Whispers of Death

The Initiation

It had been so sickeningly easy for her. The second she neared the shops looking for him, he approached her and told her to meet him behind the chapel at midnight and to not let anyone follow her. He had set up the perfect trap for himself. She'd humored him for a moment when she'd arrived after wasting the day away between alleys and scouting the place out. Stalking the guards, checking the area she was set to commit the deed. It was out of reach of even the most prying of eyes, nestled between walls and fences. It was so perfect that she listened to his crazy scheme, going as far as to give him false hope she'd spy for him before taking him cleanly when his back had turned. And to think, no one would suspect a single thing. He was so clearly batshit insane and she'd even overheard the locals talking about him, guards especially wishing someone would put an end to the irritation he caused. If anything, she was their saving grace. A bringer of peace.

She wasn't exactly happy to be back at Rosethorn Hall. It had been filled to the brim with reminders of her past, display cases overflowing with items that brought a bitter taste to her mouth. Armor stands and shelves were covered in cruel memories she glared at. She was there for only one thing: to sleep and wait.

So she did exactly that, though a bit difficult at first. She'd hardly slept since she'd been turned, and never before had she closed her eyes knowing that, when she opened them again, someone would be in her bedroom to greet her. Wondering how that had come to be the situation in which she found herself nearly kept her awake. But eventually, she had slipped into a light slumber, uncovered in her bed still wearing her cloak and armor.

It had to have been fairly past two in the morning when a shift in the atmosphere had awoken her. Though her room was bathed in darkness, soft rays of moonlight that filtered into the room illuminated the room partially. At first glance, she did not see anyone with her. At least, not before her. When she had resigned after a moment to go back to sleep, she turned her head to the side and a sharp chill ran down her spine. Just past the darkness, she could see the outline of someone sitting next to her bed just a foot or so away.

"You came," She whispered with wide eyes as she sat upright on her bed. If she'd have put her legs over the side, she would have knocked into him from how close he sat, so she rested on her knees instead. Lifting her hand away from herself, she conjured a ball of light that floated just above her palm. The rays danced between them, finally illuminating the man's face. He was a bit scruffy to be sure, but he also seemed quite young and spritely. A mischievous glimmer in his eyes and a slight smile on his face as his gaze greeted hers.

"So, the deed is done. How do I know this? You will find that the Dark Brotherhood knows a great many things. For you are now part of the family." He spoke as if he were truly proud, truly delighted to have her join their ranks. Something about the word 'family' did not seem quite as daunting as it had the night before, something about it rang true.

"Truly? That's all it took? Killing a madman? I would do that ten times over to be included, I thought perhaps the test would be a bit more difficult." She spoke quickly and got ahead of herself, leaning towards him eagerly as her mind raced, so many questions darted within the enclosure of her skull.

"The slaying of Glarthir was merely the signing of a covenant. The manner of execution, your signature. His blood, the ink. Should you wish for a more difficult undertaking, you shall have to work your way towards earning it. And earn it, you shall. As a Speaker for the Black Hand, I oversee a particular group of family members. You will join that group, and fulfill any contracts given." He explained with his fingers steepled and hands resting on his leg, one sitting over the other. Relaxed as if it were so casual for him to be sat in a stranger's house and conversing with her.

"Covenant? Like a paperless contract?" She was no stranger to holding up her end of things, and she wasn't in the least afraid of what was to come. She'd been through many, many hardships, whatever they could throw her way would perhaps just prove entertaining. He seemed to think for a moment before responding.

"Know this, sister. Every last Dark Brother and Sister is a child of Sithis, our dread father. He is known by many names: Chaos, Doom, Discord. He... is the Void. We of the Dark Brotherhood serve the Night Mother, she who is the bride of Sithis. The Night Mother rules her children with a terrible Black Hand, the ruling body of the Dark Brotherhood. It is made up of one Listener and Four Speakers. Four fingers and a thumb, if you will." He held up his own gloved hand as he spoke, moving each finger to represent the members. 

"As a member of the Dark Brotherhood, you must abide by the Five Tenets. They are the laws that guide and protect us. Laws that, should a single one of them be broken, will most certainly incur the wrath of Sithis. And heed my words when I tell you, you do not wish to incur the wrath of Sithis." He explained things so patiently to her, so eloquently, and she was truly supposed to believe now that they were the bad guys?

"What are the Five Tenets? It's nothing I could break on accident, is it?" She was worried then about messing up. It seemed such a good opportunity to her, she didn't know what she would do if she lost it.

"The Five Tenets are simple, reasonable ground rules. But they are undeniably important to the integrity of our trust as a family. They are as follows: never dishonor the Night Mother, never betray the Dark Brotherhood or its secrets, never disobey or refuse to carry out an order from a Dark Brotherhood superior, never steal the possessions of a Dark Brother or Sister, and lastly, never kill a Dark Brother or Sister. Ever so simple to follow, yet so commonly broken by underlings. I trust none of these will be an issue for you?" He looked to her with a raised eyebrow and a serious expression.

"Not at all." She sighed with relief. They would be easy for her, she had never been a thief or insubordinate. And she was sure that whatever the Night Mother or Sithis were, she would never disrespect them for giving her such a gift. A second chance at life when she had been so prepared to give it all up. After things had begun to sink in, she looked to him with her final burning question for the night. "What now? I mean, I'll see you again, won't I?" He laughed lightly, a quick chuckle before he answered her.

"You must go now to Cheydinhal, to the abandoned house near the Eastern wall. You must enter the basement and attempt to open the Black Door. You will be asked a question. Answer thusly: 'Sanguine, my Brother.' Once you have gained entrance, find and speak to Ocheeva." He then stood from the seat, talking with her as he placed it back at the table he'd brought it from. "We must now take our leave of each other, you and I, for there is much work to be done. I'll be following... your progress."

"But I will see you again?" She felt as if there was a heaviness in her chest then, not sure why she was so worried about it. He had been walking away and stopped for a moment and turned to her with that same unconcerned smile.

"Perhaps someday, Murderer." He had begun walking away, stopping one last time, speaking to her without turning around. He held up a finger as he faced her staircase. "Oh, before I forget... welcome to the family, Eden."

Within a split second, he had vanished into thin air and he was gone. The open door of her bedroom and the knife holstered at her side were the only proof he had ever even been there to begin with.