Authors Notes: Another chapter so soon? Why yes XD! So here you are! The non-adventurous but controversial angsty (I know that's not a real word 8D) tale that is Love or Blood. I am officially using this story to better my writing skill so feel free to critique and comment! Good or bad and thank you for the reviews!
Love or Blood
Chapter two: Proposal and Deal
I sat on the small cot in the dark chamber. Tears no longer fell from my eyes. I could not cry anymore but Gods above, I wanted to. My whole body was shaking with dry and painful sobs. I had every reason in the world to cry - in just a few hours I was going to die.
I wondered whether or not the sun had risen yet. Surely, hours had passed by now. I've been near the point of retching on several occasions and holding back has worn me out. I was so tired and wanted to sleep but if these were to be my final hours I wanted to spend them doing something productive.
"Like crying?" I asked myself aloud, "Crying never solved anything." My sister had taught me that. Look where it got her: miserable. I sniffled loudly, maybe if I go to sleep I can spend what little time I had left in a pleasant dream.
Slowly I laid down on the rickety cot and closed my eyes. I was waiting for sleep to take me praying it would come to me quickly. Luck may not have been on my side earlier this evening, but it was with me now, as I fell into a deep sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
xxxx
I awoke several hours later to the sound of the door banging open. I sat up quickly and was soon approached by two guards. "Let's go." One of them said as he grabbed me by the arm. I saw no point to struggle so I allowed myself to be handled like a rag doll.
They brought me into a small room with an oak desk and two chairs. It was a rather fancy room for interrogation in my opinion. But I have only been in one once before and it was in Bravil, which may explain why this one is much nicer.
One guard slapped a set of iron shackles on my wrists and pushed me down in a chair. I watched him carefully as he strode in front of me and leaned down. "Well, I'm afraid I won't be the one to have the pleasure of questioning you." He said as he reached up to toy with my hair. I wanted to hurt him but knew it was impossible for me to do so. I had to settle for a glare instead. "The Count himself wishes to see you, in here...a rather nice chamber, in my opinion." He drew back and gestured to the room. I had to wonder if there was another location in the Castle where interrogations took place. If so, why was I put in this nice one? I began to gnaw on my bottom lip.
I would much prefer the disgusting guard in a cell than a heartless vampire in a tidy, confined room. At least the guard had a pulse if nothing else. "Lucky man." The guard stated as his eyes began to sweep over me. I hated being looked at, especially by men. I cannot stand the way they always stare at me. It's unnerving and it makes my skin want to crawl off of my bones. I almost feel naked by it and it's why I feel the need to wear cloaks. I need to hide myself.
He left then, though. I'm not sure whether or not that was a good or a bad thing for I was now alone in a dark room, shackled and waiting for a vampire. The very same vampire who had so easily sentenced me to death. Needless to say, I was terrified and soon found myself rattling the chain link on the cuffs solely to put my attention on something.
I was not waiting very long. In a matter of minutes, I heard the door creak open. I immediately froze as I listened to the footfalls draw nearer, a cold sweat beading along my brow. My every muscle seemed to tighten. I couldn't breathe or think. He came into my line of vision but I still did not look up. I simply stared at my shackles while holding my breath and tried my hardest to stop from trembling.
The Count took the seat across from me. He folded his hands on the desk, almost as if he were praying and watched me. I could feel his eyes searching my face but I did not move or react in any manner. I pretended that I was not there. That he was not there. Neither was the room or my irons. None of this existed. Unfortunately, or perhaps not, I have had years of perfecting that skill.
However, he easily managed to snap me out of my head by simply speaking. No one has been able to do that to me in quite some time. "So here we are. What do you have to say for yourself, girl?" He spoke much softer to me than he had the night before but I had a feeling it was that it was an act. It was very likely that he was trying to lull me into a false sense of security.
I did not look up or answer so he continued, "I am going to ask you a few questions and you are to answer them truthfully." I still didn't move but I was unsure whether or not it was from stubbornness or my cold fear. Perhaps it was an odd mixture of both. I swallowed hard. No longer could I pretend that he didn't exist. Whether I wanted to or not, I held on to his every word. "I can tell if you are lying, so I wouldn't recommend it." There was another short pause followed by him sighing heavily. It was a very normal and exasperated sound. I honestly didn't know vampires could do that. "I would start talking, girl. Your life depends on it."
That, of course, grabbed my attention.
I quickly looked up. "W-what?" I asked slowly, my own voice and the Count's statement shocked me. 'Depends on it'. That means I may have a chance of living. The Thieves Guild will just have to understand my reasoning for confession. I have been a loyal guild member up until now. Despite my lack of certain skills, I was dependable. But they have ratted out me before...an eye for an eye I suppose.
"Well, now that I have your attention, I may just make a deal with you." I could not help but to shrink away and stare at quizically at him. Making a deal with a vampire did not sound very smart to me. Regardless, my sudden change in posture and expresion did not stop him from continuing. "If you provide me this service I may just spare your life." I pressed myself back even further into the chair, my heartbeat quickening. What type of service could a vampire want? Infinite access to my throat seemed a logical and mortifying posibility.
Obviously, I was on edge. He quickly noticed this and shook his head. "I'm not usually one to make a deal with a thief, so let us make the terms blatanly clear." I managed to nod but still kept a very careful eye on the man before me. Wait no, not man: vampire. Hard to honestly tell though when he is not so angry and looming over you. "If you answer my every question truthfully I may be lenient on your punishment." Lenient. It was better than dead, so I nodded in agreement. "Good," he said moving closer to the desk, in turn, causing me to move further back. "Then let's get started."
xxxx
He watched me carefully as he asked his first question. "Were you the one who freed the Argonian prisoner?" I started to shake my head when he held up a hand to stop me. "I need to hear you answer the question."
Oh. I took a deep gulp of air. Speak...I could do that. I had to. "N-no, I-I wasn't the one." He waited a moment and I sank my teeth into my bottom lip. Soon, though, he nodded. I had a strange feeling he was listening for something. Perhaps a vampire's hearing is better than the living's.
"Alright then. Did you help in some way?" I bit into my bottom lip harder as I looked up. "Y-yes I did." e eloquently quirked his brow and sat back in the chair folding his hands in his lap. "How?"
He eloquently quirked his brow and sat back in the chair, folding his hands in his lap. I was grateful for the extra space. "How?"
I began to wring my cuffed hands and looked up at him pleadingly. "I-I snuck her in. I did not know exactly w-what we were supposed to do," The look he gave me told me to go on. I did but in an almost fanatic manner. "S-s-she said he was her friend. I followed the blood. W-we...we found a passage."
Despite my fumbling speech he looked interested and did not stop my rambling. I found it hard to make heads or tales of what I was saying, but I persisted. Thankfully, he didn't seem the least bit confused. "I needed money. I'm so sorry. B-but she...s-she gave me this!" I stammered as I pulled the old scroll from my pocket. I held it out in front of me with both hands, the shackles preventing me from doing otherwise.
He looked at it and then me before carefully plucking it from my hands. At first, he held it like it was a solid rag, but I watched as his head slowly tilted to the side. He squinted at the parchment and then his head snapped toward me so quickly I jumped.
"Do you know what this is?" His garnet colored eyes seemed to glow in the dark. They locked onto my pale green ones and caused me to recoil slightly. I certainly was not used to talking with red-eyed vampires. Well, actually I'm not very used to talking to anyone, no matter what the color of their iris.
"T-the Scroll of the Thief?" I said cautiously.
The Count huffed and nodded as he looked back toward the paper. "Indeed it is. Or shall I say was." I watched him as he carefully folded the crumpled parchment and then placed the used scroll in his shirt pocket. I couldn't help but wonder what he would do with it. "It rightfully belonged to the Arch-mage Hannibal Traven. Did you know that?"
I shook my head but soon stopped and remembered to speak, "No, Sir. I did not know. I-I'm sorry." There was another short pause as I watched him lean back in his chair. He began to rub is chin and look off to the side, as if he was deeply contemplating something. Then to my surprise, he made a sound that resembled a very weary laugh.
"I was beginning to wonder why he was in such a bad mood lately." But the Count's mild amusement quickly dispersed. He sat upright and rubbed his temples. "The one who freed the Argonian," He began and I again had to wonder if he was speaking so gently to keep from frightening me. "Do you know their name or perhaps where they are now?" I bit my lip again as looked up at him.
"No. I only know h-her thief name, Sir. Where she lives..." I gave a small, nervous shrug, "I do not know. I'm not very connected to the guild." There was a long pause. During that time all he did was watch me. I tried to ignore his glowing red gaze to the best of my ability but it was not an easy task.
"That's not surprising." He stated slowly, "You are still just a baby." It was not made as an insult but I still did not like to be referred to as a baby. It reminded me how very small and very weak I am. In spite of this, I am twenty years old and have taken care of myself and others for many years now. Although I may be young I sometimes feel as old as Tiber Septim himself.
I looked up at him and tried my best to collect myself, "I like to think of myself as a young woman, Sir."
He let out another small laugh under his breath. "I suppose you could say that but I still have at least seventy years on you, girl. You are a child to me." I felt my brows knit together as I looked at him in disbelieve. At first, I thought that it was some sort of joke but then I remembered that if he was bitten at a relatively young age, he would stay the same forever. I cannot help but wonder if that is a blessing or curse. Maybe both.
The room was silent for awhile. Neither of us spoke. The Count had a puzzled look on his face as he watched me rattling my chains. My bloodshot eyes were still stinging even in the dim light. I was in the middle of mustering up the courage to ask him what time it was when I heard him speak softly.
"I cannot let you go." I looked up at him. What had he meant by that? Was he going back on his word and going to kill me anyway? I felt my stomach twist along with all my other insides. He sat back in his chair but continued, looking off to the side and speaking mainly to himself. "If I put you in a jail cell you could let something slip. The people are always curious. Even if you swore that you would never tell a soul of my condition," He stopped and looked back at me intensely, "Accidents happen. You would be surprised how persuasive some may be to get you to speak." That I didn't doubt.
I thought of the guard who brought me in here. I had a feeling that the Count was talking mainly about people like him and their sick methods of getting information. I shifted and thought. If he wasn't going to send me off to jail then he would have no other choice than to kill me. I wished that there was some type of magic that could make me forget that I saw him. Maybe then he would set me free. I cooperated well enough. Maybe I should ask him to hit me over the head a couple of times with a milk pale? But now I'm being silly. He doesn't strike me as the type to bludgeon a girl over the head with a bucket. Then again, you never know. He was very angry last night...
My bottom lip quivered as I looked at him. If he wanted me to die there was nothing more to be done. But the Count did say that he would be lenient. Maybe I could have my death of choice? I sighed heavily as a familiar lump began to form at the back of my throat.
"Sir," I said quietly, tears once again welled up in my eyes as I fought back the urge to sob. "I-if, if I have to…you know...die," My voice was small and I looked away. I did not want to die. Death is my biggest fear. I have had several run-ins with it and I was petrified of it. The feeling that washes over you...your fuzzy head and the blackness. I have always been a fighter, weak as I am, but you cannot fight death. "Please, c-could you do it in some other way? I would like to be whole before the end." I felt my eyes begin to burn as my hot tears fell freely. They streaked down my cheeks but I kept my voice calm and did not sob, nor sniffle.
There was another long pause. I closed my eyes. I still did not wail but the tears continued to fall. Who am I to stop them from doing so?
"Foolish girl," The Count said. His face was stern but his eyes had a new type of glint about them. I could not tell what it was but I didn't find it at all threatening. He leaned back in his chair as I watched him with an odd curiosity. He scratched his chin, lips pursed in thought. "I will not overlook the law but instead of death, you are to serve a life sentence. I believe that is fair and just." I was now very confused. I thought he said I could not go to jail? I was so near the edge of my seat that I came dangerously close to falling off my chair. I bit the inside of my cheek instead of my bottom lip, I doubted it could take any more abuse. "You are to spend the rest of your days as my servant in Castle Skingrad."
As quickly as I came to the edge of my chair I sat back with speed tenfold, pressing myself into the chairs woodwork. Several worrying signs were screaming angrily in the back of my head.
The Count didn't look the least bit shocked or even seem to acknowledge my sudden change in posture as he went on, "We don't have many servants here in Castle Skingrad and with my state honest help is hard to come by." He then nodded in agreement to himself. "There is always need for an extra hand. An unpaid hand with unwavering loyalty and duty is most appealing."
Extra hand or artery? I should be grateful that he spared me. Truly I am. But I cannot help but be skeptical. I was to learn to trust a vampire. I suppose it is fair, after all, he is trusting a thief. Whatever I was to do I'm sure it's better than death. Like I said I am a fighter and I will do whatever it takes to keep my head attached to my neck.
I nodded, slowly at first then a bit quicker. Questions began to buzz through my mind but I didn't speak. I really wanted to - no I had to. I forced my mouth open and the first question that was in my head came tumbling unceremoniously from my lips, "What do I have to do?"
"Do?" He paused eyeing me curiously, "Laundry? Cook? Clean? You are to be a maid. What, did you think that I was going to use you as my new blood source?" He quirked his brow and stood, placing a hand over his mouth, most likely to hide a sardonic smile that was tugging at the corners of his lips.
I couldn't help but wonder why he did that. He seemed to want to hide his emotions constantly behind his hand. I knew that people of high status were supposed to be civilized but aren't they allowed to have facial expression? Or was he merely trying to hide the point of his fangs once he smiled or scowled? Maybe he does it for both those reasons. I am grateful, his fangs do scare me. I avoided looking at them.
Nervously, I blushed. Did I think I was to become the Count's personal blood donor? Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking. Of course, I wouldn't tell him that. Instead, I just watched him as he walked over to me. "I think it would be wise if we tell no one of your terms of service." I slowly nodded. "The rest of the staff would not think too highly of you. They will most likely be criticizing your presence here anyway. I am very particular about whom I house and pay. You are likely to not be welcomed. It is no easy task getting into my employment." He turned away and went to the door. "My most trusted staff members will need to know, of course. I believe it's only fair to have you under watch. Do not expect privacy. Do not expect privilege. Never forgot how you came into my service." Once again I nodded. I don't know why, he had his back to me. Still, I felt compelled to do so. The man demanded respect. I also wondered if he could see what was behind him.
"Wait here. You will soon be escorted to the Maids Quarters and introduced as a new servant girl. Mind yourself. Do not make me regret this, I can easily go back on this clemency."
He took hold of the door handle but just as he did so I heard myself involuntarily squeak once more, "Thank you." At first, I didn't think he heard me. I wouldn't have been surprised if he didn't. I was still so shocked at the fact that I was safe, no longer doomed, that I didn't realize that I had just spoken freely. And of all the people, to a vampire.
The Count simply nodded and left the room. I was alone in the darkness once more but I have never found such comfort in it as I had right then.
xxxx
Sure enough some time later I was greeted by the familiar Orc Shum and a new female Argonian whose face I had never seen before. They came into the room and both looked down at me. The Argonian's gaze was a bit colder and more calculating than the Orc's but I didn't mind really. Honestly, I would have been shocked if the were all to greet me with open arms.
"Well, I guess it's nice to know that the Count changed his mind about you," Shum said as he pulled me to my feet. "Wasn't entirely expecting him to show you such hospitality, though." I nodded to him, staring down at my feet.
There was a very distinct huffing sound coming from behind me, "Hospitality? She's was a thief and is now a slave. A bit of an odd switch, wouldn't you say?" It was the Argonian. She walked in front of me with a key to my shackles in her scaly green hand.
I didn't know how Argonian's age but she seemed a bit old and awful cranky. She had a fin on each side of her head and both were studded with old fashioned, golden jewelry. The red markings under her eyes made me only believe more that she was rather high up in years for her species. "Aww, come on now Hal-Liurz. Cut the girl some slack." Shum placed a big green hand on my shoulder and gave it a friendly and comforting shake. I didn't move with it, though. I kept as still as a statue. "She's had a rough night, just look at her." He steered me slightly closer to the Argonian and I nearly fell. His push wasn't as strong as my body made it out to be but I was just out of energy.
The Argonian crossed her arms and clucked her tongue at his manners and my fumbled posture. "That is Stewardess to you, Mr. gro-Yarug. Don't want her getting the idea of informality." Her strangely orange, red reptilian eyes then snapped to me. "And yes I can see she's worked herself into a state. She had spent the entire night thinking she was about to have her head chopped off." She paused and brushed off the sleeve of her green brocade shirt, "Would you be all sunshine and rainbows in her predicament? I daresay, no."
I heard the Orc grumbling something under his breath like: 'fetching lizard' but she and I ignored it. "Well then come on girl, you smell like filth. You need a bath and judging by the way you stand, food and lots of it. Once you're in a better state of mind I'll start explaining how we run things around here."
She nodded to the Orc and he put his hand in-between my shoulder blades and led me out of the interrogation room. I massaged my now free wrists and walked in silence as I began to wonder what I was to do as a maid. Cook and clean. That is what the Count had said I was to do but that all seemed just far too easy. It feels like I have cheated death and I suppose I have in a sense. But what is to become of me now? It's not like I had much to live for but what of the Thieves Guild? Will they do anything about my sudden disappearance?
I doubt it. They never really have cared for me and as I told the Count I had never been close to the guild or any of its members. It was my doing, I never wanted such companions for what could they give me but trouble and warrants? I suppose that part of my life is over now. Here I am, the new me: Abigale Lynn. Servant and slave for the rest of my days to the vampiric Count of Skingrad.
It is certainly an odd change. I do hope it's for the better.