The Kill - Chapter 2: Blood in the Waters

Pesci never believed something so scary would happen to him. A random Dark Elf named Risotto Nero broke inside his house, accused him of killing his roommate, and then asked him to join his guild of assassins. Pesci wanted to say no, but he ended up agreeing to join. However, he had to assassinate a merchant before joining. And he did. Then Risotto told him to head to Cheydinhal, which is where he currently was right now.

He watched as Aldos Othran distracted the guard who had a clear view of him picking the lock to the abandoned house. The Dark Elf went on a drunken rant and poked the guard on the chest to irritate him. The guard only replied with a sword going through his chest. When that happened, the green-haired Imperial unlocked the door and slipped in, but he witnessed the murder on the other side. Aldos’ dark red blood spilled, seeping into the stones. Pesci quickly closed the door in response. He hurled over as if he were about to puke. Instead, he coughed.

The furniture in the abandoned house was all dusted and covered in cobwebs. The planks nailed to the window made sure barely any sunlight entered through. Barrels and crates were broken and scattered, and the smell in the house was musty.

Continuing forth, Pesci went into the basement, and that’s where it got worse. There was a blood trail, and it seemed that the basement went further down than he thought. He felt lightheaded at the sight but went further down into the dark tunnel, where a glowing red door greeted him. The door spoke in a raspy voice.

“What is the color of night?”

“S-sanguine,” Pesci stuttered, “m-my brother.”

On the other side of the door, Prosciutto awaited Pesci's arrival. While he was waiting, one of the assassins, Formaggio, decided to make some small talk.

“So, the recruit,” Formaggio said, “he’s your brother, correct? What’s he like?”

“He’s my half-brother,” he corrected. “I joined the Dark Brotherhood at a young age. I was hardly around him. Although, I did teach him a few things. I’m surprised, though, because he faints at the sight of blood.”

“How young were you? Can’t be as young as Fugo.”

“Doesn’t matter. Too young then, and he’s still too young. I hope he knew what he was signing up for.”

And as the door opened, Pesci took a few steps forward before fainting. Formaggio laughed, but then he tried to contain it. Prosciutto didn’t find it amusing and gave the other a disapproving look. The blond assassin and Formaggio carried him to one of the empty beds in the living quarters. There, the recruit rested.

Pesci awoke a few minutes later. Across from him, three people sat at a dining table, talking to each other. There were two Wood Elf men and a human man, likely an Imperial. One of the Wood Elves had blond hair, and the other had black hair. The Imperial had dark orange hair styled in a buzz cut. A cat jumped onto the Imperial’s lap and received a few pets from him. As for the Wood Elves, the blond one decided to sit on the other’s lap and gave him kisses. The Imperial looked away, his sight now on Pesci.

“Oh, look who’s awake,” he announced.

“What happened?” Pesci asked.

“You fainted. Come sit with us!”

He got up from the bed and sat at the table with them.

“I’m where I’m supposed to be, right?” Pesci asked. “I just remember a door, and then I don’t know.”

“Yeah, you’re where you’re supposed to be,” the guy with the buzz cut said. “I’m Formaggio, by the way, and no need to introduce yourself to us. We know your name. The blond Wood Elf is Gelato. The other is Sorbet. Anyways, you guys going to stop making out or what?”

The blond’s cheek was pressed to the other ones. “No,” Gelato answered. He then kissed Sorbet on the lips.

“Forgive us, Pesci,” Sorbet said, speaking to the green-haired man. “Gelato and I have been separated for a while. Our contracts tend to keep us away from each other.” He looked back at his lover and started making out with him.

“Alright, I’m getting out of here,” Formaggio said. He got up, and the cat that was on his lap earlier hopped off and scurried elsewhere. Pesci followed him.

They went into the main hall and then across to the other side, where the training room was at. There were two people here: an Orc and a Khajiit. The Orc was swinging his two-handed axe on the wooden dummy, leaving marks all over it.

“That guy doesn’t look like he belongs here,” Pesci whispered.

“Oh, that’s Carne,” Formaggio whispered back. “He’s not the sneaky type. I want to say he has a large bounty on him, but I don’t know. Hey, have you seen those Grey Fox wanted posters everywhere? I bet that guy’s him.”

“He’s green.”

“But what if he painted his skin? That guy is so smart. If only I had that mask.”

“Have you ever gotten caught?”

“Murdering my victim? No. Other crimes? Yes. It was mostly just theft and trespassing. Nothing too exciting, I’m afraid.”

“Wow, you’re cool,” Pesci complemented.

Formaggio blushed in response. “Oh really? Thanks. Illuso thought I was pathetic.”

“Illuso?”

“Jackass. You’ll meet him in a second. See that Khajiit over there?”

The Khajiit near them were practicing their spell casting. He constantly got a bullseye on the target using his ice spells.

“Well, that explains why the room is so cold,” Pesci commented.

“He’s also a jackass,” Formaggio said, “but he’s a good guy once you stay around for a while. For now, he’ll insult you. I think he does that, so he doesn’t get attached to people. That reminds me, I knew this other guy just like him. I only ran into him once.”

“Will I meet this other guy?”

“No, he was from the other sanctuary. You’ll probably never meet him. I believe his name is Ghiaccio. Anyways, do you need anything from him? Perhaps some lockpicks?”

“Yes, I do need some lockpicks. They’re difficult to find.”

Formaggio handed him some lockpicks. “Here, I have plenty. I used to be part of the Thieves Guild. And if you ask, I’m not with them anymore. The Dark Brotherhood is easier, in my opinion. There’s one guy you have to meet, but I don’t think he’s here. He’s a blond guy with purple eyes. His name is Fugo. He’s got a temper also. Anyways, you should probably speak to Illuso. His room is to the left, at the very end of the hallway. Good luck! I’ll be taking a nap.”

“Thanks, you’re so helpful.”

The two of them got out of the training room. Pesci headed towards Illuso’s room, but before he headed there, he stopped right in front of a room that Formaggio didn’t tell him about. Standing there, he could hear an argument.

“I have my own shit to deal with. I’ll take as long as I need to,” said an angry voice Pesci didn’t recognize.

The large metal door opened, revealing the one who opened it. It was Fugo. He seemed too young to be an assassin.

“Out of my way,” Fugo said as he bumped into Pesci.

“Ignore him, my brother,” Prosciutto said. “Illuso wants to speak to you.”

His brother then closed the door, and Pesci went to Illuso’s room.

In Illuso’s room, it looked nice. There was a small round rug, a stone bed, a bookcase, a writing desk, and a round table with two chairs. A brunet with hair tied into six ponytails and red eyes sat in his chair, drinking something red in a wine glass. Upon seeing him, he placed the glass down on the table.

“Well, you don’t look like much,” the brunet said.

“What were you expecting?” Pesci asked.

“Something that looks like Prosciutto. And no offense, you’re kind of chubby.”

“We’re half-brothers, and I’m not chubby!”

“You’ll lose weight in a few weeks. Anyways, here’s a uniform that will help you with your contracts. It’s an enchanted armor that’s lighter than leather and dark as night. Just don’t wear it in public. You’ll look suspicious.”

Illuso handed him the armor. It barely weighed anything at all, and it seems one size fits all.

“Thanks,” Pesci responded. He’s not so bad. Not sure why Formaggio thinks he’s a jackass.

“And now for your contract. You’re to kill a priest named Styx. He’s a drunkard. He’s in Anvil.”

“But that’s far away!”

“I don’t care. You have no choice but to accept, anyways. I don’t have to explain the tenets, do I?” Pesci shook his head no. “And don’t give me an excuse that you’re busy. Prosciutto has told me everything that you do. You’re a former fisherman. What are you going to do? Fish? And I didn’t need him to tell me that. I could smell you from a mile away. Now get out of my sight.”

Pesci left and sighed. He didn’t like him.

Once Pesci arrived at Anvil, the first thing he did was head to the waterfront. Everything about this city seemed perfect. There was a beautiful sunset, and the temperature was comfortable. He couldn’t help but feel envious of the people who live here. He saw a few people fishing on the docks and wondered if he would’ve been happier here. A long time ago, someone told Pesci there were thieves and robbers there, and Pesci believed that stranger. He shouldn’t have listened. This place was nicer, and the women were too. The one in a red velvet dress winked at him. She looked pretty too. There was another woman next to her who smiled at him. She was pretty as well but too tall for Pesci.

He then clapped his face. Focus!

He headed to the chapel. In there, it was quiet, and hardly anyone was there. Only the priestesses were here.

“Hello there!” an elderly Redguard woman greeted him. “I’ve never seen you here before. Are you a traveler?”

“Yes, I am, I guess. I’m looking for someone named Styx,” Pesci replied to her.

“Him?” She sounded surprised. “Whatever for?”

“Um, I have a message for him,” he lied. “His eyes only. That’s why I need to find him.”

She looked at him intensively, causing beads of sweat to drip down.

“So you’re a messenger. He’s in the tavern by the waterfront,” she said. “He has a drinking problem. I hope your message is to help. He desperately needs it.”

He headed back to the waterfront and went inside The Flowing Bowl. There was a lot of action going on such as sailors singing, fighting, and arm wrestling. The women from before were there, and a drunk man in black robes, who looked ready to pass out, sat at the bar, cleared from everybody else but him and the bartender. He downed a bottle of cheap wine and then hunched over, almost as if he were about to vomit. The Wood Elf who owned this store approached him.

“Okay, Styx, I think you’ve had enough, leave!” he said.

“Whatever,” he said. “This place is a den of filth and sin.”

The woman in the red velvet dress stuck her tongue out at him as Styx stumbled and bumped into Pesci. The green-haired Imperial grabbed him before he could fall. That, and the priest had a grip on his overalls. However, he did not let go once he regained his footing. Instead, he brought his face closer to his, making Pesci uncomfortable.

“Listen here, my good man, you see those harlots?” Pesci could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Don’t trust them.”

“Are you okay?” Pesci asked, feigning concern. And then he whispered, “Perhaps you’d like some alcohol? I have plenty. I hid them at the top of the lighthouse.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Let’s hurry before the lightkeeper notices. It’s getting dark.”

Pesci walked towards the lighthouse while Styx stumbled behind. When he checked to see if the priest was still following him, he was gone.

“Styx? Hello?” the green-haired Imperial called out.

There was nowhere he could’ve gone except for maybe the chapel or the tavern. In a hurry, Pesci first searched the tavern. He wasn’t there, but he approached the innkeeper for questions.

“Hey, have you seen Styx?” he asked.

“No, he hasn’t returned. I would’ve gone to the guards if he did. I assumed he was still with you.”

“No, he suddenly vanished. Maybe he headed back to chapel.”

He then checked the chapel, and the priestess from before greeted him again.

“What brings you here again?” she asked.

“I somehow lost Styx, so I thought he was here. He is here, right?”

Her head turned toward the other priestesses that were here, and they shook their heads.

“That’s odd,” she commented. “So, he wasn’t at the tavern?”

“He was, and then I took him out of there. The next minute, he was gone.”

“Check The Count’s Arms. The alcohol over there is expensive, so I doubt he’d be there, but just in case, check. I’ll see if he returned to The Flowing Bowl.”

He rushed to the other tavern. It was much nicer, but there was only one person here besides the innkeeper, a Redguard who was wiping the counters, and himself.

“Hello,” Pesci greeted. “Have you seen Styx?”

“No, he’s not allowed in here,” he answered. “Sorry, he might be in the other tavern on the waterfront.”

“Oh, thanks, though.”

Well, there was no other place he could be, so he decided to backtrack. He returned to where he lost him. Upon entering the waterfront, a bunch of people crowded together near the water. Curious, he gently shoved people aside to see what the commotion was about. There was a body in the water that looked like Styx.

“What happened?” Pesci asked.

“He fell into the water,” a guard answered. “He must’ve gotten so drunk that he stumbled into the water.”

“So, it was an accident?”

“Yep.”

Pesci wasn’t sure what to think. He thought about how all three of his recent kills have been accidents. The first kill, the one that caused Risotto to visit him, was an accident. There was a fight that happened outside his house. In fear of being killed for whatever reason, he clenched his dagger. A loud noise scared him, and in a panic, he stabbed his roommate. The second time was when Risotto ordered him to kill this one stranger. He couldn’t remember the name, but she was a traveling merchant. A bunch of bandits happened upon them and showered them with arrows. She died, but Pesci had never sprinted for his life before until that moment.

“Hello there,” the woman with the red velvet dress grabbed his attention. “I’m so sorry about your friend.”

“He’s not my friend,” Pesci corrected her. “He’s just a stranger.”

“Oh.” She was quiet for a few seconds, probably thinking of what to say next. “You seem to be alone and out of place here. Want to join us for a night of fun?”

“Excuse me?” he said.

“Faustina!” blurted her Nord friend.

“There’s just something about you that’s so mysterious. There’s a cozy little farmhouse outside of town. It’s just past Fort Strand. What do you say?” A smile grew on her face.

His face blushed red. “Yeah, sure. I’d like that.”

Pesci arrived at the farmhouse Faustina described. His hands trembled as he opened the door. Faustina sat on the bed, still placing on her makeup.

“Oh, you’re here!” she said. “I’m almost done. Step inside!”

He stepped inside. Her Nord friend shut the door as he entered.

Red silk curtains covered the windows of the house. “Wow, this is a nice place you have here,” Pesci commented.

Faustina put her makeup away. Her fingers made a gesture, indicating Pesci to sit on the bed with her. “Alright, we can’t have you fully clothed, can we? Take it off.”

Oh shit, I forgot I had my enchanted armor under these overalls, he panicked.

“Um, I just realized I forgot something,” Pesci lied.

“Signy, hold him down for me,” the Imperial woman commanded.

The Nord touched his shoulders and then pinned him to the bed.

“I’m getting uncomfortable. Stop,” Pesci begged.

Faustina laughed. “You fool, you’d think I’d sleep with someone hideous as you. You look like a pineapple. This is a robbery, fool.”

Still pinned, Pesci kicked Signy, pushing her out of the bed.

“Bastard! Tsarrina, help us!” Signy yelled, pulling out a knife. “It’s three against one. It’s over for you.”

Faustina, who was still on the bed with Pesci, took out her knife and cut the fabric of his overalls. Heart rapidly beating, Pesci brought his rusty iron dagger out of his pockets, slitting the throat of the Imperial woman. Her hand covered the bleeding wound, but the blood kept spilling out. Her eyes wept. As she attempted to speak, she only coughed out more blood.

“By the Divines! Murderer!” Signy screamed.

“Murderer? You would’ve killed me!” Pesci raised his voice to argue back.

Pesci then rushed towards the Nord, dagger stabbing her in the abdomen. Blood seeped through her clothing, staining her brown and white dress red. And then a Khajiit woman with dark fur got out of the basement with a steel sword in hand.

“You– you murdered them! You’ll pay for that!” she shouted, rushing at him with her sword.

Pesci parried the attack with his dagger, but she was overpowering him. Realizing this, he started to squeal. He looked down at his feet and noticed that the Khajiit stood on a rug. He used his leg to move the rug, causing Tsarrina to lose balance. Once she was on the ground, he plunged his dagger into her chest. He then took it out, causing blood to gush out of her.

He then sat on the chair that was in the corner and sighed. There was so much blood, and it was everywhere. It was on the women’s clothes and his. He got out of the chair and left.