Special thanks to Daedra-Hearts. You reviewers keep me writing. So Review, darn it. :D

Also sorry about the delay, I've been more in the mood to paint recently.

The board overhead creaked as Lana held her breath and wished this contract was over. She had enjoyed her last job, sneaking onto a pirate ship and murdering the captain, but laying in wait in this crawlspace was agonizing. What was worse was that soot from the chimney leaked out through several poorly sealed bricks and had coated her exposed flesh with black grime.

Later smoke had started to seep into the close quarters, after the target's bodyguard started the evening fire. The smoke served to make Lana's already irritated breathing more labored. She tightened the assassin's cowl over her nose, and looked at her blackened hands with annoyance. Slipping away into the night would be easier for all the filth, at least.

Using her dagger to ply away a few splintered pieces of wood, Lana distracted herself from the urge to cough. As she regained the ability to breathe her thoughts drifted to Lucien again. He had become somewhat of a hero to her, saving her from prison and what not. He had kissed her the night he saved her from execution and she played that moment over in her head, wishing she'd enjoyed it more. Perhaps this action was just the brotherly tending of a sister who badly need the attention, but it didn't feel like that. She was pretty. He had said she was pretty. Surely that meant she was special somehow. It meant something special to her.

What would Antoinetta say if she knew what Lana was thinking? The girl had a special love for Lucien, and Lana hated it. The blond had recounted, in all innocence, how Lucien had saved her from the streets. The story was just familiar enough to make Lana burn with jealousy. Antoinetta was cocky too; she spoke of rising through the ranks of The Brotherhood as if it wasn't very hard to do. It made Lana want to kick the blond in the teeth. Her obsessive thinking went over every word Antoinetta had spoken in the sanctuary a thousand times over, looking for a confession that her rival had slept with Lucien.

Still there was no proof in word or deed that Antoinetta was anything other than a fond sister to a protective brother. It didn't stop Lana from second guessing every female in the sanctuary's words. Would he have slept with the elf? Ocheeva? Surely not, but who knew? Perhaps a fondness for Ocheeva is why Lucien made him the head of his sanctuary.

Worst of all was Antoinetta's claim that Sithis spoke specially to her when she killed. He supposedly filled her black heart with a deep passion for her deeds and pushed her towards the completion of her kills. That pissed Lana off more than anything else Antoinetta said. Why didn't Sithis speak to her? Wasn't she one of his chosen children also? The thought of Sithis talking to Antionetta and being silent to her made Lana want to drive her dagger into Antoinetta's ears and ask her what she heard now. What held her back was that Lana was sure dismembering one of her sisters would get her kicked out and make Lucian hate her.

Of course this entire line of thought was insane. So rather than continue to dwell, Lana refocused herself on the task at hand. Luckily by the time she snapped out of her day dreaming the target below was sitting in his chair. She watched through the cracks as his servant took a cup from the master and turned to fetch a book from the shelves. Once the bodyguard was safe Lana cut the strings to the mounted animal head that hung over the fireplace, the ties slipping free with amazing speed. A loud wet thud filled the assassin's ears as she quickly wiggled herself free of the crawl space and dashed for the cellar.

The Orc bodyguard was crying over his masters corpse as Lana slipped past, making her grateful that her shoes were muffled. This was what the contract had wanted, for it to look like an accident and spare the bodyguard. Her heart was in her throat as Lana moved through the rest of the basement, and the joy of the kill didn't reach her until she was outside of the house looking up at the stars. Several people had begun to gather around the front of the house, as the bodyguard emerged from the house with his dead master in his arms, screaming at the stars for justice.

Not wanting to be found covered in soot and dressed suspiciously near the scene of a death, Lana moved along the shadow filled wall, careful to watch for any nosey guards. A well in the backyard of one of the many houses provided a bucket of fresh water with which to clean the ashes from her hands and face. Next a dress stashed in tall bushes provided a change of clothes that would see her safely through the night at the inn. Having shoved her armor into her satchel, Lana looked around to make sure no one had seen her. The ruffled finery felt odd and her skin stung from the chill of the cold night air in Bruma, but she looked good.

As she moved along the street to the Inn, Lana tried to smile and act disinterested in seeing the half crazed Orc with his dead master. The streets were buzzing with people gossiping about what happened and guards trying to calm everyone down. Fortunately this made it easy to slip between people with out being noticed. When Lana arrived at her destination she was supposed to see a shrouded man speaking to a KhaJiit nearby. The man's frame seemed familiar, and when he turned to acknowledge a person going to gawk at the Orc the man's face shown in the moonlight. Lucien. He noticed Lana as well, a knowing smile slipping across his lips and he immediately excused himself from the KhaJiit with a firm shake of hand and paw. The feline humanoid eyed Lana suspiciously, but much to her relief he walked off towards some unknown destination before Lucien reached her.

Instead of greeting each other Lana and Lucien just stood with in arms length of each other, waiting for the other one to take action. Another person shuffled between the two of them, asking their forgiveness, and yelling "did you hear, that old wood elf is dead and his bodyguard is parading his corpse around town!"

The couple said nothing; the only sound was Lucien allowing a dark chuckle to escape his lips. They both knew what happened, even if he had been surprised to discover she had a mission in Burma tonight. For some reason she thought he did and had arranged to meet a friend on the off chance of seeing her. Why else would he be standing to close to the inn while chaos erupted all around town? This went unspoken. All these questions and conjectures, were answered well enough by two hungry eyes.

The stalemate was broken when Lucien reached out and grabbed her hand, the boldness giving Lana all the permission she needed to cave in. She followed him in to the inn and slowly up the steps to the room next to hers. The tavern was barren due to the events down in the street and the quite crept up into the Lucien's room, seeming to surround the two of them with a nod of approval. Then they were kissing. After it happened Lana couldn't remember if she kissed Lucien or he kissed her first. It probably didn't matter.

The Speakers strong hands kneaded at her flesh, pushing apart the folds of her dress and bringing his mouth down to her bronzed shoulder like a man thirsting for water at a spring. His obvious need made Lana burn and she arched her body against his, eager to please.

Hot breath spread across Lana's cleavage as Lucien unlaced her bodice. Her dress fell to the ground, and she turned to look at the speaker, who had taken a seat on the edge of the bed, his cloak wrapped around him in contrast to her state of undress. Some of the hair from his pony tail had slipped down, leaving chocolate strands around his face, and Lana felt a desire to see him with his hair down.

The speaker flicked his wrist and smiled, "Take off what's left."

Not one to argue over orders Lana allowed the loose pantaloons to fall, and then pulled her undershirt over her head. Then naked before him, answering his scrutinizing eye with confidence that she would please. Her skin was a darker brown where her arms, neck, and face met the most sun, but the rest of her had the healthy glow of someone with substantial Redguard heritage. Her strange reddish hair was mirrored in a Downey cleft between her legs, and that seemed to interest Lucien for some reason. Perhaps he'd never slept with a woman who wasn't Imperial. He stood and walked around her for a second, his cape flicking at Lana's ankles as he moved.

Lana allowed a small shiver to escape, the cold from the Burma night having seeped into even this room. Lucien cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again, and she began to unbutton his shirt. Lucien led her backwards towards the bed as her fingers rubbed their way long a stomach that showed only a hit of flab. The Speaker fell backwards on the bed, and used Lana's hand to pull her towards him. Following cheerfully Lana kissed Lucien again, her body hovering delicately on her knees as she reached down and freed him from his pants.

Lucien let out a soft gasp as she squeezed him firmly, then trailed his hands down the side of her body, squeezing her backside. Lana bit her lip and lowered herself onto him and began to slide her hips along his cock. Lucien's hands moved to her hips, seeming to direct how fast and firm her thrusts should go. Unwilling to be so blatantly directed, Lana took both of Lucien's hands in her own and placed them on the breasts, provoking no protest from her lover.

Allowing herself to enjoy this moment and her ability to control how fast or slow the lovemaking went, Lana tried to burn this moment into her brain, least it prove to be a onetime mistake. Eventually her body began to jerk faster, as the friction brought her orgasm to the front. Lucien started to thrust his hips up against her, causing the both of them to spill over at the same moment.

Satisfied, Lana laid down in Lucien's arms for the second time, only this time feeling him grow soft inside of her body. The Speaker began to snore softly not long after they were finished and Lana looked at him longingly. She brushed a stray piece of hair out of his face and wished she didn't have to leave for the sanctuary in the morning. Lana knew, without Lucien telling her, that this moment would have to kept secret from her brothers and sisters. Still it would be amazing to see the look on Antoinetta's face if Lana told her that she and Lucien had been intimate.

In the morning Lana woke before Lucien and started to put her clothes on. A warm hand caught her wrist and squeezed firmly as she started to slip her boot up her ankle. She turned immediately to face The Speaker. His hair was disheveled and his brow seemed stern, but no more so than an ordinary man in an ordinary bed's eyes would seem if he caught his lover trying to sneak out. She thought she'd leave him there to rest and spare him the awkwardness of explaining why they couldn't be together. Apparently it would not be that easy for either of them.

"You don't have to go," Lucien said as he stood. His white undershirt hanging down past his waste combined with his messy brown hair made him see like any man. Not a murderer, not a higher up in a cult of killers, maybe a guard or barrister. Still it was odd to see just Lucien, probably born somewhere in the empire, growing up like anyone else. Just a man. It frightened Lana a little to consider that he was merely human and not some all knowing shade who kept track of her comings and goings. Perhaps this was some secret he kept guarded within himself and the time had come to silence her for knowing he really was just ordinary.

"Stay," he beckoned, his voice rumbling in his chest as if it was a playful request and not an order. "You don't have to rush back to the sanctuary after every contract. It makes you look less suspicious if you stay in town afterwards. As long as you're sure you weren't seen afterwards it should be fine."

"I wasn't," she croaked, her voice raw in the morning air. Lana let her boot settle next to the bed and found herself in the Speakers arms. As he held her, Lucien allowed himself the luxury of smelling her hair, and he himself was surprised she didn't smell of some exotic spice but rather had a normal musty human scent. Lana forced herself to relax into his arms; if he wanted her to stay perhaps this wasn't some kind of sin against the Brootherhood. After all it wasn't like Lucien would put his family at risk. Something about the light sound of birds and the golden hue coming in through the windows made Lana feel like this was a normal love affair and not a torrid event between commander and commanded.

They spent the morning making love, eating breakfast, telling each other easy stories of their lives both during and before the brotherhood. Lucien went on about his time in Skyrim and how he had carved out a thief's eyes for stealing his purse. Despite herself Lana found herself laughing at how cruel the Speaker could be and she wondered at herself that something she would have found horrible before seemed so mirthful. So much change in such a small time.

"My father died at sea doing business," Lana found herself confessing to Lucien. "When he passed it left me in the care of Roselyn. A prisoner in that horrible store they ran together. I don't think he'd have married her if he'd realized she would end up taking care of me alone."

"Is that what she told you?" Lucien smiled at Lana from the bedside. He kept running his fingers along her bare arm, both of them still flushed from sex.

"Something like that," Lana mumbled. Of course her stepmother had never gone into specifics. It was just understood between them what had happened.

"Your father was in the thief's guild," Lucien corrected Lana, obviously being mindful of her reaction. "Your family has a tradition of joining that guild. I assumed you'd been raised to join them as well. Your stepmother wasn't a member, but she was a front for stolen goods in honor of your late father. That's why the guards were called on you when you killed her."

"How do you know so much about my family?" Lana scoffed.

"Some members of the thief's guild are friendly towards the Brotherhood," Lucien explained as he leaned back on the bed to relax. "We used them to procure items that we would not sully ourselves getting. Sometimes they help us build sanctuary's in secret. Other times we simply have our orders cross and have to make nice. Some members of the guild feel that we are a nuisance and put them at risk. Not the Sullivan's, however; while they have never joined our ranks, they have always helped us in times of need. You're a first. I'm sure your father would be proud."

"My father was thief," Lana said, her face growing pale as she looked at Lucien. "You knew him?"

"In my younger days I was introduced to him by a superior," Lucien said, his eyebrow raised slightly. "I finished off a target while he took a rare item from a chest. He died not long after. Probably got caught stealing."

"I was always told he was a merchant," Lana said, her voice becoming more desperate. "How do I know you're telling me the truth?"

"I have no reason to lie to you," Lucien said, pushing her hair out of her face.

Lana leaned back against the wall and looked at her lover for some sign what he was telling her was a joke. He simply returned her gaze. So she laid their wafting between anger, surprise, with acceptance an easy reach away. After all her father had always been gone on buisness and his friends always frightened her.

Before Lana could dwell on Lucien's news to long a knock came to the door. Lucien stood and began to tuck his tunic into his pants while Lana looked at him confusedly from the bed. The Speaker quickly reached down and grabbed her by the shoulders, pulled her to her feet. Once Lana was standing Lucien twirled her behind the bookcase and made a gesture to be quite. He then walked to the door and cracked it, greeting the same KhaJiit from last night. As Lucien opened the door Lana cursed to herself that him asking her to hide was a sign that their affair wasn't as allowable as she thought it was.

"I talked to an old friend today," The KhaJiit spoke. "You're right; I think that account is being mismanaged. We should have an early dinner and discuss it."

"It will have to be tonight," Lucien responded. "I have business to attend to in another town."

"Of course, of course," The KhaJitt assured, "I wouldn't want to take up to much of your time. We're both busy men after all. So dinner tonight at my place, you'll enjoy the food I have to offer."

Once the KhaJiit was out of ear shot Lucien stepped over to face Lana with an awkward smile on his face. She looked back at him from her hiding spot with large eyes and shook her head that he didn't need to say anything. Moving to gather her things Lucien once again took her wrist in his hand and stopped her.

"Stay one more night," He asked. "Tomorrow I have to leave, and I fear I might not be able to see you again for some time."

"One more night," Lana promised, more relieved than she cared to admit.

The return to Cheydinhall proved agonizing. Being alone seemed like a curse to Lana, who normally failed to notice such states. Every bird, bee, and rock reminded her of Lucien. The worst part was that she had no idea when they would see each other again. Even worse than that was that she had to keep her new lover secret, just like all of her old lovers.

Still the murderer allowed herself the quite fantasy that some day they could have a little house together on the edge of Cheydinhall where they could meet in secret. Maybe even some days they would both creep out of town together and walk through the streets of a strange city while holding hands. No one would care, not even the Night Mother. Surely if she or Sithis objected Lana would know about it by now.

Entering the sweet simple city Lana had come to think of has home didn't even work to part the melancholy of leaving her lover. She entered the sanctuary with a false smile, but sincere welcome for all of the members of her family. Even Antionette was a welcome sight.

Ocheeva quickly ushered the young woman into her room and informed her that she had received a promotion. It seemed Lana would be working for Ocheeva now, and her contracts would become more complicated with better pay out. If this was a sign from the Night Mother concerning her love affair, it showed that her actions were deserving of reward.

So night after night Lana trained, killed, or otherwise distracted herself from missing Lucien. When weeks turned into months and she still had not heard from him, the longing dulled and became easier. He'd warned her after all. Though part of her still wondered if he hadn't had his way with all of the women in the sanctuary. Promising a tryst that would never come and then never coming to call. Though she doubted Antionette would pine away as she did if her desires had ever been tended to as Lana's had.

Finally one night a shadow crossed her bed, and Lana rose to the sound of familiar footsteps. She arose and moved after it with no care to modesty. It was as if she was dreaming, chasing the ghost of a lover she couldn't forget. To her dismay the figure left through the door before she could catch up to it. As she turned to leave the hallway, still in her nightgown, Lana ran into Teinaava. The Argonian smiled at Lana and extended his hand gracefully.

"You have made my night easier," Teinaava spoke, "Ocheeva wishes to see you as soon as it is convenient."

Lana nodded and thanked the lizard, who was Ocheeva's twin brother, and headed towards her superior's room. The female Argonian seemed to size Lana up as she entered the sanctuary, as if something important had happened that Lana was unaware of.

"You've not grown very close to your brothers and sisters," Ocheeva mused. "Yet you follow the tenants, so I have no quarrel with you. I wonder why he picked you to be singled out and not that usurping blond."

Lana said nothing, which seemed to annoy the tired looking Ocheeva.

"Lucien was here," Ocheeva said as she collected some grace around herself. "He left me this letter to give to you and you only. My eyes are not even allowed to see what is inside."

Her stomach churned as soon as Lana heard Lucien's name. She took the letter carefully from the green scaled hands that offered it. She noted the seal on the parchment and felt for a second as if Lucien's breath was once again on her shoulder as he laid his teeth into her neck. The small tanned woman tucked the letter into her night robe and bid Ocheeva good night.

"You won't read it in front of me," Ocheeva teased as she settled on the edge of her bed, her clothes obviously thrown on in haste.

Lana simply smiled as she turned to leave again. Once she had privacy the woman's eyes poured over the letter. It seemed that Lucien needed her immediately at his hideout. Fortunately it wasn't very far from the sanctuary. She was to leave and tell no one where she was going, and no one was to read the content of this letter. Lucien had a test for her, and whatever it was Lana was certain she could pass.

Not willing to leave a sensitive document around, Lana tossed the paper into the fire, noticing that Ocheeva and Vincete were at the far end of the hall looking at her and talking. The human woman mulled over her options and decided to get some more sleep. A test of skill was best met with a clear mind, and she would be better off buying supplies in the afternoon so she could leave in the evening. Lana wasn't fond of traveling at night, but the darkness made for good cover.

Looking up she noticed that Vincete was alone in the hallway now. The vampire seemed to be considering something and with her acknowledgement of his presence he came over to the lone Lana.

"I've been thinking about something," Vincete said, his high cheekbones casting gaunt shadows as he spoke. Vincete made Lana nervous and it had everything to do with the fact he was a vampire.

Lana nodded at the vampire to continue.

"I've been thinking that it's a shame a beautiful woman like you has to grow old," Vincete started. "I could stop that, preserve you in place, keep you from feeling the ravages of time. You'd also gain a power most mortals only dream of. You should consider the offer of my gift and get back to me."

Her head bobbing as she listened Lana held back her revulsion; he was her brother after all. She stood then and looked at the ancient man with his sunken cheekbones, pointed fangs, and pale skin. She tried to imagine herself like him, living in fear of the sunlight, so strong but so vulnerable. She couldn't ever imagine willingly agreeing to such a thing.

"Don't answer me tonight," Vincete said, seeming to read her thoughts. "Come to me when you have given it due consideration and give me an answer. It would be nice not to be alone in this place. I desire to be with one of my own kind."

"I will," Lana spoke quietly. "Now if you excuse me I have a mission tomorrow and need my rest."

"A special mission it seems," Vincete mused, his eyebrows arched in curiosity.

Ignoring his inquiry Lana slid in-between the bed cloth and tried to calm herself. Between the rush of receiving a letter from Lucien and Vincete's offer her heart was pounding a little. Her lack of response didn't dismay the vampire, however.

"One might wonder what the mission is concerning," he pried.

"If you need to know you will," Lana grumbled, "Now I need to sleep if I'm going to be worthy of anything tomorrow. Sorry my brother. Kill well."

"Kill well," Vincete repeated as he gathered himself and started to move towards his room. He was obviously disappointed in her lack of confidence, but it didn't matter to Lana. From this moment on her only thought would be of passing Lucien's test so that she might see him again.