Erik didn't even care where he teleported to. He just needed to get out of there. Out of that damned castle.

He stumbled into a random cave that was nestled in the side of a mountain. Breathing heavily, he pulled off his gloves quickly and tossed them aside. He closed his eyes tightly, as he tried to calm down. Pulling off his hood and mask, he threw them onto the floor. Gripping onto his neck, he inhaled deeply. Can't breathe...

He coughed and heaved loudly, as he tried to suppress the urges he felt coming up. He gripped his neck harder, his nails breaking the skin, causing a couple drops of blood to fall down his neck. He fell against the cave's cold wall, as he tried to steady his breath. His head felt like it was splitting into two. He threw his head back against the wall, so he could try and breathe better.

"The smell…" Erik quietly mumbled to himself, in between breaths.

He held out a hand, and a small purple bottle manifested into his open palm. He looked at it with discontent, but he started to gulp it down. He felt like gagging with every drop he drank, but he never stopped chugging the liquid down. He placed down the bottle, and put a hand to his mouth. He tried so hard to stop from spitting up the vile liquid. Swallowing one last time, Erik coughed loudly, heaving with every inhale.

He placed his head against the wall again, as he finally started to get a grip on his breathing. His head was still throbbing, but it didn't feel like it was on fire anymore. He released his throat, and when he did, he could feel the skin mending back together. He watched silently, as his own blood dripped down his finger.

He could hear the blood hit the floor, and his face scrunched up. He quickly wiped the remaining blood on his pants. Damn..

His head hung low, as he sighed deeply. After a long moment of silence, Erik stood up and walked towards the cave's entrance. Once he stepped outside, he felt the cool breeze brush up against his face. The falling sun was barely peeking over the horizon, causing the sky to light up a brilliant orange.

Pushing back his hair, Erik sighed in deeply. His head was still woozy, and his legs felt weak underneath him. Erik looked back into the cave and pondered for a moment. It's probably best that I rest for the night.

Laughter rang out into the room. Cups clinked together in joyous celebration. Everyone was in a charitable mood, after Erik had left the castle. Serana's return was the topic of discussion, and everyone was ready to celebrate. The blood was flowing, and the music was loud and cheerful. The thralls were dancing and entertaining the vampires, and even Harkon seemed to be in a decent mood.

Serana slowly sipped from a cup that one of the thralls gave to her. Finally getting a taste of blood after all these years, definitely gave Serana her strength back, but the feeling of drinking blood again almost felt strange to her. She was quiet, and after Erik left, she was consumed with thoughts of the events that had just befallen her.

Why was I buried with an Elder Scroll? How long was I down there? Who was the man that released me? Did my father know him? Why would my father know him? Erik said he was a hunter, why would my father acquaint himself with him?

These questions flooded her mind, and she couldn't bring herself to enjoy the party that was being thrown in her honor. She looked at her father, and watched as the blood from his chalice entered his mouth. All the questions that she had, could be answered by the man that sat just a few feet from her, but she couldn't seem to bring herself to speak up to him.

"Serana, my dear. What have I told you about staring?" Her father's voice broke her from her trance.

"Oh, sorry…" Serana replied softly, her head looking down at the blood in her cup.

Her father turned his head slightly to look at her. Upon realizing the confused expression she had on her face he asked, "Are you not enjoying your party? Everyone is celebrating your return, and yet you sit in silence. Is the blood not to your liking?"

Serana shook her head softly, and placed her cup down on the table that was beside her.

"No, um..it's fine. I just…" Serana was lost for words, and Harkon's face grew slightly irritated.

"Serana, my daughter. You know I hate it when you mumble. Speak up." Harkon's voice was a little sharper than before, and it caused Serana to look back up to him.

Serana studied her father's face, and his eyes were glowing brighter, meaning that he was growing impatient. She didn't want to bring it up, but she knew it would only make her father more angry, if she didn't answer him.

"Why? Why was I buried down there with that scroll?"

To Serana's surprise, Harkon's face softened a little.

"Oh, Serana. My naive daughter. If you wish to know that, you should go find and ask your traitorous mother."

"Why? What would she know?"

Harkon's face sharpened at the thought of her mother. He hated her, and Serana knew that. Harkon sat up in his chair, and he sat his chalice down. He stood up, and motioned for Serana to follow him. "I wish to show you something. Follow me."

Serana followed closely behind her father, and a pit of fear grew in her stomach. Whatever he wanted to show her wasn't good. She felt the eyes of the vampires below watching her. She could still hear the music, as her father walked her to the back of the castle. She couldn't help but look around. She had forgotten what the castle looked like.

Thinking about it deeply, she didn't recall ever seeing this part of the place she used to call her home. Her father led quietly in front of her, and it somewhat unnerved her. After what felt like an eternity, they stopped in front of a massive black door. Serana's skin began to tingle. Something behind the door was admitting a strange, yet very powerful energy.

Serana had never felt energy more powerful than this. The energy was so potent, that it made her feel sick. Placing her hand on the door, she closed her eyes. Even though the energy was overwhelming, she was drawn to it.

What is this? It's so strong. This energy...it feels strangely familiar somehow.

The door was secured by a large lock. Harkon looked down at his daughter, as he reached inside of his pocket and pulled at an unusual black key. The top of the key had a symbol she didn't recognize.

A skull with horns..? I feel like I've seen that symbol..

Serana locked eyes with her father, and she raised her eyebrows.

"What is this? What the hell is behind this door?"

Her father didn't say anything, until the lock clicked. He pushed firmly on the door, dust falling to the ground.

"It's why that snake you call your 'mother' locked you away with the Elder Scroll." His voice dripped with venom, but Serana tried to ignore his harsh words.

She walked behind her father, as he entered the room. Walking inside for the first time, made Serana almost fall over. The energy was so powerful and overwhelming. She looked around the room, her eyes trying to adjust to the darkness

Her father snapped his fingers, and the candles that hung against the walls, started to light up individually. The fire was weak, but the dim light still allowed Serana to see what laid in the center of the room. This is what's admitting the strange energy..?

Serana walked closer to the middle of the room, and when she did, she noticed black smoke was floating around the mysterious object. It looked like a coffin. A coffin very similar to the one she was trapped in.

"Is...is this a coffin?" Serana asked in a curious voice. The coffin was standing up right and thick chains surrounded its every surface. Before her father could answer, she spoke again.

"Who's in here? And what does this have to do with me being locked away?"

Harkon's mouth stretched out into a wicked smile.

"Oh, Serana. Must I teach you everything?" He walked around the coffin, as he spoke again.

"Remember the day we gave ourselves to Lord Molag Bal? Remember how powerful he made us?"

Serana shuddered at the very thought. She always tried so hard to forget that day. Even with having the immense strength his power gave her, she always regretted what she had to go through to get it.

"Yes…" Serana quietly said.

"The person who sleeps in here is even stronger and older than us. He was Lord Molag Bal's first."

Serana looked at her father, quizzically. "How can you be so sure?"

Harkon looked at Serana and said, "You feel it, don't you? The immense power coming from the coffin? And right now, he lays dormant." Harkon smiled widely, as he continued to say, "The power he has whenever he's awake is...immeasurable."

Serana could see the fire in her father's eyes, as he looked down at the coffin.

"What does this have to do with me, then?"

Harkon snickered as he said in a demeaning voice, "Oh, my dear Serana. You always were conceited."

Harkon chuckled as he continued to say, "It has nothing to do with you. Haven't you been listening? Your mother locked you away, because she could. Because you were in the way. An inconvenience. Her true purpose was to take what I valued most. The Elder Scroll."

Serana was dumbfounded at what her father said. She was angry and shocked, that the person she called her father, could say something so hurtful to his only child. His words cut her like a dagger to the heart. All this time, she was locked away, and she didn't even need to be. She felt rage build up inside of her, but she tried hard to suppress it.

"Why is the Elder Scroll so important? How is it connected to this coffin?" Serana asked through gritted teeth.

"The Elder Scroll holds information. Knowledge. This coffin is sealed by powerful magic. Magic I've never seen before. No one here has been able to crack it."

Serana looked closely at the black smoke. It seemed like the smoke was dancing across the surface of the stone.

"But the Elder Scroll should tell us how to open it."

"How do you know that? How do you know that's what the Elder Scroll will tell you?"

Harkon's face sharpened as he said, "This certain Elder Scroll is riddled with the history of the vampires. It's connected to Lord Molag Bal, so it must be connected to his first creation."

Serana looked at her father, and was so dumbfounded at how enthralled he was.

He's not even sure that the Elder Scroll will tell him anything, but he betted his family and his entire legacy, for what? For an urban legend in a box?

"And why do you care about that? Why would you want to open a coffin that contains another vampire?"

"With us sharing equal rule, vampires will once again reign over the land. We will no longer have to hide in the shadows. Mortals will once again fear us. They will tremble and coward underneath us. Humans are weak. Vampires are strong. And with him being in rule once again, we will become unstoppable."

Serana watched as Harkon looked at the coffin with a burning passion in his eyes. She could see his lust for power overtake him, and in that moment, she knew that she was truly losing her father for good.

When she came back, she was hoping that his greed would have subsided, but she sees now that nothing will ever change. She knew she had to stop what he was trying to do, and she knew she needed to do it now. And to do that, she needed someone who could help her. Someone who would listen.

Erik…

After suffering from a nightmare, Erik left the cave that he reluctantly spent the night in. The sun was rising just above the horizon, when Erik stepped out into the open. The cool air hit his face, as he started to make his way down the mountain. He turned to leave, but a castle in the distance, caused him to freeze.

Castle Volkihar…out of every place..

Erik raised an eyebrow as he said, "I wonder…"

Shaking his head, he continued down the mountain, never looking back up.