I shuffled in place as I waited for Cicero to join me next to the door, raising my eyes from the ground only when he came over and placed his hand gently under my chin, lifting slowly until I met his eyes.

"Faith does not need to worry so. Cicero is not upset with her. He simply wants to ensure that she doesn't do something she might regret later. The sneaky little one shall wait here with our Siblings until we return with the Listener. After all, as Listener it is he who can tell us if Mother accepts the Bosmer's contract or not. And it is he who must decide if she will become one of us. It is not our place to make those decisions for him. We were meant to find new family, yes, but he is the leader and we must respect that by giving him the final say before we bring anyone home with us," he whispered softly, a sad smile on his face.

You are right, my Cicero. I'm sorry. I guess I simply got too excited at the idea of bringing a new Sibling home to Mother. I... I didn't mean to upset anyone. Will Mother be upset with me?

"Cicero is sure Mother understands, but Faith must make sure she is more careful in the future. Sweet Faith must watch her words when we are not at Home. After all, one never knows when someone unexpected might be listening. She should also watch what she says about the Listener since Cicero is cautioning his Sweetness. Even around those he once knew, perhaps Faith should not speak of who he once was or has become?" He lifted my hand in his, the fingers of his other hand trailing slowly over the lines of my palm as he shifted his gaze between my eyes and his movements.

Eyes wide, I tried to quiet the chaos in my mind as understanding slowly came to me. Oh... Oh, what had I done when I had spoken so freely among them, simply because I had been upset at Bryn for his casual words about my brother? No, no, I would need to be much more careful with my words and perhaps speak to Bryn about keeping their knowledge of who Destin was quiet. Or at least, as quiet as they could.

Hopefully, it wasn't too late to stop it from spreading beyond that group.

--------

"Faith, sweetness, we are almost Home. It will be okay, Cicero is sure of it. His heart need not look so grim, he's sure she will be forgiven if Mother is at all upset. He will go with her and she can ask Mother for forgiveness if the Listener says Faith should do so. But Cicero is sure Mother will understand that sweet Faith did not mean anything. Please, let Cicero see a smile? He misses it so much, that lovely smile. Can I see you smile, my love? Please?"

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Pushing the plate of half-eaten food away from me, I leaned over the table, head dropping to rest against my arms. I'd spent nearly an hour kneeling before Mother, asking for her forgiveness for the mistakes I had made. I don't know why she hadn't sent me away from her Family, cast me out or worse for the things I had said and done without a thought to what could come of it. Bastian had told me I was forgiven, but I don't know how Mother could forgive me so easily. No, I would need to work hard to make up for my errors.

Maybe... maybe if I completed a contract, sending a soul to Sithis... Maybe then, I would be able to forgive myself. And help ensure I was still able to remain at my Cicero's side for a little longer. Perhaps I could prove to myself that I deserved to remain at his side.

Picturing the sad look that had been in his eyes as he stayed behind to take care of Mother, I squeezed my eyes shut. I never wanted to be the cause of such a look again, not from my Cicero, my sweet Jester Assassin. No, I had to make sure I would never hurt him again. Even if I had to do something I hated. After all, hadn't I already made the decision of how far I would go for him? Hadn't I told Bastian?

I would bath the world in blood, if it would keep me at your side, my beloved Cicero.

I pressed my face harder into my arms as I felt a gentle hand run up and down my back, Amicus far quieter than usual since we had left the cabin behind with our Siblings to watch over the one who would join our ranks. Did even Amicus feel disappointed in me? What would I have to do to make it up to so many people, to fix what I had nearly ruined?

How much blood would I have to shed before it was enough?

--------

I stood at the top of the stairs, unable to move any further as I listened to the voices coming from below. I'd wondered where Amicus had gone, thinking perhaps he had left to talk to Ellery, but that was not Ellery's voice I heard speaking to him. No, Ellery's voice was not so deep, so hauntingly dark and rich as this man's voice. I'd heard it before, though, yes. From an assassin long dead, brought back to protect our Listener whenever he was needed.

"You trust her far too much, expecting her to make choices that are best for the Brotherhood, even though it is her brother who is the Listener."

"I do not expect her to lead this Family. No, I understand who the Listener is. I simply follow where she goes, as I always have and always will. I am tied to her, as you of all people should understand. I don't see why that is an issue now after all that has happened."

"She wished to bring an outsider into the Sanctuary and it was only the Keeper's words that stopped her. She would have broken a tenet if she hadn't listened to him. My question is... why did you not try to stop her? Why have you not spoken to her, taught her the rules of this Family, and made sure she understood them? Lived by them, even before she came here. She claims to be one of us and has been accepted into the ranks of the Brotherhood and yet she would slip so easily and bring the wrath of Sithis upon herself? Possibly upon others, as well?"

"I tried once, but he steals the memories from her. You can't blame her for that. As much as she has healed from her past by being around those who she calls her treasures, even from having her brother returned to her, she is still broken. He still has her-"

"Stop making excuses for her! You have the soul of a killer within you, just as you have blood on your hands. You were and still are an assassin, ready to kill in the name of our Dread Father, so answer me this. Do you serve the Dread Father? Or do you serve that woman?"