Chapter 1: Names and Blood

"My only purpose is to serve the Daedra as their tool in the mortal realm. I am a Seer. That is why I came to you!" The Listener looked at me coolly, a bloody dagger in one hand and leaning over me. He was staring at me intently, deciding if I spoke the truth or not. I was shackled in iron cuffs to the cold and bloody wall in the Dark Brotherhoods outpost near Solitude. I had glimpsed the fair city moments before entering, hoping it wouldn't be my last view of Skyrim.

"The Night Mother has told me nothing of your arrival, Dunmer," he leaned in and spoke in my ear, hot breath against my neck. "Your abilities, your purpose, nor your allegiances. Why should I believe you?" He bared his teeth in a snare and pulled away again as the dagger hovered over my skin again.

"Your Night Mother does not send me, Sithis himself does!" His ice blue eyes gazed intently on my cloudy white ones. Hot blood dripped from the cut above my eye, and the one on my cheek dripped into my mouth.

"Ask your Patron. Ask her about the true child of darkness. Ask of The Void's plan for me. I do not lie." The Listener's eyes clouded over slightly as he listened to the words of his Patron. Thankfully Sithis himself had granted me the ability to hear any and all communication from the Immortals, bound or Daedra.

The Night Mother's slow, screaming whisper of a voice entered my mind.

"My Listener, she does not lie of being the tool of the Daedra. Nor of her allegiance to The Void. Ask her "What is life's greatest illusion?" If Sithis has spoken to her recently, she will know the answer; Innocence, my Brother." I waited because I could not hear mortals thread of communication but soon I understood what the Listener had asked.

"Send her soul into the Void." A moment more of silence before the whisper returned, "But If she answers correctly, bring her to the sanctuary as a sister."

When no more voices spoke, the Listener looked at me. He spoke the question slowly, watching my face for any reaction. I waited a moment, studying him back. He was a handsome, especially for the leader of the Dark Brotherhood. Ice blue eyes, long black hair tied behind his head, sharp nose and a sneering mouth. These little accents added a hint of darkness and cruelty to his warm Breton features.

I pulled forward on my bonds and leaned close to him. "Innocence." I smiled with blood on my teeth,"My Brother."

Shock ran over his features, but he hid the emotion quickly after. He leaned above me and cut the bindings. I slumped to the floor, weak and sore, rubbing my wrists to try and erase the pain. He leaned over and healed the worst of my wounds with a spell, and helped me up, motioned towards my armor and weapons and told me to meet him outside.

Finally alone in the creaking old shack, I sent a prayer towards Sithis for thanks, knowing I could join him at any moment. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to relieve some of the stress, and my hands came away red with blood. Luckily it was from pre-existing wounds that had recently closed. I sighed because I hated having blood in my white hair, it was so noticeable. I sighed again thinking I'd have to wear my hood up.

I knelt over, picking up my amour and quickly put it on. It was made of a black, ebony type material. Hard as diamonds yet flexible enough for me to run as fast as I could. The armor was sharp and dangerous looking, but the metal was designed with intricate feathers, softening the look. The dark metal made my skin look a deeper blue. I fastened a simple black cloak around my throat, as pulled up the hood. I strapped my dagger to my hip and put my bow and quiver over my shoulder, then I met the Listener outside.

He was standing beside a daedric horse that I knew all to well. "Shadowmere!" I said as I gave a wicked grin, splitting open a cut on my cheek. I made my way to the beast and it recognized me, neighing softly and butting my hand with its head. I cooed "sweet girl, beautiful girl" as I pet the horse. From behind me I heard a grunt and The Listener was looking at our embrace quizzically.

I spit the blood that had run into my mouth and have him a wry smile. "I'm older than you may think young Listener. I was already old when I met the original owner of this fine beast; Lucien Lachance. Being a Listener I'm sure you know who he was." The Listeners eyes sparkled with a hidden joke and it was his turn to surprise me.

"Yes I know who Lucien Lachance was. Member of the Black Hand accused of murdering other members, then being murdered himself. Yes, I know the legacy of my blood." He snickered as he dabbed said blood of of a cut on his arm.

"He was my great, great grandfather." he smirked back at me and it was my turn to be shocked. Yes now that the connection had been made he had looked familiar. The recognition left a gut wrenching pain for my long dead friend. Who knew he had time to pass on his line before his death. I studied the young man before me.

Same deep black hair and sharp, thin nose, thick bottom lip curved in the same sneer Lucien would always give me. The only difference, possibly what threw me off, where his ice blue eyes that had nothing to do with the Lachance bloodline. The Listener held out his hand, almost mockingly.

"James Laurent Lachance, at your service ma belle." He took my hand in his and kissed it like he was a knight instead of a murderer.

"And you have your grandfathers charm as well. Azrael Sang-DeNoir is what they call me."

XxX

"Sang-Denoir. Black blood. If I hadn't cut you myself I would have been enticed to see if you indeed bled black." I smiled at him that was more a baring of teeth.

"And I'd cut out your diamond eyes and make a necklace of them to wear wherever I went, sweet Lachance."

"But your white eyes are so much prettier! Like glassy pearls. They match your hair wonderfully too!"

This was the banter that had gone on since they left the abandoned shack heading towards Dawnstar almost two days ago. They were very close to the town by now, both shivering while they rode Shadowmere in the blizzard.

"Madame Sang-DeNoir, why don't we stop and have a drink at the tavern before meeting our family?"

"You just want to put a dagger in my back before anyone else, eh? Get all the glory of sending my soul back to Sithis. Don't you Sweet Lachance?" He laughed deeply but made no comment, so I agreed.

XxX

We settled in, the mid day snow raging against the taverns walls and the warm fire roaring. We had taken our drinks, soup and bread over to a quiet corner of the room. Before I could take a swig of my wine, Lachance spoke.

"I have many questions for you, but," He looked at me quizzically, waiting to see if it would be rude to continue. I waved my hand in the air to finish asking.

"I'm most curious about you and my grandfather knew each other."

I sighed and took a sip drink of red wine. "Well, there isn't much of a story there. Sithis sent me to find him, so I did." I continued eating as James looked at me expectantly.

"Why were you to find him?"

"Sithis told me he was in peril and was not yet his time to join the Void. I rescued him from the captivities of the Thalmer, who had somehow managed to capture him, when he was here in Skyrim on a contract. "

He waited but I didn't continue. "Then?" he probed. I sighed and put down my meal, knowing I'd have to tell a longer story to satisfy him.

"Then we fled into the forest and traveled to Cyrodiil where Lucien invited me to join the Dark Brotherhood." I took a bite of bread and a sip of wine to warm my belly before I continued. "I declined but ended up buying a small house near the Brotherhood Sanctuary. I was their ally and friend if not their family. When Lucien was murdered I resumed my travels across Tamriel and had finally settled in Ivarstead here in Skyrim. The Daedra had decided to let me live in peace for the next few years until recently when I was warned about this encounter. So I had time to gather supplies and plan."

James choked on his mead. "You mean you knew all this would happen? The murder in Rorikstead? Attempting to Kidnap a member of the Dark Brotherhood? The chase to Solitude? And your capture?" That's when I smiled at him and he looked dumbfound.

"I didn't know who you were if that's any consolation. And I didn't know what would happen after I entered the outpost, no. Everything else was a set up." I smirked at him and he just looked at me, searching for the secrets in my eyes.

"How does it work?" he waved his hand in my general direction.

"That, I am not inclined to answer. No, don't question any further." I held up my hand when he opened his mouth to interrupt me. "I know only bits and pieces myself. But what I do know I will keep private for now."

Suddenly he leaned forward and took my hand in his, kissing it softly. I sat there amused but shocked. "You are an exquisite character Miss Sang-DeNoir." he stood. "I believe it is time you met your family if you are still interested." He still held my hand and pulled me up gently. I swallowed the last of my wine ungracefully and slammed the cup back down smiling cynically.

"That would be divine Sir Lachance."

XxX