BLOODSTONE CHALICE

Gordon was a snore to talk to. I entertained some brief conversation but most of it was how much he hated politics and political maneuvering. How he was and would never be like them. He could say that again. And again.

"Harkon needs us to do something for you." I interrupt his droning.

"Lord Harkon." He snaps. "Remember your place."

So tempting to send a jab right back at him. But need to keep up the charade. "Got it. He said 'it's time'."

His eyebrows raise on his deformed face. He still had glowing eyes and high cheekbones for a Dunmer but damn, vampirism wasn't pretty on some people.

Stop being petty. She urges.

I grit my teeth when this man speaks, "Well, well. He wants the Chalice, then. You've heard of the Bloodstone Chalice?"

"Nope." I say, before Cicero can chime in.

"It's a rather well-kept secret. The Chalice has been in Lord Harkon's possession for quite some time now. It is, when used properly, able to increase the potency of our powers. He has neglected using it for ages. If he wants it filled now, then grander things are afoot. This is good. Follow me and I will take you to it."

We go back into the main hall. Two men seem to be in an argument, but Gordon splits them up. "Excuse us. I need to fetch the Bloodstone Chalice."

One of the vampires just stares. "The Chalice? Why? What are you up to?"

"Lord Harkon's orders, Orthjolf. Calm yourself." The Dunmer quiets the man. "Our friend here has been ordered to fill the Chalice."

"The assassin?" One of the men smirk, "Sure she won't poison it?" Cicero stiffens next to me at the mention of killing someone. I was wondering if they caught on yet.

"Just kidding." Laughs the man. "I remember hearing briefly that you got that imposter in Solitude."

The Dunmer assassin? The memories blur together until he tells it to me straight. "Remember? The false Emperor?" He waves his hand in front of my face. "Maybe Harkon's blood is that potent! Been a long time since I had it."

Stop making assumptions. They suspect but they don't know.

"You sure?" I whisper.

Yes, you're being paranoid. It's part of their tactic, get their subjects tired and starving until they're not in their right minds. Then, it is easier to get the truth from them. Make sure you get blood outside of this Castle.

The Night Mother is a horrible, horrible, creature inflicted on me. But she has a point.

"She's off to Redwater Den." Gordon continues. The others look smug. "Best of luck to you," The asshole vampire drawls.

"Vingalmo and Orthjolf are Harkon's primary advisors." Gordon leads me and Cicero by the elbow around the tables full of bodies. Other vampires were in various states of drinking blood. "I'm sure they're surprised to learn that you're taking the Chalice."

We enter a smaller room off to the side, bookshelves and cabinets lined the perimeter but, in the center, stood a pedestal. With a chalice the size of Cicero's head. "And here we are," Gordon crosses his arms and sizes us up. "This Chalice needs to be filled directly from the bloodspring that is the source of Redwater Den. But that's not enough. Once that's done, the blood of a powerful vampire needs to be added to it. Keep in mind that Redwater Den has fallen into…well, let's just say less reputable members of society now dwell there. It's your choice whether to attempt to deal with them or force your way through. Hurry back, you don't want to keep Lord Harkon waiting."

I snatch the Chalice. It will go in my little messenger bag along with the crown and the necklace. Cicero follows me when I stalk through the halls and out the front gate. All the glowing eyes watch us. Little do they know what's coming for them.

"Is it too late to bring the Dawnguard into this?" I ask Cicero.

He giggles, "You think we can't handle it?"

"No, we can, it's just feeling like a wild goose chase. A way to get us off their backs."

"Cicero thought that. Did Mother say anything about it?" He hops into the boat and takes my messenger bag in gentle hands.

"Just to replenish food and blood. She thinks they're starving us for information."

"I suppose, but I'll just kill them before they ask any questions…"

I didn't want to burst his bubble by saying there's a possible torture chamber under this Castle. I guess he had a point though, I could always shift into the Vampire Lord and take them all out. I certainly felt powerful enough.

Shady people hung around Redwater Den. They stood out watching for people at the abandoned shack. Asking questions inside of other questions. I had a feeling a drug operation was going on below. Sure enough, once we got past the guards and in the bowels of the operation a pretty, young elf was standing behind a cage. Taking orders. "You seem tense. Join a booth and relax a bit. Or did you need another fix?"

Cicero slams some coin down. Was not expecting that. From the scent of it they were smoking something. I didn't care if others did it, but my vice was and always will be the liquid kind. The elf smiles when she hands over the drugs to Cicero, "The secret is our mystic Redwater Spring. The magic in the waters opens the mind to experience Skooma in a way like never before."

"Listener?" Cicero looks up to me. I nod. We talked about this before getting down here. We'd wait out somewhere and I'd count how many heartbeats I heard. I had a feeling these bandits wouldn't take well to us snooping around their operation.

All the booths were spoken for, so I took us to the one with the guy who was the most zoinked out. That way he wouldn't know we were there. Or so I thought.

Cicero was taking a drag when the Imperial guy next to us gets up in my face. "Who, you're the one from Helgen. Barely made it out of there myself. I hurt my back and I-I just need something for the pain."

I look him over, I barely remember him…wait, he was one of the random soldiers to try and have me executed. "Potions aren't working?" I question.

"No, not really. Not anymore." He takes in another hit of the Skooma. "Even tried to go your route but chickened out at the last second…don't think I could deal with the fangs."

I should pay him back for what he almost did to me. But I guess he was getting that as we spoke. Wasted here in this…den. "Got a new job?"

"No." He coughs, "Just try to hang out here."

"How are you paying for the Skooma?"

"Asking too many questions. I just need to rest my head…" He closes his eyes. I glance over to find Cicero watching the caged door across from us. That must be where the Bloodspring is. Many hearts were pounding on the other side. Truth be told, as much as I was enjoying everyone's company, I'd rather get this over with.

"Want me to go in? You stay here and entertain our friend?" I raise a brow.

"Listener might need help."

"You saw what I turn into now."

He shudders, "Yes, the beast…thing. Easier to tear hearts out?"

"Very much so. Stay here." I think back to what the Night Mother said, "Get some food and water in." I glance at the Imperial who's halfway with us. "And for him too. Replenish. Hurry because I'll be back soon, and they won't be happy."

As much as the little booths and the cage said this was a somewhat decent business, the other side of the door told a different story. This was a bandit cave on steroids. They were all dressed to the nines in bandit armor and freaked out the moment they saw me. I took some time to scout out the area, creeping in my normal vampire form before the change. When I had the path down, I shed that weaker skin.

Muscle and fangs as long as my finger abound, I flew over the cavern. Two bandits lurched at me, testing their swords but I wanted to try out the vampire drain. Red spell exploded on contact with the ground. Two dead. I then threw the blue magic from my other hand and had two zombie servants. Handy.

Screams echoed throughout the cavern. So many bandits and so much blood. I used the vampire drain for a while. Then it got boring. When it did, I fell to the ground and used my talons. I wasn't much for melee weapons aside from the Ebony Blade, but these claws were pure power and strength.

A bandit had the good grace to fling an axe across the room that narrowly misses my head. Without thinking, I let my form loose. My body was in fragments, turned to bats, all thinking as one entity. Before I could fully control them, I was across the room and back into the Vampire Lord. One vampire drain spell and he was dust.

I shed the form. Back to myself. Ebony Blade holding a familiar weight on my back. Wonder where that thing goes when I change. The door before me opens and I hear the fountain running. Over the bridge at the floor of the room sits the geyser like opening. Red blood fills it. Very dramatic, even a few bones for good measure.

I pull out the gleaming Chalice and fill it to the brim. Wonder how I'll get this to the Vampire Castle without spilling.

"By the Hist, what a sight…" I snap my head up just in time to see two vampires on the other side of the fountain. They look familiar.

"It's really too bad, you know. The little accident you had here, completely unexpected…" The woman one says, eyes on me.

The other one chimes in, "Yeah, too bad. Lord Harkon's new favorite, dead so soon after joining the family."

I don't think about it too much, just try to keep the Chalice upright while I do it. I fling lighting across the floor, it explodes on the woman vampire, disintegrating her to ash. The man yells and charges, a little butter knife at the ready. With one hand I pull the Ebony Blade and swing. His neck is partially severed in seconds. I kick his chest before he can grab out at me, then stab the Blade right through the heart.

With all the vampires and bandits motionless near the red puddle I push through the final door to the caged entrance. The woman who was in here is gone. To my dismay she's dead in the hallway. So are the guards. The patrons in the booths are oblivious to the carnage that went on around them. I find Cicero with the Imperial. Both have a plate of food half eaten on the table. The Imperial seems to be asleep.

"I have it." I find Cicero snarfing down a final sweetroll. "Was this you?" I point to the guards and elf girl.

"They were following you." He says blankly before taking another bite. "They could have snuck up on you and the Listener would be dead in a pool of un-blood."

"But did they deserve it?" I look over them in shock. I guess they were part of the operation, guilty by association…but they could have been dealt with in another way.

"You're thinking about it too hard, Listener. See?" He turns to the Imperial and shakes him. "You. You saw her in Helgen? The city with the dragon. What were you doing there?"

"Eh," He blinks his bleary eyes. "Ordered to execute the prisoners. But that damn dragon came in and ruined everything." He shakes his head.

Cicero side eyes me, "See?" He asks, then quickly plunges his blade in to the Imperial's chest. I grab Cicero by the collar and throw him out of the booth. Blood was spilling down the man's clothes, coming out of his mouth. I shoot across the way and try to hold it in. If only I knew a healing spell.

"Cicero get a potion. I saw some in the caged area." I command.

He bangs his fists on the ground and starts to laugh, "AHAHAH such morals!"

"Cicero!" I yell at him as my gloves get stained with this man's blood. "You listen to me. Go get a potion, now!"

He slowly stands, his eyes are heavy with the madness. "No, Listener, if you can disobey Mother, then Cicero can disobey you."

The remaining silence was tense. But I wouldn't let him talk to me like that. I push the man's hands against his own wounds praying he'll keep them there. Then, I leap over the booth and pin Cicero to the ground. He begins to laugh.

I pull my fist back, ready for the first punch, but he sits, limp as a fish pulled from the water. "AHAHAHA go on! Send the first punch Listener! I know you want to!"

He doesn't fight. His mad eyes dance with glee, he sits in wait. I shove him hard into the dirt and stand. "Remember what I am." I say.

"Listener? Toy for the Night Mother? Vampire? Vampire Lord? So many titles, do tell which one you're talking about."

"Beast! I can turn into a beast and tear your fucking head off! Doesn't that scare you?" I want to shake him, bring back the fight in him.

"No. Not really." He blinks. The realization comes mores slowly than the actions, the Skooma was suppressing him. I race back to the booth for the Imperial but it's too late, he's dead. I could try to raise him back into a vampire, but I don't know how to. And I don't think he'd want it.

"Mother wants us to go back to the fang castle. Find out the person you're looking for." Cicero says in a far calmer voice from the floor.

"She's talking to you?" I close the Imperial's eyes for him.

"Yes, she still does. She's worried about you."

I clench my jaw. Consider cutting the damn finger off that holds the weight of that ring. Maybe then they'd find me.

The carriage ride home Cicero sleeps once again, at least for the first part of it. I write another note to Bryn, the basics of my investigation. He sent many notes last week. I couldn't respond to them all. The last note I write is to an undetermined reader.

Whoever finds this.

She is growing stronger. Soon, she will have more power than I would want her to have. Please help. The ring is barring me from you.

-Eve.

Not sure what else to write. I'm just hoping Barbas will show up again and find it. If not, some poor mortal soul will probably pick it up and wonder what the hell I was smoking. So she won't burn it, I throw it into the breeze. The note floats for a while before disappearing with the horizon. The mountains rise, taking us into Whiterun Hold. Halfway to go until the castle.

That will be enough time to mull over who my true enemies are. It feels like I'm surrounded at all sides. When the greater threat is dead by my Blade, I will then focus on the other one. All I have to do is determine who to trust first, before turning that bloody knife on my ally.

Cicero's Journal Entry

26th of First Seed, 4E 202

Someone won't shed their conscience…she keeps thinking about things. Toying who deserves to be sent to Sithis, and who doesn't! But you are the ultimate judge, Mother! Listener will need to learn that soon. Then she will have an easier time.