********************Authors Note*********************

Thanks for clicking on my story! This is a Story about a girl and her quest to find meaning in her immortal life.

Chapter 1

With Friends Like These...

Have you ever heard a sound that stuck your soul? That resonates so completely with you that you would do anything to hear it again? For most mortals the sounds usually come from others of their kind, a warm laugh, a new born cooing, and more often the sound of your lover saying three little words. For some mortals the sound makes them who they are, a lute in the hands of a master bard, or the clashing of metal as two warriors fight. When a sound dies it causes a part of mortals souls to fade away. The exquisite pain of knowing that the sound your name makes as it falls from your lovers lips as they lay dying for example.

Some sounds are earth and soul shattering, the deafening roar of a dragon as it sights it's prey. The jarl sentencing an innocent woman to her death because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As mortals live their seemingly insignificant lives they experience emotions and events that change the very fabric of their nature. Some, a very small group find their destinies and, even alter the course of history.

Ari had been with the brotherhood for a month now, the wickedly beautiful nord had even made a decent living of it so far. Her raven blue black hair was soft and full. It had always been straight even after her change. Her pale white skin resembled marble there wasn't a single wrinkle scar or tattoo to distract from her pristine face. Strangers often would say that she resembled a stone angel. If you watched her long enough you would be graced by her glowing smile, before she would strike. She was an assassin from the Dark Brotherhood after all. More often than not you would see her confident and dark smirk resting on her blood red velvet lips. Her cheek bones were high and her face full resembling a heart. The only heart she had. Death was her trade and she often thought who she had always been.

"Greetings Sister." Veezara hissed. He had taken up his usual spot in the sanctuary by the ramp. He loved listening to the white noise from the waterfall. "How was your hunt?"

"Eventful." She smirked. "It really is a beautiful night out, and it could have been a magical night for a newly wed couple, if I hadn't drained them both dry." The dark twinkle in her glowing eyes sent a chill through the peaceful argoninan.

Veezara shook his head, "Looks like all of those gifts will go to waste." He chuckled

Ari's eyes shone with gleeful mischief, "Or will they?" Ari said tossing a small bag of septums to her shadow brother. "Happy birthday brother."

Veezara chuckle would have scared any normal human but not his sister, it was comforting to hear his soft hissing.

"Where is Babette?" He asked counting the gold pieces.

"Here!" Babette said, the small dark haired little girl said skipping into the room.

Veezara paused and looked up at the little girl, she was just like any other little nord girl except her eyes. Babette's eyes shone with the same dark glee as her shadow sisters. If you saw them in a public place you would make the mistake of thinking that they were mother and daughter. In fact that couldn't be less true.

Ari was sired by an unknown vampire while she was still a hunter on the plains near Whiterun. It's where she got her nature from the thrill of the hunt. She would have made an excellent addition to Lord Hercine's children but, it wasn't meant to be.

She was chasing a white stag near Fort Greymore and she was running out of daylight with which to kill the beast. The chase had been long and hard and had lasted all day,she was determined to be the victor. As the sun was setting she had one last shot. She sprinted to the top of a cropping of rocks to get the high ground to shoot the final arrow. Creeping up the side she used a bush for cover, she drew the iron arrow across her long bow. Releasing the arrow the whipping sound as the projectile raced to its mark pleased her. At the last second possible the stag bolted. The arrow embedding itself in a tree a few yards behind where the stag had once stood.

Collapsing in disbelief, she sighed in frustration. She had it! She stood shrugging she would just have to catch it. She watched it fly across the plains and made it of where it was going. Slowly getting to her feet she want to retrieve the arrow from the trees bark. That was all she could remember, when she woke she was in a cave. Rather she was in a cage, in a cave. Looking around her there was a bed and an enchanting table as well as a few trunks and a book shelf. The soft glow of the candles made even the cold dirt walls look comfy, compared to her iron prison.

As she looked closer she saw two dead bodies in a horrifying fashion on the floor, their bodies still twitching. Their heads... missing.

At one of the trunks her savior was rooting through the assorted valuables, and pocketing what he seemed to deem worthy.

"He-hello?" She whispered half hoping she was unheard.

The man jumped as though she had screamed, he turned slowly to face the small voice. His face showed that he was terrified. He was wearing brown leather armor and carrying a large burlap sack.

"Ca-can you help me?" She asked. He didn't answer her just gawked. "Please I-I don't know where I am, I am starving and cold."

She hadn't realized just how cold she actually was, it was as though her skin was made of ice, and her hunger was making her ill. She wretched but nothing came. Gods how long had she been in this cave?!

"You-" the man spoke, "You are dead..." he drew his sword and she jumped to the back of her cage. "You had no pulse!" He said stopping a few feet away from the cage.

"Well I have one now my heart-" she was going to say that her heard was battering the inside of her ribs but it was as if the heart was too far away.

She was horrified, it wasn't her heart, it was his. As she listened to she strong throb of his heart she felt her hunger surge again causing her to dry heave once more. The man came within arms length of her cage, and she lunged, grabbing his throats she pulled him to the cage knocking the iron sword from his hands.

"RELEASE ME!" She roared, her voice echoed off the cave walls making her shout that much more menacing. Finding the keys in his pocket he unlocked the cage. When the click sounded with inhuman speed she launched him against the wall and he passed out. She was about to flee the cave when she smelled it, his blood.

She drained him of his blood and in her guilt stayed there for the next few nights. That was two eras ago. She had become a child of the night, and the ultimate predator. She had seen the world and had decided to return home, to the city of kings. She was an accomplished thief, assassin and archerer.

She was targeted by Veezara because she stole from a woman named Maven. She had to laugh at the thought she made a note to eliminate the Blackbriar family tree when she was done with this little lizard. The battle had ended in a tie, Veeezara offered her a spot in his 'family' and she was intrigued. It had been the closest thing to family that she had ever known. Babette became her second favorite being instantly, this was their first job together.

"So it went well then." Veezara stated.

"Quite well," Babette confirmed. "Ari had a wonderful idea on how to-"

"You weren't' going to tell the tale without me present were you?" Gabriela teased entering from the alchemy room.

"Sorry sister we didn't know you would be awake." Babette apologized.

"Oh don't be but I do love a good wedding day massacre story." The dunmer's red eyes shown echoing their sisters dark glee. She sat next to Veezara. It was amazing just how graceful their shadow sister was, it was as though everything was a dance.

"So anyway-" Babette started

"Ari." They all stopped to turn and face Astrid the leader of their family. "How is our lovely honeymoon couple."

"They now have an addition to their party, I am sure Sithis is having a blast." Ari smirked.

Astrid hummed a little laughter. "Very good."

"We also bring gifts for everyone!" Babette said turning out her knapsack. "Tiara's jewels and some of the finest argonian ale!"

Astrid grinned, it was the sort of grin that a saber cat may give its cornered prey, "Saved them the trouble of returning their gifts did you? Very good." She accepted a glass dagger from the un-child and turned to Ari. "Do you have a minute? I have a contract for you that I wish to discuss."

"Of course Astrid." Ari nodded and followed her matron from the room.

**********************Authors Note********************

Thanks for reading!