Charlotte
I found myself sitting in the mural room with Xandier and Valentinus shortly after. I sat at one of the stone tables, writing in my notebook, while the boys sat on the floor against the wall nearby. They spoke quietly to one another while I looked up now and then to keep an eye on the tunnel entrances. I didn't know how I was going to contact Mephala, or even when I was going to get a moment alone. I picked up my notebook and flicked the pages back, turning to the image I'd drawn of the mural, and stared at the Serpent constellation. I narrowed my eyes at it before letting them lose focus, the image blurring and dancing in the soft light of the lamps.
"Charlotte!" said Xandier.
I looked behind me. "What is it?"
"Finally, my gods. Are you half asleep or something?"
I rolled my eyes and huffed. "What? No, I'm not."
"What are you waiting for? We're getting bored over here."
I sighed and turned my body to face them. "Well, no one's holding you at sword point and forcing you to stay, are they? Be gone if you must." I waved my hand dismissively before turning back around and smoothing out the pages of my notebook.
Xandier pursed his lips and shook his head. "Without you? Nah."
"Fine, stay."
"How much longer will we be here for?"
I rolled my eyes as I looked up again before noticing someone standing in the shadows, making me gasp and push myself back. Before I could stop myself, I over-balanced and fell back off the stone seat, grunting as I landed on the ground.
"What the—" Xandier began, getting to his feet and rushing over to me. "Charlotte! Are you okay?"
"I'm… I'm fine, but there's someone over there," I said as I nodded at the shadows, groaning and rubbing my back.
Valentinus stood up and leaned forward, squinting his eyes to see where I'd pointed.
I looked at Xandier, who had a tender concern in his eyes as he looked at me. "What?" I asked. "You can stop touching me now. I'm all right."
"Oh, that's good. You're very… I mean, you're okay, I'm glad."
I frowned at him, regarding him as I pulled my sleeves up and got to my feet, pushing his hands away as he tried to help me.
"Xandier!"
"Sorry."
As I turned away from him angrily, Tanyin approached us. "What are you doing here?" she asked in the silkiest voice I'd ever heard. I realized then that this was the first time I'd heard her speak.
"Wow. I didn't know you could talk," said Xandier, mirroring my thoughts, making me turn to him and smile. "If I had your voice, I wouldn't shut up."
"You never do anyway," I said, making Valentinus chuckle.
Tanyin crossed her arms. "Nice try, charmer, but don't even think of attempting to get out of answering my question. You said you were coming down here to help Ollie, but you're clearly not doing that." Her light blue eyes flicked to Valentinus, then to me. "So, what's the game?"
When no one answered her, Xandier gave Valentinus a subtle gesture before snorting. "What's it to you, anyway? Are you a mercenary or a law enforcer? Don't tell me old Morham's got you under her thumb already."
Tanyin shook her head and put her hand on her hip. "Neither, actually. I'm from the Order of the Lamp."
"What?" Xandier narrowed his eyes. Hah, interesting. Valentinus was just asking about the Order. Are you the only one, or?"
"Unfortunately, yes. The Order's resources have been stretched a bit thin lately, but we make do. You three have certainly caught my attention though… you in particular," Tanyin said, nodding at me.
"Yeah, she's good at that." Xandier gave me a sultry side glance before looking about comically. "D-does anyone hear that?"
"Hear what?" asked Tanyin suspiciously.
Xandier took a few steps toward the exit tunnels. "Where's Valentinus?"
As he spoke, I heard the sound of a spell being cast and Valentinus crying out for help.
"By Sep's rotting maw, what is going on out there?" Tanyin pulled the staff I didn't even realize she was carrying off her back and tore toward the tunnels and the direction of Valentinus's voice.
Xandier nodded at me. "Go on, then. You really owe us now," he said, winking at me as he made a clicking sound with his teeth before jogging off and following Tanyin and Valentinus.
I just stood there, shocked. What was even going on with everyone? Xandier was actually being nice to me?
"Must be the heat or something," I murmured, taking my notebook off the table and walking toward the tomb room. I carefully stepped inside and looked around. Dit and Abal sat in the corner playing a game of dice in the candlelight while two men I did not recognize slept nearby. I turned my head to the left to look down the tunnel that Ollie was excavating. Suddenly overcome with curiosity, I crouched down and snuck over to the tunnel, entering it and turning a corner. It was rather dark, so I summoned an Illusion spell to guide me. As I cast the spell, I walked into an extinguished lamp that was on the floor.
"Ouch," I said, rubbing my foot. "Guess that explains why it's so dark."
I heard someone stirring nearby, making me gasp and instinctively duck down. I soon realized that Ollie was asleep on a bedroll in a small alcove a few meters ahead of me. Breathing a sigh of relief, I moved past him and continued on through the tunnel.
Valentinus
Charlotte walked on ahead of us through the tunnels. We could barely keep up with her. We entered the first room in the ruins, the huge one with the stone murals, and sat in the far corner. Charlotte sat at one of the tables, barely looking at us. Even though we were helping her, she seemed so cold. I wondered what that was about. I don't even know why I agreed to come along. Xandier could've managed fine on his own, I'd wager.
No one came in, Queen of Stars be praised, and we sat together in relative peace.
"Don't you think there's something different about Charlotte lately?" asked Xandier.
I looked at him sleepily. "What do you mean?"
"She seems, I don't know, more confident… prettier…"
I looked at Charlotte, who was furiously writing notes and becoming frustrated when her quill ran out of ink, refilling it with more haste every time.
"I don't know. I think she looks the same as always," I lied.
Xandier rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm."
I found myself uncomfortable and wanting to change the subject. "I wonder why the guild hired mercenaries to protect us."
"I feel like that's obvious. We are out in the middle of nowhere, after all."
I tousled my curly hair before pushing it out of my eyes and rubbing my face. "Yeah, I know, but normally the guild calls on The Order of the Lamp, the official protectors of the Mages Guild, to look out for us. My mom was telling me that they're the formal protectors of the Guild of Mages… and that I shouldn't date any of them. Something about a date of hers gone wrong."
"Aight, noted." Xandier sniffed and spread his knees, slouching down as he grabbed a stone and inspected it. "I get the feeling the Sentinel guildhall probably does things a little more unorthodox, being run by Redguards and all that. It doesn't shock me at all that they'd rather hire mercenaries."
A few minutes passed without much happening, and Xandier started getting restless.
"Gods, I assumed she had a purpose for wanting to come down here," said Xandier impatiently. "Why is she just sitting there? She could've taken notes back at camp."
"Maybe she's waiting for one of the mercenaries," I responded, kicking a bug away from my shoe.
Xandier's head whipped to me. "What do you mean?" he asked rapidly.
"Yesterday you teased her about having a crush on one… Enmon, I think? Well, maybe it's true."
"You pay more attention than I give you credit for." Xandier tapped his lip, his expression unreadable. "If Giran comes in looking for us, which I'm certain he will, we need to create a diversion for Charlotte."
Perplexed, I looked at Xandier and squinted my eyes. "Huh? You want to help Charlotte be alone with the guy she likes, is that right? Why would you do that?"
"Seems you underestimate me, too. So listen, here's what we're gonna do."
I listened to Xandier's plan intently, nodding along to what he was saying. I groaned when Xandier told me I'll be the one drawing all the attention. "But why does it have to be me?"
"Because," began Xandier, fluttering his eyes as he rolled them. "You're the least likely to pull a stunt like that, that's why."
"I propose a new plan, one where you're the one blasting yourself with magic. My mother will kill me if I singe these robes again."
"No!"
Charlotte sighed loudly, tucking her hair behind her ear and tossing it over her shoulder. Xandier looked at her longingly, so I kicked his lef.
"Ouch, you s'wit!" complained Xandier, moving his feet away.
I smirked at him. "I saw that look. You're an idiot."
"Says the one who's always being an idiot. By Syrabane's shiny golden rod, let's just get the plan rolling, aye? Hey! Charlotte!"
Charlotte didn't seem to hear us as she leaned over her book and stared intently at one of the pages.
"Charlotte," yelled Xandier loudly, making me wince and hopefully getting the attention of the nearby mercenaries.
Charlotte turned around to look at us, fire dancing in her lilac eyes. "What is it?"
"Finally, my gods. Are you half asleep or something?"
I looked at the mural across the room, sensing movement, but saw nothing. Maybe it was a trick of the light. Sometimes I could sense life without even needing a spell, but as you could imagine, there were a lot of false alarms. It also tired me out. I closed my eyes as Charlotte and Xandier argued, my exhaustion taking over, but opened them shortly after as Charlotte fell off the stone seat.
"What the… Charlotte!" Xandier got up and went to Charlotte as she pushed herself up off her back. "Are you okay?"
I was overwhelmed, but head her mention someone standing in the shadows near the tunnel. I stood up and squinted my eyes, trying to see better. Sure enough, Tanyin was there. Looks like Xandier's plan worked.
"What?" Charlotte asked Xandier, the two of them closer than need be even before she leaned closer to him. "You can stop touching me now. I'm all right."
Xandier's back was turned to me, so I couldn't see his face. "Oh, that's good. You're very… I mean, you're okay, I'm glad."
Charlotte gazed at him, her pretty eyes large and curious, before she seemed to snap out of it. Frowning, she got to her feet and pushed him away. "Xandier!" she moaned, pouting sulkily at him.
"Sorry." Xandier looked at me and grimaced as she turned away from him.
"Toy," I joked, laughing and stepping back as Xandier raised a fist at me.
"What are you doing here?" asked Tanyin, who had made her way over to us. Her voice sounded like it would come straight out of the mouth of a Divine.
Xandier, who had recovered quickly, immediately addressed her. "Wow, heh, I didn't know you could talk. If I had your voice, I wouldn't shut up."
Charlotte looked at him and smiled fondly, which surprised me. "You never do anyway," she said.
I laughed, earning myself a harsh look from Xandier.
"Nice try, charmer, but don't even think of attempting to get out of answering my question," replied Tanyin. She looked at each of us before continuing, "So, what's the game?"
Xandier gave me the sign to start making my way toward the tunnel subtly while he distracted Tanyin.
"What's it to you, anyway?" he asked. "Are you a mercenary or a…"
I made my way quickly and silently to the tunnel without drawing attention to myself. Man, maybe I should be a scout instead of a mage. I entered the tunnel as I heard Tanyin say she was a member of the Order of the Lamp.
"I knew it!" I hissed, jogging around the corner.
Making sure I was still within earshot of Tanyin, I stopped running and turned back around. "It's show-time." I cast a ward in front of me and fired a destruction spell at it, causing it to loudly backfire onto me. I heard Xandier making a big deal back in the mural room.
"H-help. Help!" I cried dramatically as I fired another ice spell at the ward, it's bite making me seethe in pain.
"By Sep's rotting maw!" I heard Tanyin say.
I grinned and took off again, heading for the entrance.
I exited the ruin and looked around, the cool desert breeze of the night blowing against my hair. I jogged around the corner and almost ran into a man whose face was obscured by a litham.
Startled, he stepped back before grabbing my robes and pulling toward him. "Sen am loga keyi alibabal. Napere mongo… Qo den alaba weyo rarira emala? Caller alava Androgyne."
Terrified, I shook my head. "I don't speak Yoku… please, don't hurt me!"
The man's eyes widened. "Androgyne… The Whispering Lady. Tuwo raga un gurleht. Mephala."
My eyes widened as I stared at him, and I heard footsteps nearby as Tanyin and exited the tunnels. "Here! Help me!" I yelled.
Tanyin appeared around the corner as I turned my head to look behind me, and she aimed her staff at the man. "Release him," she said, her voice pure venom.
The man let me go and backed away. "Dua ora masa ui nogo. Hwaet ora sa. Etalia, seb lesta folo dua senikitamo." He pulled a short dagger out of his vest and pointed it at Tanyin before lurching at her.
I cried out in fear before Enmon dropped from the roof of the ruins in front of Tanyin and unsheathed his sword. "Another one. Attacking women because they're easy targets, huh?" He was shaking with rage.
The man frowned and stepped back in fear as Enmon charged toward him, and in a matter of seconds, he was dead.
Tears fell down my face as I looked at what was left of the man.
"Gods, did you have to kill him?" asked Tanyin, who looked queasy.
"Yes," Enmon said coldly as he sheathed his sword and began to walk away. "Men who attack defenseless women like him deserve to die."
"I'm far from defenseless," said Tanyin, rolling her eyes.
I swallowed as I looked at the man again. "What was he saying?" I asked.
Tanyin sighed and fiddled with her staff. "I don't know. Enmon?"
Enmon, who was already at the corner where Xandier was standing, turned around. "He said something about being idle at the end, I don't know. What else did he say?"
"Uh," I said, frowning and shaking my head, trying to remember. "Tuwo raga un gurleht… Qo den… something…"
"He was referring to Mephala. Must be a cult at work in the area, gods, I can't believe that witch has found me again." He put his hands on his hips and looked out into the desert. "I'll let Giran know."
"Wait, that wasn't all. He said other things too."
"Kid, I have better things to do than—"
"Enmon!" snapped Tanyin. "Listen to what he has to say."
Enmon glared at her. "Fine. Let's hear it."
"Okay, ah… Napere mongo alaba weyo rarira emala… caller alava Androgyne?"
Enmon frowned as he listened, before widening his eyes in panic. "White-haired girl… Where is Charlotte?"
I looked at Xandier, who seemed rattled.
"She's looking for you in the ruins," said Xandier. "Why?"
Enmon just shook his head before tearing off and disappearing into the tunnels after Charlotte.
I looked at Tanyin and Xandier. "I think she might be in danger," I said.
"Oh, you think?" said Xandier, making me frown at him and Tanyin snort. "Come on, get up off your arse, let's go."
Charlotte
Walking Ollie's newly excavated tunnels, I soon came upon a rather large opening. Gasping at the size of the cave as I entered it, I looked around in wonder. Moonlight shone down from a series of cracks in the roof of the cave, bathing the inside of it with pale light. I walked along the edge, running my hand across the uneven surface. I felt something strange, like some kind of vibration, and I held my ear up to the wall, its calming coolness against my cheek as I listened intently. There was a soft rumbling sound, and I chalked it up to the sure, steady sound of moving water. Perhaps the same subterranean river that led to Margerie's cave. I looked back, wondering if Ollie had heard the sound while he was in here, too. Letting go of the wall and picking up one of the stray lamps, I walked to the far end of the cavern to continue through the tunnels.
There wasn't much rhyme or reason to the direction of Ollie's tunnels, they were positively serpentine, but I suppose he was the expert. I started feeling tired, electing to sit down against the wall after I turned a corner.
I put the lamp down beside me and leafed through my notebook, opening up the page of the mural. "Are you there?" I whispered, the small fire in the lamp flickering.
I stared at the drawing of the Serpent, sighing in frustration at receiving no response. I didn't know how to talk to Mephala. I leaned back against the wall of the tunnel, my eyes feeling heavy. As I began drifting off, I sensed a disturbance.
"You mortals don't make things easy, do you?" said a diesmbodied voice.
I sat up and looked around. "Huh? Mephala?"
"Yes, it's me. What do you want?"
I licked my top lip and swallowed. "I have a question to ask you, please."
The voice sighed. "I'm sure you do. Well? Ask."
"Ah," I began, not sure how to word it. "D-does your… power… mess with anyone else? Like, besides Enmon and me?"
The voice gave me a smooth cackle. "Mmmm, well, messing with the fabric of existence has certain far-reaching… effects. Getting into it will take thousands of years to understand. Some things aren't for mortal minds to comprehend."
My eyes twitched as I slightly lowered my gaze. "Please… please don't mess with the minds and thoughts of my friends. They don't deserve it."
The voice stayed silent for a few seconds before continuing, her voice slow and indulging. "I assume you mean my payment. Yes. We made a deal back there, you know. Meddling in the affairs of your kind is what keeps me, mmm, entertained. Living forever can get awfully tedious at times, not that you'd ever understand. Your friend might though, yes."
I felt a rush of anger as I thought of Giselle. "Please, stop! Why me? Why did you contact me, why mess with my life?"
"Heh, you? object of your desire…. Maybe."
"Enmon? What did he do?"
"Let's just say it's a family affair. He's a tough one to crack, my favorite kind of mortal. A slow-burn makes the pay-off all the more… satisfying, yes."
I contorted my face in anger. "No! I'll use the talisman," I said, nodding. "Yeah, the one Ollie gave me. I'll do it!"
The voice just laughed at me. "Do try, mortal. Do try."
I got up as her voice faded away, pacing up and down, trying to coerce her back. Realizing it was of no use, I slumped back down next to the lamp and thought about what to do. I could tell Giran and Mrs Morham, warn them about Mephala's influence… but then I would have to admit to my part in all this. Maybe just Giselle and Enmon then… but what if they hated me after? I clenched my teeth and shook my hands in frustration, shaking my head slowly as I began to cry. Everything was becoming such a mess. I sighed and closed my notebook, deciding it was time I headed back, but I was exhausted, so I settled on resting for a few minutes. Just a few minutes. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
"Charlotte. Charlotte!"
I opened my eyes and gasped at Enmon came into focus. "En… Enmon? What are you…?"
"What are you doing here? Are you all right?" He was panting like he'd just sprinted across the whole of Hammerfell.
I pushed myself up and looked around. "Yeah, I'm… I'm fine. Sorry, I know I shouldn't be here, but—"
"Has Mephala contacted you?" he asked, kneeling down and putting his hand on my arm, which gave me a thrill, and narrowing his eyes at me. "Have you contacted her?"
"What?" I asked, staring into his dark, captivating eyes. "No."
Enmon closed his eyes and sighed in relief as he sat down next to me, still panting. "Thank Naenra. That dumb kid must've got the words mixed up."
"Dumb kid?" I grinned and turned my head to him. "Do you mean Valentinus?"
Enmon gave me a wry smile as his eyes flicked to mine. "Wavy haired, green eyes, doesn't seem like he's all there?"
I smiled. "That's him." I frowned. "Wait, Xandier and Valentinus… are they okay?"
Enmon nodded. "He's fine. Bit shaken due to what I assume was a cultist confronting him, but your friends are safe. They're with Tanyin."
I felt relieved, but fear soon bubbled back up my chest. "A cultist? What do you mean?"
Enmon put his hand up to calm me, closing his eyes and nodding. "Yeah, they're around. I killed one yesterday as well."
"I saw the blood," I said dryly.
"Sorry, I think me and Dit cleaned up all the guts, but the blood seeped into the ground and it's hard to get out of stone."
I swallowed, feeling sick. "Oh… so it was you who killed him. Giran said someone volunteered to go after me. I assumed it wasn't you seeing as you don't seem to like me."
"It's not that," he began as he stared at the lamp, the light dancing in his eyes. "I'm not… someone who you want to get involved with, Charlotte. I'm not a nice guy. I'm sure Giran would've said something to warn you off me."
"He did," I said, pursing my lips and looking away.
"Well… what did he say?"
I knew Giran wouldn't want me saying anything, but I decided to anyway. "He said…" I began, swallowing and looking around tentatively. "He said your sister was killed, and you blame yourself for not being there to protect her."
He sat in silence and didn't respond, prompting me to look at him. His eyes were sad as he looked at me, and he averted his gaze without saying anything.
I opened my lips, my tongue making a soft sound as it fell from the roof of my mouth and I took a small breath. "My sister died too, when I was around ten. We had a fight while we were playing outside of Daggerfall's walls. It was my idea to go out there too, even though I knew the dangers. I left her there on the beach as she cried, and that was the last time I saw her… she was only six."
Enmon gazed at me, his expression impossible to read. "What happened to her?"
I shook my head as my eyes fell. "I don't know," I whispered. "But we never saw her again. I don't think my parents ever forgave me for it, I mean, why would they? I can't even forgive myself. I had one job, to protect my sister." I shrugged as my eyes started to sting. "And I failed. I failed her."
Before I knew it, I began to sob.
"Shh, it's all right. You were only a child yourself." Enmon put his arm around me to comfort me, and I fell into his embrace. He grunted in surprise but held me against him tenderly. No one had hugged me like that since I was young, and it felt nice. I suddenly felt guilty for not telling him the truth about Mephala… gods, this wasn't going to end well for me. But for now, I want to keep quiet… just for a while. I could have that, right? I felt so at peace in Enmon's arms that I began to drift off again.
"Why, by Baan Dar's gag-worthy spittoon, what in Oblivion is going on here?" came Xandier's voice.
Startled, I looked up to see Xandier, Valentinus, Tanyin, and Abal all standing in the corner of the tunnel. They all looked shocked, except Abal, who had a smirk on his face.
"We were just talking," said Enmon, looking at me and smiling reassuringly.
"Looks like it, yes. Did you fight off the danger you thought she was in? She looks perfectly okay to me."
Enmon nodded and pursed his lips. "She was fine. I think there may have been a bit of a mix up with what Valentinus told me, I thought she was being pursued by Mephala."
"What?" said Tanyin and Abal in unison.
Valentinus shook his head quickly while I felt a stab of guilt.
"Mix up, mmm-hmm, sure," said Xandier as he glared at Enmon.
Enmon gave him an unamused look. "You calling me a liar, blondie? If you want your pretty face rearranged, keep talking," he said darkly.
Of course, Xandier opened his mouth to retort, but Abal knocked him with his shoulder. "You have balls kid I'll give you that, especially after seeing what Enmon did to that cultist outside, but I think we've had enough violence for one night. Enmon," Abal growled.
Enmon nodded and stood up, helping me get to my feet.
Enmon and Tanyin walked us to the camp while Abal stayed back.
"Do try not to get into any more trouble," said Tanyin. "We'll be keeping an eye on you three."
Xandier threw his hand back at her as he walked back to the tents, followed by Valentinus. Tanyin gave me a look before her eyes flicked to Enmon as she turned around and started back toward the ruins.
Enmon shot a look at me before attempting to follow her, but I took his hand.
"Wait," I said.
He tsked. "Charlotte, please."
"I just wanted to thank you for listening to me back there… I appreciate it. I haven't been able to be vulnerable like that with anyone in a long time."
"You're welcome." He tried to pull his hand away, but I held on to it for some reason. "Listen. You are vulnerable. I'm not… I don't want to hurt you."
I smiled at him as he looked at me slowly. "You'd never hurt me. Gods, I know you wouldn't."
Enmon stepped toward me, angling my face so I'd look up at him. "You sure about that?"
I stayed silent, his scent warm and exciting, and nodded my head slightly.
He stared into my eyes, touching my face gently with his forefinger. "You're so beautiful, did you know that?" he said quietly.
I inhaled, my breathing uneven and revealing as my heart quickened in response to his touch. He moved his face closer to mine and closed his eyes. I closed my eyes and parted my lips in anticipation of his kiss, but he stopped just before his lips touched mine.
"Goodnight, Charlotte," he said, dropping his arms and walking away, leaving me standing there in a horny mess.
I exhaled, my body swirling with conflicting emotions. I wanted to tell Giselle about what had happened… but I knew I couldn't. She wasn't herself. I went into our tent and got ready for bed. I climbed into my cot and pulled the blanket over me, my head still swirling with thoughts. I frowned as I lay there turning over and reaching for my bag to check on something, gasping when I realized it wasn't there. The talisman Ollie gave me was gone