The Life and Times of Annette Abouris


Prologue




Annette Abouris. A name that can’t be known in Tamriel; It appears however you fine people wish to hear of Annette? How do you know of her name? I suppose it doesn’t matter really. I was her guide though she’d never admit it. The whisper in her ear the shadow ensuring her safety; I am Scabrosus Silentium one of the only retired Dark Brotherhood Listener. I however am unimportant and my story is one for another day.

Her life began at six. Before that she was trained rigorously by her Breton mother in the College of Illusion, and taught the arts of the blade and bow by her guardsman father. Her life was structured and difficult but even so she was always happy. Sadly this happiness had to end. The Brotherhood’s operations in Hammerfell were being disrupted by a particularly lawful alliance of Orc Mercenaries, Imperial Guardsman, and Breton Mages. Annette’s father Legitiums Abouris was the leader of the Guardsmen and his wife Serein Abouris was the Breton’s Leader.

I was but a simple Assassin then. Complete contracts get paid stay in the Sanctuary. This was the turning point in my life. I was called upon to end the lives of the Abouris family and the Orc’s Mercenary Lord Gorgo gro-Baroth. I had no qualms for the contract and began the travel to Hammerfell from Cyrodil. Her life was going to have to end. Or at least it should have.

I arrived that night a Silver Shortsword strapped to my thigh. My robes were shadow black and caked with blood near my feet and wrists. Their door was locked shut. The key I had stolen from Serein fit the lock perfectly. The main room was black as night and very ornate. I crept up the staircase and through a door. There they lay unarmored, sleeping, and silent.

Sithis had blessed me tonight I struck down the Guard first. He made not a sound as his throat had been ripped open in a single fluid moment. The wife was really striking. I almost felt bad to ruin that pretty face. I chose to send the blade between her ribs and into her heart. It felt right that way. In another moment she was dead. I had always smiled after a kill. Not this time. I was being watched tonight.

I turned blade at the ready to see… little six year old Annette Abouris. The girl was sobbing. She was horrified and scared. She spoke but very tentatively and nearly silent. “Why?” She had sobbed. “Because it is demanded by my family” I coldly replied. “I don’t want to die” she whispered. That day I said one thing I never thought I would
“You won’t”

More to come!

For being so short, it was good... Very nice SPAH..

That was just the Prolouge mind you Zalphon!

Chapter 1
The First Kill

I had made a decision that night. One that could have gotten me killed. That little girl was the spitting image of her mother. She was even at her age striking in the same way as her mother. I decided I would be protecting her. I would make her my prot?g? even if she wouldn't know it.

Murdering her Parents was a job. Protecting her was my duty. She didn't have a home anymore. The ruler of the city had kicked her to the street; and who would be stopping him? I guess that would be me? or her. She was resting in a quiet nook behind the Chapel that's when I appeared. I used my invisibility to approach her.

"Awaken my child. You were once Annette Abouris child of Legitiums Abouris. A noble. You now are forced to sleep behind a chapel instead of in your rightful home."
She stood and began searching around. "Hello?" she questioned to the shadows around her.
"Yes Annette you've heard correctly I know who you are and I can help you."

"Okay. What do I do to get home?" She questioned the grass

"You must kill the count." I candidly replied

"Kill? No. NO! I WON'T LEAVE NOW!" She screamed at the chapel for lack of a tangible human to speak with.

"He has stolen your home. He ordered your parent's murder." I lied through my teeth. She had to learn to kill.

"For my parents then, Daddy told me that evil should be ended." She whispered.

Suddenly she was confident and even looked cruel. A cruel six year old, she belonged with the family. A dagger dropped from my hand into the tiny hands of six-year old Annette.

"Go." I had spoken.

She moved quickly and quietly towards the castle holding the little Elven Dagger as if it were a child. I followed to assure her safety and that she would complete her duty. She walked into the court.

"Um? Voice? There are guards up there. I can't beat Daddy's guards."

"My name is Silentium and they won't bother you. They can't even see you." That had been tricky they were both under my Command a difficult cast but it was necessary to give her the bloodlust she needed. The door had been picked and she was capable of opening it. The count lay sleeping she ran to his bedside. She stabbed him three times; Once in the genitalia twice in the throat. I broke the cloak and patted her on the back.

"It's over my Child. You have your home and a brand new Family."

This is a fascinating concept! I am very interested to see where it goes. Hopefully, Annette will have much in the way of internal conflicts to wrestle with as she grows into, or perhaps rejects, her new dark family. I look forward to reading more.

Some nice style, descriptions, dialogue and pacing as well.

The murder that she commited caused me pause, as I questioned her physical ability to complete it. I might have looked at ways of employing poison to help her accomplish it, as well of some means to immobilize her target after she struck, such as a spell cast from the shadows by her mentor.

The dagger was not new to Annette. Her father was a Guardsman and taught her how to kill even only at age six. Silentium may have done some helping though...

Chapter 2!

Chapter 2
A Rash Decision
Annette was 14 years-old now. I young woman and beautiful in her own right, She was an Imperial first and a Breton second. Her skill in persuasion had gained her an apprenticeship at the Bravil Mages Guild. I decided that she should only use Hammerfell as a hiding spot. A quiet nook to rest in when times where tough.

Annette's life was her own but I needed to guide her to the attention of a Speaker. A charismatic young Illusionist didn't exactly scream 'Assassin'. She had come to trust me, though me secretly planting dreams in her head hadn't made her return to her cruelty. Annette had confided in me about these nightmares.

"Silentium? Can we talk?" She had asked me.

"Yes Annette?" I worriedly replied

"I've been having?dreams lately. Bad dreams . I see my parents. But they're alive! Oh how lovely that sounds right!? But ? Daddy's throat is open and Mommy is bleeding from her heart." She began to sob and reached out for my hand.

"Annette, I'm sorry. All of us have those dreams." I was lying. Those were the very dreams I implanted in her little head.

"You dream of your dead parents?" She had sobbed.

"Every night." Of course I didn't they were say that I had killed them after Father had gotten particularly drunk and Mother was on a Skooma binge.

"Silentium? do you have a family? Or am I all you've got?" She wasn't crying and she wasn't smiling it was a sort of in-between expression of love and loathing.

"I have a family. I want them to be yours too." I must have said this a million times over the last eight years.

"Silentium, I've met your family. They loved me but? the wanted me to kill people." She was deftly opposed to murder. Her parent's murder had driven Annette to swear of violence in favor of pleasing people with magic tricks.

"Why did you ask? You already know them. Marie absolutely loved you! She wanted to be your Big sister!"

"Take me back to Cheydinhal. I want to join your family." She had that familiar determined look on her face.

"Come then. It's time."