Chapter 152 The Lord of the vampire
They finally arrived at Castle Volkihar.
The moment the massive fortress came into view, Astrid stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened slightly as she stared at the dark castle rising from the lonely island, its ancient stone walls standing against the cold sea wind like the bones of some sleeping beast.
"So… this is the place you wanted to go?" Astrid muttered, her voice filled with disbelief. "This is like…"
Before she could finish, Serana stepped ahead of Alex and Astrid. Her boots tapped softly against the cold stone path as she walked forward with a strangely familiar calm. Then, after a few steps, she turned back toward them.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Yes," Serana said. "This is my home. My castle."
Astrid stared at her for a moment.
Then she let out a slow, tired sigh.
"Home… right… heh."
Her expression was difficult to read. There was amazement in her eyes, but also caution. The word home sounded far too casual for a place like this. To Astrid, this was not a home it was a castle filled with shadows, secrets, and danger.
After a moment, she turned toward Alex, lowering her voice.
"Alex… is this really safe?" she asked, her brows knitting with concern. "Serana seems like someone very important. Are we going to be okay?"
Alex looked at the castle in silence for a moment, then gave Astrid a calm, reassuring smile.
"Relax," he said gently. "I'm here. If anything feels strange, we leave immediately."
Astrid looked into his eyes, searching for certainty. Seeing the calm confidence on his face, she finally nodded, though her hand still rested close to her weapon out of instinct.
Serana glanced at Astrid, clearly noticing her concern.
"Don't worry," Serana said lightly. "No one will lay a single finger on you."
She paused for a brief moment.
"…Probably."
Alex slowly turned his head toward her, his expression flattening.
"Probably?"
Serana immediately turned around again, avoiding his gaze.
"Yes, of course, probably," she replied, her tone suddenly becoming a little too casual. "My father might even give you a reward for bringing back his beloved daughter…"
She hesitated slightly, then added under her breath,
"…I hope."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
Serana stopped walking just before they reached the entrance.
For a moment, she stood with her back facing them, her dark cloak shifting lightly in the cold wind. Her hand hovered near the castle door, but she did not push it open. Instead, her fingers curled slightly, as if she were hesitating.
Then she glanced back over her shoulder.
The casual expression she had worn earlier was gone. Her face had grown more serious, and there was a faint tension in her eyes.
"But before we go inside…" Serana said quietly, "there's something I need to tell you."
Astrid immediately noticed the change in her tone. Her teasing suspicion faded, replaced by alert concern. She took a small step forward, her boots scraping softly against the cold stone beneath her.
"What is it?" Astrid asked.
Serana looked at her for a moment.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out at first. She lowered her gaze, seeming to gather herself. Then she let out a soft breath and gave a faint, almost awkward smile.
"I….thank you for asking."
Her voice softened, losing some of its usual dry edge.
"I just wanted to say thank you for bringing me this far," Serana continued. "But after we go in there, I'm going to go my own way for a while."
Astrid's expression immediately tightened with worry. Her brows drew together, and the hand resting near her weapon slowly fell to her side. She looked at Serana not as a suspicious vampire anymore, but as a woman who seemed to be walking into a place filled with painful memories.
"Are you going to be alright?" Astrid asked gently.
Serana looked back at her.
For a moment, she seemed genuinely caught off guard by the concern. Her eyes widened slightly, and her shoulders stiffened just a little, as if she was not used to being asked something like that so sincerely.
"Am I alright…?" Serana murmured.
She turned her face toward the castle again.
The ancient doors stood before them like the mouth of a beast, dark and waiting.
A faint, uncertain smile touched her lips.
"I… think so."
But the answer did not sound completely convincing.
She was silent for a few seconds, her gaze drifting across the stone walls of Castle Volkihar. There was something complicated in her expression relief, dread, and old bitterness all tangled together.
Then her eyes shifted back to Alex and Astrid.
"I know your friends would probably want to kill everything in here," Serana said carefully.
Her tone was calm, but her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her cloak.
"I'm hoping you can show more control than that."
Alex let out a small sigh.
He raised one hand and scratched his cheek, his expression turning slightly awkward.
"Well…" he said slowly, "of course, one of our friends would definitely love to commit genocide inside this place."
His dry tone made Astrid glance at him from the corner of her eye.
Alex gave a small shrug.
"But don't worry about us."
He folded his arms and looked toward the castle gates, his expression becoming more composed.
"We don't exactly hold a deep grudge against your people," he said. "Well… they did almost make me angry."
His eyes narrowed faintly for a moment, the memory clearly unpleasant.
"But luckily, it didn't turn into hatred."
Then his voice grew calmer, but there was a firm edge beneath it.
"If they make the first move, then I'll react. That's all."
Serana studied him quietly.
For a moment, she said nothing. Then she let out a soft sigh, and a faint trace of disappointment crossed her face not toward Alex, but toward her own kind.
"Ah…" she said softly. "I'm sorry if something like that happened to you."
Alex's expression relaxed.
He gave her a small smile and waved one hand lightly, as if trying to ease the weight of the conversation.
"Well, don't worry about it," he replied in a relaxed tone. "The important thing is that no one lost their life back then, so… yeah. That's how it is."
Serana looked at him for a moment longer.
The guarded look in her eyes softened slightly. A small, grateful smile appeared on her lips, subtle but sincere.
"Thank you."
Then she glanced at both Alex and Astrid again. Her face became serious once more, and her posture straightened as if she were preparing herself for what waited beyond the door.
"Once we're inside," Serana said, "just keep quiet for a bit. Let me take the lead."
Alex gave a slight nod.
"Understood."
But inwardly, his thoughts were already moving.
(Yeah… if they make the first move, I'm confident I can escape from here with Astrid using my current strength. I've trained my telekinesis enough, and if I combine it with my Pause ability, getting out of here shouldn't be impossible.)
His gaze moved briefly to Astrid.
She stood beside him, one hand resting protectively near her stomach, her eyes sharp and cautious.
Alex's expression softened for only a second.
(No matter what happens, I'll get her out safely.)
Then he looked back toward the entrance of Castle Volkihar, his eyes narrowing slightly.
(Still… I have to admit it.)
A faint, curious smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
(I really want to see Harkon's Vampire Lord transformation with my own eyes.)
His gaze shifted quietly toward the castle gates.
Then the three of them walked forward toward the entrance gate of Castle Volkihar.
Behind the tall iron bars, a gatekeeper stood watch. The moment he noticed them approaching, his eyes narrowed and his voice rang out harshly.
"Oi, meat get out of here unless you want to be eaten."
Before Alex or Astrid could react, Serana immediately stepped forward, placing herself slightly ahead of them as if to block the guard's hostility before it could escalate. Her posture straightened, and although her expression remained calm, there was a quiet authority in the way she lifted her chin and met the gatekeeper's gaze.
"Stand aside," she said in a calm but firm tone. "They're with me."
The guard narrowed his eyes at first, clearly prepared to sneer again, but then he looked at her more carefully.
His expression changed at once.
The arrogance on his face disappeared, replaced by pure shock. His eyes widened, and he leaned forward as if doubting what he was seeing.
"Wait…" he stammered, staring at her face. "You… Serana… Miss Serana?"
For a brief second, he seemed utterly frozen. Then he quickly lowered his head, his voice becoming far more respectful.
"Oh, Lord Harkon will be happy to see you, my lady."
At once, he hurried to open the iron gate for them. The heavy metal bars groaned as they parted, revealing the dark path leading deeper into the castle grounds.
As Alex, Astrid, and Serana stepped through, the guard turned his head toward Alex and Astrid. His earlier shock faded into a stern, warning expression.
"Lord Harkon is a great man," he said in a more serious tone. "Best show him the proper respect."
Alex said nothing, though his eyes briefly flicked toward the guard with quiet indifference. Beside him, Astrid remained alert, her posture tense as she took in every detail around them.
Together, Alex and Astrid entered Castle Volkihar alongside Serana.
The moment they approached the main doors, they were greeted by another vampire Vingalmo.
He had only just turned toward them when his eyes landed on Serana. Instantly, his entire expression changed. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he took a step forward as though he could not trust his own sight.
"Wait… Serana?" he said, his voice full of astonishment. "Is that truly you? I cannot believe my eyes!"
Before anyone could respond, Vingalmo turned sharply and hurried toward a nearby podium. His robes swept behind him as he moved, and when he reached it, he raised his voice so it echoed through the halls.
"Attention, everyone! Princess Serana has returned!"
His words rang out through the castle like the announcement of a long-lost heir returning home.
Then, with clear eagerness, he motioned for the three of them to follow and led them farther into the castle.
As soon as they reached the main hall, Alex and Astrid were met with a grim and deeply unsettling sight.
A long dining table stretched across the room, lit by cold, dim light that only made the scene appear even more grotesque. The table was laden not with noble food, but with blood and pieces of human flesh, arranged as though it were some twisted feast.
Vampires sat around it with perfect ease, feeding as if this were nothing more than an ordinary dinner.
But what made the sight far worse was the fact that some of the "servings" were still alive.
Several humans were still seated or rather restrained among them, their bodies trembling, their faces pale with terror, while vampires leaned close to their throats and fed directly from them. Some let out weak, pained breaths. Others looked too drained to even struggle anymore.
Astrid's face tightened at once. Her eyes hardened, and her jaw clenched as disgust and anger flickered across her expression. One of her hands instinctively moved closer to her weapon.
Alex's expression also darkened.
He said nothing, but his gaze became sharper, colder, as he took in the blood-smeared table, the casual cruelty of the vampires, and the horrifying ease with which they treated living people as food.
The atmosphere in the hall was suffocating.
The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood. Quiet sounds of feeding echoed faintly in the background wet, intimate, and vile. Above all of it hung the cold arrogance of the creatures gathered there, as though they saw nothing wrong with the horror before them.
Then the guard lifted his voice once more and called out loudly,
"Attention, everyone! Princess Serana has returned!"
Heads turned.
One by one, the vampires in the hall shifted their attention toward the entrance.
Serana glanced sideways at Alex and Astrid, then gave them a small, dry smile one that seemed to carry a hint of awkward resignation.
"I guess I'm expected."
Then, from among all the vampires gathered in the hall, the one seated at the center slowly rose from his chair.
The shift in atmosphere was immediate.
Every murmur of conversation faded. Every faint laugh, every idle movement, even the sickening sounds from the banquet seemed to die away into silence as he stood and began walking toward them.
It was as though the entire hall unconsciously bent around his presence.
Alex felt it the moment the man took his first step forward.
A heavy, oppressive aura pressed against the air around him, thick and suffocating, as though the very space itself had suddenly grown heavier. It was not merely the feeling of being watched it was the sensation of standing before a predator so powerful that everyone else in the room instinctively yielded to him.
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
(So this is Harkon…)
A faint chill ran down his spine not out of fear, but from the sheer pressure of the vampire lord's presence.
(The aura he gives off is completely different from the game.)
In the game, Harkon had only been a boss on a screen.
But here, standing in front of him in the flesh, he felt like something far more real older, darker, and far more oppressive than Alex had ever expected.
Lord Harkon stopped before them.
The moment he came to a halt, it felt as though the entire hall stopped breathing with him. His presence alone commanded the room. The vampires who had been feasting moments earlier remained silent, their eyes lowered or fixed carefully ahead, as if none of them dared to speak before their lord.
Harkon's sharp gaze moved to Serana first.
A faint smile appeared on his pale face, but there was little warmth in it. It was elegant, controlled, and cold more like the smile of a ruler inspecting something valuable that had finally been returned to him.
"My long, long-lost daughter has returned at last," Harkon said.
His voice was smooth, deep, and cold enough to make the air feel heavier.
"I trust you have my Elder Scroll."
Serana's expression tightened immediately.
Her brows lowered, and the corner of her mouth twitched faintly in irritation. For a moment, she simply stared at him, as though she could not believe those were truly the first words he had chosen to say after all this time.
"After all these years," she said, her voice low and bitter, "that's the first thing you ask me?"
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
Then she turned her face away with a sharp exhale, forcing herself to swallow the anger rising in her chest.
"Yes," she said curtly. "I have the scroll."
Alex and Astrid walked quietly behind Serana, following her lead as promised. Neither of them spoke. Alex kept his expression calm, but his eyes moved carefully, observing every vampire, every shadowed corner, every possible threat. Astrid walked close beside him, her posture controlled but ready, her gaze sharp beneath her furrowed brows.
Harkon's smile did not disappear.
"Of course, I am delighted to see you, my daughter," he continued, spreading one hand slightly in a graceful, almost theatrical gesture. "Must I really say the words aloud?"
Serana's jaw tightened.
The words sounded affectionate on the surface, but there was no tenderness behind them. Only pride, possession, and calculation.
Then Harkon's tone turned colder, edged with cruel sarcasm.
"Ah…" he said, as if suddenly remembering something amusing. "If only your traitor mother were here. I would let her witness this reunion before putting her head on a spike."
Serana's expression darkened.
A flicker of anger crossed her face, but she forced it down almost immediately. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her eyes lowered for a brief moment. Whatever she wanted to say, she swallowed it.
Alex noticed.
So did Astrid.
Astrid's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze moving from Serana to Harkon with visible distaste.
Only then did Harkon's attention drift past his daughter.
His pale eyes landed on Alex and Astrid.
There was no immediate hostility in his gaze, but that made it feel even more unsettling. He studied them the way a predator might study unfamiliar creatures wandering into its territory curious, amused, and faintly dangerous.
"Now tell me," Harkon said, his voice echoing through the great hall, "who are these strangers you have brought into our hall?"
At that moment, the eyes of the vampires seated at the banquet table slowly turned toward Alex and Astrid.
One by one, their gazes locked onto them.
Some looked curious.
Some looked hungry.
Others looked openly offended, as though the mere presence of mortals in their hall was an insult.
The hall grew even colder.
Serana turned her head slightly toward Alex and Astrid, then faced Harkon again.
"These are my saviors," she said. Her tone was steady, but there was a quiet firmness beneath it. "They're the ones who freed me."
Lord Harkon slowly lifted one hand to his chin.
His long fingers rested there as he studied Alex and Astrid more closely. His narrowed eyes moved from Alex's face, to Astrid's stance, then back again, as if measuring them in silence.
"Hmm…" he murmured. "Not what I expected."
His gaze sharpened.
"And not one of mine either."
A faint shift passed through the vampires around the hall. Some exchanged glances. Others leaned forward slightly, listening more intently.
Harkon's eyes returned to Serana.
"I sent my men to retrieve you," he said. "Yet I do not see them here."
His smile thinned.
"Which leads me to conclude that they are dead."
The pressure in the room increased.
Several vampires stared at Alex and Astrid more sharply now, their expressions turning hostile. Astrid's fingers flexed once near her weapon, but she remained still.
Despite the heavy aura radiating from Harkon, Alex simply smiled.
His posture remained relaxed, almost casual. He tilted his head slightly, as if the dangerous silence pressing down on them did not bother him at all.
"Heh," Alex said lightly. "Your men died because of the trap that was meant to free Serana."
A few vampires narrowed their eyes.
Alex continued calmly.
"And it seems that place was designed as a trap for vampires, so…"
He gave a small shrug, his expression almost innocent.
"You're in luck, pal."
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire hall seemed to freeze.
Several vampires stared at him in disbelief.
A few gasped sharply.
Others bared their fangs, their faces twisting with anger at the mortal's audacity.
Astrid slowly turned her eyes toward Alex, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and silent warning, as if to say, Did you really just say that here?
Serana's shoulders stiffened.
For a second, even she looked unsure whether Alex had just doomed them all.
The atmosphere turned dangerously sharp.
Lord Harkon's expression darkened.
His smile vanished, and his pale face became cold and unreadable. For a brief moment, the weight of his presence pressed down even harder, making the air feel as if it had become solid.
Then
"Hahaha…"
A low laugh escaped him.
At first, it was quiet.
Then it grew louder.
"Hahahaha! Bold!" Harkon laughed, his voice echoing throughout the hall. He threw his head back slightly, clearly amused. "This mortal has some courage."
His eyes gleamed as he looked at Alex again.
"Hahaha! I like that."
Alex said nothing.
He merely held Harkon's gaze with the same relaxed smile, though beneath that calm expression, his senses remained sharp. His fingers twitched once at his side, ready to react if the situation changed even slightly.
But then Alex's gaze shifted past Harkon.
At first, it was only a passing glance an instinctive scan of the vampires gathered behind the lord of the castle.
Then his gaze stopped.
Behind Harkon, among the gathered vampires, Alex noticed a familiar face.
For a split second, his relaxed expression disappeared entirely.
His eyes widened slightly.
Then they narrowed.
The warmth in his face drained away, replaced by something cold and dangerous. A sharp light flashed in his eyes, and the faint smile on his lips vanished as if it had never been there.
"You…"
His voice was low, but it cut through the hall clearly.
Astrid immediately noticed the change in him. She turned her head toward Alex, her brows furrowing.
"Alex…?"
Without warning, Alex raised one hand.
The movement was small almost effortless.
But the effect was immediate.
An invisible force seized one of the vampires standing behind Harkon.
The vampire's body jerked violently, as though an unseen hand had wrapped around his throat and yanked him forward. His boots scraped against the floor for only an instant before he was dragged through the air and pulled past the others.
Several vampires recoiled in surprise.
The next moment, the vampire was lifted off the ground.
His feet dangled helplessly in the air. His hands flew to his own neck, clawing desperately at nothing as Alex's telekinesis tightened around his throat.
A broken choking sound escaped him.
Alex's expression grew even darker.
"You!"
The vampire's eyes widened in terror.
It was Eirik.
The same vampire who had once threatened to attack Astrid and kill Alex's family.
The moment Astrid recognized him, her face hardened. Her eyes sharpened with anger, and her fingers immediately curled around the grip of her weapon. For a brief second, the memory of that threat flashed across her face not fear, but fury.
Lord Harkon did not move.
He merely watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes, his expression calm and unreadable. Rather than stopping Alex immediately, he seemed to be observing, trying to understand the reason behind this sudden outburst before deciding how to respond.
Meanwhile, Eirik struggled desperately in midair.
His body twisted as he clawed at his own throat, but there were no visible hands to remove. His mouth opened and closed in panic, producing only strained, broken gasps. The pressure around his neck tightened, forcing his pale face to contort with pain.
The entire hall erupted into chaos.
Several vampires rose from their seats at once, chairs scraping harshly against the stone floor. Their eyes burned with hostility as they glared at Alex. Some bared their fangs, lips curling back in rage, while others reached for their weapons. A wave of bloodlust began spreading through the room, thick and suffocating.
Astrid immediately stepped beside Alex.
Her posture shifted into a defensive stance, knees slightly bent, shoulders squared, and one hand ready at her weapon. Her eyes swept across the hall, calculating which enemy would move first. Though she was clearly pregnant, there was nothing fragile about the way she stood. She looked like a warrior prepared to cut down anyone foolish enough to approach.
Serana's expression tightened with alarm.
Her gaze darted from Alex, to Eirik, then to the vampires surrounding them. Her lips parted slightly, and her fingers curled anxiously at her sides. She could see the situation spiraling dangerously close to bloodshed.
"Alex…" she murmured, worry clear in her voice.
But before any vampire could lunge forward
Harkon raised one hand.
It was a simple gesture.
No shout.
No threat.
Nothing more than a slow, slight movement of his fingers.
And yet, the effect was immediate.
The vampires froze.
One by one, they forced themselves to stop. Their bodies remained tense, their fangs still bared, and their eyes still burned with hunger and hostility, but none of them dared to move. Even those who had half-drawn their weapons slowly held still under Harkon's silent command.
The hall became deathly quiet again.
Only Eirik's strained choking could be heard.
Only then did Harkon look back at Alex.
His face remained calm, almost amused, as if the sudden violence had become an interesting diversion rather than an insult.
"Do you know him?" Harkon asked casually.
Alex's eyes did not leave Eirik.
His expression was dark, and his voice carried a dangerous edge.
"Yeah," Alex said. "He's the one who once tried to attack my wife, Astrid…"
His fingers curled slightly.
Eirik's body jerked as the invisible grip tightened.
"…and threatened to kill her."
A cold smile slowly appeared on Alex's face.
"Hehehe… I thought we'd never meet again."
His gaze sharpened.
"But look at that."
The pressure around Eirik's throat increased just enough to make him tremble.
"Here we are."
Even while being choked, Eirik somehow managed to force out a few broken words.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Alex's face. Despite the pain twisting his expression, his lips curled into a mocking, desperate smile.
"Hehe… heh…" Eirik rasped. "You…"
His voice came out in fragments, each word squeezed through the crushing pressure around his throat.
"You won't… be able to… kill me…"
His gaze flickered toward Harkon, clinging to him like a lifeline.
"Lord… Harkon… is… here…"
Before he could say anything more
Harkon moved.
It happened so quickly that most of the vampires barely had time to react.
His hand flashed through the air in a single, elegant motion.
The next instant, Eirik's head was severed from his body.
For a breath, his body remained suspended in Alex's telekinetic grip.
Then it went limp.
The hall fell completely silent.
Harkon lowered his hand calmly, his expression unchanged, as if he had done nothing more than brush dust from his sleeve. He did not look angry. He did not look regretful. To him, Eirik's death seemed no more significant than correcting a minor inconvenience.
"Ah… my apologies," Harkon said smoothly.
His voice carried the same refined calm as before.
"I should have cut him down the moment I learned the reason behind your anger."
He let out a quiet sigh, though his expression remained unreadable.
"Well, I was unaware that the two of you had a grudge against each other."
His gaze shifted toward Alex.
"Allow me to apologize for the disrespect shown toward the savior of my daughter."
Alex remained silent.
His hand was still raised, and his fingers remained slightly curled. Even though Eirik was dead, anger still lingered in his eyes.
Deep down, frustration burned inside him.
He had wanted to kill Eirik with his own hands.
He had wanted to make the vampire understand exactly what it meant to threaten Astrid and his family.
But then Alex's gaze moved to Serana.
She looked tense, her face pale with worry as she watched him carefully, afraid that one wrong word or one wrong action might cause the entire hall to erupt again.
Then Alex glanced at Astrid.
She stood beside him, her eyes still sharp, but one hand had moved protectively near her stomach.
She was pregnant.
That single reminder cut through Alex's anger more effectively than anything else.
His breathing slowed.
The invisible pressure in the air faded.
His clenched hand slowly relaxed and lowered to his side.
"Ah… no," Alex finally said, exhaling quietly.
His voice was calmer now, though a trace of restrained anger still remained beneath the surface.
"It's alright."
He looked at Harkon, then lowered his head slightly not deeply, but enough to show that he was willing to step back from the confrontation.
"I apologize as well," Alex said, "if I acted disrespectfully toward all of you."
Lord Harkon seemed satisfied that the tension had settled.
The cold weight in the hall eased slightly, and a faint smile spread across his pale face. It was not a warm smile, but it carried a trace of approval, as if Alex's restraint had entertained him more than offended him.
Harkon turned his gaze fully toward Alex.
"Tell me," he said smoothly, "what is your name?"
Alex met his eyes without flinching.
His posture remained calm, though his senses were still alert. One hand rested loosely at his side, while the other remained close enough to react if something went wrong.
"My name is Alex," he answered.
Then he glanced at Astrid beside him.
Astrid stood straight, her expression composed but guarded. Her eyes never fully left Harkon, and one hand remained near her weapon out of habit.
"And this is my partner, Astrid."
Harkon's gaze shifted toward Astrid for a moment.
His eyes studied her carefully, lingering on her proud posture, her warrior's stance, and the protective way she remained close to Alex. Then he gave a slight nod, as if acknowledging her presence but not yet deciding what to make of her.
"I am Harkon," he said, placing one hand lightly against his chest, "lord of this court."
His voice carried effortlessly through the hall.
"By now, my daughter has told you what we are."
Astrid's eyes narrowed slightly.
Her chin lifted, and her voice came out firm and unafraid.
"Of course," she said. "Vampires."
A few vampires around the hall smiled faintly, amused by her bluntness.
Harkon let out a short, low chuckle.
"Hmph. Not just vampires," he corrected, his lips curling with pride. "We are among the oldest and most powerful vampires in Skyrim."
As he spoke, he began to pace slowly in front of them.
His movements were measured and elegant, every step controlled. His hands moved with practiced grace, one occasionally opening in a smooth gesture, as though he were delivering a speech he had given many times before.
"For centuries, we lived here," Harkon continued, "far from the cares of the world."
His gaze moved briefly across the hall, toward the ancient stone walls, the bloodstained table, and the gathered vampires who watched him in silence.
"All of that ended when my wife betrayed me…"
His voice darkened slightly.
His fingers curled for a brief moment before relaxing again.
"…and stole away that which I valued most."
Serana's expression tightened at those words.
She looked away, her jaw tense, clearly unwilling to respond in front of everyone. Astrid noticed the subtle pain in her face, and her own expression hardened slightly.
Then Harkon stopped pacing.
He turned back to Alex.
"You have done me a great service," Harkon continued, his voice becoming smoother, almost ceremonial. "And now, you must be rewarded."
He lifted one hand slightly, palm open in a dignified gesture.
"There is but one gift equal in value to the Elder Scroll… and my daughter."
Then Harkon spread his arms wide.
His presence filled the hall once more, and the vampires around them watched with silent expectation.
"I offer you my blood," he declared. "Take it, and you will walk as a lion among-"
He suddenly stopped.
For the first time, Harkon seemed to truly look at Alex and Astrid.
Not as unexpected guests.
Not as mortals who had merely brought Serana home.
But as something else.
His sharp eyes narrowed slightly. The smile on his face thinned as his gaze moved from Alex to Astrid, as if sensing something beneath their outward appearance something powerful, abnormal, and difficult to measure.
A brief silence passed.
The vampires in the hall seemed confused by his sudden pause.
Then Harkon slowly lowered his hands.
A faint, dry smile appeared on his lips.
"…Forgive me," he said. "It seems you are already lions among sheep."
Alex's expression did not change much, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Astrid raised one eyebrow, as if she was not sure whether to take it as praise or an insult.
Harkon's smile deepened.
Then he spoke again, his voice smooth and persuasive.
"But you are still mortal."
He stepped closer, his tone lowering as though offering a sacred secret.
"Accept my blood, and you will no longer fear old age. You will endure forever."
His words lingered in the air like a temptation.
The vampires around the hall watched in silence, their eyes fixed on Alex and Astrid, waiting for their answer.
Alex smirked faintly.
"And what if we want to remain mortal?"
A quiet ripple passed through the hall.
Some vampires looked offended, while others seemed amused by his confidence.
Harkon let out a low laugh.
"Then you are fools."
His eyes gleamed with dark amusement.
"Perhaps you still need convincing?"
His lips curled into a sinister smile.
"Behold the power."
The next moment, Harkon began to transform.
At first, it was subtle.
The air around him seemed to thicken, and a dark pressure rolled outward from his body. His pale skin grew even colder in color, turning almost corpse-like beneath the dim light of the hall. His fingers twitched, the nails sharpening and lengthening into cruel black claws.
Then his frame began to expand.
His shoulders broadened unnaturally. His spine bent and stretched, reshaping his silhouette into something larger, more monstrous, and far less human. The elegant nobleman who had stood before them moments ago began to disappear beneath the shape of a nightmare.
The sound of cracking bone and twisting flesh echoed faintly through the hall.
Astrid's eyes sharpened, and her body instinctively shifted into a ready stance. Her fingers tightened near her weapon, but she did not draw it yet. Her gaze remained locked on Harkon, steady and unafraid, though clear disgust flickered across her face.
Serana looked away slightly, her expression tightening with discomfort. She had seen this power before, but that did not make the sight any less unpleasant.
Alex watched with narrowed eyes.
His curiosity was unmistakable.
Even with the oppressive aura pressing against him, he did not step back. Instead, his gaze followed every change, every distortion, every detail of the transformation.
(So this is the Vampire Lord form in real life…)
From Harkon's back, a pair of broad wings tore free.
They were not feathered wings, nor anything graceful. They were membranous and grotesque, stretched like those of a giant bat, pulsing slightly as they unfolded behind him. His face twisted into something inhuman bat-like, predatory, and terrifying. His mouth widened around sharp fangs, and his eyes burned with an unnatural glow.
His feet slowly lifted from the floor.
Harkon hovered above the stone, his massive form casting a dark shadow over Alex and Astrid.
The oppressive aura in the hall intensified.
It rolled over the room like a crushing wave, making even the vampires around the hall lower their heads in reverence and fear.
In his transformed state, Harkon spread his monstrous arms wide.
His wings stretched behind him, making him appear even larger and more terrifying.
"This is the power I offer!" Harkon declared, his voice deeper and more monstrous than before. "Now, make your choice!"
Alex and Astrid glanced at each other.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The monstrous figure of Harkon hovered before them, wings spread wide, his clawed hands open as if he were offering them the greatest blessing in the world. The vampires around the hall watched in silence, waiting for their answer, their eyes gleaming with hunger, arrogance, and expectation.
Alex looked at Astrid.
Astrid looked back at him.
Then, almost at the same time, the corners of their lips lifted.
They smiled.
But with the quiet understanding of two people who had already made their decision long before the offer was even given.
Alex turned back toward Harkon and gave a casual grin. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he lifted one hand in a small dismissive wave.
"Nah," Alex said lightly. "I'll pass."
He tilted his head, looking at Harkon's transformed figure from top to bottom.
"Living that long sounds way too luxurious for me."
A few vampires stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
Astrid immediately followed, stepping a little closer to Alex's side. Her expression remained calm, but her voice was firm and unwavering.
"I don't want to live that long either," she said.
She placed one hand lightly over her stomach, then looked at Alex with a soft, affectionate smile before facing Harkon again.
"And besides, I want to enter Sovngarde together with my love."
Her eyes sharpened with pride.
"So… I'll pass too."
For a brief moment, the hall went completely silent.
Harkon's monstrous face slowly twisted.
The cold confidence in his expression gave way to anger and irritation. His glowing eyes narrowed, and his lips pulled back from his fangs in a furious snarl. The membranes of his wings flexed behind him, casting shifting shadows across the stone floor.
"You are prey," Harkon snarled.
His voice thundered through the hall, deeper and harsher in his Vampire Lord form.
"Like all mortals."
The pressure in the room surged.
Several vampires lowered their heads, while others watched with cruel anticipation.
Harkon raised one clawed hand toward Alex and Astrid.
"I banish you!"
At once, dark magic gathered in his palm.
Alex's eyes narrowed, and Astrid instinctively moved closer to him, her hand reaching toward his sleeve. Before either of them could move, the spell burst forward.
A surge of magic enveloped them both.
The air twisted around their bodies, wrapping them in a violent current of power. The sight of the hall blurred the bloodstained table, the watching vampires, Serana's tense expression, and Harkon's furious form all stretched and distorted like reflections on disturbed water.
Astrid's fingers tightened around Alex's arm.
Alex turned slightly toward her, ready to pull her close if the spell turned dangerous.
But in the very next instant
Everything vanished.
Cold air struck them the moment they reappeared outside.
The heavy scent of blood was gone, replaced by the sharp bite of the sea wind. The oppressive darkness of Castle Volkihar's hall disappeared behind them, leaving only the distant roar of waves crashing against the rocks below.
Alex blinked once.
Astrid blinked beside him.
For a few seconds, both of them stood in silence, surrounded by the cold wind and dim light outside the castle.
They had made it out alive.
Astrid slowly looked down at herself, then at Alex, as if confirming that they were both still in one piece.
Then she looked back toward the castle doors.
Her lips twitched.
A second later, she suddenly burst into laughter.
"Haha…"
She covered her mouth with one hand, but the laughter escaped anyway.
"Hahaha!"
Her shoulders shook as relief, disbelief, and excitement all came pouring out at once.
"Somehow…" she said between laughs, "we actually got out of the vampire den!"
She leaned slightly against Alex's arm, still laughing.
"Hahaha! We really survived that!"
After laughing for a while, Astrid slowly calmed down. The cold sea wind continued to blow around them, and behind their backs, Castle Volkihar still stood in silence like a dark beast watching them leave.
Alex looked back at the castle for a moment. The image of Harkon's monstrous form, the bloodstained banquet table, and the terrified humans trapped inside still lingered in his mind.
His expression slowly grew serious.
"We should report this to the Dawnguard," Alex said quietly.
Astrid nodded. "Yeah… after seeing that place, I think they need to know what we're really dealing with."
Alex then lifted Astrid carefully in his arms. With his telekinesis, their bodies slowly rose into the cold night sky, leaving Castle Volkihar behind.
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