Serana had spent the next few days in the castle, in a deep depression. She hadn't left her room in all that time. She hadn't had a drink either, and though she could feel her thirst a little, she couldn't bring herself to sate it.
A knock on her door woke her from a light slumber.
"Go away." She said hoarsely. She wanted to be left alone.
"Serana, please let me in." Her mother's voice said from the other side.
Serana sighed. "It's open."
Valerica came inside, carrying a silver tray. A large bottle of animal blood, a steaming cup of tea, and a large book rested on it.
"I'm not hungry, mother." Serana murmured. She was tired, so very tired.
"I know what depression feels like." Valerica said, setting the tray on the nightstand and sitting on the edge of the bed. "I went through this when Harkon first started becoming obsessed with the prophecy."
"But you and him grew to hate each other. This is different. You've never been in my position."
"I know, sweetie. This is hard for you, and you have every right to feel this way. I know how much you love Akiseta. And we all have to have sacrifices for those we love."
"You mean giving up my vampirism." Serana stated.
Valerica nodded. "Yes sweetie."
"I want to, mother. I do. But, after what I was put through to get it... and everything that happened after... I don't know if I can."
Serana finally sat up, and drank from the blood bottle. It sated her growing hunger, easing her stomach pain. She grabbed the tea cup, and gently sipped from it. She could taste juniper berries, nightshade and deathbell. It warmed her cold body, but didn't make her feel better.
"I know, sweetie. I think I know how to cheer you up."
"I doubt that." Serana sighed, sipping more tea.
Valerica picked up the large book. "You'll find this interesting."
"I'm really not in the mood to read."
"Well, I'll read it to then."
"I'm not five, mother."
Valerica ignored her. She smiled, and read the title. "Necromantic Secrets: The Guide to Powerful Spells, Incantations, and Rituals in the History of Necromancy."
Serana became more alert. "That book... there was only one copy ever made. How did you ever find it?"
"It took me quite a few years. I hid it away from Harkon before everything happened. I've been studying from it thoroughly the past year."
"What have you found?"
Many things. But there is a large section on vampires, and one thing in particular was quite interesting. It describes a ritual to be both vampire and mortal at the same time."
Serana's eyes widened in surprise. "Wh..what? Mother, that's impossible!"
"Not according to this book." Valerica said, flipping through the pages to the right section. "The ritual is a bit complicated."
"What does it say?"
"Well, there's a chant here, and there are some things needed. We need need fire salts, frost salts, and void salts, in even portions. Venom from a giant frostbite spider, finely ground bone meal, ectoplasm, pure untouched water, shavings from a sabre cat tooth, a filled grand soul gem ground into a fine dust, your own blood, the heart blood of a mortal the same race and physical gender as the performer of the ritual, and a black soul gem filled with the partial soul of the mortal previously mentioned."
"That does sound a bit complicated. But I'm sure we can pull it off."
Valerica frowned. "Well, we can't, exactly. We can gather the ingredients, but the ritual must be done by someone who can cure vampirism. I don't know of such a person."
Serana though for a moment. "I do! Akiseta once mentioned a man named Falion in Morthal. He knows how to cure vampirism. He can help us."
Valerica nodded. "He is our only chance to do this. Come on. We shall leave immediately."
The trip to Morthal was long, as Serana and Valerica had went about collecting everything they would need for the ritual. They finally made it to the marsh town. Serana was greeted with friendly smiles and waves.
"You're popular." Valerica noticed.
Serana shrugged. "I guess. The story we told of what happened with the vampire attacks was pretty heroic to everyone."
"Mortals have a great love for heroics."
They walked through the town, crossing the bridge to the other, emptier side of town. They stopped in front of Falion's humble house.
"You're sure this man is the one we need?" Valerica asked eying the home skeptically.
Serana nodded. "Yes. He lives here to get away from the rest of Skyrim. I've never met him, but Akiseta has."
"Alright sweetie."
Serana took a deep breath, and knocked three times.
"I'm not in the mood to entertain guests." The annoyed voice on the other side of door said.
"Falion, sir, please. My name is Serana. I need your help."
The door was pulled open, and a Redguard man wearing wizard robes stood in the opening. "You said you're name is Serana?"
"Yes. I'm-"
Falion held up his hand. "No need. I'm familiar with you. You're Akiseta's romantic partner. I never cared for such things, but what makes you two happy. So, what could a great hero such as yourself need from me? And who is this lady beside you?"
"I'm Valerica, her mother."
Falion raised an eyebrow. "Mother? But Serana's family was-"
"Just let us in and we'll explain everything." Serana told him.
Falion shrugged. "Well, Agni is out with the other children for a while. Very well. If it will let me get back to my studies. Come on in."
They all moved into his house, and he invited them to sit at his table. He sat with them, and gave them inquisitive looks. "So, what do you vampires want with me?"
"You're perceptive." Valerica said.
"I've met several of you're kind in my studies of life extension." Falion said. "Are you two looking for a cure?"
"I am, kind of." Serana said. "Let me explain."
Serana and Valerica started from the begining. From everything starting with the prophecy, to Serana and Akiseta's journey through the Soul Cairn and Forgotten Vale, to Akiseta's kidnapping and imprisionment, the assault on castle Volkihar, and Harkons death.
Then, the explained what they wanted to do, and showed Falion the book and appropriate section. Falion read through it, eyes glistened with interest.
"Fascinating. Simply fascinating. I'd heard stories of this book, but never believed it was real. I can't imagine how you got it."
"It's best you don't imagine. You'll sleep better." Valerica said, getting looks from Falion and Serana.
"Falion, we've brought everything we need. Can you do the ritual?" Serana asked.
Falion looked at the book. "Well, I'm familiar with the chant. It's the same chant used to cure vampirism. But this ritual is much more complicated. It can be done, but just so. And, there's no telling that it will work. And, there are a numble of risks."
"I'll take the risks. I want to do this. I need to." Serana said firmly.
"Alright. There's a summoning circle in the marsh. Both of you, meet me there just before dawn."
Serana, Valerica, and Falion were all at the circle. Falion set candles along the ring of the circle. He dripped a drop of Serana's blood on the candles, making the flames flicker. He set the bowls of fire salts, frost salts, and void salt at three separate spots. He used the same element of magic on them, making them glow.
He took all the other ingredients, Serana's blood included, and carefully mixed them into a bottle. He picked up a candle, and dripped some of its wax into the bottle as well. He held the bottle to Serana.
"Here. Drink."
Serana grabbed the bottle. She took a deep breath, then drank it down. She dropped the bottle, coughing and gagging. She doubled over, and Valerica caught her before she fell. She held her stomach, fighting the urge to vomit.
"Ugh! That was vile!"
"What did you expect? Snowberry juice?"Falion asked. He shook his head, and held out the half filled black soul gem. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Serana said, fighting her nausea.
Valerica stepped away, and Serana stood still in the center of the circle. Falion held up the gem, and began chanting.
"I call upon Oblivion realms. The home of those who are not our ancestors. Answer my plea!
As in death there is life, in Oblivion there is a beginning for that which has ended.
I call forth that power! Accept the soul that we offer!
As the sun end the night, end the darkness of this soul, return life to the creature you see before you!"
Serana's body felt a surge of strange sensations, and she began screaming. Her skin tingled and felt like it was tearing apart, and her felt like it was boiling. Her heart was beating fast, erratically. Her lungs tightened, and she couldn't breath. Her teeth felt like they were being ripped out. Her vision blurred, and she felt herself falling as everything faded to black.