Zarissis and Dusty arrived in Cheydinhal two days later, both quite exhausted. The sun was far below the horizon, and most of the residents of the city were tucked up in their beds. Leaving Dusty at the stable, Zarissis entered the western gate.
Even in the dark, the city of Cheydinhal was beautiful. Lush, dark green trees that shook and rustled in the wind, shops with delicately painted signs and beckoning window settings, even ornate street lamps that casted a dim orange glow across the buildings. The cobblestone path was lined with beautiful, fancy homes, very different from the ones in Leyawiin. To the redhead, it was the city of kings. She couldn't imagine anyone living in such luxury.
Zarissis continued walking down the street, admiring the grandness of the buildings in the lamplight. Even the river that ran through the city was beautiful, despite the dark trickling water. Treading over the bridge, Zarissis passed by the Temple of Arkay, which towered overhead as a symbol of the Divines. She admired the stone columns and engravings, walking around the Temple to gaze in awe. Even the graveyard outside was beckoning, with rich, cold marble headstones and brightly colored flowers.
It was then that her eyes set upon something not-so-beautiful, oddly dark even in the moon and lamp light. The boarded up windows and doors of the abandoned house seemed so opposite of the rest of the city, yet an air of mystery surrounded the building. Guards had been seen all over Cheydinhal, yet Zarissis didn't see a single guard in sight.
Lucien's words echoed in her mind. Now you must go to the city of Cheydinhal, to the abandoned house near the eastern wall. Enter the basement, and attempt to open the black door. You will be asked a question.
Approaching the strange building, Zarissis felt a chill run down her spine, and clutched her cloak and satchel tighter to her person. She noticed that although the door to the abandoned house was boarded over, it did not prevent the door from being open; merely gave it the appearance of being closed off.
Reaching out and grasping the handle, Zarissis was shocked to see that the door slid easily open, almost as though some supernatural force were beckoning her further. The chill increased dramatically, sending goosebumps over the girl's arms.
The inside was empty, save for some broken furniture and cobwebs. At the back of the room was an old door that Zarissis supposed must go to the basement. Stepping through the dust, she carefully opened the door.
The basement was just as barren, with a few smashed crates. However, Zarissis's attention was immediately drawn to a hole that'd been smashed through the wall, leading to a tunnel. Treading through the mess, Zarissis crossed the threshold into the corridor.
A sickly red glow emanated down the tunnel, and after a few steps around a curve, the door Lucien spoke of came into view.
Although Zarissis hadn't been afraid entering the abandoned house, she suddenly felt struck with fear at the sight of the Black Door. The red glow came from a handprint on the forehead of a large skull carved into the door, and underneath it an engraving of what Zarissis could only assume was the Night Mother that Lucien spoke of, followed by five smaller figures raising their hands in respect.
Compared to the size of the door, Zarissis suddenly felt very small and insignificant. It wasn't the door itself that terrified her – it was the aura that surrounded the door. From everything she'd read about Sithis in the books of Gods and Daedra, it felt as though she'd just stepped straight into the Void. It was incredibly intimidating, and the redhead couldn't imagine why Lucien had asked someone like herself to come there.
She was just considering turning away when a deep, raspy voice echoed in her mind.
"What…is the color…of the night? "
She felt glued to the spot, unable to move. Zarissis closed her eyes and reached back into her mind, recalling Lucien's directions.
"Sanguine, my Brother."
She was surprised the words sounded so confident, so effortless. Certainly, she had expected her voice to crack and fail her.
"Welcome home."
As soon as the words had radiated from the door, Zarissis felt a sudden and unexpected warmth and comfort surround her. The door slowly eased open, and an orange glow trickled out of the tunnel behind it. Slowly, Zarissis stepped forward, and the door closed behind her.
She had sort of been expecting a dungeon, and while the sanctuary was underground, it was anything but cold. Pleasant heat greeted her skin and Zarissis could see rugs and hanging lights systematically spread over the main room.
Feeling a little more at ease, the redhead stepped into the hall. Immediately she noticed an Argonian standing nearby, who looked up at her entrance.
"Oh, you must be Zarissis! Greetings, greetings! I am Ocheeva, mistress of this sanctuary. Lucien has told me all about you." She smiles, which is not overly reassuring, due to her many rows of sharp teeth, but Zarissis smiles politely back.
Ocheeva was a beautiful Argonian, Zarissis determined, with the most unique scale coloring she'd ever seen. Orange, purple and green scales combined together in an exotic mixture, coupled with her orange eyes.
"Let me be the first to welcome you. The Night Mother is pleased another Daughter has joined our ranks. Welcome to the Sanctuary, may it serve as a place of comfort and security whenever the need arises. Would you like me to show you around?" She offered an arm to the redhead, who hesitated before conceding. The Argonian certainly didn't act like a murderer. She was kind and sweet, and seemed so friendly.
Ocheeva lead Zarissis to the right of the hall, and the girl took the opportunity to look around. A couple of people near the doors they were headed towards stopped their conversation and turned to look. One of them was a blonde with bouncy, shoulder-length curls. Immediately, she pranced toward them, and emitted what Zarissis could only describe as the most ear-piercing squeal she'd ever had the discomfort of hearing.
Before she even spoke, the girl swept Zarissis away from Ocheeva in a tight hug.
"A new family member, so exciting! So you're Zarissis? Can I just call you Zaris? Oh, that would make me so happy! We could become best friends, like sisters! I haven't had someone like that – oh well, there's Tel, but she can be pretty unfriendly. And Ocheeva is always busy. Oh, isn't this exciting?" Her words came so quickly, Zarissis didn't even get a chance to respond. Instead the red-head stood looking lost for words while the bouncy girl fawned all over her.
"Antoinetta, don't overwhelm her. There will be plenty of time to bug her, but for now she needs to adjust to being in this crazy place!" The second figure Zarissis saw near the door had come up from behind Antoinetta. He was probably the largest Orc that Zarissis had ever seen – the man likely had enough strength to bend metal bars. To make matters more intense, he positively towered over Zarissis, although she had to admit she was pretty short already.
He laughed boisterously. "Welcome to the family! I'd hug you, but Ocheeva told me not to. I'm Gogron gro-Bolmag." Zarissis noticed that he was wearing a set of black plate armor that was the darkest shade of black she'd ever seen, unlike Ocheeva and Antoinetta who were both wearing some form of leather armor.
"See, you're already making friends!" Ocheeva piped up happily, before turning to face the odd duo. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to finish the grand tour. Our newest recruit needs to know where to sleep at the very least."
Antoinetta waved happily at Zarissis as Ocheeva dragged her through the large stone doors and through a short hallway before entering a room that Zarissis realized was adorned with similar draperies and fabrics as the main hall, although covering more surfaces and hanging from the walls. Four beds were lined up, all but one of them covered in different assortments of pillows and blankets, and at the foot of each bed was a chest.
The first one was perhaps the gaudiest, and it didn't take Zarissis too long to assume whose bed it might have been. Three large, fluffy white pillows were tossed on it carelessly, with pale blue sheets and a lacy white quilt. It seemed quite girly, and Zarissis thought it matched the personality of the bubbly Antoinetta quite well.
The bed next to that one seemed rather simple. A plant sat on the bedside table, and a light brown quilt embroidered with rich forest scenes of trees and forests was laid very neatly over the bed.
The third bed was adorned with blacks and purples. Pillows were laid neatly against the headboard and the lavender blankets were folded neatly on the foot of the bed, but it seemed as though it had not been used in quite some time.
The final bed seemed the plainest. A single pillow, sheet, and think blanket adorned the bed, all in dark shades of red. It did not appear to have been slept in.
Pulling Zarissis along, Ocheeva lead her over to the last bed in the corner. "This is the women's living quarters, men sleep across the hall to give us privacy. Each bed chamber has its own washroom connected to it; ours is that door right there." She nodded to the door that was fairly close to where they were standing, a few feet away from the bed Zarissis would be sleeping in. "Inside you'll also find lockers to keep your armor in if you don't want to place it in the chest at the foot of your bed, which is this one here. The chest can be locked though, so I wouldn't worry about that. Nobody in the sanctuary would try to steal from you, unless they want Lucien Lachance to deal with."
Zarissis wrinkled her nose, confused. "Why would Lucien care if someone stole from me?" The man had never shown much emotion to her before, apart from his comment upon departure the last time she saw him. Aside from that, he seemed like a fairly normal mass murderer.
Ocheeva shook her head. "Oh, no dear. It's a Tenet. The Dark Brotherhood has its own set of rules in the form of the Five Tenets. Tenet 1: Never dishonor the Night Mother. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis. Tenet 2: Never betray the Dark Brotherhood or its secrets. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis. Tenet 3: Never disobey or refuse to carry out an order from a Dark Brotherhood superior. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis. Tenet 4: Never steal the possessions of a Dark Brother or Dark Sister. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis. Tenet 5: Never kill a Dark Brother or Dark Sister. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis. Follow these rules and you'll be fine…break them, and you'll have to answer to Lucien Lachance. The last time someone broke a Tenet…it was not pretty." Ocheeva grimaced, clearly recalling a bad memory.
"So is Lucien the Wrath of Sithis then?" Zarissis asked, confused, as she took her satchel of belongings off her shoulder and dropped it onto the bed. She'd put her things away later.
"No. When a Tenet is broken, a high ranking member may choose to distribute punishment in the way they choose. If they choose not to, then the Wrath of Sithis will come for you in your sleep." Ocheeva shuddered before taking Zarissis's arm. "Anyway, let me finish the rest of the tour and then you'll be off on your first assignment."
Zarissis wasn't sure if that meant she'd be killing someone, but she never got a chance to contemplate as she was speedily pulled out of the living commons and across the main hall into another large room. This one was equipped for training, with archery targets and dummies for battling. Weapon racks lined the walls, and in the center of the room a hooded figure continuously shot arrows into the center of a target. It seemed to Zarissis that she was either intentionally trying to see how many arrows she could fit into the red bull's eye of the mark, or she was showing off her skills. Either way, the redhead found herself impressed.
After shooting off one more arrow, the incredible archer turned around to face Zarissis. She was a Bosmer, with soft brown hair that fell over her shoulders, visible despite the hood. Unlike Antoinetta, she didn't go for a hug. Instead, she greeted Zarissis with a polite bow.
"Hello Zarissis, warmest welcomes to you. I am Telaendril, loyal daughter of Sithis. I hope you find our Sanctuary to your liking." She seemed to look at Zarissis with an analytical stare, as though she was attempting to determine what sort of person the girl was.
This must be the 'Tel' that Antoinetta was referring to, Zarissis recalled absentmindedly.
"Hi," Zarissis said shyly, realizing this was the first time she had spoken to one of her family members beside Ocheeva. With Antoinetta and Gogron, she never got the chance; now she felt shy and her mind drew a blank.
Tel seemed to sense her timidness. "Oh, don't feel too self-conscious. We were all new at one point!" She patted Zarissis on the arm, seemingly unwilling to commit herself to any further form of affection.
After Ocheeva introduced the room as the training room – which was quite obvious, Zarissis thought – she drug her through yet another door and into a kitchen and mess hall.
"And here's the kitchen and place we eat…" Ocheeva began, her voice trailing off as the two settled their eyes on a Khajiit and another Argonian, deep in a heated argument.
"I did not take your cat nip! What good do I have for it? I'm not an oversized cat!" The Argonian scowled angrily and bared teeth, his green and orange face menacing.
The Khajiit howled back. "You were the last person in here, and I left it on the counter, you filthy-smelling scaled ape!"
Ocheeva cleared her throat and put one hand on her hip. The pair turned around at the sound of her voice and immediately began shouting and pointing at each other.
"He took my catnip and – " - "For the last time, I did not take your catnip!" - "I left it here on the counter – " - "What am I going to do with it, snort it?"
Ocheeva interrupted, her voice ringing loud above them. "Enough! This is a conversation for another time. You're going to give a bad impression to our newest recruit by acting like animals!"
Only then did they notice Zarissis standing next to her. The Argonian mumbled an apology, while the Khajiit only scowled.
"I don't care who you are or why you're here. Let's get one thing straight - the Tenets prevent me from killing you. But I don't have to like you. I'll sell you equipment, but only because Ocheeva is making me. This family doesn't need any... outsiders." With that, the Khajiit spat on the floor near Zarissis's feet and stormed out, his fur fuzzed out.
After his exit, Ocheeva merely shook her head. "That's M'raaj Dar. Don't worry, he takes a while to warm up to new members. Just don't take anything he says to heart." Placing a hand on Zarissis's back and pushing her forward, Ocheeva turned to the Argonian before her. "Zarissis, this is my brother, Teinaava. Teinaava, this is Zarissis."
The redhead noticed then how similar the two looked. The one difference was that Ocheeva had shades of purple and lavender among her orange and green scales, while Teinaava's scales were harsher oranges and greens.
"I'm really sorry you had to see that," he apologized, taking Zarissis's hand in his. Rather than the warmth she was used to from the human races, his grasp was cool to the touch. "I welcome you to our family, and this Sanctuary. May you find yourself at home here, in the loving embrace of our Lady the Night Mother."
Zarissis made a mental note to read more and become more educated about the Night Mother and Sithis. Although she knew some, the two figures seemed very dear to everyone within the Sanctuary, and if she was going to fit in she needed to be more knowledgeable.
Ocheeva turned back to Zarissis. "There's one last place I need to take you and then you're free to go. Oh, and I almost forgot – your new Dark Family offers a gift. A unique set of armor, lighter than normal leather and black as the Void. You will find it within your personal chest."
Zarissis nodded in response and the Argonian led her back into the main room and toward the back, near the entrance of a hallway that looked suspiciously like a tunnel.
"Down this hall you will meet the last member of our family, Vicente Valtieri. He handles all assignments for new members. Speak to him when you're ready to work." She smiled and hugged Zarissis before walking off in the direction of the training room.
Zarissis's mind erupted into chaos. Vicente? That was the name of her hero! But it couldn't be…could it? Surely he wasn't an assassin? Surely she wouldn't find him here?
For more than the first time that day, she was filled with a dread, but this time not relating to terror. Instead, anxiety flooded her stomach. What if he wasn't her hero? What if he was? What would she do, what could she ever say?
Taking a deep breath, she began the descent, following the hall as it gradually went downhill, until she rounded a corner. An ancient wood door stood before her, a knocker on the outside. Zarissis tried to calm her raging nerves, taking a deep breath, before knocking twice.
From inside the chamber, an unmistakable High Rock accent echoed back. "Come in!"
She turned the knob and slowly swung the door open, stepping into the chamber. A man sat at a table in the center of the room, a book spread out before them. He looked up as Zarissis entered.
A pin would have been heard rolling over the stone floor for how quiet the room became. A contest could almost have been held for who looked the most shocked.
Zarissis was faced with a person unlike any she had ever seen. His eyes were a bright, crimson red and the skin on his face was stretched tightly over his bones, leaving his expression very gaunt. Prominently, however, Zarissis noticed the two fangs that extended from his mouth, which was presently open in an awed gaze of surprise.
She had only ever read about vampires, and her mind could hardly grasp it, yet she was certain that the creature before her was a vampire.
After a long pause, the vampire's mouth turned into a wide smile. "Well now, of all things I expected, I never would have guessed seeing my little songbird before me! And as an assassin, no less. I don't think I've been this excited in years!" He stood up quickly, which made Zarissis whimper and jump back. He was easily nearly two heads taller than her, which didn't help her position at all.
She never thought she'd be faced with an actual vampire in the flesh. Her mother said they didn't exist, but she always had a hunch they did. The idea of an immortal, elusive creature like a vampire was charming to her, however actually being faced with one was a different story. And he wasn't just a vampire, he was her hero, the man she'd daydreamed about after saving her.
Immediately realizing his mistake in moving so fast, the vampire raised his hands slowly in a non-offensive position. "Please do not let my appearance...unnerve you. The needs and Tenets of the Dark Brotherhood come before my own needs as a vampire." He paused, and after seeing that Zarissis remained unmoving, sighed deeply. "Please don't be alarmed, little lark. I will not hurt you." Very carefully, he bent down so he was shorter than the girl before him, and reached out a gentle hand.
Zarissis eyed the gesture for a moment before allowing her hand to slip into his. His hand was slightly cool, but not uncomfortably so. He did not say a word for a moment, simply gazing at her and running his fingers over the top of her hand in a soft, comforting manner. Finally, he grasped her hand in both of his. "Let's start over, shall we? I am Vicente Valtieri, and you are Zarissis?"
The redhead relaxed a bit and nodded, her curiosity taking over. As a vampire, that would certainly explain how he managed to easily break the neck of the man who assaulted her. "Why did you save me?"
Vicente blinked. "Why not? Am I supposed to be a monster, devoid of human compassion?" He sighed, shaking his head. "There are many of my kind who are beasts, but I have worked to overcome that nature. I value what is left of my humanity."
He seemed to speak the truth; after all, he had shown an incredible civilized attitude toward Zarissis the whole time. In fact, now that her fear was mostly wearing off, Zarissis was incredibly curious about the man. "Is it true vampires have advanced hearing?"
Vicente smiled, as though amused by the girl's sudden curiosity. "Quite true."
Zarissis bit her lip, excitement finally rising within her as she fully realized that she had met an actual vampire and lived to tell about it! She couldn't help it; she wanted to know absolutely everything about his nature. "And what all can you hear?"
Vicente's eyes settled on her mouth as she sucked her lip in, lingering for a moment before returning to her eyes. "Occasionally I can hear laughter from the main hall, where Telaendril seems to be teasing Gogron. Anytime Antoinetta squeals, as well. Luckily, my bedchamber is out of the way of most noise, so I can sleep in peace." He gazed at Zarissis in a thoughtful manner. "I can also hear the exact rhythm of your heartbeat." He turned over her hand and tapped her pulse into the center of her palm with a finger.
Had she not been calming down, Zarissis may have found herself a little uneasy with Vicente's demonstration. Instead, she was filled with awe. Without thinking, her question fell from her lips. "Could I be a vampire?"
Not for the first time that day, there was a deep silence between them. Vicente merely tipped his head to the side and looked at her in an odd, calculating manner. Finally after many moments, he spoke again. "Perhaps if you prove yourself worthy to the Dark Brotherhood and to me I will choose to pass along my Dark Gift to you."
Her heart exploded in an orchestra of irregular beating, a reaction she was now painfully aware of. "Really?"
Vicente became more serious, gazing at her with an expression Zarissis could not read. "I do not make idle promises, dearest Sister. Anyhow, now that we are officially reacquainted, perhaps we should talk about contracts and celebrate your entrance into the Dark Brotherhood, hmm?" The vampire stood up again, reminding Zarissis of how painfully short she was, and stepped over to a cupboard near the table. "Tell me, are you partial to wine?"
Zarissis blinked. "I can't say I've ever actually had wine…" She had been offered it, of course, but always by Tristeran who likely had hoped to get her drunk, and even then it was the cheapest stuff you could buy. Living in Leyawiin didn't exactly promise good alcohol unless you were a nobleman or from a rich family.
"Ahhh," Vicente hummed, carefully picking through the bottles in the cupboard and selecting one. "Then I know exactly what we shall drink."
He pulled out two goblets and put them down at the table, ushering Zarissis to sit down before popping the cork on the bottle. "Surilie Brothers Vintage 382; the older, the sweeter. I've hoarded this bottle for many years and have never had a good excuse to drink it until now." He smiled brilliantly at the redhead before pouring the wine and taking a seat across from her. He took a drink from his own goblet before turning his attention to her.
Zarissis hesitantly reached forward and lifted the goblet, pressing it to her lips. The thick liquid trickled onto her tongue, tasting heavy and far more sugary than she was expecting. Swallowing, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "That's really quite sweet." She lifted the goblet to her mouth again, taking another drink with a little more greed.
"I always have had a sweet tooth, I'm afraid. Although," he replied, grinning, "It seems so do you."
"Oh…" Zarissis looked down to see her chalice nearly empty. As she did, she felt her cheeks begin to grow quite warm, the heat spreading down her neck and chest. She wasn't embarrassed or upset, so she supposed it was the effects of the wine, which was beginning to make her head tingle a bit.
Feeling considerably more relaxed, Zarissis finished off the wine left in her goblet before changing the subject. "So…what exactly is a contract?"
Vicente launched into his explanation of contracts within the Dark Brotherhood and the rewards and bonuses for them, as well as how assassins were expected to carry out their orders. All the meanwhile, Zarissis merely nodded and continued to aggressively drink her wine, goblet after goblet, while Vicente filled it up each time it was empty.
She didn't really hear too much of what he told her; mostly her eyes were focused on the sharp angles of his cheekbones and the way his fangs bore on the soft vowels of his language. She was aware that he knew she was watching him; although he said nothing of it. Instead he indulged all of her questions and spoke of a time very long ago when he was a young boy in High Rock.
In turn she told him of her life, from the aggressive anger of her mother to her unconventional birth. There were times she found herself gasping for breath through her stories, her voice rambling at a nearly unnatural speed. Vicente didn't seem to notice, though. He merely rested his head on a hand and watched her carefully.
More than once she asked for more wine and he'd fill it graciously, a small apology slipping from his lips each time as though he bore her newly acquired bad habit as his own. As the night wore on, he covered her hand with his and delicately removed the glass from her fingers.
"I think that's quite enough."
He murmured this with a grin and she felt herself drawn to him not for the first time. He's a vampire, she reminded herself, but each time her thoughts slipped away into the abyss of her drunken mind. At last she found herself out of topics, and Vicente had long gone quiet. The vampire reclined in his chair and gazed at the door, although his eyes were occasionally drawn back to her.
At some point she felt her eyelids slipping closed and then the light pressure of being lifted from her seat. The last thing she could recall was the dim glow of red eyes as he pulled the sheets up to her chin, resting a cool hand on her forehead.