WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE…

The stone door of death creaks open. It sounds like trying to open a coffin. I would know. The red light emanating from the door shows me the entrance to a cave. The creepiest one I've ever seen.

I square my shoulders. Voice is silent.

One step in and I'm a goner, I just know it. All I have to rely on are my heightened senses and maybe the deities who might come to my aid. Not the best of chances. But it's all I have.

My fear ebbs when a shroud of peace settles on my shoulders. I just have to see what she has in store for me then fight back. How? I don't know. But if Potema could be defeated…then so can she.

I keep the image of Potema in my mind. The evil shape of a woman bundled in electricity and brimming with untapped power. If she can be taken down, then so can the Night Mother. So can the Night Mother. So can she.

One more thought and I take your mind.

The cave winds downwards, it begins as any other cave…but opens to a larger cavern, filled with rooms carved into the rock. A bedroom to the left, along with a map of Skyrim. Heartbeats echo in the chamber beyond. I begin to move there when I see her.

Woman from the shack. She's leaning against the staircase wall. Watching me. Maybe the shadows kept her safe from my prying eyes.

"Ah, at last! I hope you found the place all right." She turns her head ever so slightly, letting the candlelight frame her pale face and honey colored hair.

"Took some time but nothing I couldn't do." I shrug.

You don't want to let her know about me, do you?

Should I? I question. It doesn't sound like it matters if you want me to or not, you'd just make me do it.

Voice laughs, The choice is yours to make…

"…your new life I the Dark Brotherhood. You're part of the family, after all." Astrid finishes. Her brow furrows when she sees me basically talking to myself.

"Sorry, zoned out. Go on."

She nods, "This, as you can see, is our Sanctuary. You won't find a safer place in all of Skyrim. So, get comfortable."

I look around. It's not the worst place to be working, I did used to work in the sewers, I just hope there aren't any spiders around the corner…

"Hmm…Yes, the silence suits you. Gives you an air of mystery." The corner of her lip turns up to give her a beautiful smirk.

Silence will reign. Voice chimes.

I break out into another sweat. I thought this meeting would calm her, but it's only aggravating her. Bring up some past skeletons based on how she focuses her hatred on the woman before me.

"Down to business. I'm arranging a job for you. But in the meantime, go talk to Nazir. He may have some smaller contracts to tide you over." She waves her hand to the staircase. When she looks back at me her face is a mask of worry and dread, "Soon, the Night Mother will arrive. And things around here are sure to get even more interesting."

Wow. Little does she know she's already here.

Voice laughs, I the creepiest way possible.

"Ah, but one last thing. A welcome home present. The armor of the Dark Brotherhood. May it serve you well in your…endeavors." She pulls out this red armor from behind her. I take it, gingerly. I don't really want to wear it after getting my Nightingale armor, maybe I'll try to sell it.

"Thanks, but I think I'd rather keep my own armor. Helps with the sunlight."

She peers in my eyes. "Yes, that's right. I forgot you were a vampire. If you should know there is another vampire in our ranks, she's too small for her own Brotherhood armor but she can make do with what she has."

I shrug again, not my problem another vamp finds the sunlight inconvenient and has no way to get around it. I begin my descent when I remember.

"Who is the Night Mother?" I brace for a reaction from Voice, she just waits.

The woman just spouts off the mythology as if she had it drilled into her head as a kid. "She goes by many names. Ages past, Sithis gave a woman five children, she killed them to win his favor, thus, becoming the Night Mother."

Bride of Sithis. I remember that. I remember meeting him…the Void was an endless chasm I hope to never return to.

The woman laughs, "Well, if you believe that sort of thing. Today, well, today she's a skeleton. An ancient corpse. But more importantly, a corpse who's been brought to the Sanctuary by her Keeper."

Fuck. Ice fills my already cold heart. This was their final destination the whole time. All those encounters I had with Cicero and his mother…they were coming here. I shouldn't be surprised that they would want her final resting place in a cave of assassins. But why bring me?

I dread her answer, "The Night Mother is being brought here?"

She blinks, I'm surprised she doesn't smell my fear. "Yes, a few months ago, I received word from the Night Mother's Keeper, that he had arrived in Skyrim from Cyrodiil."

A few months ago, about the time when I arrived in Skyrim.

"The Night Mother's crypt in Bravil was destroyed. A result of the chaos caused by the fall of the Thalmor. That forced her relocation." She sighs, "I don't know where the Keeper has been these past few months…"

Oh, I do. If the Night Mother was my own personal parasite then Cicero was a relentless spirit, popping up to haunt me at the most inconvenient times…

"But I recently received another letter. He is bringing the Night Mother here. Very soon." She looks away wistfully, as if a stray thought could keep the annoyance of the corpse and jester away.

I know better. Come Oblivion or high water that coffin will be here. I could tell her. Maybe I should. But I just watch her pained face and wonder. If I tell her will she be able to do something about what Voice has planned? Or will it make matters worse?

"What's your name? I never got it." Not that I'm good with names. I'll just forget and make up my own.

"Astrid, leader of the Dark Brotherhood." She smiles.

"Astrid, okay, this might sound crazy but the Night Mother…"

"Astrid! Baby! Come look! I want to show you just how hard I can decapitate this head!" A booming masculine voice sounds. Astrid smiles knowingly, "My husband calls. Don't worry dear, when the Night Mother comes, we will deal with her. Go. Meet your new family."

Class dismissed. Couldn't get a word in even if I wanted to. I pass her right when her soft, reassuring hand falls on my shoulder. "And your name?"

"Eve." Thief. Nightstalker. Nightingale. And keeper to the Voice of the Night Mother.

The cave really opened up to let in some light. A waterfall falls lazily off to the side. Nice pool they have going there. Everyone is crowded around a small girl. I cringe, really hope that's not another Aventus person. I wasn't in the mood to go kill more orphanage leaders.

Her soft voice told a story about a creepy fellow following her down a dark alley. With nowhere better to be, I sit on the ground and cross my legs at the edge of the group. If the girl wasn't dead or kidnapped, then someone must have saved her.

"Oh, you're so precious, wait what are those? Fangs? Ahhhh." Squeals the girl.

Her eyes gleam gold. She takes notice of me off to the side and smiles, showing her fangs. This is the vamp. Wonder how old she is.

A tall man, the only one who gets to wear his own armor, appears. Instead of the black and red patchwork armor, he gets his own robes and head dressing that look foreign to these lands. I wouldn't be scared of him if I saw him on the street, that is before I see his clever gaze and the big ass sword he's carrying. The Redguard holds out his hand for me. "So, you're the newest member of our dwindling, dysfunctional little Family. I've heard quite a bit about you."

I leap up on my own and send him a grin, "Sorry to say, I'm sure you'll hear even more." And I mean it.

"Ooh, cocky. I give you three days before you screw up and someone runs a knife across your throat." He says in mild amusement. His eyes dance with mischief as well, I'm happy to say it's not the madness I've seen in other eyes. This man is intelligent.

But this guy has no idea who he's really dealing with. I give him a good week before the Night Mother blows this place back to Oblivion. Or I'm thrown around on a bunch of quests, barely lose my mind and life, but show up in one piece. I'm lucky like that.

He chuckles, "But who knows? I've been proven wrong before."

I sigh, better cut to the chase, "Astrid said you want me to do something for you."

"Did she now? Well, as it turns out, there are a few lingering contracts we haven't had the chance to complete just yet. And more, dribbling in from time to time. I'll assign them to you as they become available. To be completed at your leisure."

Wow, how considerate. I can have my morning fill of blood, maybe a morning walk, then maybe, if I feel like it, go impale someone through the throat. Not like I haven't done it before.

"Cool. Sounds simple."

"It is. These aren't particularly glamorous assassinations, I'll be honest. Don't pay much either." He leafs through his papers.

"It's not about the money, it's about the message, right?" I learned a thing or two from the Guild.

He catches my eye and smiles, showing his teeth, "But they'll keep you busy. Just do them as you're able to. There's no real time limit. The targets aren't going anywhere." He hands me papers. Names and locations. I glance over it.

"Squatters, huh?"

"I assure you. They won't be missed."

We'll see about that. Hopefully, they've been very naughty people. I know Astronomer, I mean, Astrid, wants me to go meet the rest of the family. But if we're about to be blown sky high by a decaying corpse, I'd rather not get to know the victims personally.

Without another word, I pull on my Nightingale hood and make haste to the door. In a strange way, it feels like the cavern is filled with the Night Mother's presence before her coffin has even arrived. Excitement and dread runs through the room. People talking amongst their groups or reserved to their own thoughts. I get the vibe this place is down on its luck just like the Thieves Guild once was. Some people might be hoping the Night Mother will bring it back to balance, others might not be so sure. I just hope I can get out alive before it all burns to the ground.

Cicero's Journal Entry

10th of Evening Star, 4E 201

Every step we take forward, is another step closer to your purpose, Mother.