This is a story I started about 5 years ago because the Outsider needed some love. I never finished it but I still like it after all this time so maybe I will some day. I do not own Dishonored.

Background:

Overseer Yul Khulan was high overseer in the series from 1837 to his death in Dishonored 2 in 1852.

Aria is 8 years old in 1839 and 20 years old in 1851 (one year before Dishonored 2).

Chapter 1

Year 1839

The strange object hummed in the background, drawing Aria's eyes to its shadowy form, covered in carved runes. The humming intensified as she drew closer to inspect it as it lay behind a glass casing, like a museum display.

"Uncle?" she called curiously to the man sitting behind the large mahogany desk, her eyes never straying from the gleaming bone. The man glanced up from the paper he was about to sign.

"Yes child?" He followed her gaze toward the accursed object and he narrowed his eyes. "Do not be fooled by the fascinating appearance, Aria. That is an object made of whalebone by heretics that worship the Outsider.

Aria blinked, and looked up at her uncle in surprise. "The Outsider? Why would they worship a devil? I don't understand what could come of it."

Her uncle nodded. "And you should not try to understand. It's a madness caused by the Outsiders whispers. Do not fall prey to the whispers, child," he told her sternly.

The young girl nodded, her wide eyes falling again on the object, but this time with more caution than curiosity.

Suddenly, the doors to the office flew open. "High Overseer Khulan, we have a matter that requires your immediate attention!"

Aria glanced from the Overseer to her uncle who was frowning. He stood and began to follow the Overseer before glancing back at his niece. "Stay here, child. I will be back soon and we will return home after."

Aria curtsied. "Of course, uncle."

As the doors shut, Aria jumped; the sound coming from the whale bone intensified. Her uncle had not commented on its sound when they had been speaking of it. It was as if he did not hear it. Perhaps he was simply used to its song.

Curiosity filled Aria once more and she drew back to the glass case, gently unlocking the hatch and lifting it. The action seemed to calm the bone, its song softening, yet still loud in her ears. With trembling fingers she reached out to touch it only to draw back with a gasp at the burning sensation. The song stopped completely and she glared at the infernal thing. With a huff, she closed the case and walked away from it.

Year 1851

It had been 12 years since that day, and Aria had nearly forgotten about the whalebone and its curious song. She had only been 8 at the time, having recently been taken in by her uncle and still new to the world of Overseers and the Abbey.

A few days after their conversation, she had found it missing from her uncle's office. Upon inquiry, she had learned that they had sent it to be destroyed, used as an example for the citizens who had visited the Abbey. She had been both relieved and disappointed.

But now, she was just scared, because after years, she had stumbled across another one. It looked similar, though maybe a bit distinct in its shaping. It had washed up on the beach, leaving her to find it that morning as she walked.

She had glared at it, not daring to touch the object. Its soft humming eventually calmed her enough for her to pick it up. It did not burn her this time, but it did leave her feeling cold. A shiver ran down her spine as she took it back home. Her uncle would want it so that it would not fall into another's hands. That was what she told herself.

When she got home, she learned from a note that her uncle had already left and would not be back for a few days. She sighed, it was a common thing for him to do though, so she was not surprised or upset. He was a busy man, and now that she was old enough to care for herself, he did not need to keep her with him. In fact, she was old enough to marry but had not yet found anyone that held her interest. Thankfully, her uncle did not push.

She looked at the whalebone nervously and placed it in a box that she closed and left under the kitchen counter to give to her uncle when he returned.

That night she awoke to a strange feeling in her stomach. The air around her was colder, emptier, than normal. With hesitant steps, she opened her bedroom door to find… not her house. The sky was a grayish blue and gave off a harsh, searing light. The ground made of deteriorating stone led up an unfamiliar pathway.

Where was she?

"Uncle?" she called out in fear. "Anyone?" Her words barely carried in the still air. She shivered from a wind that was not there, her eyes scanning the unfathomable horizon. Floating islands. Ruined buildings. Dead Whales. Everything scared her as she searched for her uncle or a way out.

As she explored this strange new place, she began to feel as if something was watching her.

She froze as she felt the air change behind her, tentatively she turned, nearly screaming when she came face to face with a man with pitch black eyes. She choked on the scream that had gotten stuck in her throat, causing her to cough violently for a moment. When she finally got air in her lungs she looked back at the man in fright. He was studying her silently, confusion and intrigue clear in those endless eyes

"What are you doing here?" he asked with furrowed brows, his voice echoing over itself. A frown formed on his face. "I did not bring you here and I doubt you wish to be here." Waving his hand in her direction, "Go, you do not wish to know of this place."

At the dismissive gesture, Aria huffed, a defiant spark that always got her in trouble with her uncle showing its head. "Well it's not like I know how to get back if I don't know where I am."

The outsider blinked, looking back at his hand before looking at her. He waved his hand again, perhaps expecting something to happen, but all Aria felt was a shift in the air before it returned to normal. He frowned again.

"You are in the Void," he explained with slight hesitation, watching her expressions change from confusion, to wonder, to fear and horror.

"W-what?!" She gasped, looking around. "Why am I here? Send me back!" she pleaded as tears formed in her eyes. Was she dead? How? Why? She could only assume the man before her was the demon of the Void himself, the Outsider.

She was surprised when the startled devil placed a hand on her shoulder. "You are not dead," he assured her calmly, his voice strangely gentle even with the echoing tone.

As she opened her mouth to ask him why he was being nice, the ground beneath their feet shook. The Outsider looked down at it in confusion while Aria screamed, grabbing onto the only thing nearby, the Outsider himself. "What's happening?!" the words sounded far away even as they came from her own lips. The last thing she saw as everything faded was unending black eyes.

Aria's eyes snapped open as she jumped straight out of bed. She looked around her in fear. When she saw everything in its place she let herself fall back on her bed. "What a horrible dream."

A glance out her window showed that it was still dark outside. Perhaps she could get a few more hours of sleep before morning light.

Next morning, the memories of her dream faded, and she relaxed. As she cooked for herself, she would eye the box with the rune. It was strangely quiet and she was tempted to check if it was still there but stayed away from it.

That night, her eyes fluttered open again to find herself in the void once more. Though she was in a closed off room, she could feel it from the cold empty air and the twisting in her gut. She waited for the panic to bubble up again but it never did. She knew she should panic, but this time, Aria was strangely calm. Every time she felt a sliver of doubt it seemed to disappear with a gust of wind that came from everywhere and nowhere.

Pushing the door open, she gasped as she took in the world around her. It was far more beautiful and less eerie when she was not fearful.

She walked across the precarious rocks, studying objects as they floated by her. She giggled as she flicked a small rock, sending it spinning away from her. As she passed a stream of water flowing upwards, she couldn't help herself as she stuck her hand in, grabbing a handful of the water and pulling back. Droplets of water slowly rolled across her skin and up into the air. She batted at them playfully moving them back and forth before she allowed the water to fly away. She continued on the path until she spotted a little bench on a cliff. She sat down on the bench, looking out into the endless void. She found herself strangely calm and happy. This place was so serene and so interesting. She watched the whale floating far off in the distance. She had never seen a real whale before.

She felt the shift in the void behind her but did not move, as a soft smile pulled her lips up. She looked at an island far below her wondering if she could get to it. It looked far away though.

"You are here," came the Outsiders voice from behind her. It had not been a question but Aria nodded anyway.

A moment of silence passed before the Outside spoke again, closer this time. "What is it you are looking at?"

Aria hummed. "Everything," she murmured. "It's so serene here." She turned her head to look at him. He was looking over her shoulder with a frown.

"You are strange," he admitted, moving away from her, "Most would not find the Void serene."

She tilted her head as she studied him. "Then they are not looking at it," she said as if it was obvious. "I'm sure most who come here are not exactly looking at the scenery as more than strange." She looked back out and smiled. "I certainly did not think it was so beautiful last time. But this time I took a moment to actually look," she admitted.

He was silent after, making her wonder if he had gone, though she somehow knew he hadn't.

Her eyes landed back on the far off island before she tilted her head back, looking at the outsider upside down. He was watching her with those strange black eyes. Besides the eyes, he looked… human. Even his expressions showed human-like qualities as he raised a brow at her. She gave him a large smile.

"Hey, is it possible to go over there?" she asked, righting herself and pointing to the island below them. "I thought about it earlier but I'm pretty sure I would break my neck trying to jump that far down."

He looked to where she was pointing and his eyes darkened. "You should go back. It is already morning," he told her.

She jumped up. "What? Already?" But how?

He nodded in answer. "Time passes differently within the Void."

"Oh I hope uncle hasn't returned yet," she said dusting off her nightgown, though she thought perhaps since it was a dream she wouldn't have any dust on her when she returned.

The Outsider shook his head. "He will not be back for another few days. High Overseer Khulan is with the Royal Protector Corvo Attano investigating unrest in Tyvia."

Aria blinked, tilting her head. "Should I ask how you know this?"

The Outsider just chuckled, and Aria shrugged. "I heard a few days before that there was someone in Tyvia's Order causing Uncle trouble. I do hope they solve the issue." She glanced back at the island with longing. "But perhaps I should go back." He did not seem to want her here anymore.

The outsider sighed, sounding reluctant. "You do not need to leave." He offered her his hand. "You wished to see the island? I can take you there."

Aria's eyes lit up. "You will?" she took his hand. It was cold, swallowing up her much smaller hand in his grip, but softer than she had imagined, almost human if it wasn't for the strange feeling of nothingness the touch gave her. Why did he feel so human when he was described as anything but within the order. It made her uneasy. Was she forcing human traits on him in order to feel less… strange?

She looked into his black eyes, wondering of his motives and even her own. She gasped, feeling her stomach flip as everything blurred around them before returning. As she looked around, she found herself in a completely different location. "Wow! You teleported us! That's amazing!" she exclaimed.

He nodded, eyeing their connected hands but did not comment. She did not drop the outsiders hand as her smile grew and she walked over to a little gazebo in wonder.

He watched her smile disappear at the scene she saw. "I-is that… the late Empress?" she whispered, looking back to the Outsider.

He frowned, realizing that he didn't like that sad expression. "Yes. The Void records many events that shape the future. Some disappear after a while. Some have a lasting impression." She released his hand, making him miss the warmth, but he watched as she shakily walked up to the image of the dead Empress and picked up the blood soaked letter.

Her hands trembled as she read the letter. "T-this is so cruel," she whispered. "Who was this for?" she asked, looking at the Outsider.

"Corvo Attano." He didn't even pause in his answer.

"So he has been here," she marveled, putting the letter back where she had gotten it. "Uncle had his suspicions but decided to not pursue it." She returned to the Outsiders side, a little more subdued.

"Come," he said, offering her his hand again. She took it and again she found herself on a different island. Before her was a throne, with Empress Emily as a child sitting on the throne with the Royal Protector beside her. "The story had a happy ending," he commented.

A slight smile graced her lips once more. "I suppose you're right. Thank you."

"For what?"

"I was sad, and you showed me something nice," she turned her smile to him. "Is that not reason enough to thank you?"

Before he could respond though, he watched as her form disappeared from the Void. She had returned to the waking world.

The Outsider watched from the Void as Aria hummed to herself in her kitchen. Every now and then she would gland at the rune she had sealed up in a box with a slight frown but ignored it for a little while. It had been a few days since their last conversation in the void and she had not returned, though it appeared she was disappointed in that, much like himself.

Her uncle had returned that morning and the Outsider wondered why the girl had not yet given the rune to the man yet. Did she perhaps think it would allow her to enter the Void again? Would she want to go back?

He was still unsure how she had even entered through two times, but he wondered if maybe he should pull her into the void next time so that they could speak again.