Child Of Darkness

Purification

Athaya left the sanctuary immediately, heading to Fort Farragut. He had summoned her. Lucien Lachance had personally summoned her. She didn't know why. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. Everything was telling her that this would be bad; so, so bad. Everything was telling her that darkness loomed on the horizon, and that… that everything she'd come to know and love was doomed to be robbed from her… And all her senses told her that the ones who would suffer more than anyone else were the two whom she had come to care the deepest for. What have you done, Speaker? What have you done, Silencer? What am I about to do? She shivered. She never wanted to know…

ES

She entered his hideaway at his summons, appearing like some apparition. He himself had very nearly thought that a ghost was just what she was. "I have been waiting for you assassin. We have not spoken in some time, but I am well aware of your accomplishments within the Dark Brotherhood. That is why I have sent for you. I'm afraid there is a… situation. The time has come to test both your skill and your loyalty to Sithis. The Black Hand has learned that the Dark Brotherhood has been infiltrated. By whom, and for what purpose, we do not yet know. What we do know is that there is some link between the traitor and the Cheydinhal Sanctuary. The traitor has tainted that place beyond repair. It was learned that the traitor has been active for quite some time. Since before you joined the Brotherhood. That absolves you of any suspicion," Lucien declared.

It was then that she spoke… Spoke for the first time he had ever heard; and her voice… Her voice sent shivers up and down his spine. "I will serve you to time immemorial," she declared. Oh gods, he felt as if he were in another world. She'd spoken…

"And that, dear child, is why the Black Hand has chosen you to perform the ancient rite known as Purification. Everyone inside the sanctuary must die," he stated.

He heard her catch her breath, her eyes filling with fear and sadness, and oh immortals, her tears… The tears glittering in her eyes made him want to draw her close and swear to her that everything would be all right. But it wouldn't… Somehow he knew it would never be all right again. But he never wanted to see another look of anguish in her eyes or expression. He didn't want to continue, he truly didn't, but it must be made known to her. "You must break one of the tenets you have sworn to uphold. I know this is an unexpected turn of events, but drastic measures must be taken. Ocheeva… Vicente Valtieri… Antoinetta Marie, Gogron gro-Bolmog, Telaendril, M'raaj Dar, and Teinaava. All of these family members must die…" he declared, and he'd never thought any words could cut so deeply, hurt so badly, as those had…

Vicente had been his best friend, along with Banus; and he knew, he just knew, that Vicente was innocent. Banus had begged in tears for the vampire to be spared, if no one else. He supposed he should have pled as well. He should have at least tried… but he hadn't. He hadn't, and it didn't matter anyway. It didn't matter… And her… Her misery made it all the more painful; so betrayed, so hurt, so miserable, and he wished in that moment that he could die, for if she came to hate him… If she came to hate him, her hatred would end him so much more painfully than anything he could imagine. He closed his eyes tightly at the thought, and he knew… If she had attacked him then, he would not have fought back. If she had killed him there it would have been a blessing.

"From this point forward you are no longer bound by the five tenets. Sithis will forgive any murder, any theft, so long as you serve the Black Hand. When the rite of Purification has been completed, return to me here at Fort Farragut, and we will discuss your future," he said; and for a moment there was hatred. For a moment he knew she wanted to kill him, but then understanding came to her eyes and she bowed her head low. Oh to turn his back so he would no longer have to watch… "Now take these special gifts. They will help you greatly. One is a poisoned apple, the other a unique scroll of summoning. Good luck… Silencer."

She looked up at him slowly, lips parted in awe, tears in her eyes. He cringed, and this time it was he who looked down. She knelt before him and answered, "Thank you, Speaker."

"Make haste. The sanctuary must be purified if this treachery is to be undone," he quickly ordered, wanting her gone. If she stayed any longer, he would fall, he would break, he would not go through with it… She understood. She saw and understood, and for a moment he wanted to sob and fall to his hands and knees and tear at his hair. All around him the life he had built for himself was collapsing, and the only beacon of light in all of this darkness was her, her, always her. He couldn't deny it anymore and he wouldn't. She filled his dreams. Every hope and prayer he breathed for some semblance of normality, some future, some light and goodness, centered upon her; this woman who had spoken only ten words to him. He was tired of being the comforter. He wanted to be the one comforted. She rose and left without a word, and then… then he let himself fall to the ground and sob until he couldn't weep anymore.

ES

She looked back only once, before leaving the Cheydinhal sanctuary, and her eyes filled with tears. The hurt in their eyes, the betrayal… Oh gods! To erase the memory of the looks in their eyes as she cut them down… To erase the memory of their words. "Night Mother have mercy!"

"Night Mother forgive me!"

"Night Mother protect me!"

"Why, sister, why?"

Shaking with misery she sobbed and turned, running from the sanctuary. Running as far from everything as she possibly could. She was right. The darkness had begun to fall upon her, and she saw no escape, no goodness. What more misery could possibly be inflicted upon her, upon the Dark Brotherhood? No light, no light in this blackness… Say for one… Her Speaker, her master. And the child… always the child…

ES

She returned to him in tears. He saw it. Anguish so set upon her features that she never even looked up. He watched silently. Finally he said, "The ritual of purification is complete. Well done. Sithis has been appeased and the time has come to acknowledge and reward your unwavering loyalty."

Then the last thing he expected happened. She burst into tears and fled into his arms. Shocked, he held her tightly as she sobbed mournfully into his chest, shaking her head in denial. He didn't know what to do, what to say. He swallowed and felt tears burning his own eyes. When was the last time he'd wept so often? This was not the way of a hardened assassin. He forced them back and continued, "The Black Hand is most pleased with your progress. You have been invited to share in secrets that few within the Dark Brotherhood even know exist. Your life in the sanctuary is over. Those contracts are behind you. Now, you will serve the Black Hand. You will serve me." She shivered in his embrace. "From this moment forward you will walk the shadows as my Silencer. You will receive contracts only from me. Your new life has begun."

She continued to weep and he was afraid. Afraid she would speak no more. But then she questioned fearfully, "But… but what must I do now?" He felt her fear and confusion. Everything torn from her in a single night, all she'd come to know and love gone; and she was vulnerable. So, so vulnerable.

"No longer will you receive your orders directly. Instead, you will visit secret dead drops. Your next contract can be found at the dead drop on Hero Hill, southeast of here. A hollow in the moss covered rock contains all you need to know," he told her gently. "When you leave here, we will not speak again unless I deem it necessary. Ah yes, there is one last thing. I have for you a very special gift. Waiting just outside is a magnificent steed named Shaodowmere. She has served me well. I present her now to you, as a token of my trust… and love…"

ES

She looked up at him slowly, eyes meeting his, lips parted ever so slightly; and how he wanted to place his own upon them and never let her go. He didn't have to. She was the one who advanced. Before he could ready himself her lips were against his softly, gently, lovingly… She stole his breath away, and he softly cupped her cheek and kissed her desperately back. Sithis only knew for how long he'd wanted to feel her lips upon his, her cold skin against his own flesh. After a moment she pulled away and said, "Must you be so wan and cold, fond master?"

"Cold?" he wondered, hardly in a whisper as he still fought to catch his breath.

"After everything, after all of this… Am I truly never to speak to you again?" she asked softly, a tear trickling down her cheek. Suddenly afraid he took her face softly and gently brushed it away. He never wanted to see her tears again.

Nuzzling her tenderly, he breathed, "My Silencer…"

"My Speaker," she answered, and he was shivering now, unable to stop as they nestled their foreheads.

He closed his eyes tightly. No more promises, no more explanations, please no. But it was a battle he wouldn't win. "You will see me again," he vowed to her. She sobbed and kissed him once more. As they gently parted he breathed, "Now go, and may Sithis guide you in this new stage of your life's dark journey. Go now, child of Sithis. Walk in the shadow of the Void."