Blackfeather Woods [m] blackreach

It was wrong to be descending into the depths of Wolfskull, heeding Parvati's cries of labor. She shouldn't be down here. To birth children in a place that had seen so much pain, terror, death? Maegi remembered all the bones she and Ramsay had cleared from this place and shivered, fur standing on end. It didn't help that with each step underground, it grew cooler, quieter. . .darker.

And the voices grew, too. The daedra, gone quiet the last few days, began to chatter.

She's not what she seems.

She's fooling you.

 

She's using you

She's an imposter

She's a liar

There lay Parvati, cleaning her children. Three of them, two dark and sleek, like Ramsay. The other ghostly pale, like—

You.

Maegi drew close with quiet steps, brow furrowed slightly. She wanted the voices to stop; she wanted to enjoy this moment for what it was—the birth of her brother's children. But as she stared at the pale pup, they grew louder and louder, drowning out all other thoughts. One louder than the rest. . .Sheogorath?

She stole your babies.

No, she breathed, thinking of Nirgali and Ninazu, decomposing, receding. No, she—

She poisoned your womb and took your brother's seed. These Meloniis were meant to grow within you.

That can't be true, Maegi mouthed, still with her gaze trained hard on the white pup.

She's not to be trusted.
She's not what she seems.

She's fooling you.

She's using you

She's an imposter

Stop, she demanded, teeth gritted, voice firm and echoing off the walls of the cave. The voices did not cease but softened, falling into a quiet roar while she padded toward Parvati. Her eyes glowed, one the tongue of fire, the other its deep blue heart. She folded herself down, close to the woman, watching the children.

Congratulations, she said woodenly, not meeting the woman's eyes. And the daedra continued to talk.