Wow! We usually comment on your brilliant humor- and rightly so.... But this one made me shiver. That is not a complaint- I used to scare myself into sleeping with the lights on reading horror stories....

I do feel a bit wistful, though, at the absence of a chaotic white Khajiit who leaves pandemonium in her wake....

I must wholeheartedly agree with the above comments. This was masterfully done!

I thoroughly enjoyed slinking around with Eyja as she went about her deadly rounds, delivering vengeance.

Poor Gogron. What a way to go though.

Bravo mALX! :celebration:

Very cute argument between Telaendril and Antoinetta! But why on Nirn is Telaendril having six with Gogron after she dumped him and he was trying to make her jealous with Eyja? I must say that shooting Gogron in the ass was a beautiful piece of irony though, considering what an ass he was in life!

So this Cytherea person is the reason that Foxy has it in for Vicente then? Interesting. Given Eyja's zeal at her task, I am guessing they were related, sisters perhaps? How is it that Eyja knows all of the particulars of her death? Was she or Foxy there? Did someone who was there tell Foxy/her?

Also, why would their keys no longer work? Maybe you should put in a sentence saying why not?

This was a fun chapter. It reads like a horror movie, with Eyja going around chopping people up for their past crimes.

I have to agree with this -- quite diabolical, but very, very good.

I feel sorry for Antionetta now...she's whiny, self-important and deserves to join the rest...but Eyja sounds like she's got nothing good planned for her.


I think that's because Eyja exchanged Rosethorn Hall and Summitmist Manor's locks, so now the Rosethorn Hall key works for Summitmist Manor, and the Summitmist Manor key for Rosethron -- but only she knows that.

Yes, she just PMed me that. But I had just assumed that Ocheeva would have locked the door behind her when they entered the manor and would have noticed if the locks had been changed at that point.

@ Foxy - Woo Hoo! I scared the Black Fox !!! Yeah !!! Thank you Foxy, you started all this with your suggestion about Sneakers, lol.
***
@ Winter Wolf - I always bring 'healing other' scrolls when I go to Scar-Tail, I like him too much to kill him. Thank you Wolf, I was really scared about doing this Purification knowing the DB is close to your heart - so glad you relieved my mind on that! You are Awesome!!
***
@ Destri Melarg - Thank you so much Destri, hearing that from you - who does it all the time and does a much better job of it, lol !!!! You ROCK !!!
***
@ Hauteecole Rider - Thank you very much, and I hope everyone saw your last chapter, it was my favorite so far!
***
@ RemkoNL - Thank you Remko! Your last chapter was another one of my faves, the customs of the Ashlander and how Rales used them to his advantage - that was really well done!
***
@ Treydog - Thank you so very much Treydog - I miss Maxical too. I have come up with a few things I found in Lore that may do the trick; but not sure if I will be able to keep playing off that glitched 360 game anymore. I may have a corrupt file on it, and would rather use the PC game I have been using for screenshots than start another 360 game though. (The PC game is at the same place 'in-game' as the glitched 360 game).

On the 360 game, Maxical had "died" again in Skingrad castle. I loaded the save and hear the sound of battle music. Janus was beating the tar out of Maxical! - no warnings that she was trespassing or anything, just started whaling on her. I got him to talk and checked his disposition, and it was at 100! So I backed out of that screen, and he started beating the tar out of her again! Anyway, that file won't stay up, it keeps crashing, I have gone as far back in the saves as I can and it does it on all of them. The screen has started going black when it happens now. If I start a new game, the new game works fine. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted, lol.

(the Janus on the PC game still loves Maxical though, more so than ever lately, ROFL !!)

Thanks again Treydog, and I am SOOOO glad you are writing again! I wrote a poem about Athynae to post on your thread but it was so bad - it was worse than the ones I was prompting Foxy with before! ROFL !!! - needless to say, I deleted it, lol. Hope you are not snowed in!
***
@ Acadian - Thank you very much, now that sounds more like!! I appreciate you tons Acadian, and I am so hyped over this tourney on your thread !!!!!
***
@ SubMinxia the Minxiest Minx of Minxing Minxdom in Minxonia - ROFL !!!! A house full of assassins, locking their door, lol. I am finally beginning to tell when you are just F'ing with me, ROFL !! Minx!

My pup was sick again, so I had trouble picking up on it, lol. The DB purges from within, anything she is scared of would be inside the house with her. That and thinking Lucien was inside mad, her only idea would be to be able to run out, that way whoever was doing the purge would be killed by the guards and she would live to see another day.

Technically, they don't even lock the sanctuary against any DB members either, only outsiders. That is why the door being locked was such an issue, no one was expecting it. Ocheeva being the head of that chapter, she had a key to the house, so tried to use it to escape and it didn't work.

What I did was merge the two quests - "The Purification" and the "Who Done It" quests, I thought it would make a good underlying joke to mix the two together.

I am so excited over the new character builds you are doing on your storyline - but MORE TADROSE character building !!!!!! (my request, lol)

Thank you so much Minx! You are AWESOME !!!
***
@ Rachel (the other Minx) Breton - That scene with Antoinetta - and this is something I have never seen in game, but found out researching for this quest - she actually says that! I used mostly her words via the construction set -

Antoinetta is the lowest member above the player, but if you talk to her she says she will be the next head of the chapter because Lucien knows talent when he sees it. Combine that with her history with Lucien and it made the argument a legit one (game-wise), lol. I liked it too, and Thank You so much for catching that part!

Your last two chapters had me dying laughing!!!


*************************************




*** D. Foxy has graciously agreed to the use of his characters Damien "Foxy" Reynard and Cytherea in this episode. He has also Co-Written segments.


Chapter 68: Antoinetta, Vicente, Eyja, And Lucien



When Eyja came upstairs from the basemant she saw Vicente was stirring. She hurried up to the third floor, wanting to be there already when he came up. She slid into Antoinetta's room and waited for Vicente to pass and enter his own so there would be no chance of any surprise interruptions.



****** Vicente and Antoinetta


Vicente suddenly felt exhausted. All that time in jail he had not been able to lay down, and it seemed to hit him all at once after he had eaten. He was greatly relieved to see Lucien had left without the confrontation he had been dreading. Since everyone was out while Lucien was here, it wasn't likely that he would be able to enact the Purification. Maybe this would all blow over.

He barely had the strength to make it up the stairs, and was almost stumbling as he made his way to the room. Antoinette spotted him.

"Vicente!" Antoinetta called. "Vicente, I had some horrible disease, I had to go to the chapel to be healed. The healer said it was some kind of a sixually transferred disease!"

Vicente's eyebrows snapped down into a scowl instantly. He had paused in his doorway, but at hearing that he stomped over to her door and loomed in the aperture, seeming to fill it despite his small stature.

"What? You didn't get it from me! Who else have you been with? How did you get that?" His words spat out like a whip lashing her, and his eyes glowed with anger instantly.

"Eyja gave it to me!"

Vicente looked stunned for an extended few seconds, and then slowly his eyebrows began to raise back up as his expression changed to one of interest.

"Oh?really?" An image floated through his mind, but seeing Eyja in it nearly caused him to heave. "Have you never thought about Telaendril in that way? I would think she would be your first choice, living together all these years."

"What are you talking about?" Antoinetta looked confused.

Vicente's eyes suddenly glazed over as a new thought popped into his head.

"Say, why don't I bring a bottle of wine up tonight and just you, me, and Telaendril can sit around and have a nice evening together, wouldn't that be fun?"

"Huh? Why would I want Telaendril there? Besides, she was hateful to me tonight anyway, and made Ocheeva mad by telling her lies about me. She is spending the night with Gogron."

"Well I thought?" Vicente started.

"I didn't get it like everyone else here did. The healer said I got it because Eyja and I got into a fight, and she clawed me when she ripped my armor and bra."

"A cat fight? When was this?" Once again the thought of Eyja being involved spoiled the image in his mind. "Telaendril was hateful to you? I will go get her if you want to confront her about it. If you two want to fight, I will supervise it so no one gets hurt. I can send her up here now if you are really mad."

"I don't want to fight with her, she is my sister! Besides that, I am not speaking to you. Eyja told me all about you and that white Khajiit, that this whole mission was over her. I was glad you were rotting in that jail cell."

Vicente's shoulders slumped at first, but then he got angry. Antoinetta had gotten out of control with her jealousy, and he was rapidly tiring of it. His voice raised into a shout, something he rarely did.

"Eyja lied to you, you should never believe anything you hear unless it comes from me. Maxical is your sister too, and if you are going to go into another sulk like you did while I was training her then you need not look to see 'The Man' anytime soon. I am going to my room now. I have not slept or bathed since the night of the mission." He stomped into his room and slammed the door, locking it.

Vicente took a bath and scrubbed himself till his skin almost looked as pink as his eyes. It felt so good to get the smell of Gogron off him. He had not been able to lay down the whole time he was in jail, and he stretched out across the bed, as soon as he hit the bed exhaustion took over and he passed out again as he had at the dinner table earlier.




******* Eyja and Antoinetta

Antoinetta buried her face in her pillow bawling loudly.

Eyja quietly closed and locked the door. She slid soundlessly over to the bed, drawing out the Blade of Woe as she did. With one swift movement she plunged the blade into the back of Antoinetta's neck, severing her spinal and vocal cords. She would be paralyzed and silenced, but remain alive long enough for what Eyja planned for her.

She cast a dispel so she could be seen and leaned over, whispering in Antoinetta's ear.

"You didn't remember me Antoinetta, but I have never forgotten you. Maybe this will help jog your memory?Cytherea? The virgin you held down so Vicente could force his dark gift on her? Oh, I was just a young girl when I walked in and saw what you and Vicente were doing to my sister. Do you remember me crying, and you laughed at me? And now Vicente is going after another virgin, the white Khajiit. Did you think Damien or I would just stand by and let you two do it to another? Today you pay for what you did to Cytherea. You took from me the one thing I cared about, so before you die I will do the same. Listen well, Antoinetta. The next sounds you hear will be 'The Man', the vampire you love betraying you with me. Feel it break your heart, and eat it as your last bitter meal, just as Damien and I have had to for fifteen years!"

Eyja slid out the door and shut it, leaning her back against it. She was shaking uncontrollably, tears burning her eyes, and her breath came in ragged gasps.

Slowly she forced herself over to Vicente's door and fumbled with a lock pick. It dropped out of her trembling hands and when she stooped to pick it back up the tears she was fighting began falling. She swiped at them with the back of her hand and once again tried to pick the lock, but her hands were shaking too badly.

Suddenly Eyja felt two hands on her shoulder turning her around. The lock pick fell from her fingers as she looked into the face of Lucien Lachance. Very slowly he pulled her into his arms and crushed her against him.

"No Eyja. She won't know the difference." He said it so softly in her ear that she barely heard him. Lucien pushed her against the door of Antoinetta's room and began kissing her as he lifted her dress. And then she realized what he was doing. He was saving her from her own revenge. A feeling of relief washed over her, and she gave herself fully to Lucien.

***

When it was over, Eyja opened the bedroom door and walked slowly over to Antoinetta. She leaned over and looked into Antoinetta's bloodshot, red rimmed eyes.

"It was great." She whispered, smiling and reaching up for the blade. "And by the way, this knife in your neck is from Lucien, just thought you should know that. I guess you weren't as talented as you thought." Eyja twisted the blade in Antoinetta's neck as she pulled it out, severing the main artery.

"Do you want me to finish Vicente for you?" Lucien asked, gently stroking Eyja's hand.

Eyja shook her head. "It is for Damien to kill Vicente. It must be done according to our plan, our timing. You may help if you like, but I will not let you interfere with the plans for Vicente. He must pay for what he has done, and know why he pays."

"Will this Damien be coming here? Is he in the Rosethorn Hall?"

"No. I am to release Vicente. He is going after the white Khajiit. We know where he will be. Damien will kill him at a place of his choosing, but die he will, that I promise you."

"You are going to let him loose? But, the ceremony?the Purification!"

"Your orders for Purification came after our orders for Vicente. We have priority, you will have to stand in line. If it is that you wish for the Blade of Woe to be used, or my hand must be a part of the killing to fulfill your ritual, I will give you my word that somehow it will happen as you ask, even if it is just the blade piercing the ashes on the ground when he is gone. I am guessing, but I think he is intended to die where Cytherea died, and suffer what she did. I take my orders from Damien without question, and he has never failed me."

"Who is this Damien? What is this plan and orders you speak of?"

"If I told you that, I would have to kill you." Eyja looked him squarely in the eye when she said it, a serious expression on her face.

Lucien laughed, surprising her. Not many got her humor.

"Well, I can see if I am to be a part of you, I must become a part of this plan. It is true that I prefer the blade be used, but it is not a bylaw. If you choose you can pass it on to this Damien person. So What happens now?" Lucien asked, taking Eyja's hand. "Why have I not met you before now? Surely these are not your first murders."

"There are four speakers in the Black Hand. The one that came to me after my first murder was named Mathieu Bellamont."








*

May I salute our Senorita of suspense, our Mistress of Murder, MalX123456789 and all the numbers there are!


(Oh yes, and a Minx too, of course)

:read: Well done again mALX! :ninja:

Quite a complex plot you are weaving.

Finally some emotion from the cold, calculating Eyja, bursting forth in a dramatic transformation.

Revenge seems to be a powerful motivation here, very powerful.

You are building quite the showdown for Vincente!


A couple areas of redundant wording struck me for you to consider:

She slid into Antoinetta's room and waited for Vicente to enter his room. {Would simply deleting the last room work?}

severing her spinal chord and her vocal chords. {Perhaps: severing her spinal and vocal chords?}

EDIT: chord vs cord. Good grief, how could I have missed that?!? Thanks for your correction Rider.

Absolutely outstanding work. Even more chilling than the last, with the emotions thrown in. Just incredible, mALX1!



It's spinal cord, and vocal cords. Chord refers to music, cord is the correct anatomical term. Otherwise, Acadian's statement stands. Another way to write this is:

Severing her spinal cord and her voice box.

More gory goodness- with a sprinkling of emotion, as well. And Vicente dodges the blade- for now. Great stuff!

I feel like I am sinking into a whirling maelstrom, deeper and deeper. Awesome.

How can I look at Eyja the same way again? That was a twist that even Beth could not see.
Mathieu Bellamont. Yippee! I like. I like. :liplick:

Here are some lyrics for you, ladettes and gentile men...

MAN SMART, WOMAN SMARTER!!!

I say let us put man and a woman together
To find out which one is smarter
Some say man but I say no
The woman got the man de day should know

And not me but the people they say
That de man are leading the women astray
But I say, that the women of today
Smarter than the man in every way

That's right de woman is uh smarter!
That's right de woman is uh smarter!
That's right de woman is uh smarter,
that's right, that's right

Ever since the world began
Woman was always teaching man
And I you listen to my bid attentively
I goin' tell you how she smarter than me

Samson was the strongest man long ago
No one could a beat him, as we all know
Until he clash with Deliah on top of the bed
She told them all the strength was in the hair of his head

You meet a girl at a pretty dance
Thinking that you would stand a chance
Take her home, thinking she's alone
Open de door you find her husband home

I was treating a girl independently
She was making baby for me
When de baby born and I went to see
Eyes was blue it was not by me

Garden of Eden was very nice
Adam never work in Paradise
Eve meet snake, Paradise gone
She make Adam work from that day on

Methusaleh spent all his life in tears
Lived without a woman for 900 years
One day he decided to have some fun
The poor man never lived to see 900 and one

Another chilling chapter! Women are much more adept at revenge than men. I guess 'hell truly hath no fury', poor Antoinetta! :shakehead:

Just a few small nitpicks:


You forgot a 't' in the first sentence, and you forgot to open the quotation in the second.

Hehe, thanks, mALX! Yes, I've always wondered about that...was it just an ego trip on her part? Or did she have some hand in the deaths?

As for the last chapter...wow! More chilling excellence!!


Mathieu Bellamont, eh? This gets better and better!!! Bring it on!!

@ Foxy - It can only go downhill from here, that last chapter broke the record for the all time most reads in one day, most reads for one chapter, and the month of January broke the record for most reads per month on the internet site I post this story on !!! Thank you so much Foxy, You always ROCK !!! - Your poem is hilarious, ROFL !!!
***
@ Acadian - I would not say transformation at all, that implies she will be different when it is over. Even assassins can have emotional moments, and since these murders were so personal to her, it is not unusual for her to have a reaction, especially in light of what she was making herself do to get revenge on Antoinetta.

It was not something she wanted to do at all. When she was coming on strongly to Vicente in the beginning it was because she knew by his dossier that hitting on him would be a turn-off to him. She did not want him touching her at all, not after what he did to her sister. Lucien saved her from having to.

Thank you so much Acadian, you are so appreciated! Fixed the errors.
***
@ Hauteecole Rider - Thank you very much! To hear that from you means a lot, you are ROCKING your thread, but then I knew you would! (and fixed to cord)
***
@ Treydog - Thank You, Thank You !!! (you know what the second one is for - Awesome job!!!!) - Vicente and Foxy will be having it out in the future, that is certain! You are AWESOME Treydog (and Mrs. Treydog !!)
***
@ Winter Wolf - I am tickled pink that you liked that! I never liked Eyja before, but after this storyline I may not feel so safe sleeping or eating there, lol. - but to be honest, I feel better about her as I shape her character than I ever did before, despite the fact that she is now promiscuous and a murderer, ROFL !!! - of course, I did add her to my "Stepford Husbands" mod, I made her prettier and gave her better hair and clothes - and then I gave her some magic spells and armor, weapons, etc. - and then I gave her a personality !!!!!! Yeah !!! So actually in game I am liking her better now. I will post some screenies I took of her today if I don't forget, lol. Thank you again - very much Wolf !!
***
@ Destri Melarg - I read a book on revenge, (but it was by a man); "Eleni" by Nicholas Gage - AWESOME read if anyone can find the time.

"Antoinetta swims with the fishes"... I kind of agree with you here, she was a victim of Vicente's womanizing...but she is too old for that excuse to be valid, lol.

She is always so friendly and sweet sounding in game - till you get her talking, lol. Thank you very much Destri, it always means so much when you like a chapter, especially after having read your story!!!
***
@ Rachel (the other Minx) Breton - My guess has always been that she was sleeping with Lucien and thought that would get her the promotion. She was highly promiscuous before being picked up by Lucien. (sleeping with beggars, jail mates, and jailors) - That is why Eyja set it up to look like she was doing it again (by doing it herself and blaming it on Antoinetta) - so Lucien would be reminded of how she was when he met her - to sever the relationship so he wouldn't feel bad about purging her. - because in the whole Purification, the two Eyja had the worst need to revenge were Antoinetta and Vicente.

I have always hated Mathieu Bellamont, and I always wondered if I am the only one who brings his mother's severed head and torments him with it? I rub it in his face or play tag-ball and hit him with it the whole time I am in there, etc.
***




*** D. Foxy has graciously agreed to the use of his character Damien "Foxy" Reynard in this episode.




Chapter 69: Know Your Assassin


"You are in the Dark Brotherhood already? Then there should be no difficulty whatsoever in the Night Mother accepting my choice of you as head of the Cheydinhal sanctuary." Lucien tried unsuccessfully to squelch the chagrin from showing on his face. Mathieu Bellamont had been a bit of a loose cannon, it was a mild shock to hear he had succeeded in bringing into the fold one as priceless as Eyja for their organization. How irritating it would be if she became the head of Mathieu's division instead of his own. There was just something about the man Lucien could not like.

"I don't associate myself with the Dark Brotherhood, nor do I want to run your sanctuary. I never intended to. You knew that, why else would you have said what you did?" Eyja was looking him directly in the eye, speculatively. "Why did that upset you?"

"What?" Lucien blanked his face.

"Don't ask what you already know." Eyja was still watching his eyes closely.

"There is something I cannot trust or like about that man." Lucien admitted.

"You should make it your business to find out why, inner senses are our strongest asset. Have you?" She was glaring as if she knew the answer already.

"No. We do not have dealings with each other, there was no reason to. I do follow my senses most of the time. I felt you would not take the position to run the sanctuary, but somehow knew you intended to do the purge. How could you possibly know it would be ordered? Or would you have acted without it?" Lucien steered the conversation back to the questions he wanted answered.

We were waiting for the Purification to be enacted so our killing would not be confused with the murders of the other members from that traitor. When things continued downhill and it was not ordered, I?I set them up to be purged. It is not like they didn't deserve it though."

"This purge was long overdue, it would have taken place whether you set them up or not. If they were worth their salt, they would not have been able to be set up. I don't regret ordering it, only taking so long to do so."

"Good. I am glad that is off my chest." Eyja made a show of wiping imaginary sweat off her brow while making a "Whew" sound.

Lucien laughed, but answered seriously. "I knew it was a set up before you confessed it. I was almost sure at first, then I doubted myself. All indications were that you were being totally candid; you were amazingly open. But I had caught you in one mistake early, and it lingered and festered, keeping me from believing you."

"The garlic?"

"Yes. Vicente would never knowingly eat garlic. But arguing that, I could not figure out how he could have just 'accidentally' bumped into you, hired you . It all seemed too random, coincidental." Lucien watched her closely, waiting for her reply.

"I bumped into him deliberately, that was not a chance encounter. The man is a creature of habit, easier to tail than a sentry on duty. He doesn't look around when he walks about, hundreds of times he could have spotted me. When I bumped into him, he showed not a flicker of recognition or suspicion. My first words were, I need a job and a place to stay. He hired me on the spot, without even asking my name or any background information; that is the truth." Eyja made a fist with her right hand and pounded it twice over her heart, then held it open and raised with the palm facing Lucien as if swearing a vow.

Lucien stared at the raised hand as if his mind wandered. He gave himself a mental shake to refocus on his questioning. "What about those plans that were so bad, yet in his handwriting? I know his handwriting well, there was no doubt it was his."

"I forged the plans imitating his handwriting, I admit that. I did it before his very eyes and he did not notice the writing was the same as his. Damien taught me that people only see what they expect to see. He did not expect me to imitate his writing with him sitting there watching me. The good plans were my own. No one in this sanctuary has seen them. They were for my own rescue of the Khajiit." Eyja looked him straight in the eye as she spoke.

"But wouldn't it have taken a lot of practice to learn to write in his hand? How did you do it after seeing his writing that one time?" Lucien was struggling to believe Eyja, even though she was confirming his own theory.

"Do you want me to do yours for you?" Eyja eyed him, challenging.

"Could you?" He eyed her challenging look with hesitancy. Could she?

Eyja held his eyes, a mocking look in her own before finally breaking down in giggles. "No, but you wondered, didn't you? Of course I practiced!"

"You broke the code on the sword in seconds, right before my eyes." Lucien continued arguing against his own position.

"All the Dark Brotherhood swords say 'Blade of Woe', it was a lucky guess. So how did you finally figure it out?" Eyja leaned forward as if the answer was important to her.

"My inner senses have always guided me. That is why I felt safe giving you the key to my quarters, even knowing you were not who you said you were." Lucien remembered how pink her cheeks had flushed during that exchange. What a paradox she was; the cold blooded murderer, the hot blooded lover, the blushing schoolgirl, a mind more brilliant than any he would have expected to find. Had she beauty she would be a goddess.

"Why did you do that?" Eyja repeated, flushing as if she had read his thoughts in his eyes, or in the expressions flickering across his face.

"Don't ask what you already know." Lucien used her own phrase back to her.

"Weren't you worried I may be there to assassinate you?" Eyja held up the sword, indicating the drying blood on it.

"The thought crossed my mind briefly." He ignored the gesture.

"Then why?trust me now?" Eyja stuck the blade back out and swished it.

"I heard what you said, when you killed them." Lucien's voice softened when he remembered the pain that resonated in her voice when she killed Antoinetta. She had started crumbling then.

"You heard that, but these are not the only murders I have committed. Do you think I have personal reasons for everyone I kill? Because I don't. I do it because I am ordered to, or because I will benefit. Either way I am paid, and no better than a mercenary."

"Orders from the Dark Brotherhood? Or Morag Tong?" He asked quickly, hoping to catch a spontaneous response.

"Neither." She shot back, and as if she knew why he fired the question at her she held the tip of her tongue between her teeth and showed it to him.

"You take your orders from Damien then. What is his organization?"

"N. U. N. Y. A." She spelled the letters out.

"I never heard of that, what is it an acronym for?"

"It stands for Nunya' Business."

He laughed again.

"I'm on a roll, maybe I should work nights as a comedy act at the Two Sisters Inn." Eyja laughed.

"Maybe you should stop working and stay with me." He looked into her eyes as he said it, her pupils dilated for a split second.

"Uh-No." Eyja made it sound like a sneeze. "

"We'll get back to that. What about Vicente then?" Lucien prodded. They needed to leave here so they could talk.

"I put poison in his bed that will immobilize him."

"I know, I watched you." Lucien drew Eyja back into his arms. "Go on."

"I have to put the bodies in his room so he will jump out the window. I have already sent the signal ahead that he would be released tonight. It has to be tonight, he can't travel in the daylight hours. If we wait too long the effects of the poison will wear down, and I will have no way to renew it."

"I may regret asking, but what can I do to help?"

"Why? Why are you helping me?" Eyja looked into his eyes when she asked. The answer was there, he was infatuated with the mystery that surrounded her, obviously. "Lucien, I am not?"

He waited, but when she didn't finish he spoke. "I know. Let's just get this done and get him on his way. Are you just going to pile the bodies up in a heap in there?"

"No. I brought ropes, they will hang from the beam." Eyja went to her pack and began drawing out her equipment.

"How were you going to do all this if I wasn't here to help?" Lucien asked as they struggled to pull Gogron's body from the basemant up three flights of stairs.

"Gunder is coming at three to help. He is my? boyfriend."

"You mean he was." Lucien muttered under his breath.

Eyja dropped her hold on Gogron's arm and grabbed Lucien's arm, turning him toward her. "Lucien, look at me. I am not looking for any?complications in my life."

"Neither am I. If something gets in my way, I just remove it from my path."

"See, this is exactly what I mean. I may not love Gunder, but I need him. We have a good set up going. I am not going to give it up for anyone. I make plenty of money, and don't need anything in my life that I don't already have."

"You could make more at the sanctuary running it."

"You couldn't possibly pay me more than I make now. And I like what I do. You just?what you saw?this job was personal. They all aren't like that, you know. You have no idea who I am. You saw a moment of vulnerability, that is all. And my job requires a certain amount of sleeping around. I doubt you would tolerate that."

"You are right, I won't."

"Then let's just drop it."

"For now."

Eyja looked at him hard for an extended number of seconds before grabbing Gogron's arm with an exasperated sound.

"Why are the hangings necessary?"

"It is a nightmare Vicente is troubled with. Garlic gives him nightmares."

"How do you know all this?"

"Alchemy. Simple, really."

"But how do you know about his dream so specifically?"

"Why do you NOT know about it? He has worked for you since the guild wars of the Crimson Scars. Do you not keep dossiers on your members? If you don't, you should. Like for instance this traitor in your midst. If you had a file on all your guild mates, you could have pinpointed him instantly. He would not be a threat."

"Eyja, the Black Hand needs someone like you in that Cheydinhal sanctuary."

"Not interested, sorry." Eyja shook her head for emphasis.

"Stop for just a second and let's rest before we tackle the next flight of stairs. Tell me more about these files you keep on others."

"I keep a dossier on everyone I work with or for. I make one for every mark. And especially for any enemy. You learn everything you can about them. Some of it is to your advantage, some to your detriment. If you know in advance what they can do to you, you can minimize the detriments. If you know their weaknesses, you use them to maximize your advantage. If they have secrets, so much the better."

"You have made a science out of murder!"

"It has always been a science for an assassin, that is what sets them apart from a murderer."

"Can you tell me what you have on Vicente?"

"Vicente is a powerful vampire, we both know what he is capable of. So I have to minimize his power, weaken him. He is allergic to garlic. It makes him vulnerable to unenchanted weapons and magic. The side effects are terrible fits of temper and nightmares. After exposure he has trouble concentrating. He has been hounded by one specific nightmare of his parents hanging in a barn. So I have tainted his food and bedding with garlic since I arrived to weaken him and feed the nightmares. I will set up his room with the bodies hanging and barn trappings. When he wakes, he will see his nightmare come to life and leap out the window."

"How will you make it look like a barn?"

"Telaendril set up roll of straw outside to practice archery. Then we have to mimic the smell. The bodies won't have time to stink, so we will have to rub something on them that he thinks stinks."

"Like what?"

"My Shepherd's Pie." Eyja snickered. "Now come on, we have to start hauling 'big green' up the rest of the way or we will never finish in time."

"Do you have a file on Damien?"

"No. No one does, or they would not be alive to review it."

"Do you have a file on me?"

"Of course! That is why I asked if you would not miss Shadowmere. Quit stalling Lucien, we have to hurry."

"I still want you to have Shadowmere. She comes home sometimes of her own volition. Maybe you will be riding her one day when she does it."

"You pick the oddest times to flirt, Lucien." Eyja laughed. "Keep your mind on the task at hand." Eyja's tinkle of laughter followed.

When they had the bodies hanging from the rafter in Vicente's room, Eyja scattered the hay, then wiped her pie on their clothing. She opened Vicente's window and skirted out the door. On the spur of the moment she cast the vengeful ghost of Rufio into the room before shutting and locking the door. She pulled out a large wooden wedge and kicked it under the door tightly.

"I threw your 'party ghost' in for good measure." Eyja said with a laugh.

"Why must he jump from the window?"

"To slow him down, give the operatives time to get on his tail."

"Who are you? I feel like I have stepped into another realm!"

"I am Eyja?Just Eyja."


*


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*

O, how are the Mighty Fallen!!

Damien "Foxy" Reynard is a member of ...

N.U.N.Y.A!!!!

:rofl:

Neener Neener Neener
I'm Nunya Nunya Nunya
Neener Neener Neenyer
Come here Come here Come here
Neener Neener Neener
Fun to come to Nunya
Neener Neener Neener
(censored)

DFOXY runs around in circles sticking his tongue out and waggling his hands.

yes, the Ambulance has been called.

:read: Very well done. Good interaction between Eyja and Lucien. What fun! I can't wait to see what happens next.

Just because Eyja seems to spontaneously tinkle when she laughs, does not mean we should allow her into the puddle club.

Speaking of laughter, it seems Lucien makes a good straight man for the comedienne.

* * *

POV. This was from Lucien's perspective and you did a wonderful job -

"Neither." She answered quickly back, and as if she knew why he fired the question at her she held the tip of her tongue between her teeth and showed it to him.
Here, you cleverly show what Lucien sees to shed some light on Eyja may be thinking - very, very well done!

"Why did you do that?" Eyja repeated, watching the expressions flickering across his face and reflecting in his eyes.
Here is the only possible lapse from Lucien's pov that I noticed. This seemed to reflect Eyja's pov to me.

* * *

Things to consider:

Eyja made the shape of a cross over her heart with her index finger and raised her right hand as if swearing a vow.
Interesting gesture for an assassin in the TES world of the Nine Divines. Perhaps this is your intent, but I just thought I would mention it.


"Stop for just a second and lets rest before we tackle the next flight of stairs. Tell me more about these files you keep on others."
In this usage, you are using the contraction for let us. Therefore it should be let's.


It makes him vulnerable to un-enchanted weapons and magic.
Normally, the un does not include a hyphen unless what follows it needs to be capitalized, for example un-American. Therefore, you might want to use unenchanted.

More sinister goodnesss... well, you know what I mean. Lucien had better watch out- his fascination with the mystery of Eyja may lead him into trouble--- but I imagine Damien's file on Ser LaChance mentions that curiosity...

I only played the D.B. through one time in Oblivion- my characters are willing to fight and kill, but assassination is just not something they like. It is not morality- it is more a matter of "cussed independence"- i.e., "Why should I kill that person just because you say so?" The purge quest disturbed me- even though the Cheydinhaal chapter mostly deserved it (except maybe for Ocheeva). So I really like the reasons you give Eyja and Damien for their actions- the in-game version forced the player character to be awfully gullible...

I am trying to think of a "Sign of the Nine" that would be a TES equivalent of crossing oneself- will let you know if I can think of something- Maybe placing one hand open (with all five fingers spread) on one's heart and then covering it with the other hand (with the thumb folded)?

Enjoyable, enjoyable, enjoyable.

Never knew Eyja had this much depth. You have really brought her to life with these chapters!

I've played the DB twice, with two different characters (not Julian), and felt it lacked a certain, umm, well, something. It it a religious cult? Yet just anyone could join, and no brainwashing required. Is it a mercenary cadre? Then why all the emphasis on Sithis and keeping the Night Mother happy? I found Lachance to be annoying and a bit melodramatic for my taste. Both times.

Here you're making me rethink my initial assessment of Lachance. Hmmm. Too bad Ocheeva had to die - I liked her the best, but your portrayal of her past actions was just BRRRR!

Again, great work!

@treydog: ASL (American Sign Language, of which I know pitifully little) for nine is indicated by putting the thumb and forefinger together, other fingers held up, similar to the "perfect" sign but with the finger held flat instead of round.

@ EVERYONE -

Regarding Eyja:

Eyja uses all these hand gestures and animations to distract Lucien from looking in her eyes so much. She does not like being read. She is using gestures and jokes to keep a distance between herself and Lucien - she does not want emotional involvement, it does not fit in with her plans

The "Cross your heart and hope to die, look a beggar in the eye" thing is a childhood game and fitting to the times (I think), since they had beggars everywhere.

It is not in any way a religious gesture at all, in case anyone was picturing the Catholic crossing of oneself, that is a totally different gesture.

EDIT: I edited it to a gesture that can't be considered controversial hopefully, lol.

*

Regarding holding the hand up in a vow:

Because the "right hand held up in a vow" has significance in a future chapter, I am reluctant to change it, but will if it is a distracting issue.
***

@ Foxy - ROFL !!! Er...what was that? ROFL !!!! Thank you Foxy, you are so appreciated !!!!!


***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much!



ROFL !!!!

- fixed all nits, and hopefully straightened out your concerns on the heart-crossing gesture.
***
@ Treydog - Thank you very much Treydog! I agree with you 100%, it is contrived and forces you into being gullible and a dupe. I really don't like the questline, only do it on the 360 for the loot.

I agree on being told to kill someone with no background on why you should, only orders. I researched each one, and up until you are doing the dupe kills there are some pretty good reasons for the murders - (although helping the guy who had his mother killed to save his own life - bleah. Still, you get his house, just in case you don't buy the Chorrol house, lol). - on the dupe murders, the reasons start getting really cheesy.

On the PC I don't have to do it because I can use the console to get all the loot, lol. I always hated doing the purge! (I do like getting Shadowmere though). Thanks again Treydog, you are AWESOME !!
***
@ Hauteecole Rider - Thank you so much! I have to agree with you, he comes across the same to me. (and not just a bit melodramatic, more like overtly).

I got the cult aspect of it too, of course you have to pass an initiation to get in (murder to be considered, then murder on command to get in) - but all the "family/brother-sister/Night Mother and her husband Sithis - we are all their children - it is very cultish.

Both Eyja and Lucien had irritating personalities to me. My intention was to barely brush over them, instead they came to life in free-typing, and I couldn't ignore it, so VOILA - they now have personalities, ROFL!


*

Can I just say: this Eyja character brings out the best of your writing! I am almost forgetting I am reading Maxical's journey rather than Eyja's journey

What?? A goddess??:blink:

Eyja is more akin to Tanngrisner and Tanngjost (the goats that pulled Thor's chariot) :rofl:

As I stated before, Eyja is the most dangerous person in Tamriel.

I agree with both treydog and hauteecole, the Dark Brotherhood is annoying, but the quests are downright interesting: Accidents Happen, Revenge Served Cold (my single favorite quest in the game. I love laying the smackdown on Valen Dreth), Whodunnit? The Purification is a bit morbid, but I try not to develop an attachment to those lunatics anyway so. . .

On topic, the depth you've given Eyja is amazing. Knowing the racket that she and Gunder have going, I simply can't see myself ever hiring her for Rosethorn Hall again. :shakehead:


:lmao:

@ RemkoNL - Thank you so much, I have really gotten into writing Eyja's complex character. She is not 'down for the count' yet either. I see a future as a maid for her when Maxical is alive and gets the house in Skingrad, ROFL !!!

***

@ Winter Wolf - ROFL, well, Lucien Lachance likes her, ROFL !!! Thank you Winter Wolf, You ROCK !!

***

@ Destri Melarg - Revenge served cold, is that a DB quest? Thank you very much Destri, although I must admit I did make up the racket with Shum, Agnate, Gunder, and Eyja - that was my imagination talking, ROFL - But, it could happen if you think about it! (she's not really evil, she is just 'drawn' that way in my story, ROFL)

@ EVERYONE - I just wanted everyone to know that the last chapter broke the record (that was just broken by chapter 65 previously) - more than doubling the reader count for one day on the internet site I post on. It also surpassed the record for most reads per chapter, and January also broke the record for most reads per month on that site. Looks like the DB is a popular subject !!!!!


**************************************************



Chapter 70: Of Dreams And Visions


Vicente woke up with relief from his nightmare, but his relief was short lived, for as he slowly sat up it seemed the dream was still ongoing. The bodies were still hanging in front of him, but now they were the bodies of his brothers and sisters in the sanctuary. An angry looking blue ghost circled him as he moved, as if the movement drew it toward him. The ghost called out his name in an eerie voice.

Vicente realized he must be still dreaming and tried to force himself awake. The nightmare had never done this before, was it getting worse? He pinched himself and slapped his own face several times, but the images remained, and he could feel the cold breeze coming off the ghost as it circled, still calling his name in that ghoulish creepy voice. The smell of straw still lingered?and that horrible smell was overpowering the room. Why did he always need to follow that scent in his dream? And even now as he rose he knew he would follow it to the bodies.

Vicente stood up, trying to force the room to go back to its normal state. The odd sound in the background of his dream still played on, he realized it was the sound of something dripping. Knowing what it would be, he still could not stop himself from looking. Small puddles of blood were pooling under each body. He reached down under the one that looked like Antoinette and rubbed his finger in the puddle, then drew back. It felt wet. His finger was stained red. The stench near the bodies was overwhelming, and he felt his stomach rising to his throat from it. He went to the window to clear the putrid smell from his nose and then sniffed the blood on his finger. It was Antoinetta's, he knew it well.

The eerie feeling this was not a nightmare was slowly beginning to take form in his mind, and then suddenly the words Ocheeva had said in the jail came back to him. The Rite of Purification!

Vicente tried to open his door and it would not budge. He screamed and pounded, and then realized he did not want it to open, not if the Black Hand was performing the ritual! A pounding came at his door then, and Lucien Lachance's voice called his name!

With a strangled cry, Vicente crashed out the open window, breaking the glass despite the fact that it was gaped all the way out. When he dropped to the pavement below he rolled toward the center of the street screaming. He saw the guards running toward him and leapt up in spite of his injuries. He ran as quickly as he could; tumbling down into the lower roadway to a city gate, trying to heal as he ran.

***

The smell of younger vampires from much lesser lines than his own wafted in the air as soon as he passed out the gate of the city. Vicente followed the scent to a cave. Good gods, Skingrad must crawl with the creatures! It was a wonder every vampire hunter in Tamriel was not posted within feet of the town! This was a dangerous place for Maxical to be near, ancients within the castle, now feral lines as well?and it was a dangerous place for himself too, as it would surely be drawing the hunters.

The song of Maxical's blood was coming from the west, and was a great distance off. She must be near Anvil, and would have to pass Skingrad eventually. There were not enough hours of darkness left to take the chance of heading west, he may not find shelter. He would wait here for her.

Vicente garnered his full strength and swept into the cave. They did not attack at first, he being an ancient. Their hesitancy cost them three of their members instantly, Vicente's speed of movement was well beyond theirs and he had his enchanted longsword out and pierced two through the heart before the third realized what had happened. When that one turned toward Vicente at the sound of the first two dropping, it was in time to see the shimmer of candlelight flickering in an arced pattern as the blade swung toward his neck, severing his head.

With incredible speed Vicente charged a huge Orc in the large room down the left corridor and pierced through its Dwarven armor before the beast could get his heavy war axe swinging into action.

Following the path through the caves Vicente startled a Nord who charged him swinging a claymore. Vicente darted to the side with a hiss as the Elven blade sliced into him. Roaring, and in a rage of pain he pulled a silver longsword out in place of a shield, his right hand still holding the enchanted blade. He went after the Nord with the two swords arcing in the practiced pattern of a master. The silver was not enchanted, but burned the other vampire each time it pierced him. His enchanted blade set the Nord on fire with each swipe, and the barbarian was quickly dispatched.

The path then led into a large open room that seemed to be empty at first. Thinking he was alone Vicente walked without care into the middle of the room. A twang sounded in front of him a second before the silver arrow pierced into his chest. He didn't hear the second twang for his own roaring, but felt it as the enchanted arrow burned its way through him. Screaming in pain he darted back into the path he had entered the room from and began casting healing on himself. He could not push either arrow through, nor take the time to pull them out now. The archer may have followed him. Working his way back through the maze of tunnels he found the entrance again.

Vicente eased out the door, only to find the sun had risen well into the morning sky. He started to dart back in, but paused. Maxical's song was moving closer, she was on her way toward Skingrad. He would have to secure this cave quickly.

This time he turned down the corridor to the right at the entrance, hoping to clear the rest of the cave before he dealt with that archer again. The huge room to the right turned out to be the same one he had met the archer in. Vicente paused, and crept in quietly. He could see the green shimmer reflecting off her bow from across the room, she was at the entrance to the pathway he had gone down, waiting for him to come back out of it. Not having a bow, Vicente was forced to confront her; and there was a large room between them, giving her the advantage.

Clinging to the shadows and holding his sword behind him so it would not reflect any light from the candles, Vicente worked his way down the walls of the massive cave toward the archer. She was pacing, moving in rapid, jerky movements. She would be very hard to sneak up on.

A slight sound, maybe his foot brushed against something; she had turned instantly and had her bow raised. The twang sounded and her aim was sure, even in the darkened cave. Vicente screamed as the arrow drove through him leaving a burning trail behind it. This would not work, he had to get in closer or just be picked off slowly.

He charged in with a terrible roar, taking three more of the searing arrows as he closed the gap between them. In a rage by the time he reached her, he leapt on her snarling and began shredding her with his fangs that had grown long from the pain of her arrows. The nails on his hands had lengthened as well, and he dug them into her flesh, ripping it from her. She screamed and hissed, trying to fight him off.

With anger and greater strength on his side he overpowered the Elf, pinning her to the floor of the cave and ripping her ear off with his teeth. He tore a chunk out of one arm and then leaped up, pulling out his enchanted claymore he swung it, cutting her head off before she could rise.

Cursing and spitting, Vicente found a ewer with water and cleaned up. He pulled out all the arrows except one which he was able to push through, and then cast healing on himself. It wasn't enough, he still felt weakened. He searched the cave to find the best place to bed down. It was daylight; he would not be able to leave, and exhaustion was overtaking him. A good sleep would refresh him for the task ahead.

Vicente arose as soon as it was dark enough for him to leave the cave. He stepped out and breathed into the air, his ears seeking the song of Maxical's blood. She was still heading this way, but was not close enough. If he ran to meet her, it may come daylight again, leaving him seeking shelter. He would have to wait for her to get in closer. The anticipation was growing, and he was becoming impatient for the moment he would have her under his spell once again.

This time there would be no mistakes. He would not dally again and take the risk of her escape. He would take her instantly and then hold her in this cave till the vampire came out fully in her. Only then would he take that virginity from her, when the enhanced sensuality of the vampire had fully emerged. She would be his slave then; instead of himself being a slave to her virgin blood. And what a marvelous slave she would make, especially now that Antoinetta was gone.

Vicente stretched back out on the mat and once again immersed himself in dreaming of the moment he would give her his Dark Gift. The dream became even more vivid with the song of her moving ever closer. He could even begin to smell her blood, heightening the pleasure of the dream. He found his arousal growing as the scent and song drew nearer, the anticipation was almost too much to bear; but he waited, wanting to savor every delicious moment till she was his.

***

Very exciting stuff!! I can't wait to see Vicente get his comeuppance!!



LOL, Edward must be wearing off on Vicente!!


Oh, and congrats on the record!!!