Nemesis Options

[Jacki Dice]

This is a little something I've been toying with for awhile. I've decided to bring it out to the forums here. This story will include the original version of Kalila Blackstone, from Madness Helps me Save Myself. This version of her has absolutely no ties to the one borrowed in the story.

Speaking of, Madness Helps me Save Myself will continue as planned. Sometimes working on something separate for a while soothes my writer's block.

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1

“That which is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.�
--Friedrich Nietzsche

In a perfect world, it would have been an assassin. Or maybe a bandit. It would be someone who was out to hurt her, who justifiably deserved to die. However, as Tara Karminova clutched her dagger to her chest, she knew it would be no such person. The world was too imperfect.

She looked around the dark alleys of the Imperial City Market District for someone no one would miss. Guilt weighed in her heart for even thinking that. Did someone’s life have less value just because they had no one to miss them? Of course not. But, she needed someone whose death wouldn’t prompt a thorough investigation. Maybe a skooma addict.

Oh, dear gods, what am I doing? She leaned against the wall of one of the shops. Her heart was no longer fluttering and her stomach no longer churned. Instead, she seemed to simply accept it. That was what scared her. “It’s for Clarissa,� she reminded herself. “It’s for her.� She clenched the grip of her dagger tightly and continued lurking through the alleys.

At first she thought she had blended in quite well with the street urchins in the Imperial City. She simply threw on an old, dirty robe that had torn a little on the bottom. Her brown hair was unbrushed and thrown back in a messy bun. Once she saw the beggars in person, however, she realized how far off she was. Their clothes weren’t just dirty, they were barely intact enough to keep them out of prison for indecent exposure. None of them wore the soft cotton that she was in. They appeared to be stitched together from odd pieces of fabric and sackcloth. Tara was also far too healthy looking. Her cheeks were somewhat plump and the robe hugged her frame tightly, revealing that she didn’t often go hungry. The beggars were nothing but skin and bones. The biggest difference was their eyes. Tara could easily tell who had lived on the street by the hardness or loss of hope in their eyes. There was no way for her to imitate them in that way.

She turned behind the Copious Coinpurse into a small garden. It was empty save for a young woman sleeping on the ground. Tara crept toward her, running her finger over the black soul gem stashed in her pocket. It would have been much easier to cast some sort of spell on her, but Tara thought a stabbing would look far more ordinary than magic.

The girl stirred slightly as Tara approached. Tara straddled her and turned her on her back. She was pretty. She had quite a young face. She was probably no more than nineteen. Tara hesitated for a moment before raising her hand. A violet flash erupted from her fist and washed over the girl. Once that was done she took out the dagger and plunged it into the girl.

The girl opened her eyes wide as blood oozed onto Tara. A scream rose from her throat and Tara quickly covered the girl’s mouth with her free hand, stabbing again and again until the girl stopped moving. She wished she had known where to plunge for a more painless and instant death. That part of her research had been overlooked. Tara took out the soul gem and was satisfied with the glow of the girl’s soul.

She got up and panted, staring at the girl’s body. Did she have parents? A sister? Probably not, since she had been sleeping there alone. Still, Tara was overcome with mixed emotions.

“It’s for Clarissa,� she said to herself.



Tara had to hold in her disgust as she stared upon Clarissa’s corpse.

Three years had passed since Clarissa Blackstone’s murder and time had not been kind. Clarissa’s skin was gone for the most part, only remaining in small patches. On the pieces of skin around her temples, sat dry tufts of her once luxurious black hair, though the slightest brush would turn it to dust. Her bones were not white, like the models shown at the Arcane University. Instead they were a filthy brown. The sockets that once held beautiful grey eyes were now empty and covered by a paper thin layer of skin. The gown she had been buried in had long since been eaten away. Though she went out and bought a new robe, Tara did not look forward to redressing her. Logically that shouldn’t have bothered her any more than digging Clarissa up or even setting her body on the kitchen table.

Tara wanted to pass the time doing something other than staring at Clarissa, but she was unable to take her eyes off of her. She was repulsed but fascinated at the same time. When she finally tore her eyes away, she decided to head into the basement to distract herself.

Just yesterday, the basement was full of alchemical equipment. The shelves had been lined with empty bottles and crates full of filled ones ready to be sent off to the different Mages Guild halls. Jars of ingredients sat along the windows. Now it was empty. The windows were boarded. A metal collar attached to a long chain sat in the center of the room. Tara picked it up and tugged it with all her strength. It held fast to the wall. She sighed deeply and dusted off her hands. Hopefully it would withstand the added strength of the undead.

She took a broom from a corner and started sweeping. Clarissa still deserves cleanliness, she thought. But the basement was usually kept neat and there was nothing much to sweep. She finished in seconds. She looked at the Mages Guild banners still hanging on the walls. Her eyes welled up with tears. How could she still keep those up knowing what she was going to do? How could she ever look at Arch-Mage Traven in the eye again?

With a trembling hand, she took the banners down. She tried telling herself that it was to keep them from getting ruined, but deep down she knew it was because she felt unworthy.

When she returned upstairs she was pleased to see that the hourglass was nearly empty. It was time.

For something so complex, it was strange that it was so simple to accomplish. She had imagined an elaborate ritual involving candles and conjuring. Strangely, the hardest part had been obtaining the soul gem. That and getting the soul. She closed her eyes, forcing away the image of the girl she had killed. She couldn’t afford to think about it. All spells, complex or not, required confidence and concentration.

Her home along the Lake Rumare was close enough to hear the temple bell from the Imperial City. As it rang twelve times, Tara placed the soul gem directly over where Clarissa’s heart had been. She focused on the soul inside, transferring it the way she would to an item.

The soul was stubborn. Even in death, it resisted Tara’s demand, almost as if it knew that it would cease to exist as itself. Tara trembled violently. Her heart pounded hard and she broke into a sweat. The soul would cooperate. It had no choice.

Tara grunted hard when the soul finally entered Clarissa. She panted heavily as the gem crumbled into dust, falling into Clarissa’s bare rib cage.

Clarissa’s eyelids fluttered. She sat up, turning her face toward Tara. Though the sockets were empty, she could feel the intense stare going straight through her. Tara backed up instantly. Would Clarissa remember? Or would she react with hostility? Clarissa opened her mouth, though the only sound that escaped was a dry crackle. Her body wouldn’t return to a normal living being until she received more souls.

“Clarissa,� Tara whispered. “Do you remember me?� She took a step forward. “I’m your sister.�

Clarissa tilted her head back and forth. A chunk of skin plopped on the floor causing a surge of bile to rise in Tara’s throat. She swallowed it back down and forced herself to ignore it.

“Everything is okay now,� she said. “You’re back home now.�

She held out her hand. Clarissa ignored it, seeming to be more confused than anything.

“She’s just in shock,� Tara said to herself. She glanced at the robe. She decided to put it on her when she had more skin as there was nothing really to cover.

She led Clarissa into the basement and locked the collar around her neck. “This is just to keep you safe. When you’re back to normal you can have your old room back. I’ll even get you into the Arcane University like you always wanted.� She sighed, not knowing why she said that. That wouldn’t be possible. Everyone knew that Clarissa had been dead a long time.

Clarissa crackled again, though Tara doubted that she understood anything she had been saying anyway. No need to feel like a liar, right? she wondered. “I’m going to go clean upstairs and then I’ll have to fix up your grave outside. I can’t have it looking like it’s been recently disturbed. I’ll be back soon.�

Once she was back in the living room, she locked the basement door and then placed a plank of wood in front of it. She couldn’t chance Clarissa getting out into the open. She would be killed on sight. Tara couldn’t have that. She refused to lose her twice.

She immediately set out sweeping up the living room and kitchen. There was so much dirt. Too much. Should any guild mates come for a visit, she felt it would cause immediate suspicion. Maybe it was just paranoia, but at the same time, her sudden insistence to work from her home instead of the guild halls already seemed strange. Sure, months had passed since then, the nagging feeling remained stuck in her mind.

Though it had to be done, she couldn’t keep her mind on her task. She felt drained. She sank to her knees staring at the basement door. She could hear Clarissa shuffling faintly, the chain jingling with her every movement. She glanced at the turquoise banner on the wall bearing the Mages Guild symbol. Her life as she knew it was over. She wept.



This post has been edited by Jacki Dice: Dec 23 2019, 07:08 AM

[Jacki Dice]

McBadgere~ If there's something I know, its how to pull off creepy!

RainbowVeins~ Thank you I actually worry that I do it too much, but I'm glad it comes off smoothly

mALX~ Thanks He's very different than your non-creepy Traven

SubRosa~ Yes, its Tara's yearning to bring everyone together that makes her do some of the things she does

~~~♥~~~
♥Merry Christmas!♥

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Chapter Four: The Invitation


But still I lie, those tears have dried, on the grave of my Clarissa!
-Cradle of Filth, Swansong for a Raven

The house was just as Kalila remembered it. The cottage sat on the path between Weye and Pell’s Gate. It was encircled by a wooden fence, with colorful flowers emerging from the lush grass. Bright welkynd stones sat in a pair of sconces by the front door. The forest draped beyond, adding a touch of shadow and mystery that had always fascinated Kalila. Lake Rumare sat in the distance, giving the home a scent of fresh water.

[url= http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o46/Jacki_Dice/map.jpg]Map[/url]

As soon as her trunk was on the ground it hit her. No more university. No more lectures, no more tests, no more aqua robes. It was all over. She had spent so many months preparing for it and it was gone in a flash. It was dizzying.

Tara seemed strange again. She smiled the whole way back, though her attempts at small talk were failing desperately. What was with her? Kalila wasn’t sure who Tara thought she was fooling, with her constant shifts in demeanor.

After the carriage started back up the path to the Imperial City, Tara was smiling that forced smile. “Here,� she said. With a flick of her wrist, a violet beam flew from her hand to Kalila’s trunk. Tara lifted it with ease. “Let’s get this back to your room and how about we go for a swim?�

Kalila raised her eyebrows. “A swim? Now?�

“Yeah,� Tara said. She balanced the trunk on her hip as she fished for her keys. “Come on,� she hissed, biting at her lip in frustration. “Oh, wait,� she said with a laugh. Another violet flash later, the door unlocked itself.

The inside was a little more cramped than Kalila remembered it. There was the couch and armchair by the fireplace. The banners with the Mages Guild symbol hung on either side of the mantel. Paintings of the sea and beaches decorated the walls. An alchemy station was tucked behind the couch, next to the bookshelf which was brimming with books on the local and rarest flora and instruction manuals for different types of summoning. A smaller bookcase sat next to it filled with fairy tales. Kalila had loved them as a child and eventually, when she became too old for such things, she passed them along to Clarissa. Tara didn’t have the heart to throw them out.

The kitchen was spotless as always, though Kalila noticed several boxes stashed under the table. The shelves were lined with bottles of powders and spices. Just outside the window sat a box where flowers and herbs grew. They were neatly labeled, so nothing would go wrong with potion making. An apple pie sat on the kitchen table. The golden crust was braided, just as Kalila had always liked it. Three places were set. Kalila felt a stabbing pain in her heart, reminding her of who wasn’t there but should have been.

“It was for Aidan,� Tara said. Kalila didn’t notice that her hand had flown up to her heart. Tara quickly took the extra plate away and put it in the cabinet. “I thought he would be joining us.�

Kalila just nodded, her hand wandered up to her necklace. Her eyebrows furrowed as her fingers traced the center star of the pentagram. It was hot, as if she had held it under a blanket. She lowered her hand slowly. Maybe that was a normal thing for jewelry. Maybe it was just reacting to her body heat. She was never big on jewelry so she didn’t know. She looked at Tara. Tara wore earrings and a few rings. She would know about those things, but it seemed a stupid thing to ask.

Instead, she turned her attention to the basement door, which had a bar over it. Kalila hadn’t even taken a step when Tara jumped over and stood in front of the door.

“Oh, you don’t want to go down there,� she said. “I’m working on something. Something dangerous.�

Kalila took a step forward. “What?� She reached for the door knob.

“Spider daedra,� Tara blurted.

Kalila’s stomach bubbled with disgust. She flicked her wrist, as if to rid it from the very essence of the daedra. “Disgusting.� She finally said. “What in oblivion for?�

“For knowledge.�

Kalila shook her head. She should have known. Tara was one of the few people she knew who wanted to learn not for anything useful, but for the sheer sake of knowing. Had she not been raised in a Nine fearing home, she would have likely been quite at home in the worship of Hermaeus Mora.

“Right,� Kalila said. She looked to where Tara had dropped her chest. “Well, I think I’ll go put my stuff away and call it a night.�

Tara tore herself from the basement door. “But I thought we were going swimming!�

Kalila shook her head. “It’s dark,� she said. “I don’t like having to dodge slaughterfish at night when I can barely see them.�

Tara laughed. “That’s why we cast a candle spell. You know how, don’t you?�

Kalila nodded.

“It’ll be fun,� Tara said. “Please?�

“How about in the morning?� Kalila offered. “It’s been a long day.�

Tara sighed. “Alright, tomorrow. And I’ll make stuffed Breton-style toast and berries for breakfast! Isn’t that your favorite?�

When I was five, Kalila thought. “Yeah, it is. Good night.� She picked up her chest and headed up the stairs.

“Good night, Kalila!� She said. Tara glanced at the basement door. She pressed her lips to the wood. “Good night, Clarissa,� she whispered.



Under the glow of moonlight, Kalila snuck out and sat at Clarissa’s grave.

It was set in the corner of the property, tucked away in the back by the fence. A stone statue of Mara marked the spot. Mara stood with a veil over her head, gazing gently down where Clarissa was. She held a flower in one hand. A lily. Clarissa’s favorite. A small bunch of peonies burst from the side where she was buried.

Shortly after her death, Kalila had gotten into the habit of sitting at the grave and speaking to Clarissa. Though Tara tried to discourage it, the habit persisted throughout the years.

“I graduated today,� Kalila said softly. Already her throat started to close up and she felt the burn of tears forming. She choked. “I’ll be leaving for Anvil in a few days. It’s not exactly what I had planned, but I suppose…� She sighed. “Nothing lives up to our plans, does it? They say I need more practice in restoration. I guess they’re right. That way if I ever come across…� She licked her lips.

If I ever come across someone hurting, I can help. I won’t be too late.

Tears fell silently.

“You should have been there,� she said. “That’s how it was supposed to be. You, me, and Tara.� She started sobbing. “It’s not fair.� She pounded her fist on the ground. “It’s just not fair! Why did it have to be you?� She buried her face in her arms. “Why?� She demanded. “Why, damn it?� She hit the ground once more and then stopped crying. She wiped her eyes with one hand and ran her fingers through the dirt with the other.

Why was the dirt so loose?



Tara woke slowly. Though she was tucked under several quilts, she felt a persistent chill. It was almost as if someone had left the window open during a snowfall.

“You sleep rather soundly for a murderer.� An icy, unfamiliar voice said. “That’s good. You’ll need a clear conscience for what I’m about to propose.� A man was standing at the foot of her bed, draped in a black cloak. His features were obscured by his hood.

Tara jumped up and reached for the dagger she kept between the bed and the nightstand. The man raised his hand and suddenly Tara was unable to move.

Dear gods, not again!

“Who are you?� She hissed. She looked toward the bedroom door. It was not torn open. Her window wasn’t broken. The only sounds were the two of them. “Where’s Kalila?� Tara clenched her teeth. “If you’ve harmed her—“

“Easy, easy dear child,� he said. He sat next to her, stroking her hair. His hands were like ice. Tara winced at his touch. “The girl remains in her bed, sleeping peacefully. I am not here to harm either of you. Rather, I’ve come to offer you an opportunity.�

“What do you want?�

“First, an introduction.� He stood up. “I am Lucien Lachance, Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood.�

“The…� Tara’s tongue suddenly felt like it was buried in sand. Dear gods, he’s come to kill me… Her stomach fluttered.

Lucien continued. “And you, you are a cold-blooded killer, capable of taking life without mercy or remorse.�

Then it dawned on her. The whispers of The Dark Brotherhood coming to recruit murderers was true! And the girl… somehow they knew about the girl in the Marketplace.

“The Night Mother has been watching, and she is most pleased. And so, here I am. I come to you with an offering. An opportunity... to join our rather unique family."

Tara couldn’t believe her ears. “I.. I’m not a murderer,� she said softly.

Lucien tilted his head back, in exaggerated surprise. “Oh?� Tara could see a smirk under his hood. “The Night Mother seems to think otherwise. Allow me to grant you a gift, in case you reconsider. It is a virgin blade, and thirsts for blood."

He set a dagger on her nightstand. It was made of ebony, with a beautiful intricate gold design on the handle and its sheath. Three prongs sprouted from the back of the handle. Tara could only imagine its purpose.

His gift

“Why are you giving me this?� She asked.

“On the Green Road to the north of Bravil lies the Inn of Ill Omen. There you will find a man named Rufio. Kill him, and your initiation into the Dark Brotherhood will be complete. Do this, and the next time you sleep in a location I deem secure, I will reveal myself once more, bearing the love of your new family."

With that he disappeared before her eyes. She was able to move again. She jumped out of her bed and snatched her own dagger, casting a detect life spell. The only things she sensed were Kalila, in her bed and the pacing of Clarissa in the basement. She noticed that her room was once again warm and cozy.

She got back under her quilts and stared at the dagger she was given. She knew that in a month’s time she would have to kill again. She hated herself for thinking it, but perhaps this Rufio could be of some assistance.


This post has been edited by Jacki Dice: Dec 23 2019, 07:19 AM