After leaving Solitude, Serana had flown as far as she could in the night. As the sun rose, she changed back to her normal self and rested in the shade of a shipwreck.

After resting, she walked along the shoreline, ignoring horkers and mudcrabs. She walked along for a couple hours, before reaching the old boat the led to the castle. She rowed the boat an hour more, making it to the shore of the island.

After getting out of the boat, Serana looked at the castle. It rose high above her, shadowing her with dread.

She took a deep breath, and walked across the bridge. She opened the wooden doors and went inside.

Over the past year, Valerica had been working to restore the castle. She also had opened it as a haven for other vampires. She welcomed them on the agreement that they drink only animal blood, as she herself was doing. Blood potions were also okay.

Serana recognised some of the vampires from the last visit she and Akiseta had made. There were a couple new faces. She greeted them and headed out to the garden.

Valerica was tending to her plants. She seemed happy.

"What brings you here, Serana?" She asked, standing up and brushing dirt from her clothes. "And where is Akiseta?" She added, looking at Serana.

"I came alone, mother."

Valerica frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Not exactly. It's... complicated. Can we sit? I need to talk."

"Of course we can."

Valerica led Serana to the little overlook, and beckoned her to sit at the table.

Serana joined her mother, and told her everything that had transpired, the Stormcloak and Imperial troubles, the Thalmor's attempted assassination, Akiseta's crusade with the dragons, and her proposal. Serana then shared her plan.

"Are you sure about this Serana?" Valerica asked. "What you want to do is dangerous. Getting into a pact is one thing, but getting out is another."

"I know, mother. But I need to do this. Aki has done so much, for her friends, for Skyrim, and for me. She deserves this happiness. Marriage is important to all Argonians too."

"I understand, Serana. I will not caution you away. But remember, the price for getting out will be high. I hope you're prepared."

"I am."

In truth, Serana wasn't prepared. She was terrified. The thought of facing Molag Bal again was nearly crippling. And the thought of what she might have to do to get out of the pact was almost enough to make her reconsider.

But she wouldn't. She had to do this, for Akiseta. And herself.

The cathedral was lit only by sunlight leaking through the broken windows. Valerica had no interest in repairing or restoring the cathedral. Cobwebs decorated the corners, and dust coated the walls and floor.

Serana walked towards the alter. A layer of dust had come to cover it, but she could still see the nearly black blood staining the stonework. Harkon's blood.

The sight of Harkon's blood staining the alter didn't bother her anymore. At the moment, it furthered her resolve.

'You ruined everything for me. I won't let you take this away to.'

Serana lifted a knife, and in a quick motion, made a small cut. She placed her hands on the alter, letting blood flow from the cut down into it.

After a moment, the world around her went briefly blurred, and a sickeningly familiar voice spoke in her head.

"A Daughter of Coldharbour summons me this day! Now, who- oh, Serana. How longs it's been. You haven't changed a bit."

His voice slithered through her ears, gripping her mind, flashes of the past following. The pain, the tears, the blood, the screaming...

Serana shut her eyes, and gripped the edge of the alter tightly. Her body was trembling so much it was probably the only thing keeping her standing. Her hearrt froze in her chest, and her breathing was fast and shallow.

But she couldn't scream, or cry. She needed to hold herself high. 'Keep it together.'

"I have a request, Lord Bal." She managed to say.

"Do you now? Haven't I given you enough already?" he asked with a deep laugh.

Serana got brief flashed of his monstrous form in her mind. A cruel smile stretched across his lips, revealing his wretched teeth.

"What can The Lord of Domination deliver upon you, my Daughter?"

"I.. I want out. Out of the pact my parents, Harkon and Valerica. made with you."

"Oh? And, why would you want a thing like that? You've already forsaken me for so long, you and your mother."

"I want to marry Akiseta."

The laughter boomed in her head like thunder, echoing around in her skull and ears. It made her trembling body shake even worse.

"Your final act of foresakement is married? To my unwilling Champion?"

"She's not your champion!" Serana snapped.

Serana knew about the encounter with Him that Akiseta had. The Argonian had refused his attempt to make her champion as best she could.

"She said the same, but she had no choice in the end. I see some of her... attitude has rubbed off on you. I will release you, for the right price."

Serana swallowed dryly, dread welling up inside her. The price to pay would be great. Harkon had to offer the blood of a thousand men to enter the pact. The blood price would be much higher now, and Serana couldn't stomach the thought.

'Blood price...' She thought, looking at Harkon's long dried blood stains.

"I already paid the price. In the blood of my father." She stated.

The silence was instant, and went on for so long that she wondered if they were still even communicating. A low growl in her mind finally broke the silence.

"The blood staining the alter is long dry."

"Blood containing great power, gifted by you. Is your own gift so worthless in your eyes."

A sound akin to thunder boomed in her head, making her fall to her knees. She pressed her head against the alter, trying to breath. Pain shot through her body, and she felt cold liquid around her eyes and ears.

She coughed, her own blood splattering onto the ground and everything spun in her vision. She caught more glimpses of him, unhinged and enraged. It was terrifying.

Things, calmed down. Serana coughed once more, and wiped the blood away from her eyes. She slowly stood up, gripping the alter so hard her knuckles somehow got whiter.

"That was a very dangerous game, Serana. Be grateful I am merciful. I shall release you from this pact. You are no longer bound by my coven or it's laws."

A strange shock came over Serana. She almost couldn't believe it. She was really free?

"Tell Akiseta I said hello, and my best wishes to you both. Enjoy these nex eighty or ninety years, as best you can."

Serana froze completely.

"Yes my Daughter. Akiseta will grow old beside you, and die. While you remain unchanged, and undead. Farewell."

The sickening laughter faded, leaving silence once more.

For a moment, Serana remained motionless as everything sank in. She was a vampire, and Akiseta was mortal. How could she not have thought about it.

In a sudden burst of rage, Serana found herself screaming in her Vampiric Lady form. She gripped the alter tightly, her claws making marks. With a couple harsh tugs, Serana ripped the alter from the floor, and threw it out one of the windows, all remaining glass shattering.

She let out another anguished scream, before crumpling to the ground sobbing.