Chapter Two
My last contract had been an odd one. Instead of taking a life, I was asked to save one. None the less, I carried it out without hesitation to the letter. I allowed the Argonian Hides-His-Heart to live, and then waited a day. Upon returning to Chorrol I went to the church and revived the client, only when he awoke though did he mention a curse. Slightly flustered, I fought my way through a few zombies and brought him the Gray Mare.
That was days ago, and now I had returned to the Brotherhood, to my loving brothers and sisters, well, except maybe for M'raaj-Dar. He's always moody anyway. Naturally, Vicente having given me the contract I was to see him for my money.
I had taken only a moment's time at the great wooden doors that led to his room before I heard him call to me.
"Come in Valen,"
The calming tone he possessed as he called to me was remarkable. I had been nervous about coming to see him after I was through with the contract. Vicente had solemnly told me it would be the last contract he ever gave me before I left some time ago.
"Please, sit," he requested, motioning towards the chair opposite him.
Though his face was sunken and nearly unreadable due to a lack of feeding, I could feel a bit of joy radiating from him as he spoke to me.
"As I well informed you last time we spoke, I will no longer be giving you your assignments. You are no longer a hatchling my brother, you are now well versed in the ways of your profession. Ocheeva will handle your jobs from here on out, even now she has one lined up for you. You may go now if you like, but we have one subject left should you wish to discuss it now. I know you're tired, but this is your choice,"
I always found Vicente interesting, and truthfully I didn't even plan on staying in the sanctuary more than a night.
"Let's go ahead and get it out of the way, I won't be staying in the sanctuary long," I answered.
Vicente smiled at me, his long fangs glinting in the dim light of the room.
"When you first came here and met me Valen, you asked me about Vampires,"
My heart skipped a beat in my chest. Could he actually be proposing what I thought he was?
"Yes?" I inquired eagerly.
"I made a promise, that when I believed you worthy, I would share with you the dark gift. Valen, I feel that you have done so, and wish to extend you the offer. Do you wish to become one with the night as I have?"
My throat ran dry.
"I accept Vicente,"
Valtieri gave what I could only hope was the kindest smile he could muster.
"Very well, I shall come visit you tonight as you sleep. Your actual turning however, could very well be days from now. I would suggest waiting until you do rather than going and eagerly taking that contract Ocheeva has waiting for you. The change can be a sudden, and very painful event my brother,"
His eyes pierced into my own as his spoke, ensuring that the fact of his words stuck with me. I knew now, that Vicente truly considered me a brother now. I was only mere days from attaining the power of the super natural, a power I coveted.
Nodding to Vicente, I rose and left him to his thoughts once more...
Sonya had woken with the sun as always and prepared breakfast for Serge. She was what most nobles would consider a servant to Lord Serge Arcole. Serge himself though never considered her such.
He owned this large manor but it was only Serge and her that lived here which led to dirty little rumors about them. Other nobles absolutely hated him, but wouldn't openly voice it against a Wizard of the Mages Guild. His history was widely known, so it was common knowledge that his life had began as a commoner who lost his parents at an early age.
His father, Jusin Arcole had been a Magician but retired to live as a simple farmer with his wife and Serge's mother, Mirri Arcole. Serge however was orphaned young, found wandering in the wilderness by a Legion soldier.
Sonya herself had been orphaned seven years ago back when Serge shared his father's rank. He had been traveling when he came across her family's camp, which had been under attack by bandits. Her parents had been long since dead, the only survivor was her, a sobbing little girl surrounded by big, leering bandits.
Then Serge arrived, her valiant hero through the brush. The bandits were slightly surprised but none-the-less, moved to attack their new target. Needless to say, the bandits died. She never understood it then when she looked into his eyes as he stood there. It was like the one she had worn as she watched her parents die before her eyes. It wasn't until she heard his own story that she did understand, a young child with dead parents had immediately sparked his own memories. It was his sympathy that had bound her to him.
Serge had certainly been an interesting person to live with. As a member of the Mages Guild, he lived in the Imperial City to be within reach of the Arch-Mage as he was a high ranking member now and considered part of the council.
He also had made a living as being a treasure hunter over the years too. From his travels, least it be for the Guild or for his own gain he'd always bring her something. Sonya's room was filled with all sorts of things he'd find as he traveled.
Serge had failed to come down for breakfast this morning, and she was sure he'd be dead asleep in his lab again. He was one of the most brilliant alchemists in the Guild's possession, another reason he had such high authority. He could cast spells too, but his range consisted of defensive spells. His used his power to protect and restore, not to destroy unlike some of his fellow Mages. Serge had seen some things over his travels, things that had scared him, unnerved him, or downright infuriated him. He didn't kill if he could help it, though he made an exception for bandits and such.
Sonya's hand paused briefly on the door to his lab before she checked the lock. Sometimes he would lock it for her safety while he experimented. The knob turned so Sonya pushed the door inward.
His lab was fairly large; the table in the center room was a semicircle. Alembics and other equipment were kept neatly together. The bookcase on the far side of the room was crammed full of volumes on alchemy and the like. Serge also kept a cot in the corner for him to take a nap while something brewed, or he had his chair so he could read. The only other entrance to this room was a secret door that led down a narrow hall to Serge's chambers.
As of late he'd been working vigorously on a new potion for the Legion at Emperor Uriel's request. She had no idea what it was, but she was certain it'd be something to augment a soldier's strength or otherwise. There had been many things that alchemists had made over the years.
Serge had come across something during the years called Shadowbanish Wine when he'd go looting in the old forts. He had actually looked into it and found that it was a type of wine that an alchemist had brew hundreds of years ago improving night vision while helping soldiers feel warm on cold nights. It was a rather ingenious idea for the lookouts.
Sonya popped open the secret door in Serge's room and stepped through, being careful to shut it as she had with the other door. Sure enough covered in a mess of blankets and pillows was the Breton she'd been looking for. His blonde hair was a tangled mess and he was snoring. Worse, he had only gone to be in a pair of pants. Sonya felt slightly embarrassed as she reached down to rub his back.
Groggily he peered up at her, apparently slightly confused as to why she was at the council with him. It suddenly hit Serge that he had never left his house this morning.
"BLOODLY HELL!" he cried, flying up and out of his bed.
He snapped his fingers and one his closets flew open, from which sprang a red silk robe and his chain mail. The clothing hovered there in the air while he washed his face in his room basin and hastily tied his hair back.
"Serge? What's going on?" Sonya asked in utter confusion.
"I was supposed to present my latest research to the council today; I don't even know what time it is!"
"Calm down, it's just after sunrise," she answered.
His frantic rush ceased as he looked at her from inside his chain mail shirt.
"Really? Excellent, I guess you cooked breakfast already then?" he asked slipping on all the way.
"Aye," she answered turning as he started to remove his pants for his chain mail leggings.
She didn't move again until he touched her shoulder, fully robed with his steel shorts word at his side.
"Let's go eat," he said cheerily.