Eep! Been a while hasn't it? Yeahhhhh, sorry about that everyone, my laptop battery decided to explode somehow, and I had to use the desktop while it was repaired..and I cannot type on the desktop to save my life (just feels weird, and for some reason, I cannot type fast on it O_O)
Anyway, it's been fixed so updates should be speedier now, especially when I have chosen my two days off work to dedicate them to writing this fic (did someone say 'about time'...must just be me xD)
Thank you all for your reviews and thoughts, it really does mean alot that many of you keep returning to read story, despite my irregular updates... :)
"Hello."
Morgan's simple statement was enough for the Dark Brotherhood assassin to jump up out of her seat and run towards the vampire and embrace her tightly.
"It's so good to see you again," Gabriella murmured in Morgan's hair. "I always thought my death was certain and yet…"
"Hush," Morgan told her softly, running her hand through Gabriella's hair. "It's only time for you to die when you are surrounded by sons and daughters. Not by some filthy Stormcloak vermin."
"You always know what to say," Gabriella laughed as she released Morgan.
"Yes, but sometimes I talk shit…ask Serana if you don't believe me."
"I shall do that."
Morgan grinned at her and looked around. Nazir was sitting at the table with Astrid, the two of them leaning over a map and pointing at various markings. Cicero was sleeping in a curled up position at the foot of the Night Mother's coffin, and Morgan had to smile wider at the sight.
"He's been there for a day now. He keeps saying things to the Night Mother, muttering about how he failed her…poor man."
Morgan raised her eyebrow at that. Cicero may have been 'touched in the head' as her mother might have said, but beneath that was a man who put his family first and always seemed to do his duties to the fullest.
"I think he is just worried," Morgan replied after a moment, "I think he needs a bit of rest."
"I'll get a blanket and a spare pillow in that case. He surely cannot be comfortable lying there," Gabriella replied before walking away.
Morgan looked up and watched the corpse lying upright in the open coffin.
I did what I needed to do Night Mother. But I still feel that something is missing. I still feel that I could do more…
There was no response, and Morgan hadn't expected one. She sighed and walked away to meet Nazir and Astrid, not seeing the Night Mother's empty eye sockets glow a soft red…
"I think we need more contacts. We have not got the influence we need before we can think about going after the bigger contracts."
"I never thought I would say this, but I agree with you," Astrid replied with a grin, Nazir placing his hand on his heart in a mocking way. "After what happened in Falkreath, I think that the Stormcloaks believe we are wiped out."
"But you are not sure about what would happen if they knew the truth," Morgan added as she walked out of the shadows and smiled at her.
"Good to see you are back," Nazir grumbled in his usual sardonic tone, "I wondered if you would return with a case of ale though."
"I did, but Lucien drank it," Morgan laughed.
Lucien had followed her silently and merely grinned wickedly at the Redguard.
"I did, and it was very tasty."
All of them laughed for a moment, and Morgan felt at ease.
"The contract was done. Erikur lies dead and is most likely feeding the slaughterfish in Solitude's waters."
"Well done, I knew you could do it. Tell me everything."
Morgan nodded and sat down before reporting to Astrid how her first contract had been performed. Astrid had laughed when she had found out how Morgan had used her vampiric abilities, saying that 'those men must have pissed themselves' when she had appeared out of a mist to grasp them. Astrid also asked for Lucien's' input, and the former Speaker of the Black Hand had been more than pleased at the way the contract had gone.
"She was almost as good as I was," he added at the end.
Morgan didn't say anything and simply winked at the spectre before meeting Astrid's gaze again.
"What happened while I was away? Where is that minx, and the little terror?"
"Serana and Babette have gone to get a few more 'helping hands', so to speak," Astrid explained.
"Who?" Morgan asked curiously.
"Brelyna from the College of Winterhold."
"I always wanted to check up on her over the last few months but never got the chance," Morgan said softly. "When are they due back?"
"I would have thought that they would be back by now…maybe Brelyna left the College for some reason…"
"Maybe…" Morgan muttered quietly.
Morgan found that she wasn't angry with Serana not being around when she had returned. She knew that Serana wanted to assist their unlikely allies as much as she did, and she also knew that Astrid still remained in control, despite their losses. In fact, Morgan felt eager to do more, just as she had done the previous year when she knew what her path to becoming Dragonborn was to be.
She could still recall the way she had delved into dungeons for gold and weaponry in preparation to take the fight to Alduin, she could still feel that urge to fight, to kill. Part of her knew this was her part dovah soul screaming for battle, but she also realised that this was what she wanted. She wanted to be a part of something, and assassins or no, the Dark Brotherhood seemed to suit her perfectly.
"So cat, where did they go?"
Serana grinned wickedly as the Khajiit backed away from her and into a wall, his whiskers moving so fast it was hard for even her sharp eyes to see each one clearly.
"J'Zargo promised not to say!"
Babette grinned as well, her fangs already at full length, as if eager to taste the blood of the mage.
"The thing about secrets is that they never last forever," she said sweetly, "Especially with vampires."
"What my dear Babette is trying to say is that you better tell us J'Zargo before you get bitten." Serana said bluntly.
And with that threat, any resistance J'Zargo had vanished.
"J'Zargo will tell you, just don't bite me!"
Serana gave Babette a wink before walking over to look at the terrified Khajiit face to face, so close that she could feel his heart beating and his hot blood pulsing through his veins.
"Talk."
"So she went to Whiterun," Babette remarked as they rode the horses out of Winterhold.
"She probably wanted to see Morgan. I doubt they never saw each other after what happened at Castle Volkihar," Serana replied quietly.
Serana never talked much about that battle. Losing her crazed father had still hurt her in some way, and the death of her mother had amplified that feeling. Not to mention that Morgan had almost died in that fight as well, she mused sadly.
"And of course, that poor love struck boy went right after her when he found out she had gone," Babette continued.
"Typical Onmund. A sweet boy, but like all men, he thinks with his genitals," Serana snorted with amusement.
"Not just the men," Babette grinned at her.
Serana made a rude hand gesture and both vampires started cackling as they rode further away from Winterhold.
"So, what is my next task?"
"Eager aren't you?" Nazir quipped as he leant back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. "I would have thought that drinking all the fine wine and eating the food in Solitude would have made you…lazier?"
Morgan smirked.
"I don't need to eat or drink Nazir…maybe you need a reminder?"
Nazir laughed.
"I didn't forget….wish I could but…..ARGH!"
Astrid walked into the room to find Morgan was holding the Redguard by the ankle and had lifted him off the ground. She chuckled as Nazir vainly tried twisting his body to try and release himself, but Morgan simply lifted him a little higher and looked down at him.
"Thing is, I could break your ankle by squeezing. But I doubt Astrid nor the Night Mother would be happy with me if I did that, so…."
She let him fall into a heap on the ground and winked at him.
"So, anything I need to do?"
Astrid spoke up before Nazir could reply. She knew that his big mouth had a witty retort ready, and she also knew that Morgan would end up Shouting him through a wall if said reply involved her sex life.
"I have one Morgan, and this one might be…harder for you to carry out."
"Who is it? And why would it be harder?" Morgan asked as she sat down opposite Astrid.
"Olfrid Battle-Born, according to our information. Someone wants him very dead, because this is one huge payment," Astrid replied, opening a small sack and spilling out the contents onto the table.
Morgan stared at the rubies, emeralds and sapphires that sparkled in the soft light provided by the fires and blinked a few times. She had many gems herself back at her home, but she had never gotten around to selling them or getting them examined. But she knew from a glance that these gems were flawless in every way, and were probably worth more than her whole collection.
"I met him when I first arrived at Whiterun," Morgan said as she leant back in the chair, inspecting one of the rubies as she did so. "He was a pompous arse. He came up to me and asked if I had heard of him and his family. I mean, a complete stranger walks into the town and he thinks I knew about him? Pompous shit."
Astrid grinned at her and Morgan winced.
"Sorry. Anyway, we have never been on good terms and the last time we spoke was when I was leaving my house in Whiterun. Even though I had helped save the town many times, he said he 'doubted my sincerity about who I was allied to'. So I think this kill will be easier than Erikur," Morgan finished with a bright smile.
"I don't doubt it," Astrid purred in satisfaction. "Take some time to recover before you go…or maybe you could stay in Whiterun and plan how you kill him. I know you will have many allies and friends there, and I would hate to put you in a position where you may have to kill someone you knew…"
Astrid trailed off but Morgan knew what she may have said afterwards.
As long as the contract is fulfilled, we will he pleased. And so will the Night Mother and Sithis.
Morgan nodded to her.
"I'll leave first thing in the morning. But first, I need a drink."
"Try not to leave the body near the door," Astrid replied.
"Don't worry, I know of a way to get rid of stinking Stormcloaks," Morgan retorted before standing up and walking out of the room, a small smile still on her face.
"Blasted weather. By Shor, I cannot feel my feet!"
"Maybe you should lay off the mead and sitting on your fat arse," the other replied with a snigger.
"Fuck off. Your idea of guard duty is standing inside the tavern and ogling the wenches."
"Please. As if I would stick my sword into one of those grey-skins."
"Which sort of sword are we talking about?"
Both men laughed as they looked back at the shoreline, the half a dozen horkers nearby looking at them briefly before lying back down.
"They have the right idea. Huddling together for warmth."
"Don't get any ideas."
"Tell you I could lie with….her."
"Her? Who do you…."
"The Dragonborn you dumb oaf. She may be a vampire and probably wants to skin every one of us alive, but you have to admit, she is one hell of a looker."
"Get past the 'dragony' side of her and those eyes she is said to have now and yeah, you may be onto something. Oh, and you would have to use a few lengths of chains to hold her still of course. She is a vampire after all."
"Maybe you could persuade her to not kill you…long enough so that she gets a good ride anyway," the guard laughed.
"Yeah, you would have a better chance of taking in an ice wolf as a pet."
"Like she has done?"
"Beasts always get along with each other."
"Hey, you hear that?"
"No. It was probably a horker farting or something. I'm going back inside, I'll keep a wench warm for you."
"Yeah, go inside and get every woman giving you a dirty look. I'm going to see what that was."
"Maybe it was the Dragonborn, stalking you."
"Fuck you."
The second Stormcloak went back inside the Dawnstar tavern, leaving the one man alone. Jon Snow-Storm liked to think of himself as a brave person, but when he started walking further away from the loud noises coming from the centre of the village and walked into the forest nearby, he found his hands were shaking slightly, and not due to the cold.
"Hello? Who's there!"
He hefted his steel battleaxe into his hands and looked around. The wind had dropped drastically since he had entered the trees, and the eerie silence was unnerving. His eyes strained to pick up movement in the gloom, but his visibility was only a few feet in all directions.
"Ah, fuck this. Probably a fox or something."
"No. much worse," a voice purred next to his ear.
He yelped and tried to swing his axe around, only for a pale hand to grasp the hilt ad halt the swing as though he hadn't even swung at all. He looked up from the hand to face none other than the woman he and his fellow kinsman had talked about.
"It's not nice to hit a woman you know," the Dragonborn continued as she yanked the axe away and threw it deep into the forest.
"You aren't a woman though, you're just a…"
"Vampire? You Stormcloaks aren't half observant."
"Thank you…wait, did you just…"
"Oh shut up and try not to scream."
"Wha...AAAAAAARGH!"
He felt the fangs digging into his throat, as well as the soft curves of the woman now sitting on top of him, her head burrowing into the crook of his shoulder and her hair spilling all over his face. His hands were gripped in hers, and they were cold.
So cold.
"No…."
His plea went unheard as she pinned his arms down behind his head and continued to feed. He was aware that he was aroused and he laughed, even though blood spilled out of his mouth when he did so. But it didn't hurt. Even her fangs could barely be felt now. He doubted he would feel her skin if she became naked all of a sudden.
He laughed again, only it came out as a gurgle now.
Jon stared as the vampire sat up and looked down at him, her orange eyes piercing the darkness and also piercing his soul. He barely felt her cold hands slowly moving along his face before they reached his neck. He felt nothing when those hands moved with a force that only a vampire could muster, his head violently moving to one side…
Nothing.
Morgan fed until she could drink no more and sat up once more, looking down at the body beneath her.
So young. Maybe the same age as myself before I was given this Gift. And he died with a smile on his face, which is more than what most of us could ask for.
She almost smiled when she closed the unseeing eyes of the Stormcloak and stood up.
"Thanks for the drink."
Then she turned and walked back into the forest, heading towards the Sanctuary once more. She had an urge to take a bath. The bastard had had an erection as she had drained him, and that was very unsettling. She had snapped his neck so that at first glance anyone would think he had been murdered. Of course, they would find the fang marks but with a little luck, the wild creatures may do her a favour and clean up.
I will not tell anyone about that. No fucking way will I tell Babette, I will never hear the last of it. Maybe Serana though….
Morgan grinned in the moonlight, licking the rich blood off her fangs as she walked.
Definitely a bath. And then it's back to Whiterun.
She walked faster. She was looking forward to the next hunt.
