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ALEX
Jash had been an unstoppable force. Whenever he drew his blade his enemies fell. Blood was his calling and his pleasure. Alduin and Miraak couldn't defeat him no matter how hard they fought against the inevitable. Even when Jash was a child he had been able to slaughter those who angered him.
But he was dying now. Scouts-Many-Marshes was dead and he had nothing to live for. It took a few minutes for me to realize that my cries of pain were joining the sounds of the storm. Somehow I managed to stay standing even though it felt like my entire world was being shattered below my feet.
I turned to see Serena rushing to Frostflow Lighthouse. She didn't look like the fight with the vampires had bothered her much and I cried out to her. She went to Jash's side while my cries went unheard. Of course she couldn't hear me. No one in these dreams could.
Her dutiful hands went over Jash as her eyes barely glanced at Scouts. The Saxhleel was dead and there was no saving him. But the man I loved and her friend was still breathing. There was still time enough to save him.
I stood behind her so that I could better see how she saved Jash.
"****!" I yelled. "He's dying! Do something! Don't just sit there!"
There was something Serena could do but I couldn't think of what. All I could think of was Jash's breathing getting shallower as his grip on Scouts lessened. Jash wasn't real and yet his death didn't feel like a dream ending. I could hardly breathe and had to resist from waking up.
If I woke then the pain would go away but then our time together would similarly fade.
I looked up as the sound of dragon wings disturbed the air to the point the storm lessened then disappeared. Odahviing shook the ground as he landed close to the lighthouse. The dragon had become a dear friend to Jash after the Saxhleel had slain Alduin. Of course that friendship was dependent on how strong Jash was.
So why was the dragon here now?
"The Dovahkiin is near death." Odahviing said with more pain than I had ever heard from him. "I heard his Thu'um and it sounded weak."
So their friendship was more than I had thought.
"There's nothing I can do, Odahviing." Serena said and avoided looking at the dragon. "Jash is beyond saving. There's nothing we can do but wait."
"It's...strange seeing death like this." Odahviing mused. "We live for so long and their lives are so short."
"At least he died fighting."
"Jash's Thu'um can't be diminished even when tempered by death."
"No!" I yelled. "**** you! Save him!"
The idea finally came to me in my panic. But why hadn't Serena thought of it? Was there a danger that I couldn't comprehend? No! This was the way!
"Bite him!" I screamed. "******* turn him! He won't be happy but he'll be alive!"
Had Odahviing just looked at me? No, that was my imagination. No one had ever been able to see me in these dreams.
"Have you thought of everything?" Odahviing asked. "I want the Dovahkiin to live but I also wish to gain all the souls inside of him. Are you also conflicted?"
"What are you implying?" Serena asked and bared her fangs for a moment before they receded back.
"Why haven't you suggested turning him into a vampire temporarily? After he recovers you can take him to Falion to be cured. He will hate you but that anger will quickly fade."
"You know he never takes off the Ring of Hircine. You know how devout he is to that Daedric Prince. And yet you blame me for wanting my friend dead?"
Jash could cure himself and Hircine would forgive him. The Daedric Prince would see how it wasn't his choice. He would feel the shame radiating off of the Saxhleel and reward that devotion. Why couldn't Serena see that?
"As you're talking, he's dying!" I yelled, my rage weakly pushing against my sadness. "Serena! Odahviing! You can save him! Save him!"
I had thought that no one could see me but now Odahviing turned to look at me. There was no doubt now that he could see me. I took a step back as the full force of the dragon's gaze was overpowering. It felt like if he was so inclined, that he could easily kill me in this dream.
Then my body would be discovered in an empty apartment. Who would even go to my funeral? Was there even a point of having a funeral for me?
"Zii, it is high time we met." Odahviing said. "I have seen you in the past but never felt the need to talk to you. If Jash didn't start a conversation, there was little need for me to do so."
"So he could see me?" I asked. "All this time?"
"No, he never did. He was distracted by Mundus and didn't concentrate on things so far away. If not for my own power, connection to the Dovahkiin, and disinterest in this world I wouldn't have either. It took time but eventually my eyes were opened to you."
"Who are you talking to?" Serena asked.
Her hand was now on Jash's chest so she could feel the Saxhleel's fading heartbeat. If she wasn't thinking about turning him she would have stood up. She would want to give him dignity at the end.
"I am talking to the Zii that is a part of Jash's soul." Odahviing told her. "I don't know for how long but this man has been part of the Dovahkiin."
"Are you sure, Odahviing?" Serena asked with hope in her eyes.
"I have felt his existence for years. Jash can't make a decision in his current state but this Zii can."
Serena followed the dragon's gaze to me. She squinted but didn't greet me. She couldn't see me and would have to trust the dragon.
"If you wish to make a decision, Zii, it needs to be made now." Odahviing said. "As you've said, Jash is dying while we debate his fate."
"Jash should be bitten." I said. "He won't be happy but he'll be alive."
"The Zii says to bite Jash. Jash won't be happy but at least he'll be alive."
It felt like I stopped breathing as Serena knelt by Jash's side. Her fangs came out as she kissed his neck.
"I'm sorry, Jash." Serena whispered.
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