Valerica looked at him with a pained expression.
"Serana," said Valerica. "Would you like to explain this?"
"I can't mother," she replied. "I don't know what it is."
Valerica sighed.
"Sanguinare Vampiris," began Valerica. "Is from the ancient language. The translation has been lost over the years but it loosely translates as 'The bloodthirsty vampire'.
"That makes sense," said Stefan. "Vampires are bloodthirsty by nature."
"Quite," said Valerica. "But it's different in your instance."
She was silent as she thought about how to explain the situation.
"Every mortal who is turned suffers from Sanguinare Vampiris," continued Valerica. "The need to feed is strongest in you because you were not born as a Vampire you were turned. As such, you have 72 hours to feed or..."
She was silent and sighed.
"...or what mother?" asked Serana urgently.
"You will die," replied Valerica simply.
There silence between them was so loud you could have heard it from Oblivion.
"Die?" asked Stefan. "But Vampires are immortal, we can't die."
"WE can't die," corrected Valerica pointing to herself and Serana."But you, as a half-blood, can. Unless you feed within 72 hours."
"I gave Stefan a blood potion," said Serana, a touch of hope in her voice. "So he's safe."
Valerica shook her head.
"No Serana," she corrected. "He needs to feed from a human, a human he has chosen and bitten himself."
Stefan nodded.
"To be clear, once I choose my..."he paused trying to find a suitable word. "...victim and I feed. I will be just the same as you."
"Correct," replied Valerica.
Stefan looked out of the window. The sun was streaming in through the grubby glass.
"I would suggest waiting until the dusk has come," advised Valerica. "In your present state, the sun could be fatal to you."
She turned to Serana.
"Serana," she said. "Show him to your room. He can sleep there until tonight."
"Yes mother," said Serana.
"Coming Stefan?" she asked in sultry voice. She looked back at him as she made her way from the room.
"Thank you Valerica," said Stefan gratefully.
She smiled at him. He stood up and followed Serana out of the room.
She took his arm and lead him up the stairs, along the corridor adjacent to the great hall. She lead him up another set of stairs. This set of stairs was spiralled and lead up to what appeared to be a tower. The stairs levelled out to a narrow stone corridor that ended with a single wooden door. Serana lead him along the short corridor and opened the door.
Serana cast the candle light spell as several torches on the wall illuminated throwing the spacious room into a dance of orange fire light.
"I haven't been here in centuries,"said Serana wistfully.
Whatever Stefan was expecting in Serana's bedroom, it wasn't this. It was completely different from he imagined a Vampire girl's bedroom to look like.
Perhaps the obvious difference was the lack of coffin. His stereotype of her kind sleeping in coffins clearly was, in this instance, incorrect. Instead there was a neatly laid bed covered in black silk sheets. The floor was carpeted in a deep red carpet with matching drapes over the bay window. He looked out of the window and was able to see for miles and miles out at sea. His eyes scanned the room. In the far corner he found a wardrobe and an enormous shelf of books.
Serana lead him to her bed and lay him upon it. It was comfortable and soft, the silk providing an airy warmth to his cold body. Serana sat on the bed and stroked his hair softly.
"I'm sorry Stefan," she said. "I didn't realise."
Stefan looked over to her He touched her hand.
"All done with now," he replied gently.
Serana kissed him.
"Rest now Stefan," she said. "You need your strength for tonight."
"Will you be here when I wake up?" he asked as his eyes grew heavy.
"Of course," she said. "I'm not leaving this room without you."
Stefan gave her a weak smile.
"I love you Serana," he whispered as he fell asleep.
Serana kissed his forehead.
"I love you too Stefan," she whispered as she watched him fall into a deep sleep.
Serana remained in her room all day. She locked the door and refused to leave. She even forbid Valerica from entering. She sat on the windowsill of her bedroom. She looked out over the sea. Every so often she would look over to Stefan. Each hour that passed she got up and checked on him. It was rather difficult to check the vital signs of a vampire. The lack of heartbeat hindered her progress but she discovered his shallow breathing was the clue.
He breathed light and shallow almost like a man with lung problems, or a heavy smoker. She felt his cold breath against her skin. The smell, was unlike she hadn't experienced. It wasn't a blood smell, as was customary for Vampires. It was more of a death smell. The kind of smell found from bandages that have been decomposing for several years. The smell made her feel slightly nauseated. She watched him sleeping for a moment before she returned to her seat at the window of her room.
The sky darkened as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. The inky blackness of night shrouded Tamriel as Secunda arose to greet them. Stefan awoke slowly. He looked around to see Serana laying next to him. She was fast asleep. He beamed as he watched his beautiful wife sleeping. He rolled over and watched her sleeping. He kissed her forehead softly and continued to watch her.
Serana felt him kiss her and she awoke slowly. She saw him looking at her and smiled.
"Good evening Stefan," she said happily.
"Good evening my ravishing Vampire," he replied.
She kissed him.
"I'm so glad Vampirism hasn't changed your personality,"she said.
He chuckled.
"The only thing is that I can't die," he said.
Serana's smile suddenly disappeared from her face.
"Come on Stefan,"she said urgently. "We have to go. You need to..."
She didn't want to finish her sentence, it made her feel uncomfortable to say what he had to do.
He didn't need telling twice. If he had to sacrifice a mortal to remain immortal and stay with Serana then that's what he was going to do. He had once said he would kill for her. Now it was time to make good with this promise also. He got up and dusted himself down. From the corner of his eyes he saw Secunda bright in the sky. He felt his fatigue ebbing away. He felt awake.
"Let's go," he said.
Serana took his arm and lead him out of her bedroom, down the spiral stairs and into the great hall. Valerica sat at the table. She looked at them as they entered.
She looked at them both as they turned to leave.
"Good luck," she said.
Stefan turned to leave, Serana was about to follow him.
"Serana," called Valerica.
Serana looked at her.
"You must protect him Serana, it is important," said Valerica sternly. "He is vulnerable now, and he needs you.
"I will mother,"said Serana sincerely.
"You must not be seen," instructed Valerica. "That is crucial."
Serana nodded. Her mother gestured for her to leave. Serana looked away and went to join Stefan who was waiting for her outside.