Snow Veil Sanctum's floor is littered with the bodies of draugr. Diamond is down in the tunnel ways with her Warhammer drawn and ready. But none have popped out of their coffins or stepped down from their sarcophaguses. The only thing she worries about are the traps. She's set off more than one, with bruises and scars to show. She continues onward towards a room with bones on strings dangling from the ceiling. This is the only room where there are draugr still intact, though they seem to be sleeping.
Diamond remembers these things from stumbling into Forsworn camps. Bone chimes. No doubt meant to wake the draugr. Diamond sheathes her warhammer and toggles through the room making sure not to stumble into one. A vigorous healing potion in the corner is highly tempting, thought Diamond resists and continues on. At least this makes the journey easier.
She jogs down the hallway into another larger room with two staircases. One wooden and one stone. Then wooden one seems to lead into another room. The bodies of draugr scatter around and Diamond can tell by the impaled arrows that some of these were Libby's doing. Diamond pries them loose and takes an old Nordic sheath to hold them. By the end of her search, she has nearly thirty ebony arrows. Given she doesn't use a bow much, she decides this once to at least consider it. She pries an old Nordic bow from the hand of a dead draugr and slings it to her back.
Heading up the tone staircase, Diamond sidesteps a dead skeever; black flies blanketing the body. She follows the steps to an iron bar tunnelway. She follows it a Nordic door leading deeper into the catacombs. Diamond internally moans, feeling like she's gone so deep into the earth that her ears have popped. Still she pushes through the door; Libby always was nimble. Slipping past these draugr with Mercer must've been child's play.
Now in the inner sanctum, Diamond sheathes her weapon as she gazes at the empty slots of draugr. More bodies lie on the floor, more arrows lodged in the ones taken out by Libby. Large bowls of coal burn bright, filling the air with a thick smoke, but Diamond doesn't feel an overstuffed sense. Roots and fungi rise up from the ground and snake their way up the walls. Diamond treads carefully, checking for pressure plates.
Diamond tries to ignore the shiver shuddering in her shoulder. She keeps her arms wrapped around herself as they navigate through the long and pale hallway. Passing through the chain gate, Diamond waits when the gate rises and pots fall activating a pressure plate.
Once small arrows fling left and right, Diamond checks left and right before jumping over the plate and continues on.
Left, right, right. Left right left. Right, right. The turns, in order from the point of origin – the room – to the dormitories. Diamond is so disoriented she could never find her way back. Despite the fact that she ascends a few flights of stairs, she still feels like she's descending deeper in the tomb.
She makes on final right and comes to steps leading to double doors. Revealing a candlelit hallway and hieroglyphics of the ancient dragon priests, she walks down the hallway to the end where she passes through double doors and the room opens up. At the epicenter is a platform with a wooden staircase leading up to it.
Diamond looks to her left and finds another open gate. She quickly scours the room and urns before she jogs through the open gate.
She can't fight the suspicious feeling she always gets when she finds already open doors and already empty urns and chests. Dead indications that someone has been there beforehand. Usually it signals for her to be more cautious, but now they're only clues that she's on the right track and navigating properly to Libby's final whereabouts.
Finally she's guided to a hallway where she finds one of the Ancient Nordic puzzle doors. These doors are impenetrable without the matching claw used to decipher the proper code. The hallway depicts pictures of dragon priests rising the dead to do biding. Candles huddled in corners and slink along the walls so that it is properly lit.
"No, no, no. No!" Diamond shouts. She kicks the door and winces as her toe throbs. She runs her fingers through her hair and sighs.
If Libby and Mercer, and even that Karliah chick had passed through here, the door should at least be down for Diamond! And since it's safe to say the claw is gone, and Diamond not an expert lockpick, she's reached a dead end.
All that for nothing.
Diamond slams her fist against the stone doors, feeling the jarring pain vibrate through the bones of her hands. She presses her forehead to the stone as tears sting her eyes. Gritting her teeth, Diamond prepares to scream when she feels the door shift.
Leaping back, Diamond wipes her eyes as the door thumps and drops. She tries not to think about the cobwebs she couldn't see or the pill bugs or brown recluse spiders that might be crawling over her shoes at that very moment. Dust and grit shook down around her, pieces of grime landing in her hair.
The door slides down, stone scraping against stone until it's entirely down. Diamond steps just up to the borderline and peeks her head inside. She looks left and right and up and down.
The room is large with rays of icy moonlight piercing through the crevices of stone. The first thing Diamond notices is snow and stairs. A grand staircase divided by stone heads reaches up three levels leading all the way to the back of the room. A circular opening like in the Cistern of the Guild leaks the light in. Square shafts of white sunlight shone down from a window at the top, a million dust motes dancing in and out of the beams.
As Diamond steps in, she readies her Warhammer. The room was relatively empty with the wind making the only howling. Diamond takes a moment of awe as she rotates in a circle at the grand size of the room. But when she finishes her observation, she stops dead in her tracks.
At the second level of the stairs, wielding two daedric daggers stands a figure of shadows. The ensemble is made of forged midnight with a hood and mask that cover her face. Despite the tight costume and cloak, Diamond can tell by the slenderness of body and the curve of chest that she's dealing with a woman. The only remnance of eyes are tow icy blue pinpricks of light.
Diamond readies her Warhammer. "I assume we'll skip the introductions and move on to the direct approach?"
The figure doesn't respond, instead, she spins the blades of her daggers and leaps high into the air. She goes for Diamond's shoulders, but Diamond blocks with her Warhammer and quickly spins the weapon so that the head slams into the side of the mysterious figure. The figure rolls and comes up on one knee, sprinting towards Diamond without a breath. Diamond backtracks her steps, sheathing her Warhammer and picking three throwing daggers from her belt.
The figure sees this and backflips twice before pushing off her feet and leaping onto the second landing of the stairs. Diamond chucks her daggers as the figure runs along the steps. Two miss, but Diamond throws the final one in advance and just misses the figure's face as she slides under.
Pushing off her feet, the figure leaps into the air. Diamond readies four more daggers as she lands. Throwing them, the cloaked figure blocks them all and jumps, flipping and spinning her daggers out. Diamond flips back missing the blades, and the figure mimics her movements. Spinning them between her fingers, she then throws them. End over end they fly and Diamond snatches and spins her Warhammer hearing the dagger ricochet off.
The second she lower her weapon, the black figure is at her face. She spins, knocking aside the weapon, then bringing her leg up to keep it aside while her other leg rams into Diamond's stomach all within the same motion. Her limbs a blur, she slashes and slashes at Diamond's weapon. Diamond knows that there will be slash marks after this, but thanks to her carrying two-handed weapons, her strength is unmatched. Finally after another slash, Diamond ducks and spins, using her weapon to knock the figure's feet out from under her. Then she leaps back giving a good thirty feet space between them.
Suddenly an arrow barely misses her ear. Diamond jumps and grips the stone. She looks to the girl and snarls. Diamond leaps off raising her Warhammer. The figure shoots arrows at her, to which she blocks and proceeds to slam the head of the hammer down. Though she expects to find flesh, she finds stone. The figure back flips and shoots again. Diamond sprints forward, ducking and spinning her Warhammer before hammering it down. Again, she finds stone, and a kick to the face. Skipping on her back, Diamond rolls with her momentum and pushes off into the air and landing on a stone head on the stairs.
"What do you want?!" Diamond demands.
The figure shakes her head and rises. She looks around and finds Diamond.
"I have no business with you!" Diamond shouts. "So either get out of my way, or this tomb will be your final resting place!"
Diamond watches as the figure sheaths her bow and wraps her cloak about her body, its fabric seemingly made of liquid shadow. A sudden jerk and she is gone, her body exploding into dark fragments that splash across the walls and fade like smoke.
Diamond's mouth agapes and she jumps down. She spins and readies her weapon as she rotates in a circle.
"Have you forgotten about me so soon?" a serpentine voice whispers from just inches behind her neck. Diamond jumps and goes to swing, and there's nothing.
"What, what are you talking about?" Diamond demands.
"You won't cry for my absence, I know. You forgot me long ago." The voice continues. Instead of behind her head, this one seems to come from under her feet.
"Am I that unimportant?" it asks. "Am I so insignificant?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Diamond announces.
"Ask yourself, isn't something missing? You came here seeking something, so you miss something."
The shadows coalesced before her, into the shrouded figure. Up close, she's more ominous looking than expected. Wisps of shadows float off her like smoke. Her cloak pools on the floor as if it is liquid darkness, yet when she steps back, it immediately snaps erect and wraps about her sides.
Diamond readies her weapon, though this time the figure doesn't flinch. She doesn't reach for a weapon or draw her bow. She just stands there.
"I'm not very good with riddles so why don't you just tell me what you want to get you out of my way!" Diamond shouts.
She watches the figure's shoulders slightly shrug in and shake her head. Listening closely, she hears her chuckling.
"You never were the brightest person." The figure chuckles.
"You don't know who I am!" Diamond counters.
"Really, Diamond? You know, if you turn your head, I could probably see clear through your ears." The figure giggles.
Wait a second, how'd she know my name? Diamond falters her stance, and stands up straight.
"H-how did you know my name?" Diamond stutters.
The figure giggles, then reaches up. She's hesitant at first, but she pulls off her hood and removes the mask from her face.
Diamond's Warhammer drops to the floor. Its clattering echoes in the empty chamber.
Shrugging the rest of her hair out from under the hood, it calls in curtains of curls about her shoulders. Strands of her bangs stick to her forehead in sweat, and her green eyes shine brighter surrounded by so much dark. She gives Diamond the slightest smile, and nervously narrows her eyebrows.
"Uh, surprise." Libby says.
Libby.
She's alive. Diamond was right.
Diamond was right.
Libby is alive.
They stand in silence as Diamond gawks at Libby like she's a ghost. Libby opens her mouth to say something, but closes it just as quickly.
"I, I know what you're going to say, Diamond." Libby says, her voice smooth, but her hands are slightly quaking. "how could I have done this to you? Make you think I was dead, and, now reveal like this. But I promise that, I'll explain everything, if you give me the chance. Though I, I understand if you don't . . ."
Libby is cut off as Diamond crashes into her. She half expects it to be a tackle so that Diamond could have her fists flail in fury at Libby. And Libby would let her, but nothing happens.
Instead, Diamond wraps her arms around Libby's neck. Diamond couldn't have stopped the smile if she tried. Nor could she have stopped herself from launching into Libby's arm with a strange sound from the back of her throat. A mixture of surprise, happiness and a sob.
Diamond's fingers clench around Libby's shoulder, and she slowly curls towards her until she's buried her face against Libby's chest. Libby cradles Diamond to her.
Diamond begins to shake like she's been caught out in a snowstorm in nothing but a tunic.
She's here.
Alive.
Warm and steady beneath her.
I haven't lost everything. Diamond smiles.
"You fricken asshole." She whimpers.
Diamond can practically feel the missing pieces inside of her slide firmly back into place as Libby pets her head and kisses the crown of her head.
Libby guides Diamond out of the crypt, keeping hold of her hand as they pass through the back entryway. It was daylight when Diamond entered the crypt, now the night sky has completely dominated the sky. White stars pierce the dark sky with their light, and clouds border around a full moon. Libby's horse is parked there and she first helps Diamond mount before leaping on herself.
"So, as you can imagine, I have like a million questions for you!" Diamond hollers over the howl of the wind.
"I know, and I'll explain everything when we get home." Libby shouts back.
"Home? What home? In Riften?"
"Nope."
Diamond wasn't sure what she had expected of Libby's safe house upon first arriving there, but the elegant mansion surrounded by mountains and water certainly wasn't it. Upon arriving, there is a stable off to the left, a drafting table with a grinder, smelter and garden along the right wall of the house. On the left is an animal pen and a deck that leads up to the second level of the mansion.
She now sits in the main hall at the long dining table overflowing with food. One whole roasted cow with fruits in its mouth lies in wait. Huge platters of fowl stuffed with savory fruits and nuts. Ocean creatures drizzled in sauces or begging to be dipped in spicy concoctions. Countless cheeses, breads, vegetables, sweets, waterfall of wine, and streams of spirits that flicker with flames.
It would all seem delicious, if it weren't for the fact that Diamond is sitting directly across from Karliah.
She sits eating away at her food, wearing the same black amour as Libby, and acting as if nothing is wrong. She saws at her roasted venison and pops the meat into her mouth. Libby had gone to the kitchen to bring out dessert. She and Diamond still haven't talked about why and how Libby is still alive, and what had really happened. Though Diamond had pieced parts of it together.
Mercer had tried to kill Libby. That much Diamond new, but why? Libby has been nothing but loyal to Mercer and Guild for as long as she has lived. Is it because he felt threatened about his position as Guild Master?
Diamond shifts in her seat and keeps staring at Karliah. All that Libby had said is that Karliah can be trusted. There hasn't been much talk between them and Diamond is torn between trying small talk, but then there would be awkward pauses, and it would just feel weird.
Finally Libby comes out with a tray of Apple cakes, Snowberry cupcakes, Sweetrolls and pies and cakes with elegant floral frosting decorated on them. She and Karliah still wear their uniforms with their hoods down, and Diamond feels a sting of jealousy as it would appear they're close. Libby sets the tray of sweets on the table and takes a seat.
"Okay, so you probably have a lot of questions. So just, ask away. No holding back." Libby says.
Diamond opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. She close her mouth and thinks. Karliah doesn't make any comments but keeps eating away at her venison. After she pats her lips, she speaks.
"I assume your first questions involve me. And I'm certain from your weary look that Mercer has told you his version of the story?" Karliah states.
"Okay, we'll start from there." Libby says. "First off, a little history."
Diamond rests her elbows on the table and accepts a glass of water after Libby pours out three for each of them.
"When I was younger, there was a Guild Master by the name of Gallus. He was a master thief and scholar and a natural born leader. He was the one in charge and everyone respected him. One day, he was murdered by Mercer Frey, and framed Karliah for it. The Guild was thrown into disarray when he was killed, and the Ratway became a bloodbath. Finally when it was all over, over the years Mercer claimed title as the new Guild Master." Libby explains.
Diamond bites the inside of her lip. "So, it sounds like a lot of attention is focused on Mercer, Karliah and this Gallus dude. Why were you three so important?" Diamond directs towards Karliah.
"We were part of an elite trinity of thieves, known as the Nightingales. The Nightingales are a secret inner circle within the Thieves Guild." Karliah explains.
"Any reason as to why Mercer would kill Gallus?" Diamond asks.
"Well, you know how the Guild's been having a run of bad luck?" Libby asks. Diamond nods. "Well, it turns out that Mercer has been stealing from the Guild's treasury for years, even back to when Gallus was still alive."
Diamond's eyes widen.
"Gallus was just on the brig of exposing Mercer to the Guild until he was murdered." Libby continues. "And Karliah has been trying for years to finished Gallus's work."
"Okay, well that explains you, but what about you, Libby?" Diamond asks. "Where do you fit in all this? If you said you were young around this time, why are you so, determined?"
Libby folds her lips in, and turns to Karliah. Karliah smiles and nods her head.
"What?"
Libby sighs and folds her fingers together, her thumb brushing her own skin as a form of self-comfort. "The former Guild Master, Gallus . . . he . . . he was my father."
Diamond feels her entire skin grow cold and numb. Her legs prickle with goosebumps and her mouth opens in agape. She tries to speak, but no words come. She shakes her head as if to shake out the dust and tries to order her thoughts.
"Wait, wait, wait. You told me your parents were murdered."
"I didn't lie about the murdered part. But yeah, I didn't know until I was in my teen years. And apparently, everyone knew." Libby says.
"Okay, but why didn't you tell me this?" Diamond asks.
"It's . . . it's complicated. But the most delicate way I can put it, is that it's personal. Gallus was my father, and I needed to avenge him. It's one of those annoying 'I have to do this for myself' kind of things."
"Okay, okay I can respect that." Diamond agrees. "And does that explain no why Mercer tried to kill you? Because he knew about you two and Gallus?"
"No, Mercer has always just had this hate for me simply because I'm Gallus's daughter. And probably because he knew Karliah would contact me in the future and just decided to wait for the right time to get me alone and kill me." Libby explains. "Though, this time, Karliah and I are one step ahead of him."
"What do you mean?"
"I was the one who lured Mercer into Snow Veil Sanctum, but since we knew it was only a matter of time before Mercer would kill me next, we decided to give him the opportunity." Karliah says.
"Karliah and I were already in contact long before any of this happened." Libby says.
"I shot Libby making Mercer think that I was on my own, and have him believe he killed Libby so that we could scour the rest of our plan in private." says Karliah.
"Which brings me to my next question. Why not tell me?!" Diamond exclaims. Her voice having a sudden pipe of anger.
"Because we wanted it to all be genuine. If had told you, it wouldn't have been as believable." Libby answers.
"Are you saying I'm not a good actress?" Diamond says pretending to be shocked.
"Yes."
"Aw, come on! I'm awesome at acting!" Diamond says.
"No you're not." Libby shuts down.
"Whatever." Diamond giggles. Finally some familiar banter between them. "So, are you a Nightingale now?"
Libby nods and looks to Karliah. "Libby is the first of the uninitiated to set foot in the hall in over a hundred years."
"There's a hall? Can I see it?!" Diamond squeals in excitement.
"Sorry Diamond, thieves only. And now that I'm a Nightingale, I'm sworn to secrecy." Libby laughs.
"Phooey." Diamond pouts. "Okay, well so, what now?"
"Well, now Karliah and I are going to go to Riften and confront Mercer and the Guild." Libby sighs, obviously not too excited about it.
"What?! Seriously?!"
"Well, maybe after a goodnight sleep, a healthy breakfast, morning exercises . . ."
"Libby," Karliah interjects. "You can't be backing out now."
"No! No, it's just . . . I'm nervous."
"That's alright. I understand, but you need to understand that we must do this for Gallus." Karliah persuades.
Libby nods. "I know." She mumbles.
"I'm going to retire to my chambers, give you two some time to catches up." Karliah nods to Diamond and heads upstairs.
Libby and Diamond look to one another and Libby nods towards the master bedroom behind Diamond. She gets up and Diamond follows. Closing the doors behind them, Diamond plops onto the plush bed and sighs in exhaustion.
"A lot to take in?" Libby teases.
"Too much." Diamond mumbles.
"Are you mad?" Libby asks as she sits on the edge of the bed.
"Well, I was, but I wasn't." Diamond sits up and folds her legs. "I mean, I had a feeling."
Libby smiles. "You found my little hint."
Diamond smiles and pulls out the Stone of Barenziah. She opens the lid and the stone floats up from its purple velvet cushions and spins in place. Diamond hands it to Libby, and Libby takes it putting it in the safe to the left of the bed.
She then plops down onto the bed. "So, enough about me. What's happened with you?!" she suddenly exclaims with excitement.
Diamond laughs. "Okay well, girl you need to hear this. . ."
They spend nearly all night talking and catching up and telling one another each thing that's happened. Diamond's mission for the Emperor, her killing Vittoria Vici, talking to Cynric.
"Figures, I'm 'dead' and you finally talk to him." Libby nudges with a smile.
"It didn't even matter! I was depressed because I thought you were dead!" Diamond defends. "It shouldn't even count."
"Yes it should and it does!" Libby counters.
It's one o'clock in the morning by the time the girls even decide to consider sleep. After a few minutes of silence, Diamond's soft snoring fills the room. Libby pulls the covers over Diamond gently and slowly rounds the other side where she burrows into the blankets. She turns to Diamond. With her hair down, strands fall along her face and flay as she exhales. Libby brushes the hair away from her face, gently, so she doesn't wake Diamond.
Another reason why Libby lies to Diamond it to protect her. She's sixteen, she's still young. But then again, they're both young.
As a gentle snore emanates from Diamond's lips, Libby feels a tug of guilt in her chest. Diamond doesn't need her protection. She's strong enough on her own.
Libby sits at the table in the middle of the room, fathering a stack of books into a pile and shoving them into a trunk. She sticks a quill back into the inkbottle and rolls up a piece of paper, the placing it on the shelf. Diamond looks to find one of the bedroom doors open, yet no sign of Karliah.
Diamond stretches and saunters out of bed. "I've been trying not to ask you, but I'm giving up." she says. "Have you and Karliah been longer friends than you and I?"
Libby, in the middle of writing, gives Diamond a look.
"What? I'm curious. I mean you said you've been in contact with her long before Gallus's murder." Diamond says. "That's long."
It's sunny today, the light glowing through the white curtains. She doesn't know how, but the mansion smells like home – like everyone's natural scent, and food cooking in the pot and morning milk. Some of the beds are made, and some still have rumpled sheets bunched up at the bottom or the side.
"You may not believe me, but it's not like that." Libby props an elbow on the table. "For twenty-five Karliah has been running from Mercer. She didn't have much time to contact me. Especially since I am in and the Guild and Mercer runs it, I'd hear from her maybe, once every five months. She's still grieving."
"I, I guess. I was just curious."
"What? Are you jealous?"
"What? No! Why can't I be curious and not get declared jealous?!" Diamond counters.
"Okay, okay. No need to get defensive." Libby says. She gets up from her seat. "Well, I'm going to have some breakfast. Hey, won't Astrid have your head if you're not back yet?"
"No, nah, she'll be fine." Diamond assures.
"When you supposed to meet Gabbi?" Libby asks.
"A couple days ago."
"Diamond!"
"Well! I was supposed to meet her, but I was just thinking, 'I don't want to deal with this' so I left. And I left to peruse you!" Diamond defends.
"Okay good enough. Do you guys even have like, deadlines?" Libby asks as she stirs the stew in the cooking pot.
"Eh, depends." Diamond says wavering her hand.
"Maybe it's just me. You know about the strict deadlines we have."
"Oh, I know." Diamond takes a seat at the table and presses one foot to the ground to lean her chair back. "So, Karliah home?"
"Probably not. Like I said, she can't sleep in the same place more than once."
"Honestly, she sounds a little paranoid." Diamond says.
"Maybe, but Mercer hasn't caught her yet. So whatever she's doing, it's working." Libby defends. "I'm supposed to meet her outside the Ragged Flagon tonight. And ready to expose Mercer to the Guild."
"You nervous?"
Libby doesn't hesitate before answering. "Very. But, I need to keep my head, and just remember that this is for my Dad."
"You want me there?" Diamond asks.
Libby pours two bowls of Apple Stew before answering. "Yes. I do. I want you to be, like another witness to defend Karliah. The Guild doesn't trust her and I just feel like it'll take more than my story to convince them. I just need you there."
Diamond bats her eyes and giggles. "Aw, why thank you. I have been known to be very persuasive."
Libby laughs and shakes her head. "We'll meet there tonight. Maybe by then you'll have done your mission and Astrid will be off your back for at least a little while longer."
"Okay. Sounds good. So are you leaving now?" Diamond asks.
"Uh yeah. I was going to head to Falkreath to stock up on weapons. You want to come?" Libby invites.
"Eh, sure!"
After finishing breakfast, Libby changes uniform and the girls depart towards the small hold on horseback. Libby comments about Shadowmere and Diamond explains how he was given to her from Astrid. They talk doesn't seem to stop even when they arrive at the hold. Libby purchase more Daedric arrows and ebony arrows while Diamond debates on trading her Elven Warhammer for an Ostrich. Slinging the quiver of arrows over her back, Libby secures her bow and they gather their horses at the front gate.
"Ugh, I don't want to leave!" Diamond whines.
"I know, I hate to do this too. But you need to make sure Astrid doesn't crack down on you for slacking." Libby reminds.
"I don't give a crap! I just found out you're alive; I don't care about no Emperor!"
Libby laughs and gathers Diamond in a hug. "Don't worry, Karliah and I will wait for you. But don't take too long. If she hangs out around the Flagon too long they might get suspicious."
Diamond nods.
"Oh! And one more thing."
She gathers Diamond near her horse and pulls out a map. Diamond can't help but notice that it has an eerie glowing aura around it. Libby opens up her map and Diamond leans over her shoulder to peek. Diamond's eyes widen as markers of the hold begin to fade onto the paper as well as caves and towers and crypts.
"What? How did you do that?" Diamond asks.
"I didn't, Enthir did. Dad's friend at the College of Winterhold. He gave me this special map to fast-travel to places I've already discovered." Libby explains. "And, I was able to make a copy."
Diamond's eyes widen and she begins to hop with excitement. Libby hands her another glowing map and Diamond opens it, but frowns. There weren't that many marker son her map as Libby's.
"What the heck?!" Diamond exclaims.
"Well, you don't explore as much as me." Libby reminds.
"Bleh." Diamond pouts. "Well, so, how does this work?"
"Well, you just sat the name of the place you want to go, or just point to it on the map, and it'll glow, and show the name." Libby explains.
She points to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary and it's black with a shimmering outline to it.
"Wow."
"Then you just say the name and close your eyes."
"So wait, does yours have the Brotherhood on it?"
"Nope. Only places you've been to. And if you happen to drop it, don't worry, everyone else will only see a blank map."
"Man this is so cool!" Diamond chirps in excitement.
"Use responsibly." Libby smiles. "Remember to meet us outside the Flagon by nightfall."
"Course!"
The girls share a hug and Diamond makes sure that she gives an extra squeeze so that she familiarizes herself with the feeling of Libby's hugs; now that she's back, Diamond plans to remembers every feeling and laugh and smile and every good memory they have. When they mount their horses, they go their opposite ways and Diamond looks back and waves, mouthing I love you, and pretending to be heartbroken. Libby laughs and waves back and continues on her trail.
Diamond walks her path south for the next hour; stopping every other hour to stretch her legs and snatch some game. She's about a mile out from Falkreath, the weather turning to overcast.
As Shadowmere rounds a curve on the main road, s tingle crawls up Diamond's spine. She senses the danger before it happens. Maybe it was a shift in the wind, or the hollow sound of metal, but she leaps off of Shadowmere as a throwing star embeds into the saddle. Diamond tumbles to the dirt but rolls coming up on one knee.
She reaches behind her and feels her bow strapped to her back. Diamond mentally swears. Her Warhammer is strapped to the side of Shadowmere's saddle. Diamond looks and finds the horse standing calm a few yards away.
Pushing to her feet, Diamond hears someone land behind her and readies her bow. Better than nothing.
It was a member of the Faceless from the cloak and wrappings, and judging from the built, it was Malick.
Diamond can't help but cockily smile. "You know, if you wanted another date, you had but to ask."
"Hmph, you wish I was here for that." Malick responds, Diamond can tell behind the cloth covering his face that he's sneering. His mask now replaced by a white cloth.
"Then what else is there?"
Without answering, Malick draws two ebony daggers, spinning them blade out and charging for Diamond. Diamond draws an arrow and shoots. Malick weaves out of the way and slashes aside the others. Diamond continues to fast-shoot only to watch him slash and slice them like nothing.
"If you want this fight to be good, stop playing around." Malick says.
Diamond snarls and charges forward, shooting an arrow at him. When he blocks it, she's leaping over him and to Shadowmere. She makes it to the horse and switches her weapons. She barely misses a dagger that slice a few strands of her hair. Shadowmere neighs and bolts forward. Spinning her Warhammer, Diamond readies as Malick approaches spinning his dagger between his fingers.
Diamond quickly throws two daggers to distract him while she grabs an explosive from her belt. As he blocks the second dagger, Diamond throws the bomb and it explodes on impact. Malick coughs as smoke erupts around him. Diamond hears the thump of a body on the ground seconds later. His daggers scatter and Diamond makes sure to kick them aside as she carefully approaches.
As she's within her second step, Malick flinches, kicking Diamond's legs out from under her and spins up to one knee.
"Cloth is enchanted. Acts like a built in filter." He smugly says.
Diamond grits her teeth as her back slaps the ground. She brings her leg up and goes to kick him. Malick grabs it, but Diamond spins and jabs his shoulder. As Diamond's feet plant on the ground, he suddenly grabs both her wrists and pins them behind her back. Diamond instantly rams her head back and nails his chin, though the pain prickles along the crown of her head.
Malick's grip loosens and she wrenches herself free. Diamond spins to meet him face to face, and can see a dot of red begin to spread around his nose area.
Then someone grabs her from behind.
Diamond starts to scream, but a hand claps over her mouth. It smells like soap and it's big enough to cover the lower half of her face. She thrashes, but the arms holding her are too strong, and she bites down on one of the fingers.
"Ow!" a shrill voice cries.
Someone shoves a sack over her head while someone else pushes her against a tree. Diamond struggles to breathe and thrashes against them. Struggling with the fabric covering her face, there are at least two hands on her arms, dragging her forward, and one on her mouth. All she can think of is screaming for Libby, but the cloth sucks into her mouth whenever she breathes in, keeping her screams in. Her chest hurts. She can't resist three people on her own.
She can feel hands cuff her wrists and she's pushed in different directions, stumbling over her own feet. She tries to see through the fibers of whatever is over her head, but they are too dense and it is too dark. A part of her assumes someone will see her, but then again, if they do see anything, no one will stop them. Diamond's heart drops in her stomach. They walk for several minutes, shoving her down as she continuously struggles. She tries to see the world ahead of her, relying on nothing but the outlines of what she can make out.
The darkness of the woods obscures anything that would normally be recognizable. Diamond can't tell how long they've been walking, but the sound of Shadowmere's hooves against the ground says that wherever they're going, either she's not coming back, or it's too far to leave him behind. At least they have the decently to bring him along.
Soon Diamond hears the click of a door handle she hears it swing open, blowing the sack against her cheeks, and she hears the wind howling around her.
"What the fuck do you want with me?!" Diamond demands.
"Shut up and keep walking!" Malick hisses.
As they get closer she manages to spot a dark circle. The closer they get, the more she can tell it's an opening. To something. Like a hideout.
Terror rips a white-hot path through Diamond's body, and she can barely breathe. Strong fingers grip her arms and shoulders. They lift her and Diamond flails uncontrollably as her feet try to find the ground again. Being blind is the scariest thing.
Her feet pound something, and it's stone. She tries to wrench away and nearly falls as the stone dips down. A strong arm – most likely Malick's arm wraps protectively around her shoulder. Stairs. Diamond tries to feel and hears the stone scratch under her weight. It's leading into something. Normally Diamond would shrug off their hands, but since she's blind and doesn't know what she's getting into, she grips their hands as they guide her. She's walking with three strangers on her heels. Then she's harshly shoved through the door archway, and it takes the small fire and rectangular outlines to realize she's entering a room. They take three steps in before they let go of Diamond with a shove that propels her backward further into the room.
The kidnappers make sure to strip her of her Warhammer. Diamond's knees threaten to collapse beneath her. She stumbles over her own feet and crumples to the floor, twisting her body in midair so she lands with her back facing it the exit. The sack covering her head is yanked off, letting air infect her nose. The light temporarily blinds her, but once everything focuses, it reveals a throne room. The stone around them dilutes the evening sun into something dim and grey. A woman wrapped in black and purple braces herself against the doorway and stands, a serrated dagger in hand. A thin white cloth covering the gap left for her eyes.
The room consists of a single chair up on a three-step platform, and a fireplace on the one side. A bed occupies the far corner, and an alchemy lab and arcane enchanter the other. Apart from a wardrobe and dresser, Diamond would've thought this is some kind of work room. A closed door is behind the throne chair.
The door suddenly opens, and another Faceless member steps out. Educated guess, she's the leader. Diamond scrambles to her feet.
"Zusa, we brought the girl you wanted." The one faceless guarding the door speaks.
"Though I don't know why. Seems like a waste." Malick chimes.
"I don't pay you to give opinions, Malick." Zusa, speaks.
Diamond looks ahead and sees the woman take one step down from the platform. Her cloak is a deep purple with shadows tendrils swirling about it. Though it tries to obscure it, Diamond can tell that her body bends and curves like it's supposed to.
"I pay you to obey orders. And you need to make sure you handle my, precious gem with more care." The woman sneers.
Diamond's face goes from blank to feral in a heartbeat. She curls her lips into a fierce snarl. Before she can stop herself, Diamond whips her knife out of its sheath, raises it above her head and rushes toward the woman. Diamond is screaming, harsh bursts of sound that flay the air.
Zusa flips back and whips one arm up. Diamond suddenly feels three sharp tips pierce her chest; one misses her heart by mere inches. Diamond swings her dagger, but Zusa weaves out of the way. Diamond's vision begins to blur and then Diamond realizes the darts are poisoned. She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head. Her stomach churns as everything blurs together.
Diamond still strikes but misses, then when Zusa's leg suddenly twitches, nailing Diamond in the jaw. This pain is different, less like a stab and more like a crackle, crackling in her brain, spotting her vision with different colors, blue, green, red. Then her vision goes lack at the edges.
The next thing she feels is her hair yanked, and it falls around her face. Then the harsh smack of stone scraping beneath her cheeks.
"Well you certainly showed the limit of your poison immunity." Zusa smiles.
Diamond can't move her arm to even push the strands of her hair out of her face. She lies on her side and winces, gritting teeth as she tries to move.
"Such a fighting spirit. I like that."
"Wha- What do -" Diamond struggles to say.
"Hush, my child." Zusa presses a wrapped finger to Diamond's lip. "I think you'll make a fine member to my collection. The fire of my cause burns deep within you. You can do better than that shameful Brotherhood."
Diamond grinds her teeth so hard together they might shatter.
"Go to hell!" she mumbles.
Zusa smiles, at least, Diamond thinks she does. She lifts her hand and cups Diamond's cheek and lifts it ever so slightly off the ground. Her thumb strokes Diamond's cheek. With the poison spreading into her veins, Diamond can't fight back. She can barely move her lips as she's lost all feeling.
Zusa places Diamond's cheek back on the ground and suddenly, lifts the cloth and untwists the wrappings about her head.
Diamond startles at the woman revealed beneath the wrappings. She is gorgeous by anyone's standards. Full lips, smooth cheeks, and vibrant eyes. Their deep color reminds Diamond of pine needles. Zusa runs a hand through her short dark hair, pulling out tangles, no easy task given how tightly it has been restricted and how covered with sweat it is. Yet she is striking without even trying. Diamond can feel both jealousy and annoyance.
The thought of beauty stings her deeply. No one thinks of her beautiful.
"You're . . ." Diamond starts to say, envious of her for a moment, but then realizes how ridiculous is sounds.
"I know." Zusa says. "Trust me . . . I know."
Zusa takes Diamond's cheek again, cupping it in the palm of her hand.
"You have a beauty as well, and ferocious spirit that has been wounded. I can tell. Still you fight. Determination? Or impulsiveness? Either way, I will have you." Zusa smiles.
"I don't belong to anybody." Diamond snarls.
"I'll see to that. A beautiful gem like you is, rough around the edges. Join me, Diamond."
Suddenly Zusa leans in and presses her mouth to Diamond's. Diamond's eyes widen, yet her body relaxes. Her lips move in a smooth motion as if drinking away all of Diamond's anger. Her tongue slips past Diamond's lips, but not before it glides along Diamond's lower lip. Diamond whimpers, and Zusa drinks that too. When she pulls back, she licks her lips.
"Join me, Diamond." She repeats. "And I can teach you to shine."
Diamond still wrinkles her nose in disgust.
"You will belong to me." Zusa says, nearly promising.
She lets go of Diamond's face and turns. Her cape brushes the floor with a whisper.
"Take her away." Zusa demands.
Seconds later, hands grab Diamond and lift her from the ground. They cradle her, and given she's frozen, Dimaond can only gaze at the wall on the other side of the arm. She clenches her teeth as the tears come.
What is wrong with this group? Why are they so interested in her? What do they have against the Brotherhood?
Diamond is fed up. But there isn't much she can do to stop them.
Her head pounds, as if her thoughts are clustered and crammed into her skull. She rests her head against the chest of whoever carries her.
Diamond fists her hand, and imagines crushing the Faceless inside it.