The little boat grazed the rocks of the mainland. Stefan disembarked first. He held out his hand, Serana took it and he helped her out of the boat. She took his arm and they walked past North watch Keep.

"Do you know where we are going?" asked Stefan.

"No-where in particular,"replied Serana. "We just need to find someone for you to bite, as quickly as possible."

She lead him along the coastline. In the distance a large shipwreck could be seen. It was too far away for them to tell if there were people there. They walked slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible. Stefan sniffed the air, his nose pointed towards the chilly night sky.

"I smell blood Serana," he said.

He turned and lead her towards the ship. Sure enough there were several bandits milled around a campfire. Out of the four, three of them were asleep and only one was still awake. He was making his way to the waters edge with his back to his comrades. Stefan let go of Serana's arm and crept carefully towards the sleeping bandits. Serana stayed close behind him. She readied chain lightning on her left hand and Vampiric drain on her right in preparation to fight should they wake up.

Stefan crept to the nearest one. The bandit lay on the side, his back to him. Stefan glanced at Serana. She nodded nervously. Stefan opened his mouth and extended his fangs. 'Blood' said the voice in his head. The word repeated as Stefan sunk his fangs into the bandits neck.

He felt the skin break and warm blood gushed into his mouth. He drank it hungrily, it flowed down his throat like the waters of life. He drank and drank, how much he was unsure. He removed his fangs. He sat up and wiped his mouth. His eyes glowed a deep red and he felt energetic. He felt ALIVE.

"Vampires!" called the bandit to Stefan's right.

The bandit picked up his steel sword. Serana threw chain lightning at him. The bandit lunged at her. He swung his sword. It cleaved the air inches from her face. Stefan rushed forwards. He grabbed the bandit by the neck. He hoisted him up into the air his hands clutching his neck. The bandit choked as Stefan strangled him. His face turned a pale blue colour.

"That's my wife you bastard," hissed Stefan. He threw the bandit from him. The bandit sailed through the air and landed painfully on his back ten feet away. A second bandit approached him. He swung his sword. Stefan dodged. He swung it again. He dodged again. The bandit swung again. Stefan ducked. He pulled out his iron dagger. He slashed it across the bandits stomach. The bandit fell into a pool of blood.

A third bandit ran at him. He lunged at him. Stefan stood aside as the cold steel clanged into a nearby rock.

"I will carve you into pieces," called the bandit.

He lunged at Stefan once again. Serana pushed Stefan aside and fired chain lightning point blank in the bandits face. His head left his body and rolled into the sea as the bandits body slumped to the floor.

Serana looked at Stefan. There was something odd about him. He smiled exposing his fangs. His eyes glowed menacingly and he looked up at the sky. She gasped as wings sprouted from his back. Large grey wings that resembled those of a bat.

His long hair covered his face and he extended his hand to Serana. Serana stood rooted to the spot, her eyes wide with terror.

He fixed his gaze on her for a moment. He then closed his hand, smiled once more and took off. His large wings pounded the cold night as he took off into the darkness.

"Serana," he hissed as he took off. "I will return to Castle Volkihar this night."

Serana watched him. He circled her and flew off in the direction of Solitude. Serana watched him leave before turning around and running as fast as she could back towards Ice-water Jetty. She boarded the boat and it glided across the water back to the island. She jumped out of the boat before it reached the shore. Her boots splashed in the icy water as she slipped across the rocks towards the shore. She sprinted along the stone pathway and up towards the front door. She wrenched it open and entered the castle.

"Mother!" called Serana desperately. "Mother!"

Serana heard her footsteps approaching. Valerica sprinted into the room. She saw her daughter standing at the top of the stairs tears streaming down her pretty face.

"Serana?" asked Valerica. "What's wrong? Where's Stefan?"

"He's...he's...he's gone," sobbed Serana.

"Gone?" asked Valerica. "Gone where?"

"I don't know," replied Serana. "He just flew away towards Solitude."

Valerica froze.

"Flew off?" she asked. "As in 'flew off' with wings?"

Serana nodded.

"Yes," replied Serana wiping her eyes on her cuffs.

"By the blood..," gasped Valerica.

She took a seat at the huge dining table. She then put her head in her hands and made a noise of disbelief.

"Mother," asked Serana. "What's the matter?"

"I would have never imagined," she began. "A mortal like Stefan. No, it's not possible."

Serana stood over her mother.

"What's not possible?"asked Serana. "Mother, you're not making any sense."

Valerica looked at her daughter.

"Stefan has become a Vampire Lord," announced Valerica.