Jack used his magic to light a brazier. Jack started to head toward a hallway on the left, when Nate grabbed his arm to stop him. Jack complied as Nate picked up a rock and threw it across the floor.

The hall shot out darts from all angles and sides. Tiidgein tensed like a cat on his shoulders, hissing at the hallway. Nate moved to the other hallway and tossed another rock. The traps clicked... but nothing happened. With a smile, Nate told him happily. "This way. The traps are empty." Nate went first just to be sure. His wings tense as he carefully moved over the pressure plates and listened to every click. Making their way up to an open floor, Jack groaned to himself. It was a Nord puzzle. He'd seen these picture stones before. Nate went to the stones, prying cobwebs and dust off them. Jack lit up the room and took note of them, while Nate continued to clear them off. There were three stones in the center of the room with pictures on all sides. Then there was a sculpture with a stone picture in its human mouth on either side of the room by the stones. Ahead of the stones were two grated off entrances. Jack paced around, deep in thought, looking over the leveler in front of the three stones.

Gesturing to the stones, he mumbled out to himself. "Three stones... two pictures?" From above him, Nate retorted coolly. "Wrong. Four pictures and three stones. See?" Jack turned around to see Nate clearing off two more pictures above the grated off doors. Jack crossed his arms, blurting out with annoyance. "Oh, great... How is that even possible? There are only three stones! For all the others, I just had to slip in a missing stone. How am I supposed to work with this?" Jack dropped his arms, adding in a soft mutter. "I bet Mark would know..." Nate landed nearby to look over the stones, telling him confidently. "Now don't give up just yet. We're mages. Let's figure this out rationally." Jack hefted a sigh but moved closer to help. Jack told him about the other traps that he had seen that were similar to this one. After which, Nate licked his lips and said with a shrug. "Alright. So... Rationally... When you walk in. You see them from this side." Nate walked around to stand where they had come in from.

Jack nodded, staying quiet to let Nate think aloud. Nate then pointed to the picture on the left, saying softly. "Reading from left to right. The picture of the whale would be first." Nate used his strength to turn the old dusty rock to the whale picture. The scraping stone rotated, leaving Jack to say over the noise. "Well, if you go by that then..." Jack dropped his face into his hand with disgust at himself. Nate lifted his head, asking with concern. "What? What's wrong?" Jack let out a disappointed sigh, telling him confidently. "It's Whale, Snake, Snake. I'm such an idiot..." Nate leaned on the middle stone, replying gently. "And you know this because...?" Jack pointed to the two stones over the doors, muttering out. "One opens up one of these doors. Since the Bird door is caved in. That leaves Snake. Gods... I should have seen this..." Nate moved the stones into place, nicely telling him. "Relax. You're worried about Mark. It's bound to mess with your head a bit." The second the stones were in place; Jack flipped the lever and the grate under the Snake picture opened.

Venturing out into the tunnel, Jack told Nate shakily. "I swear, the closer I get to him the more... I can't seem to focus on the littlest things." Nate grabbed his collar before he walked into a dead end, gesturing him toward some stairs on the left. Smiling warmly, Nate sweetly regaled to him. "You'll feel better when you see him. You're just getting the jitters. Relax. We'll find him." The next room was lined with unopen crypts. Making their way silently down the steps, Jack prayed that they stayed dead. His nerves were killing him right now. He didn't know if he could handle a hoard of more Draugr. Stepping off the step, the crypt at the far end popped open and a Draugr fell out. Nate and Jack both jumped back with a yelp from the loud noise. The Draugr didn't get up though. It stayed down, revealing that it's crypt was actually a doorway onward. Calming Tiidgein to keep his nails from piercing into his shoulder, he grumbled out to Nate. "I HATE when these things do that!"

Nate put a hand over his heart, chuckling out in response. "If my heart was beating, I'd say the same. But since a heart attack is the least of my problems right now..." Jack chuckled to shake off his nerves, leading the way through. Just around the narrow passageway, Jack slipped and caught himself on the wall. Nate's sun sword was glowing enough in this dark tunnel, thatwhen he looked up to see why his hand felt funny... He swallowed. The walls where lined in thick spider webs and in the corners were big egg sacks. Tiidgein curled around his neck, hissing softly by his ear. Nate took Jack's arm, moving around him as he told him boldly. "Stand back. I got this." Nate flicked a red spell ball at the egg sack and inhaled deeply as blood drifted out of the sack to be absorbed into Nate's fangs. Within seconds, the egg sack was drained of life. Nate then moved onward to do the same to the larger spiders ahead of them. The spiders squealed as their bodies were drained of all blood.

Nate then moved to a doorway, tearing the thick webbing away for them to get through. Staring at the drained bodies, he asked Nate curiously. "Nate... What kind of Vampire are you exactly?" Nate stepped through the cleared doorway, answering coolly. "Well, according to the bastard that turned me... I'm a Vampire Lord. One of the first and strongest of the pure-blooded Vampire strain that was handed down by Malog Bal. The Daedric Lord and Father of Vampires himself." Jack followed him through the next tunnel, saying curiously. "Did you make a deal with a Daedric Lord?" Nate shook his head, grimly replying. "No. But becoming a vampire has gifted him my soul whether I wanted it or not." Jack stopped short, reluctantly asking him. "You lost your soul because of me?" Nate stopped, turning to look at him as he replied seriously. "No. I told you. I was already dying. I came here to help you survive... and find out if I can control this. Lucky for you, that dragon removed a lot of my thirst... Or we wouldn't be having this conversation. So, that's a good sign, right?"

Jack couldn't deny that. They traveled through the rest of the tomb without too much issue. Coming to a Nord lock that he had seen before. It required a dragon claw key that Nate quickly obtained from killing a Draugr Overlord with his sharp claws. Looking over the palm of the dragon claw key, he had Nate turn the stiff circular discs to a Wolf, Dragonfly, and Dragon. As the wall lowered into the floor, Jack looked ahead to a set of stairs that led up to a detailed door with a dragon head carved onto it. Taking a deep breath, Jack uttered out to Nate softly. "This is it. I can feel it." Nate stood beside him, folding his wings as he said casually. "Stay close. There is only one thing standing between us and Sovengarde now." Jack glanced at Nate, asking curiously. "What? Another dragon?" Nate shook his head, starting to walk up to the door as he answered a bit nervously. "No... A Dragon Priest named Nahkriin. We need his staff to open the seal into Sovengarde." To Be Continued...