My reminiscing of that moment soon turned to great hunts of old, my dreams as vivid as always. When I woke up, Serana was looking down at me with an amused look. "Your leg kicks like a dog's in your sleep," she explained.

I grunted and sat up, stretching and yawning. My nose caught the smell of raw meat, and my head snapped to the source of the smell. A bowl of venison, fresh, had been set by my side. I cast a glance toward Serana, who nodded, before tearing into it. Before long, only bone was left, and even that I chewed on. Some of there werewolves I had met- mostly the bloody Companions in Whiterun- had been against raw meat. I was not, no matter how much like a dog I looked. I even considered barking, just for the fun of it, but occasionally my pride stopped me from doing stupid things and this was definitely one of them.

I dropped the bone into a bowl and wiped the blood from my mouth. "I take it you found food as well."

"I went hunting," she told me. "I borrowed your bow. I hope you don't mind."

A cursory glance told me it hadn't been damaged badly, so I shrugged. "You fed me. I'm not complaining. The sun is down?"

"Almost." She set the bowl aside. "You really don't seem to aspire toward humanity, do you?"

I rolled my eyes, and tucked my legs under myself. "Humanity? Do you mean the system of customs and codes designed to keep you from doing anything fun or interesting? No thanks. If it wasn't easier to deal with people and do other fun things in this form, I wouldn't bother at all." I glanced up at her. "What about you? You don't seem to be regretting the vampirism."

"Why should I? It's a gift."

I stood, grunting, and grabbed my pack and bow. "Exactly."

We had more time to travel than the night before, and it was well before dawn when reached the coast of Haafingar. A shape jutted out of the water, barely visible through the fog. "That's it," she said. "We used to keep a boat around here to get there and back. Do you see it?"

I leapt off the rock I was perched on and pointed toward a small dock. "Over there. Do you think it'll still work?"

"I guess we'll have to try." She didn't sound too worried. I was, though. Vampires didn't really have to breathe like werewolves did, and I wasn't too great at swimming.

The boat was fine, and we rowed out toward the island. When we docked, I turned around to get a look at the place, and my jaw dropped. "This is your home?"

"This is it," she said, coming to stand next to me. "Home sweet... castle."

"You didn't mention it was this huge." I tore my eyes away from the thing to look at her. Cities were one thing, but this was a castle.

"I didn't want you to think I was one of those..." She shook her head. "I don't know, women who sit in their castles all day? This place isn't really me. I hope you can believe that."

I smiled a little and didn't answer, remembering the hut I had come from.

We walked up the steps and toward the gate at the end of the bridge. We were halfway across when she stopped. I glanced back. "Are you alright?"

Her eyes lightened a bit, but her mouth was still tilted down. "I think so. And thanks for asking. It's just, before we go in, I wanted to thank you for getting this far. But after we get in there, I'm going to go my own way for a while. Once we're inside, just stay quiet for a bit. Let me take the lead."

I faked a pout. "Can't I at least destroy someone's shoes?"

She laughed and shook her head, walking past me. A watchman let out a shout as she got closed, "Lady Serana is back! Open the gate!"

The scent of firewood and blood hit my nose like a mattress from Markarth. I was so lost in the smell that I didn't notice the vampire walk up to us, obviously angry. "How dare you trespass here?" He stopped, and my eyes focused on him in case he decided to attack, but his face was full of wonder instead of anger. "Wait, Serana? Is is truly you? I cannot believe my eyes." He smiled, something that didn't reach his eyes, and turned toward the balcony overlooking a feast. "My lord! Everyone! Serana has returned!"

I mimicked the vampire's astonishment, and she snickered. "I guess I'm expected." I followed her as she descended the steps, hanging back respectfully, but close enough to jump in if I needed to.

"My long-lost daughter has returned at last!" cried the vampire at the head of the feast. He stepped from the dais to greet us, arms spread wide. "I trust you have my Elder Scroll."

"After all these years and that's the first thing you ask me?" The sarcasm in Serana's voice was definitely present, but so was something else.

Hurt. I bristled.

"Yes, I have the scroll," she continued.

"Of course I'm delighted to see you, my daughter," he assured her. "Must I really say the words aloud?" His voice reminded me of something I had found in a Dwemer ruin, deep in the bowels.

"If only your traitor mother were here," he said, voice turning vicious. "I would let her watch this reunion before I put her head on a spike." He glanced at me as I away from the steps and toward Serana. "Now tell me, who is this stranger you have brought into our hall?"

"This is my savior," she told him. "The one who freed me."

His reddish-gold eyes met mine. "For my daughter's safe return, you have my gratitude. Tell me, what is your name, werewolf?"

"Elayn," I said, voice remaining strong despite my unease that he knew. "Who are you?"

"I am Harkon, lord of this court." I could tell he enjoyed saying this, enjoyed showing off his power. "By now, my daughter will have told you what we are."

"You're a reclusive cannibal cult," I responded dryly.

He smiled, a sharp and not at all friendly gesture. "Not quite, though that's amusing coming from one such as you. No, we are vampires, among the oldest and most powerful in Skyrim." He swept his hands in an all-encompassing gesture. "For centuries we lived here, far from the cares of the world. All that ended when my wife betrayed me and stole away that which I valued most." His eyes cut to the Elder Scroll, and I knew that was what he meant.

"Glad to be of service," I said woodenly. "What happens now?"

"There is only one gift I can bestow upon you that is equal in value to the Elder Scroll and my daughter. I offer you my blood. Take it, and you will walk as a lion among sheep. Men will tremble at your approach, and you will never fear death again."

I raised an eyebrow, somewhat intrigued. "I'm a werewolf. Won't that affect your.. gift?"

His lip curled. "Yes, I can smell it on you. The power of my blood will purge the filth of the beast-blood from your veins and make you whole again."

I resisted the urge to growl at the insinuation that I was anything less than this leech. "And if I want to stay this way?"

"Then I will banish you from this castle." His smile remained, but his eyes were cruel. "I will spare your life this once, but after that, you are prey." He saw my indecision, and his eyes flashed red. "You still need convincing? Behold the power!"

He hunched, and his skin split from his body to drop from his flesh. When he straightened, the blood flew from his body to splatter the hall and myself. His- it's- skin was tinged with blue, its eyes were black, and it floated above the ground though its wings never once flapped.

"This is the power I offer," it thundered, voice eerily reminiscent of the first time I had heard Molag Bal speak. "Make your choice."

I lifted my chin, eyes narrowed. "I don't want to become a vampire."

It growled low in his throat. "So be it. You are prey, like all mortals. I banish you!"

I turned my back on the demon and its cohorts- and Serana. Numerous gazes made the hair on the back of my neck stand as I walked out of the castle. I didn't like Harkon. No one made me feel like prey and got away with it, not even a demon.