Stefan landed hard on the grounds of a large castle. It was similar in style to Castle Volkihar but lacked grandeur. The turrets were smaller and the grounds lacking. It was also surrounded on three sides by vast mountains. He assumed that was to keep it from the sight of the mortals. His wings folded into his armour as he walked towards the castle drawbridge. The drawbridge was raised. Two guards armed with longbows called down to him as he approached.
"Halt!" called the one on the left.
Stefan halted.
"State your business here," called the other.
Stefan cleared his throat.
"I'm Stefan Volkihar from Skyrim, here to meet with Janus Hassildor," called Stefan to the guards.
The guards nodded. They seemed satisfied with Stefan's story. A few seconds later the drawbridge was lowered. Stefan walked carefully over the drawbridge and into the castle proper. He looked around. The evidence of it lacking in comparison to Castle Volkihar was more evident as he entered the castle. The guards lead him along a narrow stone corridor. The reached the end. The guards pushed open the door and gestured Stefan to enter. He gestured a thanks to them both and entered the room. They closed the door behind him. Stefan looked back before returning his gaze to the front.
A well dressed Vampire sat in a large armchair by the fire. He looked over to Stefan. The fire reflected in his bright red eyes, giving a positively sinister look. He smiled in welcome to Stefan and gestured him to join him by the fire. Stefan complied and sat in the vacant chair.
"I am surprised to see you here young Stefan," began Janus. "It is unusual for a Vampire Lord to fly so far from his home."
"Your letter brought me and my family great distress," said Stefan. "The murder of Vampires is uncommon since the last decade."
"Quite," replied Janus. "My Vampires were far from home when they were taken."
"Why were Cyrodiil Vampires in Skyrim?" asked Stefan at once. "It's not customary for them to be."
"My Vampires were hunting," replied Janus at once. His voice hissed with agitation.
"Hunting for what?" asked Stefan. He shuffled in his seat, Janus's tone made him uncomfortable.
"A threat," replied Janus in the same hissing tone of agitation. "Something that threatens Vampires across Tamriel."
"If you're talking about the Dawn-guard," began Stefan. "They are no longer a threat..."
"...I'm not talking about humans young Volkihar," cut in Janus. "This is something more dangerous than a few mortals armed with hammers and swords."
They were silent for a moment. The fire crackled loudly.
"The werewolves have been more active since you became Vampire Lord young Stefan," explained Janus.
"Werewolves and Vampires have been enemies for centuries," said Stefan.
"Indeed," agreed Janus. "But these werewolves, are nothing like we have faced before. They are faster, stronger and far more aggressive. My Vampires are able to keep them at bay. But recently...well that is why we are having this conversation."
"You are insinuating that my status has affected the werewolves?" asked Stefan.
"It is a strange coincidence that they have become more aggressive since your coronation," repeated Janus with a bite of impatience.
They were silent once more. The fire crackled as Stefan let his mind process.
"We should all be concerned about this," continued Janus. "The future of our kind could be at stake."
He looked at Stefan, the fire glowing in his red eyes.
"Return to Skyrim," said Janus. "Your clans need you. If there is trouble here in Cyrodiil, I will send word."
Stefan stood up. Janus followed suit and gestured for him to leave. Stefan reached the door. He opened it and was about to exit.
"Stefan," said Janus.
Stefan turned to face him.
"Take care," he warned. "If the werewolves are indeed after us, you could be in more danger than all of us."
Stefan nodded and left the room. The door closed behind him and his footsteps echoed down the corridor slowly getting fainter and fainter. Janus stared into the fire watching the wood crackle and burn.
Serana stood over her alchemy lab. Behind her stood her two daughters Lucinda and Valeria. The observed her as she showed them how to make poisons for their weapons.
"Lucinda," asked Serana. "Can you give me some of the Falmer ears?"
Lucinda stretched up and grabbed a handful of them. She then brought them down and placed them on the alchemy table.
"Yuk," said Valeria. "Those are disgusting."
"Not as disgusting as the creatures they came from," said Serana. "They fight worse than they smell."
She threw the Falmer ears into the basin and pounded them with the other ingredients in the mixture. The mixture glowed a sinister green colour and began overflowing from the bowl.
Serana grabbed an empty bottle and tipped the mixture into it, brimming it all the way to the top. She placed it on the wooden table and let it smoke.
"Stunning poison," revealed Serana. "A small measure of this on your arrow or sword and your target is stunned for ten seconds."
"Does it work?" asked Lucinda.
"Of course," replied Serana. "Your mother is an excellent alchemist."
"I would like to try it," said Valerica. She looked at her sister, who gave her a smile.
"I remember seeing some Skeevers in the under-croft," said Lucinda. "I'll be back momentarily."
She picked up a large wooden box and carried it out of the room. Serana and Valeria waited for her return.
Less than a minute later Lucinda returned with a rattling box containing a Skeever. Lucinda set the box on the floor.
"Prepare yourself Valeria," commanded Lucinda.
Valeria picked up her Daedric bow and her quiver. She dipped a Daedric arrow in the poison and loaded it into her bow. She nocked the arrow and drew it.
She nodded at her sister. Lucinda opened the box. A Skeever darted out. Lucinda sprang aside. The Skeever sprinted across the room towards Valerica. Valerica took aim and fired. The arrow flew through the air and penetrated the Skeevers back. The Skeever glowed green and keeled over onto the floor.
She lowered her bow. Lucinda dashed across the room. Her Vampire blood enabled her to move at twice the speed of mortals. She drew her sword and added a measure of the poison to her Elven sword. She then grabbed a Dragonscale shield and approached the stirring Skeever. The creature awoke and spotted Lucinda. It made a beeline straight to her. She raised her shield. It jumped, bashing into her shield. She backed away slowly. The Skeever jumped up again, bashing her shield. She hit in the face with her shield. It fell to the floor. She raised her sword and brought it down on the Skeever. It glowed green and keeled over, stunned once more. She then brought it down again on the creature carving into two pieces.
"Lovely," said Serana looking at her daughters. "Now you have finished with that Skeever, let me show you what potions you can make using the parts left over."
Serana drew her Elven dagger and kneeled in front of the Skeever. Lucinda placed her sword and shield on a large wooden table. She kneeled down next to her mother and her sister to watch Serana remove the Skeever's tail and skin it.