Innocent, Sanguine Silence

[Tismri]

She crept in the shadows, stalking her prey. Just as a wolf would a deer, or a dragon his game. Her boots were muffled, her clothing light and silent. No one knew she was even there.

There were several people in the room; only one was necessary to kill. However, the others were in plain sight of her target, and would be for the next several hours. She couldn't sit there that long. As much as she hated it, they would all have to be eliminated. She hoped she could do this quickly.
Her target was an old, retired general, who had hoped to settle down to a farming life with his family. The whole family had been among the Varden, including his wife, and they were all fearless, and could be terrifying in battle. But someone had called for his death. Blood had to be paid.
She was as silent as an empty tomb, even as she came closer to the old man. She had pulled out her dagger long ago. In a sudden, almost instantaneous movement, she wrapped one hand around his mouth and her blade slid across his throat. Blood splurted from the wound, painting the wall, the floor, and even her hand.
"What was that?" the young man asked from across the room. He stood and, the moment he saw his father dead on the floor, and her standing over him, he cried out in rage and drew his sword. She jumped back from the swing and spun away, combating his blows with her own. Though her dagger had shorter reach, it was faster and more flexible than the sword he held. She received one cut on her right shoulder before she plunged the knife three times into his chest. He staggered and stared up at her helplessly, knowing he had been beaten. She finished him and turned. The wife, the only one left, was screaming. She had drawn a weapon, but the sight of bother her husband and son being cut down had stolen her courage. She began to flee. The assassin knew she couldn't let the woman go and give her description to the city guards. That would put not only her, but the entire family in danger. She sprinted forward and lunged her dagger into the woman's back, so deeply that it pierced her heart. The old woman dropped dead. The assassin stepped over her and wiped the dagger's blade off with her gloved hand as she calmly left the house.
***
Several hours later, Marola sat alone in the sanctuary in Petrovya, rather infuriated with herself. Despite her belief that she had reformed and was above this sort of life, she had enjoyed killing that family, or at least the general and his son. Silent murder was a part of her, engrained in her being since she was very young. She was ashamed to think what Marcus or Rauthr would say. She felt almost as if she were betraying them. But, it was better to betray them than to cross Lucien and the rest of the family. Marcus could forgive her. Rauthr would forgive her. But the family? They would tear her apart. Lucien? She shuddered at the thought. She had witnessed on more than one occasion his anger at a disobedient brother or sister. She was glad she wore black at that time, and that her hair was crimson, for it had taken her several weeks to wash the blood off herself, and her clothing had kept the stains.

[Max452]

Elijah, fully robed in the traditional family garb, entered the sanctuary in Petrovya. He had just returned from his assignment: the elimination of a fellow Black Hand Member. The assignment was a bit more difficult for him to complete in a timely manner, as he had to make sure that his betrayal to the Black Hand was not known. However, as skilled as he was, he managed it without alerting anyone. The deed was now done, in a more silent, a less thrilling manner than he would have liked. Now, Elijah had returned home, to report and receive another assignment from a brother or sister. As his boots barely touched the ground, he spotted a Sister that he believed was dead.
"I am truly suprised to see you, Sister Marola." He motioned if it was all right to sit across from her, out of respect for her high station. "Rumored had it that you had passed on." He spoke to her pleasantly, his tone hinting toward the cracked mental state he had.

[Tismri]

Marola glanced up in surprise as someone approached her. Most of the Family members in this sanctuary were newer members, young ones who seemed to feel awed and terrified at the presence of one so experienced. To see another old, familiar face was unexpected, and on some twisted level, comforting.
"Ah, Eli, it's good to see you again," she said. She gestured for him to sit. It seemed he had not forgotten her station as Lucien's old protoge. If she hadn't vanished for over three years from them, it was likely she would one day have been chosen to be mistress of this sanctuary, rather than the dwarf Glumr as master, or perhaps even be picked as a Speaker.
She smiled at Elijah when he mentioned that he'd heard she was dead. "Well, that would be news to me. Last I checked, I was very much alive." She glanced away for a moment to think, and then sighed. "I suppose I am extremely grateful you are my brother, and are bound by Family rules. Otherwise, you would likely have to follow through Galbatorix's order to slay me as a traitor."

[Max452]

Elijah musely sat down opposite of his sister. He smiled as she spoke. "You are glad, my sister? It is I who should be glad to be your brother. I would be dead if I even thought of slaying you, being as who you are and your station in the Family." He rose a humored eyebrow at her then, "however, I cannot help but wonder how long I would have fared if such a fight occured between us." His eyes grew a bit distant as he reflected on the thought. "It would indeed be exciting and....explosive." His smile widened, a bit crazed, as he thought about the prospect. "But like I say, I am glad that I am your Brother, as family is very important. We must'en take family for granted. We are all we have, especially these troubling times." Eli leaned back into his chair. "Forgive me, Marola, I ramble about, and out of curiousity, if you would oblige me, where have you been these past few years? The Family has been quite lost. These new comers are very stiff and boring, much less skilled and talented. Not many wish to join the Family anymore. If it continues like this, I am afraid to think that our family will get smaller." He displayed a worried and concerned face.

[hagvar]

It was malcomes first time in the sanctuary at petrovya. it was a nice sight better than being on the road all by himself. as he walked in the door he noticed two people close to the front of the sanctuary. he walked up to them and said«hello my name is malcome quickblade im new here can use help me out with what i need to do.» as he said this he bowed to the people one a girl and one a guy both garbed in black.

[Tismri]

Marola smiled slightly as she allowed Eli to contemplate a fight with her. He was right, though; she would undoubtedly win. Not just because her skills had over time been sharpened to a razor edge, but also because she could not afford to die. She had too much to live for right now: Rauthr, Marcus, Gladia Celesti, and most of all Cortell. Which was the only reason she complied with Lucien's request that she return every month. He could and would kill her without a moment's hesitation.
"No...we mustn't take family for granted," she agreed with Eli, although she was talking about a different kind of family. She shifted slightly as Elijah asked where she had been all this time. There was only so much she could say; she was still trying to keep most of the Family unaware of her son. She would sooner die than have her child touched by this corruption.
"Oh, you know, evading the Empire for the most part," she told him. "I became disillusioned with the king and informally left his service." She was spared from explaining anymore by a new arrival. She glanced sideways at the stranger, and was unsurprised when he mentioned he was new to the sanctuary and the Family.
"Welcome, Malcome," she told him. "You need to see Glumr; fat old dwarf who could no sooner draw a blade than swallow a brick." She chuckled lightly. She could never resist poking fun at this one of her oldest friends among her Siblings. She and Glumr had been inducted into the Family very nearly at the same time, and she knew he had always been a bit jealous that Lucien had taken her under his wing so readily.
"Glumr is the master of the Sanctuary whenever Lucien is away," she continued explaining to Quickblade. "He'll show you around and give you contracts and training instructions."

[hagvar]

Thank you Malcome said. May I ask where I can find him

[Max452]

Elijah rose one curious eyebrow as Marola explained her long absence. He desired to inquire more about her elusive response, but decided against it; she was too respected in his eyes for him to think any foul play, also, one must not quarrel with a sibling. His thoughts about Marola's missing years were interrupted by a newcomer. Eli looked at the man, his eyes studying him with a bore expression. He listened patiently and quietly for Marola to explain to the new man about where he needed to be. He smirked at Marola's teasing of Glumr. If that dwarf was around, he was pretty sure he and Marola would have a sparring with words. He shrugged at Malcome's question.
"I'm sure he's running about on some errand, or making sure the training room is well stock. What do you think, Marola?" His deadly eyes turned over to stare at the more deadly assassin. "You know his routine best."

[Tismri]

Marola rolled her eyes when Eli asked her for where she thought Glumr might be. "I knew his routine years ago," she informed him. "Back when Julius was in charge of this place. But, if I know him, he's likely checking our supplies; either weapons or food." She glanced up sharply, looking toward the back entrance to their home--to which only she and a few other old, trusted members held a key. There had been no sound, which in a way was what had alerted her. She knew Lucien had entered. His almost unnatural silence was what would always give him away to her.
She gave him one glance, and she knew: he was angry. She kept her eyes on him, tensed an ready to spring to action. But his dangerous expression was not directed at her or anyone in the room. Lucien swept past them all without so much as a glance as he walked to the sleeping quarters.
Once he was out of sight, she released a breath, which she had been holding the entire time. She looked back at the others.
"Someone has broken the rules," she said simply. That was the only thing that ever pushed Lucien this far, because she knew he valued the safety of this Family more than anything else.

[hagvar]

Malcome noticed that a man walked by and looked furious. Then he heard the girl release her breath. Malcome thought to him self who is this man that makes everybody cringe and get tense. So he asked "who is that man that just walked by and why is everybody afraid of him?"

[Max452]

Elijah was a bit amused as Marola instructed Malcome about Glumr. His senses then tightened and tensed as he sensed something, but wasn't sure what. He nearly drew his knife when a figure passed them, merely out of habit and security. His grip relaxed when he recognized the figure. Lucien. The young assassin watched as the man passed them in silence. Eli wanted to open his mouth to greet him, but something held his tongue and he merely watched as Lucien disappeared into the sleeping quarters. He glanced over to Marola when she mentioned that someone had broken the rules.
"That's not good." He gazed at the door that led to the sleeping chamber. He didn't know that Lucien was angry, even though he felt danger. "I wonder who it is; that family member has taken us for granted." His eyes darted over to Malcome when the boy asked his question.
"That is Lucien. He is our elder Brother; he makes sure that we are all well." Eli replied with respect.

[Tismri]

Marola didn't flinch when she heard the expected screams issuing from the sleeping quarters. Lucien was swift to act in retribution. She knew that if there was one thing in this world that he loved, it was their Family. He would do anything to protect them, even if it meant slaughtering a brother or sister.
She shrugged at Elijah pondering. "A better question would be, which of are tenants did they break?" she said. "If they spoke of the Family to anyone on the outside, that could put the entire sanctuary in peril. They may have dishonored our Mother and Father in some way. I doubt it was a disobeyed order, unless the contract was particularly vital. If they've killed or stolen from another Sibling, well...Lucien would have every right to be angry." The house rules, as they were, were still embedded withing Marola's mind after all this time, it seemed. She recited them without faltering once.
She glanced aside at Malcome as he asked about their dear Brother. "Lucien is the Speaker of this sancuary. It is his duty to protect this place, among other responsiblities. A wise man would not cross him, if he wished to keep his life." Her tone was flat and serious, implying the magnitude of her statement.
"FORGIVE ME, BROTHER! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!!!" The pleas and screams echoed through the sanctuary, and others paused and stared at the door.
"Does our Family mean nothing to you?" Lucien's outraged tone caused Marola to visibly shudder. He was merciless, and she had seen with her own eyes what he did. "We protect one another. We don't kill each other."
"I didn't know!!!" the poor soul wailed. That was a sad excuse. Everyone was to be given a profile through mental contact of each and every Family member. It has always proved more than efficient to keep track.
The sounds on the opposite side of the door continued for a while. "No wonder he's in such an ill mood," Marola commented. The murder of another Sibling was one of Lucien's strongest taboos.

[hagvar]

malcome heard the man scream some words but but the main ones that struck him were KILL A FAMILY MEMBER! he then said «how could someone kill a family member. I hated killing my sister even though i hated her how could someone do that to the only family they had left?» this made him furious he put his hand on his blade but he knew that he would regret it if he did. « I lost every thing just to be here but he through it all away just to kill someone. «i dont think i caught your names malcome said.»

[Max452]

Elijah tipped himself back into his chair, letting it balance on the back two legs as he placed his hands behind his head. He smirked a bit as Lucien yelled and revealed what rule had been broken. "Well, that answered my question." Eli replied, perhaps a bit too giddy as he heard the inevitable blood bath occur. "I do pity the fool that broke that sacred rule." He tilted his head toward the door when he heard Malcome speak. His lips twitched with slight irritation. "You still have much to learn about this Family, Malcome." He sat up and motioned to leave as he recalled the joyous day when he murdered his father. "A true Family would never betray one another. We have all known the pain of a disfunctional family, why else would we be here? Why else would we stay? This is the only place were we know the true meaning of family. You say you lost everything to become part of the Family? Then you're as naive as the pathetic corpse behind those doors." He nodded to the sleeping quarters, where Lucien no doubt had just completed his task. "To be apart of the Family, is to gain everything." He snorted. "There is nothing to lose, but everything to gain. I've had enough of this. I'm going to go blow something up." Elijah replied, ignoring Malcome's last question. He passed by Marola, but paused, still smart enough to show her respect. "It is good to see you again, Sister." He bowed slightly with his head and meandered off, heading to the training room. Maybe he could blow something up there...it would have to be a small explosion. He frowned at that slight.

[Tismri]

Marola sat in silence as Malcome and Elijah spoke, instinct telling her to keep quiet until Lucien emerged in a better mood.
"You will find, Malcome Quickblade, that here Family means everything to us," she said, her eyes fixated upon the door to the sleeping chambers. "We rely upon each other, trust one another, and yes, even love each other. Some of us may not have come from a dysfunctional family, but for most of us, this is all we have." She spoke from past experience. That was what had drawn her in the first place. The promise of love and care, a true Family forged with bonds of blood, sacrifice, and death. When she had lost her father, the only family she'd ever had, there was a void she felt could not be filled. However, when Lucien stepped into her life soon after her work for Galbatorix had begun, he somehow filled that space, becoming a caring and nurturing big Brother. He became her everything.
In the years since, however, she had started to see how false these ties were. The only true thing this Family had in common was their unsatiable thirst for blood, from whomever they could have it. When her son was born, Marola saw in a new light what a true family should be. Since joining Gladia Celesti, and especially since meeting Marcus, she felt that a common striving for peace and harmony was what a true family should be like.
But she was also a part of this Family. And once you join, you can never leave again. To do so would be to eventually refuse an order from a higher-ranked Sibling, thus breaking one of the rules. The result would, without fail, be death. So Marola returned here, more from necessity than desire, although some part of her felt more than at home in this place.

Her eyes shifted from the door toward Eli when she heard what he said at the end of his little speech. "I would suggest going outside to do that," she told him. "Get a job from Glumr to satisfy your desire to make a large boom. Lucien would be even more upset if you caused someone to get injured." Her eyes shifted back toward the door and she spoke to her newest Brother.
"I apologize for his rudeness," she said to Malcome, "He is Elijah, and I am Marola." She stood as the door to the sleeping quarters opened and Lucien emerged. His face was grim, but the murderous expression was gone. She could tell that he truly regretted what had just happened. She approached him slowly.
"Ah, Sister," Lucien greeted her cordially. "I see you are following my request that you keep returning here." Marola smirked slightly.
"Because I know it wasn't a request, dear Lucien," she told him. "If I did not return, you would have seen it as disobeying you, and you know perfectly well that I would never do such a thing."
"Yes. You always were the most loyal of us," he said, his gaze growing affectionate. He smiled at her. "Always willing to kill whoever we needed, as swiftly as possible."
"Mm, not quite as loyal as you," she told him, meeting his gaze solidly. Her voice lowered to where no one else could hear. "You know perfectly well there are several who I would never harm, even if you asked me to. I would sooner die." There was a long silence between them until Lucien nodded, understanding. Marola had a certain strength about her convictions that made her dangerous. That was one of the things Lucien admired most about her.
"I'm glad you are back, Marola," he told her as he moved to exit the sanctuary. "I speak for all of us when I say you were missed."

OOC: Wow...long, rambling post. lol