He found himself snarling, when he turned to face away from her. \u00a0He was trying desperately to calm himself, but he was snarling. She interrupted us.\u00a0 We were doing something exciting. Together.\u00a0 And now there is this\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n He heard Brynjolf ask her why she\u2019d been locked away, and heard her answer.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s \u2026 complicated.\u00a0 And I\u2019m not sure I can trust you.\u00a0 If you want to know the whole story, help me get back to my family\u2019s home.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante sighed, composed his face, and turned to face her. We came here to find what they were looking for and we found it.\u00a0 I need to behave and find out what\u2019s next.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd where, pray tell, might this home be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy family used to live on an island to the west of Solitude. I would guess that they still do.\u201d<\/p>\n By the Eight.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIn a castle, perhaps? Volkihar?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes, you know of it? Help me get back there.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante glanced at Brynjolf and grinned, trying to keep his face as composed as possible. \u00a0Brynjolf grinned back, clearly understanding how exciting this news was.<\/p>\n \u201cBy all means. Let\u2019s be on our way.\u201d<\/p>\n This is better than I could possibly have hoped for. She\u2019s going to lead me right to it. And into it.\u00a0 And potentially\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYour father is called Harkon?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded, slowly.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know how you know of that name but yes.\u00a0 He\u2019s\u2026 not a particularly good person.\u00a0 But we can talk about him more on the way.\u00a0 Let\u2019s just get out of here.\u00a0 You do know where you\u2019re going, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante plastered a smile on his face and gritted his teeth, then nodded and looked around.\u00a0 No, I really don\u2019t. Not until we\u2019re out of here, at least.<\/em> There was a stairway flanked by gargoyles on the far side of the cavern from where they\u2019d entered, and he made for it.<\/p>\n He was about halfway across the central island when he stumbled.\u00a0 His vision went red for a moment.<\/p>\n Brynjolf was at his side instantly, reaching out a hand to steady him.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante reached up to wipe a hand across his own brow and laughed.\u00a0 His skin was hot.<\/p>\n Doesn\u2019t that beat all. I wonder when this happened?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt seems that I must have gotten a little close to one of those fine ladies back in the barrows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeel my forehead. I\u2019m saying that regardless of what happens between now and then, my time as a human is going to be limited to about three more days. You were right. It\u2019s only temporary. Sanguinare Vampiris.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf felt his forehead and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWell that\u2019s just fine, isn\u2019t it.\u00a0 Do you need me to do the deed right now, lad? Because I will if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n The memory of Brynjolf\u2019s fangs penetrating his neck sent a shiver of delight up his spine. Oh gods yes I do.\u00a0 But \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot yet, Brynjolf,\u201d he whispered next to his ear.\u00a0 \u201cI need to wait and see what her father is all about.\u00a0 Unless I miss my guess he\u2019s going to be very happy we\u2019ve rescued his daughter and he\u2019s going to give me something I very much want to have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh? And that would be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smiled at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMore power, loverboy.\u00a0 A great deal more power.\u201d\u00a0 And then you and I are going to wreak havoc the likes of which has seldom been seen in this world.<\/em><\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded.\u00a0 \u201cJust let me know.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante didn\u2019t have time to say anything else, for the gargoyles on either side of the stairs suddenly surged into life.\u00a0 He stumbled back a couple of steps, shocked, but then pulled his axe and ran into the battle.\u00a0 Brynjolf was shouting and slashing, he himself was swinging his axe as fast as he could and, much to his surprise, Serana had reanimated a skeleton with a beefy swing, and was casting one of the most powerful frost cloud spells he\u2019d ever seen.\u00a0 There was no question that she was an ancient vampire and a formidable one.<\/p>\n Best remember not to step into that.\u00a0 I\u2019m still human. By the gods, she\u2019s good.<\/em><\/p>\n Once they had dropped the gargoyles, they found a doorway leading out of the massive main chamber.\u00a0 Andante heard Serana speaking behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cThis feels like the right way.\u00a0 I was starting to worry.\u201d<\/p>\n He gritted his teeth. I wasn\u2019t<\/em> lost, Serana, I\u2019ve never been here before. I was just looking for the door. It\u2019s not as though I didn\u2019t know it was here somewhere.<\/em>\u00a0 He took a deep breath and forced himself to be as pleasant as he could.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I just saw, Serana, you don\u2019t have much to worry about.\u00a0 Take that as a compliment. It\u2019s meant as one.\u201d<\/p>\n It took him much longer than he would have liked to find a lever that raised the iron gate to the exit.\u00a0 It shouldn\u2019t have taken him long at all.\u00a0 The lever was large, and easy to spot even in the very dark space they were in; but he was feeling more and more ill by the moment and missed seeing it on his first pass through the room. Better yet, when he threw the switch the several draugr – one of them a Deathlord with an evil laugh and a strong Shout – woke from their slumbers and moved against them.\u00a0 Andante was happy that there were three of them and the reanimated skeleton to take them down. He heard Serana shouting \u201cBack to dust!\u201d at one of them as she dropped it.<\/p>\n He had hoped the gate led out of the complex, but instead it led into a huge, dank amphitheater filled with more draugr and skeletons, and one terrifying Death Overlord that laughed at them as they attempted to finish it. \u00a0They fought, and fought, and Andante could feel himself flagging from illness and general fatigue. \u00a0He steered clear of the Overlord because he knew it was not in him, in his weakened state, to take the beast down.<\/p>\n \u201cHere we go, let\u2019s get the blood flowing again,\u201d he heard Serana shout from behind him as he hacked at one of the skeletons. He couldn\u2019t help but smirk.<\/p>\n Get the blood flowing again? Seriously? And I thought I had a bad sense of humor.<\/em><\/p>\n It seemed as though an eternity had passed by the time they stepped through a narrow opening into the air.\u00a0 After so long in the dark the light, even to Andante\u2019s human eyes, was nearly excruciating, and he cringed and shielded them with his hand.\u00a0 Serana pulled her hood up close around her face, but then stretched and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cSo good to breathe again. Even in this weather, it\u2019s better than the cave.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded. \u201cAye. Even with the brightness, I prefer this.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante took a moment to get his bearings.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to Morthal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Why?\u201d Brynjolf asked.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I am tired. And I don\u2019t feel well. And because it\u2019s a long way yet to where we\u2019re going. I don\u2019t think I have it in me even to make it to my house in Solitude.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf turned to stare at him, open-mouthed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a house in Solitude?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Bryn. I have a house in Solitude. I did favors for Jarls, before I met you, and as a result there is a very lovely mansion in Solitude with my name on it.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how to say it modestly but I am a very wealthy man, my dear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you still stay in Honeyside? And do small jobs for the Guild?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Even though I know it\u2019s really your home.\u00a0 It\u2019s more comfortable to me.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know why.\u201d\u00a0 Except that I do know why.\u00a0 I love the place because it has you in it, even when you\u2019re not physically there. <\/em>\u201cBut that\u2019s neither here nor there.\u00a0 We make for Morthal.\u201d<\/p>\n Even worse than feeling ill from Sanguinaire Vampiris, familiar though he was with the disease, was feeling the gnawing hunger that came with wanting skooma.\u00a0 He\u2019d been putting it to the back of his mind as best he could since the moment in Riften when he\u2019d had the hunger return in strength; and he had been well distracted by everything else that had been happening. At this point, though, the clamor in his brain was beginning to be deafening.<\/p>\n He whispered it to Brynjolf as they descended toward the marshland.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, lad.\u00a0 You really shouldn\u2019t,\u201d Brynjolf said.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I shouldn\u2019t but you can\u2019t imagine how awful this is on top of the other thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI knew it, all along I knew it, and I was hoping it wasn\u2019t really true.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what to tell you.\u00a0 We can\u2019t afford for you to get the shakes, not right now.\u00a0 Can you hold off for a few more days while we get to the castle?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante considered. \u00a0He took stock of every part of himself.\u00a0 And no matter how he considered, he found himself lacking.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe that I can. I think I could if I weren\u2019t also sick.\u201d\u00a0 He laughed. \u201cWhat a fine predicament.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. \u00a0I hate to let you do it but\u2026\u00a0 Let\u2019s go rent a room, then. I\u2019ll watch you.\u201d<\/p>\n It was dark by the time they got themselves settled, and fed \u2013 at least Andante got himself fed.\u00a0 He sat nursing a tankard of wine, gritting his teeth and trying to convince himself that he really didn\u2019t need the skooma, he only wanted it, while Brynjolf and Serana discreetly disappeared for a time. \u00a0But his fever was rising, and the only thing he could think of that might help was that.\u00a0 His hand was drifting toward his pocket once more when his companions returned, looking more content than they had before.\u00a0 He grinned at them.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright, Andante?\u201d Brynjolf asked quietly.<\/p>\n Andante ached from top to bottom.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I\u2019m really not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell go ahead, then.\u00a0 I\u2019ll keep an eye on you.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante sighed, releasing the tension that had been building and building as he had fought his own body.\u00a0 This is a damned messy thing but it\u2019s clear that I did it to myself a long time ago, long before I have any memory of it.\u00a0 All I can do is try to live with it.\u00a0 And right now\u2026\u00a0 <\/em>He scooped one of the bottles out of his pocket and stepped into their room to down its contents, discreetly, out of sight.<\/p>\n It took only moments for his body to relax, for his head to begin humming, for his vision to blur.\u00a0 He stood, eyes closed, breathing deeply, feeling himself relax into himself.\u00a0 Funny how that works. It\u2019s a stimulant, but it makes me relax. <\/em>He opened his eyes and walked back out into the main room.\u00a0 He was startled to realize that there was only a small spot of clear vision in each eye.<\/p>\n My gods, this was a strong batch. I can barely see.\u00a0 I\u2019d best not let them know what kind of state I\u2019m in.<\/em><\/p>\n He made his way carefully to Brynjolf and Serana.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter?\u201d Brynjolf whispered in his ear.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. \u00a0Much. Thank you, Bryn. I\u2019m sorry it\u2019s come to this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry ab\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n His word were cut short as the door to the inn flew open and one of the town guards burst in.<\/p>\n \u201cI need anyone who can wield a weapon! Now!\u00a0 Vampire attack! Come quickly!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on,\u201d Andante said, gesturing to Brynjolf and Serana.<\/p>\n \u201cNot a good idea, lad,\u201d Brynjolf muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd they will look at the two of us with our weapons and our armor and wonder why exactly we\u2019re hanging back. Stay here, Serana. Bryn, come on. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n He ran out the door, following the guard and several townsmen, west across the bridge and into the swamplands.\u00a0 He could barely see but he could hear Brynjolf\u2019s footsteps behind him.<\/p>\n Funny, I know it\u2019s him by the sound.\u00a0 Good thing, too, because I can\u2019t see a damned thing. <\/em><\/p>\n Ahead, he could hear shouts, screams, the clashing of weapons and the sizzling of spells being cast, and while the sane part of his mind told him to hold back the larger part of him, urged on by the rush of the skooma, pushed him forward.\u00a0 He waded into the battle, laughing and slashing with his axe, not really knowing who he was killing but trying, at least, to target the beings with golden eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cAndante, look out behind you, lad, it\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He turned on his heel and swung his axe as hard as he could at whatever it was behind him.\u00a0 He felt it connect, and heard a cry that was familiar, somehow.\u00a0 He saw something bluish-grey drop to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d he heard Brynjolf yelp from behind him.<\/p>\n But it was too late.\u00a0 He stopped, and looked down, and heard the battle drifting away from him, waning, coming to a halt.<\/p>\n At his feet was Falion.<\/p>\n He knelt and checked for a pulse, but he had done a brilliant job with his axe and it was clear that Falion had been dead almost from the time he hit the ground.\u00a0 He stood, staring down at the body, still barely able to focus on anything outside a small pinprick in the very center of his field of vision.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know what to do. <\/em><\/p>\n He heard Brynjolf\u2019s armor whispering as he moved closer.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then.\u00a0 I guess it\u2019s a good thing that I had no plans to be anything other than a vampire, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante gulped.<\/p>\n I took the choice away from them, all those other people who might have wanted to change back. They had a choice, they could have spoken to Falion and gotten cured. I took. The choice. Away.<\/em><\/p>\n He turned and looked into Brynjolf\u2019s face, expecting some sort of anger, recriminations \u2013 something.\u00a0 But there was nothing.\u00a0 Brynjolf was calm, supportive, and sympathetic.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Bryn.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s because I\u2019m a godsdamned addict.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Andante.\u00a0 I made my choice, back in Riften.\u00a0 I knew what I was doing.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be fine.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s clear out of here before someone sees us and blames it on the vampire.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d best put my illusion back on, as well.\u201d\u00a0 He cast the spell and smiled with his green eyes.<\/p>\n Andante nodded, silently, and miserably followed Brynjolf back to the inn.<\/p>\n ____<\/p>\n Brynjolf and Serana wandered around the house, exclaiming over the amount of wealth on display. \u00a0Brynjolf made a valiant attempt to joke about it, asking whether the Guild could use Andante as a bank the next time it fell on hard times.\u00a0 They admired his collection of weapons and tools; Andante slid open a drawer to show Brynjolf his stash of flawless gems and Brynjolf\u2019s eyes got round.\u00a0 They walked past his Dark Brotherhood armor, displayed on a mannequin, and Brynjolf\u2019s eyebrow rose.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I don\u2019t much like it, Bryn.\u00a0 I look better in blue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAye, lad, but it always catches me by surprise to remember that you do that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yes,\u201d Andante murmured under his breath, staring off into nothing.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m definitely involved in all sorts of unsavory things.\u201d\u00a0 I kill people for a living, and I must have done so for a very long time given how good I am at it. I even kill people when I don\u2019t intend to. Who am I kidding. Look at this place. I don\u2019t need to kill people for a living, I kill them simply because I get a thrill out of being so good at it.<\/em><\/p>\n Why does it even matter?<\/em><\/p>\n He walked into his bedroom and suddenly realized that he felt horrible. \u00a0Feverish, craving more of what he\u2019d already learned was not a good idea to have, and more conflicted about himself than he could ever remember feeling.<\/p>\n I want to know who I am. I want to know who did this to me.<\/em><\/p>\n And then I will have my revenge.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI need to rest,\u201d he said to nobody in particular.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Brynjolf said, pushing past him into the room and kicking off his boots.\u00a0 He looked up at Andante with a sly smile.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Serana called from the doorway. \u201cI\u2019m going to go use your wonderful bath, if that\u2019s ok.\u00a0 It\u2019s been nearly forever.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cBut of course.\u00a0 We\u2019ll stay up here.\u201d<\/p>\n He heard her leaving, and turned to smile at Brynjolf.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you up to, slipping out of your armor like that, loverboy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to help cool you off, that\u2019s what. It\u2019s no use worrying about something we can\u2019t change, and you\u2019re sick. We\u2019ll head out in the morning.\u00a0 In the meantime you\u2019re going to have another bottle of skooma so that you don\u2019t get the shakes, and I\u2019m going to put my nice cool vampire flesh up against you so that we keep your fever down.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou think you\u2019re going to cool me off like that?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf\u2019s eyes twinkled.\u00a0 \u201cNot really, but it\u2019s worth a try, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded and kicked off his own boots.\u00a0 It certainly is.<\/em><\/p>\n She wouldn\u2019t stop talking. Serana started talking as soon as she stepped out of her stone prison and never stopped. It wasn\u2019t that everything she said was pointless; in fact most of it was very useful information. It was that she whined, and the sound of her voice grated on him.\u00a0 Worse, the gnawing hunger … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/3-1-16-1.png\")
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