Mum refused to leave me alone until I told her how I acquired a broken nose. I wasn't sure she'd react rationally to the truth, so I said I was jumped on my way back from school. This made her anxious, anxious enough to keep me home for the next few days, which worked out well in my favour as I wanted nothing more than to avoid Lucien Lachance. Sure, he saved my life, but he set a school on fire to do so. I was terrified. Of him, of the Dark Brotherhood, of the things those... freaks were capable of!

By the following Morndas mum decided it was safe for me to return to school and sent me on my way, despite my protests. My nose was still bruised and a little swollen and all morning, classmates would stare and ask me how it happened, I tried to get mum to pick me up early but she said she was working all day and I need to catch up on missed classwork. Urgh.

All day I had been carrying around a sickening, anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach, which intensified as lunch grew nearer. I was planning on spending the hour in the bathrooms away from the Dark Brotherhood, but before I even had the chance to grab my lunch and run, Lucien was waiting at my locker. Without a word, he reached out for my face as soon as I was close enough, surveying the damage. I swatted his hand away, my anxiety and fear turning to frustration.

"Don't touch me!" I barked, but he only smirked in reply. I was close to tears, my hands were trembling, but I tried to stand tall in defence. He watched me for a moment before grabbing my upper arm and dragging me off.

He didn't take me to the bike shed, where I assumed he would. Instead he pulled me into an empty classroom, locking the door behind us.

"What are you doing?!" I stood before him, too scared to move and fighting back the urge to cry, demanding an explanation even though I was in no position to do so. But he obliged me.

"Let it out," his voice was quiet and cold, but his words took me by surprise.

"E-Excuse me...?" I choked, dumbfounded.

"Let it out." He said again, louder, it was as if he were commanding me.

"L-Let what out...?" I was in such a state of confusion.

"Why you've been avoiding me," he took a step towards me, but I countered it with a step back.

"You want to know why I've been avoiding you?" I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing back the tears. "You set that school on fire, Lucien!"

"It would be in your best interest to keep your voice down," he threatened, glaring at me.

"It would be in your best interest, Lucien, to leave me alone!" I yelled, standing strong for only a second before tears started spilling down my cheeks and I broke down. Lucien was on me in an instant, wrapping me up in his arms. Instinctively, I clung to him, sobbing into his chest.

"Let it out," he whispered once more, into my ear.

For the remainder of lunch, Lucien stayed with me in that empty classroom. We didn't speak, we barely even made eye contact. Just sat there in each other's company. I was still scared of him, but for entirely new reasons. I was scared I could grow to like him, really like him. If he was able to reduce me to this state when I felt nothing but hatred for him, how could he toy with me when I had feelings for him?

The next day, I returned to the Dark Brotherhood. Still rattled, I kept to myself, listening but never engaging in conversation. No one seemed to notice my silence, or so I thought. When lunchtime was over, Vicente pulled me aside, making sure the rest of the gang had left before speaking.

"I do hope everything is alright," he kept his guilty eyes on my bruised nose, "You've been awfully quiet."

"I-I'm fine..." he knew I was lying, but didn't press the issue.

"Why don't you come to my house after school," he offered in a whisper. "I need to speak with you."

"I... Mum wants me home straight from school..." I lied again, but it was no use.

"Then I will come home with you," he insisted.

In the end I gave in and Vicente came back to my place, at least I got a ride home out of it. It wasn't until I reached the front door that I realised mum had never met him before and would no doubt pester me with questions, during and after Vicente's visit. I took a deep breath then pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Mum, I'm home!" I called out, expecting her to come running. There was no answer. "Mum?" I called again, but was greeted with silence.

"Perhaps she's not home," Vicente suggested with a chuckle.

"Yea... She's probably still at work." I lead him towards my bedroom, where I dumped my school bag and offered him to do the same. I waited for him to place his bag neatly beside my own then we headed for the kitchen.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, searching the fridge for something to eat.

"No."

"Hm, that's probably for the best, there's nothing in here..." I sighed, then letting the fridge door fall shut, turned to my friend. He stood on the other side of the kitchen counter, awkward and anxious. "What's wrong?" It was unnerving to see Vicente like this. He usually carried himself with confidence and grace, but now he seemed so... Uncomfortable.

"I know what Lucien did..." he whispered, as if Lucien had bugged the house. Actually, that wasn't too unbelievable.

"... What?" I wasn't sure how to answer, what if he didn't know, only that something had happened between Lucien and I and he was trying to get it out of me?

"I know he lit the fire," he spoke louder now, but only slightly. His stance seemed to relax and he held himself in his usual elegance once more, though his breathing was shallow and his face expressing his concern.

"Did he tell you...?" I couldn't take my eyes off him, nor could I move.

"No... But this isn't the first time he's done something like this," Vicente sighed in frustration. "When I first joined the family, Cyrodiil High's branch was controlled by another Speaker. Lucien took over when she was killed fulfilling a contract..."

"E-Excuse me...? Killed?!" I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. All the wind in my lungs seemed to have left me. What had I gotten myself into?

"Let me explain," Vicente continued, but I wasn't sure how he could make me feel any better about this. "Our previous Speaker and Lucien were... together. They would often take on contracts together, dangerous contracts. Well, their relationship eventually began to deteriorate and they would argue over almost everything. One day, after a particularly heavy disagreement, our Speaker took on a contract alone. Lucien followed her... None of us know exactly what happened, but there was a fire, Lucien got away unharmed and our Speaker perished..." he paused, giving me a moment to process what I had just heard. "Next thing we know, Lucien is the new Speaker and he's forbidden us all from ever mentioning her name."

"Do... Do you think he killed her...?" I whispered, terrified to the core.

"No, I don't believe that was his intention, but it is what happened." Vicente kept his gaze on me, his face blank and unreadable. "I think Lucien has grown quite fond of you. Please be careful." Then before I could even react to this information, Vicente's lips curled into a smile. "Now, the reason I asked to speak with you."

"Th-that wasn't it...?" I was shocked at how quickly he was able to switch moods, and to be honest, a little frightened.

"Oh no, you have another contract!" he beamed.

"No! I am not doing another contract! Not after wha-..." he held a long finger to his lips, hushing me.

"This one is easy. You won't end up with anymore bruises..." he chuckled. "Come, let's discuss this in your room."

Reluctantly, I followed him. He sat down on my bed and invited me to join, I obliged. Once he knew I was comfortable... Or at least as comfortable as I could be after everything he had said, he produced an envelope from his pocket. Handing it to me, he began to explain my next contract.

"Enclosed in that envelope are the finer details of your next mission," he clasped his cold hands around my own as I reached for the paper. "We need you to stage an... accident," his smile, although warm and friendly, chilled me.

"Accident?"

"Your target is a boy named Baenlin. Originally from Valenwood, he now resides in the city of Bruma. He is in a relationship with a student at this school, Gromm. Your job is to break them up. Get close to Baenlin, but do so in a way that won't make Gromm suspicious of you, and when you feel the time is right, plant the evidence outline in the letter for Gromm to find. Whether or not you choose to actually sleep with Baenlin, is entirely up to you. Destroy their relationship in the manner specified, and you'll receive a considerable bonus." He was still holding onto my hand with both of his, but his smile had vanished.

"Wait... I have to sleep with him?!" I hadn't even slept with someone I liked! "I'm not doing that! I'm..."

"Not if you don't want to. All you are required to do by the contract is draw his attention away from Gromm, allowing Gromm to believe Baenlin is cheating on him," Vicente released my hand and I recoiled it in an instant.

"Why me?" I asked, sincerely confused, "What makes you think I'm any good at... Seducing people?"

"You seem to have won over Lucien's affection," his quiet voice was almost a sneer.

"I didn't do anything! If he has a thing for me, it's not because I've lead him on!" I shouted, growing frustrated. I didn't want Lucien's affection and I certainly didn't want to break up a couple I didn't even know! But all Vicente did was smirk.

"And what of me?" he queried, shifting closer.

"What do you mean..." my cheeks were growing hot and my heart was racing. What was he doing?

"Nothing at all," he stood up quickly, still smirking. "I think I should be heading off now." I stayed seated, watching, mouth open, as he exited the room. I was too shocked to move. What had just happened?