Author's Note: Hello all! I've posted chapters 11 and 12 today - - I hope you all enjoy! Once again, thanks to all who stop by to read!
Chapter 11: Betrayal
Dashing across the bridge, Ava stopped in her tracks when suddenly she found herself surrounded by Penitus Oculatus Agents. A distinguished looking man stepped out from among them, taunting her. He was dressed in a slightly different set of armor than the other Agents - - it appeared more intricate and had various medals adorning it. Ava figured him to be some sort of high-ranking officer.
He strolled toward Ava, laughing mockingly at her- - his piercing eyes never turning away from her. "Hahahahaha! Oh, I see what you've done here. Excellent performance, really - - disguising yourself as the Gourmet, of all people! I commend you really...that imbecile had to be the absolute worst decoy the Emperor has had yet! We're better off now that he's no longer with the living!"
Feelings of both failure and panic flooded through Ava's mind. This man she had worked so hard to assassinate proved to be nothing more than an imposter. The real Emperor Titus Mede II was still very alive, and she was still in very real danger. She stood paralyzed with fear, listening to the man who was delighting in tormenting her.
"Oh, and just so we're clear on just what is going on...I am Commander Maro. Does that ring a bell...sister?" The man sneered.
"What?!" Ava gasped, taking a step back - - this man was on to her, and his name was all too familiar.
"Yes...That's right. I know who you are...you're a member of the Dark Brotherhood. The same Dark Brotherhood that murdered my son in cold blood just to get a crack at the Emperor... How do I know about you, you may wonder? Because one of your own turned you in...that's right...some family you have there...Haha..."
"Turned me in?! But - - but why?" Ava couldn't believe what she was hearing. The only family she had wanted her dead? Her stomach begin to churn as her body flooded with a feeling of impending doom. She could only hope she wasn't hearing the truth.
"Why? Because I said the Dark Brotherhood would be spared if the person who murdered my son was handed over...I guess that would be you...Haha, but since you did murder Gaius, I think I'll take that disgusting group of cutthroats you call a family away from you...Haha...Now you can see how it feels! I'll have all of you killed!" He yelled, signaling his Agents to attack.
Ava had no choice but to dodge the onslaught and run as fast as her legs could carry her. Narrowly escaping the Agents, she ran down the winding staircase taking her to the town below. The Penitus Oculatus Agents stayed on her tail, chasing her out of the city. It wasn't until she was out of Solitude, that she was able to lose them. She bounded into the forest and hid in a dense thicket, staying as quiet as death until she was sure the Agents had passed her by.
As soon as Ava felt it was safe, she began to travel back to Falkreath. She wasn't sure why she was headed there...If someone had turned her in, she thought maybe she should have stayed away. Perhaps it was her hope that Commander Maro was lying to her, or the threat of losing what family she did have that pushed her onward. Either way, she felt the urgent need to return. Facing the direction of the Sanctuary, she noticed a deadly cloud of black smoke rising from below. She took off in a sprint, hoping that her dark siblings would survive whatever hell was being inflicted upon them.
The Sanctuary at Falkreath had been decimated. The Black Door hung open, with thick black smoke gushing out. To her right, the dead body of Festus Krex had been pinned to a tree - - pierced by over a dozen arrows. The Penitus Oculatus Agents must have raided the place while Ava was still in Solitude. She never even had the chance to warn her dark brothers and sisters of the looming threat that awaited them.
The area was eerily quiet, making Ava doubtful that anyone was left alive. She carefully inched her way in the smouldering Sanctuary, straining to see through the burning debris. She found her dark family's charred remains, one by one, lying on the ground. Veezara, Arnbjorn, Gabriella, and even the elf's pet spider, Lis, had all died violently in the flames. She found just as many Agents lying dead among the rubble, indicating that a bloody battle had waged between the enemies and her family.
Feeling numb at the sight of it all, Ava swallowed hard and continued her search in hopes of finding someone alive. Wandering through one of the winding passages, she heard something move.
"Hello?" A familiar voice sounded. It was Babette, who appeared to be searching the place as well.
"Babette? It's me - - Ava! I'm right here!" She replied, watching Babette appear from the end of the winding hallway. "Are we the only two left?"
"I'm afraid so...Well, Nazir too. He went to look for Astrid, but she's nowhere to be found. I'm not sure what happened. I was coming back from a contract, when I found the place in ashes. Nazir said those Penitus Oculatus Agents came bursting in - - someone had to have given them the pass phrase. Our dark family was outnumbered by the Agents..." Babette shook her head at the awful events that had transpired.
Babette and Ava moved to the large central cavern, as Ava explained how Maro had threatened her, "...He told me someone turned me in...So they would drop the pursuit of the Dark Brotherhood, but he went back on his word. I hoped he was lying, but..."Her voice trailed off. Maro was telling the truth. Someone did want Ava dead. They wanted her dead enough to sacrifice the whole Sanctuary in the process.
Babette placed her hands on her hips, gazing at the Sanctuary, which was now a haunting pile of rubble. "I figured it was only a matter of time before this happened again. It always does...It's one of the downsides to being in the Brotherhood. Eventually there's some bad blood among the family, and someone ends up, well, dead. It's a shame, really. Usually I see it coming a mile away, but I honestly didn't expect it this time."
A loud crash came from the other end of the Sanctuary. Nazir's figure appeared in a cloud of dust that barrelled out from where he emerged."Babette, I've searched all over. I've been digging through that pile of debris for over an hour. I can't find her - - maybe she burned up with the rest of them. " Once Nazir came into the clear, he caught sight of Ava. He quickly gripped his scimitar, unsheathing it's deadly blade and pointing it in her direction. "I see you came out unscathed in all of this...Seems a bit off to me. You go off to murder the Emperor, and suddenly out of nowhere his Agents have access to the place! If it weren't for timing, Babette and I would both be dead - - you'd be the only one alive in all this! I think I know who our traitor is..." He shot her a cold look, while he inched ever closer.
"No! It wasn't me - - Maro said someone turned me in for killing Gaius! I had to run for my life!" Ava threw up her hands in defense.
"Nazir, stop it! You don't know that! Ava could be telling the truth. Besides, there's only three of us left, do we really want to start killing each other now?!" She yelled at the Redguard, stepping in front of Ava.
"Well if she's the traitor and we let her live, we'll be wiped out anyway! She could murder us in our sleep! Everyone else is dead, so who else could it be?! For someone who's three hundred years old, you're being a bit naive!" Nazir fumed, shaking his scimitar in Babette's face.
"Nazir, you big numbskull-" Babette's words seemed to fade out, as the world around Ava fell silent.
Ava could see the two still arguing in front of her. Their lips were continuing to move, but she could no longer hear them speak. Her surroundings appeared to grow dim, and another familiar voice crept into her psyche.
"MY CHILD...ASTRID LIVES...GO...SPEAK WITH HER..." The shrill voice of the Night Mother rang out like a bell. Ava moved toward a winding passage that appeared to be caved in. She felt as if she were being pulled toward it - - as if the Mother herself were guiding her to Astrid. She spoke not a word, as her eyes glazed over in a trance. Coming to the twisting corridor, she began to move pieces of debris. They were heavy, but her strength had suddenly multiplied. She easily tossed the heavy materials out of the way, revealing an accessible path.
She followed the winding passage until she discovered Astrid's charred body splayed out on the floor. Ava felt the heavy presence of the Night Mother suddenly lift, and she could clearly hear and see her surroundings once more. Astrid was coughing and gasping pitifully for air. Ava could clearly see that her leader was dying.
Nazir burst into the room behind Ava, scimitar still in hand. "I'm not letting you get away with-" He stopped abruptly, upon seeing Astrid. Babette ran in behind him, freezing at the sight of her body.
"A-Ava?" Astrid coughed, her failing voice thin and weak.
"Yes Astrid, I'm here..."She said softly. Ava felt immense pity in seeing Astrid in such a terrible state. She knelt down beside her dying superior.
"I-I didn't...m-mean for this t-to...happen..." Astrid's voice trembled.
"What do you mean, Astrid?" Ava asked, a look of concern falling over her features.
"A-Ava..." She slowly turned her head, her eye's meeting Ava's. "I betrayed...you...I-I was the...one who turned y-you in...M-Maro... tricked m-me...k-killed everyone...everything I h-hold dear..."
Ava could feel a stinging pain inside - - an intense mixture of both anger and despair. No matter how hard she tried to convince Astrid that she was on her side, it made no difference. It seemed Ava could never win that battle. This was one of the very reasons she had trouble getting close to people - - it always seemed to bring more pain.
"Why...?" Was all Ava could bring herself to say.
"I l-let my greed...c-consume me...Ava..y-you are L-Listener...the rightful l-leader of...this S-Sanctuary...It was w-wrong of me...to try and...s-stop that. I...see it...it's all...clear to m-me now...Y-you tried to...t-tell me, but I...w-wouldn't l-listen...I-I'm sorry, Ava...p-please...forgive...me..."
It was so much to take in at once - - the very woman that had welcomed her and gave her a new life had betrayed her. Now Astrid was wanting forgiveness and trying to make peace with her. She felt hurt and angry, but seeing Astrid in this state seemed to bring out her compassion, despite her negative feelings for the woman. Once fierce and powerful, her leader now lie mangled and broken, pleading to be redeemed.
"...Yes..." Ava whispered.
Astrid's eyes grew wide, "Thank, you...sister...I-I performed the B-Black Sacrament...p-prayed to the Mother...a-and here you are...p-please..." Astrid turned her head to the jagged, deadly dagger that lay beside her. "I-I prayed...for my d-death...I..am the Sacrament...I-I need you to...k-kill me...d-do me this l-last favor, Ava..."
Ava was stunned at Astrid's final request. Upon finding Astrid, she hadn't noticed that her body was surrounded by candles. She hadn't seen a sight like that since she'd met Aventus in Windhelm.
"P-please, Ava...k-kill me so that I m-may right this wrong...S-so that I may...find my redemption...i-in the Void..." Astrid pleaded with her.
Ava could clearly see Astrid's profound state of misery. Astrid may have done some terrible things, but Ava wasn't willing to let her suffer anymore. What was done was done, and there was no need for Ava to be cruel or seek revenge. She would do what was right, by Astrid and the Night Mother. She nodded in silent agreement of Astrid's request.
"Thank you...Ava...That's w-why the M-Mother chose you...Y-you aren't...like m-me..." Astrid curled her charred lips into a faint smile, reaching her hand out to Ava, who hesitantly held it. "I...w-will see you again...in the V-void...dear...friend...It is time..." Astrid let go and laid her head down a final time, closing her eyes. "I'm ready..."
Ava picked up the dagger. She could feel an intense surge of power as she gripped the hilt. Darkness came bleeding through, and she was completely alone with Astrid. Ava could feel the very cold of the Void itself...
"MY LISTENER...SEND MY CHILD TO THE VOID...RETURN HER TO ME..."
With all her might, Ava plunged the blade into Astrid's heart, watching her remaining life drain from her blackened body. Her wishes had been fulfilled. Ava had sent her home.
"By Sithis!" Nazir exclaimed in disbelief. "I had no idea. If the words didn't come from Astrid herself, I wouldn't have believed them!"
Babette scowled at Nazir, "See what I mean?! You could've killed our Listener! It's a pity, though. I really respected Astrid. I didn't expect her of all people to do this to us..."
"So...where do we go from here?" Nazir shrugged. "Our leader is dead."
"No, she's not..." Babette smiled wickedly, while pointing to Ava, "...and I believe you owe her an apology. You know, since you tried to murder her."
"Well, what was I supposed to do-" Nazir's voice faded out again.
"MY CHILD...COME TO ME...EMBRACE ME..." The Night Mother's voice echoed once more.
Ava walked on with the blade in her hand and her mind in another place - - another world.
"Now where's she going?" Nazir grumbled, as the two followed after her.
Ava halted in front of the giant sarcophagus, which stood with it's doors open wide, exposing the Night Mother's petrified remains.
"So that's what the Night Mother looks like...Well, can't say I'm too surprised that she's a corpse..." Nazir chuckled, folding his arms.
"Shhhh..." Babette put a finger to her lips. "She's speaking with the Night Mother, Nazir!"
Nazir scowled,"Well, she's the only one that can hear her - - I doubt I'm interrupting anything!"
Ava gazed at the unmoving lips of her Unholy Matron. Surrounded by a thick fog of infinite darkness, she listened to the commands of the Mother.
"MY CHILD...THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE...EMPEROR TITUS MEDE II STILL LIVES...YOU MUST COMPLETE YOUR CONTRACT...YOU MUST LEAD MY DARK FAMILY...HELP IT GROW...SUCH IS YOUR DUTY, MY CHOSEN ONE...IT IS THE WILL OF SITHIS..."
"...Lead? But, but I don't know how! Night Mother..." Ava replied, suddenly overwhelmed by her newly appointed responsibilities.
"YOU UNDERESTIMATE YOUR POWERS MY CHILD...JUST LISTEN TO MY VOICE...BY THE WILL OF SITHIS, I SHALL GUIDE YOU...NOW...GO FORTH...KILL THE EMPEROR...REBUILD THE DARK BROTHERHOOD..."
As the Night Mother's voice faded out, Ava turned to Nazir and Babette. She couldn't believe that, of all people, she was to rule the Brotherhood. After all, she was perfectly fine following orders - - not giving them. However, she understood that it was her duty to obey the Night Mother. If she could survive this far, she figured she had nothing to lose.
"So? What did the Night Mother tell you?" Nazir inquired.
"She told me that the contract remains unfinished...The real Emperor still needs to be eliminated..." Ava replied.
"Really, then." Nazir said, his voice full of skepticism. "And how do you suppose we are to pull that off? In case you didn't notice, Ava, there's only three of us. We have no structure! Our leader has been burnt to a crisp..."
Ava could feel Nazir's resistance bearing down on her. "Well...the Night Mother told me that I am to guide the Dark Brotherhood. She said it was my duty, and that if I do as she tells me, she will guide us to prosperity and power..."
"See, Nazir?" Babette nudged the disgruntled Redguard. "I told you our leader wasn't dead! Now do you believe me?"
"Hmph!" He grunted, giving Ava a sharp look. "I suppose. I wouldn't want to disrespect the Night Mother...That being said, what are we going to do? Our Sanctuary lies in ruin. Where on Nirn would we go?!" He threw up his hands in frustration.
The three of them fell quiet, trying to formulate a plan of action. Ava paced about for a moment thinking of any possibility for them to find Sanctuary. Her face brightened with her sudden realization, "I know a place we can go..."