BLOODLINE
I could smell him around the castle. He was everywhere. This scent is distinct. Very distinct. It was hard to describe, almost like when you smell pine scent and you just know where it's from. It rang a bell in my memory, but from where, I didn't know.
"Hey, before we go in." Serana grabs my arm.
I turn, "Yeah? You okay?"
"Yes, I think so. Thanks for asking. I just wanted to thank you for getting me this far. But after we get in there, I'm going to go my own way for a while." She sees my face, I'm not sure what it betrays. I'm still reeling from that scent. "It's not about you! It's just I need to be alone. For a while. There's a lot of feeling wrapped up in this old place, and I don't think you're quite ready for them. So, let me take the lead in there."
"Sure thing." I back off, let her lead us in. Might look better anyways.
"How dare you trespass here?" A High Elf spits when we walk in. The hairs on my neck rise and Cicero gets closer to me. The man finally spies Serana. "Wait…Serana? Is that truly you? I cannot believe my eyes!" He turns and nearly dashes over to the banister. We walk up slowly, Cicero and I, not fully trusting this place.
"It reeks," He whispers.
"Trust me, I smell it too." I shoot back.
Keep going. Something is amiss. Night Mother there, stating the obvious.
"No matter what happens don't kill anyone yet." I say to him, enunciating for clarity, and since everyone here is a vampire, they will definitely hear me. "Mother says so."
That shuts Cicero up before he begins. We get to banister right as the High Elf speaks to the table full of vampires below. "My lord! Everyone! Serana has returned!"
The people below gasp and begin whispered conversations. "Guess I'm expected." Serana mutters. She stands at the railing, peering down below, her gold eyes locked onto one place. I follow her gaze.
At the end of the table is a man. A very intimidating and imposing man. He is, undoubtedly, a vampire and the one running the show here. His glowing eyes are locked onto her. Based on his pale facial features and dark hair, not to mention age when turning, I would say he is her father. His face is ugly though. Not in an aesthetic way but from a certain attitude. Someone's got a stick up their butt and I'd bet my weekly wages that's why Serana didn't want to come home.
Cicero and I follow the strange vampire girl down the second banister. She approaches her father, I assume, and he says something. "After all these years, that's the first thing you ask me? Yes, I have the Scroll." She snaps.
The man stands over her, no hugs, no words of love given. At least that I can see. I keep my hands ready, the electric power thrumming just below my palms.
"Of course, I'm delighted to see you, my daughter." His voice is deep and slimy, "Must I really say the words aloud? Ah, if only your traitor mother were here, I would let her watch this reunion before putting her head on a spike." He strokes his chin.
Serana gives me an eye. Sucky family dynamics to come back to. "Not tell me, who are these strangers you have brought into our hall?" He motions to the two of us, ignoring the fact that Cicero and I are ready for battle.
"These are my saviors, the ones who freed me." Serana says, her back is rigid and facing us.
The man's steely eyes return to us. "For my daughter's safe return, you have my gratitude. What are your names?"
I speak for the both of us. "Cicero and I am Eve, leader of the Dark Brotherhood." Might as well let this guy know who he's dealing with.
"Dark Brotherhood?" He sneers, "Haven't heard from you in quite some time. Although, I have heard of your…recent exploits."
"Yes, we've been doing quite well." I let his words hit the emotional wall in my mind. If I think of any of the recent events I might turn into a puddle on this lovely carpet. Better to be alert.
"I am Harkon, lord of this court. By now Serana has told you what we are, or I guess you would smell it. I see you have the same disease as we once did. We are among the oldest and most powerful vampires in Skyrim." He smiles, enveloped in his own pride.
"Peachy. I'm new to the area but have been getting along quite well with these powers." That's a blatant lie but he doesn't need to see that. I run my tongue over my fangs.
"Ah, mere child's play for what we are. You have a disease, and we are the real vampires. For centuries we lived here, far from the cares of the world. All that ended when my wife betrayed me and stole away that which I valued most."
He pauses, "I guess a reward would be in order. Accept my gift, I offer my blood. Take it and you will walk as a lion among sheep. Men will tremble at your approach, and you will never fear death again." He sounds almost bored, like he's reciting a speech he's spoken many times before. But he keeps up the charade by standing straight and imposing his will.
But I'm lost. Those words are familiar. I take in the scent again. And all the pieces come together. That night in my mansion after dad died, when mom was being torn apart, I heard something similar. That's what they argued over before dad's death. That is what they offered again to her. This man is definitely someone I could see tearing them apart, but the question is, was it him? Or a henchman? Or does it not matter if he was the one giving the orders?
My vision is painted crimson, my fangs are as far extended as they could be. Cicero lays a hand on my trembling arm.
This is what I needed to show you. She whispers. Control yourself and ask the right questions. Remember, you are at the disadvantage now. You don't know who your target is.
She's helping me. A gift for what I did for her? I can't even ask. I do as I'm told and straighten from my increasingly crouched position. I take in a few deep breaths. Oh, if I could just lunge across the way…
"Listener." Cicero tugs my arm.
"Let me think about it." I stare him right in the steely eyes of the vampire across from me. They are golden but something hard and unmoving sits in their depths. Something strong. He just nods.
"I give you two days to make your decision. After that, I will say you are fair game."
I grit my teeth. I can't believe he's actually letting us leave the castle. "I will be back. I have some questions of my own. A vampire attacked me recently, sent to kill. I need to know where she came from."
His expression is stony. "Do as you must. I will see you in two days' time."
Serana looks like she wants to say something. But I just grab Cicero's hand and pull him out of there as fast as we can go. When the cold, snowy air hit us, I begin to question. "Was that him?"
That was the man who slayed your parents. Yes.
"Why didn't you tell me before?!" I yell, Cicero yelps when my hand tightens on his palm.
"Let Cicero go!" He says, I just fling him into the boat. It bobs back a few feet, but I smash my foot on the back of it. The wood creaks from the force.
"Tell me all you know, no secrets." I growl at her.
Cicero freezes, thinking I'm talking to him, but I thought he'd be smart enough to know. That is all I know. An old vampire family lives Northwest of Solitude. They've ruled those lands for eras. He was the one who burst into your house that night and tore your family apart. I would not be surprised if he sent the Dunmer for you.
"Why didn't you say that from the start? Right when I dropped those shackles in Helgen?" My voice breaks, but I turn my eyes to the sea. Everchanging and moving, unlike me, stuck in my own memories from four years ago.
You were weak then. If you took him on, you would have surely died.
She was saving me. Making me stronger for this moment. The realization breaks something in me. Not completely, there is a part of me that holds my suspicions. That's too convenient of an excuse for the atrocities I've committed in her name. However, the revelation is genuine. If I was kept alive for this, then I would be kept alive for her. A win-win situation.
"Listener?" Cicero asks, "What is Mother saying?"
"To get back to the Sanctuary." I hop in the boat and grab the oars. "We need a Family meeting."
It was either drag the coffin downstairs or bring some chairs upstairs. I gave three to the remaining Family members and I sat on the ground next to Her. It took a lot of explaining to get the story through.
"The Night Mother spoke and confirmed that these vampires are the ones who killed your parents?" Nazir states clearly.
"Yes." My eyes burn with rage. I've wanted to find this person for so long and now it looks like I got an early birthday present. I found a nest of murderers.
"Including Serana?" Nazir asks in a horrified tone. Looks like he bought her act.
"I don't know." I admit. "I doubt she was involved if she was underground for so long. But her father…"
"So, what do we do?" Babette asks, "Is there any reason to go after them if no Black Sacrament has been performed?"
I heard your call. She says.
I blink away tears. "I did it. I performed it. But you don't have to be a part of it, this is my contract."
Cicero is all in. He's bouncing in anticipation. Nazir and Babette stare at me in horror. "You're willing to take on a whole horde of them? In the name of revenge?" Nazir asks. Again.
"What better reason?" I raise my bloodied and fire filled eyes to his. He winces. "What other reason do we kill? We aren't supposed to be judge and jury, but I have to be. Those people are monsters, and they shouldn't exist on this plane anymore."
"That's acceptable." Babette says. "Are they the ones to send the assassin?"
"I'm certain." Thinking of it now. That family scent, it was too similar to not be connected.
"How do you do this then?" Nazir crosses his arms. This is where she comes in.
"I thought I either go back to Isran and use the Dawnguard to exterminate them…or I stick around in the castle and get as much information as I can."
The best assassins stay with their prey. Study them. The Dawnguard would fail.
"Mother thinks I should go back to the castle and pretend to be involved in whatever his little plan is." I pick some dirt off my boot.
"But if he knows who you are, and wants you dead too, he would have the perfect opportunity to dispose of you." Nazir raises an eyebrow questioning me and Mother.
"Cicero can distract him." I say. Cicero jumps up ready to go just now. "Mother said it, so we shall obey it!" He exclaims.
Yeah, because the Night Mother wants us to go to the castle and infiltrate it, that means she probably has a motive of her own. That necklace I got for her is wrapped up tight under my bed along with the crown. But all I see now is crimson. In prison I dreamt of this moment. Of killing the wretched monster who put me there in the first place. Who practically gave me up to the hands of Voice and sent me on this hellish quest across Skyrim. But if I wanted him dead, I would have to wait. The Night Mother is right, the Dawnguard would fail based on their current state of disrepair. Accepting Harkon's gift was probably my best bet. That way I wouldn't make mistakes this time. Innocents could be spared.
Go. She says. And take the crown and necklace with you. She pauses, And the 'vampire cure'.
Odd. But I don't question. "Yes, Mother. Cicero get the things from under my bed. We get a carriage now." I look to Nazir and Babette. "We're going by my house first, then to the castle. I'll try to keep in touch."
They say their goodbyes, neither of them nervous. I guess that's how assassins are. We either see each other again…or we don't. So now I set off with my old enemy, Cicero at the helm and the Night Mother guiding me. All working together for one goal: to bring down the family that got us into this whole mess.
Proudspire Manor held many things. Memories, beds for friends and family, food to the brim. I was just there for the potions. And the extra weapons. I strapped Cicero up with as many daggers I could find, handed him all the potions he would need, and packed up as many blood bags I could get. The beautiful hallways held no laughter or sounds. Penny and Gabriel were gone, to where, I don't know and couldn't guess. I was just happy we didn't have to run into them.
"This would be a good base for us." Cicero says as we exit. No one recognized us. I guess we didn't have a bounty on our heads after all.
"It would, but we might have to stick to the castle." I just pass the fern near the staircase when I see him. At first, I think it's Oliver, but he doesn't run to me like he would have. No, this dog has intelligence in his eyes. I know it's Barbas the moment I lay eyes on him. He looks mad. I can't hear him, but he looks really mad.
Don't interact. Just leave. She commands, harsher than I've heard from her in a while.
I shake my head, a silent apology and hold up my left hand. The ring glimmers in the light. Barbas watches it but the Night Mother takes control of me. I turn and walk right out the gate like I didn't just see the best hope I've had in awhile. I am stuck still. Stuck with her as much as ever. But now I have a distraction in the vampire family and the Night Mother is sure to keep me focused on them.
The castle wasn't as intimidating now that I've stared at it a second time. Lots of exits. Lots of ways to escape. "Cicero, just distract him. Don't accept what he offers but keep him from targeting me." I command again. We went over the plan a few times on the way here. It was a short walk. The ride on the boat was quick now that I knew the way.
"Yes, Listener." He eyes me then breaks out into a smile. The past few days had me too comfortable with him. I was forgetting he was still someone I needed to watch out for.
Tell him Mother commands it. This vampire family needs to be exterminated.
"Mother commands it."
He giggles, "Of course she does Listener, your words are her words, your thoughts are hers. You are bound as one."
Those words terrify me. But I can't dwell on them now that the castle gate is opening for us. A disgruntled watchman guides us to the balcony. Surely enough, standing in the great hall between the tables is Harkon. Waiting for us.
"Eve, leader of the Dark Brotherhood, have you made your decision?" His hands are clasped behind his back, but I can tell they're itching to wrap around my throat if that could kill me. His eyes reflect my own hatred, maybe he found out a few secrets too.
"Yes, I accept." I really shouldn't have done that. I had no choice, but I should have made him state to me more thoroughly what was about to happen. Before I could do anything, he lunges for me and bites into my neck. I scream. Cicero charges at someone somewhere. But it all fades to darkness, yet again.
Cicero's Journal Entry
21st of First Seed, 4E 202
Listener has been taken. She's been gone for too long. They captured Cicero, made him dance and sing like an ungrateful monkey! Took blood! But they will be sorry! They can't feast on your Child so!