Child Of Darkness

(A/N: After this chapter, members of the Black Hand start appearing less often, as soon things will get darker. There's only this chapter and I think one more before Mathieu hits his teens, and then things start to collapse.)

Suspicious, Bellamont?

Mathieu blinked blankly. What was happening here? Why was Lucien fawning over this woman he'd met in town? "Daddy," he said, pulling at Lucien's hand.

"Hush Mathieu," Lucien sharply warned.

"Papa!" Mathieu insisted.

"Mathieu, go play," Lucien replied. Mathieu started then frowned, glaring resentfully at the woman. She smiled at him. He stuck out his tongue. Lucien covered his mouth and dragged him to the side. Kneeling down in front of the boy, Lucien said, "Mathieu, enough. I won't have you behaving in such a way. Be cordial."

"As long as I don't have to be nice," Mathieu sneered, but he knew cordial meant respectful and kind, and Lucien knew that he knew.

"Mathieu Bellamont," Lucien warned. Mathieu harrumphed and looked down frowning.

Two Days Ago

"Come now Lachance, live a little," Gogron insisted.

"Life is not about petty pleasures," Lucien replied haughtily.

"Lachance, don't be so self-righteous," Ungolim insisted.

"You I expected more from, Ungolim," Lucien said. "And you two as well," he added, accusingly looking at Vicente and Banus, the latter of which had decided to come as well in order to take a break from his duties as a Speaker in his own sanctuary.

"Leave him be. He's all work no play," Banus good naturedly said to Ungolim and Gogron, half-heartedly standing up for his friend. "We'll see you tomorrow then, Lucien."

"Come on Lachance, it's just one night. Drinking, revelry, women. A man's night," Gogron pushed, ignoring Banus.

"I would prefer to remain in control of my own mind, thank you. I will not enslave it to those repulsive alcoholic drinks you so love," Lucien replied, folding his arms and icily glaring.

"Leave Lucien alone. Come now brothers, let us be off," Vicente said.

"You really don't know how to live, do you Lucien?" Ungolim teased.

"I am living my life," Lucien replied. "And I would appreciate it if you and Gogron stopped trying to give me to every woman you come across. I have more important commitments."

"Mathieu will be fine for one night. You don't even have to drink. Just sit there," Ungolim said.

"I have no intentions of drinking," Lucien shot sharply. However, the more he thought about a night out the more he realized it could be the perfect opportunity to scout out a recent contract. "Very well, I'll come," he finally relented. Ungolim and Gogron slapped him on the back, complimenting him for starting to loosen up. Meanwhile, Banus and Vicente exchanged knowing looks. There was one reason and one alone that their dear friend would have been swayed.

ES

Lucien stood against a pillar and scanned the area. Ungolim and Gogron were busy occupying themselves with women, both of the men in a drunken stupor as the woman hung all over them. Vicente and Banus stood near him, neither intoxicated but very much enjoying the attention they were receiving. Of course, after a while Vicente began fidgeting. Lucien and Banus exchanged smirks. He was thirsting. In a moment he would select a target, seduce her into a private place, and then gorge himself and return as if nothing had happened. Sure enough Vicente moved from the pillar without a word and went to a serving wench. He wrapped an arm around her and purred some sweet nothings into her ear that made her visibly tremble. The next moment they were gone. No one would hear a scream. Vicente had mastered nipping at necks as if playing with his targets. By the time they realized what he was really doing, it was usually too late.

"Well, that was quick. Are you any faster Lucien?" Banus teased. Lucien snorted. He had no interest in any such thing. He was mentally checking his to do list. Mathieu was on a growth spurt and his clothing wasn't fitting as well anymore. He would have to purchase some new things for the boy. And where on Earth was the contract he was supposed to go after? A high ranking noble, he knew, surrounded by bodyguards, each one highly intelligent and highly skilled. Perhaps he would meet a guard here, if nothing else.

Banus blinked at Lucien's lack of response. "I could be," Lucien finally replied.

"Perhaps I should try my own luck," Banus said.

Lucien chuckled affectionately and replied, "Using the proper words and actions you probably could."

"Shall I test it?" Banus asked, pointing out an attractive woman across the room.

"Go on. I'll be here to laugh at your misfortune or admire you, depending on the outcome," Lucien replied.

Banus smirked and started across the room. He snatched a drink and put on a clumsy act, falling into her and pinning her against a pillar. He put on a convincing blush and an embarrassed expression, stammered a bit pulling away, and attempted to apologize. The woman was charmed. Of course on the other hand this tavern wasn't known for its propriety, and the women were a step above harlots. Well, most of them were. Banus was kissing her in seconds. He could probably have gotten her into a bedroom, but he really couldn't be bothered. Lucien mentally clocked it. Approximately the same amount of time it had taken Vicente.

ES

Lucien scanned the room and spotted a woman against the back wall. She was dressed as a guard and was sneering at all the other women. He smirked. There was one of the bodyguards he'd been seeking. He had to be wary. He had no doubts she would probably have a plan for any potential assassin. Judging by appearances she didn't have many lovers, so she would be suspicious of him. Of course he could be wrong. There were men out there who looked deeper than petty beauty. He was one of them. Still, there was risk involved, a lot of it, but all in the line of duty. He easily moved through the crowds, lightly pushing them out of the way. He soon enough reached her.

She looked curiously at him. He pretended to not notice. She had no way of guessing he'd been coming towards her. For all she knew he'd moved here to get away from the crowds. He spotted Gogron and Ungolim looking incredulously at him. Apparently they thought he had no standards, but Ungolim's eyes lit up in realization and he rolled his eyes hopelessly. Now he knew why Lucien had agreed to go. Gogron was still clueless, but he didn't really care. Lucien still wasn't happy with him.

"Busy night," she remarked to him. She was feeling him out, trying to see if he was a threat.

"I detest crowds," he replied, and every word was truth. He could not express how much he hated crowds. They were perfect cover for assassinations, though. She chuckled.

"You aren't the only one," she murmured.

He smiled and summed her up. "I've seen you before," he said.

"I've been around," she answered.

He smiled and said, "I hope you continue to be just that. You are a welcome change from… well, these." She scoffed at the other women.

"Weak willed, all of them. They reek of desperation. I will warn you, though, that I am not like them," she said. "Not that many men are drawn to me."

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Lucien said, and right about now she was the most beautiful thing he'd seen tonight. After all, if he played this right he could have his contract done within the span of a week; minus the stalking that would probably bump it to two.

"Alas, if only that were so," she said. Now to strike.

ES

"You do not see yourself as pretty," Lucien remarked in amusement. "Lady, beauty means nothing. With time, beauty only fades. It can be useful in your youth, but beyond that it is worthless."

She shivered at his voice and words. Quickly looking away, she challenged, "You would know, wouldn't you?" She was offhandedly flirting. Excellent. She didn't think it would get anywhere, but he would prove her wrong.

"Perhaps, but beauty never meant much to me," he answered, and honestly he spoke truth. Beauty promised nothing. It was empty. You weren't bound to one's beauty.

"If only all men were like that," she replied.

"What will it take to make you feel like a goddess again?" he asked in a whisper, and the woman's eyes widened. Visibly she trembled.

For a long moment she was silent. Finally she replied, "I told you I wasn't that easy." She was intrigued and flattered, though, she had to admit to herself.

"Lady, if I had wanted you in my bed, I would have had you," he veritably purred, and both of them knew how true those words were, though she tried to hide it. "Come. Let us leave this place and go to the balcony." He offered his hand. After a moment she took it and went with him. He couldn't tell if she'd pinned him as an assassin or not, but it didn't matter. He would have the noble's head, and no plans of the bodyguards would stop it from happening.

Present

Lucien brought Mathieu back to the woman. "I apologize for my child's behavior. He doesn't like my attention to be diverted." Mathieu made a rude noise at Lucien with his tongue. "Strike two, Mathieu!" Lucien sharply shot.

Mathieu glared at the woman and shot, "I don't like you! Go away and never come back!"

Lucien sighed in exasperation. Now he'd have to give the boy another strike. "All right, you're banished to your room for the weekend young man," Lucien stated.

"I don't trust you. You're planning something. You're trying to take my papa away from me! I won't let you!" Mathieu accused.

Lucien inwardly cursed, realizing he'd walked right into Mathieu's little trap. Now the boy had nothing left to lose. "Mathieu!" Lucien shot.

"Mathieu, little one, I'm not trying to steal your daddy away from you," the woman said, smiling sweetly.

"Liar!" Mathieu shot.

"Mathieu, one more word and you'll be sent home!" Lucien shot.

"I don't care. At least you'll go away from her," Mathieu replied, sneering at the stranger. He knew Lucien wouldn't let him go home alone.

"Do not make me take away your books," Lucien growled lowly. Mathieu looked afraid and immediately fell quiet. Lucien smirked. Apparently he hadn't lost all his leverage.

ES

Mathieu sulked in his bedroom. Lucien was out with that woman again. Anger became sadness. He felt lonely. This wasn't fair! That woman was planning something, Mathieu just knew it. He wished he could tell what. Wait… Lucien had gotten a contract to kill a high ranking noble. The man was always surrounded by guards. The boy's eyes widened. The woman must be a guard! But did Lucien know? Maybe, but then Lucien was trying to trick the woman into letting him get close. What if the woman knew what Lucien was trying to do, though? Lucien would figure it out, wouldn't he? Mathieu shifted nervously. What if he didn't?

The boy slid off the bed and peeked out the door. M'Raaj-Dar was sleeping. Silently Mathieu slipped out. This required some investigating. As far as Lucien and the others would be concerned, he was still in his room. He'd set up pillows so it looked like he was sleeping. Quietly he slunk through the sanctuary and out into Cheydinhal, his dagger tucked neatly away in his robes just in case.

ES

Lucien been able to tell, by now, that the woman had told the noble about him. The noble had been suspicious, he deduced, because he knew full well that now there was some plan in action against him. She had been told to play her part, he realized, and while she was good at hiding things, she wasn't good enough. He saw guilt. She honestly did like him. Very much so, in fact. She wanted to believe in his innocence, but he sensed she would lead him into whatever trap had been set out for him. Lucien smirked inwardly. Let them try. It would be a challenge to fight off all the guards, but not undoable.

"Dear lady, what is on your mind?" he asked innocently.

"Hmm, oh, nothing," she replied. "I'm just… distracted."

"By what?" he asked in the whisper he knew she couldn't resist. He covered her hand with his own for extra measure.

She practically melted. "I'm afraid… that the other guards are suspicious of you. That… that they might hurt you," she admitted.

"Are you suspicious of me?" he asked in an amused tone.

"No!" she quickly exclaimed. Looking down, though, she admitted, "Yes… I'm sorry."

"Suspicion has saved lives before, and ended them. It is not a bad thing to feel," he said. "I'm afraid I must take my leave of you now. My child is waiting. I need to have a talk with him. He is… not open to our arrangement."

"I suppose his loyalty would be to his deceased mother," she said.

Lucien was silent. Loyalty to his mother… Mathieu did seem slightly obsessed with his dead mother, now that he thought about it. It didn't sit well with Lucien, but then Mathieu had been very young when she had been killed. Surely it was natural… Why was something warning him otherwise, then? After a long moment he replied, "Yes." Quickly he left.

ES

Mathieu watched Lucien leave. Now it was only the woman. She rose and went out. He followed in the shadows. She entered into a building and Mathieu quickly slipped in after her. He watched her approach a noble surrounded by guards, probably Lucien's contract. "You've returned," the noble greeted. "How did he seem?"

"There was nothing suspicious about him at all," she replied. "Except… except he didn't react when I told him of the suspicion surrounding him beyond saying that to have suspicion was a good thing."

"That in itself proves to me he is an assassin," the noble said.

"We can't know…" she began.

"My dear, do not let your heart blind you," the noble warned. "Tomorrow we act. Lead him down to the rocky cove nearby. When he doesn't expect it, we will strike."

"Only to capture him, right?" she asked.

"Unless he fights back," the noble said. She swallowed and nodded.

"I knew it," Mathieu whispered to himself. He had to warn Lucien! He turned only to find himself staring into the eyes of a snarling dog! He gasped. The dog lunged and grabbed his arm. He screamed in pain as the creature tore him out of hiding and into plain sight. It dragged him all the way to the noble and Mathieu found himself staring up into the contract's face, as well as all his guards.

"Mathieu!" the woman exclaimed.

"Who?" the noble asked.

"He-he is Lucien's son," she said, flustered.

"I knew you were planning something! I knew you were going to betray papa and take him away!" Mathieu accused, scowling at her and leaping up. He thought about drawing his dagger, but that would probably be a bad idea. The dog would maul him, most likely, or the adults would arrest him.

"A little spy. A pity you had to hear all of that. It means that now we can't let you leave. At least, not until we're through with your father," the noble said. Mathieu paled. The next thing he knew he was in a cage and being guarded by two of the guards and the snarling dog. And screaming to be let out; but that was irrelevant because they wouldn't listen to him. With his luck he'd probably be used as bait. But he could warn Lucien still. They would see.

ES

"Has he been good?" Lucien asked M'Raaj-Dar.

"Haven't heard a peep. Probably sleeping," the Khajiit replied. Lucien nodded and went inside the room.

Quietly he went to the bed where the form lay. He sat on the side of the bed and said gently yet firmly, "Mathieu, I think we need to have a talk about the woman. I know that you do not approve of my relationship with her, but you must understand that it is key to my success in this contract. I cannot have you isolating her. I understand that it bothers you, so I promise that after the man is dead I will never see her again, if you so wish it. But do think things over." He was getting suspicious, however. There was too much of a lack in response; not even a movement.

Lucien pursed his lips. That was silly, he was here, wasn't he? "Mathieu?" Lucien icily asked, standing and grabbing the covers. Where else could he be, after all. M'Raaj-Dar had been guarding the door. The fact he'd had to awaken the Khajiit wasn't helping him be assured, though. Scowling he flung off the covers and gasped. Pillows! But how… His eyes lit up. Mathieu had been spying on him! "Curse you to Oblivion, boy!" Lucien furiously exclaimed, racing out of the room. Mathieu was following her.

ES

She hurried to the door on hearing the knocking. She'd known it would only be a matter of time. She felt nervous, hand going to her blade. She opened the door and said, "Lucien, what's wrong?"

"Have you seen Mathieu?" Lucien demanded sharply, obviously not in the mood to play mind games with her.

"N-no," she stammered.

"Liar," he growled.

"I haven't seen him, I promise you that. But I can help you look," she offered.

"For the sake of that noble you so furiously guard, I pray he is unharmed," Lucien warned, predatorily advancing at her until she was against the wall with wide eyes. Turning, Lucien walked out. Quickly she followed.

ES

They were on a rocky part of the beach. He'd checked everywhere else but by the sea. Lucien's forehead worriedly creased. Unfortunately, he completely forgot about the trap he should have been watching out for. He also had overlooked the fact that it had technically been her that led him here, not his own thoughts.

Mathieu could see Lucien coming from the perch his cage was on. The man expected him to call for help and lead Lucien here, but he wouldn't call for help. He'd call out a warning. Lucien didn't know this was a trap, he knew. He looked too preoccupied. Whether Lucien still tried to help or not after his warning wasn't his concern. His concern was letting the man know what was waiting. Lucien was coming nearer with the woman. Mathieu glanced at the noble. He wasn't watching. Mathieu turned back to look in the direction of Lucien and suddenly screamed, "Lucien, go back! It's a trap! There's twenty of them waiting!" The noble and guards looked at him in horror.

Lucien heard the cry and froze, paling. Twenty? He cursed under his breath. He could flee now, but what of Mathieu? He scowled and whipped out his dagger. A trap! Now? He cursed himself a thousand times for not seeing it. He heard her gasp from behind. She saw what he was. He charged ahead. He heard her scream something at him, probably a curse or an exclamation of dismay, and heard her draw her sword. She would be too late. A pity. He'd never wanted to kill her. He truly had come to like her. Then again, sacrifices had to be made. For the Night Mother. Mathieu screamed and covered his eyes. Lucien was going to get slaughtered! He should be ecstatic, but all he felt was fear. Why fear? Why not happiness? He peeked. Lucien had downed five men already, but he was being swarmed by the others.

All at once two other figures raced around the bend. Mathieu's mouth dropped. Vicente and Banus, whose sanctuary was near here, he knew. Lucien had brought them along too! They'd probably been following him at a distance, waiting for just this opportunity. They had reached Lucien in seconds and quickly the guards were falling. Lucien broke away, rushing the noble. The woman tried to stop him, but she stood no chance. "I'm sorry," he sincerely said to her, right before he cut her down. The noble was gone in an instant. He hadn't even had time to draw his sword.

ES

Banus climbed up to the ledge and handed the small, and very cramped, cage down. At least the threat to his jurisdiction was taken care of, he figured. Lucien took the cage and placed it on the ground. Vicente went to work on the lock. In seconds the boy was free again. Mathieu gladly tumbled out. "I told you so!" Mathieu said, glaring accusingly at Lucien.

"Child, I wasn't completely clueless," Lucien answered. "I knew there would be a trap. I just, didn't expect it to be so soon."

"Come now Lucien. Swallow that stubborn pride and say thank you," Vicente said.

Lucien grimaced bitterly but murmurred, "Thank you, child." Mathieu proudly beamed.

"All that aside, let's get away from here before the city guards appear," Banus said.