The Story of Taillus, Chapter 8 Options

[Taillus]

This is the very last "Full" chapter. I really appreciate the continued support and since my Video Card will be in my computer by Saturday I will have to start working on the story of Xander.... Thanks all and I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have loved writing it!

Chaper 8 - Eye For An Eye.

The now defenseless town of Balmora bows to Taillus’ mercy as he casually struts through town. Morrowind used to scare him silly. He can remember walking through these same streets not too long ago with a dire fear that someone would plant a knife in his spine for whatever gold he would be carrying. Today, and from now on he would not fear this at all.

He heads across one of the stone walkway bridges that cross the small river passing through the town and heads to the more residential part of town. The villagers pass by him without the slightest clue and he also ignores them for the time being. His mind was completely focused on giving his old “Friend” what he deserves.

The door to the Balmora hideout of the Thieves Guild opens quickly, catching a nearby Thieves Guild Member off guard. Taillus stomps across the floor and grabs the one known as “Sugar-lips Hasabi by the throat and lifts the thief off the floor, letting clawed feet dangle. Taillus squeezes hard as Sugar Lips wheezes and gasps trying to catch some small breath of air.

“I am going to give you three seconds to catch your breath and then you will tell me where the Dunmer by the name of Jiub is. I will not tolerate your ignorance so it would be in your best interest that you do not utter the words “I do not know.” Taillus whispers as he clenches Hasabi and props him against the wall.

The Thief gasps and tries to pull Taillus’ unarmored muscular arm away but to no avail. Finally, Hasabi manages to agree to Taillus’ terms and he drops to the ground desperately trying to catch some air to breathe.

“Sugar-lips sent Jiub to fetch some items of use from the local Mage’s Guild and he should be back soon.” The Sugar-Lips gasps while looking up at Taillus in fear. Taillus grins from beneath his hooded robe and turns to leave.

“Juib will peel that armor off of your body and skewer you without mercy you Imperial fool. He will not allow you to disgrace the Guild of Thieves.” Sugar-Lips hisses just before the door closes making Taillus turn quickly and grab hold of some clothing and heave the poor thief outside, off the step and out into the streets of Balmora for some discipline.

“What did you say!?” Taillus explodes as Hassabi struggles to quickly get to his feet. The thief draws a poisoned glass dagger and circles Taillus in a defensive stance. Taillus rips his robe off revealing his chiseled bare chest and motions for Sugar-Lips to try and plant the dagger into his exposed chest.

Sugar-Lips lunges at Taillus over and over but fails to hit flesh. Taillus draws his mace and motions for the Guild member to try and fill his body with poison. As the dagger is thrust in his direction, Taillus steps to the side and swings the mighty enchanted mace downward at the Thief Guild member knocking Sugar-Lips lifeless to the ground at his feet.

“Where are you Juib!? Come to me and accept your fate my friend!” Taillus shouts filling the empty streets with his voice as the white spirit energy of Sugar-lips flows into his amulet. Taillus can feel the added attributes of the thief with his own and his eyes could now suddenly make out more detail in the dark He felt as though he had trained in the Thieve’s Guild for years. He sprints through town heading quickly to the mages guild where Juib is supposedly off stealing scrolls. Checking his inventory, He found an invisibility scroll that he would definitely see going to good use within the next few minutes.

[Taillus]

As the wooden door to the guild opens, Taillus’ eyes adjust to the darkness quickly, allowing him to descend down the stairs and search for his old pal. The guild members were just about settled for the night and were reading hefty and lengthy books on magicka, daedra and such by their own small lanterns.

As Taillus scans the rooms for any sign of a sneaky dunmer, he is shocked to see a wooden chest of drawers opening slowly. He smirked seeing that there was no one nearby and that it had to be Jiub. Quietly he slinks towards him and can see various items being sifted through but not lifted in order to keep the effects of his spell from fading.

Taillus carefully and quietly sneaks up behind his dunmer friend with the effects of his invisibility scroll hiding him. As the translucent Dark elf grabs a soul gem that was hidden in the chest, Taillus quickly reaches out and slams the drawer shut causing Jiub to come into view and yell out in pain.

“What in the name of oblivion is going on out there?” a mage’s guild member shouts as the various members quickly get out of bed. Taillus stands with a handful of Jiub’s collar and looks at the approaching magicka filled, robe wearing, slightly irritated men and women and begins to drag Jiub up the stairs.

Taillus kicks open the door to the mage’s guild and tosses Jiub from the top level. The elder Dunmer thief soars for many feet before landing on the back of his shoulders and sliding across the dusty stone street. Taillus hops down and walks after him, ending up at his side just after he stopped skidding.

Taillus picks the Dark Elf up again and throws his limp and badly battered body into the retaining wall that protects Balmora from the outside. The sand colored wall cracks due to the force of Jiub hitting it with his back and he falls lifeless to the ground.

“It has been far too long friend. How have things been?! Taillus shouts as the mage’s guild, fighter’s guild and most of the vendors come outside to see the Ebony clad, shirtless Imperial throw the dark elf around.

“T..Taillus, I thought you had died! How can this be?” Jiub coughs as he favors his left hand. Taillus walks over to the Dunmer and looks down at him with an expression of pure hatred. Taillus had almost forgotten what power he felt when in the presence of his old friend. He had not felt this angry since he thought his first arena victim was Jiub. The dark elf looks up in complete shock as he is towered over by the one he thought he had killed.

“Do you know what you have done to me Jiub? You made me this man. I am but a pawn for a Daedric god who kills all that stands before me. I am a monster Jiub! A demon among men who is cursed with a bloodlust that is stronger then any craving any mortal can feel. I fuel myself with the souls of those that fall to the edge of my blade! You did this to me and you will suffer a long and painful path much the same as me! “Taillus shouts as people begin to hide in their shops.

“I did this to you Taillus? I made you what you are? I did nothing but double cross you and leave you to die. I had not planned you would turn in to this. Besides Taillus, have you not achieved the dream that you have had for years? You always said you wanted power beyond comprehension and now you have it. You just don’t like what you have to do to get it.” Jiub shouts as his voice gets shaky from the pain in his back and hand.

“Nevertheless, you are still going to suffer the same as I have. I will not let you get away this time Jiub! Let us see how you like falling for what seems like an eternity.” Taillus bursts as he grabs Jiub once again, this time by the arm and begins to float into the air.

The two men soar straight up and far above the city of Balmora. Taillus lifts them both magically until the buildings below them can barely be seen. Juib begins to lose consciousness partly from pain and mostly from fear and Taillus shakes him to keep him awake.

“Do not go blank on me now my friend! I want to hear you scream on the way down!” Taillus shouts as he continues to shake the fading Jiub. Taillus heaves the almost lifeless body of the dark elf over his head and tosses him effortlessly, watching him plummet to the ground below.

Jiub screams as his voice trails away from Taillus as the dunmer can now suddenly see the ground coming up to meet him. Like Tarhiel had years ago, Jiub connects violently with the paved ground below and crumples in a heap of broken bones. People begin to run out of their houses to see what the sound was and were horrified to see the Dark Elf laying motionless in the middle of Balmora.