A/N: I waited a long while to start this chap, forgive me. I own nothing and do not make a single Septem from this Fanfic. Well let's get started on chap three right? My babble must be a terrible boar. Moving on!
Oh, 'this' where I put just one quotation mark or breath mark, whatever you want to call it, at the beginning and end of something is a thought. Example: 'What idiots.' Thought the old man.
Title: Dancing With the Jester of Death
Chapter Three: Sealed in Blood
(Traveling from the random Inn to Solitude)
Sin looked out of the Inn door with weary eyes, a feeling of dread creeping into his mind, something was wrong. They made it to Solitude when the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. Sin felt the burn begin to flare across his skin, and his eyes were slowly rusting, his thirst was becoming harder to control with little human blood ever in his system. His bloody eyes were also becoming difficult to hide. Luckily his eyes weren't too red, they were turning a strange shade of rust brown around the rim, and if he didn't get human blood soon his eyes would glow with the unquenchable thirst he held within.
"Who goes there?" A Guard called out seeing the Jester and Sin approaching the City Gates in the grey dawn light. Sin resisted the urge to kill the man, he didn't want bad standing here he already had a mess to clean up in Riften, and he sure as hell didn't need one here.
"Just two travelers, nothing to cause alarm." A Guard closer to Sin and Cicero called, opening the gates and letting the two slip into the city, Sin quickly walked to the Inn and bought a room, hiding in it. He collapsed to his knees and pressed his forehead to the floor boards. Trying desperately to not breathe in the intoxicating aroma that drifted through the air and hung heavy everywhere he turned. Cicero drew closer worried for his Listener.
"Listener?" Cicero hummed softly, creeping toward the tense ball on the floor. Sin twitched in response, slowly the man looked up. When his eyes met Cicero's the jester froze his eyes becoming wide in curiosity and wonder. Sin's grey eyes were swirls of crimson, grey and a deep amethyst purple. Suddenly it was as if Sin darkened, shadows seemed to appear around him and he seemed to be a black winged angle. Power rolled off of him and Cicero felt small twinge of fear, but not of Sin, but of his thirst, Sin's eyes were hardly human.
"Cicero..." It was barley a whisper, barely human, it seemed to echo with shadows and dark promises. Cicero felt a pull toward Sin but it was not the control that the vampire used, it was a mere allure that gave him the choice to pull back, to run. Cicero drew closer his wonder pushing him on, those strange eyes he assumed he knew so well swirling with three colors that blended and streaked together, pulling him in.
Sin uncurled he slowly stood, the shadows that had seemed to melt out of the air and swim around him seemed to spread like wings and wrap around the jester, pulling him closer to the Vampire before him. When the shadows touched him, they felt strangely warm, and felt like they pulsed, like the beat of a heart.
Sin's hand came up and brushed Cicero's jaw, tracing the hidden tendon down his neck, stopping when his fingertips brush fabric. Cicero glances at Sin's arm then up to the still swirling eyes he feels his panic recede, in fact he feels barley anything. All he knows is he doesn't want to go away from his Listener, his sweet Listener…
"Listener..." Cicero hums again, his voice tapering off as his senses begin to cloud and then everything became as clear as glass. Sin's eyes bleed back to grey and the wings of shadow dissolve into the candlelight. Cicero blinks as his hazed mind refocuses, and for a moment he feels like he did before, before everything. Sin backs away leaning on the wall his breath coming in raged gulps, he had no idea what just happened.
"I have no idea how you did that Listener…" Cicero stated for the first time he sounded sane, but he knew the laughter would return soon. Sin looked up in shock, having never heard that alluring voice high toned but calm, used in such a simple way, no rhymes slipping from the tongue.
"It was my Vampireric side, I think... but it was strange, it seemed stronger but that's… Cicero you sound…" Sin trailed off his grey eyes training on the amber that had become still, they were silent, sane. They glittered like shards of amber, and shone with a hunter's instinct and awareness, something Sin rarely saw in his Keepers eyes.
"Sane? Yes for the moment but my Listener, you are stressed and I wish you not in such a… position." Cicero's eyes flashed and Sin scented the lust in the air, he let out a low chuckle the innuendo not going unnoticed.
"My dear Keeper do I hear a suggestion in your voice?" Sin chuckled and stepped forward grabbed Cicero and kissed him hard; feeling the Imperial melt Sin almost smirked. He pulled him to the bed and pushed Cicero down on it pinning him. Sin set out to please his Keeper, and Cicero moaned like a well tuned instrument Sin knew how to play all too well.
"L-listener, please yourself, I can wait." Cicero shivered as Sin's hands caressed his neck, knowing how easily the man above him could snap it. Sin sighed he knew he could take his pleasure but he did not wish too. He'd bite Cicero and that thought was hardly bearable; if he did bite it would be another matter entirely.
"Cicero, you know I cannot, if I bit you…" Sin trailed off looking at Cicero's neck, running his hands over the cloth covering the man's chest coming to a stop over the spot resting over his lover's beating heart, knowing his had no rhythm, and never again would. He swallowed hard and meet Cicero's gaze, he nearly chocked on air. In the amber depths there was a mix of understanding, acceptance and longing.
"I know Sin, but please I need you. Do not think of that pain for just a moment." Cicero whispered, knowing the meaning of the vampire's gesture. Sin sighed heavily, and let his mind begin its surrender.
"As you wish Cicero." Sin whispered before striping them both and beginning his onslaught once again. He nipped at he already bruising skin on Cicero's neck, reveling in the noises he was drawing from his sane little jester. He worked quickly, being sure to stretch his lover thoroughly, before pulling away just enough to get those amber eyes to focus on him.
"Cicero are you sure of this?" Sin felt the shivers passing through the others body, and knew his shook softly as well. He held himself in check grinding his teeth together, his fangs fully extended and his eyes taking on a crimson tint.
"Take me, Sin, I want to know this feeling before I'm consumed by the laughter again, I want this to hold onto in the dark." Cicero's soft voice grounded something within Sin, Sin didn't know what it was but he knew he could not deny he wanted this for Cicero and himself badly.
"Alright my Keeper, I will do as you ask, but I want to hear my name on your lips not my title, I'll return the favorer." Sin chuckled and kissed the sane jesters lips, feeling the man's hands release the sheet beneath them in order to tangle his raven black hair. He pulled away and relaxed his tense muscles as his eyes took in his lovers flushed body. Slowly Sin presses forward having to turn his head and bury his face into the side of his arm, knowing if he did anything else he might bite his mate.
"S-sin..." Cicero moaned his back arching to meet Sin's chest with his own the vampire risked looking at the Imperial, and almost couldn't restrain the urge to hold the lithe man down and pound into him until they both released. His Cicero looked like he was in utter bliss.
"Cicero." Sin hissed back, restraining his urges barley, but Cicero pushed back against him, signaling he was ready. Sin didn't hesitate a moment longer, he grabbed the pale hips and started a steady but slow rhythm, trying not to just take Cicero mercilessly. Cicero had other plans, he groaned with desperation and when Sin didn't stop the slow grinding Cicero took it upon himself to fix things.
Cicero flipped them over straddling Sin he rode his Vampire till he came calling out the man's name. Collapsing upon hearing his own name echo from those velvet lips Cicero became sluggish. He'd ridden the Vampire with all he'd had, and Sin had met him thrust for thrust. Sin held the smaller man close, both as contented as sun bathing cats and just as warm.
"My little Cicero, you truly have been my undoing." Sin whispered when he regained his breath, Cicero barely awake and beginning to hear that familiar buzz in his ear hummed in question. Cicero moved slightly to look up at his Listener with heavy eyes.
"You've wormed into my dead heart and lit a fire within. It's not common for a Vampire or assassin to feel like this." Sin whispered into the Imperial's ear nibbling on the tip and getting a soft but nonetheless noticeable moan. Sin couldn't resist and moved his hips, rubbing both of their all too sensitive bodies together, Cicero made a strange noise that was a mix of a gasp and shuddering moan, Sin just hummed. Sin quickly took care of his jester's problem, his own quickly being handled after.
"Sin, you only need ask and I'll fight for you." Cicero muttered as he finally surrendered to the darkness of sleep. Sin kissed the pulse point of the Keepers neck.
"I know." Sin whispered to the sleeping man before closing his own eyes to rest. If he dreamed he did not remember it when he felt the sun sink down the next night. He opened his eyes to see his Jester cleaning his ebony dagger in the chair in the corner, humming a strange tune and swaying to it. Sin sat up and pulled on his assassin uniform then his customary cloak.
"My Keeper, how did you rest?" Sin whispered as if not wanting to disturb the other. Cicero cocked his head and looked at his Listener.
"Cicero slept well. What about you my Listener?" Cicero looked over and Sin felt a strange pang, the insane dace was there within the amber eyes, but now he could see what lay beneath the insanity as clear as day. He swallowed and blinked knowing something in him had helped the Imperial yesterday, but insanity was not something to cure was it? Sin shook himself clearing his mind.
"So the hunt begins. Cicero I need you to wait out side the Inn I'll walk back this way then we can leave, if I'm not back before sunrise start back to the Sanctuary I'll catch up." Sin began to turn but Cicero suddenly danced in front of him and stood there that sanity leaking into his eyes a little.
"But Listener, if you're out at sun rise-"Sin caught where this was going and cut his jester off. Sin's whole frame shook with the effort not to grab the man hold him close and hiss. It was the Vampire within screaming that the jester would come to no harm as long as they protected him, Sin viewed himself as a threat. End of discussion.
"No, I won't have you by my side if that is to be the case. I'd go on a bloody rampage, and I can't have you near if that is to happen, I'd be scared and in pain and my thirst would be beyond any control." Sin closed his eyes and tried to reign in his Vampire instincts. He took a step up to his jester pulling him into a tight hug. He nuzzled the jester's neck, drinking in the scent that was his mate's alone.
"If I hurt you, I'd kill myself." Sin whispered into the pale skin after kissing it, he pulls away and walks down the steps to begin his hunt. Cicero stands in the room a moment he blinks as the laughter that had been distant when Sin had drawn close came back slowly. What was this the Listener's presence did? Cicero shrugged and began humming grabbing his dagger from the table sheathing it and taking up the spot Sin had indicated, waiting and watching.
Sin quickly moved to the house his mark was supposed to be, he waited on the other side of the road until the Guard moved on. He crossed the street and looked at the pitiful lock; snickering quietly to himself he pulls out a lock pick and unlocks the door. He slips in and shuts the door quietly behind him, just as the Guard rounds the corner, but the torch light doesn't touch the door until Sin's already inside. So far so good Sin thinks to himself, but that's when it hits him.
Well more like the absence of it hits him. There is no human scent in the air, nothing smells right. Sin freezes up still by the door suddenly not liking this contract. 'I'm bound in the blood of this deed I must.' Sin thinks grimly. He takes a deep breath, trying to scent the place but only the musk of another Vampire fills his nose with a disgusting scent. He curls his lip the smell threw him off it was familiar, but so alien, it had been too long for it to register immediately.
"Do come in." A voice echoes from the shadows, Sin suddenly jerks like the voice pained him. He stares at the dark corner the voice had come from as a figure steps forward. Taking a step back to press into the door Sin begins to shake fear overriding his senses as the face of his old Master was revealed.
"I-I you, you're…." Sin trails off not wanting to believe the sickening truth. Collapsing to his knees Sin stares up at the old Vampire in disbelief. The man chuckles, the female he'd gotten the contract from steps from behind his master.
"No… no you're both dead..." Sin mutters looking at the woman in a new light. His Sister, she was a Vampire, she was undead. 'Like me…' the thought trailed off then Sin felt his anger swell up like a life line to cling to in the ocean of despair drowning him.
"You set me up! Why, why would you do this!?" Sin screams jumping up to face the two, then the shadows shift as the whole coven steps from them. Sin's anger grew as they gave him smug looks of satisfaction. Sin looked back at his sister but all he saw was gleeful blood lust. Sin blew up.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!" He roars seeing only red as he lunges forward his nails becoming claws and his fangs lengthening out. Then they sprang all of them trying to tackle Sin to the floor, Sin didn't care about them, he shook them off flinging them away, his rage focused on the old Master Vampire, he wanted the man's head, He would die! His sister didn't deserve this, she was innocent she was pure.
"Brother, stop fighting, brother; join us again, we can be a happy family." Sin froze his struggles hearing his sister's voice, he remembered it. Her voice was beautiful and she had sung always singing. Now it was cold and flat. He felt his rage replaced by utter defeat. The others circled and drew closer, readying to bring him down.
"Stop, let him chose." The Master's voice was smug and chillingly gleeful, it made Sin sick. He glared at the older Vampire and growled his eyes blazing crimson, then he looked back at his sister, his eyes fading back to grey.
"Sister, is it really you? Ralla?" Sin asked hopeful as he crept toward his sister, the other Vampires parting for him. She smiled, but it was not the radiant one that was hers. He crept closer, almost near enough to touch her.
"Yes, it's me silly." She smiles but it is false and her eyes only reflect hunger and crimson red. He moves closer. He tries one last time to see her in those strange eyes, but he sees nothing. Nothing but hunger and madness, nothing of her is left in those crimson depths. His face goes hard. 'This is not my sister.' He thinks sadly.
"No you aren't. Not anymore." Sin states, his hands come up and in one fluid motion he snaps her neck. Silver amethyst dust glitters on her pale almost translucent skin as he watches her fall. Turning to his old Master, who's grinning in triumph Sin lets his body sag as if he were an old man.
"You got what you want now leave me be." Sin states his voice wavering. He looks like he'll cry, for a moment he tries to blink away the tears. Then collapsing to his knees Sin begins to cry for the first time since his turning sixty years ago.
"But my little Fool, I have no plans of leaving you alone." The Master purrs sickeningly, Sin glares up at him through the tears. He readies a snappish come back when the door slams open.
"No, the Listener is staying here." Sin's eyes widen and he looks up at Cicero standing in the door way, his dagger out and glittering evilly, he closes the door with his foot and glares. Those eyes were blazing lights of angry glittering ambers. Sin feels his stomach drop, 'no, no Cicero run!' Sin's screaming in his head but everything is numb and he can't control his mouth or tongue.
"Oh how adorable, it seems our dancer has a pet. Well boys I think it's feral let's put it down." When those words left the man's lips Sin felt something snap in him, it was violent and it wasn't coming out quietly. Leaping to his feet Sin rammed a fist into the Master's face then gathered his magic that he hadn't touched in a long time and flaming a good deal of the Vampires about to hurt Cicero.
It was like an inferno had erupted in the house, Sin pushed past the flaming undead, grabbing a stunned Cicero and running. He held Cicero's arm and he ran, when they got to the gates Sin just pushed, and the gates opened just enough for the Jester and him to slip through one after the other. Then they ran, Sin's fear, anger, and sadness pouring out of him as the night air whipped around his fleeing form.
They slowed to a stop a good deal away from the city, Sin leans against a tree trying to calm his nerves and shaking frame. Cicero is leaned over panting from the run, he glances up and shifts nervously knowing the Listener would be mad sooner or later. Sin looks at him, Cicero expects anger but all he sees is defeat. Slowly Sin straightens up.
"My sister was a vampire this whole time. I could have saved her." Sin's eyes become misty and he shakes his head he looks at the skies and glares. His eyes bleeding to crimson he turns ramming his fist into the rock face next to them. He pounded his fists into the wall, not making a noise just letting his frustration and grief explode in a violent frenzy. The emotions slowly bleed out of him as he pounds into the rock, just like the blood splattering from his torn knuckles, it must have been an hour before his anger, sadness and other emotions finally sputtered out. He slowed and pressed his bloody knuckles into the cool rock panting, he slid down the wall leaving bloody streaks.
He sits on his knees for a moment his knuckles still pressed to the rock. Sin closes his eyes and rests his head against the grey surface, a sob escaping him. Cicero is speechless unable to react, Sin had never shone emotion like this. He'd never just blown up. Cicero stayed where he was but wasn't sure what to do, he fidgeted and pulled at his gloves.
"Listener, you're bleeding." He whispers scared of Sin blowing up again but directing it at him. Sin looks up at Cicero his eyes a strange shade of rusting grey, the sadness and despair in the eyes caught Cicero off guard. He blinked and moved closer wanting to comfort his Listener. Sin shook his head and slowly stood, ignoring the pain radiating from his hands.
"We have to go, I'll heal them later." Sin states turning and heading to the sanctuary, he just walked, until the sky began to grey. They'd made great progress by the end of the night, but Sin hadn't said a word. Cicero began to flit about in a nervous manner, needing to move, he hummed his strange tunes and danced as he moved, but nothing happened. It was like Sin was dead. They entered a cave and Sin sat down on a moss covered rock, glowing mushrooms casting a strange light on him.
"Listener…" Cicero trails as Sin looks up at him, Cicero freezes, Sin's eyes were that spiral again. Sin blinks and his eyes are grey again. His gaze is filled with silent agony. He sighs and looks at his hands. He doesn't want to heal them; he wants to be in pain, he deserves it. He killed his sister, he didn't save her. It was his fault. But he'd told Cicero he'd heal them. He walks over to a puddle of water washing his hands then muttering an incantation to heal the wounds. He looks at Cicero and tilts his head.
"How did you know I needed help?" Sin asks his eye tired and strange. Cicero blinks and shrugs. Cicero had no idea it was a feeling and he didn't ignore a feeling. He looked at Sin unsure what to say, he just started chuckling.
"A feeling." He chuckles finding it funny. Sin just shook his head a slight smile gracing his lips for a small moment before he sighs again. He gestured for Cicero to come closer; Cicero stopped laughing but crept closer. When he drew close enough Sin draw's him into a tight embrace, nestling his nose into the jester's neck, breathing in the familiar scent. He needed a grounding agent and Cicero's unique aroma of herbs and other earth tones was what was working best.
Cicero relaxes against Sin, liking the closeness of the other, and how warm the embrace felt. Sin let his mate lean into him, his raw emotions needing the assurance that his mate was still his. Slowly Sin relaxes and lays down with his Keeper and they fall asleep.
But outside the cave back closer to the city another cave was made a temporary sanctuary. A group of well over twenty people hid from the sun, already burnt from a certain assassin. Glowing red eyes stared at the entrance, looking toward the direction their quarry had fled.
"Run little Fool of Death, but no matter where you go I will find you." The hissing voice fades into the shadows and with it a promise of pain. The glowing red orbs floating in the shadows blink out and vanish along with the voice.
A/N: If anyone gets the reference to breath marks I'll be so happy, anyway hop you review! If you use my profile as a cheat sheet shame on you. ; )