A/N: Hello all! Sorry this is a little late - I just have a lot going on at the moment. I'd like to thank everyone for reading/following/fav/reviewing, as always! Well, here's chapter 24, hope you enjoy!


Chapter 24: Euphoric

After a long day of settling in and getting aquainted with a few of her peers, Astrid quietly slipped away from them, following the winding tunnel back to her sleeping quarters. In all honesty, she felt as if she was currently in some dazed state of shock or disbelief.

Step after silent step, Astrid watched the ominous dancing shadows as she breathed in deeply, smelling the musty scent of her new home. Home, she mused. This was her home - her family now. It was both a terrifying and freeing feeling, really. Astrid felt simply overwhelmed by the flood of support from people who were actually very similar to herself. It all seemed like a beautiful dream of some sort. She almost expected to wake up in the farmhouse at any moment, still soaked in Reiner's blood, and thrown cruelly into her previous life once more.

Astrid now stood at the side of her bed, taking in her surroundings. It certainly was comforting to feel a true connection to others for once. She sat on the edge of her bed, quietly reflecting on this strange, new life the fates had thrown her into. Besides Zirath and Dar'Sien, who actually didn't count as a member, she'd met three assassins. Just how many members were there, anyway? The group didn't seem to be very large. She still hadn't met this Arnbjorn fellow, either, since he'd presumably been on a contract.

She sighed, laying back on the bed, staring into the deep crags and crevices etched into the red-hued stone above. She began to think of that man - the one with the icy blue eyes. Was he out on a contract as well? He was rather mysterious. Hopefully, he wasn't that Arnbjorn fellow himself. If so, that would certainly be an awkward meeting, considering she'd stabbed him both viciously and repeatedly. She winced, trying to shake the unwanted thought away.

Astrid watched a dancing flame from a lamp on a nearby end table, feeling the intensity of her heartbeat grow as she thought of that silver-haired Nord. There was just some quality about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on, that seemed to draw her to him. He was the beast, both deadly and cunning. He, unlike Delvin, had actually praised her for murdering her uncle. Astrid's lips curled slightly upward in a small, warm smile. And the way he looked at her the first time she saw him in the Ratway - it was like he already knew her somehow, both inside and out. How that was possible, she didn't know. Even more questionable was why she felt that way in the first place.

She still didn't know why he'd been lurking around that farmhouse all those times that he wasn't feasting on Reiner's cattle. Perhaps she'd find out soon enough. Astrid sighed, closing her eyes, hoping that she'd wake exactly where she was, and not simply be in some delirious dream.


Astrid gasped, thrashing against her fur blankets and jolting up in her bed, startling from the horrible nightmare she'd been trapped in. Those eyes were last thing she remembered before waking - those piercing, threatening, unforgiving green eyes. Thousands of moths had surrounded her, blinding her vision as she had flailed her arms about helplessly, trying to see through their thick, smothering fog. Then those haunting eyes were staring straight into her - shattering her all over again.

She wiped her sweat-drenched brow, staring blankly at the same stone ceiling she'd fallen asleep to. Thank the divines she wasn't back in that farmhouse that had previously imprisoned her so, she thought with much relief.

"Are you alright, dear?" Babette's tiny voice asked quietly, as Astrid turned to see her passing through the room.

"I'm fine. It was just a...bad dream." Astrid answered reluctantly, trying desperately to suppress the fear provoked by the horrible nightmare.

Babette simply smiled. "Nightmares are such pesky little things, aren't they? I used to have them when I actually slept during the night hours. Of course, those nights are long past." she mused, the maturity of her tone quite unsettling in such a childlike voice. "I'll see you soon, dear. I have a certain someone to suck the life out of - quite literally." Babette started to leave the room, before turning abruptly to face Astrid once more. "Oh, silly me! I amost forgot! Zirath needs to speak with you. He told me to tell you to meet up with him in the morning."

Astrid nodded, thinking of the Dunmer whose rich, enticing words had pulled her into this dark family. "What do you think he wants?" she asked the tiny vampire, curiously.

Babette simply grinned innocently, before turning to leave the room. "You'll see."


Astrid stood before an old iron door, eyeing the rusty doorknob. She was told that this was Zirath's dwelling place, and so she promptly followed his orders as soon as she had risen the following morning.

She inhaled, fighting back the tension that began crawling up her spine. It wasn't so much that she feared her new leader - she just wasn't sure what to expect, and that always made her bristle. It didn't help that Zirath emitted such a large, engulfing presence. If she was completely honest with herself, she would've considered him a bit intimidating. Of course, she wasn't going to pull any bit of inner-weakness out into her actual awareness. That would be far too inconvenient. So she simply straightened herself, remained calm, and knocked, waiting patiently for Zirath to answer.

After what seemed to be a long moment of silence, the large door finally creaked open. Zirath grinned, bearing his sharp teeth as he loomed over her. "Ah, I see you've woken early. Did you have a pleasant night's sleep?" he cooed, his voice soft and silky while his eyes remained cold.

Astrid nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, it was fine..." she mumbled, clearly aware of her blatant lie. The last thing she wanted to do was recount a horrible dream about him.

Zirath paused briefly, leading Astrid to wonder if he knew better. A sly grin spread over his lips, as he gestured for her to enter his room. "Please, follow me." he spoke politely, slinking into the shadows of his quarters.

Astrid stepped into the dim room, allowing the heavy door to snap shut behind her. Zirath's room was unbelievably dark, with only a small, solitary lamp to fill it with light. Large, intricate bookshelves lined the walls, and a small table sat in the corner with a bottle of spiced wine sitting upon it, along with rolls of parchment and a quill and inkwell - most likely for whatever business he was in charge of, Astrid reasoned.

Zirath quietly walked over to a dresser, pulling out the top drawer. "Here. You will need this." he pulled out what appeared to be a set of the Dark Brotherhood's signature armor, holding it before her. Astrid took the armor, watching him smirk. "We certainly can't have you killing targets in those common robes. Now you'll look the part you were born to play..." he spoke wistfully, pulling two delicate goblets out of another drawer, before motioning for her to follow him to the table.

"Please, do sit and indulge in this fine wine with me." he purred, pouring the violet liquid into the goblets. Astrid seated herself, glancing warily at her leader before taking the drink in her hand. She gave her best effort to remain cool and collected on the exterior, but inside she felt rather skittish. What exactly did he want?

Astrid hesitantly took a small sip of the deliciously sweet wine, before clearing her throat. "So, is that what you wanted to see me about? Was it the armor?" she asked, prying for his motives.

"The answer is yes and no. It is part of it, but there is more..." he answered cryptically, holding up his goblet, while studying it in the faint light. "Tell me, Astrid, what was your motivation for killing your uncle?" he inquired smoothly, still eyeing his drink.

Astrid's every muscle instantly tightened, as she shot him a look. "Why do you want to know?" she replied, her voice wavering nervously against her wishes. He was the last thing she wanted to think about. Ever.

"Hmm..." he hummed dismissively, gingerly sipping the wine before continuing. "I am simply curious about my newest initiate. You've chosen to be a part of this family now, and so I yearn to aquire more knowledge about you. This is obviously a touchy subject. I assume that he was a vile being, no doubt. I've learned that in most experiences, the first victim is usually quite deserving of his or her fate. I did hear word of his profound violence toward women, in particular. I take it was an act of revenge, correct?"

Astrid grew silent, averting her eyes from Zirath, who simply continued to study her. "I see..." he continued, seeming as if he knew something deep within Astrid that she didn't dare discuss. Perhaps he sensed that she was terribly damaged by that monster. Or maybe she was simply imagining things. Either way, she wanted to do anything but talk about that particular subject.

"Perhaps it would help if I told you a bit about my own nature. My first victim was my very own mother..." he admitted, instantly catching Astrid's attention. "Much like you, I committed my first murder as an act of revenge. To this very day, I feel no remorse, guilt, or shame for what I've done. I simply re-aligned fate - tampered with it, if you will." he began, his words pulling Astrid in like a moth to a flame.

"Oh?" She quirked an eyebrow, clearly feeling intrigued.

"You see, my siblings and I lived very poorly under her care. True, we weren't poor in the financial sense, but what we held in wealth, we profoundly lacked in love and devotion. My mother was a strikingly beautiful creature, and so she became a mistress to a very wealthy nobleman. My father was absent in my life, and mother would conjure up pretty little lies about his alleged heroic deeds and fashion beautiful stories as to why he simply couldn't be with his own children. It did keep us placated...for the time being..." Zirath smirked, his velvety voice lined with malice, as he continued on.

"Therefore, her double life consisted of ignoring the needs of her neglected children while frolicking among the elite. The life she lived away from us was very glamorous - filled with fine jewels and gifts, beautiful garments, and lavish feasts. We barely saw her anymore - the maid was more of a mother, truth be told. Mother gladly let us starve for her love and affection, and so when she came home one night, tipsy from exotic wine and drunk with infatuation for her new lover, I glady set her ablaze. I simply gave her what she was entitled to..." he smiled, pouring himself a second drink by this time. "It was the greatest gift I could offer...to myself and my siblings. Since that moment, I have honed my craft and ultimately fulfilled my destiny. I was born to do this, and so were you..." he spoke as he leaned forward, his crimson eyes locking onto Astrid's.

"So your father left too..." Astrid spoke quietly, barely above a whisper. Getting aquainted with her family the previous day had been a positive experience, but this current conversation seemed to feel so large in comparison. Zirath's story was such a mirror to her own, that she almost couldn't believe it. His father was completely absent, and his mother was such a terrible example to live by. So was Nona, albeit in a different way. After the pain she'd caused Astrid by this point, she hardly felt the need to call Nona her mother anymore. She was simply a person who used to exist.

"Yes, he did. For what reason, I could never fathom, nor do I care. If anything, I'm grateful. Fate worked out as it was intended, and all pieces fit nicely into place. His absence simply sculpted me into the being I am today - a mortal soul with the divine capability to end one's life without a care..." Zirath mused, seeming perfectly content with his past demons, which further led Astrid to believe that joining the Dark Brotherhood was a wonderful decision. She had tormented herself, fighting the inner battle just to remain good and unblemished. She had fretted over, suppressed, and denied her darkness for so very long. She'd despised her murky past, and even when she'd embraced her current nature, she still hated the those memories that had long haunted her mind. Of course, Zirath, among others, quite openly embraced his demons. It was such a freeing experience, and Astrid felt it all so deeply. This was what she'd truly wanted.

"Perhaps it was better that my father left me, as well..." she thought aloud, tasting her thoughts on her tongue, along with the sweetness of fine wine.

"Trust me. It was. Father abandoned you, Mother was most likely a dissappointment in her own right, your divine calling eventually emerged, and my lucky self hand picked you, like the finest fruit on the tallest tree...Believe me, Astrid, when I say that this was meant to be your destiny..." Zirath leaned even closer, his sweet, wine-laced breath filling Astrid's nostrils. He smiled warmly, sliding his hand over her own. "So tell me, now...Who are you, Astrid? I've given so freely of my own knowledge. What of you? Will you indulge me? Will you tell me what happened?"

She couldn't understand why or how, but Zirath was somehow peeling her layers away with such ease. Perhaps she could finally speak her truth, and revel in who she really was. Perhaps she could confide in him. Truly, she wanted to. He was just so magnetic and willing to share his experiences with her.

"Nona died. Then her brother showed up one day, and I found out that she'd been corresponding with a man I never even knew. He was evil, and she knew it, and she fed me to him like a worthless piece of meat. He was an abusive monster, in every and all senses of the word, and he hurt me in every way possible. I met someone who was supposed to help me, but he...lied. Let's just say that there was a point of no return, and Reiner had to die..." Astrid spoke, inwardly amazed with just how cold and unrelenting her tone came off. "I'd do it a thousand times over if I had to. He deserved it..."

"And you simply tugged on the strings of fate..." Zirath cooed, pouring Astrid another drink. "This 'Nona' was your mother, I presume?"

"I'd prefer to call her by her name, but yes. She was..." Astrid replied, somehow feeling a surge of power from her willing attitude of coldness and apathy. She'd felt this way before, but being with these people, particularly Zirath, seemed to be stimulating that yearning desire for power.

"Ah, you are very dissociated from your biological family. I find that to be an excellent quality, when it comes to being one of us." Zirath beamed proudly, taking a piece of parchment and writing some information on it, before sliding it to Astrid. "This is your first official contract. You'll receive coin from our client, and you will keep a portion of it. The rest goes to fund our needs as a whole. Understand?" he asked, his tone deepening and becoming more stern.

Astrid nodded. "Very well."

"You will meet the young man who's name and location I've written down for you, and you will do as he says. You will receive payment, and you will return to me. Any questions?" he asked, his face now emotionless and unreadable. There was definitely more to Zirath, but she didn't know exactly what. Either way, she felt strongly compelled to follow his orders. Astrid normally didn't enjoy being told what to do, but this fellow was such an inspirational being. He was intelligent, charismatic, deep, and he viewed life in a spectacular way. He was everything she aspired to become. She yearned for his deep knowledge, and his forceful power.

Astrid's heart began to race, her head began to spin, and a flood of euphoric feelings flowed through her veins. This was her first assassination, and she was exhilarated by the freedom of allowing herself to find pleasure in this fact. She didn't want to supress herself any longer. The time of liberation had come, and that time was now.

Astrid smiled deviously, looking into his burning eyes and feeling as if she'd been reborn this very moment. "So, when do I start?"