The burning logs hissed and popped, sending plumes of sparks dancing up the dark stone chimney. It was early morning but no sunlight ventured into the room. There were no windows to allow its unwanted intrusion. Instead the golden glow of the fire burning brightly under the carved wood mantle, supplemented by candelabras scattered about the room, provided a luxurious soft light as it pushed the velvet shadows into the corners.
A soft swirl of cool air ran past him and he could smell the scent of the outdoors, the moist fragrance of the snow that covered the rolling fields and hid the earthy scents of the grass and mud. She'd used the direct entrance. He'd expected that.
Count Janus Hassildor leaned back in the supple leather chair and watched the flickering purple figure make her way up to his salon. It was a very clever trick of magic and he hoped that she'd eventually teach it to him. It would certainly make his life easier. He'd been surprised when he'd first realized that she was a vampire despite the way her aura flickered like other mortals, but what he'd learnt about her since explained how she'd been able to come up with a unique spell like that.
Lilia certainly was well traveled. Discreet inquiries, placed to the correct sources, had yielded a very patchy history of the unusual Mages Guild member. She was the daughter of Eraden, a well regarded if minor diplomat, and Erissare, a noted researcher into alchemy and Magician of the Mages Guild. They'd died suddenly almost sixteen years ago and Lilia had essentially disappeared from Tamriel, only to resurface in Anvil at the end of last year. Just what she'd been doing and where remained mostly a mystery, but he did know that she'd spent the first five years on the Isle of Arteum before suddenly traveling to Orsinium just in time to run into trouble in the form of Ulliceta gra-Krog.
But it wasn't her studies with the Psijics that piqued his interest, or the fact that she walked about Cyrodiil disguised as a mortal. It was what he'd learnt about her mother's family that filled his mind with intriguing possibilities. She might prove very useful to him, but he needed to know the answer to a few questions first. Getting the information out of her would probably take a bit of work. She'd been so reluctant to admit she was no longer one of the living when they'd last met that he didn't expect her to discuss her vampirism freely.
The woman herself walked into the room, closing the door softly behind her, dressed once more in her strange mish-mash of armour. A new pair of glass boots on her feet did not improve the look. At least the steel ones had matched the mithril helm somewhat. She seemed to notice his eyes as they looked at the vine and leaf motif worked on the silver toned helmet and removed it as a polite sign of respect. She was in his house after all. At least her manners were somewhat improved. For the daughter of a diplomat she certainly hadn't been very diplomatic at their last meeting.
Janus waved his hand slightly and magic coated the walls of the room. She seemed to notice the change and quickly glanced around before turning her attention back to him.
"Greetings to you, Count Hassildor of Skingrad. May the Nine bless and keep you and your fair city. You honour me with your invitation to your charming home." The words were polite but her voice was not friendly. It was downright wary.
"Welcome Magician. I hope your journey was pleasant. Please, have a seat." He waved to the plush burgundy velveteen couch across from him. "Would you care for some refreshments? Tea? Or maybe a little brandy to chase away winter's chill?" Janus watched as she smiled wryly at his polite offer.
"No, thank you. We both know that isn't at all necessary." Looking at her teeth he couldn't detect any fangs - she must keep well fed. "I understand you have some information you want me to relay to the council. I would be delighted to do so." She gave him a smile so warm that it would melt butter, but it didn't extend past her mouth. Her eyes were slightly narrowed as they watched him as if he was a dangerous animal. It was a slightly disconcerting look overall.
"Ah, straight to business then. Well, if you don't mind, then I'll help myself." Janus could feel her curious stares as he poured himself a mug of fragrant tea and selected a couple of sweetrolls from the tray placed on the marble table between them. She seemed confused by what he was doing. "Are you sure I can't tempt you to join me? Salmo is the finest baker in the province."
Lilia shook her head slowly as she glanced from the tray back to him, watching as he enjoyed the delicate pastry. It looked as if she wanted to ask a question but was afraid to do so. Taking a guess he decided to broach the subject of life as a vampire, albeit obliquely.
"You don't eat?" He asked before sipping a warm mouthful of tea. Janus had the brew imported directly from Greenglade. It was a specialty of Black Marsh and one of the most expensive. But it was worth every septim to him. With such refined senses nothing else would do.
"It's not necessary."
"It may not be necessary but it certainly is pleasurable. One of the few perks of our condition, wouldn't you agree?" He gave her a small smile but she didn't return it.
"What happens to the food? When you eat?" Her sudden questions burst out rapidly from her. He was surprised to see her press her lips together and look down to the floor. She seemed embarrassed by her words. This he had not expected.
"That's one of the great mysteries of being a vampire. It just goes away, how and where we don't know. I could eat an entire deer by myself if I chose to with no problems, other than the boredom I would surely experience from such an interminably monotonous meal. I would have thought that you ate regularly, after all, you do spend so much more time with mortals than I do." She was now intently examining the tapestry hanging from the far wall, a finely crafted work depicting the triumph of the slave queen St. Alessia over the Ayleids. Again he suspected she had more questions for him. At least she was no longer trying to pretend that she wasn't a vampire.
"You've not been a vampire very long, have you?" Janus placed his plate back down on the table as he asked. She hesitated to answer as she eyed the fireplace.
"No. I've only been one for about half a year. I'm still learning what it entails." She still wasn't looking at him and he felt a small wave of pity for the woman. It was never easy to come to grips with the fact that you no longer numbered among the living. Six months was a very short time to try and do so.
"If you have any questions I would be pleased to tell you what I know." Her grey eyes were now locked on his face and he could see that she was pondering his words. She certainly didn't seem to trust him. He continued. "I've been a vampire for over fifty years now, so I do have an idea of what I'm talking about."
"Fifty years. That's not very long." She muttered softly in reply. The Count had to contain his disbelief at her words. Fifty years not a long time? Again he wondered how she'd contracted the disease and where. He'd received reports that she'd briefly stayed in the Imperial City last Rain's Hand, even purchasing a home on the waterfront, before vanishing for months. It was during this period that she must have become a vampire. What had she been up to?
"But I suppose it will have to do. I do have a few questions." She sighed as she pulled off her gauntlets and grabbed a sweetroll from the tray. Watching as she bit into it he noticed the way her eyes closed as she savoured it. Salmo was probably the best baker in Tamriel and his pastries were works of art, especially to a vampire's remarkable sense of taste.
"I can tell you about the damaging effects of the sun, our resistance to disease, our immunity to paralysis." He'd had to discover all of those things on his own. It had been a dangerous learning curve.
Lilia waved her left hand airily as she spoke and he noticed the unmistakable sign of a worm thrall on the back of her hand. His source had indeed been correct. "I've already been taught about those things. My questions are a little more random."
The use of the word 'taught' immediately caught his attention and he studied her as she poured herself a cup of tea. Curiosity about just how she'd become a vampire threatened to burst out in a series of very blunt questions. Not that he'd sought out the company of other vampires, but he'd never met one that functioned within society before. All of the ones that he'd met had been monsters, wicked creatures who'd abandoned themselves to their blood lust, living in filthy darkness.
"I'll try to answer them if I can." He laced his fingers together and placed his hands in his lap. She put her cup back down on the table after sipping the amber brew.
"What does it feel like to you, the urge to feed?" She asked quietly.
Janus fought to keep his eyebrows from shooting up. Her question was random indeed. "As a need, like any other. I'm sure you remember what it felt like to be thirsty, or hungry, or tired. The need for blood is the same." Lila's brows knit together at his answer.
"It doesn't, hmm, call to you?" She seemed to be choosing her words carefully.
"Not any more so than if I was incredibly thirsty, for example." What odd questions. Every vampire felt the urge the same, why would she even bother asking?
"Do you ever have nightmares?" Her eyes were scanning his face as she asked.
"Of course." Her body visibly relaxed at his reply. "Every vampire has nightmares. There's several theories about them. That they're blood memories, or a shared clan consciousness, or the attempts of the mind to accept our condition."
"Memories?" Lilia was looking at him strangely now.
"Yes. The nightmares are always about vampires, so it has been suggested that they are memories of our forefathers." He spoke the last word very sarcastically.
"Always about vampires." She spoke the words quietly to the fire. Lilia didn't look happy at the information as she watched the flickering flames. Janus waited for another question. He was sure she had more.
"What about other urges? Besides the need to feed. Do you ever have any other impulses?" The Count wasn't sure what she was asking.
"What sort of impulses? Desire to socialize?" He asked.
"Mmm." She was definitely choosing her words carefully. "Darker urges." She finally said in reply.
He tried not to let his expression change. These were very odd questions indeed. He kept his tone measured as he answered. "Not that I know of, no."
"Yes, of course." She seemed to be muttering up to the plaster ceiling. He'd heard that she was a bit unusual. After all, there were few people who worked for both the Mages Guild and the Fighters Guild, and who chose to fight with a jester's staff in the Arena.
"You didn't become a vampire by choice, did you?" He couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. He'd answered her questions and now it was his turn to ask.
She frowned at the fine china teapot. "No. I wouldn't say that I chose to become one."
"How did it happen?" Her face instantly shut down at the inquiry. It was as if she'd relaxed every muscle, making sure that no emotion could be discerned from her expression.
"I'll not discuss it." Her voice was wary again.
"Forgive my impertinence. I did not mean to upset you." He answered politely. Her eyes were again narrowed, watching him sharply. The wall of distrust once more threatened to loom between them. He decided to risk one last question.
"Why haven't you taken the cure?" As soon as the words left his lips he instantly regretted it. Her entire body had stiffened and she was now looking at him with an intense stare of distaste.
"That is none of your business. Now unless I am mistaken I was summoned here to receive information, not to have tea. What is it you wish to tell the council?"
Janus recognized a closed subject when he heard one. There would be other opportunities to speak to her again. In the meantime she had a more immediate purpose to serve.
"Do you remember Raynil Dralas? I believe I have you to thank for sending him to enjoy the hospitality of the Skingrad dungeons. At least, he enjoyed it until his head was cut off." She was now openly eyeing him with distrust. He pressed on. "I knew Gelebourne was no vampire, but I could not interfere with the incompetence of the guards. Though I did dismiss those who failed to recognize that a vampire does not leave a body when killed. Unfortunately Raynil's exploits have brought the city to the attention of other so called vampire hunters."
She arched an eyebrow and gave him a withering look. He abandoned hope that she'd behave diplomatically. He recognized the expression from their first meeting, when he'd called her gullible. That was no longer a word he'd use to describe her. Paranoid would probably be a better one. After all, she was the daughter of a diplomat. Paranoia was a way of life in the courts of the Empire.
"A group of them, led by a Bosmer named Eridor, are now running around town asking about suspicious individuals. I'm sure I don't need to explain my desire to have them gone, and my inability to handle the matter personally. By lucky coincidence," he emphasized the word lucky with a heavy dose of sarcasm, "a group of vampires have taken up residence within Bloodcrust caverns, just east of the city. Again, I cannot directly interfere with the matter, for obvious reasons."
"You want me to kill them all?" He was a little surprised by her question, that was a rather violent approach to the situation.
"I want you to deal with them as you see fit. I don't care how you do it, but I want the vampire hunters gone, and the vampires destroyed. Of course, I will be unable to offer you any protection should you run afoul of the law. Again, it would not do to become personally involved."
"So you get your problems solved and the guild gets information?" She asked and he nodded curtly in reply. "And what do I get out of it?"
"The satisfaction of a job well done." The Count's tone was frosty as he spoke to the other vampire. Had she forgotten that he could reveal her unique nature to the council if he wished? Though she didn't know that he'd never do so, at least not until he had some more information about her. "Why, what would you seek in reward?"
"Knowledge." She pointed to the silk covered walls around them. "Teach me how to cast your spell. I want to learn how to prevent sound from leaving a closed room."
He didn't stop his eyebrows from flying up in surprise. She really had studied with the Psijics - there were few who were well trained enough in mysticism who could not only feel when he cast his spell but who could also know just what it did. He found it an invaluable spell for political purposes as well as for helping to hide his condition from others.
"I will teach you it only if you teach me how to make my aura shift, like yours." He answered. She looked a bit smug at his words.
"You will teach me in exchange for my work in dealing with your problems. I will teach you as a personal favour. I thank you for your gracious hospitality but I must take my leave. Until later." Lilia stood up and nodded stiffly at him before walking out of the room.
Janus looked back to the dancing flames in the fireplace. A grim smile crossed his lips. She was going to do a personal favour for him; he recognized the implicit contract in those words. It was amusing, this undead daughter of a dead diplomat thought that she could somehow hold him in her debt. He shifted the logs with magic, adjusting them so they would burn slower. She was so out of her depth she couldn't even see it.
