Chapter 3: Welcome Home Sister
Well, here I am. I followed Cassius's directions exactly, and sure enough, here it is. I stand in front of a large, looming black door, decorated with all kinds of evil looking designs, but the most striking by far is the colossal skull taking up most of the door frame. It makes me wonder how many travelers accidentally stumbled across this sinister structure, having no idea what could possibly wait inside. Is it really intelligent for a guild of assassins to have an entrance this conspicuous? And so close to the road? I feel strange saying this, but I actually feel rather excited. Nervous too, of course, but still, excited. Why do I feel this way? Am I doing this because I have no choice, or because I want to? I still don't know. I'm about to join the Dark Brotherhood, the fabled, infamous guild of murderers and assassins, of my own volition. Does that make me evil? I honestly don't know. I admit, I never thought I'd ever be able to kill someone, but when I did, it wasn't hard for me, and I didn't feel bad about it afterwards. I had so much pent up rage and hatred for that loathsome Lugron, and it was so easy to take his life, but killing other people? I don't know if I can do that, but Cassius seems to think so, and I do owe my life to that man. Besides, if that vision was real, and the Dark Brotherhood can help me find Theresa, then the choice is obvious.
I step forward, reaching out to touch the door, my mind racing with unsteady anticipation.
What is the music of life?
I jump back, scared witless. I got too caught up in everything, and forgot what Cassius said, that the door will ask me a question. I found it absurd at the time, but he wasn't lying.
And that voice, it's the same from my vision! So it really wasn't just a dream. This is real. The door's still waiting for an answer, and I'm not keeping it waiting. I'm lucky I didn't forget the answer Cassius gave me as well.
"Silence, my brother," I say loudly, worried it might not hear me otherwise. Then I wait for its response.
Welcome home.
A wave of relief passes over as I hear the words. It worked. The door opens by itself, showing the way down a dimly lit, spiral staircase.
"Well well, and here I thought she was just a nosy little traveler," comes a voice from behind me.
I spin around to see a tall woman in black come out of from her hiding place. I guess she had been waiting for me to leave so she could come in. Considering her height, I think she's a Nord, but with her hood and face mask I can't be certain. What is certain, is that she's definitely one of them.
"I don't remember recruiting you, who are you?"
"My name is Arbelle Fane. I was told to come here."
"By who?" she asks, coming closer. "Speak quickly."
"Cassius Rex, he found me in Riften. He told me he was the Listener." I say, trying my best not to let my fear show, and considering I know she'll kill me if she doesn't believe, I have good reason to be afraid.
She studies me for a moment, trying to read me. I'm sure she can see me sweat, and she can probably tell I'm shaking too. She looks into my eyes. Not wanting to look like a liar, I don't look away.
"Well, I know you're not lying, so you can calm down. No outsider would know those things."
Another wave or relief comes over me, this one much greater than the last.
"Still, I'm supposed to be informed of all new initiates, and I've heard nothing from Cassius about you."
"It was all pretty out of the blue, but he seemed very certain I should be here." I admit, still uneasy around this tall, imposing woman.
"The nerve of that man," she huffs, walking past me. "Come, we can talk more inside. We're exposed out here."
I nod, following her down the staircase into the unknown. The door closes itself behind us, as I figured it would.
"Do you have to say the pass phrase every time you want to come in?" I ask the woman as she leads me down.
"No," she replies, speaking while she descend. "The door, or whatever speaks through it, is quite sentient. Once you say the phrase once, it knows you."
"What is that voice? Whose is it?" I ask, so curious about everything.
"Honestly, I don't know. Much about the Brotherhood is mysterious, even to me, and I've been here for quite a long time. I never questioned it, until Cassius showed up, none of it mattered. Now things are different."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll talk about that later, maybe, right now I have questions for you," she says, reaching the bottom of the staircase.
We come to a wide stone corridor, and I can tell this whole underground structure is very, very old. Ancient even. I wonder what era it was built, and how many people, including me, have walked through these halls over the years. I've always been fascinated by history, but now isn't the time.
The woman walks to a stone table, an old map sprawled across it from end to end. She turns around, leaning against it to look at me. I just stand in place, waiting for the questions to come at me.
"First things first, my name is Astrid. I am the Mistress of this Sanctuary."
She's in charge? I honestly figured Cassius ran things, but I don't say that to her. She'd probably take it the wrong way.
"You're pretty tall for a Breton," she says.
"I get that sometimes."
"What'd you say your name was? Fane?"
"Yes, Arbelle Fane."
"Fane, Fane," she repeated to herself again and again. "That name sounds familiar."
"My family was quite powerful once, but not anymore. Not for at least a decade."
"What happened?"
I hesitate, "I'd really rather not talk about, I barely know you, and it's quite difficult for me," I say honestly, hoping she'll understand, though I'm not sure how likely that is.
I'd imagine hired killers aren't generally the best people to look for empathy in.
Astrid nods, "That's fair enough, you're not the only one here with a painful past, but you'll learn to trust us. We are your family now."
Or maybe they are. Maybe I misjudged these people. Her and Cassius both seem strangely caring, not at all what I'd expect. I expected them to have cold, dark hearts, but that was quite a warm welcome. I honestly don't know what to think anymore.
"So, what do you do?"
"Excuse me?" I ask, not understanding her meaning.
"How do you kill? You don't look like a warrior," she says, observing my attire. "You don't even carry a weapon."
"I'm a Destruction mage."
Astrid nods, "I figured that, you are a Breton after all, but I didn't want to assume. Well, Krex will be happy about that, or I think he will at least, you never know with that old man," she says, a small smile forming on her face.
I remain silent, waiting for her to speak again.
"Alright Arbelle, I'd like if you could explain how you met Cassius, and why this is all so sudden. I assume you've killed before."
"Well, it all happened very quickly," I say, thinking of how best to summarize my life changing events. "When my foster mother died, she owed the Thieves Guild quite a lot of money, and way the Guild saw it, the entire debt went to me. When I couldn't pay it, they attacked me, and . . . I killed two of them."
"I heard about this. You're the one who killed Lugron? He was meant to be Cassius's contract."
"Yes, he said that."
"That explains how you two met. Was that your first time ever killing?"
"Yes, that was my first."
"So . . . then what? He saw some killer instinct in you, knew the Thieves Guild would want your head, and offered you protection and a place to go?" Astrid guesses, quite accurately at that.
"Yeah, yeah that's pretty much it exactly, actually," I say, nodding. "I think he truly believe this is my destiny."
"And what do you think about that? Do you think he's right?" Astrid asks, maybe not sure about Cassius's judgement of me. "How did it feel, to kill? Was it hard for you?"
"No," I say, looking away from her. "At first I told myself I killed them because I needed to, but Cassius was right. I never felt more alive than when I was killing them," I say. "It was so easy for me to take their lives, I didn't even think about what it meant to kill someone, I just did it. I've heard stories about how soldiers that are forced to kill are stricken with guilt, even though they're the enemy. I kept waiting for that," I look back to her now, "but I feel nothing. Not the least bit sorry, or remorseful. I could kill them again, just as easily. The feeling I got, when I killed them, was exhilarating in a way I've never felt before, and I find myself craving that feeling, wanting to it feel it again. It's. . . disturbing to me."
Astrid stands up straight, and approaches me. Part of me wants to retreat, but I don't, I let her come. She places her hand on my shoulder, locking eyes with me.
"You haven't accepted who you are yet, but you will."
Astrid turns now, walking away. She heads into a side room and out of sight.
"So, am I in?" I ask after her.
What's she doing in there?
"Yes, you're in," She reappears with a piece of folded clothing in her hands, "Here," she says, handing them to me. "Shrouded robes of the Dark Brotherhood. If you're going to be one of us, you should look the part."
The robes are red and black, with what looks to be a design of a bloodied handprint in the chest area. I can feel magical energy emanating from the cloth.
"All of our attire is enchanted," Astrid says, making me look back up at her. "As a destruction mage, these robes should serve you well, they make casting your spells easier, less exhausting for you."
As helpful as that sounds, a thought crosses my mind. "Do you truly think we should be wearing clothing that identifies ourselves? The Brotherhood is being hunted now more than ever."
"Well, I wouldn't wear it if you're going undercover, but our organization is still very secretive, so you don't need to worry about people recognizing the attire. We're not the College of Winterhold. Up until recently, many didn't even believe we existed. Some still don't."
That's a good enough answer I suppose. The robes seem pretty loose fitting, so I simply slip them on over the clothing I'm already wearing. Astrid turned towards the doorway in front of us know, leading deeper into the sanctuary.
"I'm not sure who's here, but I'd go get yourself acquainted with whoever is. We're rather busy these days, as you can imagine, but there's bound to be someone here. I'll have your first contract ready for you soon. I'd get some rest if I were you, you look like you need it. Go with Sithis, sister," she says, breaking away from me now. She disappears back into the room, which I can only imagine is hers, closing the door behind her.
Contract. Gods, that word hit me like a brick. This really is happening. I'm getting a mission to kill someone soon. This is all so surreal. This isn't some crazy dream, this is really happening. I truly hope I'm as good at this as Cassius seems to think I am, otherwise this new life of mine won't last very long at all. Astrid's mere mention of rest made me remember how exhausted I am. The only sleep I've gotten since this all started was that vision I had, if you could even call that sleep. Sure didn't feel like it.
I head into the doorway and down the stairs, my anticipation to meet my new "family", along with the strong desire to sleep overtaking my nervous uncertainty. I come to a sight I didn't expect to find. Something I can only describe as a garden oasis. The sound of running water from the falls, located just below the glass window with an enormous skull painted on it, make the scene quite peaceful in an unnerving, morbid kind of way. I come to the center of the area, seeing no life so far. I turn to my left, seeing an anvil with a hammer lying on it, and some training dummies nearby. Looks like the Dark Brotherhood has their own blacksmith, but seeing as the fire is out, I imagine he or she is too.
With nothing to do here, I go further in, ascending up the stone stairs in front of me, arriving to a room I can best describe as a study, but it doesn't seem like anyone's in here either. I notice the alchemy lab as well as an arcane enchanter on either side of the room. I had some experience brewing potions, but not a lot, and until now I never had the opportunity to use an enchanter, but I suppose I could learn. At the end of the room lies a fence, a strange thing to see in a room like this. I approach, looking over it, to see a pit below, with a frostbite spider crawling about.
What's a frostbite spider doing here? Is it a pet? Who would want a frostbite spider as a pet? They're one of the meanest, aggressive nuisances Skyrim has to offer. Then again if some Ratway lowlifes like to keep skeevers as pets I suppose anything's possible. I notice the pile of human bones in the pit as well, no doubt some Brotherhood undesirable was fed here, either as punishment or for amusement. Either way, it's a good reason not to get on their bad side. I wonder if it's tamed.
"Her name's Lis," comes a strangely youthful sounding voice. "Don't worry, she can tell friend from foe."
A figure joins me at my side, and . . . I honestly don't know how to react to what I'm seeing. Just when I think I can't be surprised I find myself staring at the most bizarre, disturbing thing yet. A little girl stands next to me, throwing some meat in the pit for the spider. The spider scurries to eat its treat, and I just stare silently at the child. Who is she? Is she the child of two members? She can't be a captive. I truly don't know what to make of her. She turns to meet my confused gaze, her eyes yellow like a predator's and eerily familiar. Cassius has the same, strange eyes. The child, noticing my disturbed, speechless expression, lets out a deep sigh.
"'Oh my, what's a little girl doing here? Is the Dark Brotherhood recruiting children? Did they kill her parents and kidnap her? Those monsters! Those fiends!' How 'bout it sister? That along the lines of what you're thinking right now?" she says in a sarcastic voice, and I get the feeling she's mocking me. It doesn't make me any less confused. "You know, at first, seeing people's reactions to me was amusing, but seeing as you're the fourth new recruit this month, it's getting old pretty quick."
"I have no idea what's going on," I admit, hopelessly lost.
"What's your name?" she requests, putting the food bucket down.
"Arbelle . . ."
She extends her open hand, "Hi Arbelle, pleased to meet you. I'm Babette. I am not a little girl, I'm a 300 year old vampire who was bitten when she was a child. I'm actually the oldest person in the whole Brotherhood. Now please, wipe that stupid expression off your face."
A vampire? As strange as this is, it oddly makes a lot more sense now. Now I understand why her eyes look so strange and inhuman. It also means that Cassius is a vampire too. He failed to mention that. I awkwardly shake her small hand, which is very cold to the touch.
"I'm sorry about that, it's just, I didn't expect so see," I almost say child, but stop myself. "You just surprised me is all."
"It's alright, it's not your fault. I just have to deal with it every time someone new comes along," she picks the food bucket back up, placing it in the corner. "Honestly, it's really quite exciting so many are joining our family. For so long we've been a shadow of our former selves. I can scarcely remember a time when the Brotherhood prospered like this. Before, we were the only active sanctuary in Skyrim, now, in the months since we killed the Emperor, we've been growing so quickly we've repopulated two abandoned sanctuaries. There's even talk of reforming the Black Hand! They were our governing structure," she explains, knowing I wouldn't know.
"Sounds like I came in at a good time," I say, thinking about what she said about all the new members. "Am I really the fourth new initiate here in a month?"
"Well, two of them are already dead, but yeah."
That does not bode well for me.
"Is it really that dangerous?"
"Only if you're stupid," Babette now goes over to the alchemy lab, standing up on a stool so she can reach it. Honestly, I think she looks adorable, but I know better than to say anything.
"What do we have here? Another new face? So many of you these days," comes a man's voice from across the room.
I turn to see a dark skinned man, obviously a Redguard, but this one's wearing clothing so exotic he looks like he just walked out of a desert. It looks like a sort of uniform, but it's definitely not Dark Brotherhood. With the curved sword on his waist, I'm guessing he was once a soldier, but I don't know enough about Hammerfell to be sure. He's certainly a strange sight to see in Skyrim.
"Her name's Arbelle," Babette answers for me, not looking away from her alchemy work.
"Arbelle Fane," I finish as he approaches.
"My name is Nazir, and I suppose since you're new, we should speak," he says, sitting at the table a few feet away from me. "Take a seat."
I sit down across from him, although I'm not sure what this is about. "What do you want to know about me?"
"Oh no," Nazir says smiling, realizing I've apparently misunderstood. "I don't need to know anything about you. In fact, since there's a good chance you'll be dead soon, it's probably good I don't know too much about you. If you're still alive in a week or so, then we can get to know each other."
"Very encouraging," I say, narrowing my eyes.
"Damn, she's sarcastic. I already like her," says Nazir, earning a chuckle from Babette.
Well, at the very least, it seems I'm making a good impression on everyone. "So then what is this about?"
"Did Astrid not say to come see me?" Nazir asks, surprised.
"No, she didn't," I say.
"Hmm, must have slipped her mind. She is very busy lately. Well anyway, I usually have some extra contracts lying about, simple ones. They're great for novices, such as yourself."
"But Astrid said she was taking care of my first contract," I say, confused.
"She's referring to a real contract, something challenging and tricky, often with certain conditions and bonuses. The more complex ones you'll get from either her or Cassius, while the more simple, straightforward ones get passed down to me. They're more like filler than anything else honestly, just something to keep you busy. They won't pay much, but they're good experience."
"I see," I say, breathing in. This is happening even sooner than I anticipated.
"I have something for you now, if you'd like."
"Okay."
"It's okay to be nervous, most initiates are their first time. Just make sure you don't get yourself killed. Now, for the contract. Near the city of Whiterun, there lives a Redguard man by the name of Nazeem. He owns a farm, but he's usually roaming the city. Kill him, and the contract will be complete."
"That's it?" I ask. "Why does someone want him dead?"
"That's not our business. The Dark Brotherhood grants complete discretion to the client. Someone gives us a name and payment, and we kill the target."
"Someone probably got sick of his attitude," mumbles Babette.
"Oh? You know the future deceased?" asks Nazir.
"I know he's a stuck up, insufferable snob, and all of Whiterun would probably thank you if you killed him," Babette says coldly. "My only regret would be I didn't do it myself."
"Hear that? You'll be doing the world a favor," Nazir smiles. He gets up, tapping his hand on the table. "So long sister, I hope it goes well." And then he leaves the room.
I just sit there, playing nervously with my hands, trying to take all this in and figure out how I could possibly do this, meanwhile Babette is busy concocting who knows what.
"Nazeem claims to be an advisor to the Jarl of Whiterun, but he never goes up there," says Babette suddenly. She pops on a top on her potion, stepping down from her stool. "He's almost always out in public during the day, insulting whoever he comes across, so you can't hit him then. He spends most of his nights at a tavern called 'The Drunken Huntsman.'" She places her potion on the table, and looks at me. "No one likes that man, not even his wife. If he were to have a few drinks, go to sleep and never wake up, no one would care." She slides her concoction towards me, making sure I get her message. To hear words with such murderous, sinister intentions, coming from that face. It gives me chills. Then she smiles at me.
Without another word, she turns away, heading out the same way as Nazir. I watch her leave until she's out of sight, saying nothing. Once again I find myself alone, having been shown the way, but knowing I, and I alone must take the next step. I stare at the bottle she left for me, a contorted reflection of myself in the glass.