Authors Notes: My condolences for such a long wait! I have been really busy, and still am busy XD but I really wanted to get a chapter in. I'm sorry it took so long but I rarely had time to sit down for anything this week. (Which really sucks because I love writing this fic, and sitting) hehe, to be honest I don't know when my next update will be. It all depends on whether or not I can get some computer time. Review please, and thanks for reading! (insert some random smiley that the my ancient computer wont pick up) :D

Envy

Chapter thirteen: Fate Greetings

We all should know by now just how cruel fate can be. Have you ever stopped for a moment, looked up to your ceiling and thought, 'this cannot be my life.'? I have on multiple occasions and am fighting the urge to do so right now. Because guess what! I just received my newest assignment, and guess where I am to travel? Go on, take a shot in the dark…

Bruma you say? Right you are. But in such horrid weather?

Lucien Lachance is a mean, mean man…

"What?" I asked Vicente slowly as he eyed me from across the table. "Bruma?! It's a fetching blizzard Vicente!"

I may never understand how or why he is such a calm person. I mean, vampires cant like the cold either can they? What would he do in my shoes? So there I sat, dumbfounded and horrified, wanting Lucien to come down here so I could wring his neck.

Or attempt to rather, It would ultimately end in my death though and at the family man's hands…never mind. I don't even want to fathom how he kills people. Instead I want him to come down here so I could make vulgar gestures behind his back.

Oh yeah, that's sweet revenge.

"Sister you are getting yourself worked up for no reason. Bruma is a two day trip on a horse, and besides that you don't have to leave for a few days." He paused and picked up the parchment with all of the assassination details.

"The contract must be fulfilled this month. The weather wont last forever, and even if it does this is a rather easy contract as you may know. All you have to do is stay hidden and quiet." I scoffed, "But how am I to stay quiet if my teeth wont stop chattering, brother?"

Vicente chuckled and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are far to stubborn. Lucien has made up his mind and wants to use this assignment to test your stealth." He paused for a moment and I found myself watching his hands. He has a tendency to talk with them, I wonder if he knows some forms of sign language.

"The will of Sithis cannot stop just because you don't like the cold." I nodded and gave a sigh of defeat. "Fine. I accept the contract, I may not like it though." He laughed. "Do you think I enjoy having to eliminate certain targets in daylight? That doesn't stop me from doing them."

I wrinkled my brow. "How can you kill in daylight Vicente, don't you turn to dust or something?" he snorted, "If not properly fed, then yes. You would have to sweep me from the pavement." I scrunched my face further. "If not properly fed?"

As if he had read my mind he began to explain. "Vampires can walk in the daylight, and can also look like average citizens, besides our eyes of course." he smiled and then quickly added, "And fangs. It all depends on how much we drink really. Not every vampire is the same, it's much more…" he paused and looked off to the side as if searching for the correct word.

"Complicated."

xxxx

Telaendril had arrived back in the Sanctuary later on that day. She is one of the higher ranking killers I suppose, why else would she be gone so much? Anyway, she had heard about my contract and told me that she had some advice to give.

She pulled me over in the library just about an hour after her arrival. "Sister, I heard you have another contract already, well done." I tried my best to smile, but contract or not it was up in cold, Nord filled Bruma.

"Yeah I do. Vicente tells me that the only reason I have received another so soon is because the family ma-" I stopped and faked a coughing fit. "Don't call him family man around his assassins! Big no, no!" I cleared my throat and casually continued.

"Is because our Speaker wants to test my stealth. I'm to travel to Bruma as soon as the weather lets up a bit." Her face fell, she looked as though she had only the deepest sympathy for me. She then gave a small sigh and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You poor thing." she began,

"Err, what?"

"I cannot believe Lucien, sending you out in a blizzard. And while your ill no less." I blinked, somewhat confused. When did I become magically sick?

…Oh yeah! Coughing fit…smooth.

I tried my best to hide the triumphant smile, I love having people pity me. "I'm sure he doesn't know that I'm sick." I started, playing along to the whole, 'sick, woe is me' thing. "And it's just a cold after all." Telaendril shook her head, "Still, I doubt this weather is going to let up anytime soon…but perhaps I can help you."

I furrowed my brow. "Help me? How can you do that sister?" she smiled and beckoned me to follow her to the living quarters.

Once we entered our bedroom, she walked over to her recently discarded equipment and reached into her bag. "These will do you some good on a long trip." she said while handing me several small pink vials. I stared down at them skeptically.

I may eat food and things assassins prepare, but drinking their potions…it's a whole other story.

"What is it?" I asked picking up one of the tiny bottles by it's neck and holding it up to the torch light. "It's called a Potion of Warmth, sister. You see, the contract that I have just completed was to eliminate a runaway mage. He was hiding up in the Jerald mountains. These came in handy for the both of us."

She gave a small chuckle, "But I doubt he'll be needing them now." I smiled, I knew all about certain potions. I once had stolen a book on alchemy and it told all about temperature altering brews. So naturally, if it tasted off or smelled other than the books description, it would line the Sanctuary walls.

xxxx

"It's fetching freezing up here." I mumbled as I pushed open an old tavern door that led to 'Olav's Tap and Tack'. After what seemed like an eternity of travel, which in fact only was two days, I had arrived in Bruma.

I was cold, wet, and yes irritable. So the term 'bitch' suited me just fine.

But then again…it usually does.

Anyway, besides my poor attitude I was fine. The trip was okay thanks to those potions Teleandril had given me. But as I entered the tavern, all I could do was wonder why anyone who was in their right mind, would want to live in Bruma?

Then again, they are mostly Nord's; lovers of cold and beer. I guess you cant really tell whether or not they have sane minds. But that makes my reason for being here all the more easy, the drunker they are the less they'll notice the mean little Imperial.

I pushed past the rather large crowd and made my way to the counter. The sign outside said that this place had beds and food, so hopefully I can get myself a room and plan out this mission a little better. I have never staged an accident before…could be interesting.

"Welcome to the Tap and Tack, Imperial. I'm the owner of this fine establishment. What can I get ya?" I despise the boldness of Nord's. You cant even think straight with one of them around, never mind a Tavern full.

"Do you have a room?" I asked faking a smile and making sure to emphasize what I was looking for.

I don't want to confuse him, asking for a place to sleep can give a Nord quite the mental strain.

He blinked, and nodded. "Yeah I got a room. Straight to the point then eh?" My smile grew; bigger and faker. "Always am."

I reached around my back and opened my rucksack, searching for what little gold I had left. "How much sir?" He began to rub the back of his neck almost nervously, "Well you see lass, It'll be fairly cheap. Hadn't really got a chance to clean it yet…Ten Septim's should do it for you."

My fake smile fell, if I hated anything…Well I almost hate everything, but one of the things I hate the most is filth. The last thing I wanted to do was stay in a disgusting room that smelt of mead and Gods know what else.

"Superb." I grumbled and unceremoniously dropped the required amount of coins in his hands. Smiling slightly as several fell onto the floor leaving the proprietor to flop on his knees and catch them before they all rolled away.

I plucked the key from the counter and turned on my heel, heading for my new temporary dwelling. "Thank you for your patronage!" I heard him call out to me as I continued through the bar. Rolling my eyes I walked onward through the inn.

Nord's, they don't know what sarcasm is, or how to tell whether or not a person is on the verge of killing you. Thinking of death, I have an assignment to attend to. But one must make the proper preparations of course. So I believe a good nights rest is in order.

xxxx

Silence is the key to success in this endeavor. If there was ever a time to be a noisy, clumsy, fool certainly it wouldn't be now. Definitely not. You see, now is the time I thank my dear dead uncle; Servill, for my enchanted bag.

This Baenlin guy is loaded! I mean, I have never seen a basement so stuffed with silver in all of my life. It's like he's afraid it's going to go out of style. And who on Nirn would keep in in their basement anyway, Does he not have cabinets upstairs?

Or is he too good for cabinets?

Either way I'm profiting from his ignorance and stupidity. After all the lock to get into his basement was almost frozen off, all I had to do was give it a few good kicks. No need to try picks on an rusty ice covered lock.

Making my way up to his home was fairly easy too. I'll admit that my adrenaline was fueling me, had it not been then I don't think I would have made it into his bedroom so quickly and quietly. His homes layout was exactly as one would expect it to be, average. Living room and kitchen downstairs and bedrooms up.

But before I went running off to look for this 'crawlspace', I first wanted to find my target and his Nordic bodyguard. I peaked over the banister and looked down into the sitting area, sure enough they both were there.

Funny, I had run past them a few moments ago and didn't even notice them. Best to be more cautious.

Baenlin was sitting in his reading chair, as was supposed to be his habit and the bodyguard, Gromm, was in the kitchens. Doing what I don't know, but as long as he stayed in there I was fine. Carefully I slunk away from the railings and made my was into the first room.

One could tell that this had to be where the Nord slept. All was dusty and dingy, much unlike the rest of the house. I made sure to muffle my footsteps as much as possible as I walked across the creaky floorboards. But thanks to the harsh winds outside any slight noise I made was carried away.

Luck seemed to be on my side this time.

It only took a moment to locate the crawlspace. It was hidden behind a small dresser. Or shall I say someone had attempted to hide it, the crawlspace itself was twice the size of the drawers.

But I guess that was something I should have expected, this was a Nord who had tried to conceal it.

I didn't even need to move the dresser, I simply climbed on top of it and slid the crawlspace door open. I was small enough to slide right inside. The floors here were so old that the candlelight from downstairs seeped through the boards.

Which was good for me, without that little light it would have probably taken me an hour to locate the stuffed head.

xxxx

As Vicente had told me the ties on the back of the old Minotaur had weakened considerably overtime. The ropes were almost threadbare and without my meddling would surely fall within a year or two. I wrapped my hand around the hilt of my dagger, debating whether or not I was going to slice through the ties.

It seemed like the logical thing to do at the moment, but what if something went wrong, or the city watch gets called to investigate? I may be lucky but only fools rely on luck alone. "No." I whispered to myself as I let go of the blade of Woe.

There was other methods that I could do that would make this seem more like an accident…Heat, friction, fire.

Ah the little firebug in me.

I closed my eyes and placed both hands on the ropes. Remembering the little bit of arcane magic I had picked up over the years, I summoned a small flame in my hands, so little and dim that it was barley visible for me.

Quickly I let the flame die out, but focused all my energy on retaining its heat. Which in all honesty is easier said then done. Regardless of my mental strain, I set to work and slowly began crisping up the old ties. Within a matter of minutes there was a loud crack.

My heart began to pound away in my chest as I pushed myself from the wall and just in time. I watched as the heavy stuffed head fell like a lead weight to the ground below, soon followed by a loud slushy crunching sound and a lot of screaming.

I silently returned to peak out the small holes in the wall, where the tie had just been, and looked down. The Nord was now sobbing by the kitchen doorway, his ax was drawn but he was not in a fighters stance. That could only mean he thought it was an accident.

Good.

Shifting my gaze downward more I looked over to the dead elf, and immediately wished I didn't. What had once been a Mer, now looked like Gogron's meat surprise. Which is to say; red, chunky and all around…sickening.

My head went fuzzy and my vision became obscured with spots. I blinked lazily and knew that it was time to go.

That or I stick around and faint, something no assassin wants to do. That I assure you.

xxxx

Once again I was face to face with the man eating door. Never have I been so happy to see the damned thing, I was once again cold and wet, ready to take on any obstacle in order to enter the Sanctuary.

So Black Door, bring it on.

I stood there with my arms crossed waiting for it to open for me. It's not like it has a doorknob. Impatiently I began to tap my foot, "You opened for me last time did you not? Open now." There was another very long pause, and in that time I began to contemplate how to hurt a door.

"Sanguine my brother?" I tried again. Still, no response. I began to grind my teeth and was just about to call the door a very bad word when I picked up distant footsteps coming from behind me. I pulled out my blade and turned, awaiting to see who was approaching.

I know it could have been one of my fellow assassins but it's better safe than sorry.

I watched as a black robed figure slowly approached, his face obscured by the doors malevolent red lighting. "Speaker?" I asked and went to sheath my dagger, but quickly decided against it as the figure shook his head.

"I'm afraid not new sister, that honorable title is not yet mine." I blinked and watched as a smiling Breton entered the lighting more so that the details of his face could be seen.

He was older than me, but only by ten or so years. His eyes were a murky brown and looked sunken in as if he hadn't gotten a good nights rest in a very long time. For a Breton he was tall, but other than that average looking.

Still, I didn't much care for his eyes. As I've said before, you can see into a persons soul by looking into them. His were just far to murky for my liking.

But who am I to judge?

"Oh, forgive me…err, brother?" He smiled and reached out his hand for me to shake, common courtesy, I took it. "It is an honor to meet you sister Nerah." he began, I learned not to bother asking how people I don't know knew my name. It seems common practice for the Dark Brotherhood to be as shady as possible.

"I am Mathieu Bellamont, loyal child of our lady the Night Mother."