A/N: Warning: some torture, graphic depiction of violence, and brief mention of threat of assault.
ENSNARED
The Harbinger
The Castle is filled with screams. It's as if the whole thing were its own entity, being tortured from the inside out. I know much better than that though. I know that those screams come from none other than those the Dark Brotherhood has captured.
I spit out another mouthful of blood. It has been relentless. Once I made my way into the Castle, they grabbed hold of me. I was a complete fool to think that I could fight them all off at once. Unfortunately, the mind control wasn't working on more than one person at a time.
When I knew I was about to be captured I began screaming for Aerin, I completely forgot I could call to him. No, I wanted a better entrance, something silent and with a deadlier edge. But that is not what I got. The Dark Brotherhood knew we were waiting for them, and they made good on their promise for revenge. So far.
Now, I am hanging from the rafters and bound by searing silver chains. Silver is an effective metal for our kind. I can feel the welts springing up around where the metal digs into my skin. I had to keep tears from covering my vision the first time they put me in them, it was such a burning pain I have no idea how one could withstand it.
It was effective in two ways. One, it was eroding my will. I have a better handle on the pain now, but I also further long for my limbs to be freed. The second, I could not focus enough to contact my pack. And that is more worrying and torturous than any silver bands could be.
From my first transformation I was bound to them. I knew their every thought, I knew where they were, I knew what was happening. Now, it was like a chord was cut. I couldn't reach any of them or even find out if they were enduring the same fate as me.
For another millionth time, I call out. My throat is raw from the lack of water and the possible allergic reaction I've been enduring. No one comes to check on me.
I think back to my last thoughts to the pack. Vilkas was just waking up. Aerin was still in great pain, like I am. And Farkas and Aela were completely ignorant. I felt the worst for them. They were either on a mad dash here to save us, or they were stuck in Jorrvaskr worrying about our fate. I knew which option they chose. I would not be surprised if they are brought in to hang next to me. For what…I have no idea.
What reason would the Brotherhood want to keep us? It makes sense if they want us under their watchful gaze. That way we are not communing with the Daedric Princes against the Night Mother. Maybe revenge is taking a part in this? I know I was furious when I saw the Silver-Hand again after they killed not only Skor but Kodlak.
But these chains…the rations of food and water…for an organization of assassins. They really want us alive for some reason.
The metal door slams open. My whole body tenses, all the muscles stiffen up and resist the bonds of the silver. It does nothing but dig into my skin further.
"I'm supposed to bring you this." A small, girlish voice says.
I have to blink the haze from my eyes to see her clearly. I was so shocked and frightened the first time I did see her. I thought the Dark Brotherhood kidnapped a little girl and forced her to change. It was only when she gave me a look of disgust at my pleas over her condition that I knew. She was possibly far older than the City of the Kings in Eastmarch Hold.
"I can't reach that far." She huffs, "Nazir doesn't like dealing with captives much. Such a good assassin but a poor torturer. He should know better by now, but what should I expect from such a young person?" She clasps her hands in front of her little pink dress and glares at my chains.
"Very well. I'll do it my way." Quicker than any frost spider I have seen, she leaps and climbs up my chains. I scream out with the new indentations in my skin, but she just slaps me.
"Quiet. You're making enough noise as is, and it's already such a travesty that the old vampire who built this Castle didn't put in a functioning garden. No, now we just found out the walls are not soundproof. Such a fool he was!" She jams small pieces of raw meat in my mouth.
I take the assault. I gobble them up, swallowing them before I can really chew them. It is a mistake. I begin to choke on a piece that was a little too large. The girl grasps my throat and strangles me with her impossibly strong little hands.
When my airways are finally clear, she jumps back on the ground. "So tiresome." She says, "We will have to bring you down at some point. I'm sure you still have that human function…?"
I know what she means. And it is so degrading to hobble around on the weakest of legs to find the best area to relieve myself. All while three or more assassins are watching to keep me from changing. They should know by now it is nearly impossible with these chains.
"I need to go clean up your friend." Her voice drips with boredom. "Then, I may get some more time to construct my dollhouse. See, it's a lot like this one. A giant Castle with oddly mazelike hallways. Strange rooms with strange exits. And a torture chamber or two. I haven't gotten to the dining room yet. But if Nazir is done barking out orders, I just might." She chimes as her voice fades out into the hallway. The door slams shut.
I take a deep breath. And let it out. If she is complaining about Nazir, the other assassin, then the Night Mother isn't around. Neither is the jester. I still haven't heard about Eve, and it only earned me a few slashes with a knife when I asked. So, her fate is yet to be determined.
Eventually, after wiggling does nothing to free me, I watch the wall. There are many cracks in the brick and the perspiration from the damp room is allowing small droplets to run down it. The only thing that moves here besides me and a few spiders.
"You're alive." A deeply relieved voice sounds behind me.
I jerk with a start and have to bite my tongue to keep from screaming. The silver sears further into my wrists when I try to turn and see who is in the room.
I have to blink the haze and sweat out once again, but my eyes are not deceiving me. Unless I am at the breaking point where hallucinations were to set in. No, right behind me stands the hunter.
"We've been searching. I am happy to be the first to find you." His massive head comes up to my chest, if I could, I would be able to reach out and touch those beautiful antlers.
"Where are the others?" I choke out.
"Some are captured. Some are hidden." His red eyes seem sorrowful.
"Who?" I shiver with the thought.
"Your friend, Aerin is still in the Castle. Eve is gone. Brynjolf and Vorstag remain on the banks near the island with the girl vampire…Serana. Vilkas is gone for the time being."
"Where?" I nearly shout.
"I'm not sure." He shakes his head. "But my brothers and sisters are looking."
I want to ask more but the door slams open again. I give a worried glance at Hircine before swiftly looking away. He moves to the far side of the room. I remember he is still invisible to those he wishes not to see him.
"Ready for some waterworks?" One of the new initiates sneers. To my dismay, there are three of them and they have a bucket.
I try to curl and close into myself to keep my modesty. I am stripped clean of clothing, but I have realized I don't have to worry about them getting too close to me. Strangely enough, most initiates fear me. I have a feeling it is because of my White Wolf status.
Speaking of, when they pull me down, I might be able to shake the chains enough to focus. Then I can use one of my powers to get out. I try to meet Hircine's eyes, but he is too far away.
The contraption that keeps the chains taught and high in the room moves. For the first time in a day, my burning feet hit the ground. I moan when the weight of my body is held up by my own waning strength.
"Here, dog, take this and go piss in it somewhere we can't see." One of the male Brenton initiates hisses. A bucket is shoved into my shaking hands.
"Nah, I want to see it all. I remember she has a good undercarriage." Another male Nord sneers.
I keep my eyes sharp as possible. Meet all of their gazes. Young people taken off the farm or out of the sewers somewhere. I wonder once again if they were this vile before being taken in by the Brotherhood or if it is taught. And as expected, they are targeting men over women. Or maybe I am just given the good grace of a full male audience. I have a feeling the females wouldn't be as cruel.
One thought of Babette and I know it not to be true. So, I pull my aching limbs forward and make the slow trek to the other side of the room. A small corner, the one I usually choose is where I slowly set the bucket down. This is where I take my time.
The chains around my torso, that are only used for pure torture, begin to slip. I move my arms slightly to get the most assaulting ones one my wrists freer. I feel the stinking breath of one of the initiates behind me.
"Don't do anything funny." He growls. He's close enough for me to smell the garlic in his last meal but not that close. He must be kept back by the scent of me.
I consider distracting him in the only way a woman can. As much as it disgusts me. But then I see Hircine in the corner. His appraising eyes are taking in their forms. Looking for their weaknesses. "Do it." He says, only to me.
I call it, I think of being like a ghost. A spectral spirit. Then the chains fade away.
The one behind me yells but I was ready for it. I duck out from his arm which goes straight through my head as if it were nothing. I guess I am nothing now.
I leap over to the other corner and try to change. Try to call the beast but no strength is left. "Run." Hircine prods me in the back.
Yes, I am completely naked but at least I don't have those chains anymore. I race through the comically open doorway and right out into the hallway. I hear them following me. I never checked to know if I was still visible to them. But I am taking the chance.
Babette is right, the Castle is an impossible maze. When I think I've found an exit to the outside world I only find a dead end. Minimal windows. I know we are in the basement so it would make sense not to have any, yet that is what I am most desperate for.
I slow slightly near one of the large metal doors. It looks like the one I was kept behind. Thanks to the confusing pattern of hallways the initiates are just as lost as I am. I lean my head against the door to hear if anyone is behind it. What I get is heavy breathing.
I look up and down the long, darkened hallway, no one is here yet. Are they dense enough to leave this door unlocked as they did with me? I try it.
One push from my weak arms and the door flies open. When I see who is behind it, I nearly scream.
Aerin is flayed alive. Or it looks like it. He is still breathing but barely, he is chained as I was but instead of a vertical line, his arms and legs are splayed like a starfish. His stomach has many, many scars crisscrossing the way. I balk at the thought of them cutting him up just to allow him to heal again.
"Aerin." I choke. I race over and hug his stomach. I'm not sure if it hurts him, he moans slightly before raising his head from his chest. "Mjoll. You came."
"Of course, I would Aerin! I always will." I have to keep tears from springing. Thankfully they don't, I am too dehydrated for that nonsense.
A moment later my fuzzy head catches up with me. "I need to get you down from here." I struggle with the chains on his legs. They sear into my skin when I pry, making it harder to adjust them. I yelp with the second burn.
"It won't work." His voice is barely a whisper. How long has he been without nutrients?
"I'll find a way." I say decisively. I can't connect to anyone yet. I can't use any of my powers, but I can use what I find in the room.
Unlike my barren room, there is a long table lining the far wall. On it are various tools used for the worst of torture. I can't keep myself from shaking as I pass each one. There are tools anywhere from knives to branding metal that can be heated to a high temperature. The same kind of way you would forge armor, instead you are forging skin…
I have to look away when I see the pile of flesh. I can't make out the exact contents, but I know the scent. Aerin's smell is all over it. My palms begin to bleed when my nails cut into them. I will make them all pay.
"See anything?" He whispers in a more hopeful voice.
"This." I grab one of the thin tools that still has blood on it. It should do. I fumble again with his chains, trying to find the right position to unlock the bolt. Damn thing won't budge. I'm beginning to think the tool is too small for what the lock requires. I go back to the table and search.
"Mjoll, they're coming." He says in a higher voice. I recognize the fear.
I see the door is still ajar so I make it right and go shove it closed. Once it is, I drag the large table over to cover the door. It's not much but it buys us time. When I push the table on the door, I take my time going over the possible weapons. I still need to find something to free Aerin, but I also need time to regain my strength. They have absolutely drained us of any energy.
"Here." I grab another random tool and return to my poor friend.
He's shaking from the sudden cold that penetrated the room through the open door. "You'll be free in no time." I tell him. I get the tool into the chains and jiggle it again. Nothing.
"Mjoll, I hear them. Please don't let them in here again." He pleads.
I cry out in frustration as the tool breaks in my hands. "I am trying Aerin!" I snap then I nearly smack myself. "I'm sorry, I just don't know why this isn't working!"
"They're not meant for lockpicking." Hircine says from the other side of the room. He has his arms crossed over his large chest and is staring us down with his red eyes. The mask is still a pristine white as ever.
"Did you stop them?" I have to ask.
"We can't interfere much. But trust me, if I could unlock his chains for you, I would." He says in a despairing voice. His hands are bound as much as ours.
Shouts ring in the hallway. "I can't get into this one! This has to be where she ran to!" A bang sounds outside.
"They'll be breaking through in a matter of minutes." Hircine paces over to me. I nearly throw the stupid torture device at him. What help are these Princes? After all we've done for them!
"I can't help much, but I can return this to you." He holds out his large hand and in the center is a delicate ring.
It would be something if it were the miracle I hoped it was, wouldn't it? I expected to see that delicate silver ring embossed with the face of a wolf. The Ring of Hircine. Unending power through the fact that I would be able to change into my wolf whenever I wanted. With whatever strength I had. But I know that was stolen promptly by the Brotherhood when they saw it. The Ring of Namira however, fell before anyone could find it.
A haze comes over me. I stare at the Ring of Namira then back at the Hunter's carved skull mask. "What am I supposed to do with that?"
"Hey! Something's in the way! Go tell the others to get their lazy asses down here and help us!" One of the initiates grunts against the door. It rattles with his weight.
"You know what you have to do. I wish it were my ring as well, but this is all we have. Namira's ring grants you strength when you consume dead flesh of a corpse. If you get enough strength, you can tear those cowards apart." I can hear the grin under his mask.
"But what…" I look around the room. What kind of corpse could I eat? We'd have to kill someone outside first. I see the large deer antlers bow towards me, Hircine nods his head and when I see what he is signaling, I almost pass out.
He motions to the hunk of flesh taken from Aerin. "I can't." I say immediately.
"You can't or you don't want to? If you want to endure more torture at their frivolous hands for a few more days, then by all means open that door. Or better yet, wait a few minutes. If you want to save both your hides, you're going to have to make the sacrifice for you and Aerin and eat what you see here." He points again to the flesh and shoves the ring at me.
I look at Aerin. He looks defeated but I can't tell if it's our conversation or the fact that the Brotherhood is almost here. I keep watching him, so I barely catch it when he says, "Do it, Mjoll. I don't mind. Not like I need that flesh anymore. I grew it all back."
I can't help the memories of the cannibal in the cave from resurfacing. Do I really want to succumb to that again?
"Shove harder! We're almost there! But remember, I get to drag the bitch back out by the hair!" That foolish Nord from before yells. The door budges further, so much so that I have to shove the table back into place. And that takes a lot of strength.
"The clock is ticking." Hircine glares. Aerin is moaning, my friend is in danger, and I am too fearful to do what is necessary.
"Give it to me." I take the ring from his strong hands and position it on my pointer finger. The metal is cool but solid. When I look to the flesh I nearly gag. But I just have to close my eyes…
I scoop it up and before I can think about my actions I shove as much into my mouth as possible. The scent and taste are so disgusting from the age of the flesh that I nearly spit it out. "Think of someone you love." Hircine say, "Think of your friend. Your lover, clan, whomever. Just anyone to get you through this."
I swallow what I can. In an instant the ring begins to burn, my legs grow stronger. I can now stand more upright. "Keep going." He commands.
I scoop up more meat and shove it down my throat like Babette did. I close my eyes and try to keep from focusing on the taste and texture. Gods…
I think of Aerin, how hurt he's been by all of this and how I'll rip the initiates heads off when I see them. I think of Vilkas, lost to who knows where, I just hope he is alive and not enduring any of this.
The meat goes down clean. I spit out the remaining blood. The ring is absolutely on fire. With regained vision I look to Aerin and Hircine. "Stay back." I warn.
Hircine waves his hand out in front of him, giving me center stage. I call the wolf. My other being. She returns the call with a ferocity all her own. I keep my screams muffled when I fall to the floor. The change takes my current body and rearranges it. It is so painful, especially that first time and that is what this feels like. But I embrace every second of it.
When I rise, I see everything. I feel everything. I hear everything. I call to my ice brethren and soon two of the strongest wolves are standing behind me. I make sure to slash those stupid silver chains from Aerin. He falls to the ground in a heap, I try to keep him up, but my hands are of little use now.
"Mjoll, look at you, you did it." He smiles up at me. That relieved smile is everything. I glance at Hircine. His posture tells me he is filled with the pride only a father would feel.
Open the door. I direct that Nord just outside.
"She's in there! I know it! I can hear her! Can Nazir give us permission for a more…personal form of torture? I want to see that bitch squeal with pain and pleasure when I cut and…"
The door opens after I shove the table out of the way. I take great pleasure in the pure fear that overcomes the disgusting, cocky Nord. He screams when he sees my face.
I snarl, all that pain and fear is put into everything I do next. I lunge across the way and make sure he is the first. My claws tear into his shoulders to get him closer to me. He screams again but his bloodcurdling pleas are falling on deaf ears. His head comes off clean. Too clean for my taste. I let out a piercing roar that rattles the heavy stones of the Castle. The initiates fear smells pristine and permeable. Perfect, now they know how we've felt. I slash the remaining three members with my claws. They were too stupid to run or fight. They go down in ribbons.
I am unstoppable. I have some time in this form before it fades so I make the most of it. I snarl at Hircine. He nods and lifts my weak friend to a better position. "Go get them. I'll keep watch here." He tells me. I tear my eyes away from the sight and prowl down the hallway, taking out anyone dressed in red that I see.
Cicero's Journal Entry
6th of Last Seed, 4E 202
Once our frosty trek down the mountain was completed Mother said we must go home immediately. She worries when she isn't there. Initiates have been foolish and utterly stupid. Cicero suggested we start taking the "college educated" from Winterhold. She's not ready for that kind of commitment yet. Ah, Mother, she doesn't know how that little change might make life more bearable.