The door banged open. It hit the stone wall and bounced, slamming into Stefan. He pushed it open again and they filed out onto the cold, dark grounds. They kept running and didn't pause until they reached the road. Stefan, still carrying Serana over his shoulder, placed her down carefully on her feet.

"We need to split up," said Stefan urgently. "We just killed his brother. Farkas is going to want retribution."

"What do you suggest?" asked Lilith.

"You should return to Castle Volkihar," Stefan informed Lilith. "Serana you should stay at Whiterun and I'll go to Falkreath."

"What about us father?" asked Valeria.

"One of you will come with me and one of you will join your mother," he replied.

"Why do I go to Whiterun?" asked Serana. "It's smaller than Falkreath."

"Whiterun is better defended than Falkreath," replied Stefan. "You have huge walls, guards and my house-carl. The question is, who is going to join you?"

"I'll go with father," said Valeria at once. She approached him and gave him a hug. She loved both of her parents, but her father had always been her favourite.

"I'll join mother," said Lucinda. She approached her mother and put her arm around her waist and hugged her tightly.

"We should stay until the end of the full moon," informed Stefan. "Once we are sure that this...will not come to pass."

He glanced at Lucinda as he said this.

"Let's go," he said.

Lilith nodded and made her way North back to the castle. The foursome turned south towards Whiterun and Falkreath. They walked in silence. Each daughter sticking close to their chosen parent. It was only until they reached the junction to Whiterun was Serana reluctant to let her husband and daughter go. She threw her arms around Stefan and kissed him lovingly.

"Do we really have to split up?" she asked batting her eyelashes at him.

"I'm afraid so," he replied. "It's the safest way."

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.

"It's only going to be for two nights," he said. "It won't be that long."

"Two nights away from you too long," she said sadly.

She held him as tightly as she could. He looked at her, stroking her hair softly.

She pulled him close to her and they kissed lovingly once more.

"Oh brother!" called Lucinda loudly. Valeria giggled loudly. Serana and Stefan broke off from their kissing.

"Perhaps we should do this another time," joked Stefan.

Serana giggled.

"I'll be waiting," said Serana. "After these two days, I'll show you how much I have missed you."

"I look forward to it," replied Stefan cocking his eyebrows.

He kissed her once more. Serana looked at him once more and turned to join her daughter. She looked back as Lucinda lead her towards the gates of Whiterun. He watched them leaving. He wanted to make sure they were safely inside the grounds before he left. They disappeared around the corner. Valeria tugged on her fathers sleeve, urging him to go.

"Father," she said. "Let's go."

He looked at her. She smiled at him. He returned the smile, nodded and led Valeria towards Falkreath. She put her arms around his shoulders as they walked.

The door to the Breezehome opened. Lydia, the house-carl, stood up to welcome them.

"Serana," she said. "My lady."

"Please don't leave," said Serana. "I request you to stay here with me and my daughter."

Serana gestured to her.

"As you wish my lady," said Lydia. She returned to her seat.

Serana gestured for her daughter to follow her.

"Come," she said. "You must be famished."

She led her into the alchemy lab and began to make some blood potions for herself and her daughter.

Stefan lead Valeria up the dirt path towards Lake-view Manor. He looked behind him intermittently to make sure she was still behind him. He lead her along the path and the manor materialised in front of them. Valeria gasped as she saw it. It was unlike any mortal dwelling she had ever seen before. Stefan led her through the front door. He cast the candle light spell to illuminate the room. However, things had changed since he was last here.

The floor and surfaces had been covered with a thick layer of dust. Their boots were muffled by it. Grime encrusted the surfaces and the windows. He hadn't been here since he was a mortal and that seemed like a life time away. He reminisced back to when he was here. He and Serana had gotten married in the garden and later that same night she had bitten him and turned him into a Vampire Lord. He smiled as he remembered how beautiful she looked in her wedding dress.

"It doesn't look like anyone has been here in a long time," said Valeria.

Her voice dragged him back to the present time. Valeria looked around the room. She placed her bow on the weapon rack and leaned her quiver against the wall.

"They haven't," said Stefan. "Not since I married your mother."

He strolled across the room and picked up a dusty pile of firewood. He placed it into the fire pit and lit a fire. At first it smouldered but then the flames caught the dust logs and a fire began to breathe into life.

A musty smell of burning dust filled the room. It was then replaced by the sweet smell of burning wood. The fire showered the room with heat and dancing light. Valeria blew off the dust to a squishy armchair by the fire and sat herself upon it. Stefan copied her and sat next to her, trying to get warm.

"How long are we going to stay here?" asked Valeria.

"Until after the full moon," replied Stefan.

"Why must we wait until then?" asked Valeria. "Are we in danger?"

"No," he replied. "Just Lucinda."

"Is that werewolf Farkas trying to kill her?" asked Valeria.

Stefan was silent. He was unsure if he should tell his daughter the truth.

"Valeria," he began.

"Father," she cut across him. "You don't have to hide anything from me. I just saw an eight feet tall werewolf imprison my big sister and my mother turn into a hell-beast. I think I'm mature enough to know why we are in danger."

Stefan chuckled. She truly was her mothers daughter, her turns of phrase echoed Serana.

"Okay," he said. "I will tell you."