Chapter 13
A/N: Hey guys. I'm sorry this one is really late. I've been so busy with finishing school, working, and with all the Christmas/New Years madness. It's a bit longer than usual, so I hope it's all right. =)
Not much happened the next day, and I took this opportunity to plan my next move. I still couldn't believe that it had been my hand that killed him, and the thought that the others would soon go the same way was almost too much to bear.
I was unpacking my things when I came across the poisoned apples that Lucien gave me.
"Those are perfect. Your friends will never know what killed them."
Please, don't let me think that!
This new voice was almost taunting me. I wanted my Spirit back! He would have guided me, not planted evil thoughts in my mind. Still, I tucked a couple of the apples into my pockets and crept to the kitchen. It was still early, so Vicente was the only one awake, and he was in his room in the far side of the Sanctuary. I could kill him now, while the others are asleep. This is killing me...
I crept out into the hallway, feeling along the wall in the darkness before timidly casting a Night Eye spell, for I had not yet mastered silent casting and still had to mutter the words under my breath. The room lit up in the strange, purple-blue glow of the spell.
I stole around the corner, suddenly faced with the door to Vicente's room. Pressing my ear to the door, I listened for movement, hearing nothing. I eased the door open a crack, peering inside only to find that he had gone. Pushing the heavy wood further, I slipped into the room, searching for some sign of the vampire. He was nowhere to be seen.
Sighing out of relief, I crept back to my bed, replaced my dagger under my pillow, and tried to sleep, unsuccessfully. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, until I could stand it no more and decided to leave the room.
I sat on the floor staring at the fire, watching the flames dance and spin in endless competition. The heat tickled my cheeks as I stared into the orange light.
Suddenly remembering the poisoned apples, I made my way to the kitchen and carefully deposited some in one of the cupboards, refusing to acknowledge what my actions would accomplish.
"There is no other way."
Quiet!
I curled up on the floor, hands on my ears, trying to silence the voice in my head. But I couldn't hide from her.
"Move! Before they see you!"
I heeded her advice, shook my head to clear my thoughts, and crept back to the fire.
Hugging my knees to my chest, I contemplated what to do next. They're all still asleep... That gives me some time.
"Why not kill some now?"
Shut up!
I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up with a start. Antoinetta, her golden curls framed in the firelight, smiled sadly down at me and sat down next to me.
"Hey," she spoke softly, "couldn't sleep either?"
"Not a wink," I smiled sadly at her.
"I miss him, you know? I carried him here, said my last goodbyes, but I still believe that he's going to walk through that door" – she gestured to the large, dark entrance to the abandoned house – "and laugh at us for being so silly," her voice, which had remained steady throughout the lament, cracked on those last few words.
"That sounds like something he would do," I put my arm around her slumped shoulders.
"Poor Talaendril. She loved him, more than she would admit. I've tried to stay strong for her, but all I want to do is yell and scream and make that person pay for what they've done to us!" Her eyes, though glistening with unshed tears, held a fire, a deep hatred that sent a spike of regret and fear through my heart. Our little sister, the girl – no, woman – who was always smiling and laughing, hated me. She just didn't know it yet, but I did. This transformation was my fault.
"I miss him too. I wish this hadn't have happened. What did we do to deserve this? The traitor will pay, mark my words. He won't get away from me," not the truth, not a lie, but burning shame laced my every thought.
"If I know anything about you, Sister, it's that you are a woman of your word," she lay her head on my shoulder, and her figure shook slightly.
I turned around to embrace her, patting her back as silent sobs racked her frame.
"You could kill her now, while the others sleep. Make sure to wash off the blood, though."
Quiet! I can hear someone coming!
Sure enough, M'raaj-Dar padded heavily out of the sleeping quarters. He caught my eye and I motioned with a slight movement of my hand for him to move away. He nodded and slipped through the door to the kitchen.
Raising her head, Antoinetta sniffed and dashed the tears from her eyes.
"Sorry Eva; I shouldn't burden you like this," she smiled sadly.
"It's all right. He meant a lot to all of us. Tonight, we should drink to his honour," I hugged her again before helping her stand.
We made our way to the kitchen, where a now-awake M'raaj-Dar greeted us and offered us porridge. The lack of apples on the table was a relief. We ate mostly in silence as the others joined us one by one. Talaendril was the last to arrive, her eyes red from fresh tears, her head hung and eyes full of pain.
This silence, this horror, this pain; I caused it. Will I be able to live with myself after what I've done?
After the meal, most of us went our separate ways, as some had contracts to fulfil, others wanted solitude to mourn. I sought the silence of our sleeping quarters to prepare myself.
There would be another today; the voice wouldn't be quiet and I felt it in my heart. "M'raaj-Dar always hated you. Perhaps him first? Or maybe the lizard-boy; he would be a perfect victim."
Don't you start!
I clasped my hands to my ears once more, sobbing quietly, wishing that my mind could be silent for once. This had happened once before, but this time I couldn't run to the Shivering Isles for shelter. That portal had closed long ago.
I can't bear this any longer! I nearly screamed as I dived towards my pack. Getting more desperate by the moment, I rummaged through it, looking for the little bag that contained my jewellery. Upon finding it, I searched for the right one; the amulet I wore in the Isles. It contained the only disguise of mine that had a character.
She wasn't afraid to do anything; she trusted nobody. She loved no one, needed no one; only the Gods had any meaning in her life.
Yes, she was perfect for this task.
I slipped the amulet around my neck, welcoming the pain that coursed through me. I picked a small mirror out of my bag, watching the transformation.
I rummaged through my bag once more, looking for her customized Dark Seducer armor. It was well made, so that it could be packed small enough to fit in a secret pocket of the bag.
The material was cool to the touch, but it felt almost like home. I shrugged off my clothes and donned the armor. Ah, now I am finally complete.
"It is good to be back in this body. I have been gone far too long! Hmm, still in shape? Good girl."
Silvia, a woman with thick black hair and green eyes with serpents' pupils smiled into the mirror, the one where a purple-eyed girl had once gazed into. She'll be back soon enough.
"This is new, my child. You are an intriguing one indeed!"
Shut your mouth or I swear I will fuck you up!
"My my, such a different character! This will be interesting to watch."
"Don't tempt me, spirit!"
"Umm, Eva, are you okay?" Talaendril appeared in the doorway. "I heard shouting."
"Do not worry, my sister," Silvia said sweetly, "it was nothing."
"What are you wearing? Why are you disguised? What's going on, Eva?!"
"Hush, Tali, do not worry," Silvia repeated. "Come here, I'll show you the answers."
Talaendril approached Silvia cautiously, unsure of what to make of this transformation.
Silvia continued to smile at the elf as her hand tightened around the dagger she held behind her back.
"I was just getting ready for this contract Vicente offered me," her tongue sprouted more lies. "Would you like to see the papers?"
The Wood Elf was very worried now; Silvia could see it in her eyes.
"Eva, are you alright?" Talaendril asked again.
"I feel so much better now," Silvia moved gracefully forward until she was standing face-to-face with the other elf. "Pity I'm the only one."
Talaendril's eyes grew wide as the Blade of Woe pieced her chest.
"Sleep now, little one," whispered Silvia, green eyes alight with bloodlust. "Your death serves a greater purpose. Enjoy your afterlife in the Void," she grinned viciously. "Who's next?"
The woman waltzed to the door, spinning before opening it and moving to the next room, where Teinaava was sitting.
"Eva! What happened? Why are you disguised? Is that blood?!" He stood, reaching for his sword.
"My dear, sweet Brother, it is time for you to repent for what you have done. Thank Sithis that it is I, the Duchess of Dementia, that took your life!" she spun on her heel, dagger slicing through his throat. She laughed, hunching over her knees, tears streaming from her eyes. When she finally recovered, the elf wiped the droplets from her face and continued dancing towards the back of the Sanctuary.
Ocheeva was in her room, poring over reports. She glanced in her direction when Silvia entered the room.
"Oh, hello, Eva. Is there anything you need?" busy with her notes, Ocheeva hadn't noticed that anything was amiss.
"Ah, Ocheeva. It was a pleasure working with you," she walked forward and, with a deadly grace, swiftly sliced the Argonian's throat open with Heart's Woe. "Enjoy your time in the Void."
She laughed at the face her 'Sister' gave her. So full of betrayal and fear! This is fun!
"Now where are the vampire, the kitty, and the human?" Silvia sauntered out the door after grabbing the contract notes for M'raaj-Dar and Antoinetta. Vicente would have to wait.
Antoinetta was due back here later that day, because her target was here, in Cheydinhal. I can wait a few hours, surely.
Luckily, the girl returned in just under an hour. In that time, Silvia had collected the bodies in the sleeping quarters and had cleaned the blood from her clothes and the stone floor of the living area.
"Hi, Eva, how're you feeling?" she greeted the woman with a hug.
"It is good to see you again, sister," Silvia whispered in her ear, "I hope the contract went well."
"Yes, it was actually much simpler than we had first thought; the man's bodyguard was a complete idiot."
The elf chuckled, "very fortunate. I don't think I could have waited much longer for you to return," Antoinetta looked surprised, and a little bit flattered. "I was getting bored!" Silvia twisted on her heel, bringing her dagger across the Breton's throat as she shouted out the last word.
The next day was spent sharpening her weapons and gathering the bodies into a pile, freezing them with a spell so they wouldn't rot as quickly.
M'raaj-Dar returned near midnight, joyous and unsuspecting. His contract was a complete success, despite the difficulty.
Silvia greeted him with a hug, and a knife in his back. Turning, she saw a figure in the doorway to the abandoned house. Vicente.
"Traitor!" the vampire hissed, "you have abandoned the Tenets! You will be punished!" whipping around, he disappeared into the darkness before she could begin pursuit. Vicente was gone.
Why did he call me a traitor, if he was one?
"Perhaps he is not the one you seek?"
That is a possibility. I will let him live, for now, and report back to Lucien with my progress.
"After cleaning up this mess," she said, eyeing the body.
"Fuck, you smell bad. You've not even been dead a minute!" she said as she dragged the Khajiit into the sleeping quarters. She looted anything of value from the chests in the room, as well as her fallen Brothers and Sisters. She placed these items in her bag as well as the poisoned apples and the provisions which she had taken from the kitchen. She slung her pack over her shoulder. Glancing back into the room, she slowly removed the amulet from her neck, returning her features and personality to its norm.
Tucking the necklace into my pocket, I gazed at the pile one more time, tears slipping unbidden down my cheeks before laying a lit candle on the clothes of my adopted family. The fire caught quickly. I watched them burn, their ashes the only remnants of the vibrant, deadly, loving people who took in this stray and looked after me as if I was their own sister.
Unable to stay in this place, the source of so much joy and happiness, as well as heartache and grief, I made a quick exit, running out of the building. I watched it for a moment, seeing the first wisps of smoke rise from the house, then flames licking at the windows. People stumbled by me, their drunken cries flying over my head. They're still celebrating the end of the year. Hm, I thought I was down there for longer...
Suddenly realizing how conspicuous I was, I made a hasty escape through the city and into the woods.
I stopped running as soon as the trees were thick enough for me to be concealed from the town. Placing my bag on the ground, I glanced down at myself, realizing I was still in her armor. I tore it off as if it were red-hot. I pulled my Brotherhood armor on, and set about making a small fire, for cooking purposes, but mostly for comfort.
Preparing the meal occupied me and my thoughts for a small while so that I couldn't think about the Sanctuary, which was probably in flames by now.
After I had a full stomach, I extinguished the fire.
The sky was turning golden when I continued my journey to Fort Farragut to tell Lucien of my success. I'm not going to tell him about Vicente. I've killed enough of my brethren to last a lifetime.
By the time I had made my way up the hill and stopped by the concealed trapdoor, it was already dark. I opened the trapdoor and a small amount of light poured through the door. He's still awake. Good. I shouted down to let Lucien know that I was here.
After I climbed down the ladder, I briefed him on what happened, not delving into the details.
"So the Sanctuary is destroyed," it was a statement, not a question.
"Yes, Speaker, it was the best way to get rid of the evidence," and some of the guilt, hopefully.
"Hmm," he was lost in thought.
I waited a few minutes, but when he didn't say anything, I asked:
"Speaker, what do you wish of me? Do I come to you for contracts now?"
"No, Silencer, I will not be giving you contracts personally. I will communicate with you via Dead Drops, in which there are letters. Each one will tell you where your target is, and where to find the next Dead Drop." This was both a disappointment and a relief. Why am I disappointed? Maybe because he's the last of my family that is still here? I don't know! I suddenly thought of the kiss, and by the Nine was I lucky to have my face cast in the shadow of my hood because I felt a blush redden my features.
"Where is the first?" I asked, trying to keep my distracting thoughts at bay.
"The first Dead Drop lies in a hollow rock on Hero Hill in the east of Cyrodiil. There, your contract awaits you," his dark eyes glinted in the firelight, almost apologetic.
"Thank you, Speaker. I will head out immediately," I said, not really wanting to leave. To tell the truth, I wasn't sure if I could face the world after what I'd done, and he was a small measure of stability. He was the last person I could truly trust. I know he'll never betray me.
"If you wish, you may rest here for the night and set out in the morning," he said, turning towards his desk.
Wait, what?
"Thank you, Lu... uh, Speaker," I stuttered, caught completely by surprise with the offer.
"There is a spare room down that hallway and to the left," he motioned towards an opening on the east end of the room.
He continued on his writing, probably to the other members of the Black Hand about my 'success.'
I found the room alright, and I set down my bag next to the single bed. Closing the door behind me, I proceeded to remove my armor and change into a loose shirt and a pair of comfortable pants. Sleep was my next step, but it was a long time before I was embraced by that black void.
~{::}~
I run through the Sanctuary. My family, where are they? This place is empty! I continue searching the barren rooms.
Smoke fills my lungs as I round the corner. I gasp as I see the bodies. I muster up the largest ice spell I can and try to douse the fire. Finally, as the flames died down, I am able to pull one of the figures from the fire. Yanking the hood down, I jump back in surprise. Inside is the face of a Dark Elf I have never seen before. I take time to look at all the faces of the figures, finding many more features I am unfamiliar with.
My hands feel wet, and as I look down at them, I realize that they are covered with blood, their blood. I have murdered more of the Brotherhood! I suddenly remember where I have seen those black robes before. Lucien; where is he?
I race through the halls, looking for him.
The walls of the Sanctuary turn into a different stone the further I go. When I reach the end of the labyrinth, I find Lucien's room in Fort Farragut. It's empty.
Suddenly, I realize I'm in a dream. I force myself to wake, but when I do, I'm in a different room. I'm lying in a four-poster bed in a room fit for royalty. The space next to me is warm, but no one is there.
I walk out into some sort of barracks. Men in strange uniform greet me as I pass. I speak to them as if I know them somehow.
In the centre of the main hall, there's a table with many books. Behind the table sits a man with messy brown hair, nose deep in the texts.
He talks in a voice vaguely familiar, though I can't see his face. Despite the candles near him, he is entirely in shadow now.
Without warning, I find myself in a completely different place. It is the town of my youth, where Melyndra and I used to play with our friends.
She stands next to me, a frightened yet excited look in her eyes. We are on a rooftop with some of the boys, 'roof-surfing' we call it. It is a sport we invented where one jumps from roof to roof, and the first person to make it to the Chapel wins. Never have we fallen, nor have I ever lost.
We run across the roof of the inn and leap from one roof to the next. My legs are shorter than I remember as I try to beat the other kids.
One last leap would earn me victory, but as I jump, the gap grows bigger and bigger, until I see the pavement racing towards me.
I close my eyes, waiting for the pain, but it never comes. Instead, I am in a cold prison. Rats scamper around me as I stare at the stone walls. Many days pass me by in that prison. Maybe it has been a year? I don't know.
I hear voices, beckoning me to freedom. Should I follow them into the unknown? Or should I stay here and await my punishment?
Is this a dream, or is it real? Why can't I wake up?
I try to force my eyes open, to no avail. The voices are nearer now, no longer echoing down the hall.
Four people join me, though I can't see their faces, and they open a secret passage in my cell. Two get killed, while the others escape with me in those passages.
I'm in the Imperial City, running for my life. I am running towards the city, desperate to get somewhere. Guards aren't chasing me, so I'm not in some sort of trouble again.
The walls of the city melt away, until I'm left in a dark abyss.
That is when I finally awoke, shaken from my dream. I tried to remember it, but I could only recall parts. None of it made sense.
I dressed and placed what little needed to be packed up in my bag.
I met Lucien and we shared breakfast before I prepared for my journey to Hero Hill.
Just as I was about to leave, Lucien spoke:
"Hunt well, Silencer. I will contact you soon to tell you of the situation in the Brotherhood. Hopefully, there will be no more reports of treachery."
"I hope so, too. And thank you, Speaker, for allowing me to rest here."
"There is one last thing; I have for you a very special gift. Just outside you will find Shadowmere. She has served me well, but I present her now to you, as a token of my trust and love." Love? Wait, he's giving me Shadowmere? I wanted to ask him so many questions, but my mouth wouldn't move.
"Now go, and may Sithis guide you in this new stage of your life's dark journey," he smiled and turned his back to me and continuing with his reports.
Outside, Shadowmere awaited me. She looked at me with intelligent eyes, as if she knew I was to take her on my journey. She didn't object as I tightened the girth on her saddle and we set off at an amazing speed to Hero Hill.
I found the Dead Drop inside a hollow rock. It read:
Silencer,
You are now reading your first dead drop note, here on Hero Hill, which proves to me you were well-appointed to the tasks that lie ahead.
Journey now to Leafrot Cave. There you will encounter an ancient Necromancer who is attempting to escape death by transforming himself into a lich. This Necromancer, Celedaen, has not yet completed his metamorphosis, but is still immensely powerful, possibly too powerful to destroy if confronted directly. Search Leafrot Cave. Necromancers are wizards after all, and wizards are prolific by nature. Celedaen surely has written records and these records may contain evidence of some kind of weakness. Perhaps there is some other way to destroy Celedaen besides a direct confrontation. But destroy him you must!
When the Necromancer lies dead, journey to the city of Chorrol for your next dead drop. At the foot of the Great Oak, hidden in the bushes, is an old sack. Inside you will find your reward for killing the Necromancer, as well as information regarding your next contract.
Serve me well, Silencer, and there's no telling just how far you might advance.
L.L.
Okay, killing a Necromancer. Sound's easy enough, I thought sarcastically.
Turns out, it was quite simple. All I had to do was sneak up on him and steal his magical hourglass. He died quite quickly, so the entire assignment lasted for maybe half an hour.
I then travelled to Chorrol, where I found my next Dead Drop. Next stop, Applewatch, to kill a woman by the name of Perennia Draconis, and her entire family. Damn, they really angered someone, didn't they?
After a couple days, I arrived at Bruma. There, I travelled west to find Applewatch to begin my quest.
A/N: Next year, I'm going to a very academically challenging school, where I will study year 11 and 12, so I'll have practically no time for writing. I'll put this story on hiatus for now, but I will post chapters when I have them. I'm sorry about this. Hopefully, I will have some time to begin chapter 14 this week.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Years. =D