Title: Vicissitudes

Author: BurningSilence

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I think we all know the answer to this by now.

Summary: Just see the first chapter ^_^

Chapter VI: Forgotten Paths

"Argh!" Felicienne growled. "I'm never going to get this," she groaned as she dropped her head, harshly, on her desk. "Owww…"

"Are you alright?" came a deceptively gentle voice.

"Huh? Oh, Vicente!" she gasped when she saw the older man leaning in the doorway. "I'm fine, just…bumped my head a bit too hard on the desk." She smiled while rubbing the tender spot on her forehead.

The vampire just raised an eyebrow and gliding over to Felicienne's chair and looked over her shoulder. "I didn't know you had an interest in daedric cults, dear. What exactly are you doing?"

"It's really more for a friend of mine," she winced after she said that; no one ever believed the whole 'friend' thing. "I'm trying to find a hidden meaning in here, but after reading these three books, the only thing I can find is this," she held up a crumpled note to Vicente for him to read it if he wished.

He took it from her hand and read what Felicienne had written, aloud:

"Greetings Reader, Enter Every Night, Enter My Palace. Endlessly Roaring, Offering Red-drink. Whosoever Answers Your Whisper Hides Enraptured. Recorded, Enslaved The Oath-breakers Woe. Every Reader That Once Understood Chim, He Endeth Starlight."

"That was just my desperate attempt at finding something," she pouted. "I just took the first word from every paragraph…it's stupid, isn't it."

Vicente just made a motion with his hand to silence her, as he continued squinting at the wrinkled parchment, moving his lips silently. Finally, he looked up and spoke, "No, it isn't stupid at all. I think you had the right idea, but take a look at this, and apply your concept to the first letter of every paragraph." He smiled and handed her the note.

She furrowed her eyebrows and began to copy down the first letters and let out a relieved breath. She smiled up at Vicente and read, "GREEN EMPEROR WAY WHERE TOWER TOUCHES…" then she frowned. "Touches what? Urgh," she groaned again, her head going right back where it was when the older man walked in.

"I'm assuming you don't have everything you need to finish?"

"No, there's one more book, but someone else has it," she sighed. "I hate esoteric cults; they make everything so damn difficult!"

"Don't worry," he said, patting Felicienne's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll find what you need to eventually."

"I hope so, this is getting old," she groused. Then she perked up a bit and asked, "Where's Antoinetta?"

"She's on a contract."

"Oh," the girl's face fell a bit. "Telaendril?"

"Also out."

Felicienne looked more upset, "Ocheeva?"

"On a contract," he replied, smiling at her moue of disappointment. "Why do you ask, anyway?"

"I wanted to talk to somebody. Teinaava's alright but he's always going on about Argonian customs, Gogron is…Gogron, and M'raaj-dar hates me," she huffed. "And I don't want to bother you, especially now."

"What do you mean?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, you've already helped me with this, and I'm sure you have more important things to do than keep a Slayer company," she sighed. "And I don't particularly want to go out and meet anyone right now, because I'm damn tired."

He chuckled a bit. "I don't mind keeping you company while the other women are out. It's not like I can just go outside like this, now can I?" he smiled wryly at her.

"Hah," she laughed, a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I forgot that you…"

"No, it's perfectly alright. It's rather refreshing for someone to forget I'm a vampire, than dwell on it, I suppose," he teased, flashing her a bit of fang.

Felicienne's eye widened a bit as she swallowed heavily. Vicente sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

The girl shook her head, "I'm not uncomfortable, er, well I'm not afraid of you. You're definitely not the scariest thing I've seen…not that you're a thing, I mean…"

The man laughed and held up his hand, "I know what you meant, I'm not offended. But, if you don't mind my asking, what would you consider the most frightening thing you've come across?"

Felicienne looked away, a sting beginning to build behind her eyes. She took a deep breath to calm herself before answering, "You know I'm not from Cyrodiil originally, right?" Vicente nodded, that was one of the few things Lucien had mentioned when he alerted the Sanctuary members of the new recruit. "I'm from a city in High Rock called Jehanna, near the Skyrim border. Actually, we lived just outside the city walls. My brother and father were members of the Mages' Guild; of course my father was retired already, but my brother was still very active in the guild. Especially when it came to the ban of necromancy. Both of our parents were so pleased he was staking such a 'conservative' stance in the guild. But then we started receiving threats from some former members of the guild. You can guess why they left after necromancy was banned. We weren't the only people threatened, though."

She had to pause for a moment, the events were still too fresh in her mind. "My parents wanted me to visit a friend of mine in Evermor. Her name was, well is, Chiarina, we'd grown up close to each other; her mother owned an inn my mother adored. Anyway, she'd married a fairly well to do traveling salesman who had a home in Evermor. Since he was gone, again, on business…I think somewhere in Hammerfell…she arranged for me to stay at her home to keep her company for a few days. When I went back home…I felt something was wrong, I thought I might just be a little unnerved because it was getting dark as I returned…but I found out how wrong I was when I went into the house."

She bit her lip to distract herself as her memories began playing out as if the scene was unfolding before her very eyes, "I went inside and everything was just…wrong. The place was a mess, tabled overturned, scorch marks on the wall…my mother would've killed anyone who tore her house up like that." She laughed at the thought, but it was a hoarse, hollow sound, as if she were only just holding off her tears. "I must not have been paying attention, because before I knew it, something attacked me. It was them…my parents! My brother…!" At this point, she was sobbing openly, with Vicente looking unsure as to what he should do. So he settled on brining her into an awkward half-hug, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "They'd tortured them, killed them, and then used their bodies like they were puppets!" She covered her face, ashamed she'd broken down the way she had. "I'm so sorry," she cried. "I didn't mean to start crying…it happened awhile ago…back in the beginning of Last Seed."

"How did you get away?" Vicente asked, softly, trying to calm the girl down.

"A boy was passing by, he was heading back to his home after running an errand for his father in town, or so he told me later. He said her heard me cry out and saw me struggling with- with my family and he threw his torch at one of them, igniting him…I think it was my father, and as he f-flailed, he crashed into the other two. Before I could understand what was going on, the fire spread to the house itself, and the boy was telling me we had to get out. I don't think I was being much help, because I remember being pulled outside. What I remember most was the house I'd grown up in, engulfed in flames…along with the rest of my family…so I think that's the scariest thing I've ever seen. After that, I just…ran. I came to Cyrodiil, I think, to escape."

They were silent for a few minutes, save for Felicienne sniffling and trying to bring herself under control. Vicente was the first to speak after some time.

"How did you come to be here, then? After all of that?"

Felicienne gave a small, watery smile, "I thought you would know that."

The vampire rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue at her, "Of course I know you killed someone, you twit. I'm just curious as to what made you kill this poor soul."

"He asked me to kill him," she replied.

"Excuse me?" Vicente asked in disbelief.

"Ha! I surprised the three hundred year old vampire!" Felicienne laughed, regaining her composure.

He just arched an eyebrow at her and gestured for her to continue. She cleared her throat and smiled sheepishly at him.

"Well, he came to me with a business proposition. Asked me if I wanted to earn some gold, and as I was low on funds, I accepted. He told me all I needed to do was complete a simple task and when I asked what that task was, he told me he needed me to kill him," she stated. "Told me he was miserable, all he saw was death and decay everywhere he went, and that he just wanted it to end. So I pushed him off of a rather tall balcony." She shrugged her shoulders, during her time in the Shivering Isles she'd come to terms with Hirrus' death, and her hand in it. Mostly her hand in it.

"Ah, so it was a mercy killing," Vicente mused.

"Yeah, I suppose you could say that."

"Did you get your reward?" he questioned.

She rolled her eyes, "Yes I did, it just wasn't gold. I got an enchanted ring from his jewelry box instead. It's really quite pretty, but it feels strange to wear it. I can't bring myself to sell it, though." She rubbed her eyes, feeling a bit better after her little 'break down'. Ashamed, but better.

Pressing her hands into her eyes, she stated, "I need to go to the Imperial City pretty soon, actually." At Vicente's questioning look, she explained, "That's where my friend who has the fourth book is."

"Excellent, maybe you can carry out a contract while you're there," Vicente replied.

"Alright, what do I need to know about it?" There was a gleam in the older man's eyes that Felicienne wasn't sure was a good thing.

"It isn't exactly a standard contract. It requires an expert in infiltration. Truthfully, I wanted to extend this contract to you, anyway. Somehow, I think you'll be familiar with the surroundings," Vicente smirked.

"I'll accept," she answered, tentatively.

"Your target is a Dark Elf named Valen Dreth. He thinks he is safe in prison, he is tragically mistaken."

Dreth…why did that name sound so familiar? Memories she hadn't thought about for quite some time began to flood her consciousness:

"Shut up, Dreth! Someday, you're going to say the wrong thing, to the wrong person, and then you'll finally get what's coming to you! You're an animal, Dreth," a gruff voice shouted, while leaving rations in Felicienne's and the Dunmer's cell.

"I'm sure your wife will agree with the 'animal' part, Imperial pig! Bet she hasn't been satisfied in years!" the man in the other cell; Dreth, she assumed, goaded the guard.

Felicienne rubbed her eyes, sleep hadn't come easy last night, or, at least she didn't think it did. Truthfully, she couldn't remember a thing about what happened last night, just that she was wandering around near Imperial City, trying to find an place to stay for the time being, then someone grabbing her, the smell of alcohol…and then nothing .

She huffed in frustration and crawled to the meager scraps of food she'd been given. An apple, some bread, and a small cup of water, she sighed; maybe they planned on starving her.

"Oh, well would you look at that?" cooed an oily voice. "Pale skin, snotty expression. No need to guess who you are; you're a Breton. The 'masters' of magicka! You're nothing but a stuck up harlot with cheap parlour tricks! Bet you can't make those bars disappear, can you? Ha!"

Felicienne bristled at his taunts, but dread was becoming a heavy stone that weighed down in her stomach. What had she done to be arrested?

"But what's a pretty little thing like you doing in here? I heard you attacked a couple members of the Imperial Legion. Nearly killed one of them. The guards down here weren't very happy about that, let me tell you! But I'm sure they'll treat you real nice when they get a good look at you, they always treat the pretty one's well. You know, one of the guards owes me a favour, I could get us put in the same cell. Usually my tastes only lie in Dunmer maidens, but it's been so long I find I couldn't care right now. And you're pretty enough. You might as well have some fun before you die. Oh, that's right; you're going to die in here, Breton! You're going to die!" he cackled.

Felicienne felt several things at that moment; first and foremost was a strange combination of nausea/disgust. As if she'd let anyone lay their hands on her! Followed quickly by fear…they were going to kill her? That had to be just talk; obviously the Dark Elf was deranged. And then there was confusion; how could she be punished for something she didn't remember? Why would she have attacked anyone in the Legion. She may not have the utmost respect for them, but that didn't mean she'd attack them. She wasn't that stupid. They had have gotten the wrong person!

Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs, and hushed voices speaking rapidly.

"You hear that, Breton? They're coming for you!"

"Are you alright?" Vicente asked. "You seemed lost in your own world for a moment."

Felicienne shook her head to clear away those thoughts, "Yes, I'm fine. Sorry, please continue. I promise I'll pay attention." She smiled weakly.

Vicente just smiled knowingly and continued, "A prisoner escaped a couple months back from the prison, using a set of secret tunnels connecting to the Imperial City's sewer system. It's a perfect way inside."

Felicienne's eyes widened a bit, and she tried to hide a grin. She bet that little mystery had baffled those pigs at the prison.

"Just outside the Imperial Prison is a grating that leads to the sewers. It has since been tightly locked, but I will provide a key. It should be easy enough to locate Dreth in his small cell. Besides," Vicente looked at her thoughtfully, "I think you know the way, hmmm." He trailed off, laughing. He regained his composure long enough to say, "Dreth has been imprisoned for many years. His tongue is sharp, but his body is limp and frail. He will prove an easy, pleasurable kill. You will receive your bonus if you fulfill the contract with out killing any guards. Now go, and may the Night Mother go with you."

'Oh, he'll be a pleasurable kill, all right. But not for the reasons your thinking,' she thought, a tad viciously. Yes, of course she remembered Dreth now. The Dunmer who'd made sure what time she'd had in prison had been terrifying. And who'd had the nerve to…proposition her. Her skin crawled just remembering it.

Back to business, though. If she were to sneak in past the guards who were now patrolling the tunnels, she'd need to learn an invisibility spell, and the only person here who taught spells was… 'M'raaj-dar', she sighed. Well, she had enough gold, perhaps she could persuade him.

As started towards the training room, remembering that the Khajiit was usually in there destroying the poor target board. She took a deep breath before she approached him, preparing for his usual hostility.

"What? What do you want?" he snarled.

"I was wondering if you could teach me an invisibility spell, I have a contract that requires an abundant amount of stealth," she told him.

"First, do you want an invisibility spell, or chameleon spell? You do know the difference, don't you?" the mage sneered.

'Of course I know the difference, you mangy alley cat. My whole family was in the Mages' guild,' she wanted to say, but instead settled for smiling and nodding. "Yes, I just need to know a simple invisibility spell. I don't need to attack anyone until I get to my target."

"Simple? Hmph, I'm not surprised you'd think something like that, but in any case, I have to help you. Ocheeva told me I did, and that's the only reason I'll teach you," he scoffed.

Felicienne's smiled strained, this spell better be worth it.*

As Felicienne wandered around the sewers, she was thankful she'd decided to visit Tar-Meena in the University first. She'd never be able to explain this smell on her clothes…or her clothes for that matter. Besides, she wasn't completely sure she'd be able to evade all of the guards once she got into the tunnels. It wouldn't do to be arrested in front of the University.

Fortunately, her visit with Tar-Meena went rather quickly, as the Argonian mage had filled her in on the last part of the code: MIDDAY SUN. After she took care of everything here, and went back to Cheydinhal of course, she'd head back to the Imperial City and to Green Emperor Way to try and find…whatever it is that Mankar Camoran was directing his 'acolytes' to.

But now was not the time to be thinking about that. She had a sewer to craw through and a Dunmer to 'visit'.

Getting through the sewer system wasn't really all that hard, with the exception of a few mudcrabs, rats and goblins, and a couple gates that required lock picking. Felicienne winced when she noted how many she'd broken just to get through those doors. She'd need to buy more from M'raaj-dar, although his prices were outrageously high. Five gold for a single lock pick; the thief.

She took a deep, calming breath as she quietly opened the Sanctum entrance. Her pulse quickened in both excitement and anxiety. She didn't exactly 'relish' her contracts, but she didn't shy away from them, either. The thrill she got from completing a mission, and slipping away undetected gave her a 'high' of sorts. She was, however, quite nervous of being caught. The guards weren't exactly accommodating the last time she was here.

And there was no Emperor to pardon her this time.

As soon as she stepped into the small corridor, she heard some of the guards talking:

"Of course I'm proud to do my duty. But…it's a waste of time. What are we guarding? Cold stone and shadow. That's it," she heard one say.

"I'm not disagreeing," replied another. "Those assassins got what they wanted. The Emperor's dead, they've got no reason to come back."

Felicienne rolled her eyes as they continued to chit chat. Gods, were all the guards this long winded? Most of the conversation consisted of them complaining about their job, and was really quite dull to listen to. But when the two guards made plans on what to do when they were off duty, she had to stifle a snicker when the first guard she'd heard remarked his companion was 'afraid' of the Orc bouncer at the Bloated Float.

"Pfft, I ain't afraid of no one. Courage is my middle name, I…oh, never mind," she heard him grumble.

As soon as she heard them walk away, she cast her spell. 'Just remember, don't touch anything, and don't open a door until you absolutely are ready to go through,' she reminded herself. She couldn't very well have the spell wear off while a guard was passing by, now could she?

She ran, as quietly as she could, hoping they'd just pass her off as another rat scurrying about. When she arrived at the door to the Subterrane, she looked around to make sure the guard she'd followed into the chamber wasn't around, before reaching out to open the door, dispelling the invisibility effect.

But as soon as she stepped through that door, she recast the spell, hurriedly. Though she was invisible, she still skulked around in the shadows; that way the slight disturbance her body made in the surrounding air wouldn't be noticed. She didn't want to take any chances. Who knew what the guards would do if they caught her.

Somehow, she didn't think she could get by with paying a fine.

After several more nerve-wracking doors and turns, she finally found herself at a very well known hole in the wall. Ah yes, here it was, her old cell. Still a rat hole, as it were.

She stopped before she could step up and into her cell, seeing the torchlight and guessing by the voices she heard there was a guard in there as well. She pressed herself against the wall, fully visible now, listening in for when the guard might leave.

"I have to admit, I'm going to miss you Dreth. The late night beatings, your pitiful little cries for help…"

Felicienne rolled her eyes, of course. Then whatever shall they do for entertainment down here?

"Filthy cur! I told you I was going to get out of here! My time's almost up and there's nothing you can do about it!"

'Dreth,' she thought, lips turning up into a smirk. She'd recognize that taunting voice anywhere. Yes, this would probably be the one contract she liked in a purely selfish way. Too bad she couldn't drag it out, but time was of the essence.

"Yeah, well, what's it been? Seven, eight years?" she heard the guard mock him. "We've had a good, long run, you and me. I always knew it would end someday."

"Eleven!" the Dunmer snarled. "Elven years in this rat infested hole. But I'm getting out, and you'll be stuck in here!"

"Oh yeah? And where will you go? Huh? What will you do? You can't survive out there, Dreth. You're an animal. You belong in that cage." Felicienne huffed silently, how long was this banter going to keep up?

"I'll remember that when I'm lying on the beaches of Summerset Isle with your wife, you Imperial pig!" Dreth goaded. Felicienne idly wondered what his obsession with the guards' wife was. She also wondered why he liked to rattle the guards so much if all they did was beat the living hell out of him. Maybe he was into that sort of thing; she knew plenty of people in Crucible who were.

At this, the guard let out a hearty chuckle, "Right. And you'll be rich too! Oh, and you'll become a king! You know what I think, Dreth? I think you'll be back. You lot always come back."

'Not this time,' the Breton thought, feeling rather impatient. Didn't that guard have anyone else to beat up?

"You'll see, you Imperial dog! When I get out of here, all of Tamriel will know my name! Valen Dreth! Valen Dreth!" Felicienne slid down the wall and sat down, it didn't look like she was going any where any time soon.

"Alright, alright," the guard grumbled, irritated. "I'm tempted to let you out right now if you'll just shut up." Felicienne jolted up as soon as she heard the guard's heavy footsteps move away from the cell.

When she was sure he was gone, she stepped out of her old cell and into the dim torchlight. When the Dark Elf saw her, his eyes widened in recognition.

"Wait, I know you…You…You're the one! That day the Emperor was killed! They went through your cell! You lucky bastard! But…you came back? Come one, you've got to help me! Let old Valen out of this cell. You've got your freedom, now give me mine! What do you say, friend?"

"The Night Mother says goodbye," she smiled softly at him.

"The Night Mo…no! NO! Guards! Guards! Help me! Somebody help! Assassin!" he cried out.

"Gods, you never shut up, do you?" Felicienne snarled and grabbed the front of his shirt through the bars. With her free hand, she took hold of her dagger and stabbed him through his heart.

"You're going to die in here, Dunmer. You're going to die!" she whispered to him.

Getting back into Cheydinhal had been easier than Felicienne would have thought it to be. She managed to slip past all of the guard in the prison, again, and in doing so, she would receive her bonus.

She'd rest at the Sanctuary for a few days, and then head back to the Imperial City so she could see what there was in Green Emperor Way. Perhaps it provided another clue to the location to Mythic Dawn's hideout.

Felicienne had already seen Vicente, and he'd been most pleased with her report. She'd received something called the Scales of Pitiless Justice, another magickal trinket. She hadn't been paying too much attention while he explained what they did, but she supposed she could do some research on them; her mind had been otherwise occupied.

She searched out Antoinetta, but couldn't find her; she must've still been on a contract. Or maybe she went on another one. Instead, she found a petite Wood Elf who was busy restringing her bow.

"Telaendril!" she called out, a smile on her face.

"Hello sweet sister! Do you need help with something?" the brunette asked.

"No, not really, guess I just want some company," Felicienne replied. "Are you too busy?"

"Oh no, I could do this in my sleep, I've done it so often," Telaendril gestured to her bow. "I've noticed you've made quite a bit of progress here, I'm sure soon you'll be up for advancement."

"Really? I didn't think I'd made that much progress, I've only been here a short time…"

"Nonsense! It's not the amount of time you've been here; it's how well you've performed. You've never even incurred a bounty for trespassing while on a contract! Not something all newer members can do, let me tell you!" the elf finished resolutely.

Felicienne didn't say anything; she just hummed softly in response as she started to take down her hair out of the ponytail she usually wore.

"Ahhh," she sighed, fluffing her hair. "That feels so much better. I was beginning to develop a headache."

Telaendril laughed at her, and asked, "You're very fond of Antoinetta Marie, aren't you?"

"I, I suppose," Felicienne blushed. "She was the first person, other than Lucien and Ocheeva, that I met here, and she's been so kind to me. I'd always wanted an older sister…and I guess that's why I'm always talking to her." She furrowed her brows, "Where did that come from anyway?"

"You just always look for her first whenever you want company. You should be careful, though," the older woman told her gently.

Felicienne tilted her head to the side, confusion marring her features, "What do you mean?"

"I'm not saying Antoinetta isn't a lovely woman, but you've already caught the eye of someone she's been after for quite some time. One of the higher ups. Some women do very desperate things when they feel they've been…cornered," Telaendril spoke with meaning, almost as if she was trying to hint at something a bit deeper. Then the elf shook her head and smiled, "It's just some talk I've heard in Ocheeva's office."

The Breton frowned, "Does this have something to do with my progress? Have it upset her that I may be up for promotion before she is?"

"You're so young, Felicienne," she murmured. At the girl's look of dismay, she said, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's nothing. Just keep doing what you're doing, but be on guard, alright?"

She opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it and nodded instead. She had other things she needed to concentrate on right now, anyway.

A/N:

So this is a bit longer than my last chapter, and we have some foreshadowing. And I was able to finish it on Sunday after all. Unfortunately, we had some problems with our powerlines...but that's finally resolved. I had really wanted some Telaendril interaction in this chapter; I think she's under appreciated. I mean, come on, she impressed Lucien Lachance by escaping him when he was sent to kill her, and then murdered her own father who was the one who put the contract out on her! How can I not love her? As always, reviews as ideas are welcome.