A/N: Hello everyone! Here's chapter 22, hope you enjoy! As always, thanks to all my readers out there!
Chapter 22: Inspired
The world was a blurry haze when Astrid opened her eyes. She violently coughed and gasped, nearly retching from the sickening feeling she was experiencing. Apparently, someone had concocted a poison of some sort to knock her out. Who, she wasn't quite sure of.
"I see you've come back to the land of the living. For now." A smooth, deep, and elegant voice stated, as Astrid struggled to focus on the unknown speaker.
As her vision began to fully return, Astrid realized that she'd been placed in some sort of underground room. She could feel the binding sting of a thick rope, as she looked down, seeing that she'd been bound tightly to a chair.
"Don't worry. We're not going to murder you. That will only happen if you let it." the deep, rich voice continued from behind her.
Suddenly, a dark figure stepped out from behind her. He was aged, tall, lean, and muscular. He had deathly crimson eyes and deep gray skin. His long, midnight hair cascaded elegantly over his shoulders, giving him quite a regal air about himself. If it was not for his peculiar, telling armor, Astrid would never had figured out what had happened.
"You're an assassin..." Astrid rasped, still coughing. "What are you going to do to me?"
"Ah, I'm not just any assassin, dear Astrid. I'm the assassin. I'm quite sure you realize who you're dealing with, so I'll make this a quick matter. I'm the leader of this sanctuary, and I'll soon be your leader, too. That is, if you choose wisely. If you join my family, you will be protected from our wrath and will reap many benefits from your decision." he explained, pacing slowly with both hands clasped behind his back. He then paused, shooting her a menacing glare. "However, if you do not, you will not be protected. Now, I'm not saying that the Dark Brotherhood will actively hunt you down and destroy you. However, since you murdered a very well-known illegal weapons dealer, you may face our wrath from...let's say...a vengeful third party."
"So you're telling me I'll be dead if I don't join the likes of you?" Astrid glared, feeling much like cornered prey. However, she said nothing further, for his words did sting harshly with the bite of truth. When she thought of the probability of that very thing happening, it seemed highly possible. Her days were more than likely numbered, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
"In a word, yes. Now before you grow fearful or form any doubts about being among my dear brethren, consider the possibilities - the positives, if you will..." he trailed off, before gesturing to someone just out of Astrid's view. Her eyes grew wide and rageful, when Dar'Sien slinked into the room. His maw curled into a sly grin as his feline eyes met with her own. No wonder the Dunmer knew her by name.
"Dar'Sien tells me wonderful things about you. I sense the hate in your eyes, but rest assured, he has done a great service to you. If it wasn't for the encouragement of he and Arnbjorn, I wouldn't have found you in time, and you'd be splayed in twine by a bunch of filthy rogues for permanently removing their business partner." he assured, grasping Dar'Sien's shoulder in his long, thin fingers.
"I don't even know anyone by the name Arnbjorn..." Astrid growled, still feeling bristled and tense. "Is this what you wanted, Dar'Sien?! Why did you lie to me?! What are you getting out of this?"
"Ah, your anger is most certainly misplaced. Dar'Sien is not one of us, though he is an extraordinary ally. He works as my own personal fence. The only thing he will receive is my payment for helping us gain such a worthy recruit. He, as well as myself, know much of your nature. Tell me, Astrid, what is it that keeps you from embracing us with open arms?" the Dunmer asked, holding out his arms in a grandiose, welcoming gesture.
"You mean besides the fact that you abducted me and trapped me in this room?!" she spat, unable to calm herself, despite the fact that she probably was safer where she sat. It wasn't so much that her fear remained, but that she hated being unable to control the situation, even if it proved to be a positive one in the end.
"Those are merely standard protocols that we must take. Given how viciously you attacked Arnbjorn, I'm grateful we still take those precautions. He and Nazir had quite the time handling you. " he explained, spouting off yet another unrecognizable name.
Astrid inhaled deeply, beginning to relax in her chair. If they had wanted to kill her, she would've been dead by now. She then tried to calm herself in order to hear him out. "Well, I thought someone was going to murder me. What do you expect?" she countered, waiting to hear his cause.
"It is exactly what I expect. I need members like you. I can see it in your eyes, Astrid. I can feel it in your presence. You are one of us..." his voice lingered, pouring out like a smooth, dark wine into the room. She had to admit, he had some sort of seductive quality about himself - perhaps a dark, refined charisma that she couldn't deny. He held such a powerful presence, that it seemed to fill the whole atmosphere.
"How so?" she raised an eyebrow, keeping her voice low and calm as she felt his allure begin to draw her in.
"You've been out there, haven't you? You've been in the realm of those that are normal, healthy, good, and right-minded. I was there once, too. That is, until I broke the barrier between man and divine, between life and death, between Nirn and the Void. Where those weak mortals feared to step foot, I plunged into the depths. Where most men trembled and cowered, I drew my blade and chose freedom. So did you, Astrid. Have you not been divided from those you once thought were your family, simply because you saw the world in a whole, new way? Did those that thought they were of higher morality decide you were far too wicked for their love? Well, you were not the only one. I lost lovers, friends, and brothers to my decisions. However, they didn't witness the dark threads of fate that decided to sew themselves into my life so fondly. They didn't love me. They judged me. You will have no judgement here, Astrid. You will only have freedom." he spoke, his words brimming full of power and prestige, and with an understanding of her psyche that she had never encountered before.
It was as if this fellow knew every corner of her very soul, and it was truly undeniable. Her eyes left the Dunmer and moved back to Dar'Sien, who simply smiled at her. The look in his eyes seemed to be telling her that she was, indeed, a friend among friends.
"The fact is that you need us as much as we need you, Astrid. You won't regret your decision." the Dunmer smiled, gliding up to her and brushing a finger against her cheek affectionately, causing her to gently close her eyes. Astrid couldn't shake off the trance she had fallen under. The urge was far too powerful to give her any choice. She could feel it calling to her. She was among kindred spirits, and there was nothing left out in the world of normalcy for her. What would she really do out there, anyway - raise a few cows, and then be slaughtered like one when some pissed off bandit decided to do away with her? She had every reason to join and every reason not to look back.
Astrid smiled, her eyes still closed, breathing in the musty scent of her soon-to-be home. She opened her eyes, meeting with the crimson ones before her, who seemed to stare deeply into her being. She slowly began to nod, entranced by his enticing words. "This...feels right...for some reason..." she spoke, barely above a whisper.
"That's because it is..." he replied, his low, silky voice tugging on her emotions. He then pulled out a dagger, as Astrid's eyes immediately grew in sight of it. It was the Blade of Woe from before. "Are you ready to join the Dark Brotherhood, Astrid?" he asked, pulling on the rope and holding the edge of the sharp, jagged blade just inches from it.
"Yes..." she whispered, breathless.
"Good choice, sister..." he growled seductively in her ear as he cut the rope, allowing it to fall free from her body. He then turned to Dar'Sien, who leaned against the rock wall, arms folded, waiting patiently. "Dar'Sien, would you so kindly take Astrid to meet the others?"
The Khajiit nodded, grinning widely as he stood by the doorway, waiting for Astrid to join him. She stood on wobbly legs, stepping toward Dar'Sien, before the Dunmer caught her attention, once more.
"It may be of importance to know my name before you leave this room..." he warned, placing his hands at his hips.
Astrid turned back to him. "What is it?" she asked, curiously.
"Zirath, but please do call me brother..." he grinned wickedly, revealing his sharp, pointed teeth.
Astrid trailed behind Dar'Sien, who quietly led her to another room, where a warm bath had been drawn, apparently for her. He then stopped at the doorway, grinning as he turned to her. "Dar'Sien admires your distrustfulness. It proves your keen judgment of situations. Dar'Sien is also distrustful. He thinks our kind should stick together, so we can distrust each other in happiness, no?" he said playfully, causing Astrid to smirk in response. "Zirath instructed this one to lead you here first, should you choose to stay with us. Babette will be with you, shortly." he instructed, before slinking away.
Astrid closed and locked the door, before climbing in to the soothing waters. She promplty cleaned herself, before pausing. She thought to herself a moment, before holding her breath and ducking her head under the water. She eyed the red-tinted surroundings of the cavern through the rippling waters. The crimson hue reminded her of blood. His blood. A satisfied smile crept across her lips, before coming up for air. A new, exciting sensation began to fill her insides. At that very moment Astrid realized that she had, quite possibly, made the greatest decision of her entire life.
