Terra awoke to the sound of Nazir and Babette talking. She was disorientated. The two brotherhood members bombarded her with information and events that had happened since she was out. The explosion that Terra had heard in the coffin had been the thing that had launched the coffin out of the falling structure. It took Terra a while to focus on what they were saying. They had even been surprised to discover Terra as they thought she had been lost.

Nazir had to repeat himself a few times before he realized that Terra was still lost. "Listener, you need to rest for a time," Nazir took hold of Terra's arm and lifted her out of the coffin.

Terra nodded softly but coughed a moment. She needed to know where they were. The two of them had probably told her, but as Nazir started to walk her away from the coffin she recognized some of the area. She shifted quickly and looked around taking in the whole area they were standing in. Dawnstar.

Babette stared at her for a moment, "I think that explosion rattled your brain, Listener. You aren't immortal like some of us. It was stupid for you to have done that. What had we done if we lost you?" The child vampire was dangerous as a predator but as a friend or business associate she was loyal to a fault. She was also extremely strong, she began dragging Terra away as Nazir couldn't budge Terra from her spot.

The familiar glow from the Night Mother pulled Terra out of the haze of everything that had happened and she was now dragging the vampire back to the coffin.

"Mother?" Terra knew that the Night Mother spoke only to one's mind, but as she was a little confused in a mess of trouble she spoke aloud.

"My Dear Listener, you still have a job to finish," The Night Mother's voice was soothing which was a kindness as Terra's head was pounding. "The traitor survived the massacre. You will need to go to her as she is the contact for the next work."

Terra grinded her teeth in sheer anger which cause the headache she had to throb in rhythm of her grinding. She sighed softly, "yes, Mother."

She walked out of the room that Mother had been placed and noticed that Nazir and Babette followed her.

"What has the Night Mother said?" Nazir eyed Terra with a knowing that the information provided would be interesting.

"She has informed us that we have a contract dealing with the person who betrayed us," Terra already knew who it was but did not wish to reveal anything to Babette or Nazir until it was necessary.

Babette stared at Terra and a small shiver was a visible on the small vampire.

Nazir had an eyebrow raised as he watched Terra's face. He took a step back away from Terra before speaking, "We will follow you Listener just tell us when you want to go."

Terra really wanted to just sleep, but knew if this was left open then she wouldn't be able to rest. She was disappointed that she couldn't tell herself not to take this on herself. She was on the edge of just using this contract to get close to Astrid just to kill the woman. It had been her fault that most of the Dark Brotherhood was gone here, including Cicero, who hadn't reappeared at any point. Astrid had been so stupid she even allowed her husband to be killed off. What kind of greedy woman would do such a thing to not just one person but to a whole group she called family?

Nazir and Babette followed Terra with not a single word on their lips. They just followed after her.

Terra struggled not to send the two of them away. A little part of her wanted these people to still think highly of the leader they had. She didn't want the responsibility of showing them the truth. It was disgusting and not justifiable so she would rather allow them the illusion of a good leader then a leader who was selfish and fearful of events to come.

They returned to the burnt ruins that was once their sanctuary. Everyone stood staring for a time, a silence that spoke volumes of the events that occurred. They bowed slowly in unison. It looked almost as if they were performing a vigil and not a soul would interrupt such a sacred event.

Sluggishly Terra slowly went to Astrid's room. She was at wits end and had no real energy for this contract. She really was only fueled by her hatred of the woman. It was even worse that a little part of her knew that this woman at some point tried to make the others think she was the betrayer. Nazir had made it obvious that he had deducted this but… who would have planned the thought in his head? Terra growled at the thought of it all. The problem was the wheels turned and turned but she wasn't going anywhere, nothing made sense.

When they entered the room there was something off. Deliberately they all searched through the room, fearful of traps or leftover villains. It didn't take long for them to discover Astrid stretched out on the floor surrounded by candles. The woman who was unrecognizable had used herself as the device to perform the Black Sacrament. She had even placed the Blade of Woe next to herself.

Upon seeing Terra she gurgled out a gasp. The labored breathing was caused from the fact that the burns covering her head to toe probably had destroyed her throat and lungs. If one was cruel they could slowly heal her back into a manageable piece of flesh but she would suffer for the rest of her life with pains from the body remembering the horrible events that it had suffered.

"Listener," Astrid struggled to speak, "Please just …" she laughed softly and began coughing, "Just listen."

Terra remained silent and watched Astrid struggle. The woman's movement was labored and she could see that the husk before her could last a long time more if allowed to heal up.

"I just wanted to apologize," Astrid explained, "I had doubted everything that had ever been taught to me as the Dark Brotherhood follower and when Cicero came…."

Terra shut the woman out, her mind was struggling just to remain conscious. She must have a concussion herself. She would allow parts of the Astrid's explanation follow through her ears for a moment or two but nothing more as it seemed to frustrate her so much that she would shake.

Babette and Nazir were standing there while shaking their heads. The justification that Astrid provided for them was not enough.

Terra could see all the belief that they had for this woman is washed away. She had been fearful that these events would happen. She noticed that the woman was wrapping up her talk.

"In the case of all this I have requested that you grant me a mercy killing," Astrid finished up.

Terra's emotions boiled over. "You selfish, retch, there was no mercy for the rest of us when they were slaughtered at the hands for the Commander and yet you are here asking for such a request?!" Terra was shrieking. The woman in pain slowly shrank away from the voice that was pounding her with accusation, "The fact that the Night Mother has sent me…" Terra took a breath, "Means that she has either forgiven you or she has deemed something worse to happen to you after death. I am not the judge of this, Sithis, the unholy father; he will deem the true fate of you, Astrid." Terra took hold of the Blade of Woe and pierced the woman's heart.

"Thank you…" Astrid whispered softly.

Terra growled leaving the blade in the woman. She wanted nothing to do with the symbol that was the treasure of the betrayer.

Babette and Nazir followed Terra out. They conversed low about pitying and hatred of the events that had equaled them fulfilling the Betrayer's last wish.

Terra stayed silent as they returned to Dawnstar. She had plans to make as the Night Mother will not ignore the failed attempt of the Emperor's life.