Lucinda and Serana sat at a table in the corner of the Whiterun tavern. Both of them had a bottle of Nord Mead in front of them. As it was during the day, it was empty. Everyone was busy with their daily activities. The only people in the tavern were the bartender and the bard playing his lute in the corner.

"So," said Lucinda. "How does a mortal end up marrying a Vampire?"

Serana, who was taking a swig of her mead, choked and lowered her bottle.

"Luck," said Serana. "For him. Well, maybe for us both. He's a good man your father."

"Grandmother told me that he rescued you and killed grandfather," said Lucinda.

"That's correct," said Serana. "Grandfather was a megalomaniac. He deserved to die."

Lucinda took a swig of her mead.

"So you wouldn't object if I wanted to marry a mortal man," joked Lucinda.

"I think I would be more surprised about you getting married," said Serana laughing. "You don't seem like the type."

"No," said Lucinda. "There's a whole world out there. I want to explore it."

"I used to be like you," said Serana whistfully.

"What happened?" asked Lucinda take a drink of her mead.

"I took an arrow in the knee," replied Serana.

Lucinda placed her bottle on the table. She then glanced under it and looked at her mothers knees.

"Who shot you?" she asked.

Serana giggled.

"It's an expression from the old tongue," explained Serana. "It means, 'I got married'.

"So why do you say 'an arrow in the knee'?" asked Lucinda.

"Because a boy must go down on one knee when he asks the girl to be his bride," explained Serana. "So once he goes down on one knee, his adventuring days are done."

Lucinda nodded in understanding. Serana smiled to herself, now she understood how difficult it must have been for Stephan to explain these turns of phrases to her when he released her. Her affection for him increased.

Serana took a swig of her mead. They sat in silence for a moment. The fire crackled in the background and the lute player strummed his instrument.

"Why are these werewolves after me?" asked Lucinda. "I know they have always hated us, but why the obsession with me?"

Serana looked at her daughter.

"You are the twice-blooded child," replied Serana. It was pointless to try and hide it from her any more. "The daughter with the blood of two mortal enemies."

Lucinda thought about it for a moment.

"A Vampire and a mortal?" asked Lucinda.

"Correct," said Serana. She took a swig of her mead and continued.

"Vampires, when bitten by a werewolf cannot turn," explained Serana. "They are killed. But you, with the blood of a Vampire and a mortal. You can be turned."

"Turned?" asked Lucinda. She knew what it meant, but was unable to believe it was possible.

"Correct," said Serana. Her eyes were narrowing both in fear and sorrow. "They can turn you. You will be a werewolf and a Vampire. Something unlike the world has ever seen before. I don't need to explain how dangerous that would be both for you and everyone."

"So hypothetically," began Lucinda. "If I were turned, that would make me..invincible?"

"In a manner," said Serana. "Mortals, Vampires and werewolves couldn't defeat you. Furthermore, you'd have no memory of yourself, your family or anything."

Lucinda shuddered at that very thought. She picked up her bottle with shaking hands and took a long drink. She drank too much and spilled some of it over her armour.

"Don't worry Lucinda," said Serana. Lucinda put down her bottle on the table and some of the mead slopped onto the woodwork. Her mother took her hand and massaged it softly.

"It's not going to come to pass," said Serana. "I promise you."

Her daughter gave her a smile, although she was not convinced. She was tough and fearless but this piece of news had shook her up considerably.

"I think I'm going to go back to the Breezehome," said Lucinda.

She got up, sliding her chair along the stone with a loud scraping. Her mother followed suit immediately. They exited the tavern and walked through the market towards Breezehome. As it was mid-morning, the market was bustling with people. They walked through the crowds and towards the Breezehome. They opened the door and entered the property, closing the door with a snap.

Lucinda turned to look at her mother before making her way up the stairs.

"The mead has made me feel sleepy," she said simply. "I'm going to bed. Good night."

Serana watched her daughter walk up the stairs.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Her daughter turned to look at her.

"Yes," she replied. "I'm fine."

Lucinda entered the spare room door and closed it quietly.

She stood at the door, listening to see if her mother was walking up the stairs. She wasn't. Lucinda lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Her mind began to wander as her eyes focussed on the wooden ceiling above her. She felt dangerous, and dirty, like she was different from the other members of her family. She shuddered as she thought of herself as a werewolf. Her family members were in isolation because of her and she instantly felt a huge wave of guilt. She thought about Valeria and her guilt grew.

If those werewolves got her, she would be used a weapon. A weapon of mass murder and destruction. Before, she saw herself as unique. She was the product of love between the union of two mortal enemies. But now she felt contaminated, like the patient zero of a new virus strain. There was a knock on the door, bursting in on her thoughts.

"Lucinda?" asked Serana. "Are you alright?"

"Leave me be," called Lucinda through the door.

Serana stood at the door for a moment before Lucinda heard her footsteps retreat back to the master bedroom. She heard her mother enter her bedroom and the house was silent again. She would stay in this room until this was all over with. She had decided. It was the safest option. If she stayed here on this bed, in this room. The werewolves couldn't get to her and everyone would be safer.

Stefan stood in his dusty kitchen. He had taken the opportunity to bring his house to a liveable standard while Valeria was sleeping. She slept peacefully upstairs but he was unable to doze off. Perhaps it was the lack of Serana he had determined. He was running a rag along the surfaces of his kitchen when he heard a knocking at the door. He threw the cloth down and went to answer the door. He opened it to see Lilith standing in the doorway.

"Lilith," began Stefan. "Aren't you supposed to be at Castle Volkihar?"

"My Lord," replied Lilith. "They are coming."

Stefan looked at her.

"The werewolves," said Lilith. "They are coming."