A/N: I know it says OC/NPC, but I kinda took said NPC and ran with him. So... I made him mine, in a sense.
...
It's safe to say that this wasn't going well.
I stomped out of the training room, squeezing the bridge of my nose as the heavy door fell shut. Arquen was about to open her mouth, I could feel it.
Surely enough, she spoke. "Aerius..."
"Arquen, shut up." she wasn't helping. Honestly, how do murderers find these things out? The first thing she asked was about Arquen and Lucien's entrails. There was no way she was going anywhere with me.
And the Khajiit, T'rajji, annoyed me, so there was only one left.
"Listener, I am honored by your prescence," he said humbly. His speech may have been calm and quiet, but his tense stance said nervous.
"Tell me, what do you know of Sithis?" I asked, just to see what his response would be.
He seemed to jump out of his skin. "S-Sithis? Is he not our Dread Father?"
Perfect. "Come, join your Listener. What is your name?"
"Domitius, Listener," he said. He looked like... Well, me. When Vicente gave me my first mission.
"Relax, Domitius," I smiled, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We were all Murderers at one time or another."
I felt him loosen under my palm. He was trying his damnedest not to smile, I could tell, not to mention the fact that I could see it in his eyes. I liked him already.
...
"Listener, where are we going?" Domitius asked as I mounted Shadowmere.
"Aerius."
"Where?"
"No, call me Aerius. Titles are unnecessary. Do you have a horse?"
He didn't answer, instead mounting a bay horse and walking it up beside mine. "Her name's Crue. She's been mine for three years, now."
"Be prepared for a few days' journey," I warned. "We're going to a Necromancer lair far west of here."
"I have three days' worth of food with me," he mused aloud, rifling through the pack on his Crue's saddle. "Do you think that'll be enough?"
I thought for a moment; "We'll go through Skingrad on the way."
So we headed out, riding all the way around the Imperial City. There was a small settlement just east of Cyrodil's capital, where we both rented a room for the night.
Soon after I heard Domitius' breath calm I snuck out of my room to make a midnight snack of the innkeeper.
...
The morning after we set out at dawn, and we made it to Skingrad by noon. By the time all our potions, items, and rations were refilled the sun was close to setting and we rented two rooms at the West Weald Inn.
On my midnight tour of the town I caught a glimpse of Janus Hassildor on a stroll. He turned a corner and I didn't bother to follow; there was a beggar I planned on dining with.
...
We made it to Fort Supernatural on the fourth day, leaving the horses at a nearby tree. I left Shadowmere with a soft murmur of, "Protect Crue," and walked with Domitius to the old Fort...
...Which was guarded by skeleton Heroes. I heard him fall back to shoot while I drew my Longsword of Numbing and headed into the fray. With our combined effort the four guards were reduced to no more than a pile of cold bonemeal and old armor.
Inside the fort we were met with heavy opposition, and I liked it that way. The frequent fights were good excercise and the spoils were even better - lots of potions and scrolls, even a few enchanted weapons and arrows. It was rejuvenating, and incredibly fun.
Soon enough we found ourselves at the bottom level of the fort. No natural light came in and I was forced to rely on my Hunter's Sight to keep me out of traps. Domitius had bought a Night-Eye pendant in Skingrad.
The Necromancers had apparently formed a stronghold down here in the recesses of the fort - the final room was enormous and I made out at least twelve with my life detection.
Although I usually preferred stealth as my approach, I suddenly felt the urge to run in with a battle cry like some blood-drunk warrior. My entire body tingled in anticipation and I could hear Sithis in my ear, "Kill them all."
I did as I was told and slaughtered any within reach of my sword, and I could hear Domitius letting fly his arrows. The last necromancer facing me fell and I turned to watch Domitius finish his fight…
But what I saw horrified me.
...
A/N: dun, dun, dun... Oh, crap, I've already beat Domitius up. I'm such a sadist.