BOUND UNTIL DEATH
It was a nice day for a wedding. A soft sea breeze blew through from the coast. Slightly overcast. Not too hot. And some damn good cake. I couldn't help myself. I got into Solitude without anyone recognizing me. Probably helped my thieving family was holed up in Riften. I went to the designated location and the ceremony was in full swing. Bride and Groom came out for a speech, went sit in a throne and the others got drunk until the food tasted halfway decent. Yeah, the food wasn't great.
But man, that cake. The vanilla frosting melted in my mouth like no sweetroll ever could. I savored in the taste. Other patrons came over to take their slice of the fluffy perfection. The Nord taking his third slice, a portly fellow, smiles at me. I really hope he's not here for conversation but maybe he is. He's the one who saw me creeping around the corner after all. Once I was caught, I either had to slaughter the whole crowd or smile and nod when asked if I wanted some dessert.
I could have blasted him with power and escaped to hide up above until Bride came out. But what fun would that be? Voice was actually going along with it. Maybe there will be more blood after all.
Truth be told, the reason I'm hiding in the corner downing cake, when no vampire really needs human food in the first place, is because I'm terrified. The carriage ride over here was quiet. I had too much time with my own thoughts. The basic morality of the situation told me these celebratory people and the Bride and Groom in question were innocent. Yes, I've killed innocents before, but I'm not sure how many more my conscience could take.
"How do you like the cake?" Portly Nord wanders over to me.
I swallow the food I just stuffed in my mouth. "Really good, wouldn't mind one for my own wedding."
"Ah, so you're getting married? When is the date set?" He smiles and his beard almost looks proportionate then.
"Not sure yet." I cave my shoulders in so not to be so noticeable. I'm still in my Nightingale Armor of course, so black sticks out like a sore thumb in the rosy colored crowd. However, I kept my mask off. Hard to eat with it on, and if this guy rats me out he'll have another thing coming. Probably from one of my Brothers or Sisters in the Brotherhood.
"You said you were having a swimming expedition around Solitude?" He nods to my armor. "How's that going? Found any buried treasure yet?"
"Some. It's more of a recreational activity." I look around at the crowd. Bride and Groom are still at the thrones. No one looks our way. But the clock is ticking. I can't spend any more time here.
Walk through the crowd. Take the Ebony Blade and stab her in the heart. Voice's suggestion is coated in glee.
Bride looks up from her own cake and smiles at a newcomer. It's so pretty, I think, because she is so happy. I always wondered what a wedding was like. I've never attended one. I guess I always thought people would be going through the motions…but being here shows me it's almost like all the happiness in the world is bottled up and kept right here for the bride, groom, and guests.
"Beautiful bride, isn't she?" The Nord watches them with a smile. "The dress cost a pretty fortune, but it looks like it was well worth it. As for how they met…"
He goes on with their life story. I stop listening. If I keep thinking about it, I'll lose my nerve. "I have to go." I hand the baffled man my plate of half-eaten cake and stalk through the crowd.
I could go up and stab her, then make my escape. Maybe a decapitation would be easier. The Bride's lovely eyes meet mine and she waves. I keep my hands at my side, eyes on her. Just ten more steps and my Blade would pierce her heart. That's what Mother said I should do.
"I can't believe my eyes!" Large hands land on my shoulders and spin me around. I'm ready to light up when I see who it is. Gabriel. Shit.
He's dressed as he normally is, in carriage driver clothes, but someone put a little bow tie on him. "Arh, girl, you nearly gave me a heart attack back in Windhelm! What were you thinkingggg." He slurs his words. My breathing calms when I realize he's so drunk he can barely stand straight.
"Oh, now, dear come on." An older, full figured, pretty Redguard woman lightly takes Gabriel's wrist. "Come this way and we can get more cake."
I lock eyes with her deep brown ones. "Sorry, love, don't mind him. He wandered in here extremely drunk but the bride, Vittoria Vici, requested he stay. She wants this celebration to include everyone in this wonderful city." She smiles politely.
I get the feeling this mantra has been repeated to others. I take the opportunity and slip out of Gabriel's arms.
"No! Girl! What are they doing to you?" He tries to follow but the woman keeps him back. He's too drunk for any sort of coordination.
I race away before emotion can overwhelm me. I want to know what's happened with Gabriel. What happened to the others, but that would just distract me.
Get onto the roof. She whispers.
The roof in question is very high and I might be seen. So instead, I get under the awning and position myself in just the right spot to see the Bride. Nightingale Bow is with me. All I have to do is draw and release.
I breathe in again. Draw and release. I don't have to see it pierce her chest. I just have to know it did the job. I reach for it and thankfully have a pack full of arrows. I'm not the best archer out there but at this distance I can certainly make my mark.
What are you doing with that?
I nearly scream at the intrusion. To my right is Barbas, with his glowing eyes and ever wagging tail. I duck and lean against the brick wall. "What are you doing?" I whisper.
Just wanted to say hi, is all! Clavicus went to talk to Nocturnal and he said that they're making progress. Only a few more days and the Princes think they'll know what the Night Mother wants you for.
Hope lights up in my frozen heart. "Really?" I breathe.
Oh, yes, really! He wags his tail again and barks. I nearly grab his face to keep from making a noise.
"Shh. Shh, don't do that." I whisper. "Where are they? Are they in Skyrim?"
Of course not! They're in the Shivering Isles! He starts to bark again but stops himself. He lays his head on his paws.
Stop talking to the mutt and get up. Her voice is unconcealed fury.
Hey! Watch your language! I'm no mutt! His bright little face looks angry.
Before I can blink, she has power over me. I lunge across the way and tackle Barbas, electricity covers me head to toe and I feel us shaking together. My fangs are ready for his blood. I open my mouth to bite when he's gone. The electricity fades.
You have a job to do. Stop talking to the insignificant daedra and finish it!
I hold my head at the sudden assault. It's like a migraine times the power of ten. My head throbs with the pain. I nearly yell out before it's gone again.
Up!
I'm shaking now. As usual. This always occurs so I shouldn't be so surprised. I rise and walk around the perimeter of the square. If anyone heard anything it's better for me to be out of here. Guards are mumbling to themselves. I can hear them.
"A dog was up there? Might want to go check. Nothing should be up there at this hour."
I run on silent feet to the other side. Bride is right below me. All I have to do is leap down and stab her, then make my getaway. Ebony Blade is hot in my hands when I pull it. It's glowing red with need. This will be the first innocent taken since Vorstag.
The first innocent. I had no say in his death. I didn't take him willingly. I almost, damn near almost, ask Voice to take over. If she does, then I wouldn't have to feel so bad when the Bride is dead. But she wouldn't be the only body to bury in the Solitude graves.
Time is running out. She growls. Footsteps near. A guard is in the distance but it's too dark to see me.
That wasn't nice to do to Barbas! Yells a voice in my head. I look around frantically for him but find no Clavicus Vile in the flesh.
"Get out. I can't take this right now." I'm sweating like a pig, and it won't get any better.
If ya wanted to kill him, you should've at least gotten the axe out of it! Stupid vampires.
"He's dead?"
No! Just terribly angry. He thinks the Night Mother did this, is that true?
LEAVE ALL OF YOU, SHE IS MINE. NEVER RETURN. She screams in my head. I land on the ground, Ebony Blade clattering too close to the edge. If I tip it, it will fall right from the stone wall down to it's mark.
"What in the name of Oblivion?" The guard runs. He's so close.
I don't like your tone! What gives you say over her anyways? His voice is grating and annoying as all hell.
I back up. The fight is too loud for me to concentrate. The guard is too close. I can't fight without the Blade on my side, and it hungers for innocent flesh. So, I might have to abort the mission.
OUT NOW!
Power sizzles over my skin and I jerk back. I hit something too hard with my head. Enough for another headache. Stone crumbles, I hear the sliding. I look just in time and in my horror to see the stone gargoyle behind me toppling over the edge.
Screams, so many screams sound from below. The guard stops running and turns to gape. I grab my Blade before it can fall, the pulsing red now gone. Over the edge the screams continue, and I can't help it. I look.
Below me the crowd is gathered around the stone gargoyle. Looks like it crushed the bride, leaving the groom gaping at the disaster.
Bound until death. Together in life no matter how short that was. Ah, love. Clavicus gushes.
She is silent. "Hey, no lollygagging! What in Oblivion are you doing up here!?" The guard has finally arrived.
I raise my Blade. "Get out of here. Looks like you've got quite the mess to clean."
He yells and charges. His own blade at the ready. I swing and the swords meet in a noise louder than I wanted. He shifts and brings the sword swinging again. I hold it off from chopping clean through my head.
"You won't be getting away with this!" He yells, and to my horror I realize my face isn't covered. The guard is ready to raise the blade again when he freezes and falls flat on his back.
Veezara, the Argonian, stands behind the body with raised daggers. "Astrid said you might need some help getting out."
I smile, despite a bloody lip from Voice taking over. "I finished it."
"Good, time to make an exit. Go, I'll be right behind you." The Agronian charges the rest of the guards coming up.
With nothing left to do I run. I race past the guards, shoving through them before a blade can land on me. Once they clear I see it, the ocean stretching out as far as the eye can see. It's a sight I've loved while living in Proudspire and I'm happy to be reacquainted with it.
I jump at the last second. Leap into the air, if I were more skilled, I might have done a flip or two, but I can only do so many tricks. The freefall is seconds but it feels longer.
Tricks? That trick you pulled back there was nice. Clavicus laughs. Very well, I bid you farewell and back to the Shivering Isles. I'll talk with you again soon.
I don't have time to respond. The water hits my face like a brick, but I can take it. All I feel is Voice's rage and urgency.
Get back to the Sanctuary, we have to finish this tomorrow.
Waves toss me around. One hits me in the chest and right when I recover the other hits me from behind. Good thing I don't have to breathe. I dive. Arrows slice through the water, one near my shoulder and the other above my head.
I dive deeper and begin to move towards shore. Hopefully, a driver is nearby.
No carriage in sight. I pulled myself up onto the land and ran for the trees. They kept me covered while I plotted my way out. The guards were certainly after me, but I have no idea if Veezara made it. I look back at Solitude, the castle on the cliff, and realize I might have deserted him to death or jail.
Panic rises when I hear him. "Good job with the contract, a gargoyle landing on her is definitely inventive." He chuckles.
I spin and find the Argonian right behind me and dripping wet. "Sorry, I would have gotten here sooner but the guards had me cornered for a minute or two."
"How fast can you swim?" I ask in astonishment.
He seems to smirk, "My ancestors are said to have lived in the water and rarely walked on land. I probably can swim twice as fast as you, if not more."
The reality of the situation slowly settles in. I sink down the tree I was leaning on. "How was it when I left?"
"Cicero never left the coffin room." The Argonian crosses his arms, "The others are worried though. Nazir said he's seen Cicero prowling around at night and talking to himself."
"I'm not surprised." I rub my head. "Keep your eye out for him."
"Of course, now if you're alright with it, we need to get back to the Sanctuary, we don't have any time to waste."
He holds out his hand to help me. But I stare past his shoulder. Molag Bal grins, his face ever more menacing, from his perch on the tree branch right above Veezara's head.
"I need to clear my head. Can you fetch a carriage?"
Veezara gives and odd look but doesn't complain. "Of course."
Molag Bal falls to the ground once the Argonian disappears out of sight. His form was pure gleaming muscle in the afternoon sun that slices through the trees. It gives him the most eerie of lighting, all sharp contrast between shadows and pockets of light. "Fancy seeing you here." He growls.
"I'd say the same for you. I thought you were all on the Shivering Isles?"
He laughs and snaps his large fangs. "I was. Then I heard from Clavicus Vile what happened with his dog. Poor thing was shaken. I'm here to send a message."
My heart picks up and I stand in an instant. I get around the tree, so I'm not backed into a corner. If he tries to charge me.
He laughs again. "Don't worry, I know the dog said you're not doing this with your own will."
Find the carriage and leave.
I don't follow her order, I stand to hear what Molag Bal has to say, no matter how gruesome.
"My siblings are cowering in fear over you." He spits, he doesn't take a step forward to intimidate and prove his point. He doesn't have to.
"Locked all of the Daedric Princes in the Shivering Isles to prattle on all day about how horrible you are. They haven't figured out what you want." He tilts his head, "I think they're too stupid to go looking as deep as they need to."
His earlier reassurance of peace crumbles. Before I can move his hand pins my throat to the nearest tree. My feet dangle above the grass. I choke when I feel the talons nearly puncture my neck.
"Try it." He whispers. "I heard you hate us. I know you do. Just come out and play and you'll see how dangerous a true Daedric Prince is."
Voice sits. Perfectly controlled. Tell him to leave.
"She doesn't want to see you." I breathe out, the noose is getting tighter.
"Figured she'd be a coward when faced down by the only person taking initiative." He spits. His breath is in my face, and it isn't pretty. "But what if her precious prize is in grave danger? Would you still live? Or are you two bound until the vampire's dying day?" His hand tightens. Again, I don't have to breathe so this isn't really a threat, and we all know it.
"Might want to bring a stake next time you want to scare her into showing." I smile despite the pressure on my neck.
He releases me and I fall into a heap on the ground. "Whoever said I didn't?"
I try to run, I'm fast, but I'm not as fast as a Daedric Prince. Molag Bal lands and pins me to the ground. His face morphs into the most horrible creature I've ever seen. A thing with eyes as dark as the Void and teeth sharper than the Ebony Blade. A large taloned hand sits right over my heart.
"Maybe I don't need a stake." He hisses, his voice is different too. More breathy, like all the air is sucked out of him.
Power surges down me body. Molag Bal laughs at first then hisses when his skin turns to charcoal. I'm trembling with the power engulfing me like so many times before. When it's all over, I'm laying here trying to catch my breath. And Molag Bal is back to normal, standing opposite from me on the other side of the clearing with a smile on his face. Just as scary as before.
"I'll report back to my siblings. That didn't go as well as I wanted to. But I will get what I need from you soon enough." I can't tell if he's talking to me or Voice when he addresses me again, "Eventide, that's your insignificant mortal name, is it not?"
I pull myself up, "Yep, it's actually Eve. If you'd be so kind."
He gives a tight smile, "Well, Eve, you aren't the vampire I would be proud of, but you have made life more interesting recently. I have you to thank for all the fun I've had." He drawls. I can't tell if he's being sarcastic and I don't get the chance.
"Eve! Over here!" A carriage rolls up down the path, Veezra is sitting in the back. I look back and see the trees just as beautiful as they were before Molag Bal arrived.
I shake the dirt off me. Walk down the path. Yeah, that was scary. What's even more scary is Voice. I thought she would brush that encounter off as another annoying Prince trying to interfere in our business. Instead, her voice is brushed with fear.
Go to Cicero when we get to the Sanctuary. These deities…they need to be dealt with before we can do anything else. I should have done this sooner.
I try to keep Veezara from seeing how bad I'm shaking. He buys it for most of the ride, talks about his home, his time in the Brotherhood so far, and his best kill shots. I'm just trying to keep myself together once again. If she can shut the Daedric Princes off from me, then we will be doomed to follow her plan.
Cicero's Journal Entry
16thof Morning Star, 4E 202
Cicero tries to keep calm. Calm and cool and collected. The coffin room helps. Then I don't have to hear their annoying, sniveling voices! HAHAHA. It is so quiet. Quiet enough to hear…what is that? Daedric Princes interfering? They need to be kept at bay? Oh, Mother how devious! This is certainly a dark challenge that your Keeper will take up! Not to fear.