That happens to me when I have a long chapter like that too, lol. Your writing is wonderful! Your descriptions and detail are perfect! I love it, More, More!!!

Very nice. Slowly it's digressing from the "interview with the vampire" theme (you can't deny it to be there) to your own story. Impressive!

Well I certainly wont be denying it considering that The Interview with a Vampire movie is what inspired me and I mentioned in the first post that I intended to pay hoomage to it. But yes it isnt skin and bones clone of Interview with a vampire, it's just told in a simular way. Thanks for the comments guys

Good to see you are still running this Solidor.

Just wanted so say awesome writing. I just read through the whole thing and I'm captivated by it. I can't wait to see what happens next. :tops:

Thanks for the comments guys, It means alot that I dont have to abandon this


Chapter Seven: Betreyal is a blood filled Jewel.




3 E 04, Argonia




The feast had lasted many hours; they celebrated and even Gabrielle grudgingly admitted to Almerion that he was growing quite fond of their new found brothers, though Almerion could sense something was off with him but couldn't quite place it. It seemed like his mind was else where throughout the night, he was planning something. Almerion knew it.

He lay in a surprisingly comfortable bed made from the weaved branches and vines of the various plant life found throughout the swamps; it wasn't the comfort he was accustomed to but it was better than he could ask for given their present location. They had learned a surprising amount from the Argonian clan throughout the night of celebration; they had learnt that the Whett tooth hunt only the sinful, pirates and brigands and the murderous criminals captured by them while on transit to the Empires Black Marsh prison. The jewels and silver horns where used to replace scales that had rotten away or fallen off -- Unlike most vampire races blood didn't replenish the vitality of their flesh, it had to be replaced, so they used what ever treasures the pirates had stolen or found to decorate their own bodies.

Gentle whispers could be heard when the night was at its quietest; they flowed throughout the tree's interior and soothed the soul of all who heard them, the hist shone brightly in the vein like vines as it passed through over Almerions head, throwing a sihouette he hadn't noticed into contrast with the shadows around the room.

Shas'wiek stood on the archway to Almerion's chambers; his hands clasped together behind his back, face a sketch of solemn contemplation. Almerion sat up in his bed and the lizard man walked toward him with a smile.

"I am sorry for interrupting your slumber my friend, but we have much to discuss." He said; gesturing to Almerion to follow him, it was an order not a request? Even if he did it with a smile Almerion knew it was one he'd have to submit to.

"Not to worry, I seldom find sleep in the twilight hours, it's the one time my defenses are at their weakest and my thoughts betray me." He said, not elaborating on what exactly his thoughts where, though he had a feeling Shas'wiek already knew.

They slowly walked through the winding passages of the tree and made their way back into the main hall where the feast had taken place; the dead bodies they had drained throughout the night still littered the floor, with a pang of regret Almerion's eyes skirted over the lifeless for of Julam -- He was starting to realise how he had grown quite fond of the Argonian's company, but every life was destined to end? Even that of an immortal vampire; It was just a case of when, not how.

"I wonder how it is you have survived so long as a vampire Almerion." The Argonian mused out loud after some time walking in a humble silence. "We Whett Tooth are clandestine dynasty of outcasts and monstrous creatures? Or so those who do not understand us would believe. Do you think you are a monster Almerion?"

"It's a hard question to answer some times; am I any more of a monster now than when I used to feed on the flesh of animals? Does mine tasting only the guilt tainted blood of aristocrats and corrupt politicians make me noble? I wish I could answer those questions more clearly for my own benefit my friend, I really do." He said, the words flowing from him as if he'd had this very speech written down and rehearsed for years. "The fact is I cannot rationalise what I am with knowledge and logic; I was taught to suppress my emotions lest I lose control, but I give into them and revel in the passion of it all? There has only been one instance where I have regretted my actions."

"Ah yes, the fair skinned lady from your dreams." he muttered with a grave nod.

"How do you know of her?"

They walked to the far side of the banquet hall toward a mass of weaving branches and vines -- all of which recoiled and snaked away beneath the many roots around the skirting of the walls to reveal a wide passage way filled with dazzling light. Unlike the rest of the cramped narrow walk ways of the tree this was a large almost cavernous one, curving downwards in a gentle slope. A light mist seemed to follow at their heels as they meandered through the various jutting branches and low hanging vines.

"Many of us? the old ones, have unique and strange abilities. I am able to see everything that has happened in a persons life -- but not into their future? Destinies are forged by our own hands, they are not pre-determined. I have seen your past Almerion, I know your heart. This is why I trust you."

"You don't trust Gabrielle." Almerion said, not at all surprised. He wasn't even sure he could trust his mentor any more.

"There is no man or woman I have ever met who I haven't been able to read to my hearts content; every person who I gaze upon is an open book to me. But Gabrielle? No? He is unique, different. It is as if his past simply does not exist after it has happened. When I fed on your gift, Julam, he had no prior memory of being owned by anybody other than you my friend, he had no idea Gabrielle even existed."

Before he could even begin to fathom what all of this meant they rounded a corned and came upon a small room with a large wooden pedestal -- upon the pedestal lay what looked like a torn leather rag with line drawings upon it, the strange mist that followed in their wake now carpeted the floor, so thick that the light flowing through the vines beneath their feet could barely penetrate it.

"I believe this is what Gabrielle came for." Shas'wiek said, gesturing to Almerion to come closer to the pedestal. As the shadows passed and the light illuminated the rag he saw that they weren't line drawings like he had assumed -- it was a section of a torn map, the bottom right corner judging by the un-frayed edges to the right and bottom. The map itself depicted the province of Argonia.

"What is it from?" Almerion asked, wondering now what significance the item held for Gabrielle, they had no less than two dozen maps in their stage coach, all of them intact and undamaged.

"It is part of a map we separated when we caught her? We couldn't kill her so we entombed her. This map was part of the enchantment we used to place magical barriers around the tomb. After we where successful in our mission we divided the map and went out separate ways."

"Why a map? It seems like a foolish concept to me, trying to keep something hidden with a rag that could lead to the very location you wish to hide." Almerion said, glancing to Shas'wiek who was now laughing a silent laugh.

"We where not powerful enough to create the required enchantments for the imprisonment? We had to turn to the Daedra. For weeks we prayed to each one in turn but to no avail; then our prayers where answered by the most unlikely Daedric prince." He looked at Almerion with mist filled orb like eyes -- Unable to convey emotion through them. "Sheogorath?"

"I should have guessed." Almerion said with a grin, he was fond of Daedric lore, the stories of Sheogorath amused him to no end.

"Yes, I think he found the irony of using a map to hide something quite amusing."

"What exactly is it you are trying to hide?" Almerion said, his eyes moving away from Shas'wieks gaze as the mist rose slowly behind the Argonian, forming an almost solid wall behind him.

"The one wh-" Was all he managed to say; in an instant the mist parted to reveal a gate way as black as the depths of oblivion, Gabrielle stepped out of the darkest of no-where's with casual grace and a charming smile, winking at Almerion as he drove a blade through Shas'wieks spine -- the blade dislodged several embedded jewels from his chest as it formed an exit wound, each one clattered to the floor with a gentle tapping noise.

"Oh you do like to drone on old chap." Gabrielle said in a mocking tone of boredom, examining his nails as if scrutinising the work of a manicurist as he wrenched the blade from the Argonian and threw it back into the mist like vortex swirling behind him -- it seemed to collapse within itself, eating away at its own existence until the room was all but clear.

Almerion stepped forward; his body numb with shock, acting more on reflex than instinct he caught the elders body before it hit the floor. The Argonian looked at Almerion with saddened expression on his face -- a single tear fell from the mist filled eyes.

"I am so sorry my friend, so sorry. I can feel your pain?" Shas'wiek said, looking right at Almerion but for some reason it felt more like he was addressing some one behind him, out of reach and far away. "So very sorry."


His voice faded and eye lids drooped as every muscle in his body relaxed and dropped. Almerion slowly lowered a cradled head to the floor and realised that Shas'wieks hand was clasped around his own; he stared at it for a few seconds until the hand dropped to the floor -- then saw what it was the Argonian had placed in his hand. A purple jewel with a liquid that seemed to flow un-phased through the solid crystalline structure as if it where hollow, a gentle warmth emanatied from it.

"Come on Almerion we have much to do and I'd rather not be late? you know I just cant stand being caught in sun light, you know it makes me cranky." Gabrielle said as if discussing something over an ale, picking up the fragmented section of the map as he left the room.

Almerion didn't remember running that night, although he knew he did. He couldn't remember the voices and shouts of the Whett Tooth chasing them throughout the tree -- Nor could he remember the stench of smoke or heat on his face when Gabrielle blocked the entrance and set the tree on fire. He couldn't remember the screams of those he had come to call brothers as they burned alive. He didn't remember anything.

But what his thoughts did dwell on made him wonder why the human mind works the way it does.


Where did Gabrielle get that sword from?

truly quite well, i hope to write of a darker,dammend story quite soon.the story of my very own character "traciente draeborn" a story of a vampire whose creation of a legacy of a long,long bloodline turns on him and imprissons him for his plan to corrupt all of tamriel into his own his own dammend kingdom and a long old friend(wragon) whose plan to break him from his forced enternal slumber, and traciente's brother who is a lycan plan to stop tracient's long old friend wragon. oo:

surely quite well my friend and be sure to read my story of draente draborn as i continue to make more and more chapters of it before i post them(chuckles in a mocking laugh)and good night my friends.

its a shame that ive just learned the truth of oblivion but then agian is this just a made up storie of oblivion(knowing the characters are fake but the blood matron was truly the first vampire?).

Wow Solidor, I missed a few chapters of your story but I caught up with them all today and I'd just like to say I love the way you write, it's like a very elaborate poem and even thought you said you haven't read "Interveiw with a Vampire" you're writing style is similar to Anne Rice's except that she writes her whole story as speech, and, Louis just describes everything and the switch between him talking about the past and his talking to the interviewer is seemless.

I think they way that you've chosen to write though is effective because like BSparrow and you said yourselves, writing in first person and trying to describe your surroundings is quite difficult to get right.
I hope you keep writing because I am curious now about Gabrielle and why he doesn't have a past. I hope you can keep writing

Thank you my friend, I've been trying my best to catch up on your own fanfiction but its considerably longer than my own and is taking some time

Gabrielle is an interesting fellow, i've created him in such a way that even I know nothing about him

New chapter will be up today.

another great chapter, I'll check tonight for the next. keep up the awesome work

Thanks again for the kind words guys, this is a long one, enjoy:




Chapter Eight: Brotherly Love


Present Day



"What happened to the Whett Tooth clan?" The scholar asked Almerion, he was almost as shocked as Almerion was at the time that Gabrielle had betrayed the trust of the Argonian clan. Though he acknowledged that it wasn't out of Gabrielles character to do so.

"As far as I know they are all but extinct? Such a shame, they where good noble people who cared for their own be it Argonian or Vampire." Almerion said, his hand wrapped around a large warm stone in his pocket.

"Did you ever find out what Shas'wiek was apologising for? Why was he saying sorry?"

"I did yes? But not for many, many years after that nights events. It seems he underestimated his own abilities? Or they where just not evident until the point of death."

"What do you mean?"

"Lets just say he was mistaken when he said we all forge our own destinies my friend. Some of us are born with pre-determined fates."

The smog filling the room from Almerions pipe stood as a reminder to that night -- the way Gabrielle materialised from the mist and slew Shas'wiek. Over the years his memory seemed to clear and he could see everything in fine detail? Including the horrified faces of the Argonians as fire engulfed them and their home. The whispers of the Hist still soothed Almerion in his sleep, though he wondered why they would have mercy on him after introducing a monster like Gabrielle to their home.

The two men sat in silence contemplating about the night the Whett Tooth died, both of them staring out of the rain covered window into a velvet black night.

"Where did you go after escaping the tree?" The Breton asked, finally breaking the musing silence, his voice strained and hoarse from hours of talking.

"I will tell you my friend, but afterwards we take a break -- You eat and drink, perhaps you should rest a few hours. We wouldn't want the documentation of my life to be marred by a fatigued hand after all."

"I agree." He replied with a thankful smile.






3 E 04, Argonia





A mixture of blood and saliva dribbled down Almerion's chin as he fell to his knees in the mud; the rain beat a tattoo onto the landscape, naught could be heard over the drumming noise of water hitting leaves.

Gabrielle stood over him rubbing a fist with his free hand; his face a picture of mild curiosity. They had been wandering through the swamp lands for hours -- Having abandoned their stage coach once the terrain grew un-negotiable. The two vampires had argued for half that time about Gabrielles actions, Gabrielle defended his actions as just and with cause. Almerion struck him.

Gabrielle Struck him back?

"Oh Almerion you are such an over emotional child, I do wish you'd learn to control your little outbursts -- Next I'll be changing your soiled undergarments while I briast feed you. Is that what you want Almerion? To be treated like a child?" Gabrielle said, giving Almerion a sharp kick to the ribs as he passed. He was showing his authority over Almerion; his tone, body language and facial expression all dripped with intense dominance -- Though Almerion didn't heed it, instead he screamed.

He managed to catch Gabrielle off guard; who was taken aback by the sudden shouting from Almerion as his student dived from his kneeling place in the mud into Gabrielle, forcing him into the trunk of a broad tree, pinning him to it by his throat.

Almerion let his fury dictate his actions; he punched indiscriminately at every inch of Gabrielles body he could reach, pausing only to head butt his laughing mentors face to help him establish that this was not an amusing scenario to be in? But still, he laughed, maniacally.

This went on for a hand full minute that felt like the longest of days and then Almerion fell back onto the ground, almost half submerged in the sludge like floor due to the torrential down pour. He looked at his fists with bleary eyes; they where red raw and bleeding, he could feel a lump forming on the top of his head where he butted Gabrielle, but his mentor didn't look as bad as the aggressor. Gabrielle stood with a casual lop sided smile; his skin flawless and hair quite tidy, he almost seemed luminescent in the moon light.

"Why do you do these things Gabrielle? Are you not my brother?" Almerion asked, feeling the betrayal seep from his heart into every vein that hadn't yet dried and turned to dust. "Do you not love me like you would a brother?"


"Almerion, let me remind you something, you attacked me. I should be asking where your loyalty and brotherly love lies." he said it with a twisted grin that made it clear he was mocking Almerion, pretending he had no idea what he was talking about.

"You would use me. Is that it brother? You would use me to strike at the hearts of the elder clans on some foolhardy quest to find that which should stay hidden!" Almerion spat, the rage that subsided just seconds before rising within him in earnest. "Why do you have no past! Why couldn't Julam remember you!"

"Oh he told you about that? Lovely, really, it is. I just assumed Julam was senile really, going a bit soft in the head in his old age. Did you not notice yourself Almerion?"

"He was twenty one."

"Oh yes, I mean Shas'wiek of course, must have gotten the names mixed up, you know me. I cant tell one filthy lizard from the other."

"You disgust me Gabrielle. You are not the creature of beauty you would have others believe, you're the darkest of demons that plague this realm."

"Are you quite finished princess?"

Almerion didn't answer, he just stood up and began to walk. He didn't even look back at his former brother as he left him standing in the downpour under the branches of that great tree.

"You cant leave Almerion, I made you what you are. I will always find you." Gabrielle shouted, his velvet lined voice barely audible over the noise of the swamp.


* * *




"In the name of the emperor I place you under arrest for crimes against the Argonian people!" A gruff voice said, the rain had all but stopped now, it was nothing more than a gentle drizzle dripping down through the canopy. Almerion stood in the middle of a worn out Imperial road on the outskirts of the swamp land -- A legionnaire flanked him at either side, holding his hands behind his back.

"What crimes do you speak of?! I have done nothing to the Argonians!" He spat, flecks of saliva flew from his mouth onto the Legionnaires briast plate.

"We received a report that a Hist tree was set on fire and a surrounding village of Argonian villagers slaughtered by a man matching your description. You will be sent to the Imperial city to await trial."

"Who filed the report?"

The legionnaire didn't answer, he simply nodded to his companions who forced Almerion haphazardly into the back of a rough hewn wooden coach -- They then placed shackles around his feet and hands and chained them to hooks that lined the characterless walls.

"Who filed the report?!" Almerion shouted as the Legionnaire went to close the door.

"A man named Gabrielle." He said simply before slamming the door shut with a dull thunk, Almerion shouted in protest as he slid the bolt down. The darkness of the carriage was nothing compared to the rage enveloping Almerions soul.



* * *





It had taken a full week to reach the Imperial city; they had loaded Almerion onto a cargo ship with a hand full of prisoners awaiting trial, the ship then left port and travelled around the southern part of Argonia up towards the Niben of Cyrodil. It was a wonder the Vampire survived; he declined to eat the maggoty bread or filthy water they fed the prisoners with, much to the delight of the rest of the starving men around him who wolfed his food down as if it where their last meal. He survived by feeding on his fellow captives in their sleep, taking sparing amounts of blood from each in turn.

He now sat in the corner of a dull stone cell beneath the Imperial prison tower; the rats and spiders mocked him and his captivity, they came and went as they pleased, running to and fro through the bars of his cell. Only those rodents foolish or brave enough to follow the scent of the rotting prison meals that sat beside him didn't escape -- They where his meals, however unsavoury.

"What are you in for friend?" A curious voice asked, a pair of bright green eyes gazed at him through the bars of the opposite cell -- She was quite beautiful, a Bosmer of no more than twenty years, her hair fell around a sharp yet gentle face in a feminine bob drawing attention to the high cheek bones and slightly hollowed out cheeks, she was a new prisoner, she hadn't seen him eating rats.

Almerion didn't reply, he just raised his head and looked at her to let her know he had heard. He hadn't said a word since he asked the legionnaire who filed the report.

"I'm in for theft." She said simply, evidently proud of the fact. "I'm in the thieves guild; I'm new but I'm good."

"Then why are you in jail." Almerion said, breaking his silence. He couldn't help but feel the burden on his shoulders lighten some what in the face of this Bosmers eagerness and enthusiasm, her outlook on life hadn't been corrupted like his own.

"Just an initiation test, Its not about me getting sent to jail? Its about me getting out." She said with a wink, pushing her hand down her pants between her legs. Almerion gave her a questioning look. "Oh no its not what you think, its just that the guards are too bashful to search me down there so I like to keep my lock picks there." She added, her face bright red as she avoided Almerions gaze.

"I see?"

"What's your name? I'm Emily, I had no parents so I was named by the woman who took me in, she's a pad foot for the thieves guild now. What's your name?" She said, her bright eyed gaze drawing a smile from Almerion, she was quite the talker, not even giving him a chance to answer her question before repeating it again.

"My name is Marcus." he replied simply, he had decided to abandon the name Gabrielle had given him moments after he left him standing in the rain.

"But you're a Nord, That's a very imperial name don't you think?"

"My mother was Imperial and I don't think race denotes culture? are all Bosmers thieves? Are all Redguards Pirates?"

"That's a good point you know. But I did know a Redguard pirate once, we called him lamb because its all he ate. He died last year though."

"How did he die?" Almerion asked as Emily began working on the tumblers in the cell doors lock.

"Hm? Oh, Dark Brotherhood." She said simply, as if Almerion knew what she was talking about.

"I see? That is a shame, I'm sorry to hear about that."

"So what are you in for? You didn't say." She asked without looking up, chewing her tongue in concentration as she went back to attacking the lock.

"I was framed."

"Framed how?"

"For slaughtering a village of Argonians and setting fire to their Hist tree."

Emily stopped what she was doing and looked at Almerion with a bemused expression, she obviously thought he was lying but didn't press the subject.

"You want out?" she asked, nodding towards the lock on his cell door with a half smile and raised eye brow, Almerion couldn't help but be fiercely attracted to her. It wasn't just how she looked it was her attitude and very nature.

"Yes please." He replied, grinning back at her through the gloom.

A metallic clang echoed around the room as her lock slid open, Almerion held up a hand as she went to open the cell door, he could hear footsteps.

"Quickly, push it back some one is coming!" he hissed to her, she immediately pushed the door closed and hung the pad lock around the cross bar, locking it in place in a position that made it looked like it was secure even though it didn't hook through the hole in the dead bolt.

Soon enough a pair of gold lined silver legionnaire boots could be seen shining in the torchlight on the stairs, slowly making their way down to the prison toward its only occupants. Eventually the rest of the figure was revealed -- He wore a full set of palace guard armour which was more of a display of rank than d?cor, he carried a spiked legion helm under his left arm, his right hand rested on the sword at his side.

"Max? Maximus? My god it is you!" Almerion said, jumping to his feet in astonishment as his estranged brother looked down upon his filth covered form beyond the cell doors.

"Marcus? What happened to you?" He asked as he unlocked his cell door and stepped to the side to let him out. Emily gazed at Almerion, mouth hanging slightly open. He simply shrugged and half smiled in return. "Come, you can explain on the way."

"On the way to where may I ask?" Alerion said as they exited the Prison tower onto a large bridge over looking one of the many canols that flowed through the cluster of islands that made up the imperial city.

"Home, I live here now, in the city." Maximus replied without a side glance, he wasn't impressed with his brothers fortune. "We thought you where dead Marcus? I came back from Morrowind expecting my family and I found a grave."

"Ah? Yes I can explain that Max." Almerion replied, trying to think of an adequate explanation on the spot.

"You can explain how your servants found you dead in the night and a service was provided the next day? You can explain how a man of incredible fitness and health like your self just dropped dead on his pillow? Or that your grave was the home of a half rotten corpse of a young woman?"

"Well? No I guess not. In due time Max I will try, but first, some clean clothes."


"You owe me for this Marcus, I pulled a lot of strings to get you out of that hole. They said you'd murdered Argonians, I promised it was out of your character to hurt a fly let alone slaughter a village of innocents. What happened Marcus?"

* * *


A fire crackled and smouldered in the depths of a marble fire place; the light coming out at strange angles around the silhouetted form of Almerions brother, who stood leaning against the mantle piece with one hand while the other swirled an amber liquid in a ball like glass.

They had recently exchanged their stories; Maximus told of how he had shot through the ranks of the Imperial Legion at an astonishing rate, only to have his career ended by a single arrow which penetrated his hip. Now he was the captain of the guard, his soul duty was to protect the sanctity and safety of the Imperial City, there was nothing that happened within the white marble walls that he didn't know about.

Including Almerions incarceration.

Almerion in turn told him of Gabrielle; how he came to him and offered him a better life to replace the pain of losing the woman he loved. How Almerion threw himself into the fantasy that his life would improve if he went with this stranger -- that austere noble looking man who held every promise in the world above Almerions head.

He told him how they had worked in the southern plains of Morrowind as slavers? how they where driven from their home by their own allies and forced into the marshes of Argonia. Then he told him of the Whett Tooth clan, how Gabrielle betrayed them and slaughtered them all. How Almerion abandoned his mentor and travelled alone though the swamps until a patrol picked him up.

He didn't tell him he was a vampire.

He already knew.

"What's it like?" Maximus asked at last after being stood in silence for over half an hour. He had added two and two together and got vampire after Almerion told him what had happened and how a woman had ended up in his tomb instead of himself.

"Liberating? Repulsive? Beautiful? Corrupting? Empowering? It is everything I dreamed for; but some of those dreams where nightmares my brother, I would wish this curse upon no man." Almerion answered, taking care to emphasise the bad points to his younger brother.

"I'm very ill Marcus? I will not outlast the winter should I get to it." He said quietly, his eyes reflecting the core of the fire place. At last he looked away and stared into Almerions pale red eyes, they where only pale red in fire light for some reason, it was a predators camouflage -- In any other light they where bright blue.

"No Maximus? You do not want this, I do not want this." Almerion said, turning away from the pleading eyes of his brother.

"Please Marcus? We are family, we should be together as family for as long as our lives last. How can we do that if I am to die prematurely and you will live forever!" He was begging now, Almerion could here the desperation in his voice. He had been searching for a cure ever since his illness manifested, now he had a life line in the form of his brother.

"Do not ask for that which you do not understand!" Almerion shouted, rising from his seat as he threw his glass of whiskey into the dying flames. "You would suffer more every minute if you had my burden Maximus, every minute you draw breath you would suffer to carry the burden as I have!"

"What burden! You are powerful; you are cunning and fast, you are charming and beautiful! What burdens do you speak of!" He shouted, flaring up just the same as his brother, they had both inherited their mothers temper which overpowered the level headed rationality they had inherited from their father.

"All of those things mean nothing to me; every night I am tortured by my past, I would not wish it on my brother, MY OWN BROTHER!" He shouted, the fire flickered and died along with the candles around the room as he did.

"Yes Marcus? your brother who is dying." Maximus replied, the moonlight shone on his saddened features as he gazed to the sky through the panelled window beside him.

"I wish I shared your fate."

* * *

the twists keep on coming haha. Again I can't wait for the next chapter.

I apologise in advance for any typos in there, its just such a long chapter (9 pages in MS word) that I havent the heart to proof read it. Enjoy!







Chapter Nine: Honour among thieves.



3 E 04, The Imperial City, Cyrodil


The waterfront district had never looked better. Almerion made his way at a leisurely pace through the docklands admiring the craftsmanship of the boats on the water; it hadn't taken his brother long to clean up the city after taking authority, Almerion barely recognised it. It had none of the filthy vagrants or layabouts on the street front; though he was sure they could still be found deeper into the district.

The sun had just set and the skies where streaked with red; the clouds almost looked as if they had been painted onto the skies by a collection of the worlds most talented artists. It wasn't often that Almerion got to look upon the sunset, he had taken care to feed at the right time so that he may enjoy the final few minutes of the beautiful sight before his resistance to the natural light faded and he began to burn.

"I didn't have you pegged as a romantic you know, more like the strong silent type." A familiar voice said from beside him; Almerion turned to see Emily stood behind him, leaning on the rails that lined the docks with one leg hooked over the middle cross bar, her head tilted to one size as she scrutinised the details of the view. Almerion simply smiled and leant against the rail with her, enjoying a second view to compliment the first. "Yeah, strong and silent. You don't talk much do you?"

"Do I need to talk to enjoy moments like these?" He asked, waving a hand towards the red streaks in the sky, the pink and orange clouds and the reflections of colour on the rippling water.

"No? But it would be nice for you to confirm that your not brain dead some time, you know." She said with a smile that made Almerions stomach flutter. He realised how nervous some women made him feel; he felt vulnerable, he felt human.

He felt normal.

"I apologise, But I'm sure you have enough life in you to talk for the both of us." He said quietly referring to the way she had almost talked his ears off in the Imperial prison. She raised an eye brow and turned to face the opposite side of the docklands, leaning against the railing with each arm while her head hung back over the water.

"I've never seen you before but all of a sudden I meet you in the prison and you get out? then I find you walking around the waterfront district where I live, are you stalking me mister?" She asked playfully, turning to look at Almerion with one eye closed against the light reflected from the water.

"I assure you if was stalking you I'd do a much better job at staying hidden."

"Oh your good at sneaking about then eh? I guess you would have practice considering your line of work."

"Line of work?" Almerion asked, suddenly panicking that she had found out his secret. For some reason the fact that she thought he was just another normal man was important to him. He didn't know why.

"Well, you suddenly got released without warning by the captain of the watch after talking to a member of the thieves guild. I figured your up to no good snooping around trying to weed up some information for him as repayment or something." she said, her voice full of accusation but gentle enough not to be taken seriously.

"Ah my pretty little friend, I'm afraid I'm unemployed at the moment. The captain of the watch happens to be my brother whom I haven't seen for seven years. He wouldn't have released me if I didn't have something he wanted, we never did get along so well."

"You think I'm pretty? Staring at sun sets must be damaging your eye sight. Come on, lets go, I'll introduce you to a few friends. Maybe they have some work that needs doing." She said, her face just centimetres from his own, teasing him with every breath she exhaled onto his lips before drawing away, gesturing for him to follow her.

"Are you always so trusting with people you've just met?" Almerion asked; walking in step beside her, his hand drifting just inches from hers.

"No, not always. But you where in jail, how bad can you be?" She said with a laugh and wink; hustling on forwards through a crowd of people, Almerion followed like a dog eager to be fed. Everything about her washed his worries away, he barely knew her but already he craved her company.

"Where are you taking me?" He asked curiously as they walked through the weaving alley ways and back streets that where clearly missed out of city guard patrol routes through the city. This is where the filth and scum of the waterfront sought refuge from the tyranny of cleanliness.

"To a friends house; they cook enough food for twenty people every day? it's a safe house for the thieves guild. But most don't show up, too busy on jobs or running errands for the fox usually." she said simply, looking back at Almerion, stopping in her tracks as she read his expression of anger and mistook it for something she had said. "What's wrong? Did I offend you?"

"What? No; of course not, its just. That spot right there is where I met the man who ruined my life." Almerion said quietly, pointing towards an uncharacteristic area along a grey wall, the same spot he was mugged in and the same spot Gabrielle turned him. "Its strange how after such a long time away from the city something can re-awaken your past with a bump."

"The past is there to be forgotten." Emily said, placing a hand on Almerions shoulder. The vampire turned to her and she cocked her head back and turned away down a side alley, he followed obediently. As he rounded the corner he just spotted her arm disappearing with the rest of her body behind a large bushy hedge planted along the back of the building, he walked towards the spot and crouched down to where she disappeared -- spotting a large hole at the bottom of the wall he began to crawl through, only to be pulled upwards to the other side by a gentle guiding hand.

He found himself in a busy kitchen overlooked by two women; one Khajiit the over Nord, both wearing greasy stained aprons over their leathers. Every work surface was covered in some sort of food or utensil used to cook -- a stove steamed profusely in the corner of the room with an assortment of bubbling pans atop of it.

"This is Marcus, I met him in prison." Emily said to the two women; The Khajiit turned and smiled in a distinctive way that only Khajiit could, he couldn't tell if it was friendly or not. The Nord however didn't turn, she simply raised her hand and waved over her shoulder but carried on chopping away at the vegetables on the cutting board. "He'll be joining us tonight."

Before Almerion could politely decline she took his hand and dragged him through to the dining room -- a large room made up of what was once two living rooms, one from the neighbouring building, the wall separating them had been knocked through but nobody had bothered to cover up the masonry jutting out from the walls. Emily guided him to a large wooden table with a mismatched assortment of chairs, he sat down beside her on a hard wooden chair, Emily sat in a plush eagle winged arm chair, her legs curled beneath her.

"You like it?" She asked, watching him examine the chair with evident curiosity. "We stole it from the Arch Mage of the Mages guild when he boasted about the new magical security system he had personally put in place; it took three of us to shift it but we managed -- and without waking him the soft old sod."

"Very impressive, truly a throne worthy of your accomplishments." He said with a smile, raising and empty glass in a mock toast. She bowed her head with closed eyes and waved in recognition to her success in a manner that would befit royalty. "But I'm afraid I have already eaten? and I wouldn't feel right eating food I have not earned."

"Oh don't be silly Marcus, everybody is welcome here its what we do. We help those in need, you looked like you where in need of a square meal yesterday so I'm helping you now. What harm can a little more food be? Your not in danger of putting on any weight that's for sure." She said, placing a hand on his arm as he went to stand, he obeyed her gentle touch and fell back into his seat as if a force stronger than any had pushed him there.

"No really, its very polite of you but I have eaten today -- I will let you feed me when I earn it, I promise." He said, half smiling an apologetic smile as she looked at him with those round emerald coloured eyes.

"Then drink, everybody drinks now and then. Come on, you scared of being a little social? Want to go watch another sunset you helpless romantic?" She said, nudging him with a now shoeless foot under the table. He relented.

"Fine, I'll stay for a drink and I will entertain your friends with stories and jokes the likes you have never heard before, then I shall politely excuse myself and run from this mad house like a man possessed!" Her laugh made his stomach flutter for a second time that night, he savoured the feeling every time it happened, clinging to the notion that he might reclaim a normal life if he shunned his past and ignored his instincts.

"Good boy!" She said, clapping him on the shoulder as she stood on her chair then stepped over the back of it landing gracefully onto the tiled floor. Almerion watched her as she left the room, his eyes skirting over her form eagerly. She was quite delicate to look at but held herself with an undeniably strong composure.

He sat looking around the room for a few minutes until she returned with an arm full of bottle, she began placing them along the table between the already laid out plates and cutlery. She stopped beside Almerion and held a bottle out for his approval -- The Label read Enveri Vineyards, 3 E 01.

"That wine is from my own Vineyard, very good year I must say!" Almerion said, shocked to see something so familiar in such unfamiliar surroundings, it was something from his past he didn't hate, he smiled with glee as the red liquid poured into a welcoming glass.

"You own a vineyard?" Emily asked curiously, her voice full of scepticism. She sniffed the wine tentatively before pouring a glass for her self. She nodded appreciatively after taking a sip. "Yes it is a good year I agree."

"I used to own it, It was sold to a family of Vinters who wanted to make a business from it -- the surrilles I believe. Good people, hard working? But very demanding and short sighted when it comes to business. I ended up giving the vineyards to them at a discount before I moved to Morrowind." He said, half lying half telling the truth, in reality it was Gabrielle who sold the vineyard, but he would never talk of his former mentor again if he could help it.

"I see, I didn't have you pegged as a hopeless romantic earlier but now that I know you're a wine maker I find it astonishingly easy to believe." She said with a teasing smile, both legs hanging over the arm of her chair on Almerion's side, so she could easily nudge him with her feet if he went quiet.

"Ah the vineyard was left to me by my father; he was in the legion like my brother -- He retired and tended to the vineyards in his twilight years, credit to him where is due though -- even old age didn't stop him from making the damn finest vineyard in all of Cyrodil." Almerion said, wistfully allowing himself to remember simpler times.

"So your brother and your father where in the legion? Does this particular career choice extend to you?"

"No, I was in the mages guild for some time like my mother." He said, his mother died when he was five years of age -- he tried to honour her memory by following in her footsteps but his passions lay else where. "But I left, I had a passion for writing and painting. I travelled for a while -- drawing inspiration from everything I saw. Eventually I married and settled down in Skingrad and took over my fathers vineyard after he passed. I carried on writing to satisfy my passions but worked the vineyards as a stable source of income? Then my wife passed away." The memory pained him still; but he had decided long ago that memories could not hurt him, they could only remind him of a dull pain long faded. His theory never seemed to work.

"How did she die?" Emily asked, leaning forward listening to every detail of his story with wide eyes -- obviously not noticing Almerion's tone that indicated he didn't want to talk about his wife, or she just didn't care and wanted to know.

"We where on our way to the imperial city? She was heavily pregnant with my child at the time. Bandits attacked us, I managed to fend them off but in the chaos our horse got spooked and ran -- The side wheel of the carriage broke off and it over turned and fell from the side of a bridge into a river. I tried to save her? But she drowned before I could even open the carriage door, my child with her."

Almerion almost jumped as Emily placed her hand on his and squeezed it lightly, tearing him from his reverie into the past with an abrupt softness. He looked at her and smiled at her guilty expression.

"Don't feel bad about being curious; I cant hide from my past any more than the next man, I would rather honour those I loved by remembering them fondly than shunning their memories to protect my self."

Before she could reply there was a cry from the next room that tore Emily's hand from his own as she shot out of her seat instinctively reaching for the dagger sheathed at her waist, but she had no cause for concern. Almerion spotted a weathered Redguard face amongst the Nords mass of tawny hair -- his face bashful and embarrassed as he tried to break free of the woman's hug.

"Jonah you silly old fool its been far to long!" The Nord woman cried holding the Redguard at arms length as if she where examining her favourite grandson, in this case her grandson happened to be twenty years her senior. "Where have you been!?"

"Oh, here and there, the fox sent me to Morrowind -- took me nearly a month to get back? I smuggled my self onto the wrong ship and ended up in Elwesyr." He said, his voice exasperated, he obviously hadn't expected such a lively welcome home.

"Oh you are an old fool, come in and sit down the others will arrive soon, Emily is already here -- she brought a friend as well." She said, guiding the Redguard to the dining table -- Smiling at Almerion as she mentioned him.

"Thank you really, its good to be back. Boy have I missed this city, I'm Jonah by the way." he said, offering Almerion his hand as he sat down opposite him, his soft lether armour strained as he lowered himself into a wooden seat equally as uncomfortable Almerions own.

"Marcus, it's a pleasure. You said you smuggled yourself into a ship bound for Elwesyr?" he said, grasping the hand firmly as they shook. It was a male thing, a demonstration of strength, no matter how civilised society got it would always be one of those primal demonstration's that would never die.

"Yeah? I was on the run from Ordinators' would you believe, stole me a priceless relic from the city of Vivec, nearly lost my head a few times running from them. Relentless they are, thought my time with the living was up when they caught me. In my rush to escape I ran to the wrong dock -- The fox had arranged transport for me on a cargo ship that was destined for Bravil? Unfortunately in the confusion I smuggled myself onto the wrong ship!" He told the story with bravado and humour, to thieves stories like these where like battle scars for warriors.

Almerion laughed with Emily, both of their laughs almost drowned out by the Redguards who sounded more like he was barking than laughing. The conversation was cut short as more people began to arrive; some Argonians and Khajiit, others where Breton and Dunmer and even one Orc joined them and sat around the table, Emily was right in her prediction -- Half the seats where empty.

Soon enough the table was straining with the weight of several pots of stew and soup -- plates filled with cooked meats and vegetables and a bowl filled with mashed peas and potatoes. It was a banquet of the lower class citizen, it wasn't the fine delicate cuisine of the aristocrats and nobles Almerion usually rubbed shoulders with. He appreciated it more even if he didn't eat any of it, it had as much character as the motley band sat around the table.

The thieves ate and Almerion drank for an hour; talking politely over their meals. Emily eagerly introduced him to her friends and they all smiled at him but their eyes betrayed suspicion? They had never seen him before and couldn't work out if he could be trusted.

"Marcus, what brings you to the city?" A Dunmer named Bradas to the right of Jonah asked, waving his fork around as he talked, causing the meat skewered onto the end to fly off and land in the pot of stew -- completely unnoticed by the Dunmer who was a little heavy into his wine now.

"I was arrested in black marsh, accused of slaughtering a village of Argonians and burning their Hist tree. I did no such thing of course, I was framed." He said simply; most of the talking died down, especially that of the Argonians who stared at him with accusatory eyes.

"But who would frame you, what would some on have to gain from such a lie? Do you know if somebody actually killed those villagers?" One of the Argonians asked, his voice full of concern for his people. Almerion thought he may have family in black marsh, perhaps.

"No? I don't think anybody was killed. A man named Gabrielle framed me, we where once friends, I even considered him my brother. But he killed a man who trusted us and let us into his home, I could never forgive him for that. We ended up fighting and I left him in the swamps of Argonia, I imagine his reporting me as a murderer was a small act of revenge for abandoning him. Either that or he didn't know I'd get out of jail and simply wants me some where he can find me."

"I see? Well lets hope he never finds you!" Bradas said, draining the rest of his goblet and that was the end of it, no more questions or suspicious looks from those around him. They all went back to their meals and conversations as if he hadn't said a word.

"Will you be staying long?" Emily asked, her expression showed that she hoped he did but her voice remained indifferent and passive, he could tell she was putting it on.

"Yes I think so, I have no where else to go since I sold my home in Skingrad? I'm not welcome back in Morrowind and I have no more relatives or friends I can count on." Almerion said, scratching his chin in an absent minded way as he gazed at the Nord woman? he had grown quite fond of her over the course of the night, she was the motherly figure of the group. She had a warm welcoming demeanour, she also covered her mouth with her hand every time she laughed -- hiding a set of teeth stained from years of heavy food and poor hygiene, but Almerion didn't fault her for it.

"Where are you staying now?" She asked, nudging him in the side again with her foot to regain his attention. Almerion had come to recognise it as a sign of affection rather than annoyance or impatience.

"Well I'm not sure, I was staying with my brother but we argued last night. After seven years I don't think I am as welcome as I used to be? especially after last night." He said, wondering if his brother even cared that he hadn't gone back to his home after leaving in the midst of an argument.

"Your welcome to stay here son, there's always room for one more!" The Nord woman said, evidently ear wigging on their conversation. Emily had explained that the Nord was her adopted mother, the Padfoot she had told Almerion about while in jail together. She was simply looking out for her daughter.

"Oh no that's fine, you have offered more hospitality than I can consciously take without feeling guilty. I would rather earn my keep if you would let me." He said quietly, trying his hardest not to sound rude and at the same time grateful for the generosity she had shown him.

"If you cant take it consciously then drink some more and pass out under the table, there's no way this woman will let you sleep rough my friend." Jonah said with another bark like laugh as he refilled Almerions glass. The wine bottles stood empty around the table, they where drinking Brandy now.

Before he could reply a crash resounded through the house; coming from the kitchen, Almerion turned to see a blood covered Imperial crawling through the small door way leading out to the tunnel in the wall. Everybody rose in unison and rushed over to the injured thief who lay panting on his back.

"What happened to you!"

"Where's Maria?"

"Are you ok? Where does it hurt?"


Every body began talking at once, bombarding the man with question after question without answer. Almerion stepped forward and crouched beside him, holding up a hand to silence those around him. With his hand on the mans chin he turned his head gently to the side and spotted two puncture wounds in his neck.

"What did this to you?" He asked, already knowing the answer but still he dreaded the confirmation.

"Vampires?" He gasped, his speech was slurred and forced. "In the sewers!"

Almerion immediately thought of Gabrielle but pushed it from his mind as he realised that Gabrielle wouldn't be found dead in a sewer, let alone undead. He began removing the straps of his leather briast piece to allow the man room to breath and gestured for Emily to come closer.

"He needs to be treated, if you don't have any already send somebody to the temple of the one or arcane university, he needs potions to treat disease. After the cauterise the wound and keep him hydrated, make sure he does not fall asleep. It he does it will take him three days to wake up? And you wont like the result when he does." Almerion said, Emily nodded with every word, eyes wide and fearful.

"Where are you going?" Jonah asked as Almerion made his way to the door, holding the Imperials blood stained sword in his hand.

"Hunting."

"Are you crazy? You cant go after a vampire alone it would tear you limb from limb! I'm going with you if you know what's good for you."

"So am I" The Orc said, who had been silent for the most part of the night until now. He didn't dress like the other thieves, he wore large iron shoulder pads strapped to a boiled leather briast plate. His hand was clasped around a morning star, the other around the hilt of a long sword still sheathed at his waist.

"No, I can do this alone you need not risk your own safety." Almerion said, without a final word he ducked under the passage way and emerged into a humid water front -- the floor around the entrance was covered in blood, as where the walls lining the alley ways.

"Look your new here so I'll let you off, but in the thieves guild we work together and look after our own, I appreciate your noble intentions but your going to get yourself killed!" Jonah said, following him through the passage with the Orc hot on his heals.

"It's a good thing I'm not in the thieves guild then, I work better alone, if you come your at risk. I cannot allow that." Almerion said, quickening his pace trying to put distance between them as best as he could without drawing too much attention to himself and his blood covered sword from any wary patrols.

"Say what you like man but I'm going down there with you and I'm gunna put my sword in some unpleasant places when I find that vampire." He said, Almerion scowled but said no more, slowing down to join Jonah and the Orc. "You with us Mashag?"

The Orc nodded slowly and walked in step beside them. They wove through the crowds of late night dock workers and early starting drinkers on the waterfront as they made their way toward an open sewer grate on the opposite bank, it was definitely the one the imperial had escaped from, blood had stained the sand beneath it a dull burgundy colour.

A stench almost strong enough to blind him filled Almerions senses as they crawled through the grate into the large subterranean labyrinth that was the Imperial city sewers -- Very few people could safely navigate the tunnels beneath the city and come out alive, the thieves guild where proficient at it and relied on it as a means of safely travelling between the districts without attracting unwanted attention from the watch, unfortunately that meant they had to occasionally contend with the less glamorous occupants of the Cities bowels, vampires and goblins included.

It took mere seconds for Almerions eye sight to adjust to the gloom in the tunnels -- moonlight shone through over head grates and manhole covers but provided little in the way of illumination, he had to rely on his inherent vampire senses to navigate the tunnels, his companions weren't as lucky.

They wandered in strained silence for some time; passing through large circular rooms filled with empty crates that once acted as a home for illicit smuggled goods on behalf of the pirates distributing them. Almerion had no trouble at all picking up the scent of moon sugar and unrefined skooma? It was a popular poison among the Khajiit slaves of Morrowind.

Eventually they found their target; the three of them crouched in the shadows that flooded the entry way to a wide rectangular room, in the centre of the room a lone figure knelt over a leather clad body, Almerion could smell her blood as it passed through the vampires lips.

"Ok.. I only see one of them, lets move in slowly and jump him?" Jonah whispered to Almerion and Mashag. Before the Nord could protest they both moved forwards? A lot quicker than they should have. The Vampire spun around from his meal and snarled viciously at them -- His face was deeply recessed and waxy, he was a feral vampire, those few vampires who do not feed regularly and gave in all control to the beast within them. They become nothing but relentless predatorial monsters.

Jonah screamed as a second vampire they hadn't noticed pounced from the shadows and flung him to the ground; Almerion reacted instinctively, running forward to intercept the first vampire who was heading straight for Mashab, who in turn was trying to drag the second vampire from Jonah by its neck -- evidently forgetting he was armed to the teeth with an assortment of daggers and small blades around his belt -- he dropped his morning star to the floor with a clatter.

Almerions breath was knocked out of him as he collided with the first vampire, forcing it backwards. It clawed ferociously at his face; blood seeped from the wounds into Almerions eyes. Squinting through the red haze Almerion swung the blood encrusted sword up wards, missing by inches as the vampire hopped backwards out of reach.

He kept swinging and swinging like a man possessed -- Hating the creature for what they had in common, loathing it for what it was. He pressed his attack and received another blow in rebuttal; his chest stung as the talon like nails tore through his flesh. He shouted loudly and swung the sword -- hitting the vampire in the side of the head with the flat of the blade, forcing him to stumble backwards towards into a side passage. He carried on forward, swinging ferociously with the blade? Sparks danced across the stone walls as the blade collided with it, the vampire dodged and fell backwards with each swing, only to lunge forwards with an attack of its own.

Almerion parried and drove the blade forward; catching the vampires arm with the sharp edge of the blade. It howled like the beast it was and fell backward into a large opening -- they stood now on a narrow bridge over a thirty foot drop into sewage. Almerion took his opportunity -- rushing forward he screamed and threw the sword at the vampire who instinctively covered his face with both arms, the sword bounced off them harmlessly after colliding with them by the hilt. But Almerion hadn't intended to do any damage with the blade.

He reached around and grabbed the creatures neck; turning it roughly with his other hand by the shoulder. It tried to resist but Almerion squeezed down on the wound it had sustained to its arm, causing it to howl in pain and protest. Without further hesitation Almerion drew all the strength he could and flung it forwards. It screamed violently before its head collided with the wall just feet away from the bridge, then fell in silence to the sewage bellow.

Almerions chest heaved as he walked slowly back to the others with a painful gait; he was glad to see they where both alive and well when he returned, the vampire who attacked them lay on the floor with a morning star embedded into its head. Jonah was knelt over the body the vampire was feeding on with his fingers on her neck.

"No pulse?" He said, his face was half contorted with anger half with sorrow. Mashag bent down slowly and picked up the Bosmers body. She looked almost like a child against his towering form. "Heddvi is going to be heart broken."

Almerion nodded in agreement as he thought of the Nord mother figure, Heddvi, she saw every thief in the guild as one of her children and loved each one like her own. This was going to be a heavy blow, Almerion just hoped Emily was successful in saving the Imperial, one positive thing might soften the blow.

Or so he hoped.


* * *

Wondreful... wait, scratch that... GREAT!!

You're making a mess out of where/were and your/you're though

nah thats just Microsoft works making a mess of it for me, i just dont really pick up on them when i do large chapters and cant be bothered proof reading I wish i had MS word back, it wont work and Works is very very subpar.

Wow you must be typing non stop to keep putting these chapters out. It's awesome how the character is developing, keep it up

Actually your partly right, i was up until 5am this morning due to staying out all night and sleeping a hang over off all day saturday So I had nothing to do but watch Flashforward/Bone and write until the sun came up lol. Writing the next chapter as we speak, I'm proud to say that the entire fanfic has gone past the 50page mark on works

And then there was Ten, Enjoy!






Chapter Ten: Traitor in the Midst.



3 E 04, The Imperial City, Cyrodil






It had been three days since Almerions trip into the sewers; he had earned the trust and respect of many guild members that night, as well as the thanks of Heddvi, who appreciated his noble intentions despite losing one of her own.

They had buried the dead Bosmer beneath an apple tree on the far shore to the south of the waterfront, Almerion watched from afar, safely nestled in the shadows away from direct sunlight. He didn't want to feel like he was intruding on such a personal service; he also didn't want to burst into flames from the sun, so he stood and watched -- he watched as the body was lowered into the grave and the Bosmers friends said their goodbyes, he watched as Emily comforted a distraught Heddvi. He wished he could be there with them, a part of the close-knit family they had created but he was not sure they would accept him for what he was, considering the events that had transpired.

He sat now in the study of the safe house; in his time there he had discovered that the safe house was made up of four conjoined houses in the slums of the waterfront, the top floor accommodated a living area as well as bedrooms while the bottom accommodated the kitchen dining room and briefing area for the guild.

Heddvi sat opposite him; her eyes following the progress of a book as it floated gently through the air, Almerion had been honing his long unused alteration skills over the last few days. At first, it was somewhat difficult but he soon found that his natural talent for the art made it easy to remember and pick up again -- even after ten years, he could cast spells stronger than most well practiced mages. He could not help but wonder what effect his being a vampire had on his casting abilities.

"She's quite taken with you, you know?" Heddvi said, jumping a little as Almerions concentration broke and the heavy tome fell to the ground. He followed her line of sight to Emily, who lay curled in a ball under a number of blankets on an over stuffed couch. She had taken the news of her friend's death heavily and had not slept much, she was constantly exhausted and nearly close to tears when she was awake and when she slept her dreams tormented her and she woke more fatigued than when she fell asleep.

"What makes you say that?" Almerion asked, a flash of light left his hand and collided with the book again which immediately floated back up into its previous position with the help of Almerions conducting hands.

"I've seen the way she looks at you? and the way you look at her. Its plain for all to see, she never leaves your side." Heddvi said, watching the book as it danced above them both. At first Almerions displays of Alteration impressed her deeply and she watched with a smile on her face. However, over the few days that had passed since he was invited to stay, she had grown so used to floating objects and shimmering shield spells that it was now second nature to go about her day as normal, while paying no mind to the airborne objects around her. "I'm glad she has met somebody; she's awfully guarded around most men, she's been hurt before. But I must warn you, if you hurt her I will break your fingers."

"You need not threaten me; thankfully my fingers shall remain unbroken and Emily's feelings untouched. I will not act upon any feelings or attractions; my luck with women in the past has been dire at best." Almerion said with a chuckle at the threat of broken digits,

"Oh don't be an idiot Marcus; she's a diamond that one, anybody would be a fool to pass up an opportunity to be with her." Heddvi said, her eyebrows almost meeting he hairline as she frowned in disbelief. "And she's well sought after by a lot of folk I'll have you know!"

"I don't doubt that for a second my dear Heddvi; but my decision is final, I cannot risk damaging her." Heddvi assumed by damaging he meant emotionally, but Almerion sat reminiscing about the night he had nearly drained the life from a beautiful Breton no older than Emily, how he had set fire to Gabrielles house in order to escape and deliver her to safe hands. He was not eager to re-live that experience.

"It's your loss." She said with a shrug, Almerion imagined she had visions of grand weddings and many grand children. He wasn't even sure Vampires where fertile and able to breed; he didn't want to find out either, lest the end product inherit the burden he bared.

They sat in silence for a while longer; a second book spiralled around the first now glowing with a lilac shine, both slowly dipped and sagged downward then shot forwards neatly onto a lopsided shelf on the wall. Almerion could hear voices on the stairs; one he recognised as Jonah, the other was new.

"Look; he can be trusted, he risked himself to save Maria? It's not his fault we didn't get there in time; I'm just as responsible if anybody is to blame. But the fact is he went after them before any of us volunteered and without him Mashab and I would have been lunch as well!" Jonahs voice carried through to the open door, Heddvi's eyes snapped up to Almerion's as she realised they where talking about him and she rose to close the door, only to stop as Almerion raised a hand and listened.

"We've been planning this job for months I cant just let some stranger off the street join up now; it's a bad idea Jonah and you know it, what if he's a turn coat or a spy? Isn't his brother the head of the watch? That puts us all at risk let alone this one job!" the unfamiliar voice was delicate and well spoken, he had an accent Almerion couldn't quite place though the name of the region it came from was on the tip of his tongue.

"But we're a man down Bardika; Caius is still recovering from the attack he's to weak to come along and Maria is dead. I'll be surprised if Heddvi lets Emily leave the house after what happened, we need all the help we can get until the fox recalls some of us from the provinces!" The voices where just outside the door now, Almerion stood with hands clasped behind his back facing the doorway.

"Almerion, we where just-"

"Talking about me?" He said with one eyebrow raised, cutting Jonah off before, he could finish. He eyeballed the man behind the Redguard he had come to call friend, a wiry grey haired Dunmer with facial tattoos following the sharp contours of his brow and jaw line. He looked more like an Ashlander tribesman than a Dunmer pickpocket; Almerion couldn't help but wonder how he tried to fit in with the crowd while on a job.

"Actually I was going to say we're heading to the briefing room, but I guess your right. Coming?" Jonah said with a smile, the Dunmer behind him was fit to explode, Almerion couldn't tell if it was from anger of embarrassment.

Almerion nodded and followed them out of the room; pausing to look back at Emily, her blankets where half on half off -- she smiled in her sleep for the first time in days. He couldn't help but feel scolded as Heddvi caught him watching her but his intentions where none, she was a good friend and he was satisfied to leave it that way, Heddvi didn't have to worry.

The briefing room was more like a second study; dark and stuffy with a jumble of mismatched furniture scattered here and there, a large circular table dominated the centre of the room. Usually it was empty but today unrolled maps and leather pouches of infiltration tools covered it. Sat around the table where two Argonians -- Nicknamed the twins, ex-shadow scales who deserted the Dark Brotherhood as children -- beside them sat Bradas; the drunken Dunmer Almerion had met on his first night in the safe house. Mashab the Orc stood in full legionnaire armour at the edge of the room. Almerion had spoken to him very briefly, about his role in the thieves guild; Mashab's job was to deceive and distract. Today it seemed he'd be playing the role of patrol man number one, Almerion just hoped he was better at acting than infiltrating.

"Right, now that we are all here we can begin!" The Dunmer named Bardika said clapping his hands together he left Almerion and Jonah stood at the back of the room as he paced off towards the table. "As we know there are two new faces joining us, Emmanuel and Marcus."

Almerion looked at the Redguard Bardika was gesturing towards; he sat leaning back on the two rear legs of a heavy wooden chair, his feet resting one on top of the other on the table in front of him. His hair fell half way down his back in a braid like tail. He had an undeniable air or arrogance that Almerion didn't quite trust.

"What's the target?" The Redguard asked, not looking up from a sheaf of parchment he was reading. His voice was as rough as the laboured hands he held the paper in. "Time of execution? What is the location? Who we taking this from and where can we find it?"

Almerions mistrust further cemented by the way the Redguard spoke; he was precise and had clear objectives to fulfil with each question clear and concise. It was not the kind of precision a thief usually employed in conversation. It didn't seem like anybody else had noticed it.

"The item we've been commissioned to steal is found in the imperial library -- I don't know what it is I just know that it's contained within a book titled the Omens of the Elder scrolls." He said impatiently, obviously thinking that such a minor detail like that could be ignored in the initial briefing. "For now our main concern is getting in undetected then getting out. It has never been done before? That's why we need so many people."

"Is it in the Elder Scrolls library? I heard that place is damn near impenetrable." Bardas asked, slurring his words a little as scratched his knotted main of deep red hair. Almerion hadn't pegged him as a heavy drinker, not when a job that requires professionalism was involved.

"Is he drunk?" Almerion whispered to Jonah, earning himself one of his reprising looks followed by a thoughtful chuckle.

"No, quite sober actually. He had a stroke a few years ago, been like that ever since. Gets fined for being loaded all the time though." Jonah muttered back, Almerion felt a tinge of guild for instantly assuming the worse of the man without cause or justification.

"The library we're infiltrating is the Emperors personal library; where his sons are educated by Tamriels finest minds turned private tutors every day, a very hard target but a damn sight easier than the Elder Scrolls library, that place is locked tighter than a tax mans stink hole.

"We will head out after sun down once we're fully prepped, The Twins will provide an ample distraction and Mashab will divert any patrols away from the Palace -- I'll take my team in through the front door to secure the escape route and Jonah will take his team to infiltrate the interior walls of the palace through the city sewers. Jonah, would you like to take over?"

Bardika stepped aside with a slight bow as Jonah stepped up beside him with a nod of appreciation. His mane of Afro hair cast a shadow on the table that made his head look comically large, most Redguard's with tight curled hair like his tended to braid it into corn rows or at least keep it trimmed, but Jonah left it to grow until it was big enough to nest a family of cliff racers in it.

"My team will be taking Bardas, Julia, Emmanuel and Marcus through the sewers. Now I know Marcus is new but he's good, I've been into the sewers with him before an I'd trust him with my life should we be unlucky enough to walk into a similar situation as before. So I hope you are wise enough to appreciate his presence after all he's done for us, you're an asset to the team Marcus." He said, raising his hand with a slight bow of the head in recognition of Almerions' actions the last time they had ventured into the sewers, Bardika looked fit to explode again, this time definitely out of anger. He could express his opinion openly in front of the rest of the team; they needed faith and teamwork, accusing Almerion of being a spy would damage morale. At lest he was smart enough to hold his tongue this time. "Now the sewer grates have been sealed tight recently -- we suspect some one may have tipped them off about us getting around the city through its belly, but as always we are one step ahead. The Gray Fox has personally arranged entry into the sewer through the Blood works of the arena; we will meet our contact in the Merchants inn in the Market District. Then we will perform anti surveillance drills and try to get through to the arena district without a tail, now I know some of you have gotten sloppy with security since we found the maps to the sewers but I have faith that you will all do the fox proud tonight. Any questions?"

Nobody raised a hand; they just each sat there with their game faces on, some bowed their heads while others rubbed their temples, each one visualising the jobs they must all do to get through the night without shackled hands? or worse.

"If that is all you are dismissed, meet up again in two hours in your teams staging points. My team stay here -- Bardika's team your meeting up in the back room of the Headless Goat inn on the far side of the Elven Gardens district. Mashab and the Twins will be in the tomb of Jensick two fingers in the Green Emperor way so you can get on target as soon as possible. Hop to it kids, there's a lot that needs to be done before we leave."

Jonah smiled mischievously over at Almerion; it would be quite a test of his abilities for his first official assignment, he hadn't even shown any interest in being inducted into the guild but here he was, about to commit a felony. He had never dreamed it possible but with this group of misfits and thieves, anything seemed possible, nothing was out of reach.

Well, almost nothing.


* * *



The group of thieves sat with Almerion at a corner table in the Merchants inn; Jonah had already identified their contact -- a surly looking Nord with a surprisingly soft-spoken voice. He wore a suit of half plated iron over a set of soft bear hide furs; his hair fell in lank greasy strands that framed his square jaw in an unflattering manner, bringing attention to a weak chin and bulbous nose that looked as if it had seen its fair share of breaks over the years.

Jonah sat quite at ease beside Almerion; sipping mead from a wooden mug he always carried with him on his belt, he told Almerion it was a good luck charm given to him by his father, though Almerion suspected he found the hygiene of the merchants inn some what questionable after his own drink arrived in a grime covered glass. To Jonahs right sat Julia; a Breton woman with a waspish face and tight lips -- her hair was thick and curly and poked out from beneath a bandana she used to try to control the wild locks. Emanuel sat to Almerions left, he had been almost twenty minutes late for their rendezvous and hadn't bothered to apologise or explain why, he just sat in silence with the same cocky arrogance as before. Bardas was already on site waiting for them -- he had snuck in as a spectator to the final fight of the night and never left, Almerion had a sneaking suspicion the Nord had something to do with the arenas sudden hospitality towards un-paying customers.

Jonah stood and said his goodbyes as the Nord nodded to him ever so slightly over his drink, signalling that it was time to move. Jonah would follow the Nord at a safe distance throughout the city -- Emanuel was to take a route through the back streets occasionally emerging at intervals to confirm visual with his target before pressing on. It was of dire importance that the Nord arrive at the Arena first so they spent as little time as possible dawdling around the entrance looking out of place.

Almerion and Julia where going to pretend to be a couple walking back to the water front after too many meads, at the last possible minute they would divert through the temple district towards the Arena. They hoped to throw off any would be followers with this tactic, but Almerion knew that if some one was determined to stick to them they would do so by any means necessary, it was just a matter of wait and see.

"That's it for me mate, early start tomorrow the emperors son is fighting. Coming of age event or something, I don't know, it's all nonsense to me. That boys going to leave in pieces if he goes up against my boys I tell you." The Nord barked loudly to the bar keep as he stood and turned to leave.

"Careful there Hrolfgar, what you just said could be viewed as conspiracy for treason in the eyes of the watch." The barkeep said with a chuckle as the Nord opened the front door and left with a curt not to Emanuel. The three of them sat in silence for a few seconds until Emanuel stood and left wordlessly.

"You ready?" Julia asked, barely masking the quiver in her voice as her body wracked with nerves. Almerion felt quite serene considering what they where about to pull off, it was the quiet before the storm. He knew he wouldn't feel like that all night so he savoured it while it lasted.

"When you are, my dear." He said, trying his best to inject some confidence in her with a comforting smile, but in the end, all she could rely on was her training and abilities. They would give her all the confidence she needed when her instincts took over and she stopped playing through every detail in her head.

After a few more minutes, they stood and bade their goodbyes to the barkeep and stepped out into the night. The rain fell in a gentle haze like mist around them; it was the fine rain that managed to soak you to the bone but left the streets relatively dry and puddle free.

Neither of them drew any suspicious looks from the guard as they meandered haphazardly through the streets like the drunken couple they where pretending to be; arm in arm and very much in love, or at least that's how they thought they looked, most of the guardsmen who saw them thought they where drunk and horny. Either way it worked.

Most of the streets where empty save for those few people just finishing work or those few nobles sneaking out under the veil of darkness to meet with secret lovers; or that's what Almerion liked to think, it made the city feel a little less mundane. With an uncomfortable tinge, he realised Gabrielles love for controversy had rubbed off on him and pushed the thought aside as trivial -- which it was.

Very occasionally Almerion managed to spot a few members of Bardika's team roaming through the city without a visible destination or purpose; taking turns at the last minute or doubling back on themselves, they where good at what they did.

Eventually they made it to the arena district to see their contact walking towards them from a near by stone bench with a wide smile on his face; it had to look natural, it had to look like they knew each other. They shook hands briefly and greeted each other like old friends even though Almerion had already forgotten the Nord's name and the Nord probably never knew Almerion's either.

After a small pause in which the Nord's eyes skirted the area for any out of place shapes in the shadows or movement they passed into the arena -- taking the first left down a flight of stairs rather than the doorway to the spectators stands. The tantalising scent of blood barraged Almerion's senses almost immediately; his mouth watered while his pupils dilated -- he felt his control on the situation slipping slightly but managed to throw it off for the most part.

"Good, we're all here." A familiar voice in the form of Jonah said, stepping from a side room with Bardas and Emanuel at his shoulder. "When your ready mate."

The Nord nodded and waved his hand impatiently for Almerion and Julia to follow; he led them to the back room with a large basin filled with blood tainted water, his eyes lingered for a moment on an injured arena combatant lying unconscious on a cot near by.

"Ok, this isn't going to be pretty? but I guess it's no worse than the sewers." The Nord said with a shrug, then turned a large wheel on the side of the basin and the water began to drain from its holding place rapidly to reveal a large hole wide enough for two men to squeeze down -- Luckily there would be no such need due to the fact that a ladder was bolted to the side. "Follow me."

They all paused and watched as the Nord slowly disappeared down the hatch; Almerion actually physically stepped back away from the stench before remembering he had to wade through it. He wasn't exactly buoyed by the thought. Jonah began to climb down after he was given the all clear, soon followed by Julia then Bardas and Emanuel? Almerion was last, his mouth watered as he stared at the injured combatant, they would never know? would they?

"I'll be down in a second; I'm bolting the door to the blood works just in case we have a tail!" He called down, his voice echoing through the subterranean passage. Jonahs voice echoed back up to him but he couldn't make out what he said; he paid no mind to it and approached the combatant in the cot, nobody else was around. He lowered his head to the man's neck.

The blood exploded into his mouth in a tidal wave of different flavours; metallic at first then sweet, he drained the man slowly, savouring every last drop as it passed over his lips and slid tantalisingly down his throat. Then as the pulse started to slow, he stopped and raised his head, wiping away the crimson liquid from his mouth with the back of his hand. The puncture wounds where barely noticeable amongst the scratch's and nicks around his shoulders and neck, they would think he passed in his sleep. An assumption that suited Almerion perfectly.

Without further hesitation he climbed over the edge of the basin and lowered himself down; sliding a little as he went, he managed to catch the ladder with his foot and began to climb down into the over powering smell of stale blood and rotten sewage. So far, it wasn't a good day out for Almerion, his friends probably weren't enjoying themselves either.

"Ok, I got'a lock up now so I wont be able to let you guys back in, so I'm afraid you'll have to find another way out. Shadow hide you." The Nord said as he climbed onto the ladder after Almerion jumped off, using the mysterious way of saying goodbye that thieves guild members occasionally employed, it was more a way of saying good luck than anything.

"Ok kids lets move." Jonah muttered as he pulled a ready-lit torch from a bracket on the wall. They all followed obediently staying as close to the walls as possible to avoid slipping into the faeces strewn sewage floating along beside them, Almerion watched Julia with a smile as she pulled the bandana from he head down over her mouth, releasing her wild tangles of hair for all to see.

The walked in the thick silence for over an hour; Jonah navigated seamlessly throughout the maze of tunnels, rooms and overpasses. Each room held a grizzly secret to the past, some had bones piled in the corners -- probably animal or Goblin; others had empty wine and skooma bottles littered across the floor. Then one room they came upon was filled with dead Goblins, the shaman lay on his back over a table, his totem staff just feet away on the floor.

"What happened here...?" Almerion asked quietly, more to himself than those around him as he examined the Shamans dead body with a morbid curiosity. Other goblins lay about; some piled atop of each other others in rows near the wall.

"Nothing, just another war between the Goblin tribes that make their home here, we should press on if we are to get there in time -- the others are more in danger every minute we dawdle." Emmanuel said, a bit too quickly as he passed Almerion.

"No, something isn't right -- I've seen the results of a Goblin war before and it's never like this. The shaman's totem is still here, the rival tribe would have taken it as a trophy I'm sure and look at the wounds they are precise and clean. Goblins use their claws and teeth and clubs, they would leave a body looking like minces meat and they certainly wouldn't neatly line up their victims this way, they would sooner eat them." Almerion said glancing at Jonah as he did -- the Redguard looked back with an uneasy gaze, he knew what Almerion was about to say. "Somebody has been here before us to ensure we get through to our objective."

"I smell a trap." Julia said nervously glancing around at her companions, speaking for the first time that night since they left the tavern. Her hair seemed to get wilder and wilder by the second thanks to the moisture in the air. "What should we do?"

"Spring the trap." Jonah said as he walked past Emmanuel and Almerion, patting the latter on his forearm with an approving smile. Almerion couldn't help but wonder if he knew this was coming and wanted one of them to notice it.

With one last look at the dead bodies, Almerion sighed and began to follow in silence again. They made it through the rest of the sewers without incident and soon found themselves stood in front of a large faintly glowing Aylied wall, which looked like it had been recently uncovered after being walled over for years. A few bricks still remained at the top and around the edges. The door itself like many Aylied creations had a large flowing tree depicted on it, surrounded by a number of ancient long forgotten symbols. Eight recessions where carved onto the trunk of the tree, before Almerion could ask what they where for Bardas pulled a sack from his belt and jingled the contents with a smile.

"The sovereign rings of each count where once Aylied you know? The only thing different about them is the symbols they bare which have been added since. We think, or rather, we hope that they where made to get past this door. The Fox himself stole them from the hands of the counts and countesses of the cities of Cyrodil himself while they slept!" Bardas said half slurring, not even trying to hide his excitement or glee. Without hesitation he began to slot them in carefully, nothing happened for a few seconds then each ring started glowing a brilliant blue light. The light began to move slowly at first but quicker each second -- illuminating each and every detail of the door, then nothing.

"I think you broke it." Jonah said with a chuckle, kicking the door with a leather boot, but just as he finished laughing the door began to move backward, sliding back by four feet before it sunk downwards into the floor. "Looks like I fixed it, c'mon lets go, we'd better get a move on I don't know my way through here and we might get lost."

They needn't have worried however; instead of multiple passages and rooms, they instead encountered on long corridor leading to a spiral staircase that penetrated to ceiling to unknown heights. There where no ancient Aylied traps be it enchantment or physical -- nor where there any undead waiting for them.

"I take that back, this job gets easier every second." Jonah said confidently as he clapped Bardas on the back with a wide smile. Bardas replied with an uneasy grin, he like Almerion didn't share Jonah's confidence. Almerion couldn't quite shake the feeling that something wasn't right. "We'll be off then shall we?"

They walked for a full five minutes up the tower like flight of stairs; Almerion had never liked spiral stair cases, he always felt unstable on them and it showed as he nearly slipped or missed a step on more than one occasion while walking up them. Eventually however they reached a large Steel hatch -- a recent addition compared to the Aylied architecture that surrounded them. Almerion wondered why such a hatch existed if the only exit from the corridor was through a door way that was magically sealed and bricked over, he didn't voice his concerns however, instead he pushed the hatch upward an inch an peered through.

He found himself looking into a cavernous hallway that curved around and disappeared as dictated by the circular architecture of the palace -- the floors where lined with plush red carpets decorated with intricate gold and silver stitching, the walls held finely crafted hand made bronze oil lambs which banished any shadow that tried to survive around them. There was no life to be seen, just silence and the flickering flames of the oil lantern.

Without further hesitation he pushed the hatch all the way open cringing as it creaked on its rarely if ever used hinges and climbed through, pausing to offer a hand to Julia who was now breathless and very wild looking. Once they had all clambered though they set out again, though this time nobody smiled or laughed or spoke, they all wore the same wary cautious expression and feasted on every detail the palace had to offer as they searched for something out of place.

They didn't encounter a single guard or servant as they stalked the halls collectively wishing there was but a single shadow to hide in; nor did they hear any noise or muted conversation from the rooms they occasionally passed, just a blanket of silence thick enough to suffocate in.

"I'm getting a bad feeling Jonah?" Bardas hissed in a dullest tone, trying his best to be heard over the creaking leather boots they all wore while also trying to stay quiet enough to remain unheard by any who may be nearby. "Something just isn't right here; we should have encountered somebody by now."

"Shhhh! We're here!" Jonah whispered back as they reached a tall oak door with a slanted calligraphic writing engraved onto a gold plaque that read 'library', they all crouched down around it as Jonah busied himself pulling various infiltration tools from his belt pouch.

"Allow me." Almerion said quietly, placing the tip of his finger on the door handle as a bead of light flowed from the palm of his hand up his outstretched finger onto the lock. The door briefly illuminated their faced with a light purple hue as a clicking noise met their ears, indicating that his spell had worked. He braced himself and turned the handle, pushing the door open an inch at a time until he was positive the coast was well and truly clear. "Come on?"

They entered the pitch-black library as quickly and quietly as possible; Almerion strained against the black to try and make something out -- to his dismay, he saw movement. A sound of the door slamming almost burst his eardrums as the magically enchanted oil lanterns burst into life of their own volition.

"Ah? I'm ever so glad you finally decided to join us Marcus, I have been waiting quite some time." The traitorous voice of his brother said, he was sat just feet away in one of the libraries many luxury armchairs examining a smudge on his armour with disinterest. Almerion knew his brother, he was trying to act aloof and uncaring but it didn't work, he knew that Maximus was a man of bottled rage and emotions, calm just wasn't his thing. Instinctively Almerion span around for the exit but found I blocked, three legionnaires stood behind him restraining Jonah Emanuel and Julia, Bardas between them with a sword pointed at Almerions chest. "It seems you've been betrayed my brother."

"Bastard! I'll have your guts as garters you traitorous bastard!" Jonah shouted, spit flying from his mouth as he was enveloped in an uncharacteristic anger towards the man he had trusted and loved as family. "I can't believe you Bardas, we looked after you we gave you a job and a home!"

"I'm sorry Joonah? Truly sorry, but this life isn't for me, I want nothing more than to retire to the countryside after my stroke. I can't keep sneaking around until I'm on my death bed and you shouldn't either, we're too old for this game." He said remorsefully, his eyes full of regret and sadness. Almerion didn't feel anger at the man, just pity.

"Take the vampire into custody." Maximus said quietly, Almerion didn't turn to look at his brother as a fourth legionnaire placed a pair of cast iron shackles around his wrists, he just closed his eyes and tried to hide from the stared of the three thieves around him as they burned holes into him with their questioning gazes.

"I'm sorry Jonah?" Bardas said one last time as the Legionnaires dragged the four remaining thieves from the room.

* * *

Amazing once again. :bowdown:

I think this was the best chapter so far. I was reading on the tip of my seat.
I expected the Redguard to be the traitor, not Bardas.

Emanuel or Jonah? Emanuels just young and cocky

I really enjoyed writing this, especially the 3rd part of the chapter, that was great to write. But ofcourse you have no idea what i'm talking about, so read on!









Chapter Eleven: The Loyalty of Brothers



3 E 04






The cell was a familiar sight for Almerion and his companions, every one of them, had been there at least once in their lives, twice was enough for Almerion though. It was the same cell he was in the last time; the same stacks of rotten neglected food sat in the corner with a handful of dead rats and mice scattered around beside the pile which served as Almerion's actual meals, there was only one nugget of wisdom he had taken from his last stay in the prison. He was certainly not a fan of the prison food, even if he had to kill it himself.

Everyone involved in the operation had been sold out by Bardas, the twins where in the opposite cell with Bardika and the rest of his team. Mashab sat naked in Almerion's cell, his stolen legion armour confiscated after he was arrested, all of them tied to uncomfortable wooden chairs. None of them saw it coming; they where arrogant or trusting enough to think their plan could work, they still didn't know what it was that they where hired to steal. Almerion didn't much care either.

"See, Jonah! This is what happens when you let outsiders join us; he sold us out to his own brother just like I said!" Bardika spat through the bars of his cell, his face pressed between two of them causing his skin to stretch outwards a little giving him a quite demented look as he gazed onto Almerion with a look of deepest loathing.

"Give it a rest Bardika will you! It wasn't Marcus it was Bardas and last I checked he was with us for near ten years!" Julia snarled back, quite to Almerions surprise, her tone of voice matching her fierce uncontrollable hair. Jonah just stared into space with an expression of a child lost; he hadn't said a word since he looked Almerion in the eye and mouthed the word 'why' after they'd been caught.

Nobody spoke for the next few minutes; each sat contemplating the different things they had lost because they where caught, Almerion envied them for that. Some longed to see families, others for the simple pleasure of watching sunlight on water, but Almerion had nothing to call his own so he had nothing to miss. Maybe they envied him too, that was the only thought the comforted him.

Soon enough the familiar sound of metal on stone brought them out of their reveries and they looked up to see no less than six Legionnaires stood three to a side flanking the doors to both cells. Maximus stood between them with an air of arrogance and pride, he had been longing for since his Legion career had been ended by a stray arrow this victory. All Almerion could think was that it was a shame that the arrow only hit him so low -- he knew it to be a vicious thought but he held no love for his Brother any more, he had left that life behind long ago. Now he was just an annoying memory from the past knowing on him like a wolf to a carcass after too many days without food.

"What do you want?" Almerion asked impatiently, not looking up as the sound of the cell door unlocking echoed around their holdings. A long shadow fell over him as his brother approached, his shining silver boots stopped right where he was staring.

"Oh you know what I want vampire, but that can wait. First lets deal with this little group of criminals you seem to have befriended." he said quietly, roughly pulling Almerions head back by his hair to face him. "Now what do we have? You, Orc, impersonating an Imperial officer, very grave indeed. I will try my best to have you imprisoned but do not get your hopes up. Chances are you will be hung at dawn for such a crime.

"And these two Argonians with you, Arson is a bad enough crime but to set fire to a legion armoury? my my we are courageous." he added, referring to the twins distraction designed to draw the guards away from the Palace momentarily. "And the rest of you, breaking into the Imperial palace -- the emperors own home. Where you planning to assassinate him and his heirs? Or are you just looking for something to pay for your next binge in the tavern?"

"We would never kill anybody!" Jonah spat furiously, speaking up for the first time since they where caught. He stared Maximus down as if a bull caught in a corner -- Almerion was surprised his brother didn't recoil as he met the Red guards gaze.

"So it was just theft? Now let me ask, why would this interest you?" He asked as he pulled a large leather bound book from a cloth sack tied to his belt, leafing through the pages until it fell upon what Almerion assumed to be a bookmark until Maximus pulled it out and held it up to the light. "Or is this the object you came for?"

Almerions heart jumped and his stomach froze; he stared at the torn leather map trying not to look as if he knew what it was but he couldn't help it -- his mind was numb. He could see to the right side where it had been torn away from the Argonia section of the map, it would have fit perfectly if they where joined together again.

"A map Marcus? You've seen it before haven't you? But what is it for?" He asked as his eyes fell on Almerions face and correctly interpreted his expression, walking over to hold it in front of his face to grace him with a closer look at the details. Almerion looked away, wondering if Gabrielle knew where he was after all, he had to be the one who hired the thieves guild. There was no other person searching for these fragments that Almerion knew of.

"I don't know." He replied, his voice as dull as deadwood. He barely had time to brace himself as a silver clad fist collided with his jaw, toppling him over on his chair. He hit the ground as blood filled his mouth and the scent of burning flesh filled his nostrils.

"Oh that's right isn't it? vampires cant touch silver can they?" Maximus said his voice full of malicious intent. He paced over to Almerion and stared him in the eyes as his vampire brother spat blood out onto the Silver boots he wore. "Oh that was a big mistake brother."

He placed his silver boot onto the side of Almerions face and pushed down -- Almerion screamed in pain as the silver burnt his flesh, smoke rose violently from around the edges of the boot. He could barely see -- everything in his line of sight just bubbled as if on fire then burst into a black nothingness, the pain had blinded him.

Then the pain went away -- a gentle calm engulfed him as he eventually blacked out.




* * *






He woke an hour later still side ways on the floor bent double because of the chair he was tied to. He coughed furiously for a few seconds until a lump of congealed blood spewed from his mouth with a large amount of mucus; it wasn't always glamorous being a vampire.

The others where still with him in the cell tied to their chairs as well; Maximus sat on a bench to the left looking at Almerion with disgust, he wondered if his brother had left since he passed out but decided it didn't matter either way -- he was here now.

"Why did you want the map Marcus?" Maximus asked as two guards turned Almerion upright -- he could feel the creases in his skin where the boot at melted it. He'd heal at an astonishing rate, minutes or seconds and he'd be back to normal, all vampires where fast healers but he needed to feed first.

"I didn't want the map I had no idea what was in that book. I didn't even know about this job until yesterday morning!" Almerion said; his words seemed to claw their way out through his dried lungs and throat. He sounded hoarse and somewhat hung over, even though it was impossible for him to get drunk.

"You have seen this map before I know it Marcus, now tell me the truth and stop wasting my time with these lies!" He spat, back handing Almerion with a silver gauntlet as he stood and walked impatiently around the cell.

"He's telling the truth, every word." Jonah said quietly; Almerion looked over to see a bloodied nose and split lip. Maximus must have been working on the rest of his cellmates while Almerion was out of it. "He didn't know what we where stealing -- none of us did."

"Marcus I want answers and I want them now!" Maximus shouted -- his face burning red with several veins throbbing in his temple and neck. Sweat beaded and ran down his brow, Almerion suspected that the emperor knew nothing of the break in but it was only a matter of time before Maximus had to tell him and he'd want to tell him with some results and good news to soften to blow.

"I wont say anything to you Max? There's nothing you can do to make me talk and you know it." Almerion said with a faint smile playing about his dried cracked lips. "Your powerless for once Maximus -- I'm not a subordinate you can order about little brother."

"I could kill your friends here, I could have them hanging by dawn if I wanted to -- breaking into the Imperial palace is a very harsh crime, It would take little for me to justify their executions." Maximus whispered into Almerions ear as he bent over him -- his warm putrid breath skirting over his face as he lowered himself to his brothers ear, his stubble scraping along the pale white skin.

"Could I feed on them first?" Almerion asked snapping his jaws at Maximus who recoiled away as if stung. "If your going to kill them you might as well let me feed Maximus, I'm getting hungry. The longer it takes me to feed the stronger I get you know, I'd be able to break through these chains holding me as if they where paper strings."

Maximus paused not knowing if Almerion was serious; he didn't know if his brother had any compassion or humanity left in him, he hadn't seen him in seven years and for three of those years Almerion had been a vampire. He just hoped Maximus didn't see through his bluff.

"Release them and I'll tell you everything I know, that I promise. I may not care for them but I do owe them for saving my life once. Even if I feel nothing for them I'm still obligated to repay my debts no matter how far from humanity I stray." He said quietly, lying so acutely, he was surprised the gods didn't strike him blind.

Maximus stood looking at Almerion for a few long drawn out minutes; taking in every detail of his facial expression, trying his best to pick out any details that betrayed his deceit. Eventually he nodded to the Guards stood at the back of the cell who immediately began to untie the ropes at such speed it was like they where made of hot coal.

Everybody stood up and where man handled out of the cells by the guards. Jonah turned and caught Almerions eye with a nod and a smile, all of a sudden he didn't feel so abandoned or alone in the world, he had feared they would reject him because of his affliction but that smallest of gestures told him so much more than anybody could think possible.

"What do you want Maximus?" He asked quietly after half an hour of silence. He had refused to ask the question any sooner -- by now the thieves would have made their escape from the double crossing guardsmen who he was sure would simply move them to separate holdings. If they hadn't escaped, the guards would have returned by now, they where out looking for them trying or hoping to catch them before Maximus found out they had escaped.

"You know what I want Marcus? Make me like you, give me your gift!" He asked, dropping to his knees in front of Almerion with both hands clasped together as if in prayer. Now that every one had escaped, he had dropped his tough front and was begging, begging for a lifeline that only Almerion could give. "Make me in your image we can throw aside this hatred and love each other like brothers once again! We can travel through time together never aging forever? as a family."

"Then when I make you a monster in my image you would betray my like the monster that we both are. I know your ways Maximus -- ever since we where children you have been self serving to a fault, your no man of honour like you pretend to be." He muttered back with a voice full of pity for the man grovelling at his feet like a beggar crying for a coin. "I will not turn you."

"Fine!" He shouted as he rose back to his feet and walked from the cell -- slamming and locking the door behind him. "Then I return in three days when you are starving and out of control. Then you will bite me as the beast within you dictates and I will rise vampire, more powerful than any who have lived yet!"

Then he walked away, the madness he exuded following in his wake. Almerion could barely believe how unhinged his brother had become over the passing years, he was more a monster while mortal than Almerion could ever dream of being while Vampire.





* * *





It had been four days since he was captured and he sat alone in exactly the same position that Maximus had left him in, tied to a chair in the centre of the room. He had been true to his promise to starve Almerion; the vampires head lulled back and forth, sweat dripping from his nose darkening the filthy floor it landed on. There was something that happened to Almerion that happened to no other vampire when he didn't feed, it was a peculiar trait that even Gabrielle hadn't been able to explain. His hair lost its entire colour and turned a snow white until he fed again.

Can you feel the baby kicking Marcus? He knows your near, he can feel you. It was a woman who's voice he heard -- speaking to him through his own mind, he recognised the voice but couldn't place the face. Can you feel it kicking? Marcus?

He shook his head with a vicious snarl that did not befit his nature; blood dripped from his eyes like macabre tears, leaving a crimson trail behind them as the beads rolled down his face and dripped from his chin to the floor. He could feel everything; every cell in his body screamed ferociously for blood, to be fed. Every muscle twitched and shook every few seconds as if he had been plunged to the depths of an ice-covered lake. His very soul clawed at the immortal body it was trapped in, screaming in pain as the beast he was tore it to pieces and reared its ugly head in victory behind Almerions eyes.

Can you feel the baby kicking Marcus? The voice came again, haunting in his own mind, bereaving him of his sanity. He wondered how such a beautiful soft voice could strike him so hard and so deep. You didn't come Marcus. I died because of you, the baby was kicking, and it knew that you weren't coming.

He shouted again, his arms fighting against the silver chains burning into his flesh, almost stripping the skin from his bones as he tried to relinquish himself from his bindings. The scent of scorched flesh burnt the inside of his nose with the sickening smell. He howled in pain like a wounded wolf, his fang like teeth elongated as if ready to feed, cutting through his lips like razors as he bit down to brace the pain of the silver against his skin.

When will you be with us again? I know you want to be. We're waiting for you Marcus, we've been waiting for so long Marcus. She said again -- her voice echoing through the cavernous space in his mind that once housed his humanity. I'll forgive you if you get here soon, I promise.

"It wasn't my fault!" He shouted furiously then crumbled downwards as tears mixed with the blood dripping down his face. He could barely control himself, he sat dry heaving but nothing came out. He felt like a parasite was eating him from within. "I tried to save you!"

You didn't try hard enough. It was a child's voice now, he had never heard it before but it was familiar to hear, it filled him with warmth but also dread at the same time. Fear began to gnaw at his heart and air fluttered in his lungs trying to find escape from his madness. Not nearly hard enough.

"You couldn't know you didn't see me! I didn't have the strength to lift it or open the door, it wasn't my fault!" He shouted again to the empty cell, rocking back so violently that he fell back with his chair -- the wooden legs breaking under his weight. He slipped his legs out of their chains and warmth spread over them as he straightened them out.

Both legs flailed and slipped across the dirt-strewn floor as he tried to edge himself backwards on the seat of the chair towards the wall. Blood leaked out of the skin around his ankles where the chains had burned it away. He managed to get to the wall and started pushing up with all the strength he had -- which was a considerable amount considering his current state. The remainder of the chair resisted a little then splintered and broke, falling to the floor with a gentle clatter along with the chains that bound his hands to the back of the chair.

How resourceful of you Almerion. It was a voice he dreaded hearing since he left him in Argonia, Gabrielle's voice. It sent chills through his body so strong that he nearly collapsed on himself. Indeed your smarter than I give you credit for, but don't get cocky, I've still known smarter dogs than you.

"Get out of my head! GO!" He punched at the walls in frustration, chunks of stone flew away in different directions as the skin on his knuckles opened up. He moved around the cell like a caged animal, grunting and snarling at shadows he as convinced moved. "It is no place for you to be, get out of my head!"

Very well if that's what you want princess. it said again, the disembodied voice laughing at him, mocking him in his desperation as he clawed at his own skin and shook the bars of his cell trying and failing to bend them out of place.

He backed away and leaned against a part of the wall recessed into what looked like an archway on the right side of the cell and began sliding down; then to his surprise a brick slid still further and he with it as the rest of the wall flew upwards revealing a hidden passage within the cell.

Run Marcus? Run! The voice of an old man whispered to him, it was calming and loving, he almost cried in relief as his father spoke to him within his own mind.







* * *







He was moving with purpose and instinct, not like a man with a destination that said freedom but like a predator following the scent of its prey. Each movement brought him closer to the white noise invading his senses, the pungent smells that made his mouth water profusely.

The shadows around him moved with him -- transforming into bodies to become his pack, moving like a pride of hunters throughout the vast hallways of the sewers beyond the Aylied subterranean passages he found himself in after falling through the hidden doorway in his cell.

"C'mon we need to get this crap moved quickly, What are we doing smuggling poison any way? Who is it for?" a voice came from a silhouette just up ahead, addressing a second silhouette just beside him as both lifted heavy crates from a pile into a small cart.

"I hear its for the Dark Brotherhood, or that's what I heard from Samuel who said he heard it off the captain." He muttered, turning and straining his eyes at the shadows as Almerion drew ever closer. "But who cares, we smuggle they pay, so long as I get a cut of the money I couldn't care if I'm smuggling women's clothing for a cross dressing Argonian."

Their laughter soon turned to cries as Almerion pounced with a scream that was more demon than human -- he threw one to the side against the slime covered stone wall and pinned the other to the floor, hanging over his face with a snarling drooling set of teeth. He could smell urine and the salty tang of tears as the man struggled against him, but there was little he could do. He snapped his head back to expose a stubble lined neck and bit down. He tore at the flesh as the mans screams turned into gurgles and splutters, blood shot from his nose and mouth as well as his neck as Almerion ripped through the sinewy wind pipe and opened up as many veins as possible. Swallowing hard and fast as his hands clawed along the mans face with ill hidden lust for the blood. He felt skin building up beneath his fingernails as his dragged them over his face, pulling away strips at a time leaving him with little more than a gaping mouth and wide eyes fear, the rest was just a pulp of torn skin and muscle drenched in blood.

He reared his head sniffing at the air; whatever humanity he had was returning slowly as the blood empowered it, he could feel it trying to fight sense into him but there was little it could to do abate the beast which refused to relinquish its control over his body. He crawled first then moved to a crouch, edging towards the second smuggler snarling like an animal.

The smuggler was openly weeping, crawling backwards down a narrow passage way but he couldn't get far, he couldn't escape Almerion. Nobody could when he was in this state. They stared at each other for a few seconds then Almerion pounced, his mouth attacking the mans neck impatiently but it only met iron. He was wearing a gorget over leather armour, the legs of the armour where half plated as where the arms, the only weak spot he could see was beneath the armpit where it was just cloth. He tore away, pinning the man down with one hand on his face the other on his wrist.

Blood seeped slowly at first then poured in earnest across Almerions pale skin, the bleached white turned to dark red in seconds as he bit and chewed and ripped at the flesh beneath the arm, finally opening an artery from which he could feed.

The smuggler screamed and screamed, trying to bite at Almerions fingers which just sunk into his eye sockets with a sickening popping squelch in retaliation to the mans attempts. He could feel warmth spreading through his body, it empowered and weakened him at the same time. The unnatural strength slowly ebbed away with the growing sanity and humanity as the beast let go of his mind.

Why Marcus?? His father said to him before the voice was silenced as his control and mind returned in full. He stared down at what he had done in horror, the smugglers arm was almost completely torn from its socket -- just an inch of muscle and bone held it in place. Blood congealed with the black fluid from his eyes within the empty sockets, dripping down his cheeks like the blood Almerion had wept.

"My god." he whispered, falling backwards to the ground. He scrambled away, kicking his legs against the floor as he tried to stand and simultaneously run backwards from the grizzly scene. "What have I done?"




* * *





The sewers stank but it didn't bother him -- he had just slaughtered two men like animals just so he could satisfy his thirst, he didn't know what he wanted to do but he knew what he couldn't do. He couldn't return to the thieves guild at any cost, they knew his secret and it wouldn't take a genius to work out what happened should they ever come across the bodies when using the sewers to get around the city.

He was lost and he knew it, though being lost didn't really matter when one had no destination in mind, it was just aimless wanderings to him now. The sensation of being watched was unbearable but he tried to shoulder it, looking around every few seconds to check if he had a tail. He didn't, but it felt like it.

Eventually he heard voices, familiar voices. He made his way closer, not wanting to but his legs didn't obey his mind when he tried to turn away from them. He got closer and he managed to place Jonah's voice -- torchlight licked the walls up ahead, he could see silhouettes. Then he placed the second voice.

Emily. The voice filled him with hope as butterflies fluttered around his churning stomach, the back of his neck prickling excitedly. However, he couldn't let her see him, not covered in blood and filth. What would she think?

"Marcus, is that you?" Jonah asked as the vampire reached the room they where in, standing just outside of the torchlight. "My god it is you, finally! We've been searching for days!"

"How did you find me?" Almerion asked, his eyes forcibly glued to Jonah, he could feel Emily staring at him but he didn't want to meet her gaze, the look of shame and disappointment would crush him if he did.

"We used the maps we stole, they showed this secret route to the prison but we couldn't find the door to the sanctum of whatever its called, supposed to be an Aylied structure beneath the prison around here some where, we've been looking every minute of every day." He said with a smile, walking towards Almerion like a wary old man only to throw him into a rib cracking hug when he reached him, ignoring the blood that covered his body and the fact that the burn marks on his face from the silver had healed completely.

"Yes I passed through it on my way out. Why did you come Jonah?"

"You heard what that piece of Guar crap said, he was going to have us all hung but you managed to get us out, well, you managed to get us out of our cells, we had to fight the guards off when we got upstairs. They where all for keeping us in to make an example of us."

"But, you know what I am. I'm a monster."

"Buddy, I judge a man by his actions not what he is, if you're a monster you'd act like one. But your sterling brother, sterling." He said, reminding Almerion painfully of the two men he had just killed in a perfect display of his monstrosity. "Besides, we have two other vampires in the guild. Not like we're against the sane ones."

"I cant go with you Jonah? Thank you for coming, but I'm going to go my own way now. I cannot risk bringing you or your friends any more harm." Almerion muttered, still avoiding Emily's gaze.

"Don't be stupid." Her gentle soothing voice said, taking his hand in her own and turning him. Her face was blotchy and red in places, she looked like she'd been crying. Her hair was unusually messy as well, sticking up in places and completely flat in others, as if she'd been sleeping rough on the stone floors every night. Nevertheless, he still looked at her with breathlessness, she was still beautiful even with those few things counting against her. "Come with us, come on."

"Where are we going?" he asked, obeying her as she pulled him onwards following Jonah through a wooden door to the side of the room.

"Bravil, The Imperial city is way too hot for now, we need to lay low for a while and Bravil is the perfect place to do it." Jonah said with a chuckle, Almerion had been living in Cyrodil nearly all of his life yet he had only seen three of the major cities it had to offer, Bravil wasn't one of them.

Eventually they made it to a sewer grate and to Almerion's horror sun shone through it and illuminated everything within feet from the entrance. They would have to wait to leave.

"On three? one, two, Three!" Before Almerion could ask what they where doing on three Emily opened the door and Jonah grasped Almerions arm and dragged him outside into the sunlight. It burned at his flesh for a split second then he found himself in the back of a cheap horse drawn coach, lit on the inside by a few wax candles, the windows covered with planks of wood and thick black curtains. Emily hoped in seconds later and closed the door behind her, beaming away at Almerion as Jonah poured three drinks, two from a wine bottle, one from an unmarked bottle.

"Too Brotherhood!" Jonah said, nodding at Almerion with a smile as he downed his own drink. Almerion followed suit and drank, surprised that Jonah had given him blood instead of wine.

"What is this?" He asked curiously as Jonah poured him a second glass, Emily sat nursing hers sip by sip, she wasn't a heavy drinker and could barely handle more than three glasses. Judging by how pale she was she hadn't eaten in days and one glass would be enough to put her out.

"Pigs blood, like I said before. We have other vampires in the guild." He replied with a cunning smile and cocky wink.

"To Bravil." Emily said, holding her glass up high as the two men joined her in a second toast then they each drank, Emily taking a sip while Almerion and Jonah drained theirs enthusiastically.

To brotherhood Almerion thought as he looked at Jonah, realising he was referring to their relationship and considered him to be a brother after all they had been through together in such a short space of time.


To Bravil.


* * *

that was amazing. I liked the third part as well, it really captured the animalistic side of him. Great work, I can't wait for the next chapter. I'm constantly checking to see if the next chapter is out.