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Chapter 187: Getting One Over On Malan


It was obvious Malan held all the power. He was Jurisdictional Arbiter over me, I had no choice but to comply. To be honest I didn’t care if I never mated again. It was nothing I wanted to repeat. When Malan took my virginity it was painful, then drinking my blood and leaving me dying afterward didn’t help me like the experience any better.

Refusing him would mean death…too risky without knowing absolutely Amiela was inside me, or how readily he could remove her. Besides, those mysteries were what defined my marriage to Gils as true, I wanted them. I would go through whatever I had to for an Arbiter’s ruling that Gils was my true husband, validate what we had together.

Gils said if I was firm that ours was the true marriage, the Arbiter would have to find it valid. Even though Gils abandoned me, it was the only true marriage for me. I was very firm, but Malan never gave his decision.

It felt like being the mouse a cat was toying with, and whether it was insight or fear…I suddenly doubted he’d keep his vow regarding Fathis, not unless he was compelled to. I had no standing with him, he didn’t fear repercussions from me.

Andronicus would have shaken him off balance first, then negotiated for respect. I needed to do that, but how? I was sure he was lying about wanting to make me his chosen properly, sure he’d back down if I called his bluff here at Theryon.

“You said that you wanted to poach me properly, but I was too sick to walk by your side at the time. We’re here now.”

“We could do it right now if you weren’t drugged by Traven. Can’t be drugged, under spell, and must stand and walk of your own power.”

Malan’s eyes never flickered or darted like they would if he was trying to weasel out…he could have been expecting the question though, calling my bluff back. He obviously wasn’t off balance yet. I pressed harder.






***


“Getting my mysteries is my right. Since I’m under your jurisdiction as Arbiter, I’ll stay with you just for them. That shouldn‘t take much more than a week. When all my mysteries are taught, we’ll part ways. Then if you decide it’s me you want, you’ll have to make me your chosen properly, no tricks. Otherwise we‘ll stay parted. Until then you’ve promised I’d have every privilege of a chosen. That means you can’t harm me, and that you‘ll be completely faithful to our union. In other words, till they’re all taught there’ll be no trying to mate Amiela; no performing necromancy on me; no turning me immortal, nor using me for your plotting.”

He shifted his position as if suddenly uncomfortable. “What are you talking about, Lass?”

“I’m talking about trust. I have to be able to trust you so I can relax, sleep. The last time I did you necromanced me. Your plots are apparent and transparent. If you’re thinking your nature will turn my heart enough to let myself become a body bag for your dead wife, it won’t. There isn’t enough nature on Nirn for that. And having Janus’s blood make me immortal so Amiela will live forever? Absolutely not. The first time my looking glass shows fangs and pink eyes, I’ll go as loony as Janus’s wife or that Orc.”

He stroked under my chin gently for a minute before answering. “Your point is taken, but I know the task Uriel has set for you.”

“I‘d rather Dagon squash me like a bug than be a giant vampire cat.”

“But your stipulation offers less than a year before Dagon comes, when we could have hundreds together before Dagoth-Malan meets his end.”

“Less than a year? What do you mean?“ I hoped the shock on my face looked real.

“Dagon comes sometime after the beginning of Midyear next. Even if we had naught but an affair that is too short. Immortal we’d have centuries to enjoy it. Ancients love forever, centuries happy go by in a blink. In grief years last an eternity.”

Love and grief…he was talking about Amiela, I was sure of it now.






***


“Love? Yes, let’s talk about that, Malan. Your nature inside me will drive me to love you with the force of a bloodlust, but your poaching trick means you’ll remain detached. I don’t work that way. Unless you make me your chosen, we won’t be having any affair because we’ll be parting ways once my mysteries are taught.”

“Love takes time to grow, Maxical.”

“I’m sure it does when you’re carting your dead wife around and jamming her into people you bed. You’ve got no valid reason to want me immortal without making me your chosen first, unless it’s a plot for Amiela. I’m dead serious, Malan. I‘ll never be used that way.”

“Well now you’ve gone and hamstrung Dagoth-Malan, Lassie. You don’t know what you’re asking.”

And there it was, the proof I needed. Malan still wanted me for a container to mate Amiela. What else was lies? Uriel was right. Above all I had to remember his words.


I’m just a means to an end that will avail him. Assume Fathis is alive until there’s proof he’s not. No matter what Malan says or does, whatever it takes…he has Fathis.


My hair felt like it was on fire. It was excruciatingly hard, but I bottled the rage like Uriel taught me, forcing myself to use it fueling my brain instead of my mouth.

“No, you’re the one that doesn’t realize what you are asking. If you really didn’t make me your chosen because I was sick, then you won’t mind doing it right. If you lied about that, what else did you lie about? And you’ve misjudged your nature and me both if you think it powerful enough that I’ll comply with Amiela using my body to mate you. Nothing could ever make me that compliant, it won’t happen. I’ll still stay away from Fathis as promised, that vow between us has to be kept. But once all my mysteries are taught, I’ll either be your chosen or a free agent.“








***


“Free agent! What are ye saying, Lass?“

“You effectively took both my husbands from me with this war. I have Azura’s seal and must be near an ancient as comforter to ease the pain, and I’ll absolutely need one to remove your nature from me so it can’t ever be used against me for any plots. Fathis is off limits because of our vow, and Janus is out since he‘s part of your plots.”

“And?”

I shrugged. “Nothing. Just…the city is full of ancients with this war on.”

Knowing Malan was eavesdropping on my thoughts I held an image of Greywyn Blenwyth in my mind while thinking:


Wasn’t Amiela actually Blenwyth’s natural chosen? I wonder if he would recognize her soul within me?


“Argh! Okay! You’ll have your vows!” He raised his hand, palm facing me.

Malan may as well have said outright that Amiela was inside me. It left me with a sickening feeling, but I needed her to stay right there as protection for me and leverage against Malan.

“And Malan, I’m dead serious about this. If you break any of your vows to me, I’ll swear both you and Amiela as enemies to your graves and beyond. Akatosh will ensure I keep that vow.“ I clasped his hand, avoiding his mouth. Instead I sealed the vow by saluting his cheeks as a business deal.

Malan eyed me bleakly. “I see in your eyes we’ve got more fine points you want to negotiate.”








***


“Just one more. Your bloodlust remains because of that trick poaching. I can’t and won’t…”

Malan interrupted, raising his hand to swear truth. “My house was cleaned the night Vicente attacked you. I’ve a witness to that, he helped me. That’s the night I asked my nature for a chosen, because I knew then I’d be fighting for you. Yours is the only drop of virgin blood I’ve tasted since. Now you can’t go inviting your virgin friends anywhere near me, but I’ll not go hunting. You‘ve my vow on that. What else would you be wanting to know?

“My mysteries.” I handed him the brandy bottle.

I steeled myself for what I knew I had to do, waited till the brandy filled my nostrils before sealing the vow with that mystery Malan had requested earlier. May as well get it over with as quickly as possible.

Malan’s surprise was evident, his reaction instantaneous and overpowering. He forgot to teach even a single mystery. Instead he absorbed mine and took me like a man possessed, keeping my hand clasped and raised in the vow throughout.

Afterward that circle he closed inside me moved, like it was clutching onto me and taking hold. I’d never felt it since that first night he put it in me…till now.

After that, Malan began teaching my mysteries. He never gave any indication what his decision was on which of my marriages he was validating. And Uriel had said to keep Malan away from Theryon, but it was where we stayed for the next week.

Truthfully, I never expected to find any enjoyment in mating Malan. I was wrong. Malan was skilled, and the mysteries…they were a powerful drug that I have no doubt would addict me to him if I wasn’t careful.

Throughout I wished it had been Fathis teaching them so I wouldn’t feel so conflicted by the pleasure Malan wrought in me…so guilty. I had to keep reminding myself he was the enemy, hard to do when one is laying glassy-eyed and his name is the one on your lips when the pleasure comes.








***


Uriel was right, he would have been better served if Malan had glommed onto Eyja instead of me. I don’t know how she could remain impassive through something like this, but for me…inside me was the beginnings of a battleground of conflicting emotions.

Loyalty to Uriel, the throne, to Gils and Fathis. Knowing Malan for the enemy of everything I hold dear. Counter that with this laughing teasing Chimer who was playful and passionate, fun to be with…and who made me feel things I’ve never even imagined in dreams.

As the days passed another struggle within began emerging, Malan’s nature inside me. Before we returned to Theryon and started mating again it had been completely dormant. Now I could feel it working on my heart to love Malan, had been fighting it strongly since that first time we mated again here.

It was a powerful force that gained strength as each day passed, and had nothing to do with his overabundance of charm or skills in the bedroom. Maybe it's from being with him inside his lair, I don’t know.

It’s already driving me strongly to protect my union with Malan. Someone else will need to wield the blade that kills him if much more time passes. I don’t think I can do it even now.

The really ironic thing about it, Malan put his nature inside me to make me compliant to housing Amiela…but his nature considers Amiela a threat to our union and is driving me to get rid of her. His own nature is aiding me in keeping her suffocated within me. Did Malan not realize that would happen?

Had Amiela been inside that soul gem on his breastplate, I‘ve no doubt his nature would drive me to search Theryon for an enchanted weapon whose charge was low to strike on that stone ‘accidentally‘. Bye-bye Amiela. I’d have a freshly charged enchanted weapon to defend myself with when Malan killed me for it.

Another thing his nature was doing was giving me instincts into Malan. I found myself knowing things about him instinctively, what would please him in everything. It was teaching me to be perfect for him, to know every hair on his head and secret thought just like the tome said a chosen selected for him would.

It gave me more insight into the workings of his mind than all the study of him at the Arcane had. But if we didn’t hurry and take him down, it would be too strong for me to turn against him.

Malan made a big mistake in placing that in me if it was to further his plots. I could feel what he was thinking and when it was against…us. His nature was protecting the union even against himself.

Clearly the nature wasn’t made to be divided against itself, or in a one-sided pact. That was obvious even to me. Hannibal said it considers the chosen as sacred. I prayed it would protect me at all costs like it is supposed to.


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This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 11 2012, 06:31 AM

Maxical's getting sharper as time goes by. That's good.

That certainly wasn't what I was expecting from the title, a long week of sex with Malan. Unexpectedly, this is turning into a weapon against him it sounds, she's learning about him. I wonder what he's been accomplishing with the time other than just having fun.

Has Maxical lost her mind?! Uriel is gonna blow when he finds out, and to make the matter worse the dependency is starting to activate. Does Maxical have any idea what she has probably gotten herself into?! On the other hand, it's quite interesting to see Malan's own nature turning against him. I'm guessing that will help Maxical in the future?

‘It felt like being the mouse a cat was toying with,’
Not only an apropos sentiment but an ironic kitty metaphor!

‘My hair felt like it was on fire, but I bottled the rage like Uriel taught me, forcing myself to use it fueling my brain instead of my mouth.’
This red head is really learning!

‘Throughout I wished it had been Fathis teaching them so I wouldn’t feel so conflicted by the pleasure Malan wrought in me…so guilty. I had to keep reminding myself he was the enemy, hard to do when one is laying glassy-eyed and his name is the one on your lips when the pleasure comes.’
Wow, powerful stuff! Her conflict comes through here loud and clear.

‘Had Amiela been inside that soul gem on his breastplate, I‘ve no doubt his nature would drive me to search Theryon for an enchanted weapon whose charge was low to strike on that stone ‘accidentally‘. Bye-bye Amiela. I’d have a freshly charged enchanted weapon to defend myself with when Malan killed me for it.’
I love the cleverness of this as well as its display of what an angry and hurt Maxical can dream up.

What a wonderfully complex web you are weaving here! I am spellbound.

Maxical was awesome in this chapter! She has grown and changed so much and in such a natural way. I was completely enthralled throughout.

Wow, I bet Uriel is wondering where she’s been all week.

I would have to quote the whole next part if I started. Maxical’s thoughts were beautifully and delicately put. I love how there were multiple conflicts here, within Maxical as well as the nature against itself.


I couldn’t resist quoting this one, it’s so Maxical. Love it! What a powerful chapter!

Hot dayum! Malan and Maxical did the Snoo-Snoo? I knew it all along . Janus imposter.

So, Malan does have a heart? Perhaps he can cool off Maxical's hot-head by scratching some off of his heart. But . . . .she gave herself to him? But then again, she's playing the odds! Haha. I love the workings of her mind now. She's more mature, has more insight and is not as gullible now as she was before. Her growth and personal evolution is pretty damn good, and you delivered!



HAHAHA! She still has a mouth on her, though.

I dunno...The things you miss when you're away for a bit... ...

Amazing stuff...Intense...Odd...Funny and Oo-er-ish... ...

Love it!!!... ...

I have no idea what to expect next!!...

Looking forward to it though... ...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

I apologize for it being so long since I have read, but it is definitely noticeable that Maxical is maturing.

*

Maxical

Happy Saturalia Everyone!!!!

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And to you, dear Maxical! And a joyous New Life Festival and Fourth Era!

HAPPY LATE SATURALIA!

And OLD LIFE FESTIVAL!

*


@ EVERYONE - I wanted to thank everyone for your friendship and support through everything with my Mom’s illness, and your patience in waiting out chapters through this time.

Sorry for the length of this post, it is a catch-up plus a rather large chapter. This one couldn't be broken up, I apologize.

Happy Saturalia to all, and a joyous New Life Festival and Fourth Era!


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@ Elisabeth Hollow - You are right, she is finally starting to grow up! Thank You so very much Elisabeth!

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@ King Coin - ROFL !! You always bring a smile with your comments, KC! Thank You so very much! You are right, what he thinks he’s been accomplishing , he hasn’t succeeded as well as he thins he has. Between Maxical’s strong willpower and Malan’s own nature turning against Amiela, Malan is going to find his plots have not been furthered much at all this week, lol. Thanks again, KC!

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@ King Of Beasts - Thank you so much KOB! Malan’s plan def has a flaw, and Maxical caught onto it pretty quickly. It will def help her to a point, but it will turn on her just as quickly if/when she turns on Malan. Thanks again KOB!

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@ Acadian - Yours is another comment that totally made my day! Thank you so very much for your kind words Acadian, they meant so much to hear!

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@ Grits - This made my day, Thank You so very much Grits! That second part was the hardest, trying to strike a balance of how much was needed to be said to get the full impact across without surpassing that balance and it being TMI or something - really tried to be delicate and hoped it came across that way. Thank you so very much Grits, it meant a lot to me to hear that!

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@ Lycanthropic-Legend - Thank you so much LL! Lol on Maxical’s mouth, and thank you so much for your kind words about her development! That means a lot to hear!

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@ McBadgere - You miss a lot and friends miss you being here too! Great to see you back on here McB! Thank you so much for stopping in, you are appreciated!

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@ Zalphon - Thanks so much for stopping in to see me Z! Hope your Holidays were happy times!


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This post has been edited by mALX: Jan 6 2013, 08:29 AM

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Chapter 188: Scenes From My Days At Theryon




*** Brief catch-up to where we left off:


Malan’s nature inside me was a feral force rapidly gaining in power. As an ally it was oddly comforting, fusing itself to the leopard in me to unlock dormant instincts; igniting and honing a cunning and stealth I’ve never known. Strengths needed for survival. I dreaded going against it when time came to take Malan down. No doubt it wouldn’t let me harm him, but would it just set up a barrier against me or become an active enemy?

The nature inundated me with an overload of secret knowledge of him; what would please him to hear, bring out his playful side or made him laugh. I learned which touches endeared, what touches aroused. I learned he was driven by ego and lusts to such a degree that it was a weakness, one that could be manipulated and exploited to lay a trap for him.

The thought struck me strongly that Malan had somehow tricked his own nature when he placed it into me without making me his chosen. An imbalance was created, and his nature was actively striving for that bound union it was supposed to be achieving. Maybe I could trick it too, fool it into thinking that whatever I did against Malan was to help ‘us’.

It absolutely wanted rid of Amiela, considered her a serious threat. For my own protection I needed Amiela inside me. The nature was keeping her neutralized so she couldn’t act and Malan couldn’t reach her, it was the perfect solution if I could just convince it to leave her right where she was. Ancients communicate with their nature somehow, I needed to learn how.

For all Malan was playful and romantic, even charming…below the surface his aura oozed impatient anticipation, excitement that had nothing to do with me. My instinct was he saw his plots so close to fruition that their outcome was tangibly felt, that he could barely wait for them to unfold completely.

No doubt that plot was for Amiela to emerge permanently in my body. It felt like walking a tightrope suspended over the lava lakes of Oblivion, isolated in his lair this way. I had no idea how necromancy worked, what to watch out for…or how to get back to the safety and protection of the Palace till Malan brought me home. Theryon floated in the sky high above Cyrodiil, the fact that I was virtually stuck here was a fear that nagged in the back of my mind continuously…but was my own fault. In trying to second guess and counter Malan’s plans, it was at my own insistence we stay here.














Day One:



I woke from a dreamless exhaustion to find Malan deep in thought, staring abstractly at a blank spot on the wall and absentmindedly tracing patterns on my stomach with his finger. His mind was working hard enough that he didn’t notice my eyelids had opened…probably adjusting his plots around since I made those ultimatums.

My instincts were raised, and Malan’s nature within me was rearing its feral hackles in defense of itself. Whatever Malan was plotting did not bode well for me. I reached up and jangled the row of earrings dangling from one of his oversized ears to distract his mind.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“The mysteries you lack. Knowledge is power, Maxical. Power to leave Dagoth-Malan like he’s left you now.”

“Huh? But if you weren’t teaching me my mysteries, what was all that we’ve been doing?“

“These I taught were the ‘Givers‘, thought you should have them first as they’re for the woman.”

“For women! Malan, do you think I’ll be mating with women? Huh? What are you laughing about?”

“They’re to bring you more pleasure, not to mate women; although you would create your own following with them if you did.”

“Oh. Wouldn’t that put the test to Janus’s immortality.”

Malan’s laugh boomed out. “That it would, Lass.”






***


“Malan, the only mysteries I want are the ‘Gifts’ from my marriage to Gils! And aren’t you supposed to give some special mysteries from you as Arbiter’s gifts to the marriage you validate?”

Malan looked like he‘d struck gold. “I forgot about those! You‘ll have to visit here at least seven more times for your training.”

I sat up, gaping at him. “You’re an Arbiter, how could you forget your duties? Is this some kind of trick?”

“You leave me speechless, Lass! How can wanting greater pleasure be a trick? I have my duty before me, but these can‘t be trained at the Palace where others could listen in. You’ll need to come back here the seven times for them.”

That was the second time he mentioned seven visits. It very well could be to give his nature time to turn my heart, since being here in Theryon seemed to supercharge its power within me…but suspicion grated with a sudden fear that the seven days had something to do with necromancy, raising his dead wife’s soul inside me permanently.

“Teach them to me now, while I‘m here. When you bring me back to the Palace it has to be over between us, Malan. I can’t keep cavorting with the enemy, not when you seek the throne. Once I leave here I can never return, or see you any more. Whatever mysteries I‘m owed have to be taught now.”

“All at once? You’ll press poor Dagoth-Malan to his grave, Lass.” He tried to look downtrodden, but it didn’t work.

“Liar, your libido is legendary, Malan. Evangeline said they should erect a monument to you after all the mating I told her I heard between you and those Khajiit sisters.” I reached up and jangled the row of earrings again.

Malan snorted out a laugh. “Well now you’ve gone and done it, given Dagoth-Malan a swelled head you have.”











Day 2:


Malan spent the morning of our second day taking me on a tour of Theryon. I’d never seen an Ayleid palace before, just drawings of ruins in textbooks.

Theryon was made up of enormous rooms and endless corridors, and everywhere one looked were treasures Malan had pilfered throughout his centuries. They were breathtaking; items that had been held by gods or formed by the Daedric Lords themselves, armors made of the scales and bones of dragons, art and sculptures I’d read about in Hannibal‘s ancient tomes.

Their history and age was a scent that rose off them, filling my nostrils with the pleasure of their nearness. To be able to actually touch them was an exquisite sensation of headiness.

Malan knew the history of each piece and proudly detailed it, then kept me laughing by telling how he acquired them in anecdotes that made his grand thefts sound like mischievous pranks.

In Malan’s throne room I spied the painting Mrs. Treydog had made of my golden armor, and pointed at it.

“Aha! I knew you’d stolen this!”

“I’ll have the armor itself before this war ends.” Malan stated as if the deed were as good as done. Inside me the challenge flickered to get my armor before he did.

“Evangeline said Ocato screamed and fainted when…” I broke off mid-sentence.

One of the stone blocks beside me glowed a pale blue light when my pointing arm neared it.

“What is that?”

“Like all Ayleid structures, Theryon is powered by Welkynd and Varla stones.”

“Powered?” I reached out and tentatively touched the stone. It glowed warm under my hand. “GAAAAH!”

With a grating sound the wall beside it slid away, opening into a huge laboratory with a surgical area much better furnished than the Arcane’s. There were rows of candles on two spellmaking altars and between them an Ayleid well for restoring magicka. Beyond that was a fancy surgical slab that looked more like an altar, well lit with Welkynd stones. It had rows of vials and Ayleid casks lining it.






***
























***


Another block glowed blue beside the altar. Malan lurched forward to stop my arm when I reached to touch it, but the wall was already grating open. Inside was a tiny room, the ceiling barely higher than Malan’s head.

“Phew! It stinks in here.” That stench jostled an unreachable memory.

Growing down along the back wall was Daedric roots so large that I barely recognized them as Harrada, Spiddal grew beneath them and Bloodgrass sprouted from a huge urn on the right. On the left was a crudely made altar that had what looked to be Daedric symbols on it. Sitting on one end of the altar was a large mouthed vase with odd looking instruments and some plants I didn’t recognize in it.

A paragraph in Daedric writing was carved into the wall above the altar. Something about this room felt oddly familiar. Involuntarily my finger reached out and traced the symbols on the wall.

A shiver snaked down my spine and the thin fur on my arms felt like something crawled beneath it. Why did I remember doing that before?

A feeling I was about to be sick surged into my throat, maybe from the smell in the little alcove. I clutched Malan’s arm when the nausea hit, my other hand flew to cover my mouth.

“Let’s leave before you lose your stomach, Lass.” He tugged me toward the gapped doorway.

“Wait, what does that say?” I pointed to the Daedric paragraph on the wall. “I slept through the classes on Daedric writing.”

“So did Dagoth-Malan, Lass. Come, best get you some air.” He pulled me out of the room and touched the glowing stone. The wall grated closed. With a wave of his hand the wall section glowed orange, he had magically sealed it from being opened again.






***




I had an unsettling feeling he was lying, knew what the Daedric writing said. A tingle of fear nagged that I’d been in that room as a child. Maybe that’s where he implanted Amiela in me.

Malan helped me to the rail, but the sheer drop from the balcony on this side frightened my heaving stomach out of vomiting. This balcony was on the Skingrad side of Theryon. It jutted straight out from the bottom wall, nothing below us but the funnel shaped point of glowing magic stones whose power could be felt strongly here in a humming vibration.







http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eryonatdusk.jpg









Day 3:



I’d forgotten it till Malan brought up wondering what I’d done to escape him that day at the Arena, and when he did it was while we were in the middle of mating. I could tell something was distracting his mind before he slowed to a stop. He hesitated before speaking, and instinctively I knew he was wondering if I could be trusted for what he was going to ask of me.

“Ask what you will, Serjo Malan. What else is there than I be here for you?” Because he spoke so much like Fathis, I said it automatically in Dunmer using the ages old traditional formal responses that Fathis had taught me. From what Fathis said, Dunmer in Cyrodiil never spoke the formal language anymore.

Malan was surprised, and like Fathis was greatly pleased to hear his mother tongue spoken properly. “Ah Lassie, you bring my homeland to mind, ease Dagoth-Malan’s exile. That kiss of fire you gave that day at the Arena. It’s safe for me here…I want to feel it again.”

“Kiss of fire? Huh?”

“That trick you used to escape me at the Arena.”

“Oh, you mean the juices?”

“Aye. Give it with a mystery, you know which.”

One thing I’d learned of Malan even in this short time; he was an extremely sensual creature, obsessed with seeking new sensations as if the centuries had left him jaded and numbed and anything less palled his palate for it.

That spell might give me some power over Malan. Hannibal‘s tome said it was addictive to the point of leading an ancient to his own detriment, and Uriel said we may need it to trap Malan.

“It is as you wish, Malan. You need only ask.” I answered in formal Dunmer again.

“It warms my heart to hear the mother tongue in your speech, Lass. Do my neck first.”

“What else is there?” I choked out in traditional Dunmer, smothering a laugh. I found it oddly ironic that a vampire found that such a source of pleasure, but Malan did. The markings of our passion covered his neck. Should Amiela emerge now, Malan would have some explaining to do.








***


I gave the kiss Malan requested, the same I had used on Janus that night at the Temple. Malan’s fangs shot the rush of searing juices in my mouth and I cast the spell. A trickle of the juices dribbled out of the corner of his mouth as I was sliding my tongue across his lips for the mystery. I felt the trail of fire it was leaving across the outside of his mouth as I pulled back from him, my mouth barely hovering over his. As I breathed his name the spell left my fingers with a burning heat.

Malan’s reaction was overpowering, his expression one of intense pleasure before he completely lost consciousness. Then his head lolled back, his eyes became glassy and rolled upward nearly into his head. His heart pounded in such frenzied convulsions that I feared it would pop through his chest any second.

With a shriek I climbed off him quickly, stumbling from the bed screaming, “HELP! Someone HELP!”

Inside me panic was taking over. What if he died? How would I leave Theryon when it was miles up in the air? And Amiela stuck inside me for the rest of my life, just waiting for a weak moment to take over my body!

“MALAN! Please gods don‘t die!” I was terrified, I couldn’t heal him. What would Hannibal do? Wait, what would Uriel want me to do?

Malan’s defenses were completely down, but surely Uriel wouldn’t expect me to attempt killing him, not stuck here and by myself. I couldn’t. I didn’t dare search for Fathis, risk arousing Malan’s suspicion with Fathis’s soul on the line.

Not knowing what else to do, I curled into an upright fetal position next to him on the bed to watch him; just whispering over and over for him not to die.






***


I don’t know how long I’d stayed like that when it struck me that Uriel would want me to test the spell’s effects. How much time had passed already? I started timing, then somehow lost count trying to figure out seconds into minutes.

Malan either couldn’t hear me or couldn’t respond, but Uriel would want to know if he could read minds in this state. How would I test something like that? I couldn’t think of anything, finally just let my mind run like a sieve.


I wonder if mating will cause my breasts to grow? Malan grows to giant, would that make them get as big as Hal-Liurz’s? Is that how hers got so big? Janus is a giant too. Ew, did she mate him? Gross! Maybe she mated a minotaur, they’re big. Ew, that’s disgusting! Don’t minotaurs come from mixing Orc with cows?

If a horse mating only produces one baby horse, what if they poured Skooma on his oats? Would he give birth to a litter?

Do mud crabs mate? Would they do it by climbing on from behind or facing each other? Chickens can’t mate, or I‘d have seen it…


Malan made a thickened laughing sound, then tried to pull me into his arms but his movements were uncoordinated and heavy…weak. Still, that proved he was able to eavesdrop on thoughts. He must have heard everything too, but couldn’t respond.

Inside me the relief was tremendous that he had survived it. I lay down beside him with my head on his chest, listening to his heart as it slowly eased from the frenzied beating.

For nearly an hour Malan lay there, his expression absolutely serene. When he spoke it wasn’t in his normal booming jovial voice, his strength seemed drained and his tongue sounded thickened and uncoordinated. He was more sedate than I’d ever seen him.

Malan misunderstood my fears for his life and the relief afterward. He pulled me close to him and held me tight in his arms, teasing me about being in love with Dagoth-Malan. I let him think it, took all his teasing.

If he was going to act against me, it would be when he thought his nature had made me compliant. For my own safety, I’d rather he make his move now, before his nature turned my heart.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Jan 6 2013, 04:29 PM

For some reason the first thing that went through my mind when I read this was "oops" Maxical is right to be concerned though. Getting down from Theryon on her own doesn't seem like a possible thing to do.

I remember once the dog got out and ran into the streets. My reaction to that was somewhat the same as maxical's when malan passed out(I screamed for help and began to yell at the dog to not get hit by a car), except I ran after the dog and almost got ran over by a guy in a truck. That dog is going to kill me one of these days. So what I'm reluctant to cross streets now. It's not that big of a deal, I'm only never walking anywhere again. Wait, I have to walk the dog. Help me

Malan can't lie to her anymore can he? Tsk, tsk. He should have thought his plan out more thoroughly. Maxical is smart to be suspicious



-In a very sarcastic voice- That's not creepy at all, not the slightest bit.

What was he doing?

And what does the daedric writing in the wall say? If I could see it better I could translate it, but its hard to see in that screen(I'm guessing that I'm going to wait to find out what it days though.)

This post has been edited by King Of Beasts: Jan 6 2013, 09:44 AM

It's only creepy because it's Malan, lol. A lot of lovers do it to their partners. I found it oddly...intimate that Malan did it to Maxical.



Is there a technique that does this in real life?! XDDDD



She'd be stuck there...in a floating Ayleid ruin in the sky... with no Ancient to keep her from being in pain. Yeah. I'd be flipping out too.

Maxical has Malan on the ropes so far. He keeps having to adjust his plans to honor his promises to her and make her compliant. For all of the knowledge that he has garnered from being an Ancient, he probably never guessed that his own nature could be used against him.

Because it has been a bit of time since your last update, the catch up/summary was very welcome. In fact, it was a delightful treat that Maxical was actually the one sharing her impressions of what has been happening. A great choice on your part to have her write it for us!

Theryon is a very neat place and seems so approapriate. I loved the screenshot you provided of it floating in the sky.

“Wait, what does that say?” I pointed to the Daedric paragraph on the wall. “I slept through the classes on Daedric writing.”
“So did Dagoth-Malan, Lass. Come, best get you some air.” He pulled me out of the room and touched the glowing stone. The wall grated closed. With a wave of his hand the wall section glowed orange, he
had magically sealed it from being opened again.'
I loved this exchange! It shows the short attention span our kitty had at the University while also demonstrating how smoothly Malan turns her query aside.

‘I don’t know how long I’d stayed like that when it struck me that Uriel would want me to test the spell’s effects. How much time had passed already? I started timing, then somehow lost count trying to figure out seconds into minutes.’
Now she’s thinking, but her well-known lack of skill with maths and numbers shines through in a delightfully welcome humorous moment.

‘Do mud crabs mate? Would they do it by climbing on from behind or facing each other? ‘
What a ‘Maxical’ string of thoughts! This one in particular struck me. One of the unpredictable effects of the Oblivion Crisis we discovered is that daedroth somehow managed to mate with mud crabs. After all, that surely is the only explanation why we now find land dreughs wandering the wilderness.

‘Malan misunderstood my fears for his life and the relief afterward. He pulled me close to him and held me tight in his arms, teasing me about being in love with Dagoth-Malan. I let him think it, took all his teasing.’
This is brilliant, mALX. Somehow, Maxical is bumbling and stumbling into how to take down the mighty Malan as only Maxical can!

Maxical's thinking is usually as well-aimed as her archery or spell-casting, but there's indications here of her hitting her target a few times.

Has she invented AOE logic? (I use the term "logic" loosely of course).

HAAAAA.

I'm not going to clog the thread but I can't help but to respond to this:




Two things to say to this:

1. I agree with you about it being creepy because its Malan

2. Lovers do that to their partners. All I can say is WTH?! Maybe it's just me. I'm a "look don't touch" person. This includes poking, grabbing, hugging etc, etc. I especially HATE poking.

This post has been edited by King Of Beasts: Jan 7 2013, 07:26 AM