A/N: Thanks for the review! :D I know I've neglected this for a very long time, but I'll try to update frequently as much as possible. Real life has finally gotten out of the way for a while.
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Oblivion. By the way, Skyrim is amazing. So is the Dark Brotherhood quest line. Yep.
Sorrow has a human heart,
From my god it will depart.
-Sleeping Sun, Nightwish
#03: The Virgin Contract
Parry. Sidestep. Jab – no, slash? Lucius sighed, hitting the dummy with his steel sword. It dislodged a few strands of hay. He wasn't cut out for this – he could probably rob Arquen blind of even her robes, but fighting? No way. He was a thief, not a fighter. Nor an assassin.
So it surprised him when the Altmer approached. "I have a contract for you," she said, tight-lipped. Lucius turned, his eyes wide. "To the south of Leyawiin lies a Fort. Fort Blueblood. A certain… Nord has taken up residence there. Your job is to kill him. No parameters. Do it however you see fit, as long as the kill is done."
Lucius nodded mutely. She gave him another of those looks – torn between guilt and hope – before leaving the training room. He slowly exhaled. Shouldn't think too much about that. He'd endured worse. 'Worse', being when both the Listener and Arquen were looking at him. "Right, Lucius. Time to do this," he told himself. He was a member of the Family now; he might as well get used to… this. He'd grab a bite, say his farewells to Orane and Ahdareeq lest he never return, then leave for the town of Leyawiin.
Fort Blueblood had obviously been explored at some point. Skeletons littered the ground, and as he approached the innermost chamber, Lucius spotted several rotten corpses. He didn't stop to look. In truth, the stench of death and decay hung heavy in this fort. When he'd first entered, he'd had to fight back the urge to throw up his measly breakfast of apples and bread.
So far he'd encountered no one; the silence was deafening, almost maddening. But then he heard a creak. He froze. Sneaking was one thing he could do, but slitting the throat of someone? Lucius wasn't sure if he could do it. Sucking in his breath, he pushed open the door. Beads of cold sweat rolled off his forehead. His heart pounded in his chest.
The room was covered in mist, but it did not hide the huge shape of the burly Nord pacing about the room. He carried a very wicked battleaxe. Any bit of courage Lucius had now faded; he wanted nothing more than to run screaming from this massive hulk of a man.
But something made him steel himself. Perhaps it was the fact that this was his first contract. Perhaps it was Sithis himself, granting him the strength to make his first intentional kill. Whatever it was, Lucius snuck up behind the man, sent a quick prayer to the Night Mother to save his sorry hide should this fail, and slit the Nord's throat. He collapsed with a gurgle, spraying blood across the wall. Lucius dropped back to a crouch. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. His heart was pounding painfully in his chest, but that fear slowly gave way to pure ecstasy.
I've… killed someone.
The adrenaline rush slowly ebbed away, and a cold, yet comforting feeling settled in his gut. He felt… alive. Like he had finally grown up; finally come of age. "May you find rest in the Void," Lucius whispered quietly, as he left the fort of death.
The Black Door no longer spoke, but automatically unlocked at the touch of his hand. It made him feel accepted. Lucius stepped into the Cheydinhal Sanctuary, inhaling the familiar scent of home. Orane approached him, grinning from ear to ear. "You look… rejuvenated, brother."
"I am," Lucius admitted, "I don't know why – I should be horrified, I mean – I've just killed someone –"
"You've sent your first soul to the Void." Orane's grin broadened. "Of course you feel refreshed. You're a child of Sithis now. You're supposed to feed him with souls."
"I… I can keep doing this," Lucius realized aloud. "I can kill any person and… and I wouldn't feel bad about it…"
"Why would you even feel bad? Their soul joins Sithis in the Void. You make your offering to him that way." Orane patted his shoulder. "Congratulations, dear brother. I'm sure Sithis is pleased."
Lucius thanked her, and then walked further into the Sanctuary. His mind was in a whirl. He felt oddly detached from the world above him. He wondered if this was how Sithis spoke to him; how the Dread Father rewarded him. For overcoming his fears, for killing someone – he could feel this cold, comforting peace. Like he'd settled scores with the world, and with life.
It was amazing.
And he caught sight of Arquen, leaning against the wall. He approached her with a confidence he didn't usually have. "I've done it. I've killed him."
"And skillfully, as the Listener tells me," Arquen said, "Your payment." She handed him a small bag of coins. Lucius stared at her.
"How… how does the Listener know?" Surely she wasn't stalking him –
"The Listener knows many things," the Altmer answered curtly, "Or rather, the Night Mother knows many things. The Listener only knows what the Night Mother lets her, and your accomplishment is one of them." She regarded him almost warily now. Gone was the guilt from before. Arquen now seemed guarded around him, as if he was a threat.
Lucius took his leave. Better to let that sulking High Elf take out her inner frustrations on the Dark Guardian, or the cute little rat wandering the Sanctuary. The living quarters were quiet; Orane was training, and Ahdareeq was out for a contract. The Listener was, as she had been for the past few days, nowhere to be found. Not that he missed her silent, comforting presence in the Sanctuary. Of course not.
Now was the best time to catch up on sleep. Lucius hadn't exactly slept after he'd left Fort Blueblood. Nicking a horse from the Leyawiin stables had helped him get back to Cheydinhal in half the time it'd take by foot, but it also meant no rest. Stolen horses had a tendency to run back to their stables once he dismounted, and Lucius wasn't inclined to walk.
He had just sat on his bed, all ready to fall asleep and pat himself on the back for a job well done, when a mellifluous voice said, "So. You are a virgin no more."
Lucius screamed.
