A/N: Hello, hello! Here's chapter twenty! Thanks to all who read/review/fav/follow! You guys are awesome! Hope you enjoy, and have a good week!
Chapter 20: Damaged
Just hours before the break of dawn, fog hung heavy in the air, as Astrid dropped two blood-stained satchels into the old well on the property. She sighed, wiping her crimson-painted forehead, relieved that those were the last of him.
"Nobody will look here for a hundred years, will they...?" Astrid smiled wickedly, remembering the words he spoke about the ancient well. She looked into its pitch black depths, the smells of mold and metallic blood reaching her senses. It was all just a fading memory. "I guess this is goodbye, dear uncle, and good riddance..." she stated in a moment of catharsis, while lowering the rickety bucket into Reiner's tomb.
Astrid stepped into the large tub, feeling the hot water pleasantly scorch her skin. She lowered her body into the beckoning waters, watching the clear liquid become stained with blood.
Feeling completely satisfied and at peace for the first time in her life, she eyed the doorway, which she now left carelessly open. She had nobody to fear this time - not one person who would come in and viciously beat or violate her.
Sighing, she began to wash it all away, in every sense of the word. The red stains on her skin began to subside, falling into the cleansing waters that surrounded her. Perhaps her methods weren't applauded by most, but they were highly effective. Indeed. And even if Nona or Delvin would never accept it, she did know of one person who did. She could only watch and wait patiently to see him once more. Then she would ask him so many things, for so many new and exciting questions were whirling in her head at break-neck speeds. She simply couldn't wait to learn more about him - to get closer to him.
A satisfied smile painted itself across Astrid's lips, as she eyed the red-tinted waters that surrounded her body. The calming steam rose to the ceiling, evaporating just like those terrible memories were. She closed her eyes, slowly bringing her head beneath the crimson waters, before she opened them again. The world rippled and distorted with the waves as it previously had. The fates could merely be tempted, while she held the power of her own life in her hands, just as before. There was only one difference at this very moment, and it was that the world beyond was now stained with blood. His blood. It was complete. It was meaningful. It was powerful. It was perfect.
She held her breath until she felt as if her lungs would nearly burst, with her soul hanging between Nirn and whatever plane awaited, feeling freedom in her power to tempt fate and win. Finally she came up for air, gasping and fighting for oxygen, before finally catching her breath and donning a large, satisfied smile.
Things were different now, and they would never be the same again. Astrid decided she was quite alright with that.
Nearly a week had passed, and Astrid found herself to be more content than ever. Sitting against the large tree on the front of her property, she inhaled, soaking in the warmth of the sun and enjoying the serenity of the moment. She'd single-handedly cleaned up the farmhouse and maintained the gardens and livestock properly once more. The same dull, laborious tasks that had seemed like an unjust prison sentence were now feeling like actual accomplishments, and all because her situation had completely turned for the best.
As far as Astrid was concerned, she was the next heir to the large stead, and so she acted accordingly. It felt refreshing to be so in control of her surroundings, even if that control included keeping a presentable living space or milking a cow. It was simple, it was nice, and it was sorely needed.
There was only one thing that hadn't set right with her for days now, and that was the mysterious assassin who'd been stalking the property. Sure, it was obvious that he'd hunted there, but lately he hadn't been killing Reiner's livestock. What had he been doing there? What were his motives? The man certainly seemed to be happy that her uncle was no longer in existence. Mostly, however, she wondered when he would return, and what he would do when he did.
Astrid jumped, startled from her sleep, when the loud scurries and hisses of multiple unknown creatures could be heard near the farmhouse. She quickly threw her fur blankets aside and let her bare feet hit the cold wooden floor, pacing downstairs to see what all the ruckus was about.
She opened the front door of the house, feeling appalled as she noticed several large, rat-like Skeevers fighting amongst each other at the old well. Suddenly, her stomach twisted into knots, as she grabbed a small dagger from within the house - the dagger that she'd found on her uncle's dead body.
"GET OUT! GO! GET AWAY FROM HERE!" she screamed, running full-force toward two of the foul creatures, who happened to be fighting each other over a dismembered arm. Most of them ran at the sight of her, though she had to repeatedly stab one of the oversized vermin to death before things were all said and done.
Astrid stood, clothes stained in Skeever blood, eyeing the disgusting remnants of her uncle. She grimaced, turning her head to pick up the appendage before tossing it back into the well. She decided to plunge the rodent down there as well.
Astrid stepped away from the disturbing scene, grimacing from nausea, and nearly retching from the distinct odor of decay hitting her with such force. Suddenly, she fell to her knees, collapsing from not only the physical aspect of it all, but the horrific thoughts spinning inside her head, as well.
She didn't want to be reminded of him. Of his eyes - those piercing, burning eyes. Astrid didn't want to think of his flesh, or of his existence, or of the mark he'd left upon her that she could never remove. Hot tears began to flood from her eyes, as she sobbed without ceasing, for her emotions were far too profound to obstruct in any way.
For what seemed like hours, Astrid laid there, weeping and feeling the weight of Nirn on her shoulders. When she finally found a small semblance of relief, she then mustered enough energy to stand. She held herself, wiping at her tears, as she entered the farmhouse once more.
When she'd finally composed herself, she began to think of ways to rid herself of the currently repulsive situation. Perhaps she would need some supplies - viles of poison maybe - to rid her of pesky vermin who could possibly undo Reiner's burial. She then decided she'd clean herself up and promptly head to the alchemy shop in Riften. Perhaps she'd load up with a few supplies while there, she thought.
It was a clear night when Astrid rode the last stretch of the dirt path that led to her farmhouse. She'd already visited the alchemy shop and purchased as many viles of poison as possible. Then, Astrid bought a heavy sack of ingots to throw on top of that disgusting mess, to keep it down there once she piled a heap of dirt on the remains. It wasn't the most precise way to dispose of him, but it was the best she could do.
She breathed calmly in the cool night air, watching her breath twist and writhe to the heavens. The moons were full and bright, and the stars glittered just like the shattered mirror had. Astrid felt relieved, not only that Reiner was gone for good, but that her trip to Riften didn't force her to run into the likes of Delvin or his people. It was just her, and her alone. She was free. There was only one person she desired to see again, and he had yet to return. Of course, for some deep, uncanny reason, she believed the assassin would meet her again. The trouble was, she wasn't sure exactly when that would happen.
"Miss? Miss!" An unrecognizable voice chimed a distance away from her carriage, alerting her to stop her horse. She pulled the lantern off of its post, holding it up to see him. She could tell from his clothes that he either worked in a mine or was a beggar of some sort. He was tall, and scraggly, much like her uncle.
"What do you want?" she asked warily, her eyes daring the man not to step any closer.
"I was wondering if you were heading toward Shor's Stone. I have a little gold, and I can pay you to take me, if you'd like." he asked innocently enough.
Astrid remembered her younger years when her mother and father were still together, and they actually had a small carriage of their own. It was nothing out of the ordinary for them to help a wanderer out for a few gold coins. She'd even helped out a stranger or two in her life, but for some reason she couldn't answer the man. She simply froze, glaring into his eyes.
The young man had blue eyes - large, blue eyes with no traces of manipulation or malice lining them. And yet, in Astrid's eyes, they suddenly shifted, and the world fell darker than the blackest night, and his eyes were those green, piercing, burning eyes full of hate.
"Is everything alright, ma'am?" the man asked, raising a brow.
Astrid swallowed hard, feeling tense and shaky. Her heart began to pound, and she began to sweat profusely. She couldn't move. She could barely breathe.
"Ma'am?" the man took a couple of steps toward the wagon, holding out his hands, as if he thought she'd faint.
Then the concerned hands of a stranger turned into those hands - those damaging, evil, intrusive, wounding hands. His hands.
"Stop! Don't come any closer!" Astrid pulled out her dagger, pointing it at the stranger. All she could feel at the moment was an intense urge to defend herself, even if that meant tearing a complete stranger apart. Things felt shaky and out of her control, which further terrified her. "I-I'm not giving any rides. Go back to Riften. There's a carriage there." she managed to choke out her words.
"But ma'am, I don't have the coin for it. I barely have a handful, as it is." he spoke, and the guilt began to settle and seep into her emotions. However, she could not and would not take this man anywhere. She knew good and well that she may harm him for no good reason in such a state of mind.
"HERE!" she finally snapped, cursing and throwing a full coin purse to the ground. "NOW GO! GET AWAY FROM ME!" she yelled, hearing the feral tone in her frantic voice echo above the treetops.
The bewildered stranger slowly nodded with a horrified expression on his features, before turning back off the path and into the darkness.
Astrid stood on wobbly legs, attempting to compose herself.
"What just happened?" she whispered to herself, allowing her new dark secret to sink in. Perhaps Reiner's body was rotting in the well on her property, but his memory was very real and alive. It painted its form over other men, who could be potential threats, and it poured through her mind in a way that even frightened her. It made her angry. It made her terrified. It made her want to kill again.
Delvin sat alone in the corner of the Ragged Flagon, downing one of many tankards of mead. He knew he had no choice but to leave Astrid alone, but that hadn't made it any less painful for him.
He eyed the dim candle on his table, watching the flame dance and remembering how beautiful that girl was in the candlelight. Unfortunately, he also remembered how troubled and fragile she was at one time. That was, until her inner-demons had won the battle, causing that sweet girl to turn into something else far more dangerous.
What made matters worse was that he overheard another member speaking of seeing Astrid buy a large amount of poison earlier that day. Rumors were flying that she was in the process of killing Reiner, if she hadn't already. Delvin sighed, rubbing his forehead and fighting the urge to ruminate over it forever.
He couldn't help that he still loved her. He couldn't help that she made him want to do crazy things. Of course, those things were far past his moral compass and loyalties to ever commit. It had been days now, and still he couldn't get Astrid off his mind. He took another long drink, before deciding that he needed some closure. He didn't want things to end with her on this note. Even if he couldn't be with her anymore, he could still care for her. He simply needed to check on her to see if she was okay.
Delvin sighed, realizing that would truly finish things for him. Their brief amount of time in each other's arms would forever remain a memory, and he'd have to pick himself up and move on with his life. She may have followed the dark road, but in his eyes she'd always be that sweet, fragile girl. Forever.
He sighed, fighting the urge to shed tears over his loss. He quietly finished his drink, and stood with his head held low. Tomorrow he'd go check on her, and then he'd check no more. He only wanted to tell her that he would always love her, and that if she ever needed anything she could call on him.
Delvin walked down the dark, twisted paths and corridors, making his way to his bed. He snuffed out the nearby candle, now covered in only darkness and memories of her.
