Author's Note: Hey everyone, here's chapter 39! As always, a big thanks to all who read/fav/follow/review! Many, many thanks! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 39: Blackened Heart
"Is this what I think it is?" Ava asked Lucien, the hesitancy heavy in her voice as the two walked in the shadows of the dark corridor. She noticed that the hallway seemed very similar to the one in Dawnstar. However, it was much, much longer.
"If you are wondering if this is the Void, then I would say a definite yes," he smiled mischievously. "I mean, considering you have met the requirements. You know, murdering souls in service to our Dread Father, and, of course, death..." Lucien mused.
"This isn't a thing like I'd imagined." Ava said, truly baffled by how normal everything seemed. Well, almost normal.
"Yes, many people come here expecting nothing but to float endlessly in some dark abyss. I'd wager that many were in for quite the surprise when they actually arrived here. Ah, I'd love to see the looks on their faces - - truly dumbfounded, I'd imagine. You saw me as a ghostly form in Nirn, but here in the Void I'm full of being and life." Lucien commented as he led her along.
"I'm not sure I understand." Ava pondered aloud, gripping Lucien's hand a bit tighter for reassurance that he was, indeed, alive and real.
"You won't. At least, not for a while. I do have to say, I'm glad to see you here. I've technically only met you once, seeing as though I wasn't of much use to you before." Lucien remarked, with Ava realizing she'd only summoned him one time in her previous life. Suddenly, she felt a bit awkward about the whole thing.
"I'm sorry about that. I guess I'm just not good with summoning and all that. If it weren't for Arnbjorn's help, I don't think I'd have summoned you at all..." Ava replied apologetically, hoping he wouldn't have hard feelings toward her.
"Yes, I know, Ava. " Lucien chuckled, seeming more amused than bitter. "I've watched you for a while. I was simply curious to what you'd say. You are an interesting one, no doubt. You certainly didn't disappoint. You're apologetic, as always. A killer with compassion. That is a very curious thing, indeed."
"I guess so." Ava shrugged, not sure what else to say to his keen observations. "How can you watch me from the Void, anyway?" her brow furrowed, pondering over his words.
"The Void is a place of mind and consciousness, not of actual physical form. That's why you didn't see me this way before. Our consciousness can travel to many planes of existence, if we will it. Our minds are free from the entrapment of our bodies here. However, it is not my place to give you the answers you seek. You'll find out in due time, Ava. Ah, here we are!" Lucien exclaimed, as the two stopped in front of a large iron door.
"What is this?" Ava asked, still unaware of where she was going.
"You'll see." Lucien smirked, pulling the large iron handle and gesturing for her to enter ahead of himself. "After you, m'lady." He bowed playfully, somehow reminding her of Cicero.
Ava's heart sank momentarily. Cicero. She sighed, walking through the door and into a large, lavishly furnished room. Unfamiliar faces stood in small groups, chatting amongst themselves. She felt as if she were in the presence of royalty, as everyone looked rich and noble, clad in very fine attire.
"Ah, Lucien, you old bastard!" A low, husky voice of a woman called from across the room, catching Lucien's attention.
"Alisanne, come here! I have someone here I'd like you to meet." Lucien waved her over, as Ava watched a lean, middle-aged Breton woman in a fine raiment walk out of the jubilant crowd and into her view. That name sounded so familiar to her. She could have sworn Cicero had mentioned that name before.
"Ava, I'd like you to meet your predecessor, Alisanne Dupre." he gestured to the attractive, older brunette who approached her.
Hearing the full name, Ava instantly realized who the person was. Alisanne Dupre was Cicero's former Listener, who'd burned alive protecting the Night Mother's coffin in Bravil. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming sensation of oneness and respect for this person. She'd never met another Listener before - - someone who had given their life for the Brotherhood and shared in the burdens of leadership.
"Good to finally meet you, Ava." the Breton donned a welcoming smile.
"You too..." Ava replied, in awe of the fact that she was meeting another ghost from the past. "Cicero told me all about you."
"Yes, it seems we both died a fiery death." the woman chuckled. "You and I have much in common. You know, the Night Mother told me to protect her to the very end. I, much like you, knew I had not a chance of surviving my fate. I know it may seem overwhelming to be here, Ava, but you did the right thing. The Mother will stand true to her words. She will reward you, as she has me. The merriments of the Void are far better than those on Nirn. I'm happy here. I'm at peace, and I assure you, you'll find yours."
Ava felt compelled by her words of hope and acceptance. "Thank you." She looked about, still curious of her surroundings. "Who are all these people, anyway?"
"Lucien didn't tell you, did he?" Alisanne shot Lucien a look, as a mischievous grin spread across his face. "He did the same to me when I first came here. He likes to surprise you - - keep you on your toes, it seems. They are all former Listener's, like you and I. Ava, this is our meeting place. It is where we former Listener's come together and enjoy each other's company. We like to call this place the Black Ballroom. It's not actually formally named, for the Void doesn't really have a map or structure like the physical realm. It simply is, and we simply are. You know, the life of a Listener can be a lonely one - - surrounded by family, yet divided by your burdens and supernatural abilities. It's quite nice to have the company of the ones who understand you most. You are one of us, and you are welcome to return here anytime you wish. I look forward to getting to know you."
"As much as you looked forward to knowing me?" Lucien asked Alisanne slyly, raising his eyebrows.
"Now, now. Don't flatter yourself, LaChance..." Alisanne grinned in return. "I've known better."
"Perhaps. But I do make quite the impression, don't I?" Lucien smiled widely, causing Ava to smirk from the playful interaction between the two.
Alisanne smiled warmly. "Perhaps."
"Well, I hate to be one to rush, but I believe it's time for our next stop, Ava." Lucien abruptly patted Ava's back, nodding to Alisanne briefly to aknowledge her before he led Ava away again. "There's someone who's simply dying to meet you..." Lucien grinned darkly, leading her out of the room.
Screams and frantic shouts could be heard within the Dawnstar Sanctuary, as Vottur answered the pass phrase, giving Nazir a wary look.
"There's no telling what he's done. He's been obsessed with the girl since she became an initiate. With her gone, I don't know what the fool's capable of." Nazir remarked, gripping the hilt of his scimitar.
As the door opened, the two burst through, seeing the chaos that ensued. Vottur's dark eyes scanned the area, seeing tables overturned and chairs tossed about. Strangely enough, red mountain flowers littered the floor. Vials and bottles of Ale lay shattered along with them. Hearing a loud screech, he darted down the stairs to see Cicero standing atop the large dining table, both black daggers drawn.
A crowd encircled him, attempting to restrain the madman, but failing miserably. Each attempt to grab Cicero had resulted in a deep slice to the flesh. The jester's eyes were wide and wild with rage and a deep snarl was engraved on his features. His lips were laced with blood, perhaps from biting his pursuers. When he growled, showing his teeth, they were tinted red with crimson. Cicero's eyes were bloodshot and tears rolled down his cheeks, though Vottur wouldn't have thought he was crying simply from his actions alone. The jester laughed violently, sending a tingle down the Vampire's spine.
He watched as a couple of young assassins attempted to grab Cicero's legs from behind, only to be attacked as if by some rabid, wild beast. The jester returned with a blow from his daggers, causing the two to flee from him, one of them clutching a bleeding arm.
The jester cackled, "No, no, NO, my pets! You cannot catch LAUGHTER! LAUGHTER is not a man! No amount of GRABBING will do! There is no MAN here! Your hands will pass right through Cicero! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" The jester snarled, kicking an innocent sibling in the face and laughing as the young man fell to the floor.
Vottur cautiously approached the crowd, with Nazir close behind. He knew more than anyone how violent a man could become when faced with the death of the one most precious to him. However, Cicero was not a mere man. He was a raving lunatic. He was, quite frankly, dangerous.
"DO NOT HARM FAITHFUL CICERO...FOR MY KEEPER MUST FULFILL HIS DESTINY..." The Mother's voice hissed in Vottur's mind, alerting him to rethink the situation.
"Whatever we do, we can't harm him, Nazir. The Night Mother has warned me against it." Vottur warned the Redguard.
"Alright then...I hope she knows what she's talking about..." Nazir replied, his face full of uncertainty.
Apparently hearing their voices, the jester locked eyes with Vottur. He screeched, pointing his finger at the two of them. "YOU! YOU DID THIS TO CICERO! You TRICKED him! He could have SAVED his Listener, but you ALL tricked him! You used your honied words, tickling Cicero's ears with them! You urged him to STAY behind while his Listener got STAB-STAB-STABBED to DEATH! DECEIVERS! BLASPHEMERS! YOU didn't PROTECT her! YOU LIED! YOU LET HER DIE!" the jester screamed, his voice piercing to Vottur's ears, causing him to wince.
"No, that's not true!" Vottur yelled in response. "We didn't have a choice in the matter. It had to be this way! Stop this!"
"Stop what? THIS?!" Cicero growled, stabbing a nearby hand that happened to be placed on the table. The assassin screamed in agony as Cicero pulled his blade out. A blast of fire shot at the jester from another angered assassin, though Cicero rolled to the side, dodging it with ease.
"Don't harm him! It's the Night Mother's command! You'll send the Wrath on our heads, you fools!" Nazir shouted, attempting to get a grip on the situation. The swarm of assassins backed away, as Vottur drew near.
"Cicero will GUT you if you come any closer, BLOOD-SUCKER!" the jester howled, as Vottur could see streams of tears flowing from Cicero's eyes.
"I've done nothing to you, jester." Vottur stated, trying to calm the frantic man.
"LIES! LIES! LIES! You wanted the Listener for YOURSELF! She chose CICERO, so you let her DIE! If you couldn't have Listener, you would take her away from poor Cicero! BASTARD!" The jester lunged at Vottur, blade in hand, knocking the large Nord flat on his back.
Cicero held his twisted blade to Vottur's throat, growling as Nazir approached them in an attempt to pull Cicero off. "Come any close and Cicero will paint his throat RED!"
"Do what he says, Nazir..." Vottur said calmly, holding up his hands in an attempt to show his refusal to fight the jester.
"Damn it, jester! Listen to him! He didn't get Ava killed! It was part of the Prophecy! The Night Mother ordained it!" Nazir spoke desperately, trying to stop what was about to happen. Vottur could see by the look on the Redguard's face that the situation wasn't looking good for him.
"LIES! Mother would never do those things! Mother LOVES her Keeper! The Listener was her GIFT to faithful Cicero! YOU took her away..." Vottur looked into the wild eyes of the grief-stricken madman. The jester's face now only a few inches from his own, Cicero hissed and spat, his saliva hitting the Nord in the face and causing him to grimace.
"Well, she did take Ava away! She's gone because she was chosen to defeat the Dragonborn!" Nazir continued, trying to talk some sense into Cicero.
"Hahaha..." The jester sneered, glaring at Nazir. "Why would Mother leave us without a Listener? Hmmmmnnnn?!"
"She didn't." Nazir said, his voice falling low.
Cicero said nothing, narrowing his eyes. Vottur breathed deeply, saying the binding words. "Darkness rises as silence dies..."
"...What...did...you...say?" Cicero slowly removed his blade from Vottur's neck, the shock of the Nord's words causing him to stagger and stumble away from Vottur.
Vottur quickly scrambled up from the floor, watching Cicero grab his head and fall to his knees. "No...No, Mother...You wouldn't...Not after all of Cicero's pain and hard work...Not after his diligence and suffering...It was all for you, Mother...You wouldn't..."
The Vampire gave Nazir a quick glance, noting the pity in the Redguard's face. Before them stood a man who'd beaten the odds time and again, trying to stay true to his convictions to the point of becoming mad. When he'd finally obtained his every desire, it was all in vain, only to be torn mercilessly from his grip. Even Vottur felt sympathy for the madman, given his usual dislike for him.
An eerie silence rang through the crowd, as Vottur watched Cicero cradle his head in his hands and weep uncontrollably. "But, Mother...Cicero loved her...Why, oh, why did you take her AWAY?!"
Vottur waited, hoping the Mother would speak to him, possibly telling him something to calm their Keeper, but not a word was spoken. Her silence felt merciless, cold, and cruel. Did Ava feel this way when she was the Listener? Was this the deafening silence the jester rambled on about time and again? Finally, Vottur understood how maddening it could truly be.
"Cicero tried so very hard, Mother, to appease you. He tended to your every need, suffered for you, defended you time and again, and you take everything from him..." The jester stumbled to his feet, panting heavily and holding his abdomen, as if he were desperately trying to fight back the pain. He then grew deathly quiet, his eyes blazing and his teeth gnarled. With one swift, unexpected motion, he pulled out his blade, bounding off to the Night Mother's tomb.
"By Sithis, what's he gonna do?!" Nazir sprinted after him, as Vottur followed his lead, hoping the madman wouldn't desecrate the Night Mother out of vengeance.
The two stopped abruptly, seeing Cicero fling the doors of her sarcophagus open forcefully, revealing her mummified remains.
"What are you doing?!" Vottur pulled out his ebony warhammer, feeling an innate urge to protect the Matron at any cost.
"Is this what you want, Mother?! You've taken EVERYTHING from your Keeper! There is nothing left! NOTHING! Only his life...You win, Mother...Your Keeper forfeits...He'll save you the trouble..." The jester's trembling hand brought the blade up to his own throat, as both Vottur and Nazir dropped their weapons to the floor, forcefully grabbing Cicero's arms and knocking his dagger out of his reach.
"NOOOOO! DON'T STOP CICERO, YOU FILTHY WORMS! LET HIM DIE! LET HIM PUT HIS SUFFERING TO AN END!" The jester writhed, biting and clawing the two assassins as Vottur tightened his grip on Cicero, ensuring he wouldn't get loose and commit something terrible.
"We need to get him somewhere safe. Somewhere where he can't harm himself." Vottur instructed, still fighting the jester's sheer adrenaline and strength.
"I guess that means the torture chamber, then." Nazir remarked, clearly frustrated and shaken. "It's the only place we can restrain him."
The two assassins fought against him the whole way to the chamber, seeking the aid of two young initiates to help them lock the cuffs on his wrists.
"WHY, BLOOD-SUCKER?! YOU HATED CICERO WHEN HE WAS ALIVE, AND NOW THAT HE'S DEAD YOU WANT TO KEEP HIM WITH THE LIVING?!" the jester snarled, spitting and glaring daggers at Vottur.
Vottur wiped the sweat from his brow, panting and attempting to calm himself. "Look, it wasn't me. The Night Mother wants you to live. She wants all of this. I won't dare disobey the Will of Sithis." he said, sliding a seat under Cicero so he wouldn't dangle in pain all night. It was the least the Nord could do, as the jester was in enough pain as it was.
"Look, I'm getting out of here, Vottur. I'm going to collapse from exhaustion if I don't. We've been up for days, brother. You best get some rest yourself, if you know what's good for you." Nazir huffed, his face tired and his nerves frayed. Vottur nodded, as the Redguard exited the chamber, leaving the two of them alone in the shadows of the prison.
"You never loved her, Blood-sucker..." Vottur heard the jester growl, as he looked into the man's glaring, deathly eyes.
Feeling a surge of hot rage from the jester's words, Vottur grabbed the fool by the collar, his face only inches from Cicero's. "Don't you think for one minute that is the truth, jester! True, she wasn't Mina, but I loved her all the same. Ava wasn't mine to begin with. She was yours, and I saw that. I gave my heart to Mina, and Ava gave her's to you. Maybe you would have done yourself a favor a long time ago if you'd have woken up and seen the truth." he growled between clenched teeth, releasing his grip from the fool and walking away.
"Not the same, Blood-sucker..."
Vottur turned, now at the entrance of the chamber. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"At least you have something. You have the Mother's voice. You are the great and powerful LISTENER, after all..." the jester spat, mocking Vottur's new title.
"My position doesn't make me impervious to pain, you fool. I told you, I loved her. I still do, but I can do nothing. I'm as powerless as you are..." Vottur admitted in a moment of vulnerability.
"Oh YES...Of course you are..." the jester scoffed. "You say kind words now, Blood-sucker...But Cicero would've DIED for her...He would have BEGGED our mother to take him instead...PLEADED...KILLED to keep our Listener...I have nothing...am nothing..." Cicero's voice fell to a faint, trembling whisper. "And you..." the jester began to growl, his eyes glaring and devious. "You did NOTHING! You LET her die, then you USURPED her power! FILTHY, GREEDY VERMIN! SHE was MINE!" he spat violently, now foaming at the mouth.
Vottur said nothing, finally turning and walking away from the jester. There was clearly nothing more he could do.
"You are not my Listener. My Listener is gone...Cicero...Cicero only has silence. Silence...and the Laughter...He...Hehe...Hehehehe..." The jester's eerie laughter echoed throughout the chamber, as Vottur left him sitting in the darkness.