Dark Brotherhood: Ancient Blood

Chapter 020: Cicero the Betrayer

     It was very late the following night when Cicero and Jade made it back to Dawnstar. Nazir had already passed on the news of the restructuring of the Brotherhood to the initiates and other assassins. With this, the place seemed quieter than usual. A feeling of heavy unease hung in the air even with no one around.

     Jade had not said a word the entire trip back and she wasn't about to change that as she swiftly made her way to the master bedroom deep within the Sanctuary. Cicero slowed to a stop as he watched her disappear around the bend of the landing with a weak heart. He wasn't sure how to feel about the sensitive situation they now shared but knew he had more time to ponder that than he did about the situation with Zukira...

     How could the Dread Father command him to do this? Cicero tried to tell himself how unfair it was to have to kill someone he loved and just reunited with. But he knew that sacrifice was literally at the core of the Dark Brotherhood. The entire following was brought forth from the Night Mother sacrificing her own children in cold blood to please Sithis. This sort of thing was routine... and in a way, Cicero had already sacrificed himself to the cult.

     Cicero stepped over to Babette's alchemy table to retrieve a small cloth pouch. He emptied its contents before turning and approaching the Night Mother's casket. The ashes of her corpse had been collected and placed into a burial urn surrounded by blossoms of nightshade. Cicero took a deep breath and slowly knelt beside it. He hesitated before opening the lid and gently removing a small handful. The ash felt strangely warm in his palm. He poured the remains into the pouch, mindful not to spill any. Before standing, he took an extra moment to recite the 'spell of bonding' in his head. As the Keeper, he was required to memorize every incantation in the Dark tomes; many of which he had used daily to protect and secure the Night Mother's corpse. The spell of bonding was something he'd never known use for, yet, like the loyal child of Sithis he was, Cicero was thoroughly versed.

     After a few minutes to hone his focus, Cicero stood and tucked the small pouch of ashes into his belt. He tried his best to mask any kind of apprehension as he stiffly made his way down to the living quarters. A warm glow of candlelight poured out of the initiates' room giving a strangely inviting feeling in contrast to the cold dark hallway.

     Cicero quietly stepped into the doorway. Zukira stood with her back to him. She appeared to be reading something. Ruby was surprisingly not in his bed yet... that was a good thing. Cicero felt his stomach turn as he slowly made his way up to her. He paused mid-stride trying to think of a way out of this. Maybe he could put it off somehow? The Night Mother was waiting in the Void for him to follow orders. She had made him wait for eight years in solitude and silence... maybe she could wait a little longer, too.

     Sensing Cicero's presence, Zukira turned and jumped. Her look of surprise quickly changed to one of delight.

     "Master Cicero!" she gasped, "You're back already?"

     "Please don't call me master anymore," he said in a quiet tone.

     "Yes, of course," Zukira could tell by his expression and tone that something was wrong, "I'm sorry..." She held out the book she was reading to him. It was one of his journals he had started writing fifteen years ago. He silently took it from her and stared at the worn cover.

     "I didn't mean to be nosey... I just was interested in-" she paused staring at his pale face. Cicero rubbed his thumb over the leathery cover. The contents of the book were so haunting that he never wanted to read it again and merely kept it as the last remaining documentation of the fall of the Dark Brotherhood. It felt like a different life. So much had changed since he'd arrived in Skyrim almost half a year ago. It had been a long and awkward adjustment but the current events were making his head spin.