A/N: hey, everyone, sorry about the weird chapter. I don't know why it keeps adding that formatting stuff. Hopefully, it won't do it again, so here's the next chapter.
Chapter 17
"So he does have feelings for you?!" Antionetta squealed a short time later. "I knew it!"
Antionetta put a hand on the girl's shoulder to silence her before the whole Sanctuary found out. But inwardly, she was as excited as Antionetta. The two of them were on Aria's bed again as Aria shared the details of her conversation with Vicente. "Vicente said you'd be thrilled."
Antionetta nodded excitedly. "Of course I am! I've been hoping this would happen for months! We've got to celebrate! We'll have a special dinner tonight, and then-"
Aria squeezed her friend's shoulder again to stop her before she really got going. "Hold on. We can't."
"Why not? Everyone will be so happy for you two."
Aria pulled her hand away as she tried to organize her thoughts. "I'm sure they will be. And I don't mind them knowing. It's just...I don't want to make a big deal out of it. This is all so new to me. I've never been in a relationship before, so this is going to take some getting used to." She looked at her Sister. "I have to ask. Did you know he had feelings for me before he kissed me?"
Antionetta grinned. "I suspected it. It was his eyes that gave it away. They darken every time he looks at you. I noticed it not too long after you joined the family. They only do that when he gets emotional about something. It's a vampire thing."
"Yeah, a vampire's eye color becomes more intense the more emotional they become. Lighter-colored eyes can even glow."
Antionetta rolled her eyes. "That's right. You're the freak who has a thing for vampires. Anyway, I figured that the only reason he would have to get emotional like that is if he had feelings for you."
Aria blushed and changed the subject. "Anyway, we can't celebrate tonight. I won't be here. I have a contract."
Antionetta leaned forward eagerly. "Really? Tell me about it."
Aria quickly told her about the unique details of the contract, then accepted her help as she got ready. Since Chorrol was on the other side of the province, it would take her several hours to ride there. Once she had a small bag packed with some provisions, she dressed in her Shrouded Armor and a loose set of dark clothes.
Antionetta pulled her own heavy cloak from her chest. "Ocheeva thinks it's going to rain soon, so take this. It'll keep you warm."
Aria straightened up and accepted the thick grey cloak. "Thank you, Netta." She ran a hand over the soft material. She knew that Antionetta had saved for months for this robe and cherished it. "I'll take care of it, I promise."
Antionetta smiled and hugged her. "So long as you take care of yourself. I can live without a cloak." She released Aria and stepped back. "Go, and may the Night Mother go with you, dear Sister."
Aria strapped Sufferthorn to her back and said goodbye as she put on the cloak. She left the Sanctuary through the basement door and slipped out of the house. There was supposed to be a full moon, but thick black clouds hid it from view. Aria easily crept through the darkness to the stables, where she took her favorite horse and saddle from the barn. She left a few septims on the floor in front of the stall as payment for borrowing the horse.
As she led the black out of the corral and saddled him, she thought about Vicente and smiled. So much had happened today. She was glad for the chance to get away and think things through. She didn't regret revealing her feelings to Vicente, but it was going to take a while to adjust to being in a relationship. The fact that it was a relationship with a vampire just made it feel even stranger.
He hadn't mentioned his vampirism tonight, but she knew they would have to discuss it eventually. She wasn't quite sure she wanted to become a vampire herself, but perhaps Vicente would have an alternate solution. She doubted that he would want to become a mortal again, if that was even possible.
Her musings were interrupted by a sudden clap of thunder. She had just enough time to pull her hood up before the rain started falling in a steady rhythm. Her horse turned his head to look at her as though asking if she seriously wanted to keep going in this downpour. She leaned over and patted his neck. "Sorry, boy, but we've got to keep going."
They pressed on through the rain for the rest of the night. It was nearly morning when they reached the city of Chorrol. The storm had gradually worsened, and by the time Aria dismounted at the Chorrol stables, both she and the horse were drenched to the bone. She turned the horse over to a stable hand and walked into the city. The positive side of the driving rain was that everyone crazy enough to be out in it was shrouded in a cloak just like hers.
She pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders and stood beneath an archway to get her bearings. According to Vicente's map, Francois Motierre's house was almost directly across the square from her. She hurried over, glancing around to see if anyone was watching. No one was paying attention when she reached the door, so she tried the handle. It was unlocked. She opened the door and slipped inside.
She found herself standing in the entryway of a nicely furnished, well-decorated home. A small, timid-looking man was sitting on one of the staircases. He jumped at her sudden appearance.
"Oh!" He exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. "Well...um, hello." Aria kept her hood up as he approached. He held out his hand, as though expecting her to shake it. When she simply stared at him, he lowered it uncertainly. "You must be the one Lucien Lachance told me about. I've been expecting you. We haven't got much time, I'm afraid."
Motierre nervously clasped and unclasped his hands. "I'm not sure how much you've been told, but...I borrowed quite a bit of gold from some underworld types. I...I missed a payment. Now they don't even want the money. They say I insulted them! They've sent an enforcer to kill me! His name is Hides-His-Heart, and he's on his way here now! That's why I hired you! So you can fake my death!"
The man was already getting on her nerves. Aria was soaking wet and cold, and the last thing she wanted to do was listen to his babbling. "By Sithis, spit it out, you worm!" She snapped.
Motierre jumped and held up his hands in defense. "Oh! Sorry! Please, I'm sorry! See, when Hides-His-Heart gets here, I'll put on a little act. Then you cut me with the knife, and it looks like I die! You must then flee from Chorrol, and Hides-His-Heart must not be killed! That way, he can go back and tell his employers I'm dead."
Underneath her cloak, Aria gripped her Blade of Woe. Vicente had told her not to kill Motierre, but the idea was starting to sound really tempting. "If you wait a day," Motierre continued, "my 'body' will be put on display in the Chorrol Chapel Undercroft. You can come to me then and administer the antidote. Got all that?"
Aria nodded once, glowering at him from under her hood. By all that's unholy, this man is annoying, she thought. She briefly thought about ignoring the contract and killing him anyway, but she really didn't feel like facing the wrath of Sithis tonight.
Motierre clapped his hands. "Good! Hides-His-Heart will be here any moment. Get ready! Oh, I do hope this works..."
Aria rolled her eyes but said nothing. She didn't want to talk to this coward unless she had to. Thankfully, she was spared from any chance for conversation by a heavy, pounding knock on the front door. "Motierre! I know you're in there," came a raspy, reptilian voice. "My employers are most displeased. I'm coming in and you can beg for your life. Not that it will do you any good!" The voice dissolved into sinister laughter.
Aria raised an eyebrow as she drew the silver dagger and moved next to Motierre. The enforcer's words sounded like something Gogron would say. She grabbed a fistful of Motierre's shirt and held the blade near his neck as though she was about to slit his throat. The door flew open, accompanied by a blinding flash of lightning. The flash revealed the silhouette of an Argonian in leather armor standing in the doorway.
"Motierre!" He shouted as she stepped inside, leaving the door hanging open. "I'm here to exact payment in blood! You will-" He stopped as he realized that Motierre wasn't alone. "Eh? Who is this?"
Aria pointed the dagger at Hides-His-Heart, but kept her hold on Motierre. The enforcer's eyes widened as Motierre looked from one to the other. "Oh, no! What am I to do?" He cried, vastly overacting. "An underworld enforcer and a Dark Brotherhood assassin, both here to kill poor Francois!"
Aria barely managed to refrain from rolling her eyes again. Then man was a terrible actor. She needed to end this, quickly. Before she could move, Hides-His-Heart took a step forward. "The Dark Brotherhood? Oh, you have been a naughty boy, Motierre, haven't you?" He looked at Aria. "Stand aside, assassin! Motierre is mine! My employers demand it!"
It was time to act. In a quick, unexpected move, Aria plunged the dagger into Motierre's side, taking great care to miss any vital organs. As he cried out and crumpled, she turned to face the enforcer. Hides-His-Heart snarled and lunged for her, angry that she'd stolen his kill. Aria sidestepped his attack, catching him on the back of his head with the handle of the dagger. She didn't wait around to see if he fell to the floor, but instead bolted for the door.
The driving rain was again her ally as she disappeared into the predawn light.