Dante Augustas had impulses of his own, but nothing inspired by greed. His only terrible sin against humanity was the massacre. It was lust that he was a slave to, spending his earnings at the The Foaming Flaskto watch Ms. Cocoa Cups's giant 'boobasauruses' bounce around as she put her money-making endowments to work on the pole. It was the only time he was seen in public- his duties tied him to the Imperial Palace. Only for a special occasion would he be assigned to the public grounds. But this didn't pose as a problem for the crafty imperial.
No. Not at all.
Lucien had intimate knowledge of the city's infrastructure. His first hunting job, at thirteen, was taking care of rat problems. The colossal rodents were more aggressive than their normal-sized cousins, ready to pounce at anyone within a few feet away. But spreading diseases is what the cityfolk feared the most. He was sent to the sewers to kill as many as he could find, and since he was promised 3 septims per rat he didn't stop until he nearly wiped out the entire infestation.
He remembered that under the stage there was a drain wide enough for a lean body to fit through. No one would see LaChance crawling out from the sewers, and because the base of the pole was secured beneath the stage it couldn't be a more perfect opportunity for him to work secretly. Through small cracks in the wood he could see everyone in the audience- it was crucial for him to see who was sitting in the front seat, though he knew who it was going to be at midnight. A week prior to the night of action he watched Dante, just as punctual as the rest, to know what hour he visited Cocoa every night and what seat he always sat in- right in the middle and in the front row.
Through another set of cracks, he could see Cocoa on the pole. He did not intend to sneak in undetected just for a peep show. It was important for him to know where the voluptuous entertainer was so that the art of his poetic justice was carried out as planned.
And there he was... right on time. Typical for any guardsman.
"Oh hiya, Dante! Come'n ta see me'gain, sweetums?" Cocoa shouted.
"You should know by now I'm loyal to ya, y'sexy sugar-fried honey cake."
"Ahahaa! Well sit yerself down then, take a load off. No pun intended hehe."
Oh please. Lucien wanted to mumble, practically scratching the bottom of his brain with such a high eye-roll.
After several minutes Cocoa finally climbed to the top of the pole. As the moment of action approached Lucien felt the same pinch in his chest that he felt in the storage room. He had to look from Cocoa to Dante several times to make sure that he was still sitting in the right spot and to check for signs that Cocoa was about to spin.
Then... as she twirled around with her legs sticking out, Lucien quickly doused the base of the pole with a corrosive acid so powerful, he had to cover his face as he did so to avoid permenant damage to his eyes and airways. He scooted all the way to the very back, but did not leave the scene yet. He wanted to stay long enough to hear confirmation of Dante's death. The acid ate through the pole within seconds, causing the upper portion to collapse. Lucien heard a crash as Cocoa went down with the rest of the pole, and then...
"By the NINE!" Someone screamed. "Sir! Sir! Are you alright! Sir! Great Divine, he's bleeding! His head is...oh...ooooooh!" Cried another.
A great accumulation of screams and outcries filled the entire room. Yes, he was dead alright.
Lucien's plan worked- but of course it would work, he was a keen strategist. Cocoa fell directly on top of Dante feet-first, and because the heels of those exotic stillettoe shoes were as wickedly long and sharp as a dagger they ran him through.
Death by stripper. Lucien chuckled inside, smiling as he made his exit through the drain. Initially, killing a human being was a sickening thought. But now he was beginning to enjoy it.
Eventually Lucien would no longer feel even the slightest bit of guilt for taking pleasure in a person's demise... but not that night. He cringed now and then when he spared a moment to comprehend what he was doing- he even questioned himself, but because he already followed through with his plan most of the way it was too late to reconsider. And then there was the sight of what the Blackhorse Courier decided to call "The Market Massacre"; it wasn't just one son... it was dozens of them... as well as dozens of daughters, mothers, fathers, friends... so many gutted like pigs because they were in the way... or because the legionnaires snapped into a killing frenzy. No, there was no reason to feel guilty. Any ordinary man would be executed for these crimes. That was the way things used to be in the old days... when a man's status had no influence on the way he was punished for his transgressions.
The old days... the old rule... the old law. Lucien whispered, in the attempt to justify himself.
The imperial was growing confident...perhaps dangerously overconfident. It was smooth sailing throughout the entire evening, everything worked out the way he anticipated without a hindrance, and not a portion of his plans was foiled. The most challenging target, he assumed, was already dealt with. But Dante was as easy to take out as Silas. So with that in mind, Lucien believed he was going to breeze through his hunt for Julias Rexton. Then a sense of balance in the universe would be restored and he might be able to find a way to move on and have another chance at a happy life.
Julias Rexton was assigned to inspect the ventilation chambers every time his superiors suspected trouble; animals trapped, leaks, cracks, cave-ins, beggers sleeping in them... anything that would disturb or disrupt its function. Lucien knew that, on the particular evening of his hunt, it was Julias that had what they called 'Vent Watch', which had its equal 'ups' and 'downs'. If nothing happens he would have the easiest watch, doing absolutely nothing within those five hours. But he couldn't sleep and he couldn't drink alcohol during this time, and those were two luxuries all soldiers craved the most.
He was playing cards with the other legionnaires at the mess hall, where he and his brothers and sisters in arms chatted away. No one received word about Dante yet, and it appeared Silas's mishap was not known to them either.
Good. If they are oblivious for just a little longer it won't be difficult to kill Julias at all. Lucien thought as he peered into the mess hall through the vent in the wall near the ceiling. The taxes that caused such an astounding uproar were being collected to pay for the repairs on the ventilation chambers. They were built thousands of years ago, and like everything else in the mortal world, they began to crumble and wear down. Walls had holes in them, and that made it difficult for spaces underground to receive a sufficient flow of fresh air. It also received the unwanted guests that the chamber gates normally kept out. This problem existed for decades, but it was finally decided that something had to be done about it because a wall between the vents and the sewers gave in to time and gravity. The vents reeked of every imaginable fowl stench! Something had to be done because a lot of citizens were getting sick, so within the last three months men and women were put to work to get the repairs done.
But this project was not yet complete, so Lucien was able to enter the vents through the sewer system and find the Legion Barracks. He was not going to sneak into the room- not into the "Lion's Den"! No... he had other plans. He needed to find the room that Julius was in, however... which didn't take very long at all.
He spotted a few people he recognized; among them was the 'Candy Soldier', whom had not removed her faceplate yet. He was distracted by this curious sight, wondering if she had to conceal her identity at all times, even within the company of fellow legionnaires. Must be a member of a special unit... a spy for the Emperor of some sort.
Then he shook off the distraction and concentrated on Julias again.
"...not going to worry about that!" Julias bellowed.
"Of course you wouldn't... being without care is what got you into this mess in the first place." Retorted the dunmer.
"Who are you to talk to me about not caring, soldier? I saw you in the battlefield when we all dealt with that village of vampires! You seemed as emotionless and unflinching as a stone... might as well have been a golem! Left and right your sword sliced through the bodies of the cursed. You didn't care at all about what you were doing... Uriel Septim ordered you to do it... and then you did it, without question or concern. I did the same damn thing the other week and..."
"FIRST OF ALL..." The dunmer roared. She yanked the chair out from under Julias, and as the unprepared breton hit the cobblestone floor she continued to humble him. "... when you talk to me you address me as LIEUTENANT! Second, how DARE you compare what you did to our mission in Colovia! This 'village' you speak of was non-existent by the time we got there. Their occupants were long-dead, sucked dry by vampires that had no intention of controlling their urge to prey upon humans! You... Julias... you are a soldier, expected to retain full control of yourself. But you and a couple others just let yourselves go! At the vampire slaying I was in control of what I was doing... I concentrated on every target that I had to kill. You, on the other hand, killed anything that ran out in front of you! How could you possibly make that comparison! How!"
"The comparison is, Lieutenant... being numb about it."
The dunmer had no further response. She could go on about the difference between slaying evil creatures and killing innocent people. Surely if Uriel ordered her to kill an innocent person her attitude would be different. But it was clear that Julias would be stubborn about seeing them all as one and the same, which is a common curse among men and women that choose the life of a warrior.
When all were silenced by the brief drama, Lucien decided it was the perfect moment to draw attention to the ventilation chambers by making strange animal noises and clawing at the wall.
"What the bloody hell is that!" A soldier called out.
"Something's in the vents again." Someone else mumbled. "Julias, that's yer area t'night. You go take care of it."
Lucien watched as Julias groaned, uttering a few inaudible words under his breath with a 'yes-sir' at the end. The hunter smiled at the realization that his mission was almost complete. All he had to do was wait for the unwary soldier to wander into the darkness, expecting to encounter nothing more than a colossal rat, and strike him before he even began to suspect otherwise. He would leave the sewers and the county itself without a single witness to associate him with the soldiers' deaths.
Lucien's heart pounded so hard against his chest, he was afraid that the sound of it would give him away. For every minute that passed his breathing grew heavier, the palms of his hands damper, and his composure ever more weakened. It took a while for Julias to make his way over- he had to exit through the city gate and walk all the way over to the east side of the wall, and descend a very steep hill before arriving- all in heavy armor that weighed him down.
For thirty minutes Lucien heard nothing but the echo of dripping water.
But then...
"Blasted vermin... blasted vents..." He heard someone grumble. Just as Lucien did, he would enter the vents through the sewers. He heard the rusty whine of the gate swinging open. "'See the world', they said. 'Have the most honorable job in the empire... make money... have a free place to sleep...have free food'. Blast it all, damned lies. Nothing's free... they take a portion out of pay for all of that...blasted lying bastards!"
Lucien made noises again to attract his attention. In most areas of the chambers, any outcries from the dying legionnaire would be heard. He would still need a lot of time to make his escape, so even then he had to avoid alerting the legion. He chose a location where sound would be muffled by the wind, constantly screeching like a rat so that Julias would follow him there.
"Agh... damn rat..." Julias continued to curse. "When I find you, I'm gonna cut ya into so many little pieces... but that's after I kick th'crap outa ya. I hate rats...hate...rats...damn rats..."
Lucien grinned again, holding back maniacle laughter. Just up the stairs... through the archway... just a little further, Julias.
Julias did finally climb the stairs and enter the hallway where he would meet his demise... but it seemed that luck left the side of Lucien LaChance. Julias was an arrogant bastard, but that didn't make him a dufas. The breton drank a Potion of Nighteye just then, and that is when he saw LaChance and identified him right away as a suspicious character.
"HEY! Who the hell are you and what'n blazes are y'doing in here!"
Stunned for a few seconds, the hunter stuttered and took a few quivering steps back. He had to think of a clever response and fast!
"W...well.. there are rats in here... a nest full of them in fact... don't you know what I am? I'm a hunter! I was commissioned by the Emperor himself."
"Yes, well you certainly look like one... but I don't buy your story. If Uriel Septim had you hunt for vermin in here the entire legion would be informed. What are you really here for! Are you another one of those bums! Can't you blemishes of society sleep somewhere OTHER than here! Bloody hell, we're s'posed to be having clean, fresh air in here da..."
Aw hell with it. Lucien groaned before lunging forward.
They struggled for several minutes, throwing each other into walls, giving and receiving cuts and nics with little sign of wear. But the area around them would not withstand their fight so well... the hallway caved in, pushing them to the ledge. Rexton's sword was knocked out of his hand, and then buried under the rubble that continued crashing down around them.
Lucien found a weak spot in his armor and plunged his blade into his chest. Julias sank to his knees, but managed to ask with a clotted voice: "Wh...why'd you do th...that?"
"I'm the father of a child you killed in the Market District, you flipp'n pig! He was a good boy. He had a bright future ahead of him." Lucien gave the sword a slight twist, causing excruciating pain in his body. He squirmed and screamed, but the ears he hoped his voice would reach heard nothing. "He was the only thing in this world I had left. He was the world to me. He was my life- you killed him...therefore, killed me. Your blood for our blood, Julias. It is the way it should be. Go join Silas and Dante, wherever souls like theirs go."
Lucien tried to pull the sword out of his body to slice his throat open, but the blade was in his body too deep, and the thick armor made it even harder to take it out. Nevertheless, the legionnaire's death came to him quickly. His body dropped the rest of the way down to the ground, with half of it hanging over the edge.
With a deep breath, taking in the moment and the satisfaction of a complete mission, Lucien stood up and examined the area to find a safe way to get around the debris and down the stairs.
But just then...
"Julias?" He heard someone call out from the other end of the tunnel.
You've got to be kidding me! Lucien thought, almost gasping in fright to the sound of yet another legionnaire coming to investigate. Don't panic. Don't panic. There is another way out. There is a north exit so... just... carefully... descend...
Lucien slowly moved towards the stairs, holding his breath every time his foot made contact with the delicate steps. When the small hallway collapsed it weakened the rest of the structure around it. So, as careful as LaChance was, he couldn't avoid stepping onto loose stone. He lost his footing and dropped to the floor. The sound his body made when it hit the stone was undoubtedly heard by the legionnaire. Though the wind was knocked out of him, he was desperate to get away. He could feel the soldier's approach. He tried to be as quiet as possible, but he couldn't control his body's need for air. He gasped and coughed to get his breath back, while stumbling as he tried to get back onto his feet. But lack of air kept him on his knees.
Maybe the legionnaire won't come down this way. He thought. There are other tunnels and...
"Explain yourself!" A woman's voice growled from the shadows after she pressed the blade of a silver short-sword against his neck.
Lucien looked up to where he believed her face was, concealed by the blackness. He recognized the gauntlets, which were the only things visible at the time. He thought back to the dunmer legionnaire.
Somewhat amused by the coincidence, Lucien smiled and responded with a soothing pitch in his voice. "I really... can't."
"You can't? Well... you should start thinking about a story to tell the warden on our way to the-"
Just then, the body of Julias dropped from the ledge and landed with a loud thump directly between them. The legionnaire shrieked and flailed as she staggered back. Lucien seized the chance to make a beeline to the end of the tunnel.
"Oh no ya don't!" She roared, not bothering to identify what the big dark lump was that almost crushed them. Apprehending the suspicious character was the first priority.
Lucien was surprised by how fast she ran in such heavy and stiffening armor. It suggested that she had worn it for years, which also meant she had been a warrior for as long as he was a hunter. That did not give him any confidence. Even if he did have a head start she was on his heals within moments. Deciding that it was the perfect time for it, he used his invisibility spell, not realizing that...
"Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiieeee-!"
...the legionnaire had closed and locked the gate. It appeared that he was trapped, therefore, soon to be cuffed. But instead of stopping he ran as fast as humanly possible.
"I wouldn't!" The legionnaire warned, hearing his pace quicken. "If ya break your ass in half trying to bust it open don't say I didn't warn you!"
Lucien didn't listen- he rammed himself into the gate. Both were surprised by the result- the legionnaire was mistaken about him hurting himself, but Lucien was mistaken about being able to break it down.
The imperial clenched his eyes and teeth, slamming his fists on the bars as he cursed. He expected her to ram her sword into his back, so he closed his eyes, not wanting the sight of the sword exiting through his chest to be the last thing he saw.
She did not use a weapon of any sort, but the legionnaire body-slammed the imperial from behind, pinning him against the gate as she growled in his ear. "Hey I don't know what you did... I don't know what that was back there... but you run'n is telling me yer were up to no good. Yer under arrest! The more you cooperate the less it's going to hurt. Now be still!"
She was holding a figure she could not see, but after a minute passed the spell wore off and he was visible again.
"The hell I will!" Lucien elbowed her in the nose, but it didn't help much. All it did was feed her anger. She growled louder and gave him a more aggressive push.
"Hey, stop being a stupid ass or I will use this!" She bellowed. Lucien heard the sharp sound of her short-sword sliding out of its sheath.
"And I believe you will!" He smartly retorted.
The extra push that the legionnaire gave him, with double the initial force that was already killing the hinges, the rusty old gate finally gave. When it crashed to the ground, both of them went tumbling over and down the sloshy bank. They rolled so hard and fast that they were momentarily disoriented.
But then the legionnaire, with her arm and all the weight of her body applied to his chest, pinned him down. That is when she had a better look at his face.
"W...w..wait you're... that man!"
"Yeah, and you're that 'candy soldier'!" He bellowed back, struggling to crawl out from under the weight. "Which makes me very sorry that you had to come sniffing about!"
"No... you will be sorry if you don't stop struggling! Don't forget I still have-"
She didn't realize it right away when it happened, but the dunmer's silver short-sword had slipped out of its sheath during the rough tumble out of the sewers.
"Aw damn!" The legionnaire growled when she reached for her sword and grabbed nothing but air. That's when they both noted that it was lying at the bottom of the bank.
Down the steep and muddy hill they scrambled, brawling still to keep each other from reaching the sword. Neither had intention of harming each other beyond bruises, but whoever had a sword in hand would have more control. If the legionnaire reached the sword she would be able to arrest him; if Lucien reached the sword he would be able to escape armed and ready to fend off attacks. Although the dunmer was more profecient at capturing and overpowering a person, Lucien was a highly-trained escape artist and managed to slip out of her every grasp. The dunmer's armor was thick and heavy steel; it would normally make it impossible for someone to be invulnerable to a kick or punch from her, but Lucien wore armor that was designed to withstand bear attacks. They were well matched.
If anyone witnessed this confrontation they would be amused by such a comedic display; just as one got up from the ground to continue running down the hill the other one would grab and pull them back- down to the ground. Then, once the dunmer grabbed the sword, it was a fight to take possession of the sword. It was flung, knocked-down, dropped, and tossed around into several different areas until took a one final somersault into the air, landing in the drink. At the same time they plunged into the lake, scurrying to find it before the other person did.
"Game over." The dunmer growled as she grabbed Lucien by the hair around his neck and pushed the blade against his throat again. "I'm going to ask you one more time to come along quietly.. be a smart man and do it... I don't want to use this, but I will if I have to!"
"Apprehensive about killing, huh? You truly aren't like the other legionnaires."
"I'd consider it an insult if someone thought I was." She admitted. "I know what you mean by this... but let's not get distracted, huh? Right now it is about you being a suspicious ch..."
"I'm sorry..."
Oblivious to the dunmer, Lucien's hands were untying the empty sheath from his waist and positioning it under her chin. She didn't notice this because from the shoulders down his body was under water, and so was the sheath. Thrusting it upwards, he used the sheath to give her an uppercut powerful enough to knock her out cold.
As she wobbled, within the last few seconds of consciousness, Lucien finished: "...for that."
It would seem LaChance had the opportunity to make a break once again for the east side of the lake, without anyone around to witness his escape from the soldier. But just before he darted to the little boat that was docked nearby, taking her sword with him, he turned towards the unconscious legionnaire. She was sinking into the water. The precious seconds that he needed for his escape were spared to pull her out and find a safe place on the shore for her to lie. He even checked to make sure she was breathing. If it wasn't for that one moment at the Waterfront District he wouldn't have bothered to do any of this, and since she was the one and only witness that could identify him, this was an unmeasurable amount of mercy coming from him.
"Consider this my thanks for what you did." He purred before running to the boat. "But for your sake, you better not follow me after this."
The red glare of dawn's light was at the eastern horizon, but the dark of the night still lingered, so the Imperial did not catch the eyes of the guards that walked along the very top of the outer walls. Heart and lungs swelled with something he did not think he would have when his task was complete. Because the 'Candy Soldier' saw him... he did not feel like a free man. She seemed like the stubborn type... she was unrelenting in her efforts to capture and imprison him, despite what transpired at the Waterfront District. Her defeat would probably inspire her own hunger for vengeance and she will exhaust herself and others tracking him down.
No... it won't be long before I am a wanted man. Maybe saving her life would change her mind... but maybe not. It's that uncertainty, though... knowing that the most likely outcome of all this is my face on the wanted posters... and then my head on the executioner's block. They weren't just men... they were legionnaires... that's at least three levels down from the emperor! Lucien thought, heaving a heavy sigh as a wave of anxiety swept over him. I must hurry to Cheydinhal... after I make one last return to the house.
End of Part III