Chapter 2

Shadows of Cheydinhal

As I arrived many memories flooded back to me. It was actually quite frightening to be back in Cheydinhal. I followed the place to the abandoned house. I came across a familiar face on the way. They didn't seem to recognize me, but I'd know my sister's face anywhere.

Her crimson eyes held regret. I know not why or care to know why. She had betrayed me that day, she let father kill mother. She sided with him knowing that he hated her as well, how I loathed them both. I wanted nothing more to do with her after that. She's lucky she is of blood, or I would have basked in the luxury of the Riverview Manor with her corpse beside me for turning me in as to shelter father's mistake.

I shook my head; I had to get these horrible thoughts out of my head. What was wrong with me? Why had I such violent thoughts of even those of my blood? I suppose I couldn't help myself, I had always had homicidal thoughts. Ever since mother had died, ever since I first asked that favor to Miss Arano…

I avoided her and continued my way to the abandoned house. The door was locked, figures. I looked around and quickly and cautiously started picking the lock. Once I gained entry I made my way down to the basement, just as Lucien said to. I was a bit nervous, I knocked on the door and a voice called out creepily.

"What is the color of the night?"

"Sanguine, my brother." The door slowly opened, I cautiously walked in and was greeted by an Argonian.

"Greetings! Greetings! I am Ocheeva, mistress of this Sanctuary. Lucien has told me all about you. Let me welcome you to the Dark Brotherhood!" She smiled and lead me deeper inside the Sanctuary, showing me around. She explained the roles of the higher ups, from murderer to listener.

"So since Lucien is the speaker to this sanctuary does that mean he comes here often?" I couldn't help my curiosity.

"Lucien isn't here very often. His duties with the Black Hand keep him very busy, so he trusts me to keep the Sanctuary in order." She continued to ramble on about the sanctuary and the people here.

After the short tour I decided to get some rest, I was tired and meeting everyone could wait. Hours later I awoke, I decided to meet everyone. I came across Ocheeva's private room and heard her talking with... Lucien?

I listened in.

I… I've heard some talk. This past year, some of the family members have been found… Murdered! Could there be an assassin among assassins?" Ocheeva kept her voice low, almost whispering.

"Unfortunately that is true, The Black Hand has been trying to root out who the traitor is. So far there has been no success. Purification on one of the sanctuaries might be in order; Arquen believes it may be necessary."

It seems the Dark Brotherhood was starting to fall apart after all its former years of glory. Even one of the early emperors had been assassinated, by the Night Mother herself no less. I remember as a child my mother would always tell stories about them and The Mythic Dawn.

They started talking about whom the night mother wanted dead, who would be etiquette for which mission, and how the sanctuary was progressing. Their conversation quickly ended and I hid behind a nearby barrel. I watched Lucien leave alone and make his way to the exit. I felt like a child following him like this. He abruptly stopped and turned around to look at me, I had nowhere to hide when he turned so I quickly stood and acted casual, as if I just so happened to be here.

"You should work on your stealth, you're much too loud." Lucien smirked at my expression of surprise.

"Well..." I tried to say something clever but I lost the words when I tried to speak. I gave up on it immediately after, I was never very good with words.

"I don't know what your talking about, I've been standing here for quite some time." Lucien didn't seem impressed and walked over towards me.

"Dearest child of Sithis, lying may not be part of the tenets, but it would be preferred if you were honest. Your skills will progress quickly if you focus more on them instead of stories of deceit." He tapped me on the cheek with his left hand as reassurance, as if I were a child. I couldn't help but pout a bit as he did so.

"I'm not that good anyway, I'll probably be dead in a few months because of how clumsy I am." I sneered.

"The night mother see's much in you, do not fret about the present, simply better yourself, a great future awaits you. I must leave now." With that he turned away and started walking away, "I have much to attend to."

I wasn't sure what to say. I had come here with such melancholy and now it seems his simple words have made me feel... Better I suppose? I gave a small smile at the thought. I wasn't sure what it was, but for some odd reason joining the dark brotherhood was a better idea than I thought.

This motivated me a little to greet everyone now with confidence. I set off to look for my fellow brothers and sisters. The first one I ran into was a woman with semi-long blond hair and blue eyes. She wore the Dark Brotherhood's shrouded armor, it fit her well.

"Welcome dear Sister! So good to finally meet you! I hope you're getting along all right. If you need anything, anything at all, you need only ask." She smiled. "Would you like a tour of the Sanctuary."

I returned the smile "Thank you, although Ocheeva has already shown me around."

"Oh I see." she sounded quite disappointed but quickly smiled. "Don't tell anyone else, but some day I'm going to have Ocheeva's position. Just wait and see."She smirked, "Lucien Lachance knows real talent when he sees it."

"How do you know Lucien? Ocheeva said he doesn't come here often?" I asked curiously.

"Lucien Lachance is my savior. He found me; I was living in a gutter, an inch away from death. I owe him everything. I want to be the mistress of the sanctuary, I shall be his mistress as well." She seemed determined to be under Lucien's direct order. "One day I'll take Ocheeva's position in the sanctuary.

I bid her farewell and went to look for the rest of the members. I walked into the living quarters and ran into an orc, this discouraged me a little, they always intimidated me the most.

"Welcome! Welcome to the family! I'd hug you, but Ocheeva's told me not to" He was quite friendly.

We didn't speak long, he was running late for a contract he had. Then an Argonian approached me as soon as he left.

"I welcome you to our family, and this Sanctuary. May you find yourself at home here, in the loving embrace of our Lady the Night Mother." He gave a small smile. I smiled back.

"So, do you know Lucien?" I might as well ask since I've been asking everyone else.

"Ocheeva and I have known Lucien since we were hatchlings. He is the one who trained us in the way of the Shadowscale, and is like a father to us."

"Shadowscale?"

"In the Argonian home of Black Marsh, those born under the sign of the Shadow are taken at birth and presented to the Dark Brotherhood. A Shadowscale hatchling is trained in the arts of stealth and assassination, and lives a life in service to the mighty kingdom of Argonia. Any Shadowscale who lives to come of age is accepted into the Dark Brotherhood as a full member of the family. So it was with me and Ocheeva."

We chatted for a bit before he too had to go. I then ran into a Khajiit, they were always most interesting to me. I tried to greet him but he spoke first venomessly.

"Well if it isn't the newest member of the family. Let's get one thing straight - the Tenets prevent me from killing you. But I don't have to like you. I'll sell you equipment, but only because Ocheeva is making me. This family doesn't need any... outsiders." With that he walked off.

That was very rude of him. After that I lost encounter interest in meeting everyone so I decided to just look for Vincete to get my contract already.

"Warmest greetings to you. I trust you've already spoken with Ocheeva? I am Vicente Valtieri." A tall breten man with pale features stood before me.

He had high and pronounced cheekbones, along yet elegant nose, light pink lips, and had long ebony hair that was neatly tied into a low pony tail, a small golden locket, and wore a dark shirt with a pair of black wide pants. His leather boots were hidden beneath his pants. His light eyebrows, pink irises, and coy smile were quite charming. I was never one to stare but with his features it was hard not to. I've never stood so close to such a creature, the feeling was quite exhilarating.

"I provide assignments for all new family members. Please do not let my appearance...unnerve you. The needs and Tenets of the Dark Brotherhood come before my own needs as a vampire." I looked into his Vampiric eyes uninterested of the subject and intrigued by his appearance.

"Ocheeva said you give out contracts. I'm ready for my first contract." My mood had gone down after that Khajiit decided to ruin my already mostly ruined day.

"Excellent. Here is what you must do. Go to the Waterfront District of the Imperial City. There you will find a ship named the Marie Elena. Board the ship and find its captain, Gaston Tussaud. He'll be in his cabin. Eliminate Tussaud in any manner you see fit. The pirates have been moving a lot of cargo on board lately. You may be able to smuggle yourself on board in one of the packing crates. Oh, and one more thing. Get into the habit of asking your fellow family members about any current contract. Their insight may prove invaluable."

After signing the contract I set off to the Imperial City. I didn't bother asking around for advice, this seemed remotely easy.

After a three day travel to the Imperial City's Waterfront district I found that finding The Marie Elena was actually quite easy considering it was the only ship there besides The Bloated Float. I approached the ship in a quiet manor but was attacked by a dunmer woman. She identified herself as the first mate, I quickly got my silver dagger and defended myself. I pushed her against the mast of the ship and used my silver dagger to pin her by the collar to it. I lodged this dagger halfway in before quickly retreating into the captains quarters. There I made a fast attack to the captain, taking him off guard. I had plunged the ebony blade given to me into his upper left side of his back, piercing his left lung. I did the same with the other side as he turned to attack me. Other pirates swarmed in quickly after. I took my opportunity to steal his key while I slit his throat and ran towards the back of the cabin. Three arrows were shot at me and struck me on my shoulder and right arm. I opened the door and dove into the water. I quickly swam away to safety. I could hear the guards running towards the ship as the pirates attacked an unfortunate beggar in their way.

I sat down to rest in one of the alleys of the waterfront. I carefully pulled out each arrow and healed the wounds as best I could with a restoration spell. I had to bandage them afterwards so that they could finish healing on their own.

I lie still in a light sleep, suddenly I had felt a gentle nudge, slowly I opened my eyes to see Lucien. I quickly sat up attentively.

Lucien gave me a shrouded armor with a hood to it. I looked at it confused.

"It seems Ocheeva failed to give you one of these. This armor will help you in your next contracts." He tucked away the stray hairs on the right side of my face behind my ear. I looked into his auburn eyes and saw a hint of mischief in them.

"Thank you Speaker." I gave him a small smile of gratitude. He returned my smile.

He gave me some new bandages and an apple before leaving. It was thoughtful of him. I took them graciously and watched as he disappeared into the distance.

I quickly changed the bandages and slipped into my new armor unnoticed. I took a bite of the apple as I left the waterfront district and headed back to Cheydinhal.

Few weeks later I was starting to see my small infatuation had grown since my stay here in the sanctuary. I avoided the subject with the others as best I could but they all started to notice Lucien's constant attention towards me. Antoinetta had started being less appealing to be around because of how venomous she had become, she tried to hide her jealousy but couldn't mask it very well sometimes.

Even Ocheeva had commented that Lucien was here more often than usual; she received fewer letter and more face to face conversations with him. It wasn't by much but it was still noticeable.

Today was his third visit to the sanctuary in the four weeks I had been here. I still thought he wasn't here often, it must have been rare to see him here before?

I sat in Vincete's empty room away from everyone, it was nice to have free time to myself when Vincete was gone on a contract. I got to linger in his room to get away from Antoinetta, ever since her outburst about Lucien. I remembered it all too well.

"I see that some of the other family members have been causing some dispute with you." Lucien's voice startled me, I hadn't even heard the door open.

"Good to see you. What brings you here?" I shyly looked up at him. He had caught me off guard so I didn't have time to collect myself before speaking to him. I felt nervous and flustered. Perhaps my feelings are stronger than I thought.

"I've noticed how well you've been progressing. You've already gone from a lowly Murderer rank to an Eliminator rank in only a matter of weeks. Such talent." He smiled.

I noticed Antoinetta hiding behind the doorway glaring at me from the corner of my eye. I smiled.

"I do what I can to please our Unholy Matron." I took a quick glance to the door and noticed M'raaj was also there, he had a curious face.

"Let me see the blade I have given you." He had an unreadable expression on his face.

I quickly and carefully took out the blade, to my embarrassment I haven't used it much, I had used it after losing my first dagger at The Marie Elena but received Sufferthorn and had used that most of the time. I simply did not want to ruin the ebony gift from Lucien. It was quite silly of me really, I was given that blade to kill, yet barely use it.

He carefully took the blade and examined it. "Why haven't you used this fine blade?"

I looked away nervously. "I..." I quickly scanned my thoughts for a plausible excuse. "I can't quite answer that question. I know not how to explain."

"This Blade of Woe cries for you to use it, yet you neglect it's wishes." He took my hand and placed the hilt in my hand, making my fingers curl around the blade with his own.

I quickly looked down at his hand. My heart raced at the touch. With his other he raised my chin so that I made eye contact with him.

"When you do use the blade, I hope it serves you well." He let go of my hand. I didn't speak and just looked away awkwardly; I was unsure how to handle myself. After I took a moment to recollect myself I looked back at him.

"I have a question." My tone had softened so that if Antoinetta was still listening she'd have a harder time listening in.

"What is it?" He calmly asked.

"I've heard many things about the dark brotherhood that I am confused about, I've heard our Night Mother was murdered long ago by a member of Morag Tong many years ago in Morrowind, yet she still gives out orders? Does our Night Mother change? Or is she some sort of… Greater power? Like Sithis?" I noticed the surprised look on Lucien's face.

"How do you know that?" His face of shock faded into curiosity. I turned away with a solemn face.

"My mother, she was part of a cult called The Mythic Dawn. They have had many run ins with The Dark Brotherhood since the glory of killing the third Septim emperor of Tamriel was taken from them by the Dark Brotherhood." I hadn't realized my hands were shaking until I looked down at them. It had been so long since I had talked about my mother.

"Interesting… Unfortunately I do not know too much of our Unholy Matron. I understand that she is indeed a greater power of sorts, like our dread father Sithis. People who pray to her must perform a ritual to summon her." He explained, it didn't quite answer my question but it was an answer.

I laid back down into Vincete's bed.

"I suppose that makes sense…"

"Why did you choose to join The Dark Brotherhood?"

"I'm not quite sure anymore…"

We talked for quite some time before he decided it was time to depart.

"Before I take my leave here are a few words of wisdom. Do not let the others discourage you dear child of Sithis. I've heard The Night Mother has great plans for you."