Disturbingly brilliant crimson eyes gazed into her line of vision, mimicking every movement; she raised an annoyed brow at her reflection, cursing her Dunmer heritage. She was the same as all of her brethren: blue, red, purple, elven. Her appearance was hindering her from stealing the beautiful existence behind the glass window, stopping her from gaining her heart's desire.
Despite her constant attempts to blend in with society, she never succeeded in her thievery, not without being discovered before an escape; there was always a witness that remembered an azure hand reaching for the desired item. Yet the guards never caught her, due to her speed and ability to become one with the shadows, and bribes given to the authorities to forget of her crime.
She raised her gloved hands, eyes analyzing the dark leather that seemed to be evolving into a second skin. With a worn leather cuirass hiding her torso, hood over her head, accompanied with boots and greaves covering her lower half, she would not be seen today. Not when her motivation was this high; not when the object of her affection was before her, once again, tempting her to take it. Give it a proper home. Show it to the beggars and thieves on the Waterfront. Deem it proof that she was worth something.
Take me. It seemed to be saying. Love me.
She did not know if it was indeed the object whispering in her ear, or if her sanity had left her, but that was deemed irrelevant. What was known was that she needed it.
Taking her eyes off of her desire, she casually walked into the shop; Rindir's Staffs, she recalled the sign saying. She tried her best to make the ruby irises seem innocent, but the attempt was futile.
The owner, a Bosmer, turned around, smiling at his fellow mer. "Greetings, Dunmer!" He said, voice unusually shrill and confident, "Welcome to Rindir's Staffs. My name is Rindir, may I ask you yours?"
"Um, Arcadia," Said she, shy before the stranger.
His smile widened. "What a pretty name. Tell me, is there anything here that catches your eye?"
The answer to that question was obvious; Arcadia longed for the mage's staff in the window, its blackened wood glistening in the sunlight.
She felt bad for having to steal from the man; he seemed to be an honest, giving person. But she was indeed penniless, and would not return home without that staff in her possession.
Take me, It begged. Love me.
Instead of reacting to the almost inaudible voice whispering in her ear, which would not have been beyond the norm, she listened to it, as if entranced. "Yeah. That staff, over there….what kind is it?"
Rindir's eyes followed the gloved finger that was pointing toward the staff placed on a small pedestal, leaning against the window. "Oh!" He gasped, appearing to be as excited as she was about the arcane weapon.
"This," he began, "is the Apotheosis. It's a very powerful staff of Destruction, and also, very beautiful."
Arcadia nodded. "Beautiful, indeed. How much is it?"
"Five-thousand septims."
Arcadia refrained from gasping at the unbelievable price. "Oh, my," She began, creating a façade, "I only have two-thousand with me. I have more in my home; I shall return tomorrow with the proper amount of coin. Would you mind holding it for me, until then?"
Rindir frowned slightly, surprised that a woman of her appearance would have that kind of coin; he'd deemed her a common peasant when he first saw her, and was merely entertaining himself by portraying an outgoing merchant at her expense.
She actually has money? He thought, baffled. Could have fooled me. She looks like she belongs on the Waterfront.
"Of course I'll hold it for you!" He said happily, having a façade of his own. "I can keep it for exactly twenty-four hours."
Arcadia inwardly smirked, eyes shining with mischief. "Oh, don't worry," She said, voice soft and misleading, "I'll have it before then."
She said her goodbyes to the Wood Elf, then exited the shop, fighting the urge to snatch the staff before the mer's very eyes.
Take me, It whispered, once again. Love me.
The Dark Elf nodded, once again obeying the mystic voice. Indeed, her words to Rindir were true; she would have it before then.
Arcadia returned to the Waterfront, and awaited nightfall.
o.O.o
The vision, blurred around the edges, revealed a girl gazing into a large window, eyes filled with longing.
Before the vision was a spirit, a phantasm, staring at the girl with strict concentration, softly whispering words inaudible to the human ear.
Lucien stared at the sight in confusion, still wondering as to why he was there at all. He was the only audience to the Night Mother's spell, the vision that was being manipulated by her will.
Despite his confusion, he was joyful to be in the Night Mother's dwelling; it was not a place that every member of the Brotherhood was allowed, or even knew of its location. It was obvious that the Night Mother had deemed him important enough to invite him there. Still, he would not show his true feeling, not even to his leader; the mere thought of it was ridiculous.
As the girl in the vision entered a building, then exited, Lucien turned to his leader, his hood and the shadows cascading darkness across his face.
"Dear Mother," He began, deep voice echoing throughout the crypt, "Do not insinuate that I'm ungrateful by asking this, but…may I ask why I was summoned here?"
The vision faded away; the Night Mother lowered her hands, ending her spell. She turned to her Speaker.
"Dear child….." She paused, then continued, translucent body fading, then becoming whole again. "You were called here by me to fulfill the destiny that I have created for you."
She called forth the vision again, showing the girl walking through a crowd of pale faces; her blue elven skin stood out before the mass of white humans.
"This Dunmer is the answer to the Dark Brotherhood's plight," Informed the Night Mother. "You must find her, awaken her urge to kill….only then will she become one of us."
Lucien frowned. "She hasn't murdered anyone yet?"
"No. That is what makes her so rare. Her heart is not dark and cold like yours," The last words were said disdainfully, as if she meant it as a compliment towards Lucien and an insult to the girl, "But she is weak. She is a lowly peasant, a street rat, and she has not yet killed for survival simply because she was raised by the Thieves Guild, who look down upon killing."
Lucien scowled in disgust. "A thief? They're pathetic. The scum of the earth. Why would you want someone like her to be one of us?"
The phantasm sighed. "It is well known that the Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild disagree on the other's ways. They rob men of their possessions, and us, their lives. Such is our way. Once this girl-the apple of the Doyen's eye-takes a life, she will be cast aside, disowned. She will have nowhere to turn. And that…that is when you will take her, dear Lucien, and mold her into that of the Brotherhood's shape."
Lucien lowered his head, allowing the hood and shadows to hide his features completely. He wanted no part of this. Why should he, Lucien Lachance, be forced to find this lowly Dunmer thief, and remake her in his image? It was stupid, unnecessary….yet, he knew that the Night Mother was all-knowing, fully aware of the future. He knew that she would not stir him wrong. Behind the shadow, he scowled.
"This is what you must do." Said the Night Mother, voice growing feral, "I can sense your reluctance, and it angers me. You must obey me, or feel the wrath of my beloved."
Lucien, hearing the threat, immediately changing his expression. He would not break any of the Five Tenets, not while he was still breathing. The mere thought of invoking the Wrath of Sithis upon himself made him shudder; it was the only thing he feared.
"Forgive me, Mother," He said, once he calmed, "I will do as you ask. But I have questions. What did you mean by, 'the Dark Brotherhood's plight'? What has happened?"
"Do not question me. All will be learned in due time. Now, go. You are capable of doing this, which is why I chose you instead of my other children. Awaken the Dark Elf's coldness, and save the only world you know."
She turned her back on the assassin, and suddenly, he was alone, finding himself in the streets of the Imperial City.
Author's Note: An anticipating update, no? Do you not want more? Haha. Read and review, pwease.