Nevin's heart pounded against her ribcage, threatening to break free. She clutched the traitor's journal tightly, jaw clenching. Her footsteps thundered in her ears like an earthquake; she could no longer tell if it was her blood or her boots that were so deafening. Applewatch appeared at the top of the hill, a burning orange sun setting behind it. Gravel flew every which way as she began sprinting at full speed, struggling for breath.
There were murmurs behind the door, and evil cackles as she approached. Her boots made little to no sound on the soft soil as she rushed in without a sound. "Love, I've-" She stopped dead in her tracks, blood freezing and choking on her words. Lucien's corpse hung upside down from the ceiling, bloody and beaten. Her eyes watered, and she opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her chest constricted and there was a knot in her throat.
"Silencer! At last you've arrived!" A female Altmer's voice exclaimed. Her eyes fell upon the Black Hand standing before their masterpiece. Lucien had told her of this Altmer. Arquen was her name; she was cunning, intelligent, and dangerous.
"Fear not, for the crisis that has threatened the Dark Brotherhood has finally come to an end. I am Arquen, Speaker for the Black Hand. As you can see, we have dealt with the betrayer, Lucien Lachance! No longer will you serve as his puppet!" Her eyes lit up with delight as she looked over Nevin: her slight figure, shoulder-length crimson coloured hair, angular face, and slanted violet eyes.
"It seems Lachance wanted revenge against the Dark Brotherhood for some reason, and used you to do his dirty work. But now, we can begin anew! I bestow upon you the title of Speaker. You will take Lucien Lachance's place on the Black Hand! Welcome!" A wicked smile flashed across Arquen's lips. Biting her cheeks and forcing herself to breath, Nevin slowly raised the journal.
A breath escaped her lips, forming the words, "Kill him." Arquen raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?" An evil grin slowly formed itself on Nevin's lips. "Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him." With one feeble breath, she hissed, "Kill him!" Throwing the journal to the side, she pushed Arquen to the side and drew her Blade of Woe.
Slitting Mathieu's throat was one swift act, but the rest brought on a challenge. As Nevin released J'Ghasta's bodiless head, she turned toward Arquen, the last remaining member of the Black Hand. The Altmer cowered in the corner, trembling and gasping for mercy. Her eyes were full of terror as she slid down the wall, looking over Nevin's shoulder at the massacre.
Nevin could only focus on Lucien's dried blood at the corner of her lips.
She straddled Arquen, blood boiling with hatred, violet eyes full of malice. She cupped the Altmer's jaw and whispered, "Pity." She plunged her dagger deep into Arquen's stomach, crimson blood soaking the black cloth and staining Nevin's fingers.
Watching her prey gargle on her own blood made Nevin's pulse race. She locked the Altmer's lips in a kiss, pinning her against the ground.
Reflecting upon this moment months later, Nevin realized that Arquen could have sunk her dagger into her chest and dragged her into the Void with her. Whether this was an act of kindness or a way to prolong her suffering without Lucien, she would never know.
But she remembered the taste of Arquen's blood, and the ecstacy in her eyes as she writhed beneath Nevin's touch.
