KaNack rode his steed through the cold and unforgiving lands of Skyrim. He knew that the Dark Brotherhood was the only place left that he could possibly go. The female assassin had told him that he would be welcomed and that her mages could train him in magic. It might not be a class taught by the scholars of Winterhold, but at least his abilities would still improve.

Atronach gave a frightened whinny and came to a stop in front of a large black body of water. It bubbled like a spring, but was dark and murky as sin. The Argonian cautiously guided the mare around it and was faced with a large imposing door that had been built into the side of a rocky hill. He gave the mare a few reassuring pats on her flank, before dismounting and approaching it. The door was black and had a menacing skull carved into it.

KaNack reached forward to knock, but jumped back when a sinister voice suddenly came forth.

"What is the music of life?" it asked in a hushed but threatening tone.

KaNack froze for a moment, but figured that it was a way to keep outsiders from upsetting the residents within. The assassin did give him a password after all.

"Silence, my brother," he answered.

"Welcome home."

The door suddenly creaked, and opened up a crack to allow the Argonian access to the sanctuary. The mage took one last look at Atronach, and then entered the haven.

The first thing KaNack noticed was that there was no one at the door. Who had asked him for the password? The second thing he noticed was the flight of stairs that led down. A golden glow alerted the Argonian that the area was fairly lit, and that actually gave him some relief.

At the end of the stairs he saw a few shelving units filled with old books, ingredients and clothing. Standing by an entrance to another section of the sanctuary, stood the woman that he had encountered in the shack. She was no longer wearing her cowl, and now he could see her face. She appeared to be in her thirties and had a pretty yet no nonsense look to her. Her arms were crossed and she only smiled as KaNack approached.

"I knew eventually you would come around." She looked KaNack up and down, the blood on his clothes only made her smile widen. "Please tell me you killed one of your fellow students before you left."

KaNack gave her an exhausted but aggravated look.

"Don't worry; it will only get easier from here. The Dark Brotherhood embraces those that have a killer drive. Serial killers make the best initiates since they are already experienced in killing."

"Don't call me that," he hissed.

"Still in denial, my dear?" she asked. Her eyes rolled towards the ceiling as she shrugged her shoulders. "You'll come to embrace it soon enough." The assassin then extended a hand to him. "How rude of me, I forgot that I never introduced myself back at the swamp. My name is Astrid, and I am the leader of this sanctuary."

"I'm KaNack," he replied softly.

"Hello, KaNack. Welcome to the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary. You can relax now; you won't find a safer place to call home. Just follow instructions and we should all get along fine."

"Great, I was hoping that people would stop telling me what to do once I came here," the Argonian muttered.

"Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of fun to be had. We just ask that you abide orders merely for your and the family's own safety."Astrid pointed over to a shelf that held a folded pair of red and black clothing. "Over there, consider it a welcoming present from us to you. I am sure it will aid you better than those bloody rags you are wearing now."

The Argonian took the outfit and unfolded it to reveal a black and red shrouded robe with the Black Hand emblem on the front. KaNack could already tell by just holding the garment that it was enchanted. Its blessing was different from the robes that the college had given him, but he couldn't figure out which arcane gift the shroud enhanced.

"Go ahead and slip it on, don't mind me," Astrid snickered as she beamed at the Argonian.

KaNack glared at her and made his way to the stairs to change in privacy.

"Spoil sport!" she called after him.

When the mage had changed into his Dark Brotherhood garb, he suddenly remembered his faithful steed outside. He made his way back to Astrid.

"I came with my horse, is there somewhere safe we can keep her?"

"We just so happen to have a stable hidden in the area. I'll take care of your mare." She pointed towards the mouth of the cavern where she was standing. "You go down and introduce yourself to the rest of the family; they are all just dying to meet you."

KaNack made his way down the stairs and heard the faint rumblings of a waterfall. Suddenly, he found himself in a whole new world. The chamber was huge, a sanctuary built right into the earth. There were passages left and right, Black Hand banners decorated the cave walls, and a large fire burned in the center. That was where the 'family' had gathered.

As KaNack approached the unique assembly of assassins, a low sound began to rumble in his head. He growled, placing a hand to the side of his head. The chanting; every now and then he would hear that damned chanting. It drove him mad, and what made it worse was that it seemed like he was always the only one who could hear it.

The Argonian looked about, as it meant that there was a Word of Power in the area. He spotted a sloped wall nearby, but it was blank, clear or designs or words. KaNack wrote it off as his imagination getting the best of him, and stepped away from the area until the voices finally went away.

"Thank the Eight," he whispered under his breath. He was going to be sure to stay clear of the area. Astrid already thought he was crazy, what would she think if she found out he heard voices in his head as well?

Having gotten past the chanting, the mage once again focused on the crowd before him. There were six people in the group, and either they didn't see him approach or they just didn't care.

He spotted a little girl off to the side, and she was regaling a tale to the others that made KaNack's very skin crawl. One by one, each Dark Brotherhood member told a story regarding their most recent kill. They were like Nords, bragging to one another about a successful hunt for game.

KaNack was slightly relieved to see that there was an Argonian amongst the assassins, not being the only beast race would make him feel slightly more at ease around the others. Soon the group had stopped reminiscing and walked off in different directions, seeming to still ignore KaNack's presence. The little girl suddenly paused to turn to the Argonian, and pointed in his direction.

"You must be the one Astrid was telling us about. I heard she got you with the old 'choose your victim gag', I love that one," she chuckled lightly.

"Gag?"

She approached him, and shook her head. "The young ones are always so naive. Don't worry; you'll soon get the hang of the way we work down here."

KaNack rested his hands on his knees as he leaned down to look at the small child. "I couldn't help but overhear your story. Aren't you a little young to be an assassin?"

The girl laughed, revealing two small sharp canines, and all became very clear. "Most women love it when you think they look younger than they actually are. I guess I should take that as a complement."

The girl patted him gently on the cheek. "You can call me Babette. Feel free to come to me if you ever need a potion, ingredient or help with your alchemy. I am always willing to train newcomers."

The small vampire walked off, leaving KaNack scratching his head. What in Oblivion did he get himself into? He knew he had his work cut out for him; it was hard making friends at Winterhold. Still, these people were killers, so they at least they had one thing in common.

KaNack looked around, hoping to spot the mages that had been present in the group, but they had vanished into one of the tunnels while the reptile had been distracted by Babette. The Argonian was practicing with his sword off to the side, and the imposing Nord had begun working in a smithing workshop that had been constructed into the wall.

KaNack decided it was better to interrupt the one whose weapon was still incomplete, and made his way over to the Nord.

"Hello, Astrid told me…"

"Let's just get a few things straight here, tidbit," the Nord grumbled. "I don't like you, don't take it personally, I don't like anyone." He stopped his work to face the Argonian. "You're just here to kill and that's it, don't think that this is some exclusive friendship club."

"Arnbjorn," a sweet female voice chimed. Astrid was now leaning against the Argonian, resting her hands and chin on his shoulder. "What did I tell you about playing nice with the initiates?"

"Yes, Astrid," the Nord mumbled under his breath. He then returned to forging his weapon. The Dark Brotherhood leader chuckled in amusement as she stepped away from KaNack.

"Don't worry about Arnbjorn; he's actually quite a softy once you get to know him better."

"Oh!" Arnbjorn spun around to face the two angrily. "So I have to be nice, but it's okay for you to lie to him?!"

Astrid only laughed as she wrapped an arm around the mage's shoulder. She proceeded to guide him through the sanctuary's many tunnels.

"Making friends?" she asked.

"I'm not quite sure."

"Well, there is someone special that I want you to meet. The two of you are going to spend a lot of time together."

The Nord eventually led the Argonian to a small alchemy workshop. Plants, ingredients, books and potions were placed all about with no hint of organization whatsoever. The old, bald mage that KaNack had seen with the group earlier was busy at an alchemy station. Astrid grumbled in the back of her throat as she took in the mess before her.

"Festus! I thought I told you to clean your workshop!"

"Dammit, woman!" he snapped as he spun around with a look of frustration. "This is how I keep things organized! Don't touch anything, or I'll never be able to find it again!" The bitter mage then turned his angry gaze to KaNack. "Who is Oblivion is that? We already have an Argonian!"

"Festus," the leader groaned as she rubbed her temples in frustration. "We've been over this, I told you a new initiate was coming, and you were to teach him the art of destruction magic."

"Well, I never agreed to that," he grumbled, turning back to his alchemy. "Toss him off to Gabriella; I'm sure she'd love to have a pet project."

"Gabriella is busy enough with her own work as it is. You barely even leave the sanctuary for contracts these days, you old goat!"

"Goat?!" Festus barked as he approached Astrid angrily. "You can't talk to me like that!" Both his hands lit up with flames making the Argonian take quite a few steps back. Astrid stood her ground, and kept her arms folded as she scowled at the old mage.

"Are you through with your tantrum?" the Nord asked in a scolding tone. Festus grumbled, and the flames extinguished from his hands. She then turned back to the Argonian and motioned him to come back. "KaNack, this is Festus Krex," she had to grumble to herself before continuing, "your new destruction magic instructor."

Festus glared at KaNack, obviously not impressed with what he saw.

"What's your background, Kacky?"

"It's…It's KaNack, sir."

"Whatever! What's experience do you have with magic?" he snapped.

"I have some training from the College of Winterhold," the Argonian explained. This made the older mage's face drop.

"Winterhold? Winterhold?!" he then glared at Astrid again. "That namby pamby playground they call a school? Astrid, what in Oblivion are you giving me to work with?"

The old mage then began to pace from one side of the room to the other as he continued to rant about weak magic, hand holding and ridiculous safety.

"Festus used to teach at the college," Astrid whispered to KaNack.

"Why did he stop?" the Argonian asked. Both he and Astrid jumped as there was a loud smashing sound. Festus had thrown a bottle of wine that had been settled at the table at the wall in his frustration.

"The school had ISSUES with his teaching methods," the Nord explained as she glared at the old man in aggravation.

Festus finally calmed himself down, and returned to the two that were still standing in the entrance.

"Well, if you're going to be killing for us, we have to get right to work!" he grumbled.

"What?" KaNack looked to Astrid. "I thought I proved to you that I could kill."

"Yes, you can 'kill'," she said as she made an 'air quotes' gesture, "but there is a difference between assassination and just killing. If all it took was an ability to kill, anyone could be a member of the Dark Brotherhood." Astrid smiled proudly as she thought about her faction. "What we do is almost art itself. Our contracts require certain finesse. No two are ever really the same, some require specific methods of execution, some require it to happen in a certain place, and the lucky ones allow you to improvise."

Astrid began to lead KaNack back down the tunnel with Festus following in the back.

"You have killed, KaNack, and believe me when I say I sympathize with you. I know you are just dying to scratch that itch, but you just aren't ready for a Dark Brotherhood contract yet." She paused as they stopped at the stairway that led to the main chamber of the sanctuary. A few of the assassins had returned and were practicing their craft. "We will help mold you into the assassin you were born to be. You are destined for great things, but not until you've been properly trained."

"What if I start to snap?" the Argonian asked.

"Snap?" Festus piped up as he stared at the leader.

"I'll try and arrange it so that you can piggyback on one of your brothers' contracts. Some field work might actually be good for you."

"Astrid," started Festus as he placed his hands on his hips. "Just how unstable is this boy?"

"Oh, just let him spill a little blood and he'll be one of your most focused pupils ever. Isn't that right, my dear?"

"Uhhhh."

"Well, you two had better get started. Just remember, KaNack, we want nothing but for you to succeed. We're a family down here. Just consider the old bastard your cantankerous uncle."

KaNack couldn't help but smile as he turned to look back at Festus.

"Does that mean I can call you, Uncle Festus?"

"Sure," he answered rather abruptly. "So long as you don't mind having your skin melted off your body."

Astrid faced the older mage and pointed a finger at him. "Festus, I'd better not find out that you killed him like the other one I had you training."

"Wait, what?!" KaNack exclaimed as he started to have his doubts of his decision to join the assassins' guild.

"Don't be such a baby!" snapped Festus as he gestured for KaNack to hurry down the stairs. "Now, come on! The sooner we start, the sooner this nonsense will be over!"

The two mages started down the wooden stairwell and made their way over to a training area with dummies. KaNack couldn't help but notice that one by one, the other Dark Brotherhood members started to follow the two.

"Hey, looks like Astrid found a new one for Festus to blow up!" Arnbjorn snickered as he found a good spot to watch by the waterfall.

"Oh, I hope he lasts longer than the other one," hissed the green Argonian. "I was just starting to think about how pleasant it was to have a new assassin that wasn't a land-strider."

"I have a good feeling about this one, Veezara," purred Babette.

"Ready to get started?" the old mage grumbled to KaNack.

"Festus, I have to know. What happened to your other student?"

"Dammit, lizard," hissed Festus. "I'm not here to talk about my teaching history!" He pointed at a dummy. "Now, roast that with fire until I tell you to stop."

KaNack turned to face the dummy, and sucked in a deep breath as he got into a casting position. The flame spell was a rather easy one, so there was no possible way he could fail the cranky mage's first test. Flames shot from his open palms, and engulfed the dummy in an inferno. He kept it up for a few moments, and then received a sharp smack to the back of his head.

"Ow!"

KaNack stopped his casting and spun around, shocked to find Festus glaring at him. "Did I tell you to stop?!" He then smacked the Argonian's head a second time.

"OW!"

The other assassins burst out in laugher as Festus' approach to teaching.

"How was I supposed to cast?" KaNack growled as he rubbed at the back of his head. "You didn't tell me that you were going to pull a stunt like that!"

"Tell you?" the old mage barked. "Do you think someone is just going to roll over and let you kill them? They are going to fight back however they can! You have to learn to keep your concentration no matter what!" He pointed at the dummy. "Shoot that with fire!"

Once again, KaNack got into position and shot flames out at the target. This time he felt a zap of lighting strike his tail. The mage shrieked as he leaped into the air in shock and pain.

"The tail?! That's cheap Festus, even for you!" Veezara hissed. The other assassins only laughed harder as the initiate's suffering. KaNack bared his teeth and glared at Festus furiously.

"How am I supposed to get anything done if you keep attacking me?" he snarled.

"What, are you going to cry about it?" Festus sneered as he folded his arms. "Going to cry, little boy?"

KaNack stormed towards the mage. His body trembled with fury, his hands sparked with flame. The Argonian's temper was rising at a dangerous pace.

"Here we go!" laughed the Redguard. "Let him have it, Festus!"

Festus returned KaNack's deadly stare with a fierce look of his own.

"How do you feel?" the old mage asked.

"Angry," KaNack growled.

"Yes, you hate my guts, don't you?" he hissed as he jabbed at KaNack's ribs with his index finger making the reptile snarl. "I know what you are thinking," he growled. "You are thinking, 'This old man has to sleep at some point'." Festus jabbed the younger mage in the ribs again, this time with a sparks spell cast. KaNack growled loudly and bared his sharp teeth, his eyes almost bulged from his sockets he was so furious. He couldn't think back to a time when he felt angrier.

"Are you angry?!" Festus screamed in KaNack's face.

"YES!"

Festus pointed to the dummy behind them.

"SHOOT!"

KaNack had no idea why he did it, all his anger had been focused on Festus. However, when he pointed his finger, it was as though he was able to redirect the Argonian's target. The younger mage spun around and a massive charge of fire erupted from his palms and struck the dummy.

There was nothing left of KaNack target but a charred post. There was no more laughing from the observing assassins, just dead silence.

KaNack panted as he stared at his destruction in shock. He had never cast a fire spell as powerful as the one he had just produced. Festus placed a hand on the Argonian's back and gently patted it like a proud father.

"Fire in destruction magic is a funny thing," Festus started quietly. "Inside every mage is an inner fire. It resides in your gut. When you get angry, that fire inside you gets hotter and brighter. Wrath is what you must use to produce a more powerful and destructive force. You'll come to learn that emotions play a huge role in destruction magic, and the negative ones will make your spells deadly."

The older mage stretched and released a loud groan. "Well, I'm beat. I'd say that was a good first lesson. I have to say though, I'm glad you turned away from me before you cast that spell," Festus chuckled in amusement. "Don't know if even I could have withstood that."

Festus started to head back to the wooden staircase, passing by the other Dark Brotherhood members that were still in shock from KaNack's casting.

"Oh, don't look so nervous," Festus grumbled to his fellow assassins. "He's just a newcomer, what are you afraid of?" Festus shook his head as he glared back at the young Argonian. "Don't think this means that I'm happy to be teaching you. I still think you're hopeless!" He then grumbled and gave his pupil a small wave. "See you tomorrow, Knick Knack."

The older mage disappeared up the stairwell to head to bed, leaving the remaining assassins to try and figure what they had just seen. KaNack could only fold his arms as his lips curled up in a smirk.

"Clever old bastard," he chuckled to himself.