'I don't think you understand what it is you're asking.'

Serana's face was stern; her expression was one of wary hesitation.

It had been shocking enough for her to read the letter Nysteris had left me before she had gone to Molag Bal; No sooner had she finished examining it had I asked her how to reach Cold Harbour.

The Castle still reeked of blood and death. Even as her glowing, orange eyes burned into my own as she spoke, she seemed too beautiful for this place; too young and benevolent. She was not like the others. She never had been.

'Please, sera,' I coaxed her. 'I must know if there is any chance... to bring her back. I cannot rest until I know for certain.'

'Oh, you can bring her back. That won't be hard.' She stared me in the eye, her brows raising as she spoke in a low, serious tone. 'If she is in Cold Harbour, she can be summoned like any other demon or daedra.'

I tried to hide and suppress the wave of excitement that quickly welled up in my chest as I heard her words.

I knew there had to be a catch; Nothing was ever this simple. It was true that I didn't understand what I was doing. The fact that I knew that I was about to do something horribly dangerous did nothing to dissuade me. Every moment that I had to endure knowing that she was suffering and out of my reach was unbearable to me. My already dim instinct for self-preservation had long since been overridden by the aching, hollow emptiness of her loss; I no longer cared about what would happen to me, as long as I had my chance to see her, to try to bring her back. I was gripped by desperation, fuelled by heartache.

'Just tell me what I need to do.' MY voice was quiet and low as I tried to secure her cooperation.

'Teldryn,' she began softly, almost pleading. 'She will not be as you remember her.'

'I'm aware of that.'

'No,' she sighed. 'She is Molag Bal's champion now. One of the greatest prizes he has ever claimed; the soul of a Dragonborn. There is no chance that he would allow her to keep her memories of you. She will be heavily controlled; She might even try to kill you. Unless you are the one who performs the summoning, she will only see you as prey. Any shred of the Nysteris you knew will be almost completely suppressed by his influence; It would be too risky for him to keep her otherwise. You're only mortal. And you present a threat to Molag Bal; You want to take his champion.'

'You've read the letter, Serana. He isn't allowed to harm me.'

'Maybe he can't. But she can.'

I grew frustrated and impatient. I wasn't listening to her; I just wanted her to tell me how to perform the summoning. 'There is a shrine to Molag Bal here, yes?'

'Yes...'

'Wonderful. Now, what do I need to get started?'

She sighed loudly, shaking her head slightly as she looked down to her feet, a harrowed expression upon her face.

'A sacrifice. You need to either kill somebody and drain their blood onto his fountain, or rape a virgin on his altar... to reenact the creation of Lamae Bal, the first vampire.'

I recoiled in horror and disgust. No matter how evil and depraved I thought the Lord of Domination to be, I was repeatedly astonished at how deep the malignancy went.

I thought for a moment as I recovered from my aversion.

'Tell me, my dear... Is Vingalmo still around the castle?'

I saw her eyes widen in shock as she stared at me, her lips parting slightly to show the tips of her fangs.

'Oh, no no no... I'm not going to rape him.'