Chapter 3

Ever since that fateful encounter, Kiri does her best to carry on with her life. She was still shaken up, and yet, there was something off about the assassin that tried to kill her. He wiped her tears away and spared her by slicing up her tapestry instead.

But the question that gnawed her mind was who performed the Black Sacrament to even summon him in the first place?

She couldn't think of anyone who hated her so badly that they would contact the Dark Brotherhood. The Redguard was heading down to the docks to do the supply run with the owner of the East Empire Company, Vittoria Vici. She was an Imperial related to the Emperor, Titus Mede II.

"Good morning, Kiri," Vittoria greeted her with a smile. "Had trouble sleeping?"

Kiri gave her a tired smile. "Nightmares, Vittoria. I hope you don't get any since you are getting married."

Just by the word itself, the young Imperial woman lets out a dreamy sigh. Of course she was always thinking about her wedding. Her meeting with her fiancé was a forbidden one since he's a Nord from the well-established Snow-Shod family. They lived in Riften and supported the Stormcloak rebellion.

That was until a certain war had made their cause folly.

"I hope from days to come I can always see my sweet Asgeir..." she swooned, causing Kiri to roll her eyes playfully. Although both of them were of the same age in their late 20s, Kiri never once had someone to settle down with.

She yearned for a sweet romance just like in the books she purchased from Riften's bookstore but real life was messy.

Nonetheless, she was content with what she had with her own home, but not EXACTLY happy as one might put it. Despite having a job on the farm and Blaise, she still wasn't right in the head when it came to her own happiness. Like Vittoria, she used to have a family but was casted out for things she took for granted.

Which was the reason why she was willing to let that assassin run his blade across her neck.

"Come back tomorrow!" Vittoria called after her. "I might have something for you to do for the wedding. A courier will come after you if I need your help."

Kiri waved her goodbye as she made it back to the farm. The supplies traded with the East Empire Company were enough to upgrade a few farm tools such as a harness for the bulls to plow the field, a butter churn and a few more nutrients to mix into the horses' mash.

By the time the work was over, the sun was already setting down over the horizon. It was Kiri's cue to go home with whatever she had earned form Katla. Blaise was bounding beside her, clearly happy that they were going to eat oven-roasted chicken with some cheese scones.

"Do you think I can help with the scones? Please?" Blaise asked, tugging the young woman's sleeve. Kiri smiled and ruffled the little boy's head. "Of course, but you're not going to leave me with all the mess to clean up."

"You're the grownup, you always have to clean up," Blaise pointed out, to which Kiri jabbed him playfully by the side.

"Say that again and I won't take you out for a ride on Cinnamon," she told him. Cinnamon was one of the palomino horses at the farm, to whom Blaise loves to groom and feed her carrots. That got the young boy to behave as they made their way back home.

...

After dinner, Blaise had cleaned up the dishes while Kiri was noting down the supplies that were needed tomorrow. She was still thinking about who would want her dead. She knew her family from Hammerfell wouldn't do this despite throwing her out at a young age. Perhaps someone in Solitude?

"Who could have done it," she murmured to herself, unaware of a shadowy figure that silently entered the premise without much noise. About her assassin, there was a part of her that yearn to see him again, due to the compassion he had presented before 'killing' her.

In her room, she locked her door with a clicked as she began to change into her nightgown and unbraided her black hair. Just as she turned around to face her bed, she covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

There, sitting on the bed, was her Argonian assassin.

"You..." she whispered, frozen at where she stoop. The assassin regarded her with those yellow reptilian eyes. He doesn't need to remove his hood and mask to show how terrifying he was. "Evening, Kiri. Do you know why am I here?"

Kiri nodded wordlessly, deciding to test the waters by approaching the bed. That was when he stood up, his height towering over her small 5'5 frame. Her eyes looked into his, the urge to remove his mask was great. "A-are you here to kill me again?"

"That is what the contract says," he sighed. Kiri followed his sigh since she had no way out of this. In fact, no one taught her how to wield a weapon or fight back. Tentatively, she reached out her hand to touch his mask.

"Before you do...may I know your name?"

Slowly, the assassin removed his mask to reveal the scaly green muzzle with a copper tinge around it that looked like he had not wiped blood from his kill. Then his hood, where he revealed his sharp horns that resembled those she had seen from a dragon in a book.

"My name is Veezara," he introduced himself with a gracious bow. "I am the last Shadowscale of the Dark Brotherhood."

Humouring him, the young woman curtsied. This caused the scaly reptile to curved his lips up into a small smile. Kiri blushed, her black hair covered half of her face like a curtain. She had never done this with anyone. Let alone, an assassin whom she finds to be handsome.

Without thinking, Kiri began to traced her fingers over his muzzle, then his cheek before stroking his horns. Veezara closed his eyes and lets out a contented purr. It was a sweet moment if she had not looked down at the swords that were clasped against his belt.

As if he had read her mind, Veezara's eyes became slits. "Take it off."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"The Dark Brotherhood will not rest until the debt has been paid," he murmured. His tail was whipping at the thought. "However, I may give you some...alternatives if you want to live."

On guard, Kiri nodded. "I'm listening. Just don't hurt Blaise, please."

In a commanding tone, he repeated, "Take off your dress."

Abandoning the sense of modesty that rang inside of her, the Redguard began to pull over her nightgown to reveal nothing but her underwear. She then kicked off her shoes, presenting her cinnabar skin that matched the curves of her body and her ample assets.

Veezara had a neutral expression, clearly channeling his role as the Shadowscale. When he had not said a word, Kiri began blushing. He wanted NOTHING on her.

Reluctantly, she pushed down her panties before pushing them aside. Standing nude before him, Veezara gave her an approving nod and gestured her to step forward. Kiri's skin was forming goosebumps just by being close to the Argonian.

A part of her wanted to tell him to do the same, but another liked this kind of predicament she was in. Oh yes, the fantasy from her romance books were coming to life!

"On your knees," he commanded, breath inches away from her cheek. "I will show you what a Shadowscale such as myself can do."


Still wondering who summoned the Dark Brotherhood?