Silvanus prowled the streets of Morthal, holding only his ebony dagger. He'd thrown his torch onto the inn, and it had been his idea to start the fire. A contract had asked for all of Morthal dead, so Astrid had sent four of them. Him, Veezara, Scarlett, and Babette. Originally, Astrid was only going to send him and Veezara, but he'd suggested that Babette and Scarlett come along. Babette, because he wanted some help draining victims, and Scarlett? Out of interest. To see if the little girl was all she was cracked up to be, or if she was just in the Brotherhood because Astrid was her mother... but no. They were originally going to split up, and meet again to kill of any survivors of the four fires they had started, but, out of interest, he'd followed Scarlett. It had almost disturbed him. She'd poured oil all over each of the houses she'd been allocated, and had sprinted along the street with her torch held high. As people ran out from the houses, she'd stabbed them through the neck, and oh the blood! Silvanus had had difficulty stopping himself falling his knees and lapping up the crimson liquid like a dog... He'd done his own allocation first though: the inn, where half a dozen legionnares were staying. He'd cast a frenzy spell (the old wizard Festus had grudgingly taught him it for the occasion) and watched them kill each other and trembling civilians with satisfaction, slaughtering the victors cruelly. Silvanus had drank so much blood that he felt like he might explode... But still, as he, Veezara, Babette, and Scarlett walked through the blood stained streets, he'd felt a hunger for more.
Fire burning like hell itself around them, he smiled viciously at the others. All three of them grinned back, even Scarlett who had been nothing but cold and distant towards him. He'd quickly found friends in Veezara, Nazir, and Babette. He wasn't exactly sure what he thought of Scarlett: more of a curiosity, a novelty, than anything else. Festus and Gabriella were distinctly cool towards him, and he and Arnbjorn had outright war constantly. As for Astrid... well, he could call it an obsession, he supposed. That was probably why Arnbjorn didn't like him. Because Silvanus spent every waking moment he could in Astrid's company.
In the three weeks he'd been in the sanctuary, he'd only had contracts from Nazir. That was why he was enjoying the Falkreath contract so much. It was his first real contract from Astrid.
He'd ripped throats open with gusto, spilled innards, stabbed backs, and twisted necks until they snapped. He'd revelled in the hellish night, and it had been the most fun he had had in all of his miserable life.
Silvanus had forgotten about Othrelos. He'd forgotten about finding out who the person who wanted him dead was. He'd almost forgotten his own name.
Pollux. That was his name: that was the dark label he would live under for the rest of his life. Pollux the Merciless. Pollux the Cruel. Pollux the Dark Brother. Pollux the Assassin. It was like Pollux was a whole new person: like he was a whole new person. He didn't mind lying to the other Brotherhood members, because he didn't have any need or caring for honesty, and did not understand truth and lies. He'd never, personally, been told the truth; at least when he was a child. The bitter memories of the past came to him when he killed, and made him more vicious, more animalistic. He was now a predator, a child of the Void. He had no more need for rules, or compassion. He'd never had any room for that in his twisted soul. And now, finally, he could live the life he was born to live. Fulfill his destiny, and become the assassin he was. The assassin that he always had been.
As he walked along the burning street, he sensed something. His vampiric, alert senses were telling him something... there was a life nearby. A life that had to be stifled. His senses had always been rather remarkable. Turning to the left, he saw a burning house. The door, almost charred to a cinder, had hands grabbing at it. Calloused, hard, rough skinned hands. Silvanus turned to the others, and tilted his head towards the door. They saw the hands and stopped. Veezara began to walk forwards, but Scarlett threw her arm out, preventing him from going to end the man's life. She was looking almost challengingly at Silvanus. "It's his first contact," she said to the others. "Why not let him kill the bastard behind that door?" Silvanus looked at her, wondering what she was doing. So far, she'd never doubted his ability as an assassin, never ridiculed him as some of the others had, but had just seemed cool and distant, unwilling to talk to him. Babette's explanation hadn't helped him. Although she was not an obsession, like her mother, Scarlett... interested him. "Yes, let Pollux." Babette smiled. She nodded encouragingly at the Breton. Silvanus rather preferred Scarlett's approach. He hated being patronized.
Silvanus went to the burning door, and, with a charred broom standing next to the door, smashed it hard. It fell off it's weakened hinges, and revealed a terrified looking man. He was shielding his face, whimperng, waiting for death's arms to take him. But it was not death's arms that took him. It was death's dagger.
The Breton sank his dagger into the man's face. Hearing his screams, he laughed wildly, the feeling of euphoria not gone. He yanked the dagger out, along with a spurt of blood, and stabbed the man again, in the chest. Pushing it into his body all the way to the hilt, he pulled it out again, and kicked the corpse away, leaving the burning building just as the roof caved in, leaving a sea of flames behind. He ran to join the others. They could hear shouting, and turning around, saw torches and horses coming down the road towards the burning town. "Shit! It's a fucking legion!" Veezara's voice cried out. Silvanus just heard him over the crackling flames, and, turning to the others, saw them sprinting away. Veezara, being the most nimble of the three, was at the front, Scarlett on his heels. Babette was lagging slightly.
The fair haired girl turned around and saw Silvanus standing in the town, dumbstruck, staring at the legion it utmost awe. Practically 300 soldiers, riding towards them; like thunder in their ears. "Run, you fool!" she screeched, bringing Silvanus out of his stupor. She waved her hand at him, and he ran, ran fast as she did. Sprinting side by side, they ran after Babette and Veezara's retreating backs. Silvanus felt something airborne fly over his shoulder. "By Sithis, they've seen us!" he heard Scarlett cry, as the two began to run into the woods. He didn't know his way, she knew that... But she was gesturing at him furiously, and then screamed, "Look out!" he forward rolled behind a tree, and watched as an arrow missed him by inches. Scarlett was pressed close against his side, breathing hard. He watched as two legion soldiers ran past them, swearing furiously.
Scarlett punched him softly in the stomach, making him breath more quietly. He held his breath, and, looking towards her, saw she was holding hers too. Then, she whispered in his ear,
"Follow me, quickly. Sneak. I know a quicker way to get back."
He nodded, knowing further dialogue would only increase their obviousness. She nodded and smiled at him. A properly warm smile. Not predatorial at all. Then, she began to crawl forwards, and he followed her. Silvanus could hear shouting, and prayed to Sithis that those legion bastards wouldn't find them. He so wanted to sink his teeth into their necks, to stab them until their guts rolled out onto the floor, rip them apart limb from limb, feed on their still warm flesh... But he could imagine that later. He knew that he had to live in the moment, and he could not be captured. He would NOT die at the hands of the Imperials...
Soon, the sounds of horses and Imperials died away, leaving only Scarlett and Silvanus in the open woods. They'd been crawling and sneaking and forward rolling for about an hour, and the only trouble they'd come across, Silvanus had ended quickly by stabbing the soldier in the question in the ankle, then, when he fell, stabbed him in the back. Scarlett had grinned nastily.
Finally, they got up, and began to walk normally, but at speed, constantly nervously looking over their shoulders. Scarlett had reassured him she had a plan, that Astrid had told her this might happen, and guaranteed them a way up. However, Silvanus wasn't sure she was just bluffing. "Where is the way out?"
"I told you. A few minutes. Mother said so. Few miles at most, down this road. We've got a cart. Veezara and Babette will be there already, but we've got a while. The cart won't leave without us." Her words were simple and blunt, but not unfriendly. They walked along in very awkward silence. Silvanus felt a little impatient, and a little annoyed at her lack of explanation. She'd mentioned a cart, but what the hell was that supposed to mean? "Okay but..." "Shh. We'll talk later. I don't think we're out of this... it was too easy." Silvanus was annoyed by that. What did she mean "too easy"? They'd only sneaked through a bloody forest for an hour in the night with around 300 soldiers on their tail... Not the easiest thing. "I don't see any legionnares. We've been out of the forest for miles. It's just clear land."
"Trust me. I know this sort of job well. There's always a second thing. But for what it's worth... Thanks for coming with me, Pollux." "You're welcome."
Eventually, after more awkward silence, they saw a blot on the horizon. Scarlett looked at him, to make sure he'd seen the distant cart too, and began to run. As they got a bit closer, they made out three figures: one short, one tall, and one around medium height. "Hey!" Scarlett yelled. The figures turned around, and the shortest one gasped and ran towards them. Babette. As the vampire reached them, she embraced Scarlett, and turned to Silvanus. He could see tear tracks on her pale face. "We thought you were dead! After the legion and all that... By Sithis, I knew that Astrid warned us a legion might come, but that was practically an army! Thank the Gods she arranged this cart out of here, or we'd have to walk back to Falkreath!" she looked critically at the both of them. "You both look a mess. When you get back to the sanctuary, then you'd better clean yourselves on... But come on. Our driver is just a thieves guild bloke Astrid hired to do the job. He won't wait." So the three of them walked over to Veezara and the driver. Veezara grinned at them. "Brother and sister! How are you? Must say, I'm a little surprised to see you get out of there. Good to see you." "Are you done with the cozy catch up, or do I have to leave you behind?" the cart driver was hot and bothered. He blew up his greasy brown fringe irritably. Veezara retorted angrily, and the driver just smirked. Silvanus shot him a nasty look, and that seemed to quell him more than Veezara's threats. They got onto the cart.