Chapter II
Darkness
Arno stepped out of the hay stack before Iden ascended down into it behind him. Iden jumped up brushing the hay from his black and red fur cape. The clacking of steel made Arno stiffen then pressing his finger to his lips indicating to stay silent. Iden sneaked up to the entrance only to see guards patrolling the mansions courtyard.
"We half to find another way." Iden suggested.
"How many guards are there ?" Arno lend over Idens shoulder only to be brushed off lightly.
"9 no 11." Iden peered close at the flower covered fences.
"We can take them !" Arno whispered loudly, readying his blade.
"No, We do this without being spotted." Iden waved his arm at Arno's sword indicating to sheath the blade.
"That's no fun." Arno pouted before putting away his blade.
"Don't be a las, it was stated to do this mission quietly and quick. Besides we'll be spotted before we would even reach the first guard."
Iden glanced at Arno.
"Then let's hurry we don't have all day to stalk our prey like animals." Arno quickly ran over to the stack of hay half way to the mansion.
Sneaking and killing the guards off one by one Iden and Arno split up to hunt down the three targets, two of which are Templars and the other a treasure collector. Iden began his search on the third floor of the mansion stalking and sneaking around until all the guards were taken care of.
Entering a room filled with books and unusual trinkets. Iden looked to the ceiling then the covered windows. It was dark to dark for a room during the broad daylight. He slowly took out a dagger with a strange feeling something was watching him. Searching the large room from end to end he came upon a statue in the shape of a gargoyle.
"Something doesn't look right.." Iden studied the statues teeth with a small fascination one was bent forward to far as he looked around the room he grabbed the tooth and pushed it back.
A sound of dials of locks unlocking came from behind the statue then the statue it self descended into the ground, upon standing in the door way Iden felt the cold breeze against his face as he grabbed a torch from the corner of the doorway. 'What the hell am I doing ? I'm supposed to be hunting down a treasure collector not exploring dark tunnels.' Iden sighed before entering the dark space. The temperature must have dropped odd levels there was frost clinging to the stone walls and flooring. Iden nealed down on one knee and studied the remains of a skeleton leaning against the wall.
The skull was seemingly cut open but not by a blade. Iden trailed his fingers across the top of the skull 'something obviously killed him the three clean cuts completely rip through the skull.' Idens eyes dart to the left side of the room where a deep heavy breathing began to take place. The sound of flesh hitting stone echoed through the dark room.
"Who are you to step foot into my home?" A deep voice lingered across the darkness.
Iden stood firm on his feet and lifted the torch up to his face. "I am here tracking a man." Iden could see his breath in the light of the torch.
A deep chuckle came from the other side of the room. "And you think what you seek lies in here?"
The voice was strong and spine chilling as it echoed through the darkness surrounding Iden.
The sound of fabric winding in the wind and moving quickly filled the room then silence as the noise stopped near Iden. He walked cautiously to the center of the darkness keeping his dagger close under his cloak, he moved the torch about in front of him then slowly turned around and back checking his surroundings as best he could with little light he had.
"This man I'm searching for.." Iden paused as he heard a deep growl from the corner of the darkness.
"A treasure collector.." Iden continued stepping forward slowly closely watching his surroundings as frost clinged to it.
A heavy breath of excitement echoed "a treasure collector?" Deep growling kept to the right side of the room.
"By the name Notierian the damned." Iden looked above then glanced behind his shoulder.
"Ahhh..." The creature breathed with amusement. "It's been so long since I've heard that name."
"Do you know of where he is?" Iden looked around the darkness. What was he thinking haggling with something he cannot see but from which he can hear might be a demon.
Deep laughter filled the room. "Know where he is?.." the creatures deep voice trailed off.
Iden stopped and stood still.
"He's right here." The cold breath hit the back of Idens neck, he quickly turned around to come face to face with a pale figure. Idens breathing was lighter and sudden. The creature was tall and pale, shrouded by a dark cloak with piercing red eyes. The face was aged as if an eternity had passed by it.
The man smiled exposing sharp teeth, stained red. "I suppose your here to kill me?" The man walked to the side and tilted his head slightly at Iden.
"Do you not see the remains of skeletons filling this room around you..?" The man's deep voice echoed throughout the room once more.
"Many men have tried.. None have succeeded." The man picked up a skull and dropped it, letting it shatter on the ground.
Iden stared into the man's figure as he paused in silence.
"I can tell a lot about a man's character by the sound of their heartbeat.." the man turned.
"Some are as if I can dance to the beat.." the man clapped his hands fiercely. "but yours.." he slowed his clapping. "Is slow and steady.." his gruff voice trailed off as he looked Iden in the eyes.
Without a blink the man lifted Iden from the ground letting his feet dangle as he squeezed his neck.
"I could kill you right now if I pleased." he growled. The creature sniffed Iden then stretched its mouth, dislocating its jaw then licking Idens face. Iden flinched in disgust as the creature pulled back its tongue and closed its mouth. Savoring the taste of his blood from the cut on his cheek.
"Tell me would you like eternal life?.." the creature tilted its head.
"What do you take me for monster?" Iden spat. The creature growled then lifted Iden up to his face and tighten his grip. "It would be in your best intentions to listen or ill cut you from your belly to your skull and feed you your insides." He hissed.
The creature released Iden then turned to the fragments of the skull he dropped.
Iden gripped his neck and looked at the man.
"What do you want from me?" Iden glanced at the torch on the ground then to the man as he picked up a piece of the skull.
"To become part of the darkness as I have, To lift this curse from me so that I may finally leave this place." The man bite his wrist. the sound of crunching flesh made Iden grit his teeth. The man filled up the skull with his blood and held the the skull in front of Iden.
"Drink.." the man tilted his head back.
"No. Never."
"Or die." The man fixed his eyes on Iden as he slowly took the bowl.
Iden paused and looked around for a way to escape but there was only darkness. Breathing in a deep breath, he downed the thick dark blood then coughed as he wiped his lip. "Now what?" Iden dropped the skull looking at the man who smiled slightly.
"Now you die." the creature turned away and walked into the darkness.
Idens body became numb as darkness blurred his vision he took a few steps towards the man before hitting the ground losing consciousness.
