I had never killed anyone before. Well, that's not quite true. I've killed people, dozens of them. But it was always in self defense. I had never murdered anyone before. And yet, here I stood like a deer in headlights, watching the blood spread around my arrow, soaking her clothes.
How had it gone so wrong? The woman who now lay dead at my feet had merely asked for my help. Her husband, boyfriend, whatever they were was in jail for murder but had hidden the stash of gold. I already had to get myself thrown in jail to even talk to the guy, but he asked me to kill her and bring her amulet back as proof of her death. Why hadn't I just…told her? Told Arnora what Jorundr wanted and worked out a deal? I could have. Instead I decided that I believed Jorundr's side of the story. And I killed the poor woman. Granted, she was probably actually a viper, but it was too late to figure that out now.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. It didn't work. I took another and ran a shaking hand through my hair. Focus, I thought. Focus, Lily. It's not bad. This isn't bad. No one saw me enter. She didn't make a sound. I can leave now. No one will ever be the wiser.
Right. The amulet. That stupid, Azura-damned amulet. I removed it from around her neck and then of all times my damnable Thieves Guild instincts kicked in and I decided to search around her house. I was practically across the street from Ongar's house; I could grab something to fence to him at least.
In my search, I came across another stupid amulet. Now quite sure she had been a snake of a woman, I decided to take both back to Jorundr. He told me where his stash was, but I didn't care to collect it. I did anyway, of course, a thief doesn't pass this kind of free loot up, but it didn't feel important. No, what felt important right now was the fact that I had killed a woman. And I had liked it. Gods, I was still shaking. I didn't know whether it was from fear or adrenaline or both.
Home. I needed to go home. Home was a safe place, a place where I could think. I found the road again and started walking towards Cheydinhal, looking over my shoulder every dozen yards. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I was accosted by a bandit halfway there and I shot him, like I'd done a dozen times, but this time it felt…different. You're just being stupid, I told myself, continuing to walk on.
I arrived in Cheydinhal late, after midnight. Exhausted, I trudged on past the Mages and Fighters Guilds to my house, unlocking the door and kicking it shut behind me. I locked it tight, unnerved by the feelings I'd been getting. I wanted to sleep so badly, but I was still covered in blood and sweat and dirt. I went upstairs and drew myself a bath, stripping out of my armor and washing until my skin was raw. I decided to leave my armor on the floor and forego dressing myself and drying my hair, flopping on my bed still wet and passing out within minutes.
It can't have been more than an hour, I thought blearily as I started coming to. I kept my eyes closed, trying to go back to sleep, when I became aware of a presence in my bedroom. I opened my eyes and looked up. A man in black robes and a hood leaned against my wall. I gasped loudly and sat bolt upright, scooting away from him, at the same time becoming aware of my undressed state and pulling the blanket up to hide myself.
The man smirked. "You sleep rather soundly for a murderer," he said in a voice that sent shivers down my spine – both good and bad ones. "That's good. You'll need a clear conscience for what I'm about to propose."
I stared at him, then swallowed and found my voice. "Who are you?" I asked. I wondered if he was the one who'd been watching me all the way home.
"I am Lucien Lachance," he said. "A Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood. And you, you are a killer. A taker of life. A harvester of souls. Your work…your deathcraft…pleases the Night Mother. And so, I come to you with an offering. An opportunity…to join our rather unique family."
I hesitated for a moment. The Dark Brotherhood were the stuff of legends, of scary bedtime stories. Stop that, son, or the Dark Brotherhood will come and get you and the like. My head was screaming that this was a bad idea that was going to end in tragedy for all involved, but…I was curious. "…Please continue, Mr. Lachance," I said, not quite sure how to address him. He had such a nice name, but Lucien seemed a bit informal. Especially for a Speaker. Was a Speaker a high rank?
His expression changed slightly, perking up a bit. "Ah, I find your etiquette refreshing," he said. "On the Green Road to the north of Bravil lies the Inn of Ill Omen. There you will find a man named Rufio. Kill him, and your initiation into the Dark Brotherhood will be complete. Do this, and the next time you sleep in a location I deem secure, I will reveal myself once more, bearing the love of your new family."
I wanted to tell him to slow down. This was all happening so fast. I didn't know what else to say, so I just said hesitantly, "Rufio will die by my hand."
"Excellent!" purred Lucien. "Now please, accept this token from the Dark Brotherhood. It is a virgin blade, and thirsts for blood. May it serve your endeavors well."
He handed me a gorgeous ebony dagger, Blade of Woe etched into it. As I looked it over, I wondered why the only thought that popped in my head was that's not the only virgin blade around here. Where was I even trying to go with that? I scolded the pervert section of my brain.
"Now, I bid you farewell. I do hope we meet again soon."
"Wait!" I cried, my head snapping back up to look at him. "I have questions."
Lucien looked back at me. "Ask them, dear child."
"Can you…explain the Dark Brotherhood?" I asked, feeling foolish.
Lucien looked surprised. "Have you not heard of the Dark Brotherhood? Of the remorseless guild of paid assassins and homicidal cutthroats?" he asked.
"Just in stories…"
"Join us, and you'll find the Dark Brotherhood to be all that, and so much more. We are, more than anything, a union of like-minded individuals. We kill for profit, for enjoyment, and for the glory of the Dread Father, Sithis. We are family, with bonds forged in blood and death," he explained patiently.
I nodded. I liked the sound of that, I supposed. "And the…target. The man I'm supposed to kill…"
He got a look on his face that suggested he found my nervousness endearing. "Know that Rufio is old and weak, and sleeps his days away. You could kill him before he even has a chance to wake. If you so choose."
I felt slightly reassured, but not much. It hardly seemed sporting to kill a weak old man while he slept. "What about you?" I asked. "You said you were a Speaker. Is a Speaker a high rank?"
"Yes, I am a Speaker, a representative of the Dark Brotherhood. My voice is the voice of the Black Hand, our organization's ruling body. One of my duties is to find exceptional individuals, such as yourself, and offer a place within our family," he explained.
I blushed despite myself at being called an exceptional individual. "How did you hear about the murder? There weren't any witnesses. Are there rumors about it already…?"
Lucien smirked again. "Dear Sister, I do not spread rumors. I create them."
Well that was infuriatingly cheeky of him. I'd best avoid Bruma for some time. "One last one…did you…see me bathe?" I asked, blushing.
Lucien laughed. It was a nice sound. "Your path is clear," he said. "Send Rufio to his death, and the Dark Brotherhood will embrace you as family." He then cast a spell on himself so as not to be seen, and left my bedroom.
I was stunned for a moment at how he'd outright avoided my question and shouted after him, "That's not fair!" I heard the front door close. "I guess he left…"
I looked at the ebony dagger in my hand. I tsked and tossed it on top of the dresser, writing it all off as a bad dream and going back to bed. That's right. This wasn't real. This couldn't be real. It was all just a dream created by my own paranoia.
And yet, however many times I told myself this before falling back into uneasy sleep, the Blade of Woe was still on my dresser in the morning.
