!NOTE FROM LACHANCE!
FINALLY BACK! PLEASE ENJOY :) ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE CLIFFHANGER AT THE END...
They say the first contract is always the best one.
Two young figures, one a boy one a girl, walked through the streets of Solitude. It was dusk, on a vaguely ordinary day, and few people were around apart from several market stall keepers, packing away their wares after a tired day. It had been scorching hot, and the majority of Solitude's population was indoors, fanning themselves, not used to such heat in Skyrim's usually cold environment.
Oddly, as the two children walked by, the people out in the street felt a strange coldness resonating from them. A breeze, they told themselves, brought on by the quick pace the children were walking... however, there was something unnatural about it. Something that made the people of Solitude feel like all the happiness was being sucked out of them.
"Did Scarlett mention where the contract would be, exactly?" Although the children may have looked remarkably calm, neither one of them felt it. Flustered, irritated, and poised to snap, both of them had been walking around Solitude all day, under cover of heavy drapes and invisibility spells to protect their vampiric skin from the sun.
"No, she didn't, she just said some thane named Bryling, that's all she said, okay?!" Phoenix shot back, trying his best to keep his voice quiet, so not to arouse suspicion... let's say, he wasn't doing fantastically. "If I knew where exactly this Bryling woman was, I would have taken you to her three hours ago, I promise."
They walked along in sullen silence. Babette had suggested several times that they ask after her at the local tavern, but Phoenix was determined to find the woman himself. As his first contract, he didn't want to muck it up by exposing himself.
"You're such a typical boy, never wanting to ask for directions." Babette huffed, crossing her arms and stopping still. Already, after less than a year, the two of them were like an old married couple; could never agree over anything, and yet both loved the other dearly, although neither would readily admit it. It was a point of amusement to everyone else in the sanctuary to watch the two of them battle: at first they had been perfect, but now they were constantly squabbling, and then, when the others mocked them, standing up for each other.
Phoenix stopped too, rolling his eyes and shaking his head, turning around to face her. "For Talos' sake, I'm just being responsible and not wanting to get caught. How d'you think someone would react if I just waltzed up to them and asked," he put on a mockingly slow voice. "Err, hi, do you know where Thane Bryling is? I need to disembowel her for some money."
Snorting, Babette tossed her hair and walked on, so quickly that Phoenix had to run to keep up with her. They headed towards the Blue Palace; that would probably where any self respecting Thane would go. The streets were a little busier down here: full of servants coming home from work, complaining about the terrible day they'd had polishing silverware. Keeping a careful eye out for finery amongst the rags of the servants, Phoenix grabbed Babette by the shoulder and pulled her backwards, towards the Bards College. The two of them climbed up onto the high wall that separated the street from the college, and hoisted themselves onto the top, swinging their legs over. From their new vantage point, the two could see every single head leaving the Blue Palace. This was a more certain way of not missing anyone than stumbling through heavy crowds.
"If nobody comes out, we'll go into the Blue Palace," Babette whispered into her friends ear, careful not to be overheard. "You can put on your whole Phoenix Bird act, and maybe we'll be able to lure her out."
Phoenix nodded, and the two sat there for a while, companionably watching the dozens of staff making their way home. It was a nice evening, with the scent of nightshade in the air, and when Phoenix brought his hand over to clasp Babette's she didn't complain at him, and even rolled her head onto his shoulder.
By the time all the servants had gone, the romantic mood had evaporated a bit. Both were, after their few minutes of calm, infuriated yet again and arguing bitterly. Nobody wearing fine clothes, or with a housecarl, had left the palace; evidently, no thanes had left the building. And that defeated the first part of their plan.
"For Sithis' sake, boy, just go in to the palace, act up the conceited brat acrobat thing, and then we might find this woman!" Babette hissed at him, crossing her arms and glaring at him nastily, pulling a disgusted face. The boy vampire raised his eyebrows at her, shaking his head.
"No way am I going in there and doing that," he replied. "They might know that I killed those people!" then, slowly, Phoenix swallowed remembering the memory of his two best friends lying, blood and intestines splattered all around their mutilated bodies. Putting his face in his hands, he muttered, "I'm not getting arrested just because of your stupid plan, Babette. I don't feel good about killing my two best friends. I want to keep my hood on; I'm not the Phoenix Bird any more, okay?"
There was silence as the two of them sulked, both thinking their own idea was much better than the other's. Honestly, the two of them were a useless partnership: what Scarlett had been thinking, rather than her own amusement, nobody was particularly sure. To be honest, the woman probably had been thinking ONLY of her amusement; she was a good leader, none of them could deny, but she took far too much pleasure at not being the child any more, that she very often ACTED like a small child.
Then, Phoenix snapped his fingers, brought out of his sulk by an idea. "How about, YOU go in there and do your little-girl-lost act? Draw Bryling out, and get her into a secluded place, and I'll stab her to death."
The little vampire girl next to him groaned. "It's supposed to be your contract, boy, not mine. Why don't you do the luring and the stabbing? I'm not supposed to do anything but watch you..."
Phoenix sat in silence for a second, thinking over whether he could goad her into doing it. Slyly watching her, he thought about trying his usual childish manipulative behaviour, then decided against it. His friend generally hit him when he tried that, even though it made most other women swoon for him. With a grunt, the boy got to his feet, and back-flipped off the wall onto the pavement, walking on alone, with a grin on his face. He could never resist showing off in front of girls he liked. A yell from behind him made him turn around, and then he burst out laughing at the sight in front of him.
On the wall, wobbling precariously, was Babette: looking down with fear at the street below. With a cry of laughter, Phoenix watched her struggle to get down. Seeing that he was taking amusement from the situation, Babette scowled at him, and did an extremely rude gesture in his direction. Letting one last chuckle escape his lips, Phoenix strutted back to where Babette was stuck, on top of a high wall, and waved up at her.
"Think I'll do your plan," he said cheerily, pretending not to notice the fact that she was screaming at him to get her down. "I'll go up to the palace and lure her somewhere and stab her... How's the weather up there?"
"FUCK YOU!"
"I'll be back if I don't forget." winking up at her, Phoenix began the walk up to the Blue Palace alone. Although he felt a little bad leaving her up there, she WAS just meant to watch him do the contract and make sure he didn't mess up, and she'd have a fantastic vantage point from the top of the wall. So really, what did she have to complain about?
The Blue Palace was luxurious and Phoenix, who was in no particular hurry (and wanted to annoy Babette as much as possible) took time to admire some of the paintings on the walls. He had absolutely no interest in art, and was possibly the worst and most impatient artist on Nirn, but he could practically still hear Babette raging at him. And anyway, he reasoned with himself, maybe thane Bryling was interested in art? That would be a conversation point before he murdered her.
Eventually, bored, the young vampire walked up a small flight of stairs, and found at the top of them, to his delight, a small throne room with who he presumed to be the Jarl, and several of her thanes standing around her. A pinch of fear hit him, looking at all the guards surrounding them, but then, trying his best to look cool, pulled up his hood. Thinking fast, he decided a façade: he was a servant in Bryling's household (he relied on the woman not knowing any of her servants well enough to not recognise him as one), here to ask her what she wanted for dinner. It was a stupid, thin story, and it was semi possible it would work, but he had a dozen invisibility potions in his pocket if worst came to the worst. Phoenix had never had the best imagination, always being firmly set on reality.
Looking through the thanes he realised with pleasure that only one of them was female: that must be Bryling. Dark hair, and a sharp nose, with a sapphire circlet on her brow, and a kind face... Phoenix wondered what she had done to upset anyone. She looked like a nice lady. Silently, he felt another pang of knowing that what he was doing wasn't right in any world, and that he was now, obviously, evil. It wasn't evil with that fisherman, because he was trying to rape him, but with this murder that was being paid for...
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Phoenix realised that the whole court was looking at him with raised eyebrows. He felt a flush of embarrassment and then, remembering why he was there, said in his best, timid servant voice:
"My master says that Thane Bryling must return to her home immediately, because, umm..." Shit! The plan had gone out of his mind. Phoenix's whole body went tense as he realised that now, he'd done it. WHAT WAS HE GOING TO SAY? His nerves had made him forget everything, like stage fright. The whole court was still staring at him, with Bryling looking particularly confused.
"We're in the middle of court." she said, and her voice was sweet, an older woman's voice. Phoenix, once again, felt a shiver run through him. She sounded like some sort of grandmother, not a person worthy of being killed. "Can't it wait, my boy?"
"I'm afraid I was told you had to come home immediately. Your sister is gravely ill." these words came naturally to him. And, at the face Bryling pulled, Phoenix knew he had done right. Although Bryling could not have had a sister, and he was risking a lot by that sentence, he had clearly said something believable. A look of concern passed onto her face, and she brought her hands to her mouth. Phoenix felt so bad for doing this to her; he was clearly not a born killer, and at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to fall to his knees and scream that her sister was fine, and it was all a lie and run for his life. He felt tears prickle at his eyes, and blinked a few times. He would do it. He HAD to do it, if he wanted to impress Babette, and Scarlett, and all of the rest of them... They could do it, so why couldn't he? Steeling himself up, he hung his head, acting the part with gusto.
"I'm sorry, mistress. If you'd come with me, there is a cart ready to bring you to her." Bryling nodded at him, and then, looking at the rest of the court, apologised profusely for leaving. Then, she followed Phoenix out of the door and down the road. It was dark, now, and Phoenix began to feel his fangs itching with the need to sink themselves into the old woman's neck... Good, the bloodlust would make his guilt slightly less severe. This way, he was killing her and drinking her blood to survive, right?
Walking down the street, Phoenix took the back-alleys, turning around and doubling back on himself numerous times, so to confuse her. She clearly didn't know the city that well, and followed him without complaint. Phoenix, having been part of a travelling circus, did not know Solitude particularly well either, but knew it well enough, from several shows there, to navigate his way roughly around.
Eventually, when he'd finally geared himself up to it and the bloodlust was hurting him, he turned around so suddenly that Bryling smashed into him, falling to the floor with a squeak of shock. It was then that Phoenix let the demon inside him awaken.
A tremor ran through the vampire's whole body. Shutting his eyes, he opened them and looked down at the woman who was staring up at him by now, sensing the change... He no longer saw a sweet, kind old lady. He saw his prey, and he could practically sense the blood pulsing in her neck.
"Wha-" she whispered, beginning to crawl backwards as he advanced on her, his new demonic state controlling him. "What is this? Who are you?"
The rational Phoenix, buried deep within him, struggled to get free, to stop the maniacal vampire that was now controlling him; it was the bloodlust that lead him now, as it had several times before, turning him into nothing more than a monster. The new, wicked Phoenix laughed a guttural laugh, from the very depths of his soul.
"Your worst nightmare." and with that, he launched himself at the woman, landing on top of her, with a nasty smile on his face. She began to scream, but he slammed his hand over her mouth with a hiss. He was no longer human; simply animal as he sank his teeth into the soft flesh of her neck. The vampire felt her scream against his hand, and that simply accelerated him as he sucked violently at her veins, uncaring for her pain. Her pain was colossal, he knew, as he tore and ripped crazily at her neck; chunks of her skin and flesh flying everywhere. Phoenix was in ecstasy, letting out loud grunts as the blood went into his system. Bryling, with some fight left in her, bit deep into his palm, illiciting a fierce squeal of pain from him. For a second, he was brought down from his high as he saw the blood dribbling from his hand from the tooth marks she left there. It was a tiny wound, but in his inhuman state, it infuriated him. With a howl of anger, he descended on his victim again, punching her hard in the mouth.
Blood splattered down her chin as his fist, strangely strong, broke several of her teeth; making her bite her tongue hard. Tears wet her cheeks as he returned to drinking from the mess of blood that was once her neck, draining her lifeblood from her with crazed abandon.
And then, his face dripping with blood and gore, Phoenix looked up from her neck, and, bringing his hand to her neck, finished her life gently. Her eyes rolled back into her head, showing her death to him. With a satisfied smile, and a great rush of excitement, he realised his first contract was complete. He'd killed someone, and, thank Sithis, he hadn't been caught.
It was only then that he looked up properly and was brought out of his joy.
A guardsman, with a look of sickened horror on his face, was standing at the other end of the alley, with his hand on the hilt of his sword. Phoenix looked at him, and then, slowly, down at the mess of mutilated flesh that was once Thane Bryling. He gulped. And then, he got up, and the guardsman began to to sprint towards him.
"STOP IN THE NAME OF THE JARL!" the guardsman yelled at him, and Phoenix heard a shudder in his voice. For a second, the young vampire stayed paralysed, realising what he had done and how much trouble he was in, before the reality hit him. Getting to his feet, Phoenix ran, as fast as he possibly could.
He had no idea where he was going, but by Sithis, he had to escape! The mess of alleys was like a mousetrap, and he was a mouse, pursued by a cat with sharp claws... Blood still dribbling down his front, he whimpered in shame and fear as he burst out into the open. He had to get to Babette, had to get to her and then she and him could escape... then he remembered something.
In his pocket were several invisibility potions.
Still running, Phoenix brought one hand up to his pocket and fumbled with the strap. It fell open, and several of the potions smashed to the floor. Swearing, the vampire stamped on them, eliminating the labels that would show the guard what he'd done, and grabbed another. The guard was catching up with him now, and he was beginning to tire: although he was perfectly fit, fear tired him out faster than a thousand miles of running... for the murder of a thane, he would be beheaded! He didn't want to die! Tears pricking at his eyes again, Phoenix desperately yanked at the cork of the bottle to the potion. It wouldn't open! By Sithis, he had five seconds, at most, before the guard was upon him, and he couldn't open the damned bottle!
Sweat pouring down his forehead, Phoenix reached to the floor and picked up a medium sized stone, still running. Tossing it behind him, he heard the guard grunt as it hit him. It wouldn't stop him, Phoenix knew that, but the intent was only to slow the man down, not to stop him. It would give him two or three extra seconds, at most. The cork wouldn't come out! In desperation, Phoenix skidded round the corner onto the main road by the bards college, and smashed the bottle neck against a wall, breaking it off. He then raised the broken glass to his lips, and drank; although the broken glass tore at the skin around his mouth, he didn't care.
He was safe.
Looking down at himself, he saw nothing there, and knew the potion had worked. With a barely stifled cry of joy, Phoenix sidestepped as the guard came running round the corner, a bruise on his face from where the stone had hit him, and sweat running down his face like a pig. The guard looked around furiously, searching for Phoenix, and when nobody was in sight, the man yelled,
"Come out you little devil!"
He was staring right at Phoenix and couldn't see him: very satisfying to know that he couldn't be seen. Phoenix felt a barely irrepressible urge to laugh as the man blundered away in a random direction after "him". After that danger, the relief was like an orgasm. Letting out a relieved breath, the second the guard was out of sight, Phoenix began to walk down the street towards the Bards College. As he had hoped, sure enough, Babette was still sitting on the wall, a scowl on her young face.
The boy wolf whistled at her, and she whipped around, searching for the person who had done so, and seeing nothing. With a thrilled laugh, Phoenix ran up behind the wall and scrambled up it, sitting down next to her. Still searching for the person who had whistled at her, Babette looked up and down the street, increasingly confused. And then, she let out a shriek as Phoenix pressed up close to her side, and whispered,
"What's wrong, Babette? You look like you've seen a ghost."
For a second, Babette looked so terrified that if Phoenix could've remembered that expression forever, he would be eternally laughing. Then, her terror turned to laughter as she recognised his voice.
"By Sithis, boy, you terrified me!" For a second, they both sat there laughing. Then, Babette, reaching in her pocket, pulled out an antidote to the invisibility potion, and handed it to him. Forgetting the fact he was covered in blood, the boy took it, and gulped down the clear liquid. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, as he slowly faded back into view, he turned to smile at her. And saw a strange look on her face.
Babette was staring at him, pupils dilated, and mouth slightly open. It was an odd expression, and Phoenix did not like it. It was very eerie to have someone look at you like that, especially a vampire. They both stayed still, staring at each other; Phoenix did not want to fuel her into doing something, in her strange state, by moving. What had happened to her?
Then, she moved her head forwards, and her tongue flicked out... she licked his cheek slowly, tentatively. Phoenix's whole body went tense. What was she doing? She was licking the blood off his face, now, especially the area around his mouth where he had cut himself on the bottle top. The girl was drinking the blood from a fellow vampire... you can't do that! Didn't it kill you, or make you ill, or... or something?
The vampire girl pulled away quickly, as her eyes and face went back to normal. Suddenly, a look of terror came into her expression, and she cried out... and fell backwards, eyes closed, off the wall. With a yell, Phoenix caught her midriff and pulled her back up... she was limp in his arms. What?!
"Babette!" terrified, Phoenix brought his fingers up to her neck to feel her pulse... before remembering she was a vampire and therefore had no pulse. "Babette!" she wasn't answering. Completely still in his arms, she seemed only to be asleep. But why had it happened to suddenly, after drinking his blood? Phoenix couldn't remember exactly what happened to a vampire after drinking another vampire's blood, Babette had mentioned it, but... Was Babette truly dead?
Leaping down from the wall, with her still in his arms, panicking, he ran towards the city gates and into the outside world. Jumping into the cart, he laid her tenderly to rest on one of the benches, before saying quickly to the cart driver,
"How much to Falkreath? As quickly as possible?"