A/N: As usual, I want to thank you all so much for your support. This is the last chapter I'll be posting for a short while - regular chapters will resume December 6th. As I will be competing in NaNoWriMo this November I'll need as much time as I can to focus on that, so the story will take a brief hiatus until the end of the month. Make sure you're following so you'll know as soon as the next chapter comes out, and I'll see you all again soon!
Morning had come again and Leola, accompanied by Aventus and Mette, were on their way to Nightcaller Temple. Mette had agreed to come, packing up her belongings and telling her mother and grandfather that she had important business with Leola's family. She told them that she didn't know when she would be back, but that she would write, and they were happy to see her beginning her life away from the inn, even if it meant they would have to hire somebody new to help them out.
The group trudged through the snow, the young girl nervously chattering away with Leola, telling the Princess all about her life and asking questions about hers. The rest of Aventus's group had opted not to come – Minot said she had a contract to handle, Cassius was too hung over from the previous night, and Nani said that she didn't think they would need any backup. Aventus hoped that she was right.
Mette went silent, however, as they neared the doors.
"Is everything alright?" Leola asked, and Mette nodded.
"Yes," she said softly. "I just…I have a feeling like I've been here before. I mean, I've never been here, but it just feels familiar. Like something I've maybe seen in a dream…or maybe a nightmare…"
Aventus and Leola exchanged a knowing look and the assassin gave a nod before moving forward, drawing an elegant dagger and opening the door for the two girls.
Leola walked in first and Mette followed her hesitantly, gazing around in awe.
"It's so…spooky. And beautiful. So I'm…going to live here?"
"You can still back out," Leola said as she and Mette followed Aventus into the main part of the tower and began their descent down the massive spiraling stairs.
"I don't know if I want to," replied the redhead, shaking her head as Aventus led them into the room where Leola had spoken with Vaermina.
"Here," Leola said, holding out the Skull of Corruption for Mette to take. "We'll be right here. Just go up to the pedestal…and speak with her."
Mette nodded, shaking as she moved forward, gripping the staff. Leola and Aventus hung back, watching as the girl entered before dropping to her knees, still clutching the staff.
"What do you think?" Leola asked softly, looking at Aventus.
"I think," he murmured in a low voice, "that Mette will be very happy with her life here."
"What if she gets caught?" Leola asked, frowning.
"Stendarr does have quite the daedra-hunting following," Aventus murmured back. "If they catch wind of worshippers here in the tower then Mette could be in trouble…but then, I believe the last time this tower was invaded was by Orcs, after quite some time without any attacks or troubles, and the Orcs didn't make it."
"Orsimer invaded this place?" Leola asked.
"I hear it's quite the story," Aventus said. "You'd have to ask Babette, though – she knows the whole story. She only told me the bits and pieces that I needed to know before bringing you here."
"What about Ana's sister?" Leola asked next, and he smiled.
"Inquisitive as usual, Princess," he teased gently. "Rona will be just fine. In fact…" Aventus paused, taking a moment to glance around, "I don't think she and Mette will have any trouble visiting. Who knows, maybe Rona will be the next Vaermina worshipper to join the newly-formed cult?"
Leola frowned again, shaking her head. "I don't want new cults forming," she said. "The Daedra are evil. We shouldn't be bringing them new followers. It's bad enough we have to do favours for them, we can't do any more than what we have to."
"Bringing Mette here was something we had to do," Aventus replied.
"I guess," Leola mumbled with a sigh.
"And besides-" Aventus started to speak, but no sooner had the first words left his mouth than Mette suddenly stood up, turning to face the pair.
"Well?" Leola asked, biting her lip nervously.
Tears were in the redhead's brown eyes and she set the staff down where it belonged before moving over to Leola. "Well…she told me the story of my birth," she said in a soft, quivering voice. "…and she told me that I'm welcome to stay. She told me that I belong to her, that she accepts me no matter what, that she wants to share her knowledge with me and give me power like nothing I've ever known…"
"That sounds spectacular," Leola replied.
"That sounds dangerous," Aventus said.
"It probably is," Mette said with a humourless laugh, shaking her head and running a hand through her red hair. "Power's not something I've ever wanted. Freedom is. I didn't want to work the rest of my life at my grandfather's inn, as much as I may love him and my mother…but this isn't freedom, is it?"
"It's more freedom than most people ever see," Aventus said. "I mean, true freedom – we all have certain freedoms, like the freedom to live where we wish, to fall in love and marry the person we choose…but this is a different kind of freedom. You're living out of town, you can probably do anything you want here without the neighbours frowning on it. You can study magic, music, history, combat, anything you wish – even if that means delving into the darker sides of those studies. I know someone who studies dark magic and they had the worst time finding places to study freely without fear of judgement or being turned in to the authorities."
"You wished for a different life," Leola said softly. "Now one's being handed to you. It may be unorthodox, but it's yours."
Mette let out a sigh, nodding. "You're right," she said. "Daedra are supposed to be evil…but she really seemed to care when she was talking to me."
"She probably does, if she sees you as her creation," Aventus replied. "You'll be safe here, too."
Mette was quiet before finally nodding. "Alright," she said. "I'm going to stay."
"I'll check in on you," Aventus said. "I live near here, so it won't be a far walk."
"You live near here?" Mette asked, and he nodded.
"I do," he replied. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
"Did Vaermina mention anything about a soul gem fragment?" Leola asked suddenly, and Mette smiled slightly.
"She did," she said. "She said that if I decided to stay, to go and get it for you. She told me where to find it."
"That's fantastic," Aventus said.
"It's in the laboratory," continued Mette, beginning to walk past them.
"Do you know where the laboratory is?" asked Leola, turning to follow her, Aventus doing the same.
"I do," she said softly. "I don't know how…it's just familiar to me. I think I belong here – I think I've been here, seen this place before…"
"Perhaps in a dream," said Leola.
"Or a nightmare," Aventus added, and the three all exchanged a knowing smile.
Upon reaching the laboratory, they patiently waited while Mette went in. It was, just as she had said, like she knew this place. She walked with ease to a counter and lifted up a few pieces of ragged cloth that lay on top. Underneath, just as she'd promised, was a shard of the soul gem. She lifted it up, turning and walking back to the pair.
"Perfect," Aventus said, gently taking it from her and tucking it away in his clothes, someplace Leola was sure he knew that it wouldn't fall.
"Thank you for this – maybe, I think," Mette said with a giggle. "Depends on how this works out, I suppose."
"I'm sure you'll come to love it here," Leola said.
"I'll see you again," Mette said to them, and Aventus nodded.
"You most certainly will," he replied.
The pair turned and left, both eager to escape the Daedra's tower. They heaved open the heavy doors and stepped outside, both breathing sighs of relief.
"Poor girl," said Leola softly.
"You know it," Aventus replied before beginning to walk.
They had only made it a few paces before Leola felt someone suddenly grab her from behind. An arm was looped around her waist and another across her shoulders, and a startled cry left her lips.
Aventus whipped around at hearing her cry out and his dark eyes widened as he saw Leola's captor. "Ana?" he exclaimed.