Child Of Darkness
Silencer
Entry 8: Some wonderful news mother! Advancement at last! Lucien Lachance paid a visit to the Sanctuary today, to talk with me! He told me the Black Hand needed my services. One of the other Speakers is looking to replace his assistant, who was killed fulfilling a contract. So Lucien Lachance suggested me! I met with the Speaker and will serve as his new "Silencer." Ha! Lachance might as well have given me a contract to kill the Night Mother herself! I am now one step closer to realizing our dream. I will learn the Night Mother's identity and tear the heart from her chest. Oh yes, and I have something special planned for Lachance himself…
ES
"Mathieu, get up! Lucien Lachance is coming!" Gogron excitedly said, shaking the boy into wakefulness.
"Hmm, what? Now? Why?" Mathieu asked, groggily rising.
"I don't know, but it's something big boy, and it centers on you," Gogron replied.
"Me?" Mathieu asked in shock, now wide awake.
"Get dressed and get out here," Gogron ordered, beaming at him. Quickly the orc left, and Mathieu staggered up quickly doing just that.
ES
He ran out into the main hall. "When is he coming?" Mathieu excitedly asked the others.
"Sit down and eat your breakfast child. He'll be here any minute," Telaendril said, grinning at him. Vicente was beaming proudly and Mathieu was becoming more and more excited. He reluctantly forced himself to calm down and eat. He was halfway done when the door to the sanctuary opened. He gasped and quickly devoured the rest. He leapt up and raced to greet his father.
"Lucien!" Mathieu exclaimed, running to the man and hugging him, to Lucien's shock. It was a rare occasion the boy greeted him in such a way.
"Someone has hinted something to you," Lucien remarked, hugging him back with an affectionate smile.
"They said you wanted to talk to me. Gogron hinted it was big," Mathieu replied excitedly as the rest of the sanctuary appeared, eager to hear the news. The only ones who knew were Vicente and Ocheeva, but the others had a fairly good idea. It had been years since something like this had happened.
"It is," Lucien said. "The Black Hand needs your services, child."
Mathieu's eyes widened. "The Black Hand?!" he exclaimed in shock, almost whooping for joy. He was going to be personally selected to join the Black Hand! It was one of the highest honors any member of a sanctuary could receive!
Lucien chuckled and nodded, saying, "One of our Speakers is looking to replace his assistant, who was killed fulfilling a contract. So I personally suggested you."
"Father you didn't!" Mathieu exclaimed. Lucien nodded. Before he could blink he found his arms filled with teenager. "Thank you sir, thank you! I'll make you proud!"
"You always have," Lucien replied, beaming and hugging the boy tightly. "Now, collect your things and meet me at the doors. Then your new life as a Silencer will begin." Mathieu laughed and darted instantly off, Lucien grinning after him.
"You couldn't have made a better choice," Ocheeva said to Lucien, bittersweet tears in her eyes. Lucien grinned lovingly in the direction Mathieu had run.
ES
"Good luck, young one. We will certainly miss you around here," Ocheeva said, taking his hand fondly. Mathieu nodded.
"It has been nothing short of a miracle to watch you grow from practically infancy to this young man standing before me," Teinaava added. Mathieu grinned proudly.
"Yes, well, it's been an experience, kid. I guess I'll, you know, miss having you around," M'Raaj-Dar said awkwardly. There was a silence then the Khajiit pulled him close, saying, "Who am I kidding? Good luck, boy."
"Look at you. You've grown up so much," Antoinetta gushed. Giggling she kissed his forehead and said, "Go out there."
"I remember teaching you how to make those seaweed dolls so long ago, and helping you learn and grow. Oh I'll miss you, boy," Telaendril said.
"Yeah, whatever. Great havin' you around kid. See ya," Gogron awkwardly said. Mathieu mischievously smiled at him.
"You were amusing to prank," he replied. Gogron frowned angrily but then sighed. He really didn't want to see the kid go, but he supposed there was no choice now.
"Goodbye, Mathieu. Don't lose that hit you have," Fafnir said, winking at him. Mathieu cringed, remembering the broken nose from so long ago.
"Farewell, young Bellamont. Walk always in the shadow of Sithis," Vicente said, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders. Mathieu nodded then hurried out of the sanctuary to meet Lucien.
ES
They rode in silence, Mathieu lost in his thoughts; and not all of them good, he realized. He frowned, trying to block them out, but it didn't work. They approached Anvil Lighthouse and his gaze became sad. Lucien softly put a hand on his shoulder. "He would be proud of you, Mathieu," the man remarked.
"It doesn't bring him back," Mathieu replied. He'd kept his promise, though. He hadn't gone into the cellar, not once for a long time except to bury the old bodies. He didn't know how he'd managed to get out of there still in control of his thoughts, but he had. Wasn't that a good thing? Or was it just the calm before the storm, because now all he was hearing was a child's laughter, and a mother's. Quickly he looked back at the road, focusing on the ride. Until, that is, he began to drift off; and that was never good, because it left his mind wide open…
ES
"My son, look into my eyes," her voice was softly saying.
"Mother…" he breathed, looking around in alarm.
"Look into my eyes," she repeated.
"Mother, where are you mother?" he called out, trying to follow her words.
"Turn around," she replied.
He turned slowly and nearly screamed. There was her decaying body, her head held in her hands. He backed away in horror. "No, no, no, no, no," he kept murmuring.
"Have you forgotten your dream, child?" she asked. "Our dream?"
"Dream?" he fearfully replied, looking around. Where was Lucien? He wanted Lucien to wake him up and save him.
"Lucien Lachance must die," she replied.
"I don't want him to," Mathieu childishly replied.
"They you have truly forgotten me," she replied.
"No! No mommy, no, I haven't forgotten, I haven't! Please, please don't leave me again, please!" he screamed out.
"Learn the Night Mother's identity, and tear the heart from her chest," the woman ordered.
"I will mother, I will!" Mathieu exclaimed, sobbing. "Lachance has practically given me a contract to kill her. And Lucien… I will have something special planned for him, I promise mommy, I promise. Just don't… don't leave me."
"There, there, guileless son. I see your fear, I hear your pain and misery. I know you love my murderer as your father," she breathed.
"I don't, I don't!" Mathieu tried to insist, but he knew it was a lie to himself. "I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!" Mathieu repeated. Maybe if he told himself he hated Lucien enough times, he would actually start to.
"I must leave you again, my son. Avenge me child, avenge me," she breathed.
"Mommy, mommy no, please! Don't go mommy!" he called out, but she was gone, and his dream was fading to black as he was awakened by Lucien lightly shaking him. He started awake and looked at the worried man in terror. Forcing himself to calm down he gave Lachance a nervous smile, hoping it would trick Lachance into thinking it was just nerves. It seemed to work as Lucien didn't question, only gave a reassuring smile before climbing off of Shadowmere. Mathieu leapt from his own steed and followed. It was time to meet his Speaker.
ES
They were walking through the halls. "How are you feeling about all of this?" Lucien asked, worried he'd asked too much of the still young boy.
"Odd, Speaker, and slightly disappointed," Mathieu answered.
"For what reason?" Lucien asked curiously.
Mathieu hesitated then replied, "Because I believed that if ever I became anyone's Silencer, I would be yours." Lucien started at the declaration. "Am I not good enough, father?" Mathieu questioned.
"How could you ever think that?" Lucien asked gently. "Mathieu, I am not looking for a Silencer as of yet. Besides, it would have been seen as favoritism to the others. They already know you are one of the best, I could get away with choosing you for that reason, but if I had claimed you as my Silencer on top of that, well, there would have been talk."
"I understand," Mathieu replied, though he was still obviously disappointed.
Lucien smiled and assured, "You will not be let down by your Speaker."
"His previous Silencer died fulfilling a contract he handed out. How is that supposed to reassure me, Speaker?" Mathieu replied incredulously. Lucien paused and blinked blankly as Mathieu kept on. Hmm, the boy brought up a valid point. He shrugged it off, though, and followed. Proudly he watched as his child was initiated into the Black Hand, and named a Silencer. He grinned softly at the boy. Perhaps things were starting to get better…
Hah! Lachance might as well have given me a contract to kill the Night Mother, Mathieu realized as he went through the ceremony. See mommy, see. I'm almost there mother. I'm almost there. I'll avenge you mommy, I will. Just… just don't leave me again… I need you mommy, I need you.