Could be a short delay in adding new chapters. Not noticeable, but not as often as I had been updating. Previous engagements are getting in my way.
Chapter 9: Decent into madness
He opened his eyes. He saw a Khajiit's face. "Ahnassi, you're alright!" He jumped up and ran to her, wanting to give her a hug, surprising himself with the sudden burst of emotion. He was shocked when he ran into the wall behind her. He looked back towards her.
"You lied to me," Ahnassi said flatly.
"No, Ahnassi. No, I'm trying. I'm doing all I can," Saleg pleaded, hoping he could convince his friend.
"Bullshit! You swore you'd tell them it was you. That you killed that man."
"Killed? I didn't kill anyone!"
"You killed him! The skooma. You used the skooma to kill him!"
"Who?"
"You slowly killed him! You used the skooma!"
"I didn't kill anyone!"
"Yes you did!" Something wasn't right. Her voice was becoming more grainy, more twisted. Her face was distorting. Her mane was becoming scaly. Ahnassi disappeared, or seemed to, and in her place, Saleg saw Valadin looking at him accusingly. He raised a stump where his finger used to be. It had seemed to close on its own. "You killed me," Valadin said.
"I'm sorry!" Saleg screamed at the figure. "I'm sorry!"
"You killed me," was all Valadin said. Tears welled up in his eyes. "You killed me."
"I'm sorry!" Saleg sobbed. "What do you want from me? I'm sorry."
The stump opened and blood began to seep out, first slowly, then faster and faster until it seemed to fill the room.
Saleg was treading water, or blood, as it was. Then a hole opened up in the floor, and the blood drained out, taking Saleg with it. He fell. It felt like he fell forever. He hit the floor. As he lay there, bleeding from the hit from the floor, he looked over. He saw a tall figure with a golden mask, which walked up to him. As he or she came upon Saleg, it leaned down, held a hand over Saleg, and said something. Saleg looked down, and saw no blood, no wounds. He felt no pain.
Saleg opened his eyes to the familiar room. He looked around. No Ahnassi, no Valadin, no gold mask. Just the room, adorned shamefully with a dismembered finger.
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Saleg walked down the street in the cold night. He had given up on sleep. He had hoped to speak with Nine-Toes. Over the past few months, Nine-Toes had been his major contact with the Blades. He had provided him with the money and supplies to get started on his cover. He had also been great for advice. Saleg had spoken with him at length about the guilt associated with his cover. He had been as much a psychologist as a friend. He had provided him with status reports on Ahnassi, and no matter how painful the news was, he gave Saleg the honest truth.
But Nine-Toes wasn't home. So Saleg had gone to the one house he wanted so dearly to avoid. He knocked.
Caius opened the door, keeping his cover up as always. He backed away from the door, seemingly terrified. It was an odd situation. Caius was his superior in the Blades. But both of their covers required Saleg to act as though he had a real power over Caius. Caius screamed at the top of his lungs, "I'm paid up! I paid you! Please, no."
Saleg kept up his part of the deal. He didn't make house calls unless he was stiffed. "Prices go up old man," he said calmly, slamming the door. As soon as the door shut though, the cover dropped.
"Yes, Saleg, what do you need?" Caius calmly asked.
"Something to do. I talked to my Thieves Guild superior, and she says she doesn't have any new jobs yet. I feel like I'm losing my mind, Caius."
It was then he noticed Nine-Toes sitting at Caius's table. He nodded at the Argonian, in the style of the Blades he had learned. In one nod, he had told Nine-Toes that he could stay, that it was alright to talk, and he didn't have to hide anything. Nine-Toes wouldn't hide anything important, but until it became necessary, he wouldn't share personal information, even with the spymaster. It was amazing how quickly he had become accustomed to saying so much, without saying a word.
"Yes, I hear you have developed a penchant for removing fingers from those who don't pay. I was debating ordering you back here so we could talk about it. Good for your cover doesn't mean good for your psyche." Caius stood up and handed him a small pouch filled with money. "For a new trash bin."
"How did you…?"
"I told you Saleg. My job is to know things I shouldn't."
Nine-Toes spoke up. "And ours is to find out for you."
"Right," Saleg responded weakly. He knew from experience there was no point objecting to Nine-Toes' spying.
"So what's on your mind, Saleg?" Caius asked.
He told the two about his experience, starting from the time he got home. He knew that they already knew that part. But at the part of the dream, their interest peaked.
Nine-Toes drew out a long hiss, while Caius grilled him to give every detail.
"Look," Caius started, "my advice would be to keep a lid on this. You can talk to us, privately, of course. But the Temple takes this very seriously. And takes offense. They would probably want to get you locked up." Caius paced around the room. "I wouldn't take this too hard. The dream probably means nothing. And if it does, there's not much that can be done. Just don't tell anyone else about this."
"Yesss. Best to keep quiet," Nine-Toes chimed in.
"In the meantime, I have an assignment for you. You are to make contact with a source in the Fighter's Guild here in Balmora. Wait until you have a reason for being there. We'll try to manufacture something. His name is Hasphat Antabolis. A student of history, as it was. Ask him about the Sixth House and something called the Nerevarine Cult. You might have to do him a favor to earn his trust. Do it. Jot down some notes, and bring them back to me."
Caius saw the odd look on Saleg's face. "Just trust me, the guilt may not go away, but you do get numb to it. Eventually. If you didn't feel anything, you wouldn't be sane."
Saleg took a step toward the door. "Wait," Nine-Toes interrupted.
"Yeah?"
"A dealer can't leave a shakedown without doing something, and if it's money, you can't cover your return." Nine-Toes gave Saleg an odd smile. He knew how much Saleg blamed Caius for Ahnassi's imprisonment. "Caius, Saleg has to hit you."
"What?!" Caius exclaimed.
Saleg didn't wait. He immediately reprised his dealer role. He remembered his dream, remembered Ahnassi, pulled back his fist, and socked Caius in the eye.
Before Caius could recover, Nine-Toes winked at him, and odd thing to see an Argonian do, and he threw open the door.
As he slammed the door shut, he heard an angry Caius scream "you bastard!" a title he suspected was directed as much at Nine-Toes as it was to him.