"Guilty." she said, grinning. She could see the horror on the faces of men, women, and children alike as she smiled, admitting openly to killing. "Bloody guilty. And I'll tell you this... He bled like a stuck pig. Do you know how long it took me to rip my dagger from his fat gut? Innards and blood everywhere... Tasty." screams erupted from the crowd, as, aghast, they stared at this demonic, evil child, as she stood, proud, and admitted everything... Scarlett was enjoying herself greatly. She really was arrogant, and certainly didn't know what was good for her... But there was one thing she did know. If she was going to die, she would take the piss out of everyone before she did... A last joke. She turned to the family, wide-eyed, huddled together at the front. She could tell that they were her victim's family, as she could remember his face clearly. Laughing, she pointed at them. "Wait a second... Ah, you're his family, correct?" they looked at her, furious, miserable, horrified. Scarlett chuckled nastily, and tilted her head on one side, ready to start mocking them. "I never forget a face... Especially not a contract's face. So memorable! Such an ugly face..." it was petty and she knew it, but it had the desired effect. The crowd were booing, and some of them had moved over to comfort the weeping family... Leaving a perfect escape route for her. Carefully, she averted her eyes from the passage, knowing that it was not wise to look at such a thing, in case someone followed her line of vision. "And you know what else?" she was going over the top now, but she needed them to be sobbing; to get them out of her way. "When I killed him, he screamed. The blood... I drank it as I ripped him to pieces, as I tore chunks of flesh from him, as I cut his chubby little cheeks RIGHT OFF!" and with those words she bolted, diving through the gap, as everyone, dumbfounded, just watched her as she sprinted for the gates, arm throbbing, but if she focused on anything but running as fast as she could... She would die. She thought about her mother, Silvanus, her unborn baby half-brother, and all her family, who she had to get back to! Then, once again, she was caught; although she was fast, she couldn't outrun a huge crowd like that, and struggled insanely, writhing in mid-air as she was picked up, and held in the air. Howling to the heavens, she screamed out. "SWEET MOTHER, SWEET MOTHER, SEND YOUR CHILD UNTO ME, FOR THE SINS OF THE UNWORTHY MUST BE BAPTIZED IN BLOOD AND FEAR!" the Black Sacrament flowed through her mind, and she felt it's evil power filling her, as she screamed it at the top of her lungs, again and again, willing one of the others to hear it, for Silvanus to hear it, to save her!
But it was impossible.
Bringing a fist down, smashing onto one of her holder's heads, she heard a scream of pain, and was dropped to the ground. Forward rolling through the forest of legs, she withdrew her dagger, and ran towards the gates. Feeling a strong hand on her shoulder, pulling her back, she slashed it with her dagger, and heard another cry of agony as the hand was retracted sharply. Gritting her teeth, she turned around, and stood her ground, as the crowd ran towards her, makeshift weapons held high, and Scarlett screamed. "SITHIS!" she felt a similar power to the power she'd felt when she'd been impregnated, flowing through her, as she left out an animalistic shriek, deafening Solitude temporarily, and she felt herself rising into the air, hair whirling about her head, eyes red as blood. Looking down at the petrified people below, she felt a terrible strength in her sword arm. Then, falling to the ground, power still rushing through her, she ran forward, dagger raised high, and the people scattered, as she slashed, stabbed and cut, people falling like flies around her. Then, she ran again, in a bloody rage, feeling fury pulsing through her as she left behind a trail of the dead... People were still running from her, screaming, dripping blood as she bit, fought tooth and nail... Then, breathing hard, she stood still, doubled over, as the power left her, and she returned to her normal, mortal state... Scarlett didn't know what had just happened. Shaking her blonde hair out of her eyes, she shook her head, in awe. Nobody was here, anymore, she was alone... They'd all fled from the fragment of Sithis within.
Then, she felt a hand on her arm, and whipped around, dagger at the ready, then flopped onto the floor, energy drained completely out of her. Xindal stood over her, a look of shock on his face, as he looked down at Scarlett beneath him... She'd summoned him, with the Black Sacrament. He was not a mortal being, he was a messenger of Sithis... Silvanus had heard it, and Xindal, on his way home, had been transported to his Speaker's side. Just in time, too; if she'd fainted before he'd got there, she would have been killed. For a second, he looked down at her then, kneeling down, scooped her up in his strong arms. She flopped like a rag-doll, and let out a low hiss. Then, after he'd carried her only a few metres, she sprung out of his arms, like a cat, and landed on two feet, furiously glaring at him. "What did I say about stalking me?" Scarlett hissed. Biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. Dusting herself down, she spoke again, angrily, "I don't need you to help me, you know. I could have escaped just fine on my own. Carrying me... Sithis, who d'you think you are, a Companion?" for a second, she laughed, lighthearted... But then, remembering who she was with, scowled again. They looked at each other for a second; the look on Xindal's snow-white face was pained. He'd only tried to help, and she was scorning him again, as usual... Seeing that she'd upset him, Scarlett sighed. She knew he didn't mean to be annoying, even if he was far too arrogant for his own good... But then, she supposed, so was she. Looking into his pupiless eyes, she shook her head, the anger gone.
"Listen, I'm sorry, I..." he began, desperately trying to make up for it, but she shook her head. Stepping forwards, for a moment he thought she was going to kiss him, but she just raised a finger to his lips, silencing him. "No. Don't be sorry. If you hadn't come when I fainted... God's, they're all watching from their little houses. If they'd seen me out of it, on my own..." she gestured over her shoulder, towards one of the pikes that marked the streets. "My head would have been on one of them. So... thanks, I guess." but then, she frowned. "Were you stalking me, just to ask?" her voice was delicate and Xindal didn't want to get on her bad side again. Hastily, he replied,
"No. Well, as you may have worked out, I'm not exactly mortal..." she raised her eyebrows, then laughed. He laughed too. "Sorry, that sounded stupid. But, you see, I am an actual son of the Void. As in, Sithis sent me to earth to be the Keeper, because he wanted someone who couldn't complain about the job, I suppose." they both laughed again. "But when you said the Black Sacrament, I was summoned. It's difficult to describe... I honestly wasn't stalking you, Scarlett. I'm sorry if I came across weird, or arrogant, or whatever..." "You did. You really did... No offence." "Yes, well... But listen, I just wanted to say... I just want to be your friend. I'm not trying to scare you, I swear to the Dread Father. I just like you. So... truce?" he said slightly desperately, looking her in the eyes, which had returned to their usual toxic green colour. For a moment, they just looked at each other, and the silence could have ended in anything: an argument, a kiss, a joke, or more silence. Scarlett cleared her throat awkwardly, looking at the ground for a second, and for once in her life she was slightly embarrassed. He really was far too emotional about this sort of thing, like Diablos. Really, they should get together, and let her marry someone less chatty... But what the hell. At least she had admirers, even if she didn't particularly like them back. Then, looking back up at him, she smiled sheepishly, and held out her hand. He took it, and they shook, although some would say they held each other's hands far too long. "Truce. Let's go." standing up, they began to walk towards the Solitude gates, and both could feel the eyes of the terrified inhabitants of Solitude upon them. Scarlett turned towards a house where the occupents were actually staring through the window, wide eyed. She waved sarcastically and they all ducked down, in terror. She laughed, and looked at Xindal, who quickly looked away from her. She coughed. Then, a smile lit up her pretty face, as she saw several guards running towards them, weapons drawn. Xindal started to unsheate his sword, but Scarlett grabbed his hand, and pulled it away, still smiling sadistically at the guards. "Wait." she whispered, barely opening her lips. Not understanding, but not wanting to question her, Xindal did so, praying she had a plan and wasn't just being an idiot. Knowing Scarlett, it could be either.
"Stop!" one of the guards yelled in a commanding, booming voice. The guards spread out in front of them, creating a semi-circle, and using their shields to get rid of any gaps in between them. Turning around, Scarlett saw there were guards behind them, doing exactly the same thing. They were completely surrounded. The man who had first spoken, and seemed to be in charge, stepped forwards to look at Scarlett. "I am arresting you in the name of General Tullius and the Imperial Legion. You have committed crimes against Skyrim and Solitude. If you try and run away we will kill you on the spot. Understood?"
"Understood, kinsman." Scarlett said brightly, dropping her dagger on the floor. The guards frowned and looked at each other, trying to work out whether she was serious or just playing with them. Nudging Xindal, she said, loud enough for them all to hear, "Go on then; drop your weapon. Don't want these poor men to have to kill us, do you?" Xindal raised his eyebrows at her, but looking carefully, he could see the fakeness in her smile. Quickly, she winked at him, then turned back to the head guard, who was scrabbling on the floor to pick up her dagger. Xindal dropped his sword, and it landed with a clatter on the pavement. The guard went to pick it up too, and held them between his legs, his own steel still pointed at Scarlett. He frowned. "What game are you playing, hell-spawn?" for a second there was silence. Then, Scarlett laughed. She laughed for far too long, for around thirty seconds, just pleasantly. Then, wiping a tear of laughter from her face, she smiled smugly.
"Games, sir?" she said mockingly. The guard growled and stepped towards her, but was held back by one of the others.
"Easy, Lorn. She's just a child." Lorn growled again and shook his colleague off, although he stepped back. "Good move... Lorn." Scarlett said, idly playing with one of her nails. Gazing at him from under heavy eyelids, she said, "After all, I could make this a lot more PAINFUL!" and with that word, she stepped forwards, grabbed the blades between his legs, and brought them upwards, slicing him completely in half, then throwing the sword to Xindal, as they both bolted towards the gates. Yells followed them, as then, as one, they turned around, weapons drawn, to face the guards. "If ever you want to prove yourself to me and the guild," Scarlett whispered into Xindal's ear. "Then now is the time." Then, as he nodded slowly, she gently bit his lobe, as she'd seen her mother do to Silvanus, and turned back to the guards. "Then let's kill these bastards." and with that, she ran forwards, blade ready to run them through.
For a second, Xindal just stood still, watching her stab in awe. His ear was still tingling from where she'd bit him; he'd felt himself get extremely turned on by the slight pain. But hearing the screams of the guards brought him back to reality, and he followed her, blade slashing like a whip. A guard faced him, head on, and then the battle was on: stabbing, slicing, blocking, running everywhere! He was a talented swordsman indeed. Practically back to back, Xindal and Scarlett killed and murdered, disemboweled and tore, and when they stood, together, in a pool of blood and bodies, finally they were content. Breathing hard, they both turned around and stared at each other, murder in their eyes, blood covering them both... Then they were kissing, finally after months, and all of the hatred Scarlett had felt, and all of the love Xindal had felt united into one as they kissed passionately. Finally, after what seemed like hours, they broke away. Looking for a second... Then they were kissing again. It was not Scarlett's first kiss, but so far... it was her favourite.
Years seemed to pass as the young, evil couple stood there in the streets of Solitude, kissing as young lovers do: like there is nobody else in the world. To Scarlett, all thoughts of Diablos, Silvanus, and any others who might enter her fantasies... were gone. Now it was just Xindal, and she felt her heart beating harder than when she'd nearly died. Then, she pulled away, and, after a heart stopping few moments of just gazing at each other, she held out her hand. He took it and, covered in blood from head to toe, they began to walk towards the gates of Solitude, united finally.
And the assassins of the Void watched, hearts swelling with pride, as the next step in the prophecy was completed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Boy?" Diablos was sitting at a desk, writing. He had been taught to write as a young urchin, and he put it to good use. Some day, he wanted to be a writer; one of those people who goes around, has adventures, then writes about them. Scarlett always teased him about being "over-emotional", and maybe he could do something that she would admire. Dipping his quill into the pot of ink Astrid had given him, he ignored Vassago's annoying calls. He wanted to write a poem, for Scarlett. He knew she hated bards and the like, preferring insane serial killers, but he had to impress her with what he had, and this was, indeed, what he had. His skill as a poet, and a bard, and a writer. He was handy with a sword, but he didn't like killing... Diablos couldn't help thinking about his contracts families. His own family had been killed by Vassago, when he was a small child... The pain of finding his parents dead in a pool of their own blood... He could still remember his screams, and the rough hand over his mouth...
Vassago had only kept him alive to be a slave. And Diablos knew that he was outgrowing his job and, soon, he would be abandoned, probably in a ditch with a dagger in his heart. The Imperial man liked tying up loose ends. "Boy?" Vassago yelled again. Diablos sighed, knowing that the bastard would scream the house down if not answered, and finished his sentence, leaving an ink blot. Cursing, he used his sleeve to try and rub it off, but the black mark was on the paper forever now. Stupid Vassago. Swivellig around in his seat, the young Nord glared at his master. "Yes?" he replied sarcastically. "Sorry, I couldn't quite hear you." Vassago snarled and, stepping forwards, struck him around the face. His cheek stung, as did his pride, but there was really nothing Diablos could do about it. Rubbing his face, he threw his master a nasty look, before getting up and offering his seat, like he'd been taught. The thin Imperial waved him away, rolling his eyes.
"I've no time to sit, Diablos. They suspect someone has informed on them. You see, that brat Scarlett went to Solitude a few days ago, and she's in trouble." Diablos' heart leapt, and he grabbed Vassago by the shoulders, heart beating quickly, as he screwed up his face in terror. "What! Scarlett? What happened to her? Is she okay?" Vassago shrugged him off, giving him a nasty look. Going over to his trunk, he pulled out a cigar, and began to puff on it, blowing the smoke into his slave's face smugly, enjoying his fear. "Please!" Diablos knelt on the floor at his master's feet, tears of fear dripping out of his eyes. Looking up, he saw the Imperial sneer:
"Baby. Crying? Honestly? It isn't even like she loves you back. And anyway, she might be dead. That Listener person... Silvanus or whatever... heard her voice in his head. The Night Mother's. And apparently, Scarlett's in trouble. Got caught. So they suspect me." then, going over to his trunk, he began to pack all of the things littered around it. "So we're going. Getting out of Skyrim. Cyrodiil, I think." Diablos frowned, terror still eating at his heart. "What do you mean... going?"
"We can't stay here now, can we? They'll kill us, and more importantly me, if they found out it was us who tipped off the people in Solitude..." he laughed maliciously. "I'm sure that little harlot is being strung up even now. What a twist of fate, eh? Now pack. We're leaving." Diablos stepped forwards, and in one swift moment, pinned Vassago up against the wall by the throat. Withdrawing his dagger, and gazing into his face one last time, Diablos raised the knife, and stabbed him as hard as he could. Vassago's scream filled the sanctuary, and the others came running, as Diablos twisted the blade out, then stabbed him again, and again, and again, and the anger inside him burst out in bloody rage...
Finally, Vassago dropped to the floor, completely lifeless, his blood spattered everywhere. Diablos, himself, was covered in it. Shaking with anger, he turned around, and saw Astrid... and beside her, Scarlett. He nearly cried with relief, that the dead man's words weren't true. They were looking at him in shook and astonishment, as he fell to his knees, staring at the blood on his hands. Then, he looked up at Astrid, who had a look he couldn't quite work out on her beautiful face.
"He was a traitor," Diablos said quickly. Then, turning to Scarlett, he said pleadingly, "I thought you were dead! I was so worried! He said... he informed on you, Scarlett, and I killed him, I was so..." he was silenced by the almost identical smirks that appeared on both mother and daughter's faces. They looked extremely alike when they smiled. "Dead? No. Xindal teleported me back... He had some sort of mark and recall spells. Got back only a few minutes ago." Diablos sighed in relief, and smiled at her. But the strange, almost predatorial look that was mirrored on her mother's face didn't leave her features... Then, Astrid spoke.
"You killed Vassago... and didn't regret it. The traitor." Diablos nodded, trying to make sense of what was happening... Astrid smiled even more widely, and held out her hand, oddly not bothered by the blood. Confused, Diablos stared at it. Then, Silvanus walked up... and the grin that was on both Astrid's and Scarlett's faces matched his own. They stared down at him hungrily. "Go on. Take my hand. Don't be afraid." The woman whispered. "It'll be a pathway to a new life, Diablos. The life of a true, bloodthirsty assassin. You've got a fragment of Sithis within you... Take my hand."
Diablos waited for a second. Then, hesitantly, he took her hand, and was lifted to his feet. Their grins widened. "Welcome to the Dark Brotherhood." And with that, they walked away. Leaving Diablos to stare at the dead body in front of him.
What had he done?