He was offended she didn't recognize him.
"Helgen," Erik pleaded.
"Yes, I've been there," she replied, stalking him around the campfire.
"Bleak Falls Barrow," he pressed, reaching for his axe. Just in case, though if this came to a fight...
"Huh. Heard terrible things about that place." The girl unsheathed a Daedric dagger. Frost coated the enchanted blade and surrounded the black metal with white mist. By Talos- there was no fucking way. He didn't stand a chance, but he really didn't want it to end like this.
"Rorikstead, College of Winterhold, Solitude, Windhelm-"
"You're just listing random places-" She adjusted her grip on the weapon. Her other hand glowed a warm, mesmerizing green. Illusion magic- "It's a calm spell. Don't worry, you won't feel a thing. No fear, no pain."
"What- No! For fuck's sake, we're both members of the Thieves' Guild!"
This gave her a pause. The girl glared sharply, asking with her eyes, 'Then why haven't I heard of you?'
'Because you're incredibly dense!' He wanted to bellow, but didn't because he was not ready to get stabbed in the neck by an enchanted dagger.
"And I was at Dragonbridge when you killed-"
"Ssh!"
"We're the only two people here!"
"I heard the Dark Brotherhood was behind that," she said, apparently unconvinced of his sincerity and dead-set on denying everything.
"Is that what you're doing in Dawnstar? And why you're all the way out here in the middle of nowhere?"
This stopped her infernal pacing. "How do you know about the new sanctuary?"
"Delvin and I are on very friendly terms," Erik answered with a hint of a grin.
"Bastard. I should have a word with him."
"So you admit it."
"Admit what?"
Erik rolled his eyes. The Dragonborn was denser than a sack of dead mudcrabs.
"Are you here to kill me?" he pressed.
"Have you been following me?" She countered.
"Answer my question first."
"Fine. Yes, there is a contract, but if you're really a member of the guild…"
"I have not lied to you. Not once." Not that there would be a point.
"Then tell me the whole truth." She sheathed the dagger and leaned back against the wall of the cave, crossing her arms and balancing on one leg.
"It's a long story." Erik tried to make it look like he was casually taking a seat. In truth, his knees were too weak from relief to hold him up any longer.
"I had no other plans tonight."
The words 'besides killing you' hung in the air as if she said them aloud.
"Alright, where do I begin?"
"Tell me how you came to be at Helgen."