Prologue
Mesperyian smiled softly as the sun shone brightly through the chapel windows, illuminating the carefully crafted drapes and shimmering trinkets of the temple of Dibella. She wore a soft white silk dress as she sat, a simple gold necklace shimmering around her neck. A few worshippers strolled around, admiring the white marble and glorious statue of Lady Dibella that stood tall at the chapels head, holding a flower. She looked back down at her lute, strumming a few chords. The visiting worshippers turned towards her eagerly, she was often praised the most beautiful of the Dibellan dancers in Anvil.
She tossed her long, reddish brown hair over one shoulder and began. The music flowed smoothly, a joy filled smile graced her lips as she played. She waited another moment before beginning to sing, softly at first, letting her voice grow with the music. She watched as several worshippers swayed to her music and even danced slowly together. When the song was finished, she stood, curtsied, and slipped down to the dancers room.
"Mes!" she turned and smiled down at the shorter girl. She was a very tall, dark skinned imperial, and her training made her strong, her mother had gifted her with voluptuous curves.
"Brina" she smiled and hugged her.
"Priestess Tranith wishes to speak with you, I don't know why" Brina told her, waving a hand as if batting away tiresome questions. Mes frowned slightly.
"I see, is she in her office?" she asked setting her rosewood lute down on a soft cushioned couch. Brina nodded before flouncing away back to her group. Anxiety twisted her stomach as the girls eyed her and whispered while she crossed the floor to knock on Priestess Tranith's door. Before she could knock, the High Priestess opened the door and smiled at her. Mes stepped over the threshold silently, the room was very open, with lovely colored cushions and couches to lounge on. The large glass double doors were open to show the back streets of Anvil and allow the rich sunlight to spill into the room.
"You wished to see me, High Priestess?" she asked quietly, Tranith lounged on one of her couches, looking up at the murals on the ceiling. Mesperyian sat down hesitantly on one of the large pillows on the floor.
"Yes…" Tranith said softly, she paused for a moment before turning her deep brown eyes on her, she shifted a little, waiting. "Your music and voice are unchallenged in this temple... I, and the other priestesses believe it's time you moved from the rank of Acolyte to Priestess."
Mesperyian gapped at her, joy filling her like sunlight and spiced wine.
"Really?" she gasped, Tranith laughed, nodding as she stood.
"Yes, really. You are one of our most faithful, and your devotion to your arts is beautiful. To keep you from the becoming a Priestess would be a sin against Dibella"
CH.1
Mes stared at Brina, ice seemed to have flooded her veins.
"What are you doing, Brina?" she asked it softly, trying hard to keep the fear from her voice. The other girl was holding a bucket filled with a liquid she couldn't identify.
Divines… I hope that isn't piss… she thought bitterly, Brina's eyes glistened over with tears.
"I should have been made priestess!" she was choking on her own wet sobs "I was here longer, devoted longer! You're the daughter of a harlot, I'm the daughter of a noble, I should have been the one chosen!" Brina practically screamed the words at her. Mesperyian flinched, looking away.
"Lady Dibella says it doesn't matter where we come from" her voice was drowned out by the other woman's high pitched scream of laughter. Mes glanced around the streets desperately, but even the beggars seemed to have vanished. No guards patrolled here.
"It won't matter in the end. They don't want you anymore…not anymore…" Mesperyian took a few steps back as Brina stepped forwards. They were standing on the makeshift dock by the mermaid statue, a place normally very busy in the afternoons, was silent this late into the night.
"Brina, whatever your about to do"— she tried to block the liquid as Brina dosed her in it. The smell was sharp and hurt her lungs. "Brina!" she choked, desperately wiping it away from her face.
That's when Brina touched a torch to her clothes, she was ablaze in an instant.
Mes screamed as the fire ate the oil and quickly began to burn her skin. She'd wiped away the oil from her eyes but her face seemed to be on fire, as did her hands and chest, the flames licked around and raced up her back. Panicking, she stumbled backwards, nearly setting the docks on fire as she batted at the flames. She fell backwards off the dock, thrashing in the water for a few moments as the cold water soothed the hot agony of the flames.
Her face broke the surface, she gasped for air. Strong arms caught her and pulled her up onto the bank of the pond. She looked up, gasping. Her savior peered at her from under a dark hood. She saw the glint of eyes before she blacked out.
Mes blinked awake with a soft gasp, fear making her bolt upright. But she was alone. She calmed herself as her heart continued to beat erratically in her chest. From the look of the smooth stone, and simplicity, she had a guess that a healer had found her after she passed out. She glanced down, her hands were heavily bandaged, she gently felt up from her ribs to her neck to find she was bandaged from the waist up. Half of her face was covered in the same soft white bandages. The soft shuffle of robes brought from her thoughts.
"Have you any idea who did this to you, my dear?" the older woman asked gently while she began inspecting her bandages and removing them. Mes shook her head, watching the healer's face carefully.
"No…" she lied smoothly "is the damage bad?" she could hear the hesitation in her own voice. She had never seen such pain flash across someone's face before. The healer lowered her golden hood.
"I saved what I could. I'm sorry for what I couldn't heal…" Mes swallowed hard, staying silent and still as the woman removed the rest of her bandages. "I was able to save your eye, at least…"
Mesperyian stood, walking a little unsteadily towards the long mirror to see the scars herself. She took a deep breath before looking into the mirror, a strangled cry passing her lips. Half of her face was badly marred, the scars traveled down her neck and chest, over her shoulder and down her back. Her forearms and hands bore the same horrific visage. After a moment, she turned away from the mirror, anger burned brightly in her chest. She accepted the grey robes placed out for her, pulling the hood low over her face and leaving the small place.
Anvil was lit up with sunlight, the townspeople bustled about arguing and laughing and spending valuable gold at the market stalls. Though she knew she should eat, hunger didn't seem to touch her belly.
Brina… Brina… a soft voice in her head whispered. Mes smiled as she headed to the temple, she could see many worshippers were already inside. Most of the acolytes and priestesses were dancing for the crowds. Mesperyian slipped past them, down into the private rooms of the temple. She found her mother's necklace and took only that before leaving. She spotted Brina as she went and made a simple offering to Lady Dibella. The girl was pale, but had a smug look on her face. She wore the revealing robes of a new Priestess.
Rage welled up inside her so quickly she had to look away, her vision had burned red for a moment.
She caught Brina's eye, staring coldly. Brina gagged slightly, looking horrified as she saw the scars. With that, she turned away from the towering statue and Brina, stalking out of the temple.
Weeks past and Mes quickly learned how the sick, disabled, poor, and physically revolting were treated. Although many of the beggars treated her kindly, she received more than her fair share of crude remarks of what the men of the pirate town thought she was still good for. She took their remarks, cruelty, spit, and beatings with her head high. She didn't say a word as she was denied quarters at the inn because of her visage.
In her third week as a beggar, when she was spat on and shoved down by yet another gang of bullies that her mind became clear, she smiled as she stood. Dusting her robes off and looking into each of they're sneering faces. The burning light she had learned carefully to control welled up inside her.
These were the first of many bodies the Anvil guard found, always resting by the water near the mermaid statue, burned beyond recognition except for a black handprint burned onto the chests that had been exposed by torn clothing.
Evening fell fast, Anvil was always more beautiful at dusk. Mes walked serenely down the paths behind the buildings, enjoying the sweet scents in the air. She could see Brina a little ways ahead of her on the path, nearing the well-lit statue of a warrior. She had never asked who the warrior was. Brina stopped just outside the pool of light, Mes silently caught up to her and touched her shoulder. Brina turned, looking frightened.
"Do I know you?" she asked, Mes smiled as the other woman's voice shook. She lowered her hood slowly, tilting her head.
"I think so, yes" Mes replied coldly, Brina looked terrified, blood draining from her face as she saw the evening air smelled of salt and jasmine.
"What? This?" Mesperyian gestured at her face, laughing softly, her coppery gold eyes flashing "This isn't nearly the extent of the damage from that fire, darling" she took Brina's arm and lead her into the light, holding her close like the best of friends while she looked up at the silent warrior.
"Are you going to hurt me?" Brina whispered, her dark eyes wild with fear. Mes smiled calmly again, returning her gaze to the statue. The fire in the braziers made the marble come alive, she watched as the statues face became more sorrowful.
"No…" she replied watching the white marble shimmer in the fire light. "You gave me a second chance, you see. No one knows me as the harlots daughter anymore" she stopped for a moment as a couple walked by, murmuring sweet nothings to each other.
"So you'll let me go?" Brina asked hopefully, relief making her relax. Mesperyian smiled a little, guiding her back towards the back paths behind the temple. Brina didn't fight her as they vanished back into the shadows.
"This is my favorite spot" she murmured secretively to Brina, dim light spilled through the stained glass from the candles that always remained lit. You could just barely see Lady Dibella through the glass, illuminating the small graveyard and it's statues and stones with warm light.
"It's beautiful" Brina admitted, starting to look anxious again when Mesperyian's grip didn't loosen. She looked idly over at a place workers normally rested, a decorated doorway to a family mausoleum.
"Yes… Yes it is" she looked at Brina, bright orange eyes glittering. Brina looked away, frightened by something she couldn't describe in Mes's eyes. Mesperyian just watched the flickering candles, letting go of Brina's arm. The woman turned and made to run, Mes caught her arm, spun her and shoved a jagged dagger into the girl's sternum.
Brina choked, unable to breathe, Mes twisted the dagger before violently ripping it out. Mes watched her fall to the ground and writhe. Mes pushed her onto her back, her hand lighting up with golden fire, she pressed her hand down into Brina's chest, watching as her mouth opened wide in a silent scream, if she had a diaphragm left, she might've managed it. Mes watched with a blank expression as Brina felt her flesh burn and boil under her hand, as she suffered before the light left her eyes. She laid the woman's body up against the flowered door to the tomb, blood dripping onto the white stone. She turned away, the dagger still clutched tightly in her shaking hand and dripping blood. She wiped it absentmindedly on her grey dress as she entered the temple. It was empty, no temple acolytes worked this late. Most were home or at the nearest tavern getting plastered.
She walked slowly to a ring of candles by the statue of Dibella, setting the blade back on its cushion, there was still blood drying on its edge. She knelt in front of the large golden statue, gazing up at it like a child searching the sky for a sign of hope.
"Lady Dibella… I beg your forgiveness, but I also curse your name. You didn't protect me… I know violence is not in your teachings, but she took everything from me. I won't come back to Anvil, or your temple. You left me for dead, just like"— she froze mid prayer as soft footsteps stopped just behind her. Swallowing, she turned and looked up into the middle aged face imperial man in ornate black robes. His hood was up, but she could see his face clearly in the many lights of the temple, the piercing blue of his eyes met her fiery one's..
"Such a beautiful face" he said the words so softly, she almost didn't hear them. She turned away as fire filled her veins, tears stinging her eyes and blurring her vision as her hand flickered with weak golden flames. She was also hyper aware of the blood stains on her robes, and the knife still dripping crimson onto the flowers.
"Sir, if you have come to mock me..." she barely breathed the threat, letting it hang in the air as she looked back up at the golden statue. It seemed dull, lifeless in a way it hadn't before. Dibella had never answered her prayers, so why should she pray?
"I see… An excellent kill, I might add." he said, kneeling next to her, he gazed up at the statue. Something she couldn't identify flickered across his face.
"Why didn't you let me die?" she asked as recognition flickered in her eyes, fear coiling in her belly as he continued to sit silently. She folded her hands neatly in her lap, glancing at the dagger and wondering if she would be able to grab it in time if needed.
"Truthfully?" he smiled a bit before turning his cold gaze back on her. "I could see your potential. I wanted to see what you would do if given the chance. I was not disappointed… And neither was the Night Mother" a strange sort of calm settled over her as she looked back at him, as if a steadying hand were resting on her shoulder.
"I don't think you came just to tell me that, who are you?" she asked quietly, leaning towards him slightly, curious excitement zipped through her veins like a bolt of lightning.
"In time, but first, let me look into your eyes" she tried not to flinch as he held her chin between his fingers, staring deeply in her eyes. She tried to remain still, even as the odd chill in his eyes made her want to fidget. "No remorse, no mercy. You do have the eyes of a killer, I wasn't sure before. But I am now."
"I am a speaker for the Dark Brotherhood. I speak with the voice of the Night Mother, and I act with the hands of our Dread Father, Sithis" he told her quietly, standing. Mes scrambled to her feet, heart racing, and blood pounding in her ears. Her lips felt sealed as he watched her calmly, an almost satisfied smirk on his face.
"You've killed before this, haven't you? How many people died looking into those eyes? Enough that the Night Mother noticed. She guided me to you, and now I offer you a purpose for your slaughter" he began walking slowly around the chapel, looking at the tapestries and murals. The trinkets and incense candles. He glanced back at her as she followed him obediently.
"Silence is the music of Sithis, so perhaps you'll serve us well" he muttered when she didn't respond, chuckling a bit and taking her arm gently. "We know that you can kill, to determine if your worthy of the Brotherhood, show us you can obey"
"I'm listening, Speaker" the words left her lips before she had a moment to think about what they meant. It felt right, warmth filled her as that barely noticeable smile flickered across his lips. "I wish to hear your proposal" she added in a softer tone, feeling both excited and nervous.
"Splendid!"