A Rose in Bloom
Chapter 1
Memory is a curious thing, you live long enough and things you once held so dear get lost; names fade and faces recess into the labyrinth of the mind. Sometimes however, an event marks you; it burns itself into your history never to be forgotten regardless of how desperately you try. The second year of the fourth era on the twentieth day of Evening Star, no matter how long I live that day will never leave me and in two hundred years I can still vividly recall every agonizing detail. Some scars are never meant to heal.
I left my room and went to the table to see what my mom, Leila Velweyn, had made for breakfast, "morning mom, what smells so good?" She was an excellent cook seeing as she worked with food ever since she was little. Working on a small plot of farmland near our house my mother brought whatever we didn't eat to the market district for some extra income even though we live quite comfortably on my father's legion salary.
"I made you steak and eggs this morning sweetie, your plate is on the table," her warm tone and easy smile always made me feel relaxed. It's easy to see the resemblance between us; though I was adopted as an infant everyone said I looked just like my mom, being a Nord I was taller than my Imperial parents and my father's training built me up and kept me fairly lean. I always kept my jet black hair pretty short, falling just above my shoulders, while freckles dotted my slender face. Not one to care for make-up my most noteworthy feature would have been my crystal blue eyes. Lost in thought I didn't notice that Katelyn had been sitting at the table as well.
"You gonna eat or stare off into Aetherius?" Kat lived with her parents not far from us but was over my house so much you'd think she lived there. Her sarcastic tone always seemed to make me laugh though. Almost the polar opposite of me, she had long blond hair, green eyes, and was shorter than but just as slender as me. She was much more of a girly girl though, while I gravitated towards weapons and armor she would be enamored with jewels and dresses.
"Hey, leave me alone I just woke up," sticking my tongue out at her playfully I dug into my breakfast. My mind raced as I pondered where to spend the 200 septims my father had given me for my eighteenth birthday; A Fighting Chance has to be my first stop, I decided, Rohssan was a family friend and always managed to make me something special. You keep this up young lady and you'll be in The Legion in no time, remembering Ro's compliment brought a smile to my face as I cleaned my plate.
Eager to be on our way I quickly got dressed in my typical brown snuggly fit leather top and pants. Running towards the door I barely heared my mother as I pulled Kat through the entryway, "Be sure to stop by the Talos District to say hello to your father, he's on guard duty today!" Her muffled yells barely reached my ears as I briskly began making the moderate walk to the city from our small house on the coast of the Niben Bay.
Not half a minute into the walk Kat had already begun to talk my ear off about what I should buy, "Hamlof at Red Diamond Jewlery has the most gorgeous gemstones, and you have to see his new shipment of clothing, you have to try it on." Kat's never-ending quest to get me to be more girly was always in a perpetual state of failure, why does she always want me in a dress? You can't fight at all in those stupid things. The thought echoed in my mind as Kat continued her rant on the latest fashion.
"You know you're never getting me in a dress right? I'm going straight to A Fighting Chance, I'm dying for a new sword. Besides you look much better than I ever could in that kind of stuff." Kat's sad attempt at pouting had me giggling pretty hard though in the back of my mind I couldn't shake the feeling as though I was being watched.
"Oh please you could be wearing prison rags and every man in Tamriel would still be staring at you, you know how many times I've caught our friends practically drooling over you? Oh I get it, you're going for some sort of warrior girl look huh, lemme guess there is some soldier boy you've got your eye on. Oh tell me his name please, oh please." Kat's ridiculous theories were par for the course, I swear she had wanted me to have a boyfriend more than she herself wanted one.
"Don't be ridiculous, I have no interest in boys, I want to join the Legion like my dad, I want to do something important." Kat has never understood my desire to join the Legion, she kept trying to set me up with our friends and I always found it funny how frustrated she would get when I shot them all down.
"Ugh, you are impossible, always going on about being in the Legion and changing the world, I'm just looking forward to getting married and having children." It was never all that difficult to imagine Kat as a mother and I had no doubt she would eventually settle down one day. The remainder of the trip passed in silence though I couldn't shake that uneasy feeling. Finally we arrived at A Fighting Chance to see Rhossan with a sly smirk on her face.
"Morning Ro, I've got 200 septims burning a hole in my coin purse, let's see what you got." Ro's store was my favorite place in Cyrodil, all the elegent weapons and blacksmithing work, whenever I went to the store I felt as if I were about to burst.
"Well well Roselyn Velweyn, somehow it's not a surprise to see you here, and since I've been expecting you I've been saving something special." That usually meant her and my dad cooked up some sort of surprise present for me. When Rohssan returned from the back she had the most gorgeous sword I have ever seen in her hands. The blade curved ever so slightly towards the top, single edged and razor sharp, the maneuverability of a scimitar with the ability to pierce like a long sword, the blade itself was folded metal making it extremely durable and it had some etchings near the hilt and midway up the blade. "I'd say I could let this beauty go for, say, 200 septims?"
"Oh my god Ro it's beautiful thank you so much!" With a quick dash around the counter I threw my arms around the old Redguard, she was kind of like an aunt to me, her and my father had been friends for a long time. "With this I bet I'll be a Legionnaire in no time!" Flashing her another wide smile I ran in to give her another hug.
"Of course, and happy birthday little lady; now, I set up a target dummy in the back, let's see if you're as good a student as your father says you are." As I held the sword in my hand I marveled at how light it was, from what I could see the blade was a mixture of steel and silver, with a hint of ebony; the hilt was smaller than most swords to make up for the lightweight blade so it kept balance. After walking to the back I drew my sword and started with a few practice strikes to get a feel for the weight, when comfortable I began to use some of the more advanced strikes dad had taught me, "Very good Rose, your speed will give you an edge in battle but remember to not get careless you can't dodge something you can't see and if you get overzealous you can miss the enemy behind you. It seems your father was right, a few years training and not even the best Legionnaires will be able to beat you."
"Thanks again Ro, I'll stop in later in the week to help out in the shop, bye." Ro had me help in the shop and in turn she had begun to teach me the basics of blacksmithing.A good warrior knows her weapon inside and out, if you can't maintenance your blade it will eventually be useless, she would always say. Back outside and with my new sword strapped to my belt Kat caught me admiring my purchase.
"The way you stare at that weapon you'd think it was made of diamonds Rose, it's getting a little creepy you know. I swear if you start sleeping next to that thing I'll know you've gone over the edge." Her playful tone got a laugh out of me and I pretend to cradle the sword. "Ugh you're insane, come on I know they have a fruit stand here somewhere I'm starving.
Kat pulled me over to the nearest fruit stand and bought an apple for herself. Suddenly I heared someone yell out from behind me, "Hey V! fancy seeing you here, if your stalking me I wouldn't mind, I promise I'd return the favor." Christophe came jogging over to us, Chris was a mutual friend of ours and while I knew his harmless flirts are a complete joke it seemed to drive Kat up a wall. Chris was another Nord like me and adopted by a couple that lived in the Talos District. He was a little taller than me with short brown hair and golden eyes. He worked as a carpenter for his family so he was pretty well built.
"How do you always know it's me Chris?" I shot him a playful smile, and with the look on Kat's face I knew another one of their squabbles was incoming, I swear they fight like a married couple, I should set them up they would be perfect for each other, the thought brought a smirk to my face as I looked up at Chris.
"Well, that's because only you could make that leather outfit look so good V, the sword only makes it hotter." Feigning embarresment had Chris in stitches, the back and forth between us was always fun and getting under Kat's skin was just a bonus.
"You know it would be nice if for once you didn't act like I am invisible Chris, it's a little insulting!" She was always really bad at trying to sound angrier than she really is, my attempts to hold in my laughter were in vain and the look she gave me could have sliced through ebony.
"Hey it's not my fault you're so hard to see; I mean you are pretty short." Chris' nonchalant insult turned her red with anger and by this time we were both cracking up, it was getting hard to breathe.
"You're such an asshole and you're not helping Rose, stop encouraging him you both act like thirteen year olds." Don't make this any worse, I began to think to myself just shut up and apologize, but it was too late.
"That's why we're perfect, we act like thirteen year olds and you look like one." I blurted out; you know I surprise even myself with my complete lack of finesse and impulse control it must be a Nord thing. She started to storm off in a huff, "No wait I'm sorry please stay, blame Chris he's the bad influence here." It must have been hard to take my apology seriously when it was in-between frantic cackles but she stoped nonetheless.
"Now that we can all breathe again perhaps we could sit down?" Chris motions to a nearby bench. As we walked I caught Kat ogling Chris, I winked and montioned towards him when she turned in my direction, which turned her face a nice cherry red. As we sat I pulled out my new blade to admire it some more.
"Wow, that's nice, Ro's work?" Nodding I smiled, her and my dad had worked real hard on it. Noticing a small box in Chris' hand I shot him a curious glance, "Oh this? Well it is your birthday after all." Opening the box revealed a shimmering silver amulet and my eyes widened.
"Wow, it's gorgeous; you didn't have to thank you so much." I pulled the amulet over my head and watched it rest comfortably on my chest after giving Chris a hug. Nodding he gave me a warm smile.
"Looks great on you V, I know you wanna be a soldier one day so I had a friend enchant it with a minor protection spell, hopefully it will be useful in the future." He really outdid himself this time, smiling I gave him another hug before getting up from the bench.
"Well you're certainly popular today Rose," Kat's playful tone drew a smile out of me. "Do you want to walk with us to the Talos District Chris? We're gonna go visit Rose's dad there." Nodding Chris responded with a smile and we began to walk towards the district. It didn't take long to spot my father, Armand Velweyn, he was a fairly average height for an Imperial, his black hair was always kept short and his time with the Legion has him built very well.
"Daddy! I missed you this morning." With a dash I ran up and leapt into a hug which almost knocked him over. He flashes me a big smile after regaining his footing.
"Careful there sweetie your bigger than me now remember?" He always used to joke that I was his little giant, sticking my tongue out at him I pretend to be offended. After a bit of laughter he looked me over noticing the sword hanging from my waist. "So how do you like the surprise my little giant?"
"It's amazing daddy, it's so light yet so durable I can't wait to practice with it some more when I get home." I threw my arms around my father again to thank him for the wonderful gift. "How come they have you guarding the gate daddy? It's kind of an odd job for a Legate." I shot him a puzzled look, they usually had him setting patrols outside.
"There's been an increase in bandit activity near the city so for the moment we're stretched a bit thin, they asked me if I could handle guard duty today." My dad gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Now it's about time for you to head home and help your mother around the house". I gave my dad the best fake pout I could as I sulked off, "Oh please you can't act at all sweetie now run along and please be careful, Chris do you mind walking with them to the house?" Chris nodded and began walking with us to the entrance we came in from.
"Bye daddy I'll see you tonight," with that we were off back home. "I wonder why there is so much bandit activity lately; I hope they'll be able to settle things down." My concern for the trip home was apparent in my tone.
"Don't worry V, I'll protect you." Chris puffed out his chest as best he could which only caused me and Kat to start laughing. "Hey I'll have you know women are very impressed with how built I am, you guys should consider yourselves lucky I'm so close to you." His sarcastic tone had us nearly unable to breathe with laughter.
"Oh please kind sir, regale us with your tales of honor and valor." My best curtsey had us all laughing.
"Oh my god Rose, you are about as elegant as a charging saber cat." Kat's jab brings out another loud laugh out of me. After hurling playful insults back and forth for a few minutes the trip became silent, once half the walk was behind us that uneasy feeling returned, and suddenly I could hear the sound of hooves. Stopping, and drew my sword; all the playfulness drained from my face as I saw five men wearing what looked like various fur and leather come at us.
"Woah! Hold it there," the biggest one yelled as they all stopped their horses and dismounted forming a semi-circle around us, two archers, two wielding a sword and shield and the big one with a two handed axe. "You know, he was right, she is a pretty one too bad we can't have her." They all laughed as his gaze was fixed on me.
"Let's kill the boy and have fun with the pretty blond one," One of the archers spat through his broken crooked teeth.
"I want you two to run." I've always been told I sound like my father when ordering people around, I remember praying they would listen.
"Don't even think abou-" Chris began to protest but I cut him off.
"By the nine run, get Kat the hell out of here or I'll kill you myself!" Nodding Chris and grabed Kat's hand to turn and run. The big one grinned and waved his hand but before the archers notched an arrow I lunged forward plunging my sword to the hilt into the first archer's neck and released a stream of flame from my left hand, the first spell I ever learned, engulfing the second archer in a conflagration, the sickening sounds of his voice echoed through the air as the flames licked his skin. That's when I felt the blade slice across my back sending me to my knees in agony and I could hear Kat's frantic screams in the distance.
"Damn it Rulf why in oblivion weren't you watching her?" The largest one scolded his comrade as I struggled to keep from blacking out.
"Do we go after them boss?" Asked the other one, the ground began to blur as I felt tears well up and fill my eyes, the pain was agonizing I just wanted it to stop.
"No we were only hired to bring him this one, no one knows about the other two we'll still get paid as long as she doesn't die." The boss of the mercenaries spit at my back, "You'll pay for killing my men you little bitch, you have no idea the world of pain you're in for," Turning to the rest of his men he barked out more orders, "now wrap that wound of hers up and make sure she can't cause any more trouble. The blow to the back of my head sent me into a dreamless sleep, am I going to die? Were the last thoughts before everything faded.
"Wake up my pretty little thing, we have a big night planned". As my eyes fluttered open I noticed I was bound and stripped, glancing around my surroundings it looked as if I were in some sort of cave. There were four hooded figures standing over me, from their builds I'd say men and the one who had been talking was rather old. "I hope you don't mind I had my boy Malkoff heal that nasty wound of yours, you're back is as good as new, we need you to look perfect for him." My eyes widened with fear.
"Who.." was all I managed to choke out before the elder man cut me off.
"You are going to be presented to our lord my dear, it's a splendid thing and a tremendous honor, it is his day after all." The sound of his cackling filled the cavernous air mixed with the muffled sound of my cries.
An eternity seemed to pass as they left me with the youngest of the group, Malkoff they called him, still bound and naked. The only emotion that my mind allowed was pure terror; any remaining daylight had long since dissipated from the exposed cracks in the ceiling. "Please let me go, I swear I won't tell anyone, my dad is in the legion I'm sure they're looking for me, maybe there's a reward, please just let me go." Each word shook with fear as tears rolled down my cheeks. My pleas fell on deaf ears as the young man simply smiled and repeated the same thing as before.
"You will be allowed to experience something few ever do, the power of our lord is astounding and you, quite the perfect young lady, will be presented to him; he will be very pleased, you'll see this, is a glorious night." Each word sounded more maniacal than the last, and I was at their mercy, completely helpless and frozen in fear all I can do is hope and pray it' ended quickly.
"Please someone help me, Akatosh, Talos, someone, anything please help me." The frantic tear filled cry for help did nothing but provide more silence filling me with dread. Out of the shadows of the cave I saw the other three men step forward and motion to Malkoff. Gods, it's starting, I felt Malkoff grip the binding on my hand and begin to drag me towards the others, "No please! Let me go! I want to go home!" My struggles were in vain as I was dragged in front of a blood soaked alter.
"It's time my dear, with your sacrifice I'm sure lord Molag Bal will grant us immeasurable power! Tie her to the alter so we can began the ritual." I continued my useless struggle as I was dragged to the stone slab, by the nine am I being sacrificed to a Daedric Prince? Oh gods, they're going to kill me.
"Please I want to go home! I want to go home! I want my daddy, help me please someone help me!" My screams echoed throughout the cavern as tears streamed down my face. The cultists tied me to the alter and surrounded me, each bowed their head and began chanting in a language that could only be Daedric; my sobs became incoherent as I cried for my parents. After a few minutes of chanting, a hellish orange gate rose out of the ground and then he stepped through. The sickening combination of horns, scales and fur could only be Molag Bal himself. Frozen by terror the only sounds that could be heard were my terrified whimpers.
"Ah you have outdone yourself Levian, what a perfect gift you have for me." Each word out of the creature's mouth felt like razors penetrating my ears. Each step the Daedric Lord took felt as if he were about to crush me beneath his feet.
"We are your humble servants my lord, and we simply wish to please you," they all knelt as Levian spoke, a wicked smile was painted across the creatures face as he began walking towards me. "We live and die for Coldharbor!"
"Serve me you shall my loyal subjects, this deed will not go forgotten that I promise." The Daedric Prince then shifted his gaze to me with a sickening smile, "You too will serve me, one way or another." He traced his claw down my cheek slicing it into my flesh; my agonizing cry only brought a bigger smile to his face.
What followed next cannot be accurately described by words, if nightmare and pain had a physical manifestation this horrific act would have been it. He bit, he clawed, scratched and struck, and every agonizing moment brought my wish for death ever closer. His every touch felt like a thousand daggers being plunged into my body; the agony seemed to last for eternity leaving me unable to do anything but wish for the end. When it was all over my body lay on the alter soaked in his and my blood, my cheeks stained by tears, unable to move I felt myself slipping away into what I hoped was the sweet embrace of death. Molag Bal fixed his disgusting visage upon me once more before stepping back through his portal without a word. "...Kill me, please..." was the only thing I could utter.
Before anyone else could move or speak I heard a familiar voice, "What the hell have you bastards done to her!" through my blurry waning vision I could see what looked like a cadre of legion soldiers but I couldn't make out their faces, "I don't hear an answer, WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO MY DAUGHTER!"
"D..daddy? daddy, please I wanna go home, I don't want to die." My weak pleas in between muffled cries only served to enrage him further. He and his men drew their weapons.
"To the void with all of you, slaughter the bastards! No one leaves here alive!" With that the soldiers rushed the defenseless cultists; my father made Levian watch each of his sons get beheaded then slowly pushed his own blade up to the hilt into the elder's stomach. Levian sunk to his knees blood forming at his mouth.
"You only serve to bring us closer to our lord!" Levian managed between coughs of blood, then turned and pointed to me, "She belongs to Molag Bal, now and forever." He let out a blood filled cackle before my father ripped the sword from his belly and decapitated him. With his rage subsiding fear quickly took its place as he rushed to my side.
"Oh gods, Rose what did they do to you? I promise you're going to be alright, please just stay with me," My father's words were a mere whimper as tears welled up in his eyes. I could feel the darkness pulling me away and I fought with what little energy I had left to stay awake.
"I..I..love you d..daddy," every whisper stung as it left my broken body, "I'm happy I got to see you again." With the last of my energy drained I felt a single tear run down my cheek as my eyes fluttered closed.
"Rose! No stay awake, please stay with me Roselyn!" The last thing I heard before everything faded were my father's sobs and frantic pleas. Suddenly all that surrounded me was darkness, I was falling and just as it started to feel as if the bottom would never come a blinding light appeared and engulfed me, suddenly I was surrounded by white clouds and blue sky, before me stood a great fiery dragon just staring back at me, as if examining me. Without warning a claw seemed to pierce dragon and the sky turned blood red, the dragon turned black as night and flowed into my body, it felt as if it was corrupting my very existence. As the pain subsided I found myself back in complete darkness again.
I felt the shadows around me shift; I was now in a great hall with a long table and many people feasting at it, as I looked closer I realized everyone was hooded, their faces hidden; looking at the table I found it to be drenched and dripping with blood and the feast was no longer a normal meal but each figure was devouring a different human body part with the figure in front of me consuming the head of the victim. I looked down and the all the color drained from my face as I noticed the head she was eating was my own. Terrified I ripped back the hood only to see that the figure eating the head was also me. Sinking to my knees I felt a scorching pain in my stomach, like an endless hunger eating away at me from the inside out. I screamed in agony as the shadows returned and darkness once again surrounded me.
"No more please I..I can't take this" My head felt as if it were on fire as the shadows once again twisted ready to bring me to yet another horrifying vision. In a blinding flash of light I suddenly recognized my surroundings; I was standing outside my own home. However, off in the distance two figures stood over a gravestone. Running over to them I saw that they were my parents but they were smiling, almost as if they were happy; I spun around to look at the grave stone and it read Here lies the monster Roselyn Velweyn. With fear gripping me I turned to look at my parents but they had been replaced by me, somehow I was standing in front of myself, the other me was smiling with blood dripping from her mouth. Confused and scared I once again looked at the gravestone yet now it was two with the names of my parents on them and it was just me standing there by myself smiling with the taste of blood in my mouth. With a rush the insatiable hunger returned bringing me to my knees screaming in agony; as the darkness returned I wondered if I truly was damned, cursed to this nightmare for eternity.
This time there was no shifting the darkness simply vanished revealing what looked like Cyrodiil, I could see the Imperial City but the tower was crumbling, broken, and spattered with blood. The sky itself seemed to be on fire and everywhere I walked the ground turned to sludge as if it was trying to devour me. I began to hear feint whispers as the air assaulted every part of me, it sounded like my own voice but I couldn't be sure "not yet" I think it was saying followed by a much more frightening voice reminding me that I was his. I wandered a bit more until I came upon what looked like my own corpse, and it began to twitch, frozen in fear all I could do was watch as the body stood up, it looked just like me but with pale skin, and bright crimson eyes. Without warning the creature lunged at me and pinned me to the ground bringing her lips ever closer to my throat. Without hesitation she sunk two sharp fangs into my neck; I could feel my life being drained away but the feeling became euphoric, suddenly I began feeling what this other creature was feeling the endless hunger returned as the intoxicating feeling of my own blood flowing through my mouth took over, just as I felt that my life was ready to slip away there was a blinding flash and my eyes flew open.
Sitting up with a loud gasp I grabbed at my neck to find no wounds of any kind, I was sitting in my bed and the sun had just set, "Had it all been a bad dream, could I be that lucky?" Suddenly without warning the hunger from my nightmares returned a thousandfold, doubled over in agony my body went crashing to the ground pulling my sheets with me filling the air with screams of pain; it felt as if someone had hold of my insides and was slowly twisting. Gradually everything around me seemed to muffle save for a rhythmic thumping getting closer and closer. The thumping got faster and faster as it got closer, it felt as if every beat struck me with a hammer, as if it were right behind me.
As a hand touched my shoulder the air filled with an intoxicatingly sweet smell, something inside me snapped and suddenly I became a spectator in my own body. I watched as my body looked up at my mother who had been standing behind me crying and let out a low hiss from the back of my throat and without warning lunged at her pinning her to the ground. I felt every muscle in my body twitch and quiver as I slowly wrapped my lips around her neck and sank a newly formed pair of fangs into her jugular. Even though my mind screamed at my body to stop a feeling of pure bliss and euphoria washed over every one of my physical senses downing out any sense of reason I had left, I felt my mother's life and blood pour down my throat and when I finally let go her body lay under me lifeless and drained.
Like a wave the agonizing hunger and yet another rhythmic thumping came crashing over me, looking up the sheet that had been coving me fell to my feet and I saw my father stop dead in his tracks with his sword drawn; fear now dominated his expression the sword dropped to the ground. As he fell to his knees in shock that sickeningly sweet smell returned to fill the air, still unable to control myself I watched in horror as I charged at my father with inhuman speed pinning him against the wall slowly I sunk my teeth deep into his neck and the intoxicating taste of life and blood filled my mouth. After what felt like an eternity I heard his voice, "R…rose…please…stop," Like a flash I regained my senses and the hunger vanished, and I fell to my knees and began to sob. With what little strength he had left my father pulled me close to him and held me tight, "None of this is your fault," he managed to choke out, "If only I had come sooner, then maybe you'd be ok," tears began to well up in his eyes, "I'm simply happy knowing you're still alive," My father twisted my head and locked eyes with mine, pushing his strength beyond it's limits, "no matter what you've become Rose you are our daughter and we love you, remember that. It doesn't matter what you are but what you make yourself become, remember that swee-." His last word remained unfinished as the rest of his energy ran dry and death took him.
"What am I, what have I done?!" I repeated the phrase over and over for what seemed like hours sobbing sprawled out on the floor between the bodies of my dead parents. After my tears dried up I mustered the energy to stand up and felt a wave of fear wash over me as I heard a frantic knock at the door, grabbing my clothes I dashed silently out the window and began to run as fast and hard as I possibly could. Finally after what seemed like forever I came upon a cave, unable to run anymore I darted inside to find it empty I curled up against a wall and held my knees to my chest and wished for death, but somehow I knew it wasn't going to be that easy.
For a few days I stayed secluded in my new hideout, the nightmares hadn't allowed me an abundance of sleep, somehow whenever I shut my eyes all I could see were the events that transpired in that damned cave. I allowed myself to feed on the animals that curiously explored the cave and that seemed to keep my newfound hunger at bay. For the first time in my life I was lost, totally and completely, I had no one to turn to, and I had so many questions that I was unable to answer. How did I become a Vampire? What am I supposed to do now? The questions haunted every part of me as I lay in that cave, sleepless. For a few years my routine became to seclude myself in my cave only allowing myself to leave to find small animals to feed on and to clean in the nearby lake at night.
Depression and self-pity became my best friends, I had contemplated suicide many times in those first five years I could never bring myself to attempt it. Many sleepless nights my father's final words echoed in my head, How could he so easily forgive me? I thought, I considered myself an abomination beyond forgiveness. I was a monster and deserved to be treated as one.
However as the years passed by a small familiar voice echoed in the back of my mind trying to force me out of my stupor. Five years later I had my first full night's sleep since the incident and instead of remembering the horrors of the ritual I dreamt of my father and mother, they were holding me and telling me how much they loved me, pleading with me to stop hating myself.
The next evening I decided it was time to rejoin the world, I may not know everything about what I am, but if I can at least do something good with my life they will not have died in vain. I spent the next few days hunting and gathering enough leather to make a new set of clothing. If I am going to try and understand what I am, than it's time I visit and old friend, who knows maybe the old Redguard still works at A Fighting Chance. With new found determination as the sun set I grabbed my pack and made my way towards the Imperial City.