I jump back, shocked at the immediate change in my location. I then catch the sound of someone humming. I follow the path and reach a clearing. In the clearing, there is a table with 3 chairs on one side and one throne-like chair on the other. There is food on the table and a big decorative candlestick in the middle with 3 lit candles. The humming is by the one sitting in the throne. He doesn't see me out of his peripheral vision due to the fact that I'm approaching from partially behind him. He's dressed funny. What's with the purple suit? It looks ridiculous. And are those pink ruffles on the sleeves?

"I honestly don't care what you think of my outfit, miss Ashlynn." The man speaks, as if answering my thoughts. "This happens to be my favorite suit anyways."

He then stands up and I see him from the front. Oh, it's a red and purple suit. He has neatly combed grey hair and a grey goatee. And he's blind too? Wow. That explains the outfit.

The man shakes his head, "I just said I don't care what you think, so why must you insist on continuing?" He then laughs and adds, "And no, miss Ashlynn. I am not blind. I can see you quite clearly."

"Y-you can... You can read my thoughts?" I ask hesitantly.

"Oh, I can do so much more than that," he says smugly. He invites me to the table saying, "Do sit and eat. I had this prepared for you because I knew that Mr. Sparks was unable to provide you breakfast." He then promptly sits back in his seat without another word.

I stand there in silence, hesitant on what to do. What did he mean by he's able to do more?

"I know you're confused," he answers my thought again. "I will explain over breakfast."

I glance over my shoulder and look down the path. "That only leads back here," he says. He doesn't even see me looking, he just knew. My stomach begins to growl. "See, you're hungry," he says. "Come and eat." Without looking back at me, he beckons me to the table with his hand. I succumb to my hunger and sit down.

There's bread, cheese, apples, a whole apple pie, and what looks like an elephant snout. Also 3 different bottles of what looks like some sort of alcohol. I take an apple and commence to eating it. I just stare down at my plate and not look up at him. I hope he's not crazy. Please don't be crazy. He then begins laughing loudly. Dear gods, he is crazy. "There's a difference between being crazy and being mad, Ashlynn. There is no embodiment of crazy. Wait, scratch that. Everyone has claimed once or twice that they've dated the embodiment of crazy. But that's different." He then grabs a bottle and pours a himself a mug. I forgot he could read my thoughts. Fuck. Is nothing sacred with this guy? "Don't be angry, Ashlynn," he says calmly as he takes a drink. "I find your constant fails for privacy quite amusing." He then pours himself another mug.

I then come to this realization: Since he can read my thoughts, I guess there is no need for me to speak. "Don't be like that, Ashlynn," He huffs. "Thoughts are boring and monotonous. Voices are vibrant and beautiful."

"Is that why you chose that suit?" I say, finally looking up at him. "For it's vibrance and beauty?"

"No," he answers. "I chose it because my predecessor wore it. As I became him, I grew to like it."

"Became him?" I echo. "You mean that's a uniform or something?"

"No, I just like the suit," he answers. There is brief silence, then he pipes back up, "Oh, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. The name's Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness. And this," he raises his arm and motions towards the trees around us, "is my personal garden in the Shivering Isles." He pours a mug for each of us, hands me mine, and says me, "It's mead with honey. They call it Honningbrew Mead. It's good, trust me."

'Trust you' Yeah, whatever. I take a sip and he was right. It's actually pretty good. "Shivering Isles, huh?" I look around at the glum clearing and trees surrounded by thin fog. "Just looks like a hazy forest to me." Then confusion hits me. "Wait, what's your name again? And you're a what of madness?"

Sheogorath smiles widely and begins, "Oh, I love it when you particular mortals have never even heard of me. You'd think that I'd be angry about that, being a Daedric Prince and all, but I don't have an ego. Now, Mehrunes, he has an ego! The usual mortals I deal with at least know my name – Sheogorath. But where you come from, you have never heard of me or any of the Daedra. You guys don't even know what Daedra are. I love it even more how I, the Daedric Prince of Madness, am the one who gets to teach you. Oh, this is going to be fun!"

I sit there in dumbfounded silence. What did I get myself into? I thought Twisted Metal was it. When I won and got my prize, I thought that was the end if it. I would just get my night with Calypso and go home. This wasn't supposed to happen. No. This isn't happening. This isn't real. This is not real. This. Is. Not. Real.

Sheogorath leans toward me and says matter-of-factly, "Oh, it's real, Ashlynn. As real as the bruise around your neck from Mr. Sparks' collar."

"Bruise?" I panic and pick up a silver plate to look at my reflection. Indeed, I have a bruise around my neck the shape of the collar I wore last night. I touch it and it's still tender. I throw the plate down and yell, "How do you know about last night?!"

"The other Daedra and I have been watching the whole Competition," he answers. He refills his mug again, smiles coyly, and adds, "Only I know what happened last night."

My eyes go wide and I snatch the bottle from Sheogorath. I start chugging the contents of the bottle. I just want to forget the this whole situation. This encounter, the night with Calypso, Twisted Metal, all of it. If this is happening, I don't want to remember any of it.

Sheogorath angrily snatches the bottle back and snaps, "It is unwise to take something from a Daedric Prince."

I slap the bottle out of his hand and it falls to the ground, causing it to shatter and whats left of the wine to spill all over the ground. "I don't care!" I yell angrily. "I just want to go ho..."

Sheogorath lunges at me, pinning me to the ground. I struggle in vain because he's too strong. He laughs maliciously at the sight of my fear. "Not only is it unwise to take something from a Daedric Prince," he yells furiously, "it's plain stupid to piss one off, especially the Daedric Prince of Madness. You see, Ashlynn. Madness can come in many forms. It can be controlling and have you locked away from everyone. Or it can be overly cheerful and laugh at everything. Or it can violent and uncaring of any consequences." He lean in and whispers in my ear, "Do you want violent madness, my dear?"

I fearfully shake my head and he let's me go. Sheogorath fixed up his pink ruffles on his sleeve and says, "I thought I would be able to explain everything on our first meeting, but I guess we'll try again later." He turns and begins walking away. I get off the ground and as I look up, he's gone. I look around and see that the table is also gone, but a bed has appeared in it's place. There is a night gown and note set on the pillow...

Ashlynn-

Due to your outburst, I have decided to leave you alone for a day. It may not have felt like it, but it's been a good 12 hours. Get some rest and I will return tomorrow.

-Sheogorath

Since I have just experienced his violent side, I am too fearful not to do as the note says. I look around to see if anyone is watching and I change in the night gown and get in the bed. I blink and it's night. I am suddenly stricken with exhaustion and I fall asleep not long after.