Nero lit a magical ball of light and threw it up above him and Serana, an they began descending into the cold dark tunnels of the Ratway. He recalled exploring these caves the last time, years ago. Back when no one knew him. Back when Alduin threatened the land, and he was only Nero the Dragonborn. Now, though, he walked through those caves as a Dragonborn, but also a harbinger, archmage, vampire hunter, as well as warrior, hero, husband. And one day, father.

That thought was odd to consider as he passed through. It was becoming real. As well as what had already. He now went through with his wife, a several thousand year old vampire nord woman he'd awakened in an ancient cave. Life of an adventurer, he eventually disclosed. It made him wonder, though, what would be different down here. What will still be there when I enter that room again? What won't be?

Nero was so enveloped in his thoughts that he nearly didn't hear Serana speak.

"You know, for a city udnderneath a city and cut off from its natural source of light, you'd think they'd install enough torches."

"I guess the only lights are where people are staying down here" said Nero.

"How the hell does the Guild navigate this place?"

"They don't. At least I don't think they do. They have some sort of secret room or entrance to their part of the Ratway. Otherwise these caves would be a lot more lit."

He turned to her, "not that it's trouble for you though, right?"

Serana's vampirism did grant her an aptitude to seeing in the dark, it was true, but as she'd stated to Nero on two or three occasions in their travels, she'd spent more than her fair share of time in caves.

"No trouble for me, no, anymore than it is for you Mr Werewolf."

Nero sniggered as they continued moving through the tunnels. They went along dark hallways and caverns, even coming to a beam of light from above that shined upon a large iron axe embedded in a tree stump. The couple were happy to see some form of light, before the following tunnels descended back into darkness.

2So you came through here before?" asked Serana.

"Yeah, couple years ago now. Admittedly it was a little more well-lit, but to be fair, it also had more than a few, uh, housekeepers."

Nero and Serana went deeper and deeper, before finally coming to a room with a table upon which rested some chests and very dusty tankards. Serana picked one of them up, and nearly coughed at the dust.

"No one's been here in a while" she deduced.

"I guess the Guild might be making sure they don't have any bad neighbours."

They went through a door near the table, and came into a large room, at the far end of which was what appeared to be a bar at which sat several people. Centrally in the room lay a pond of shallow water, and around it lay the walkway that led towards the bar. Nero and Serana followed it around to a small wooden bridge next to which stood a large man and a sign that read "The Ragged Flaggon."

They began stepping up, until the large man came in front of them.

"Don't know who you are, or where you come from, but you'd best turn your asses around and get out of here."

Nero looked up at the big guy, although only slightly; Nero wasn't small.

"Dirge, right?"

The guy looked oddly at him, "what's it to you?"

"I was wondering if could speak to Brynjolf?"

"I'm not gonna tell you again, shit-for-brains, turn your ass and your pretty little lady's ass right around and get-"

Serana lost her patience, "Let us through, you mindless ugly milk drinker."

Dirge turned on Serana, "or what? What's a sweet little thing like you gonna do to a big guy like me?"

"Call me sweet little thing again and you'll find out."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Let me say that again. What's a sweet little whore like you gonna-AGH!"

Serana took his arm and threw him right over her and onto the floor, hitting it so hard that something must have broken. She then threw a foot straught onto his chest, and stood hard on it.

"Who's the little thing now?" she asked.

Dirge tried getting up, but Serana's hold on him was too strong, and when he struggled, she putmore force on him. They were interrupted though by a very certain voice.

"It's alright, Dirge, they're welcome here."

Serana and Nero turned back to see a man with red hair standing nearby, before Serana released her grip on the big brute, who scrambled to get up. When he stood, he looked straight at Serana, face red with anger and shame at the same time. He began to advance, but Nero stood i his way.

"Really wanna piss me off too?" he threatened.

"Dirge" said the red headed man again.

Dirge turned to him, holding his stomach, before walking over and leaning on the side.

Nero turned to the red headed man.

"It's been a long time, lad. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

Nero smiled and walked up to him, "thanks for the save, Brynjolf, who knows what my wife would've done to him."

Dirge was eyeing them the entire time, clearly trying to swallow his anger. Serana walked past him, but never lost her caution.

Nero shook Brynjolf's hand, before Brynjolf turned to see Serana, "and did I hear right, your wife?"

Serana smiled, "Serana, pleasure to meet you."

"Indeed it is, lass" replied Bryn as he took Serana's hand and kissed it, "it's true what they say about the Dragonborn's wife."

He released before addressing both of them, "well come on with me, let's go get a drink."

Nero looked at Serana before they both followed him to the bar of the Ragged Flaggon.

Nero and Serana followed Brynjolf to the bar, where the barkeep was absently cleaning a tankard.

"Three ales, Vekel, if you will."

"Two" corrected Serana.

"One, I'm afraid, Brynjolf," said Nero, "this isn't a friendly visit."

"Oh, and here I thought you came to your senses. Offer still stands, you know."

"I appreciate it, but I'm good. Thievery just isn't my game."

"Shame, lad. You have talent."

"Well, I'm also pretty good at dragon slaying, but I don't wake up for it every morning... anymore."

"Well as I say, it's always on the tbale should you change your mind" said Brynjolf before taking his ale and tossing the barkeep Vekel a few coins.

"So," he said taking a sip, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Serana stepped in, "we were wondering if you could help us."

"With what? Stealing something? A heist? I doubt you of all people need my help if it's someone bothering you."

"There's someone we need to find. Someone who's most likely here in this hold" explained Nero.

"Find someone? We do have some eyes here and there, but I can't offer these services for free, even for past job offer holders."

Nero took out a pouch that he showed Brynjolf, "I know, Brynjolf."

"Right, well now that's settled, who is it?"

"Uh... we don't know" admitted Nero.

Brynjolf was silent for a moment.

"Okay. Where are they?"

"We... don't know that either."

Nero looked dumbly, "I realise that's not much to go on."

"That's nothing to go on, lad" corrected Brynjolf.

"We know what he looks like, at least. That has to help, right?" said Serana, saving the dying case Nero was making.

Brynjolf scratched the side of his beard, "I can put details of a description out, sure, but that may cost a little extra. I'll need more than just a hair colour, too."

"We do have a physical description" said Nero, taking out a piece of parchment upon which Asmund had sketched the man he meant. He'd done it the night that the stayed at Valtheim Towers, and given it to Nero when they rode to Riften the next day.

"Breton, grey-brown hair, sunken eyes..." Nero said as he placed the sketch on the bar in front of them.

Brynjolf looked at it, about to take a sip of his ale, but then stopped. He picked the drawing up, and scanned it with his eyes. He eyed it for several moments.

Nero and Serana looked at each other in the momentary silence.

"Do you... know him?" asked Nero.

Brynjolf then put the ale down and looked at them, "where, oh where, did you get this?"

"So you do know him?" asked Nero.

"Aye, I know him, now how do you-"

"Who is it, Brynjolf?" asked Nero.

"How... there shouldn't be a sketch of this man anywhere. Where did you get it?"

"It's a long story, Brynjolf. Just tell me, who is he?" asked Nero.

"He's... he's my boss, lad. If I'm not mistaken, that's the spitting image of Mercer Frey."

"You what now?" another voice chimed in.

Behind Nero and Serana, a bald thief ho'd been sitting alone at a table then got up and walked over.

"What'd you say now, Bryn?" he asked.

"Take a look for yourself, Delvin, tell me that ain't the look of him."

Delvin took the parchment from Brynjolf and took a look.

"Now 'old on a minute, where'd you get this?" asked Delvin.

"This man, he threatened the orphans at Honorhall, and forced one of them to steal from me" said Nero.

"Mercer wouldn't do that," defended Delvin, "he might be a little cold a'times but he wouldn't fretten little ones."

"Well then why don't I go ask him?" said Nero.

Anger flared up in Delvin, "listen here, you codger. You might be some big shot hero up there, but you don't know Mercer, and you've come down here throwing accusations based on a child's drawing."

"If this 'Mercer' is the man on this parchment, then I'm going to have a word with him."

"You can't jus' come down 'ere finkin' you're all that and 'ave the audacity to-"

"He's right, Delvin" said Brynjolf.

Delvin turned to him, "you what?"

"What other reason could they have to be here if they weren't telling the truth? And isn't it at least worth an enquiry? Mercer shouldn't have a picture of him anywhere. Wat other reason could bring them here?"

Suddenly, the silver haired woman leaning on a wall nearby came over, "just because you can't think of another reason doesn't mean they don't have one."

She stood next to Brynjolf, facing them.

"And what reason do we have to trust them?" she added.

"Vex, I nearly recruited this man a couple years ago-"

"You NEARLY did, but you didn't, which tells me he has something against thieves. What's more, he's here because some kid stole from him. It's all buildig up to say he has some kind of vendetta agains thievery. Remind me, why do you trust him? He's not one of us, and may have another agenda entirely. And I don't even know who she is, anymore than you or Delvin do. How do you know she's not dangerous?"

"Call me 'she' again, and you'll find out" threatened Serana.

Vex whirled on her, "she also doesn't know who she's talking to."

Serana bared her fangs.

"Vex, enough" said Brynjolf.

Serana and Vex continued to eye each other.

"Vex 'as a point, Bryn. You don't know that they're not 'ere to cause trouble."

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Vex, Brynjolf" said Vekel.

"I don't trust them and I want them out!" said Dirge, still holding his broken nose.

"Get them out of here, Dirge" said Vex.

Nero had had enough. He stepped forward and spoke loudly.

"I am here to get to the bottom of whoever threatened kids, ORPHAN KIDS. It has been years since I last stepped in this room. If I ever wanted to harm the Guild, do you think I'd wait until now? You don't trust me, fine, that's your problem. But I am getting to the bottom of this, whether you trust me or not. Are you going to help me? Or are you gonna do the stiupid thing and stand in my way?"

There was silence for a moment.

"Alright" said Brynjolf.

"But Bryn-"

"Don't, Delvin."

"Alright, Bryn, you go ahead an' ask 'im. But I'm not with ya."

"Me neither" said Vex, still eyeing Serana, who was returning the glare.

"Fine, you stay here. If they are here to cause trouble, it'll be on my head. You two, come with me" said Brynjolf, and Nero and Serana followed.

"Woah woah, you can't just let them in the cistern!" argued Vex.

"Are you gonna try and stop us?" asked Serana, giving Vex the evils. Vex looked very angrily at Serana, and was about to say more, until Brynjolf saw her.

"Vex!"

She looked at him, and then back at Serana.

"Hm. Mercer won't need any help dealing with you, wouldn't take much to floor you anyway" said Vex before sauntering off.

Serana began grinding her teeth.

They then followed Bryjolf around the back to a cupboard, where he pulled out a key and unlocked it, and then opened the false back panel behind the doors, revealing the secret passageway.

"Clever" said Nero as they followed him through to the passageway and around to another door.

He stopped at the door however, "can I trust that you'll never mention this to anyone?" he asked.

Nero and Serana both nodded in unison, and then he opened the door.

They went through the door, down a small corridor and out into a large room, rather like the Ragged Flagon, with a pond of water central beneath them and a surrounding footpath, with the addition of a sross-pathway that met in the middle above the pond.

This room was clearly where the majority of the members of the Guild spent their time, as many thieves were dotted about the room here and there, training, practising, talking or just sitting.

A beam of light came down from a small hole in the centre of the ceiling. Nero wondered at it for a moment, before realising their were most probably beneath the market of Riften, and the beam of light that was slowly fading was coming from the well in the centre of the market-place. Though they were some way down and beneath the surface, that they could barely hear the sound of people above, especially since the day was nearing its end.

"This way" said Bryjolf, leading them across the walk way over the pond, where Nero felt many eyes turn towards him and Serana. Acrss the room was a metal door, and to the left was a desk and chair, where a man sat, leafing through some papers.

As they approached, Nero notied that the ma fitted Asmund's sketch and decription exactly.

"Mercer, I need to have a word with you."

"About what, brynjolf? I hope it's not about another doomed-to-fail grand scheme" said Mercer, never lifting his eyes up.

"No, Mercer. It's slightly more serious than that."

Mercer looked up, and instanly frowned, but didn't react for a moment before finally speaking, "I hope you trust them, Brynjolf, because I'd like to believe I'm right in taking you for a man without shit-for-brains."

"They're alright, Mercer. In fact, they're the reason we need to speak."

Mercer sighed, before putting the papers he was reading down and turning his attention to Brynjolf, "go ahead."

Brynjolf took out the sketch and placed it on the desk in front of Mercer.

Seraa sniffed. She smelt something.

"What is this? You've taken up art, Brynjolf? I'm not buying."

"This isn't a joke, Mercer."

"Are you sure? Because so far, all you've given me is a picture and told me it's very serious."

Nero had had enough for the second time that day. He stepped forward, in front of Brynjolf, and faced Mercer.

"Mercer, right?"

He got the man's attention.

"I've had a long day. I've been on a long ride, dealt with a lot of annoying people who all thought they had what it took to get in my way. I have a teenage friend upstairs who's currently safe with my Housecarls, just because he and his friends have been threatened by this man," Nero put a hard finger on the desk pointing to the picture, "and he's waiting for me to go and tell him that the same man won't hurt anybody again."

"He told me that the man who threatened his friends, namely, the children at Honorhall Orphanage... he looks just like this. Now you might not be the smartest thief out there, and may have, how did you put it? Oh yeah: shit-for-brains. But I'm sure even you can put two and two together. So, unless there just happens to be another man with this very detailed description, I would start talking. Now."

Brynjolf put a hand on Nero, "lad. I let you in here out of courtesy. I wouldn't go around threatening and insulting my work colleagues."

"It's alright, Brynjolf" said Mercer, standing up.

"I think Mr Dragons-bane here uderstands the gravity of his situation. If not... he sure as hell should."

Nero looked around, and saw the Thieves around the room approaching, weapons being drawn or arros nocked and aimed at him, ready to release if he did anything.

Serana got behind Nero, facing them. She got her hands ready to summon magic. That was when she smelt something again, and tried to find where it was coming from. It was something else, something oddly... familiar.

"Answer me now, Mercer. Did you force Asmund?"

Mercer looked into Nero's eyes, about to answer. When suddenly,

"NERO!" Serana called, and was pulled aside just in time as a black and red dagger sailed through the air, past Nero's face and Mercer's, and into the wall behind them.

They were all stunned, and looked around, searching for the attacker. That's when more began coming, but not just at them, at the Thieves around them; some were impaled with them, and called out in pain falling to the ground. Nero followed the trail of the daggers, and saw, at the far end of the room: a figure, clad in black and darkness, with glowing red eyes that stared straight at him.

"What the hell?" asked Nero.

The figure suddenly brandished daggers in each hand, and began wlaking forward. That was when the other shadows began coming out behind him. They swarmed in, and ran at the thieves with weapons held at the ready to attack.

Nero usheathed his swords, and Serana summoned magic. Brynjold and Mercer unsheathed too.

"What the hell are those things?" asked Brynjolf in shock.

"Don't know, but they don't seem too friedly" answered Nero.

"Why now?! Of all times?!" said Mercer.

Brynjolf turned to him, "what? What are you talking about?"

Merce looked at Brynjolf for a moment, before turing and running for a ladder that led up.

"Mercer?!" called Bryjolf as Mercer fleed.

"Son of a bitch!" said Nero, but didn't have time to say more as a shadow ran at him with a short sword raised to cut him in half. Nero raised one sword and blocked, before cuttig across the chest of the shadow with the other, sending them down to the floor.

Brynjolf took on one from the surrounding walkway, whilst Nero and Serana stuck together, fighting in unison; Nero with his blades ad Serana with her magic. They eventually made their way onto the main cross-pathway, with Brynjolf and the few surviving thieves, forming a circle as the shadows surrounded them and came at them from all sides. Nero tried to cut down another shadow, but they were moving so fast, and possessed great strength.

"What the hell are these things?!" asked one of the last thieves.

Nero headbutted a shadow and sent it falling into the pond; it crashed into the floor with a splash. There was no time to celebrate that victory though, as suddenly Nero felt a hard pain in his shoulder. Looking down, he saw what could only be a daedric dagger embedded in his dragonbone shoulder place. It had gotten through quite some way and cut him.

Nero followed where it had come from, and saw one of the shadows standing at the bottom of the cross-pathway. Red eyes shone brightly and stared into Nero and held black daggers that it slowly raised, walking forward.

Nero grunted as he pulled the dagger out, and threw it to the ground. The figure approached, and Nero began walking, raising his own blades, and in an instant, the two forces collided. The shadow threw a swarm of attacks at Nero, many of which he blocked, and some here and there cut across his armour with an unnatural strength and swiftness.

Nero kept up with the dance of sword and dagger, trying to find an opening, anything to get in a cut. Eventually, their blades collided in the air. The shadow though, took away one dagger and put strength behind the other to hold Nero's swords. Nero didn't have time to block or even react as the shadow threw the free dagger into his side between his armour. He felt it drain him, his health, his strength, and with time the dagger as becoming more painful. He had to drop one sword to allow his left hand to grab the dagger, and try to work against the shadow, whilst their blades were still wrestling in the air above them.

Nero was struggling, and the shadow was gaining an advantage. Within a few seconds, he'd be on Nero, with a dagger free to cut his head off. Fortunately it took less time for the answer to come to Nero's head. He use his head. The strength of his headbutt and hardness of his helmet smashed into the face of the shadow, and Nero felt and heard it break something.

The shadow doubled back, leaving one of his daggers in Nero's side; now he had only one, and with his free hand, felt his face. He ripped off the face mask leaving only a hood. He was still not clear though. But he was angry. That much Nero could tell. But then again, so was Nero.

He grabbed the dagger embedded in his side, and tried to remove it but it was quite lodged in. The shadow was getting up though, and gaining balance. He would come at Nero again if he had it. Nero forgot the dagger, picked up his other sword, and went on the offensive. The shadow saw him coming, though, and got up to begin dodging all of his strikes. Nero swung here and there, but the shadow dodged, ducked, dipped, dove and dodged all, until Nero threw one down from above, and dragonbone collided again with the shadow's daedric dagger, but before Nero could send a second attack, the shadow grabbed the dagger embedded in Nero's side with the other hand and yanked it out. Nero staggered as a small puddle of blood poured out, and nearly went off balance. He reacted fast enough though to swing is sword not with strength but with speed, and cut across the shadow's stomach which he knew as he heard the cry of pain that came with it.

The shadow backed away, dropping a dagger to hold the wound. He then looked up at Nero with shining red eyes of fury, and with his free hand he reached up, grabbed his hood, and pulled it off, revealing the face of a bearded dark elf with light blue skin and copper hair that was tied back. He suddenly threw is foot down on the blade of the dagger and it flew up to is hand which was swiftly there to catch it. Then, with the same swiftness that Nero only barely reacted to, he threw the two daggers at Nero, who deflected one but took the other under his shoulder plate and just next to his collarbone. He didn't have time to even grunt in pain as the dunmer leaped at him, kicking him to the floor and landing on top of him.

The dunmer pulled Nero's helmet off, and smashed Nero across the side of the face with it before throwing it away. He then revealed his teeth. Wait, not teeth. Fangs. Fangs that he threw at Nero's neck, but were stopped by an inch as Nero grabbed him ad put all his strength and effort into pushing him away. The dunmer reacted by grabbing the dagger lodged next to Nero's collarbone and twisting it.

"Agh!" Nero cried in pain, but the dunmer continued to twist. The pain was growing, but also changing, from pain to anger, and with fury, Nero took a deep breath.

"FUS RO DAH!"

The shout shot the dunmer straught off of Nero and into the ceiling with a smash, before he fell down. Aside from the Tundering Thu'um, Nero heard the gasps and shocks of the thieves and shadows in the room, and those of the people above in the marketplace; the shout seemed to have continued up the hole in the wall and ut through the well.

The Dunmer crashed to the ground, in the light from above, and screamed;. He tried his best to move, and threw himself out of the evening light and into the water below, before scrambling to get to his feet as Nero did. In the light though, Nero saw that he was not entirely clad in black, but black and red, and central on his leather armour was a hand carved into the red.

No, thought Nero. It... it can't be...

Everyone looked about, ready to continue fighting, when they heard another noise. The noise of cracking. Nero, Serana, Brynjolf, the dunmer, and the rest of the thieves and shadows looked up to see cracks appearing in the ceiling. Then small rock, stones, and pieces of rubble began falling from the ceiling, and the rubble was increasing in size.

"Oh shit" said Nero.

Everyone looked around, and began dispersing, dodging the falling debris.

"It's gonna cave in!" yelled Serana.

"Everyone! Get out, NOW!" commanded Nero.

The dunmer looked up and around, and then back at Nero as their sights met for a single moment, before the dunmer turned to his main priority; he made for the door that Mercer had taken, along with the other shadows. The thieves still stood in a circle on the cross-pathway, but turned to make for the same way out, when pieces of debris began to make a wall that prevented them from doing so.

Nero searched for a way out, realising the only way was the way tehy'd came.

"This way!" he called, leading them back to the Ragged Flagon as the ceiling slowly filled up the room with rubble. Nero opened the door, and held it as everyone went through, Serana was last and grabbed him as they went through to escape crushing death.

Dust followed them as they all staggered through to the Ragged Flagon. They all either fell or collapsed into seats or to the ground. Nero was walking but began collapsing as his vision began to blur and his balance go off. When memory came back to him, he put a hand on his side to stop the bleeding from the dagger wound in his side. Serana helped him through, trying to support him.

She noticed all the wounds, "oh Gods" she said in exasperated awe at how Nero had gotten cut up so bad.

Serana slowly lead him to a table.

"Is everyone okay?" asked Brynjolf.

"Not much longer, they're not" said Vex as she walked over.

Serana didn't react fast enough as hands grabbed her and threw her to the floor, "agh!"

The same hands then grabbed Nero, turned him around and forced him onto the bar, where she brandished a blade that she held at the ready to end Nero with.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted! Who do you work for?! Who did this?!" she demanded.

Nero struggled to speak in the pain, "this... wasn't... me.."

Vex then felt hands grab her, but these hands threw her across the room, into a table some way away. She crashed into it, sending pieces of wood flying. Serana stood in front of Nero, "touch him or me again, and it'll be the last time you have hands!" she threatened.

Vex got straight up and began heading straight back, and Serana got ready for ay attack she would make., but Brynjolf came between them.

"Vex! Calm down! It wasn't them!"

"Get outta my way, Brynjolf, you look battered up enough already because of them two!" Vex demanded, attempting to push past Brynjolf, but he did his best to stop her.

"I was there, Vex! I saw it! They're not to blame! Those... things that came in here, they tried to kill them as well as us! They couldn't be on the same side if they were trying to kill each other!"

"Come on, Brynjolf, what are the chances that the same day, no, the same TIME that they show up, this happens?"

"I don't know, but what I do know is that those two cut down just as many of those things as we did. If they were working together, it wouldn't make any logical sense."

Brynolf's reasoning was beginning to sway Vex, but she wasn't losing any hatred she had of Serana and Nero.

"Just put it away until we figure out what happened here" Brynjolf urged.

She stood there, her hatred and rage rolling over her, before she finally took a long, deep breath and ut away her dagger, "fine. We play it your way for now. But the moment, they're guilty, the pleasure of execution is mine."

Brynjolf sighed in relief when she'd finished and went to sit down.

"Alright, now let's none of us lose our head here."

Serana made sure Vex was well away before she turned back to Neor and looked over him.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He looked up at her, face bloody and battered, and smiled, "oh yeah, never better."

"Gods, Nero, how did he cut you up so bad?"

"I know exactly how he did it. And so do you" he said, and Serana raised her eyebrows in shock. They both knew.

"What were those things then, Bryn?" asked Delvin. Brynjolf took in a small breath, as if about to speak, but Nero, leaning up off the table, but him off.

"They... agh... were vampires."

A silence went across the room for a moment, before a symohony of confused, shocked, and intrigued questions rang.

"What?"

"You what?"

"Vampires?"

Brynjolf turned to Nero, who leaned on the table as Serana got to work helping him heal his wounds with restoration spells.

"Are you sure, lad?"

"Trust me, I'm a licensed vampire hunter. Spent some time with the dawnguard, I've seen their different types."

"Well, they were clearly the strongest" said Delvin.

"No, they weren't. As much as I'd wished they were back when I was with the Dawnguard. But still, their vampirism is formidable."

"Okay" began Vex, "their strength and speed, for the moment, makes that plausible. But now, into an even more intriguing question: why in all the gods' names were a group of vampires sent here to kill us?" she asked.

"If I had to imagine... agh... probably because someone with a lot of coin put a hit out on you."

"We have enemies here and there, mate, that's true," began Delvin, "but there ain't no one in Skyrim, nah, no one in Tamriel would go to so much trouble."

"Well, once a cintract's been made, they can't not hinour it."

There was silence for a moment.

"Wait, you... you know them?" asked Brynjolf.

"Never wanted anyone to know them again. I... I made sure they were gone... at least I... I thought I did..."

Serana turned to Nero, "who are they?"

"Yeah" agreed Vex.

Everyone in the room turned to him at that one moment.

"They... they... they are the Dark Brotherhood."

Author's Notes:

Bloody hell, this took so long. I'll be honest, the earlier part of this chapter took a real long time to complete. The second part was exciting and enjoyable, and so I had fun. Soz this took so long, I've just come to University, and have been settling in and trying to balance this and my new Uni life.

So, recognise the Shadow Man? With the red eyes? Yeah! And he's just cut Nero up! Nero did give him a run for his own money, but dayum, I guess he wasn't execting to fight a vampire assassin.

Also, for anyone with a keen eye or just as much as a nerd as I am, the Dark Elf Assassin is from a loading screen; he's doing a sort of pose where he's running at something with daedric daggers in both his hands. I tried to find him in game, but he was just a template. So now, I've made him a real character! He's also a vampire, just cos...

Characters:

Brynjolf: Master Thief you meet in the Riften Marketplace, it sort of forcefully begins the uest of joining the Thieves Guild. He's a great guy with a great accent, let's be honest.

Mercer: Asshole Chief of the Thieves. Haha he's Chief Thief, and comes round as kind of a dick in the Thieves Guild questline. I think I've done alright in not divulging from that character. But in the game, he's hiding something, and who knows, that may come to light in this story...

Vex: badass woman thief who don't take no crap from no one!

Delvin: he's basilcy alright mate, proppa guvna (excuse my bad british accent, even though I'm british)

Vekel: ragged flagon barkeep

Dirge: last thing you hear before they put you in the- AGH!

Dragon Language:

FUS RO DAH : Force Balance Push

Thanks for reading, and please drop me a review. If my writing's terrible, I'll try and up my game!