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••••••••••••••••••••••

The Night had been very long.

Gileanna had been nearly drowned twice, strangled almost to death, whipped repeatedly and suffered through multiple beatings at the hands of Maven's assistant, Maul. All the while Maven Black-Briar herself watched with a smug smile.

The captured assassin was currently laying against the cold stone wall in the corner of the cell. One of her eyes was nearly swollen shut, bruises were blossoming across her skin and the lashes across her back and legs burned. She knew she was lucky that nothing was broken. Yet.

"Are you ready to share? I'm sure you're as tired of being played with as I am of watching. I'm not asking much, just the location of your new sanctuary. I need the Brotherhood back under my heel."

Gileanna looked up and spat a mouthful of blood at Maven.

"I'll never give up my family you bitch."

Maven sighed then snapped her fingers. Maul looked to her.

"What's next?"

Maven shrugged. "I'll be taking my leave. I have a few errands to run. Break her in the one way only a whore like her can be. I don't care about the specifics but get me the information I want."

Maven walked out of the cell leaving Gileanna alone with Maul. He sighed before stepping forward and ripping the blanket away from her, exposing her naked flesh to the elements and his gaze. He grabbed her arms and tied them together with some rope before doing the same to her legs.

"You should have just talked. Now I have no choice."

Despite being bound and the many lacerations lining her back, Gileanna began to squirm and try to break free. She knew exactly what they meant. She was to be raped until she broke. She couldn't, absolutely WOULD NOT allow it.

Maul sighed before brutally stomping the bosmer girl in the stomach. Gileanna threw up all over her own chest, face and the cell floor.

Gileanna looked up from her position on the bile covered floor to the massive Nord and through labored, pain filled gasps spoke.

"You're going to die you know. It doesn't matter what you do to me, just by being involved with this your life is forfeit. It's only a matter of time."

Maul seemed a bit unnerved by her words. It was clear he didn't like who Maven was messing with. The Dark Brotherhood we're not people you trifled with. They had, against all odds, murdered the emperor on his own ship after all. Maul knew deep down that this girl he had brutalized and was now about to rape was probably right.

"For what it's worth I don't enjoy this. I much prefer willing partners. You should have just told Maven what she wanted."

Gileanna laughed, the hysterics and adrenalin beginning to set in. "It doesn't matter what you do or don't enjoy. You're still nothing but a dog chasing after a stick for your master's praise and just like a dog, MY master will put you down."

"Little assassin talks too much."

Maul turned straight into a furry fist. He was sent sprawling nearly crushing Gileanna beneath him.

Ra'faer quickly entered the room and pushed the unconscious Nord off of Gileanna and right on to the vomit covering the floor.

"You! Why are you here?!" Gileanna hissed through the pain of having a massive Nord fall on her.

Ra'faer shushed her then cut her bindings and gently pulled her to her feet. Gileanna hissed. The movement, as slow as it was, still sent jolts of agony through her battered body. She picked up the blanket and wiped her face clean before pulling it close to conceal the many bruises painting her body and to hide her lack of modesty.

"Be calm, you have nothing to be ashamed of nor anything Ra'faer has not seen many times on his mates. Now be silent little assassin and follow Ra'faer. This one had reason for ruining your hunt. He has saved you and once he gets us out of this prison and to the Cistern his debt will be repaid. Come, stay close to Ra'faer."

Gileanna quickly decided it was best to just go along. He ruined her first contract but he did save her from the pig lying unconscious in her vomit as well. For now she would give him the benefit of the doubt, at the very least until she once again held a blade.

••••••••••••••••••••

"You look real deep in thought there."

I opened my eyes to find Brynjolf sitting across from me leaning back on a bale of hay. I had occupied a mat in their training room to meditate and calm my thoughts.

"Yes. It helps me remain calm. Not as much as a good hunt but..."

Brynjolf scratched his chin. "I can sorta relate. I'm never more focused then in the middle of a heist. Never been one for the violence though."

I took a deep breath and centered my thoughts.

"It's more likely you haven't been put in a situation that would force your hand. Everyone has a breaking point. You've just been fortunate enough that no one has ever pushed you to yours. Should you ever be pushed to that point you might surprise yourself with just how ferocious you can really be."

Brynjolf only shrugged.

"If you say so. Guess that's why we're in separate lines of work."

I nodded my head. "You're not wrong I guess."

"Why do you do it? The killing? I hear stories that your group worship some being of death. The Nightmother if I recall correctly. You don't strike me as a zealot though. You really buy into that Nightmother wash?"

This blasphemy I could not allow.

"Be silent you worm! You dare question my faith to my matron when yours is the whore of the Daedra? Nocturnal, Lady of night, patron of thieves. Yet here you are, your guild about to fall apart and heists coming undone at the worst possible times."

Brynjolf's eyes narrowed and he jumped to his feet.

"Now you wait just a moment your brotherhood was nearly destr-"

I was on my feet in an instant.

"I said SILENCE!" my voice boomed.

"My family was BETRAYED! Yet we lived on. The Nightmother was there with us through it all guiding her children as she always has. Yet to me, it is very clear that Nocturnal has abandoned you."

Brynjolf frowned and seemed to deflate. It was clear that he also believed that Nocturnal had turned her back on them.

"Exactly as I thought. Make no mistake thief, I may not worship Nocturnal but I never doubted she is out there. You would be wise to never doubt the presence of the Dreadfather or the Unholy Matron again. Leave me."

Without a word Brynjolf turned and walked away. I almost felt bad. For me to verbally attack his matron was low. Blasphemous in its own way. But I could not allow such a slight against the Nightmother and Sithis himself to slide. To see a man broken by words made me feel wretched though. I was born to slay men with a blade or with magic, not attack them with words like a coward aristocrat.

With a sigh I tried to return to my meditations. I would spend the rest of my time there debating with myself on whether or not I was right to open my big mouth.

••••••••••••••••••••

Gileanna followed Ra'faer closely. They had pushed upwards to the main level of the prison, more specifically they snuck into the room that held the confiscated items taken from prisoners.

Fast as a striking snake, Ra'faer had the only guard in the room unconscious. Gileanna was not sure what fighting style the khajiit employed but it was very effective.

"Find your things little assassin. We have little time for you to admire Ra'faer's perfection." He said, snickering to himself at the end before searching through the desk in the far corner of the room.

Gileanna rolled her eyes but quickly began searching for her armor. She found it within the second chest and hugged it tight This armor was the only possession she had that showed the world just who's family she belonged to. It hadn't been hers very long but already it held tremendous sentimental value to the girl. As Gileanna pulled the leathers into place, ignoring the searing pain as it rubbed against her open wounds, she noticed her dagger was missing.

She double checked her armor then searched the room once more. It was nowhere in the chests or hung on any of the weapon racks. She sighed. It was probably hanging off the belt of some random guard as a trophy.

"Are you finished? Ra'faer has what he came for."

Gileanna nearly jumped out of her skin. She had nearly forgotten the khajiit thief during the silence. He was very skilled in stealth, more so than she was, though something in the back of her mind made her think he wasn't showing the full extent of his abilities.

"Yes I'm ready. My dagger is missing though."

Ra'faer shook his head. "No time for knife. We must leave. A blade can be replaced. Your life cannot."

Gileanna couldn't argue with that. She instead pulled the puny iron dagger from the belt of the still unconscious guard and gripped it tight. It wasn't steel, elven, or ebony but she would have to make it work. She quickly fell back in step with the silent khajiit as they began the long creep back down into the prison.

"Why are we going down? The entrance is the other way isn't it?" Gileanna whispered.

"Silly girl, we are not looking for entrance. We seek special exit. Ra'faer will show you." Ra'faer replied nearly silently.

They made it back to the lowest cell block moving past the one Gileanna had been kept in. Maul was still face down and unconscious.

At the end of the row of cells, Ra'faer pushed in a lose stone on the far wall. It slowly began to open into a secret passageway.

"Come through here. This is way out." Ra'faer turned to see an empty hallway. He hissed before rushing back to the cell he left Maul in.

Gileanna raised the iron dagger. She would take this man's life for what he had done to her. As she plunged the blade down she was pulled by the collar of her armor and sent rolling nearly into the cell door.

"What are you doing!?" Gileanna whispered angrily.

"Be silent you little fool! You will alert the guards and be caged once again." Ra'faer hissed.

Gileanna stood and pointed at Maul. "He dies before we go."

Ra'faer shook his head. This girl was trying his patience. He spoke out loud, forgoing the whispers. "While you are under my charge you will not spill blood."

Gileanna looked appalled. "Me under your charge!? I am Dark Brotherhood and what he did will not go unpunished!"

"Not while this one is here. You owe me little assassin."

This took Gileanna off guard. She hadn't expected him to hold saving her over her head. He was the reason she was there in the first place, but he had saved her from a very grim fate. As much as she may hate to leave the man who had brought her so much pain alive, she would stay her hand this time. Never again though.

"Fine let's go." She muttered before turning and leaving the cell.

Ra'faer let out a deep breath, relief flooding his body. He did not want to have to incapacitate Gileanna. He could tell that she was a good girl, as far as assassin's go, but he couldn't have her killing anyone under his watch, Mercer was going to be furious enough as it was. He followed after her.

She was already half way through the secret tunnel before he caught up, though stopping to close the secret exit had slowed him just a bit.

"I am sorry. To walk away is not easy but is best choice for now."

Gileanna snarled. "Drop it. You ruin my contract, embarrass me in front of the Listener himself, and then keep me from killing a man who tortured and almost raped me. Your only saving grace is that you stopped that pig before he could have his way with me but everything is still your fault in the first place."

Ra'faer's ears drooped. "Child you have much to learn."

The rest of their slow journey was spent on silence.

••••••••••••••••••••

I opened my eyes and stood up. I could feel her.

I ran from the training room into the center of the cistern as Gileanna entered from the main entrance followed closely by a grinning Ra'faer. Brynjolf was already there, angrily yelling at Ra'faer.

"Dammit Ra'faer! You were told NOT to cross Maven Black-Briar! The hell do you call this?!"

I ignored them for a moment and walked up to Gileanna. Babette and Ardoneth were already at her side, Babette appraising her wounds and Ardoneth trying to comfort her sister. When Gileanna saw me she immediately looked to the ground. I put my hand under her chin and forced her to look me in the eye as I looked her over.

Her left eye was swollen and the skin I could see was covered in dark purple bruises. A quick glance at Babette's hunger filled eyes and I knew her injuries were far worse than what I could see or at the very least that they were very bloody.

"You're hurt." It wasn't a question.

Gileanna shook as she tried to hold back tears. "Listener, Babette….I-I failed."

I pulled her close and wrapped my arms loosely around her to avoid irritating her wounds.

"Shhhh. It's okay. It wasn't your fault."

Gileanna broke into tears. She cried against me as I held her. Babette snarled before turning and walking to the alchemy table, no doubt to make something to lessen pain. After a moment I gently passed Gileanna into the waiting arms of her sister.

I motioned for Ardoneth to move Gileanna closer to Babette before I turned my attention to Brynjolf who was still berating the fool that had caused this.

"Enough Brynjolf. It's time for me to say my piece."

Both thieves looked at me, worry instantly dominating Brynjolf's features though Ra'faer remained nonchalant. I stood beside Brynjolf.

"You ruined my sister's contract. Even worse, you return her to me injured. In my line of work blood begets blood. What do you have to say for yourself? Were I in your place I would measure my words carefully."

Ra'faer shrugged. "I already apologized to little assassin. Ra'faer needed something, Ra'faer took advantage of situation."

I nodded. Without warning I shoved Brynjolf away and in one motion drew and swung Crimson Eviserator towards Ra'faer who caught my wrist mid swing.

It seemed despite the drug use, Ra'faer's reflexes we're still far above my expectations. I would need to force myself NOT to underestimate him. There were very few people who could match me in close combat but humility is what has kept me alive through the centuries.

"Stop this. Ra'faer has fixed things. No blood need be shed."

Seems he missed the point I was in the process of making. I pointed with my free hand at Gileanna who was watching from the arms of her sister.

"Blood has already been shed and it came from the veins of my beloved sister. For every mark on her body I will inflict one on you in return!" I roared before blasting him in the chest with a large fireball.

Ra'faer flew back and crushed one of the beds lining the wall. He quickly rolled into a stance ready to meet my next assault. The leather armor of the guild had protected him from the worst of the blast.

I rushed forward and slashed for his leg. He jumped back to avoid me but ended up pressed against the stone wall of the cistern. I used the momentum from my attack to turn in a full circle, immediately sending a spear of ice flying when I faced him. A slight shift in stance and the frozen spear lanced straight into the wall, missing Ra'faer's head by a hairs breath.

Ra'faer made the next move. He bared his fangs at me then closed in. I readied myself to meet his attack but was taken by surprise when at the last moment he tackled me. His claws ripped through my robes and pierced my armor to the flesh just beneath my ribs.

We crashed through a small table and landed in the water. Luckily my grip on Crimson Eviserator held strong and I didn't lose her to the depths despite my wounded sides. I broke the surface as my lungs began to ache for air. I took a few breaths before feeling around. My vision was clouded by the foggy water. I felt the stone of the walkway against my outstretched arm. I pulled myself up and heard the telltale splashing of a body being lifted out of the water a few feet away.

I dragged myself back onto the stone and lifted my blade just in time to catch another against it. My vision began to clear and I found it wasn't Ra'faer holding a blade against mine but Brynjolf. Ra'faer was being held back by Rune and surprisingly Gileanna and Ardoneth.

"What are you doing?!" I hissed at Brynjolf.

"That enough Morthos. You know I can't let this fight continue." He said through clenched teeth. It almost made me laugh that this big Nord thief was using all his strength to hold me, an injured and average size wood elf, down.

I swept one of his legs out from beneath him, throwing Brynjolf off balance and off my blade before slamming my palm against the side of his head and sending a shock spell through him. He fell over effectively pacified. I rolled on to my feet, ignoring the pain, and ran for Ra'faer. Luckily for me, he was still being held by the twins and Rune. With more than just a little twisted satisfaction I jumped up and sent both my feet into Ra'faer and back flipped off his chest. He flew straight back into the water. Before Rune could react, I smashed my elbow into his nose, grabbed his arm and tossed him over my shoulder down through a chair.

Gileanna placed her hand on my shoulder and Ardoneth took a step away from me. "Listener please-"

My gaze shut her up immediately. I was in no mood for any sort of interference.

"Ardoneth, take Gileanna to Babette and keep her there. None of you are to interfere any further in this."

She bowed and took hold of Gileanna. "I obey Listener."

I turned to the murky water, twirled Crimson Eviserator and waited for Ra'faer to rise for air.

I wasn't disappointed.

He broke the surface gasping for breath and pulled himself on to the stone coughing up murky water.

"Come khajiit. Stop faking. I know your letting me win. I can feel it. Fight me like you mean it. Your life depends on it. The Nightmother is no doubt already VERY upset by your actions. Perhaps your soul would be a fitting way of bringing us back into her good graces."

He coughed up water, then narrowed his eyes at me.

"You suffer same problem as the little assassin. You talk too much when you should listen, Listener." He said as he dragged himself back onto the stone.

His tone was void of any mirth and as he stood, his entire way of holding himself changed. He drew a dagger from his belt. The blade was the color and texture of granite, the cross guard was large for a dagger and a small black gem sat on the pommel. He held it reversed in his left hand.

Ra'faer growled at me. It was a deep guttural sound that sent chills up my spin and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

This was more like it. Finally he was taking me seriously. There would be no excuses if I killed him now. I gripped Crimson Eviserator and readied myself. In that moment I could almost hear grandfather Greywyn barking at me.

"Leg apart! Knees bent! Arms midway up and ready! Make sure your dagger faces your mark. Never relent! Let the blood flow!"

Both Ra'faer and I screamed defiance at each other and charged.

Ra'faer swiped at me with his dagger. I managed to side-step him and send a kick into the side of his far knee. Normally a crippling blow, but Ra'faer seemed to flow with it and swing his other hand's claws right into my calf before rolling back up into his fighting stance.

My calf would have been sliced to ribbons had I not swapped armor. I was extremely lucky; the leg padding on my Crimson Scar armor was significantly thicker than my normal Dark Brotherhood armor. I closed the distance between us and threw a few quick strikes with my fist and Crimson Eviserator aimed for the vulnerable joints in his arms to try and disable him, but Ra'faer met me blow for blow.

I was gaining no ground so I swapped tactics. I readied my magic and tried to gain some distance. Ra'faer seemed to know what I was planning because as I disengaged he leaped forward, claws up and dagger at the ready. I was just fast enough to side-step him again but rather than try and counter I jumped back again and threw a watermelon sized fireball towards him. Ra'faer's eyes went wide and he jumped out of the way just barely avoiding being roasted alive.

I rushed forward and actually managed to sink Crimson Eviserator's wave-like blade into Ra'faer's shoulder. He roared in pain and sliced me across the chest with his own dagger as I pulled my blade free. I felt some dark magic touch me from Ra'faer's weapon. It was ice cold.

It felt like death.

I quickly moved away and clutched my bleeding chest. Whatever magic inhabited Ra'faer's weapon was nothing to sneeze at. It was extremely potent and the feeling of death I felt when the weapon cut into my flesh made me nervous. I couldn't allow myself to be wounded by it again.

At the same time, my own foul dagger's effects began to take hold. Ra'faer had paled just a bit and sunk to his knees.

Crimson Eviserator was truly a vampire's weapon. It absorbed the targets strength and damaged their health and Magicka. My grandfather was a twisted man for ever having created it but she served both him and I well.

I took advantage of his moment of weakness and kicked him in the face. He slid back into the water off the cistern.

I looked back at Gileanna. She was struggling to stand even held up by her sister. Seeing her in such bad shape for the third time cemented my resolve. I walked to the central pool where the khajiit was still floundering trying to find the edge to pull himself up. I conjured forth my strongest and most lethal lightning spell: White Dragon's Rage.

Jagged crimson bolts of electricity began dancing between my fingers and along my arm. This was the strongest destruction spell I knew. It was instant death to whomever was unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end. The drawback was that it used up ALL the Magicka the user had stored at the time of the casting. I would be unable to cast spells again until my Magicka replenished itself.

It would be worth it.

I gently touched my hand to the water.

In an instant the crimson electricity flooded the water with its power, frying everything inside. The blood red lightning danced across the surface and up towards metallic objects nearby. Only my magical discipline prevented the spell from getting out of hand and killing everyone on the room with metal on their person.

In the water, Ra'faer convulsed as the spell flowed into him. His screams were ungodly. Many of the watching thieves vomited.

Finally the screamed stopped and all that was left of Ra'faer was his blackened corpse floating in the steaming pool. The only reason there was still a body and not just charred bones was because the water had prevented nearly instant vaporization of his skin.

I stood up, the magical fatigue of using such a powerful spell setting in. As I turned I was too slow to block or avoid a body flying into mine. I landed painful on my back but still managed to roll with my attacker. It was a struggle that ended with Crimson Eviserator ready to stab into their trachea and a blade to my throat. My vision cleared and I saw I was pinned by the very khajiit I had just killed.

"That is enough. We both know this isn't worth it. Stow your pride and take your family home." Ra'faer said as he released me and rose unsteadily to his feet.

I was shocked silent. I had JUST killed him. I know I did. Yet here he was standing over me.

How?

I looked over and saw the corpse in the water fade away as if it were never there. Then it hit me: Illusion magic.

Whatever spell Ra'faer had used, it was masterful. It seems I hadn't been the only one using incredibly powerful spells in this fight.

I grunted, half in approval for Ra'faer's skill in a lesser utilized school of magic and half in pain. "You're still missing the point I see. This isn't about what's worth it or isn't or even my pride. This is about you interfering with our work and more importantly hurting my family. Had Gileanna returned unharmed I would have been upset by the setback but wouldn't have batted an eye. Instead look at her!" I pointed angrily at Gileanna who was now hiding beside Babette and her sister on the other side of the cistern.

Even from this distance and half hidden I could see that her armor was soaked through with blood and the pain that would cross her face whenever she moved.

I looked back to Ra'faer and saw him actively looking away from her. He knew exactly what he had caused. Hell, I was willing to bet he had seen up close and in detail the consequences of his actions. Seeing him looking away only proved I was probably right.

"That's right coward. Look away. You don't even have the stones to face what you've done." I said as I stood up, my voice low and filled with anger.

"I'm willing to wager she limped the whole way here. Did you notice as you were 'rescuing' her the pain she endured? Did you even care?" I snarled.

Ra'faer growled. "She is strong. Those tiny cuts are nothing and will only make her stronger."

My eyes narrowed. "And that makes it right I suppose."

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?"

Both Ra'faer and I looked over to see Mercer Fray standing at the rear entrance to the cistern. He looked livid.

••••••••••••••••••••

Babette sighed as she slipped a small coin purse into the hands of the resident priest of Mara, Maramal. It was everything she had brought along for the trip. Coin hadn't been an issue in a long time, but it still made her fangs itch to let her money go.

Maramal had agreed to loan them a small room inside the temple for a few nights and treat Morthos' and Gileanna's wounds if in turn Babette and her family made a donation to the temple. Morthos wasn't comfortable staying at the Bee and Barb with Maven more than likely looking for them. Babette would have preferred to stay with the thieves' guild but, Mercer, the blasted coward, had demanded they leave the cistern and Morthos was too tired after fighting Ra'faer to intimidate Mercer into allowing them to stay.

At the very least Maramal and the other disciples of Mara could be trusted to remain silent if questioned about them and the day was half way through.

"Babette please, I will return soon. I promise."

Babette groaned. Ardoneth was testing her very limited patience. "For the last time Ardoneth, I will not let you or your sister go out right now. Are you daft?! By Sithis, Gileanna is injured and we are already short on supplies. We can't afford to take the risk. "

"What about the contract?"

Babette crossed into very irritated and it was beginning to show. "What about it?" she barked.

"It still needs to be completed. Look I'll go and finish this and be back by nightfall, you'll see."

Babette grabbed her as she passed and yanked her down to her eye level. Babette locked her hands around Ardoneth's face like a vice and forced her to look into her eyes. Ardoneth struggled briefly to break free of the vampire child's inhumanly strong grip then slowly went still as Babette's vampiric seduction took hold.

Babette growled then spoke.

"I am a Speaker. Just as we all bend to the Listener's command, you WILL obey mine. Is that understood?"

"I will obey mistress." Ardoneth in a sleepy tone.

"Good. You are not to tell anyone of my new standing within the Brotherhood until our dear Listener has announced it himself. You will NOT leave this room until I return. Only Maramal is allowed to enter and only to leave food and to change Gileanna's bandages. You will protect the Listener and your sister with your life."

Ardoneth nodded. "I obey mistress."

"Good. I will return. Should Morthos awaken and ask where I am tell him I am out for a bite to eat. Insist he stay here until I return." Babette slowly released Ardoneth.

Ardoneth sluggishly stood up and made her way to sit between the unconscious bodies of her sister and the Listener. She stared blankly at the door to the room, one hand on her dagger.

Satisfied that Morthos and Gileanna I would be adequately protected, Babette pulled up her hood and strode out of the temple into the midday sun.

••••••••••••••••••••

I woke up feeling stiff as a board. My entire body burned as I sat up and I felt oddly content. It had been a long time since I had been sore. There were bandages wrapped around my ribs and chest where Ra'faer's strange dagger and claws had pierced my hide.

I looked around and saw Ardoneth sitting beside me staring blankly at the door.

"Ardoneth?"

"She won't answer. I've been trying to get her attention for a while Listener." I then noticed Gileanna laying on her stomach beside Ardoneth. "Do you have any idea what's wrong with her?"

I looked into her glassy eyes. I could tell she had been placed under a very strong hypnotic suggestion.

"Ardoneth has been hypnotized. I would bet that Babette is the one who did it."

Gileanna reached out to her sister, moaning in pain at the effort. "But why would Babette hypnotize my sister?"

I stood and began checking over my robes and armor. I would need to repair my crimson scar leathers immediately. "No doubt Ardoneth was trying to go out and finish the contract and Babette was unable to talk her into staying so she hypnotized her."

Gileanna nodded.

I began stretching. My wounds protested and I felt each muscle burn as I slowly and thoroughly stretched out. After a while I felt my body begin to relax and move without as much strain. When I felt I could move with minimal discomfort and I moved to sit beside Gileanna.

She held her sister's unmoving hand and sighed. "Listener? What will happen now?"

I shrugged. "Babette is most likely tying up any lose ends as we speak. As soon as you're well enough to travel we go home."

"That isn't what I meant Listener. I failed my assigned contract. I imagine I'll be punished when we get home?"

I looked at her and found her calmly looking to me as if she already knew the answer to her own question. I almost laughed. "No you silly elf. This was your very first time outside of the sanctuary. While I was expecting this to go much better than it did, the fault doesn't lie with you. You were sabotaged by that moron khajiit. I'm proud of you two."

Gileanna seemed relieved and actually smiled despite her aching wounds.

"Thank you Listener. Your understanding and mercy is inspiring. I promise I will not fail you again."

I shook my head and gently patted her head. "Enough talk. Get some rest. I'll restore Ardoneth and put her to bed as well."

What she didn't notice was the very weak drain fatigue spell I was using. She yawned adorably and mumbled out what sounded like a "thank you Listener." Before her eyes closed and her breathing evened out.

I chuckled. "Let it never be said that Destruction magic is only for killing." I whispered to myself before standing and moving to stand before the still unmoving Ardoneth. I gently placed my hands on either side of her head and concentrated. I pushed my Magicka into her and began working to dispel the hypnotic suggestion. It took a moment before I managed to fully free Ardoneth. She blinked a few times and looked around confused.

"Ardoneth? Are you okay?"

Recognition lit her eyes and she slowly nodded. "Yes my Listener. What happened?"

I moved to sit in a chair by the door. "You were hypnotized. I just woke you up. Did Babette do this to you?"

Ardoneth seemed to remember as soon as I mentioned Babette. Her face scrunched up in anger.

"Yes it was her. I was trying to go finish the contract and she forced me to look into her eyes. She was so strong. She must have put me under her spell then."

I nodded. "That sounds probable. It's a good thing too."

Ardoneth looked at me. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and confusion.

"Listener?"

"I said it's good that she hypnotized you into remaining here. You and Gileanna are done for now. You're inadequately equipped and not ready to face the challenge this contract has become. Babette will finish this."

As I spoke the door to the room opened and in walked said vampire child. She was covered in blood from head to toe. She frowned when she saw Ardoneth free of her hypnosis but cracked a very small blood soaked smile when she noticed me awake.

"Speak of the devil and she shall appear."

Babette couldn't help but giggle.

"It's good that you're awake Morthos. I'm surprised that fight drained you the way it did. You can usually fight for hours on end without tiring."

I nodded. "Yes well if I give that feline anything, it's that he has a few tricks up his sleeve. He wore me out pretty well. I take from your….appearance that the Mark is dead?"

Babette tried to wipe away the blood on her face but only succeeded in smearing it. She groaned before answering. "Yes. He is dead as is the entire Riften guard garrison. I should take a bath. I'm….sticky."

Ardoneth's eyes went wide. The entire city's garrison was dead? Babette had only been gone a few hours, five at most. How was that even possible?

"Don't look so surprised Ardoneth. Your older sister here is full of nasty little tricks. You should get some rest. We leave as soon as Gileanna is well enough to travel. As for you Babette," I said turning to the small draculina. "I think that's a good idea. Shame you made a mess of your robes, you're lucky they're specially enchanted for this."

Babette gave me a curious look. "Special how? I feel the enchantments woven into them but what exactly do they do?"

I shook my head. "They are enchanted to augment your stealth skills. Stealth, blade, and bow just to name a few but the truly special thing about them is that they soak up the blood that gets on them and slowly clean and repair themselves. It's a very unique and expensive set of clothing you're wearing. Those robes will be clean by the time you're done bathing."

Babette looked at me like I had given her the greatest gift imaginable. To some people, maybe I had.

"How did you do it?" Ardoneth asked. We both turned to Ardoneth who looked very unhappy. She really knew how to ruin a moment.

"If you mean the guard then the answer is simple: poison. A drop in their celebratory casket of ale and them all fell over paralyzed within seconds of each other. From there it was a simple task of butchering each and every one of them. Speaking of poison, you must give me the recipe for that unique poison of yours Morthos. I won't take no for an answer."

I winked at her while wagging my finger 'no'. Her nose scrunched up and I knew she would not cease pestering me about it. She rolled her eyes before looking back to Ardoneth.

"On the other hand if you mean the mark then I caught him with his pants down. Literally. He was fucking with some stupid traveling wench just outside town in the horse stable. He was a Pig. I suppose he felt safe since Gileanna and Ra'faer are still thought to be imprisoned. I'll spare you the details. Suffice to say that the wench is dead, the mark suffered terribly, I need a bath and I won't be needing to feed for a few days."

I couldn't help but be impressed. This only proved that my decision to bring Babette into the Black Hand was the right one.

"Okay that's enough story telling for now. Ardoneth, get some rest. You and I will talk tomorrow. Babette go get cleaned up. You've more than earned a bath."

Ardoneth nodded before lying down beside her sister and turning away from me.

As Babette walked out the door she turned back to me. "What? No offer to help wash my back Listener?"

I chuckled before shooing her out the door. "Enough with your sass young lady. Go on."

"As you command sweet Listener." she giggled then tugged the door closed.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

Another chapter done.

As always, I thank you all for your patience and support. Please review and share and should you see a way I could improve my writing or maybe have an idea to pitch my way, please don't hesitate to review/email me.

If you're a fan of RWBY fanfiction please look up my friend TheBoredBoot. He has a few stories in the works that are very good.

As always,

TheForlornSage