Author's Note: Hello everyone! Here's my next chapter, hope you enjoy! As always, a big thanks to any and all who stop by to read/follow/fav/review - - it means a lot to me.
Chapter 14: A New Addition
"WAKE...MY CHILD..." The all too familiar voice caused Ava to jolt up in her large bed. She pushed her long black hair out of her face, searching about her room. Only one candle burned dimly by her bedside, casting shadows about the large Master Bedroom. She tossed her crimson-hued blanket off her lower half and stood up, wondering if it was the voice of the Mother or simply a strange dream.
"COME...EMBRACE ME, CHILD..." The voice rang out once more, answering her question.
She closed her room door and headed down the hallway and up the stairs past the newly-furnished dining table. The Night Mother's tomb was open, her corpse glowing dimly in the darkness. She stepped forward, now standing directly in front of the Night Mother.
"MY CHILD...YOU HAVE DONE WELL IN FOLLOWING MY DIRECTION..." The Mother's voice grew louder and louder until it filled the whole Sanctuary. Ava closed her eyes, taking it all in while feeling an icy wind form in front of her.
Breathing in deep and opening her eyes, she saw the Unholy Matron standing before her once more in all her malevolent beauty. The tall, stunning Dunmer's midnight hair whipped about her as if the cold wind had come from the Void itself, blowing it forcefully in many directions. A faint purple fog began to drift about the two of them, as Ava's eyes fixated on the Mother.
"AVA, MY LISTENER...YOU HAVE MURDERED THE EMPEROR AND BROUGHT FEAR BACK INTO THE HEARTS OF TAMRIEL...AND NOW IT IS TIME THAT OUR DARK FAMILY MUST GROW ONCE MORE..."
Ava nodded obediently. "Yes, Night Mother...What do you want me to do?"
"MY CHILD, YOU MUST REFORM THE BLACK HAND. YOU ARE THE THUMB, AND NOW WE MUST HAVE FOUR FINGERS...THEY ARE THE SPEAKERS...BUT THIS CANNOT HAPPEN AT ONCE...NAZIR IS YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, AND HE SHALL FIND NEW BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO PARTAKE IN SITHIS' WILL...THE BROTHERHOOD SHALL PROSPER SOON...MANY WILL JOIN THE FAMILY...WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN...WHEN ALL EVENTS ARE SET IN MOTION, AND ALL THINGS ARE IN LINE WITH THE WILL OF THE DREAD FATHER...THEN I SHALL REVEAL YOUR TRUE PURPOSE..."
Ava suddenly had a strange sinking feeling in her gut. What was her true purpose, if not to be the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood? For some reason, the fear of the unknown crept over both her body and mind.
"SPEAK WITH NAZIR WHEN HE WAKES...TELL HIM OF HIS DUTIES...THE DARK BROTHERHOOD SHALL RISE ONCE MORE..." The Night Mother faded out, engulfed in a cloud of purple smoke, leaving Ava alone in the darkness of the Sanctuary. She knew what she had to do, and so she would tell Nazir first thing in the morning.
Ava approached the dining area, sitting at the large, luxurious table Delvin's crew had furnished. Nazir had just finished stirring the cooking pot, coming to join the others around the table.
"I have something to tell you, Nazir," Ava spoke to the Redguard, who seemed to have a look of disinterest on his face.
"What?" Nazir asked dryly.
"The Night Mother spoke to me...It concerns you." Ava explained.
"OOooohhh! The MOTHER has spoken! Did she say anything about her KEEPER, perhaps?!" Cicero leaned forward, resting his chin on his fists and grinning.
"Well, no Cicero - - Not specifically, but it does involve everyone." Ava said to the fidgeting jester.
"The Night Mother, eh? Well what is it, then?" The subject of the Night Mother had seemed to catch Nazir's interest.
"She spoke to me in the night. She told me that we are now ready to rebuild the Brotherhood. She said that you are our first Speaker, Nazir. She wants you to find new initiates for our dark family. As time goes on we can eventually rebuild the Black Hand, which means we will have three more speakers and hopefully many members. She wanted me to tell you this." Ava told the curious Redguard.
"The Night Mother appointed me as Speaker?" Nazir inquired, surprised by the unexpected news. "I...That was the last thing I'd expect to hear from you, Ava. Haha...Well, I certainly will fulfill my duties, then. I'll start the hunt as soon as possible. This will be good." Nazir smiled darkly. He seemed to be very pleased with the news of his new status in the Brotherhood, which seemed like a good start to Ava.
"Hehe! Nazir should take faithful Cicero along to help. Cicero is WONDERFUL at spotting potential TALENTS!" The Keeper attempted to persuade the Redguard.
Nazir gave the jester a sharp look, "Not on your life, clown. Go bother someone else."
"FINE! Cicero would rather stay here with Listener ANYWAY!" He remarked, looking visibly upset.
"I, for one, think this is a glorious occasion," Babette smiled. "For the first time in years we may have a booming population once more. I look forward to it!"
Rain was beating down on Nazir as a bolt of lighting flashed, illuminating the vast terrain that lay before him in the dead of night. He gently nudged Shadowmere, who'd been previously spooked by the flash, causing him to trot forward once more. Why was it always pouring outside when he had to travel long distances? The weather in Skyrim was usually harsh, and if it wasn't coming a blizzard, it was pouring down freezing rain by the bucketfuls. It was nights like these that made the Redguard miss the hot crystal sands of Hammerfell.
He was going in no particular direction, perhaps because murder could strike anywhere at anytime. He just needed some leads - - some possible killers to recruit, so he had been travelling from town to town in hopes of hearing or seeing something that could be of use to him.
As Shadowmere trotted forward on the muddy path, lightning flickered again, causing Nazir to catch a glimpse of something - - possibly someone up a bit further from his current location. Something about what he'd witnessed didn't look quite right. There appeared to be a person strewn out on the ground, with another person knelt overtop of them.
Nazir nudged Shadowmere a bit harder, making him gallop toward the scene. When he came close enough to speak, he yelled to the two forms before him.
"You there! Is everything alright?" He asked, pretending to be concerned.
What Nazir witnessed from that moment further was disturbing to say the least. A tall Nord with a black mane and matching facial hair, stood up from the corpse on the ground, wiping blood from his mouth. His eyes were those of the undead - - he was a Vampire.
"What in Sithis' name?" Nazir spoke to himself, in disbelief. This Nord seemed to have murdered someone to feed upon. Here was a potential candidate right before his very eyes!
Nazir dismounted Shadowmere, approaching the Vampire. He noticed that the corpse seemed to be a bandit of sorts. Suddenly, a man's voice could be heard shouting furiously in the distance.
"There he is! He killed our chief - - cut his heart out!" A rough looking bandit bolted out, swinging a sword, followed by four others.
The Vampire remained silent, reaching behind himself and pulling out a giant ebony warhammer. Nazir braced himself, unsheathing his scimitar. Instantly, the two crashed into the bandits, swinging their deadly weapons.
Nazir plunged his blade into an unlucky bandit's stomach, while the Nord swung his mighty warhammer, crushing a man's head. Nazir moved quickly and powerfully, with the Vampire fighting visciously at his side. After moments of intense battle, only one bandit was left standing. The Vampire took the head of his weapon, butting the last remaining bandit in the face, and knocking him to the ground. The large Nord calmly walked up to him, standing over the struggling enemy. He brought the warhammer above his head with both muscular arms, thrusting it down and crushing the man's face in with one deadly blow as lightning flashed ominously around his silhouette.
Nazir could easily see this man was a force to be reckoned with. He approached the Vampire, who calmly placed his fearsome weapon behind his back. "You sure know how to murder." He applauded the ominous Nord, who's serious disposition seemed completely unphased by the attack.
"...I've grown used to it...It's how I survive...How I live..." The Vampire replied, his voice low and as still as death.
"I'm Nazir...and you are?" He questioned the mysterious man.
"The name's Vottur..." The dark, fearsome man replied.
"Vottur, eh? Well, you're not going to believe this, but I have a certain proposition for you..." Nazir smiled deviously.
Ava and the Keeper stood before the shiny metal tomb, as he vigorously polished it with precious oils. "So tell me, Listener...What does our Mother look like? Cicero ALWAYS wanted to know!" Cicero asked, pulling his cloth away from the sarcophagus and inspecting his work.
Ava eyed the shiny coffin, then turned to Cicero. "She's...magnificent...Possibly the most beautiful being I've ever seen...Her eyes - - her lips...they're such a beautiful, rich crimson..." She found herself suddenly exhilerated just by speaking of their Matron - - an unusual, but pleasant feeling.
Cicero's usual goofy expression had turned to a wide-eyed look of deep intrigue. It was as if time stood still to the jester while his precious Mother was being described to him.
"Her hair is black as night, and her smile is both beautiful and dangerous...She's tall - - much taller than the two of us...And her voice is strong and powerful..." Ava smiled at the jester, who seemed lost in a world of his own, visualizing the Night Mother.
As Ava finished her description, the jester resumed his smiling. To Ava's surprise, it wasn't his usual foolish expression - - it was more subtle and had an almost sorrowful quality to it. Cicero placed his hand on Ava's shoulder, and began to speak in a low, serious manner. "Cicero wishes he could see what you see...Hear what you hear...Ah, but it was not meant to be so..."
She looked at him, feeling both sympathetic for his misfortune and surprised at this glimpse of what lied beneath his usual antics. Ava knew Cicero had wanted so badly to be the Listener. "I'm sorry..." Was all she could say to try and comfort him.
The jester frowned at her."No, NO! Listener should not be SORRY! For it was the will of SITHIS! Cicero is GLAD you are his Listener! He just WISHES sometimes, that is all! BESIDES, Listener can TELL Cicero what the Mother says! No more SORRY from Listener! SHE is the best thing the Dark Brotherhood HAS! WHY, the best thing CICERO has!"
Feeling caught off guard by his sincerety, Ava felt a little embarrassed by his high praise of her. "Thank you, Cicero. I'll...be sure to keep you updated with what the Mother says." She said, hoping to cheer him up. It was the first time she'd seen It - - if only for a brief moment. Behind his strange demeanor was a man who was sad and troubled, who would never get to live life as he truly wanted. She heard him speak of his desire to be the Listener before, but mostly in anger or to explain a bit of his past to her. This was the first time she had only heard the sadness. The more she got to know the Keeper, the more she found herself relating to him in unexpected ways.
"Hehe...Cicero thanks you!" He said, trying to sound like his usual merry self. Ava could still hear traces of the sad undertone in his voice.
At once, the two of them turned to find Nazir stepping into view. "Well, here it is. Sanctuary bloody Sanctuary, my friend!" He turned behind him, gesturing to someone who had not yet come into view.
"Nazir?" Ava caught the Redguard's attention, causing him to stop in his tracks.
"Ah, just who I needed to see!" Nazir beamed with a proud look on his face. "Ava, I want you to meet our new initiate, Vottur." He spoke as a large, fierce looking Nord came into view. Nazir was by no means a small man, but this dark-featured fellow seemed to loom over him in comparison. He was muscular and intimidating to look at. His very presence in the room seemed to darken the atmosphere itself.
"Hello..." Ava said cautiously, eyeing the ominous Nord.
"Vottur, this is Ava. She is our Listener - - the leader of our dark family. You may not know much about our ways as of now, but I'll let Babette take care of the specifics. I know that little she-devil will be more than willing to tell you all about the Brotherhood. Let's just say you're her type." He explained to the silent Nord.
"OH, SUCH a splendid, HAPPY occasion this is! Listener, we have a NEW brother! HOOHOO!" Cicero snapped back to himself, prancing about like a madman.
Nazir sighed, "Unfortunately, this is our Keeper. You will have to get used to him, if you can. I don't think I ever will." He glared at the prancing jester.
Vottur's face showed nothing more than a blank expression, as he looked at both the jester and Ava. "Greetings to you both..." He said solemnly, slightly bowing his head.
Tapping his cheek, Cicero hopped over to the large Nord, studying the man. "HMMmmm...This BIG Nord's eyes aren't right...OH, Cicero KNOWS! HE's a BLOOD-SUCKER!HOHO!" He clapped his hands merrily. "HEHE! Cicero thinks you will fit right IN!"
"Is there somewhere you can take him?!" Nazir asked Ava, pointing in frustration at the jester.
Ava came up behind the overzealous Keeper, patting him gently on the shoulder. His body jerked, slightly startled as he faced her wearing a big dopey grin on his face. "We'd better let Nazir show him around the place. We wouldn't want to hold up progress." She joked, smiling at him as she gently guided him away from the annoyed Redguard and the new initiate.
"OH, YES! As you WISH, Listener!" He nodded eagerly, walking away from the Vampire.
The Redguard guided Vottur past the room and down the stairs, continuing the tour of the Sanctuary. It was far too soon for Ava to know what to think of Vottur. If he was as dangerous as he appeared to be, then the Brotherhood was indeed on the right track.
"I think that pretty well covers it. Any questions?" Babette asked the silent Nord, seating herself across from him at the table.
"I believe I understand..." He said, looking down at his clasped hands.
"Wonderful! Now all you have to do is look forward to murdering your next victim." Babette smiled deviously. She took notice of how the grave Vampire didn't look her way or laugh at her rather colorful sense of humor. He didn't seem much for conversation, so she figured she'd pry it out of him for a bit.
"Tell me, Vottur...How long have you been a child of the night? It's hard to tell one's age once the Vampirism sets in. It seems to keep one looking youthful, if you know what I mean." Babette remarked.
"...I was about twenty when I became a Vampire. It was roughly fifteen years ago." He explained, still staring at his hands.
"Why, you're still a child! I have you beat by a long-shot." Babette smirked, waiting for his reaction. She found it rather entertaining to tell people her real age. The looks on their ignorant faces were worth their weight in gold!
Vottur finally met eyes with her, his brow furrowed in confusion. "How old are you?" He asked in a low tone.
"Plenty older than you! I've been a Vampire for well over three-hundred years. I'm by far the oldest one here...Well, unless you count the Night Mother's corpse, that is." She grinned. "Well, at least you aren't the baby of our group."
"Who would that be?" Vottur asked, his expression unchanging.
"Our Listener Ava...I find it rather interesting that one so young as her was chosen to lead our Sanctuary. I do think Sithis has something up his sleeve with this one..." She said, rubbing her chin and pondering to herself. "I'm not exactly sure of her age, but I'm quite sure she's a little younger than you." She looked to him with a mischevious look on her face, "You never know, she may start to fancy a handsome young Vampire like yourself. She's a nice girl - - I think you'll like her." She winked at the Nord.
Vottur glared at Babette with a rather disgusted look on his face, "No..." It was the first sign of emotion she'd seen from him since he entered the Sanctuary earlier that day, and she was quite perplexed by it.
Babette looked bewildered. "What do you mean no? You just met her...She's done you no harm."
"I have no ill-will toward the girl. I do not know her. I have a wife..." He said somberly.
"Oh..." Babette said apologetically. "Well it probablly wouldn't have happened anyway. I'm certain our Keeper is in love with the girl, as it is. He'd probably murder anyone who had a chance with her." She shrugged.