4E202, 5th of First Seed, 7:30pm

We return to the sanctuary and are halted near the nightmother's coffin by Cicero who starts screaming and crying.

"Dear sweet listener! OHHHH, we have been worried sick about you. Next time you fly off on a dragon on a rescue mission, at least let us know. We sent two recruits out looking for you. They have not returned..." He grabs me and pulls me into a long hug, as he gently pats my hair like a dog.

"Cicero, please stop petting my head, it is getting really uncomfortable." I grimace as he lets go.

"Sorry Listener. Shall I inform the others of your arrival?"

"Yes, but only if you tell them not to bother me about what I was doing. Also, we have a new... or uhhh... old family member, Darkest-Depths." Cicero's eyes widen as he looks at Darkest-Depths.

"By Sithis... I thought you were just an urban legend they used to tell us about when I was a recruit... The Scentless Apprentice. The deadliest poisoner the Brotherhood had ever known. How is it possible that you are even alive? You must be at least 600 years old?! It is preposterous." Cicero starts to dance around Darkest-Depths examining him and singing some sort of twisted nursery rhyme about him.

"I am afraid I cannot divulge such things child." he laughs hoarsely. Cicero frowns then runs off yelling," The Listener is alive! Of course he is! He's the Listener!"

"Graciella, please show Darkest-Depths to his quarters. Give him a firm mattress." I smile at her then turn to Darkest-Depths," Brew me something deadly. Your welcome to use our alchemy station and stocks. Bring it to me in an hour or so." He nods eager to move on from this non-sense.

8:30pm

I was exhausted as I entered my bedroom. Babette is not here, and must be off roaming the sanctuary looking for me. I lock the door and start towards my bed when the sound of a blade being drawn enters my ears. I turn to face the sound and see a man heavily draped in dark grimy traveling leathers. I draw the Blade of Woe and watch him uneasily.

He stands there, not moving, blade at his side," You will not die by my blade, but you will feel its keen bite."

He finally speaks,"I have no intentions to kill you Shakesh, but to offer you my blade." His voice is deep and gravely as he bends his knee.

"You must be insane to sneak into a Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, well, insane or incredibly skilled, but I do not take lightly to such a farce, how did you get in?"

"Your secret tunnel. The Brotherhood would be stupid not to have one installed in every sanctuary." He walks towards me and offers his blade hilt first.

"What is your name stranger?" I accept his blade and examine it. While it looks and feels Daedric in craftsmanship, the magical aura is emits is most certainly divine," and further more, what type of blade is this?" I ask as I hand it back to him.

"My name is Quintus Amarati, I hail from Cyrodiil's Imperial City. I can steal and kill whatever I wish, hate the empire, like the color black, and would very much like to be part of your family. The blade is known as Mehrunes' Razor, created by the Daedric Prince of Destruction, Mehrunes Dagon. Every person killed with it has their soul ripped out in order to empower the blade."

"I am inclined to invite you into our family Quintus, but first you must sign a contract bound in blood." I walk over to my desk and pull out a contract.

"I was saving this contract for myself, but if your skills are truly as deadly as you boast, it should be no problem."

He reads the contract as the corners of his lips curve slightly upward.

"You want me to kill Elenwen, First Emissary of the Thalmor in Skyrim. I may hate the empire, but I hate those snobby high-elves just as much. I'll be back in a week." He laughs as he walks towards my door.

"Shakesh! Open this fucking door! Do you know how worried I've been?!" Babette screams on the other side of the door.

Quintus' backs away from the door slowly and reaches in his pocket for a small vial. He drinks it and disappears.

A hoarse whisper emanates from where Quintus once stood," Sounds like you are pretty fucked mate."

I unlock the door and Babette charges in screaming. The door shuts by itself, which I can only assume means Quintus has made his exit.

"I'm sorry..." Is all I manage to get out before I'm forced to sit down and hear Babette's rant.