The Dark Brotherhood

1: To Kill an Emperor

"What is the music of life?" The raspy, whispering voice of the secret door questioned the shadowy figure.
"Silence, my brother," a dark, smooth voice answered it.
"Welcome home," it said, opening wide to let the shadow in. She snaked through the door, her soft footsteps not making a sound. She strode down the stairs, reaching the small entryway room in which her employer and near sister stood, waiting for her. Astrid glanced up at the entering figure, smirking as the shadow threw back her hood to reveal her identity. Astrid stood erect as the assassin drew nearer, her tanned skin and ebony hair reflecting the light of the candles in the sanctuary. Her piercing gray-blue eyes kept contact with Astrid's deep green ones, the handprint of warpaint displayed across her face, gleaming blood red.
"Welcome back, sister," Astrid said, holding out a hand to the assassin.
"Always good to be home, sister," the Redguard said, taking the hand and wringing it.
"Did you take out the target?" Astrid asked as the girl removed her quiver and bow, hanging them on the weapons rack behind her.
"Both."
"Good." Astrid smirked. Though there had been problems with this girl being called the "Listener" by the oafish jester, Cicero, she never failed to perform admirably. She even took extra contracts when the need arose. Listener or not, Astrid knew a killer when she saw one.
"I also delivered the note to Delvin as you requested," the girl said. Astrid smirked again.
"And?" The girl held out a sack of gold and a note in Delvin's writing.
"Here." Astrid took it, satisfied.
"This amulet is very unusual..." she said, thinking hard as she read the note, "Delvin says he has no idea how Motierre got his hands on it. But anyway, you're ready to begin."
"Very well. Never killed an emperor before, should be.." the girl slammed the point of a black-hilted dagger into the wood of the table, "interesting."
.......................................
  Interesting indeed, the assassin thought as she dragged the body of a half-ton orc around his cellar. So this was the world-famous "Gourmet." He didn't seem like much to her, just a smelly, fat, old green-skin.
  Finally, she'd laid his body somewhere it'd be tough to find him. She dusted off her hands, heading out the secret entrance, and creeping out to the stables. She figured she'd need to stay in an inn overnight, since the sanctuary was rarely left open at night any more because of... problems with Cicero. She sighed disdainfully as she thought of the crazed jester. He'd run off to the Dawnstar sanctuary, with Astrid's husband on his heels. The assassin had had to track the jester down and kill him before he could do any more damage.
  Shaking off useless memories, the shadow straightened, easing the creaks out of her back slowly. Then, she strode silently across the yard and almost nonchalantly tossed herself into the saddle of Astrid's horse, Shadowmere. He whinnied quietly, welcoming his rider back. She patted his strong neck, and lightly tapped the reins, signaling the horse to move forward. He did so, turning into the woods and becoming just a shadow, like his rider.
....................
  All of this was just the beginning. In the journey to assassinate the emperor, much had to be done in the dark. This the assassin could stand, but the hours of constant riding back and forth was a little annoying. However, it all payed off, and soon the shadow was standing outside the Emperor's tower in Solitude. She hated this town, so bright and agonizingly cheerful in the face of impending doom. The dragons were everywhere, as well as the civil war, Forsworn, and thieves. And still, the rich of Solitude were living it up behind their walls, thinking themselves invulnerable. How wrong they were.
"Wait, you," said a gruff voice, stopping the shadow from entering the tower, "who are you, and what's your business here?" The shadow smirked under the white hat she wore as a disguise. It was Captain Maro, the leader of the Penitus Occulatus.
"You should think before speaking so curtly to me," she said, and the man stepped back a few steps, "I am not some peasant." There was a dangerous note in her smooth voice- something familiar, but Maro couldn't place it. She held out a slip of parchment, waving it arrogantly in front of his face. He took it, immediately seeking forgiveness for his actions.
"The Gourmet! My apologies miss!" he exclaimed.
"Quiet, fool! Do you want the whole city to know my identity?" she snapped.
"Oh, oh yes! Sorry again, m'lady," he stammered, bowing low. She waved him off, stepping past him with her head held high.
"Yes yes, forget about it," she said, "I'll just head inside now. I'm running off schedule as it is." Maro kept his head bowed, allowing the Emperor's doom to walk right through the door. She grinned darkly, feeling the smooth surface of the glass bottle that contained the poison Astrid had given her. It was just a matter of time now.
  .....
  Everything seemed to be going perfectly. The Emperor sipped happily at the poisoned stew, exclaiming praise at how delicious it was. But the shadow was not at ease. Something was very wrong. A sixth sense was blaring in her mind, signaling it was time to go. She snaked away, blending in with the shadows as the screams filled the halls. The Emperor was dead.
  As she stepped outside, the girl didn't feel satisfied. Something was off. She strode quickly down the bridge, wanting to be rid of this unsatisfactory feeling as soon as possible. And then it was all revealed.
"Bravo, bravo..." came a voice. The shadow's head shot up, glaring at the Imperial before her. Maro.
"What do you want?" she asked, imitating the pompous Gourmet once again.
"You're in no place to speak to me like that, assassin," he said, frowning down at her as a dozen Imperials flooded the stone bridge, surrounding the girl. "Kill her," he ordered, looking at her with anger, "You killed my son. Isn't that right, Shadow... Nightingale......." His eyes blazed with almost real fire.
"Daniah."