The chill wind that tore through the city froze the skin of her already unnaturally cold right hand as it held the small silver key tightly. Lilia sighed and stared at the door in front of her. It was time for another visit with Janus Hassildor, vampire Count of Skingrad, someone she never wanted to see again.

She did not appreciate that he'd chosen her, of all people, to deal with his little problems. Fighting vampires and socializing with vampire hunters were high up on her list of things she least wanted to do, slightly below playing with zombies but slightly above petting mud crabs. The number one item on her list was currently fighting alongside mortals, and she again cursed Janus as she thought of what had happened at Bloodcrust cavern.

Eridor had been more than willing to accompany her with his group when she'd told him that she had a lead on where to find vampires. His enthusiasm should have been a warning sign. The men had rendezvoused with her wearing nothing but thick clothes for protection. Lilia had chastised them, finally resorting to a few strong punches, before they'd relented to her insistence that they armour themselves first. Her blows had helped to prove the point that they'd need somewhat better protection.

The icy winds that swept the rolling plains around Skingrad had done nothing to improve her foul mood as she'd led the inexperienced group to Bloodcrust cavern. Looking into the underground tunnels she'd seen six unwavering figures moving about. The odds had put her slightly at ease. Six vampires against one vampire and four vampire hunters shouldn't be too terrible of a fight.

She took lead, as she didn't know the abilities of the still enthusiastic men that accompanied her. When they'd rushed past her en masse to attack the first vampire, shouting and stomping, she'd briefly considered siding with the vampires instead. None of the mortals died in the first skirmish, luckily for them. Lilia had again resorted to physical methods to try and beat some sense into the ridiculous hunters. They sheepishly allowed her to lead the way. At the very least they hung back out of reach of her fists.

The other vampires had been alerted by the noise and were making their way to investigate. She'd been surprised at the way they behaved. Though they appeared relatively well fed they'd seemed as if they operated purely on instinct rather than intellect. She'd wondered just why they'd chosen to live the way they did. She'd never interacted much with vampires like them before. Vicente and Janus had been like her, humans who were no longer living, dependant on blood to survive, and the vampires in Gutted Mine had been mad with blood lust. But these ones chose to live in the caverns, killing any and all who ventured near. The concept made her very angry.

Two vampires were waiting for them when they'd made their way into a side cavern. Since she was the first person they saw they had both moved to attack her. Lilia had whirled around, dodging away from the reach of their swords, trying to let the vampire hunters pick them off from a distance. When a silver arrow bounced off her cuirass she'd been annoyed. When a misplaced fireball burst at her feet she'd been furious. She'd sent fire magic into the weakened vampires, burning them into small piles of ash, before stalking back to the group as she healed herself.

Lilia had wanted to teach the hunters how to kill vampires effectively. She didn't care for the kind who preyed on the innocent, killing indiscriminately, heedless that they might create other vampires as they did so. If the men could become proper hunters then they could help stamp out the disease. If there were no more vampires to infect people there would be no more vampirism. But being a practice dummy for them was not part of her plan and they again revised strategy.

When they encountered another two vampires as they'd pressed further in she'd hung back and let the spellcasters send magical flames into the undead creatures. She'd kept her bow at the ready in case they took too long, but she'd been pleased that they were able to kill the two with relative ease. Lilia had again thanked the Nine for the magical fire resistance on her armour. It always shocked her just how vulnerable vampires were to flames.

The last vampire had snuck behind them as they worked, hoping to take them by surprise. Lilia had let the men know with silent gestures about the sneaky creature's strategy. Feeling a bit more confident in the hunter's abilities she'd moved to the rear to watch them handle the lone remaining vampire. She still regretted her decision.

The Nord vampire had been unlike the others. He'd gone far longer without feeding and his appearance had been much closer to those of Gutted Mine. His strength and speed had also been on par with theirs and Lilia had been unable to move quickly enough to get between him and Eridor. The Bosmer's left arm had been torn from his body right in front of her eyes. She'd incinerated the vampire in retaliation and had then spent every last resource of her magicka in healing the badly wounded mer. He'd survived, but there had been nothing she could do for his arm. It had been a very somber group that had returned to Skingrad, and Eridor's companions had immediately booked passage to bring the distraught Wood Elf back to his home in Valenwood.

The guilt she felt still weighed heavily on her. Lilia chastised herself - she should never have involved mortals, despite their willingness, in her battle with vampires. As a result of her carelessness the mer would never again be able to fire a bow, to be the warrior he'd dreamed of. The worst part is that he'd thanked her for taking him with her, and for saving his life, as she'd said goodbye to them at the Two Sisters Lodge.

Count Hassildor's unwavering purple figure was now making its way down from the salon. The movement brought the present back into focus and she quickly unlocked the curved wooden door that led directly into his private apartments. She'd found the key on Mercator Hosidus' body when she'd searched both him and the two Necromancers before turning them into ashes. Janus' use of the word 'discreet' in his instructions to Raminus had made her suspect that he knew she had it. The vampire had a reputation for missing very little.

Pushing the door open she stepped in and let her invisibility spell fall. She took off her helmet as she closed the door.

"Back so soon? You're either very efficient or very confused." Janus' voice seemed contemptuous to her ears - it always did. She didn't trust him at all and regretted her hasty decision to ask him questions about being a vampire. His answers had done nothing to ease her worried mind.

"Then I guess I'm efficient. The vampires are dead and the hunters are leaving town. I don't think they'll ever return." Janus had turned to walk to the salon and Lilia was speaking to his richly embroidered back as she followed along.

"How did you accomplish all of that so quickly?" He asked the question as he settled himself back down in the brown leather chair. She sat herself on the couch, careful that her armour not tear the fabric beneath her.

"You can find out from your spies later. I'm not interested in chatting. Let's get the training over with and I'll be on my way after you give me your message for the council." As she spoke she pulled off her gauntlets and patted the seat beside herself.

"Just business then? Very well." He gracefully stood up and made his way over to sit beside her. "Who will learn what first?"

"You teach me your spell first. I've already performed my part of the bargain." The corners of his lips twitched up at her words.

"Yes, of course. I know you're very familiar with the fundamentals of mysticism. You've had such illustrious teachers after all. So the concept is..."

"You don't need to tell me how to do it. If you permit me I will hold onto your free hand and feel how you cast it." She didn't like his reference to illustrious teachers, but she'd ask him about it after he'd taught her the spell. Having an ability to prevent sound from leaving a closed room would surely be useful. She wished she'd had it ages ago.

"Really?" Janus held his left hand out to her and she took it with both of her own. The feel of his cool skin caused an intense ache to rush through her - she'd not felt anything like it since she'd been with Vicente. She struggled to control her memories and emotions. Her mind needed to be relaxed for this to work. "Are you okay?"

Lilia realized that she'd closed her eyes and made an expression of pain as she'd taken his hand and cursed herself for it. The Count missed nothing and she was giving far too much away. "Yes. I'm ready. Cast anytime you want."

Letting her mind relax she felt him create a silence spell that coated the ceiling, walls, and floor, trapping all sound within. It was simpler than she'd expected but wonderful in its ingenuity. She wondered what other tricks the Count had picked up in his long life.

"That felt odd. It was like I had to cast through something." Janus was looking at her strangely. "Did the Psijics teach you how to do that?"

Lilia pulled her hands away from him and stood up. How did he know about that? How much did he know about her? The thought frightened her. She didn't want to be beholden to his whims as he used her secrets against her. If he knew about the Psijics what else did he know?

"Do I need to stand to learn how to make my aura change?" Janus was looking at her oddly. He seemed confused by her sudden movements. She quickly pondered what to do. Teach him what he wanted to know, to placate him and perhaps put him in a position of owing her a favour; refuse and risk the information for the council and the allegiance Raminus sought; or attempt to kill him where he sat, which would certainly improve her mood but not her situation. The thought of the Master Wizard made her decision for her. She had promised to behave.

"Muscle cramp." She lied baldly at him. Sitting back down she again picked up his hand, squeezing it perhaps a bit too tightly in the process. "Now close your eyes and try to relax. I'm going to use your magicka to cast the spell. Pay attention to how it works."

Lilia was impressed. The Imperial was actually a powerful mage. She had heard the rumours of his skill floating around the town and she'd thought that perhaps they'd been made up to explain his unnaturally long lifespan. In this case the rumours had been true for once. After less than ten casts he was able to work the spell on his own. She dropped his hand as soon as she could.

"So tell me what information you have that was worth all of that effort." She said. He snorted at her demands.

"Information that is vital to your guild. Mannimarco is in Cyrodiil." He replied dryly.

"No. That's not possible. The King of Worms, here in the province?" Lilia couldn't believe it. If it was true then the Mages Guild was in far more trouble than they realized. Mannimarco and his Necromancers had defeated Vanus Galerion, the original founder of the guild, and his host of highly trained Battlemages in a battle that was still immortalized in songs and poems. And Hanibal Traven was no Galerion. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes. I have complete confidence in my source. Perhaps you see that all of that effort, as you put it, was meager in comparison to the knowledge I've provided." He gave her another disdainful look as she jumped off of the sofa and whirled around to face him. But she didn't start yelling. Instead she yanked her gauntlets back onto her hands and started storming off to the door. She couldn't alienate him now. If his information was true then he had far better sources than the guild did. They'd surely need him in future.

"Thank you for the hospitality I must be leaving now." She spoke the words so fast they ran together as she left the apparently bewildered vampire Count behind, seated on the sofa, his purple aura dancing like the firelight that lit the room.


The glowing blue stars moved slowly around them, the night sky in perpetual motion. The unique thrum of dwarven machinery was the only noise that broke the silence. Raminus was looking up at the ceiling of the orrery. He seemed to be staring at the Atronach as he digested her message.

Lilia had learnt that he was in the council chambers and had corralled an innocent looking little Breton Apprentice who'd had the misfortune to wander into the foyer at just the wrong time. She'd sent the bewildered young woman up with a note and Raminus had returned with the very pale girl. Apparently some of the council members had not appreciated the interruption and had threatened her with a demonstration of some rather nasty destructive magic. Lilia had been glad she hadn't gone up there herself. She probably wouldn't have received the warnings. She'd dragged Raminus into the deserted orrery and had used her new spell to make sure that they couldn't be overheard.

"You have to tell the council." He finally spoke. Raminus was now regarding her with the same unhappy expression as he'd used on the magical replica of the heavens above.

"No. My presence wouldn't help things. But they do need to be told. I'm sure that the Necromancer spy is already fully aware of Mannimarco's pleasure trip. There's no reason to keep this hidden. Go, tell them now. But try to watch everyone's reaction. See if you notice anything."

"Hmm. I still can't believe there is a traitor on the council." He was now frowning at the dwarven replica of Nirn rotating in the middle of the room, the two moons circling around it.

"And I can't believe the King of Worms is here in Cyrodiil. I hope it's all a mistake, I really do, but I don't think it is. Count Hassildor may be many things, but he wouldn't lie about something like this. It would ruin his reputation for knowing everything." She couldn't hide the bitterness in her voice.

He sighed heavily. "Well, I guess I'd better get back to the council." Lilia caught his arm before he could get away.

"Wait. How will you find me to tell me what they decide?" She asked.

"Why would I do that?" He was giving her a confused look. "You're not a member of the council. You don't need to know."

"No, I don't need to know. But I would like to. I know you might not be very fond of me but I do have the best interests of the guild at heart, and I won't stand by and watch it be destroyed by Necromancers. I have a personal problem with the concept, as I'm sure you understand." Lilia tried to keep her frustration under control. She wanted to help. Why couldn't they see that?

"Where will you be? You don't want me to send anymore daedra to your door, remember?"

"It's Mondas, right?" She asked.

"Tirdas." He was eyeing her strangely again as he answered. Every now and again Lilia lost track of time. Not sleeping for several days in a row didn't help. She now slept about once every four days. Thoughts of her unusual nightmares still haunted her constantly.

"Damn! What time is it?"

"Just a bit before ten." Raminus was looking at her as if she was mad. She was getting used to that expression, though she still preferred the one where she was being studied. And she much preferred when people looked at her in amusement most of all, well, as much as one can enjoy dirty looks. Being considered amusing was far preferable to being considered mad.

"I'll be at the Arena until midnight. After that I'll be at my home, waiting. You're welcome to visit me personally. I won't be asleep." There was no way that she was going to rest until she'd learnt what the council had decided. She'd herd Methredhel around with her staff if she had to but she also wouldn't wait alone. Her mind was racing feverishly trying to handle everything that had happened in the last couple of days. Being alone with her thoughts was a very unwelcome idea right now.

"Very well. Until later." Raminus nodded politely before walking away in a determined posture back to the foyer. Lilia hurried after him and watched as he teleported up to the mages above. With a quick prayer she pushed open the door and stepped into the cool night air.