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Falion was seated at a small table next to the fireplace.\u00a0 He was a Redguard, ordinary enough in appearance aside from his being a mage rather than the warrior types Andante was used to associating with Redguards.\u00a0 His house was also quite ordinary, one large room with everything in it, of the type one saw everywhere in Skyrim. \u00a0A rabbit and several pheasants hung curing next to the fireplace, and a pot of something that smelled good simmered before the fire. \u00a0A young girl sat atop what was clearly a child\u2019s bed.\u00a0 She was ignoring them, and paying a great deal of attention to a doll.<\/p>\n
He looked Andante over, glanced at Brynjolf, and said, \u201cWelcome. There are many things here that cannot be found elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andante raised an eyebrow and smirked. \u201cThat was carefully put.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed.\u00a0 In a town where people mistrust magic, it is good practice to put things carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n
So we\u2019re to play games, are we? Very well. I can dance with words as well as you.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNow, what might I do for you?\u201d Falion asked.<\/p>\n Andante hesitated for a moment and then nodded.\u00a0 I suppose it\u2019s time.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI understand that you are an expert in vampirism.\u201d<\/p>\n One corner of Falion\u2019s mouth rose and he nodded slightly, an \u201cI knew it\u201d sort of expression.<\/p>\n \u201cI know many things.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante inclined his head. \u201cI would assume that one such as yourself, well-versed in magic, would know many things.\u00a0 It is this one in particular I am concerned with at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have studied things beyond the reach of most humans, traveled the Oblivion planes, seen things one should not see.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smirked.\u00a0 Yes, I know those things a person shouldn\u2019t see. I am one of those things.<\/em> Something about that thought poked at the back of his mind, and he frowned, trying to place why it did; but Falion distracted him.<\/p>\n \u201cI have met Daedra and Dwemer and everything in between and I know enough to see a vampire where others would see a man.\u201d\u00a0 He looked pointedly at Brynjolf, who glowered, and then back to Andante.<\/p>\n Andante chuckled.\u00a0 Aren\u2019t you special. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYes, the illusion spell is very effective, unless of course you know enough to be looking around it.\u00a0 Well then, you likely can imagine why I am here.\u00a0 I am hoping to be cured.\u00a0 Just me, not my friend here.\u00a0 He prefers to remain as he is.\u201d<\/p>\n Falion nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cInteresting.\u00a0 Well, yes, it is possible.\u00a0 I know of a ritual, though I have never performed it.\u00a0 It requires a filled black soul gem.\u00a0 You will need to kill someone.\u00a0 When you have a gem and have filled it, return to me and I will perform the ritual.\u00a0 I will bring life to your dead body, vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf had retreated to a nearby corner and was watching the exchange. He snickered at Falion\u2019s words.<\/p>\n \u201cOh I don\u2019t know, the lad\u2019s body is fairly lively as it is if you ask me,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n Andante snorted.\u00a0 \u201cSir. Goodness.\u201d\u00a0 Then he reached into a pouch strapped to his belt. I have to kill someone? Really, that is your concern for me, as a vampire? How amusing.<\/em><\/p>\n He carried a Daedric axe. Long before he reached his current strength he had placed a small enchantment on it, to help in combat, and that spell required continual re-charging with the use of soul gems. \u00a0He collected them whenever he found them, and had two black soul gems among the others on his person at that moment.\u00a0 It had been a simple thing to fill them with the souls of dead men, long since. He passed one to Falion.<\/p>\n \u201cWill this do?\u201d<\/p>\n Falion rose from his chair and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well.\u00a0 Meet me at the summoning circle in the marsh at dawn.\u00a0 We shall banish the creature you have become.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante performed his habitual slight bow.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, sir.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think of myself as a creature, so much, but I do wish to be freed of the desire to consume human blood.\u00a0 We will meet you at dawn.\u201d<\/p>\n They stepped outside into the dusk, and Andante shuddered.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was difficult. I don\u2019t like this, Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to explain it to me, lad.\u00a0 I\u2019m still not convinced about why you think it\u2019s necessary but I understand not wanting to do it. It\u2019s hard enough going through this change the first time.\u00a0 And you\u2019re so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Yes I am.\u00a0 I\u2019m so powerful. What if something goes wrong and I can\u2019t change back, or I can but I have to start all over?\u00a0 That would be something, wouldn\u2019t it, if Brynjolf ended up being<\/em> my sire. Gods. I wouldn\u2019t mind that so much but losing all of this..<\/em>.<\/p>\n They walked toward the center of town, along the boardwalks that extended out over the marshland.\u00a0 Andante glanced at Brynjolf, to find him staring intently at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWill you save me, if something goes wrong?\u00a0 Can I ask that of you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you turn me back? Because I don\u2019t think I can do this \u2013 be a human \u2013 any more, Bryn.\u00a0 I\u2019m too far beyond it.\u00a0 I like<\/em> the way I am now and I want this to be only temporary.\u201d<\/p>\n They had taken a few more slow steps before Brynjolf frowned and spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I know how.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante stopped and thought hard for a moment.\u00a0 Then grinned.\u00a0 Yes. This will be delicious.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI know you can do this, Brynjolf. It\u2019s part of who you are now. Still, it would be good to practice before it turns into a necessity.\u00a0 Tell me something.\u00a0 That special thing you can do.\u00a0 Could you tell a person to go to sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI think so.\u00a0 It shouldn\u2019t be too difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell let\u2019s go find someone, then.\u00a0 One of the guards who patrols just outside the city, perhaps.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned east, down the path that let up out of the swamp, out of Morthal, and scanned the road in both directions.\u00a0 There was no guard in sight but he thought he saw movement, a good way down the road, coming toward them.\u00a0 He gestured to Brynjolf to follow him and crept that way, just off the side of the road, hugging the shadows.\u00a0 As the figure grew closer it became clear that it was one of the Afflicted.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Bryn.\u00a0 Will it bother you to feed on one of them? You won\u2019t get the disease, but\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He shuddered, involuntarily. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is about them.\u00a0 They make my skin crawl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Brynjolf whispered.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do I need to do?\u201d<\/p>\n Fearless.\u00a0 He\u2019s just fearless.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSee if you can get him to lay down, somewhere off the road here, and go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded.<\/p>\n As the man approached, his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed.\u00a0 Andante saw him make the tiniest motion with his hand.<\/p>\n The Afflicted stopped in his tracks and brought his hand up to his mouth, then yawned an enormous yawn.\u00a0 He shook his head and began to walk again.<\/p>\n Brynjolf tsk\u2019d and stared at him again.\u00a0 This time the man stretched, yawned, and muttered \u201cI\u2019d better lay down before I fall down.\u201d\u00a0 He had a rough bedroll strapped to the bottom of his pack, and spread it out on the closest spot that was reasonably flat.\u00a0 He lay down and started snoring, almost instantly.<\/p>\n \u201cGood work!\u201d Andante murmured.\u00a0 \u201cWell done.\u00a0 Now we need to get next to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf grumbled.\u00a0 \u201cHe was stubborn.\u00a0 I was worried about overdoing it and he fought it. I wanted him to sleep, not attack.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s out cold, now. Come on.\u201d\u00a0 They ran to where the man was sleeping, and knelt.<\/p>\n \u201cOk, Bryn.\u00a0 You need to cut your hand and sprinkle some blood on him.\u00a0 Then feed.\u00a0 You should have made yourself a fresh vampire at that point.\u00a0 You\u2019ll feel what you\u2019re doing when you do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf knelt behind the man.\u00a0 He winced as he sliced open his palm, but then smiled grimly and nodded.\u00a0 He leaned over the man\u2019s neck, and fed briefly, then rose.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get out of sight and see what he looks like.\u00a0 Can you wake him up again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasier than putting him to sleep, lad.\u201d<\/p>\n They ducked behind some bushes and Brynjolf focused on the Afflicted again.\u00a0 The man leapt up from his bedding and drew a sword, flailing it about, looking for something to attack.<\/p>\n Ahh the frenzy.\u00a0 I see why he said this was easier.\u00a0 That would be downright terrifying if he used it on, say, trained soldiers.<\/em><\/p>\n The man stopped, looked confused, and sheathed his sword.\u00a0 He bent to pick up his bedding, and when he turned, Andante got a good look at his bright, golden eyes.\u00a0 He turned to Brynjolf.<\/p>\n \u201cNicely done, loverboy.\u00a0 Your first offspring.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n They waited until the man was well down the path toward Morthal before rising to go on their way.<\/p>\n \u201cSo will you do that for me, if the time comes?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf gave him a small smile.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I will.\u00a0 Now that I know how, there\u2019s no question.\u00a0 Of course.\u201d<\/p>\n They were almost back to town when they heard the cries.<\/p>\n \u201cDie, foul blood-drinker!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBurn it! Burn the vampire!\u201d<\/p>\n Andante grinned at Brynjolf.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was dead anyway.\u00a0 And that is exactly why we always keep the illusion spell going, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n There was the barest hint of a lightening in the eastern sky when they approached the ornately carved stone platform north of the town.\u00a0 Andante climbed onto the stone and stepped up onto the raised circle in the center.\u00a0\u00a0 The platform was surrounded by interrupted stone arches, similar to those found near ancient barrows all over Skyrim, but itself was uniquely carved, with a four-pointed star-like shape in its center.<\/p>\n It was that unearthly quiet that sometimes comes just before the dawn.\u00a0 Only a few quiet murmurs of insects and birds beginning to wake broke the silence.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, realizing that it would be some time before he would be able to hear this clearly again, and frowned.\u00a0 Then he heard the sloshing of human feet through marshlands, and opened his eyes.\u00a0 Brynjolf, having just dispatched a frostbite spider that had followed them through the marsh, approached the circle.<\/p>\n \u201cYou almost disappear into the fog, Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou say that as though it\u2019s a bad thing.\u00a0 The point of the dark armor is to hide in it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the point of the heavy bandolier and all the pockets is to carry things. I know.\u00a0 Still, I keep picturing you in something else.\u00a0 A vampire as pretty as you needs to look special.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you on about? Pretty? The last time anyone called me pretty was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Andante grinned and pulled a golden circlet set with emeralds out of his pack.\u00a0 He handed it to Brynjolf, smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cDynjyl, right?\u00a0 Here. Try it on for me. I want to see what you look like.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf looked down at the circlet and then back up to Andante.\u00a0 \u201cAre you serious?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am.\u00a0 Indulge me for just a moment. If it works we can enchant it to protect you from fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf put the circlet on and Andante grinned.\u00a0 \u201cIt matches your eyes.\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s stunning. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not really the jewelry type, lad.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante snorted.\u00a0 \u201cOf course you are. You wear that great ugly amulet around your neck all the time and you have a ring.\u00a0 I can see it from here.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf looked down at his hand and grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cWell, that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Whatever he\u2019d been about to say about the ring didn\u2019t get finished, as Falion materialized out of the fog.\u00a0 He approached the circle, slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante stared at him, knowing that he must look imposing without the illusion spell in place.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course I am my good fellow.\u00a0 And I\u2019m anxious to get this over with.\u00a0 It has to be done and I may lose my nerve if we don\u2019t move along.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf moved to stand near Andante\u2019s right side.\u00a0 Falion nodded.\u00a0 \u201cAs you wish.\u00a0 Please stand in the center of the stone, not at the side of it.\u201d<\/p>\n In spite of himself, Andante gulped.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have a very long lifetime to remember and for most of it I\u2019ve been a vampire.\u00a0 This is – terrifying.\u00a0 <\/em>He looked at Brynjolf as Falion began to speak; Brynjolf nodded at him, and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI call upon Oblivion realms,\u201d Falion intoned, his arms raised in supplication.\u00a0 \u201cThe home of those who are not our ancestors. Hear my plea!\u00a0 As in death there is new life, in Oblivion there is a beginning for that which has ended. I call forth that power!\u00a0 Accept the soul that we offer! As the sun ends the night, end the darkness of this soul, return life to the creature you see before you!\u201d<\/p>\n Oblivion, is it?\u00a0 Which one?\u00a0 I\u2019m already sworn to Sithis, and in a way I work for Nocturnal.\u00a0 I carry Mehrunes Dagon\u2019s Razor. And we won\u2019t get into the others I\u2019ve gotten myself involved with.\u00a0 I wonder if I could have approached any of them directly.\u00a0 I wonder who I\u2019m going to owe for this.<\/em><\/p>\n As Falion ended his speech the world went dark for Andante.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t see.\u00a0 It reminds me of\u2026 something\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n Then his vision returned to normal.<\/p>\n \u201cLad? Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n Oh gods. It worked.\u00a0 I\u2019m human.<\/em><\/p>\n He felt different in every part of his body.\u00a0 Heavier, slower, but in some ways more attuned to everything, even the sensation of the fog moving past the skin of his face.\u00a0 He smiled a grim smile and turned to look at Brynjolf.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose eyes are awfully blue, Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n Falion approached him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ritual is complete.\u00a0 You are human again, like the rest of us.\u201d\u00a0 He looked pointedly at Brynjolf.\u00a0 \u201cExcept for him. Step aside with me for a moment.\u00a0 I need to speak with you privately.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf frowned, but Andante waved him off.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be right back.\u00a0 Just give us a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Falion spoke to him, gave him some pointers about adjusting to his new condition, and then looked at both of them and headed back toward town.\u00a0 Andante returned to Brynjolf.<\/p>\n \u201cSo now what, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow we go home again.\u00a0 And then I go see about joining the Dawnguard.\u00a0 You\u2019re going to need to help me on the way back, Brynjolf.\u00a0 I can still swing a mean axe but I can feel how much less speed I have.\u00a0 And\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf stared at him for a moment and then burst into laughter.\u00a0 \u201cTables are turned.\u00a0 I\u2019d offer you my neck but I don\u2019t think you could do anything with it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante snickered.\u00a0 \u201cI think I could.\u00a0 It just wouldn\u2019t be feeding.\u00a0 Shall we try?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf\u2019s illusion spell had long since dissipated, and he smiled at Andante with glowing golden eyes.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe not right now.\u00a0 Even an undead thief doesn\u2019t much like mosquitoes on his exposed skin and I know perfectly well how much skin you like to expose.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante giggled.\u00a0 \u201cTrue.\u00a0 Let\u2019s at least go see if I can find a sweet roll before we head back.\u201d<\/p>\n They started walking back toward Morthal, slowly.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like this, Andante thought.\u00a0 I just don\u2019t like it.\u00a0 I already hate it.<\/p>\n As if he could read his mind, Brynjolf glanced at him, then patted him on the back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be all right, lad.\u00a0 I\u2019ll make certain of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Morthal was not Andante\u2019s favorite place.\u00a0 What it had going for it \u2013 namely, not being completely frozen \u2013 was offset by the omnipresent odor of rotting vegetation.\u00a0 It sat in the marsh, and in part over mostly stagnant water.\u00a0 Its scent was not the bright salt tang of the docks of Solitude, nor the … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3-1-12-2.png\")
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