Chapter 12

Dusk

"I've seen him before.", Ireena whispered as she stared at picture of Seguei. "In dreams."

"Father used to tell us stories about Sergei all the time, Ireena.", Ismark said, a little patronizingly.

"No, it's not like that.", Ireena replied. "I feel like I know him. Like I've met him before."

Ismark was silent. As he considered her words he wondered about her past, and how little he knew of it.

Rebecca stood at the gate, looking into the darkness beyond. She kept her rifle and her wand pointed towards the catacombs, but her faith in her weapons had been dealt a serious blow. No longer could she count on her high-powered rifle to solve their problems, and the wand was something that she hadn't grown to trust yet. She felt that Ryan would be able to use it better, he knew all the symbols, but she wasn't about to give it up.

Ryan rubbed his throat and swallowed. He could still feel the zombie's chain wrapped around his neck. He couldn't help but feel that he was lucky to be alive. Anthony leaned into the tomb and examined the lute. The neck had been snapped neatly in half and placed back on the corpse. The wood was splintered and a few of the strings were broken. A strong pair of hands, jealous hands, had done the deed. It would never be played again. Anthony began to get an idea of another use for the lute.

Kevin watched Ireena as she stared at the image of the long-dead prince. He noted her interest in the mural and wondered if the reason Strahd wanted her wasn't just a delusion. Maybe she was Tatyana after all, reincarnated. It didn't seem too far fetched given all the other strange things that had gone on in the strange world he found himself in.

"Perhaps we should be moving on?", Kevin asked Ireena.

Ireena pulled her eyes away from the mural. She nodded quietly as her fear returned.

"Did that tool box contain any duck tape?", Rebecca called back to the others.

"Duck tape?", Richard mocked, making some quacking noises. Rebecca sneered at him.

Kevin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why would we need tape?"

"I need some.", Rebecca answered. "I got an idea."

Anthony already had the tool box open. He widened his search to include duct tape. After some rummaging he found the tape, a chisel, and some sandpaper. He stood up and underarm tossed the tape over to Rebecca.

"Catch!", he called out to her.

Rebecca had her rifle in one hand and her wand in the other, so she let it hit the floor.

"Thanks.", Rebecca said sarcastically. "Could someone watch the door for me?"

Travis grinned. "No problem.", he said standing guard next to her and watching her to see what she was up to.

Rebecca began taping the wand to her rifle, making sure that it lined up with the barrel and that she could easily touch the symbols while looking through the scope. Travis grinned broadly.

"Ripley.", The linebacker said, laughing. "Going after momma alien?"

"Well how else am I supposed to aim this thing?", Rebecca replied, a little annoyed.

"You need a flamethrower too.", Travis added mirthfully.

"Well one of these symbols is fire.", Rebecca said, sighting down the rifle.

Travis was laughing too hard to say anything more.

Ryan opened up the map again and looked over it. Kevin looked over his shoulder. "Any ideas which of these crypts might hold the sword?"

"This one maybe.", Ryan mused, pointing to the central one. "The king's tomb."

"I bet it's in here.", Richard said.

"What makes you say that?", Ryan replied.

Richard shrugged.

"Okay, maybe we should search the tomb a little better.", Ryan conceded.

Kevin started moving around the room, feeling for loose stones or hidden switches in any ornamentation. Ryan, Travis, Anthony, and Ismark joined in the search. After about fifteen minutes it began to seem very pointless.

Ismark looked into the coffin. He tapped his finger on Sergei's armor. "What fine craftsmanship.", he said, admiringly.

Kevin sighed and turned away from the wall he was searching. He caught a desirous look in Ismark's expression and knew what it meant. But Ismark didn't try removing the armor from the corpse. Kevin was relieved. It didn't matter what gods they worshipped in this land, Kevin figured that they would consider grave robbing to be a sin.

"So is it here?", Rebecca asked as she continued to stand guard.

"There don't seem to be any hidden compartments anywhere.", Kevin said with a frown.

Then the gate to Sergei's tomb suddenly slammed shut and locked. A voice spoke from the darkness of the catacombs.

"Did you really think that it would be that easy?", the voice said.

Then a figure, tall, dark, and handsome, emerged from the shadows beyond the gate. "That I would let you walk into my castle and allow you kill me?", he added.

"Stay right there, mother-fucker!", Rebecca hissed as she leveled her rifle and wand at the figure.

Kevin immediately placed himself between Ireena and the newcomer. Anthony backed away from the gate, feeling around for the lute that he had set aside when he was searching the tomb. Ismark bristled and drew his sword. Ryan's heart jumped up into his throat. Travis held up his shield and readied his shotgun.

"Strahd.", Ireena gasped, remembering his familiar voice.

Thirty feet beyond the gate and barely visible in the light of the torches, stood the vampire ruler of the Castle Ravenloft.

Rebecca had the vampire in her crosshairs. She tried not to shiver but she was finding it hard not to. Kevin felt an intense and unreasoning hatred for the man, if he could be called that, who stood before him. His knuckles turned white from the strength of his grip on the holy amulet, which had begun to glow. Kevin could feel the energy building within it.

"I came here to end this one way or another!", Ismark shouted at Strahd, tightly gripping his sword. "And I will. We will."

"You are sport.", Strahd said coldly. "And you will all be dead before the dawn. All except for my lovely bride."

Kevin matched Strahd's gaze and through clenched teeth said, "You will never touch her again."

Ismark moved in front of Ireena, getting in front of Kevin as well, holding his sword menacingly. Behind her two protectors Ireena watched as the thing that had bit her continued to speak.

"She must learn that there is no escape from my power. A hard lesson indeed.", Strahd said as he seemed to give just a hint of a sigh. "Regrettable, yes. But I shall make it all up to her in the many lifetimes that we will spend together."

Ireena shivered at the thought, and tried hard to fight her fears.

Richard felt like he was dreaming. "This can't be real.", he thought to himself.

Rebecca moved the crosshairs up between Strahd's eyes, then back down to his heart.

"Is there a wood symbol?", Rebecca whispered to Ryan. "Or silver. There was silver right?"

"Third from the end is silver if I remember.", Ryan whispered back. He described the symbol and Rebecca found it, placing her finger next to it.

"Tatyana. My love.", Strahd said, his eyes softening as he gazed upon Ireena. "Come with me. Join me. This lifeless castle has become like a prison. I am trapped within its lonely walls."

Ireena found her courage. She nervously stepped out from behind Kevin and Ismark, drawing her bow, and aiming an arrow at Strahd. Kevin smiled inwardly at Ireena's action, thinking to himself, "That's my girl."

"Stay away from me and my family.", Ireena said, trying to steel her quivering voice.

"Um, yeah!", Richard added quietly. Even though he was strong, he was still afraid, and he'd never learned to fight.

Anthony eyed Strahd nervously, trying to look scared, which wasn't hard for him. He picked up the lute and made his way to a corner of the tomb where Strahd couldn't see him.

"Perhaps you see me as a monster. Perhaps that is what I am. But I have a heart, and it is empty inside.", Strahd said. His words sounded a little corny, but his Transylvanian accent sold them. "Indeed I have often wondered if I still had a heart. But when I first saw you I knew that I could still love. That night, by the river, when we touched, when we kissed, I was reborn."

Ireena's resolve softened at Strahd's remarks, but she still had the arrow pointed at him.

Rebecca turned back to look at Ireena. "Shoot him.", she urged. "Shoot him through the heart."

Anthony crouched in the shadows and stepped on the body of the lute, then he straightened up, snapping the remaining strings from the lute and fully freeing the neck from the body. Then he used a shorthand chop with his machete to cut across the lute neck at a sharp angle. His blow was true and soon he was holding a wooden stake.

"Ireena, I love you, and I cannot leave you.", Strahd finished. "And when you have come to know me, you shall feel the same way."

"He's lying!", Rebecca hissed. "Shoot, Irene! Shoot!"

Ireena's fingers trembled as she took aim. A thousand emotions were going through her mind: fear, sympathy, anger, concern for her friends, and yes, love. She wondered if Strahd would let her friends go if she gave in to him. She wondered if attacking him would make him so angry that he would kill her too.

In an instant Ireena made her decision and the arrow flew towards the vampire. Strahd didn't move, letting the arrow strike him in the shoulder, burying deep into his dead flesh. Solemnly he sighed and a frown fell across his face. He reached up and grabbed the arrow, ripping it out of his chest without showing a hint of pain.

Anthony stood again, and tried to think of a way to get close enough to Strahd without being noticed. But the gate was closed and locked. There was no way that he could sneak through, even with his magical key. Rebecca was ready with the wand, but Strahd did not attack. Instead he took one last look into Ireena's eyes, turned, and disappeared into the darkness of the catacombs.

Anthony moved to the gate, clumsily holding his machete and 'stake' in one hand while digging the key out of his pocket. He unlocked the gate and looked around, but there was no sign of the vampire.

Ireena's head drooped as she tried to catch her breath.

Kevin turned Ireena towards him. "Are you ok?", he asked softly.

"I felt that he was going to kill us.", Ireena said hoarsely.

"He had the chance and he didn't and that was his mistake. We'll make sure he pays for that mistake." Kevin said, smiling a little. "You did good."

Ismark pushed Kevin away and took Ireena by both arms. "I'm proud of you Ireena.", he said to her with a big smile. "The next shot, you won't miss!"

Ireena smiled a little at her brother, but she looked very unsure of herself. She didn't know if she could bring herself to kill Strahd. She felt that at the last moment she missed on purpose. It was something that she couldn't explain.

Kevin scowled at Ismark's intrusion but his priestly training asserted itself and he pushed the feelings of jealousy down for the moment.

"That wasn't like what I was expecting. That was weird.", Rebecca said, finally relaxing a little. "It was like he needed Prozac or something."

"We need to get our act together if he can just pop up from out of nowhere.", Anthony muttered. He got to work on the lute and made another stake, using the duct tape to make it easier to hold without getting a splinter.

"Okay so why didn't he kill us?", Ryan wondered out loud. "The icon kept him away? Or maybe he can't come in here."

Ismark turned to Ryan. "The icon can stop him, but it must be presented strongly, and with faith.", he said, glancing at Kevin briefly. "Perhaps he cannot touch it.", Ismark added. "For he sent his minions to take it from us."

Kevin suppressed a flinch at Ismark's comment to Ryan. He walked over to the body of the dead prince and idly whispered, "Now where would he have hidden that sword of yours."

"I say we check the king's crypt.", Ryan said. "And quickly."

"And look for hidden compartments.", Richard added.

"What if its not there?", Travis asked. "Are we going to search every tomb?"

"We might have to.", Ismark replied. "That sword scares Strahd. If we want to survive this, we need it."

"Yeah, but let's start with the king's tomb.", Ryan said again.

"I agree with Ryan, let's move.", Kevin added. The others nodded.

Kevin held his torch high and stepped through the gate. The group stepped through the gate in the same order as before. Kevin was in front, followed by Anthony, Travis, Ismark, Ireena, Ryan, Richard, and Rebecca in back. The oppressive darkness of the tomb surrounded the group, suffocating them with fear. The bats were calm once again, but every shadow seemed to jump out, making everyone jittery. They crossed the trails that they and the zombie had made until they reached the aisle in the middle of the catacombs. Then they turned left and headed towards the central tomb.

Anthony moved over to Richard, holding out one of his stakes. "Want one?", he asked.

"I wonder if they really work?", Richard replied, taking it.

"Dunno, but if you're close enough to use one, it probably makes little difference if they don't.", Anthony said sheepishly.

"Yeah.", Richard said, giving Anthony a curious look.

Rebecca snickered, happy that she didn't have to get close to Strahd to use her weapons.

At the end of the aisle wide steps descended to a landing flanked by two alcoves. Within each alcove, standing fully three times as tall as a man, was a bronze statue of a warrior holding a spear. A soft blue curtain of light flowed between the two alcoves. Dimly visible on the other side of the light were more descending stairs. The group walked down the first flight of stairs and stood before the curtain, unsure of what to make of it.

Kevin marveled at the light. He looked back at the others for a moment before stepping hesitantly forward. He approached the curtain and extended a hand to touch it, not knowing what to expect. Nothing happened, and he moved his hand though the curtain silently. He pulled his hand back and looked at it closely, but nothing was different about it. Kevin took a deep breath and stepped through the light as the others watched nervously. Just like that he was on the other side.

"Come on." Kevin said as he started to make his way further down the stairs.

Anthony shrugged. "Rather him than me", he muttered and followed. But as he stepped into the curtain he bumped into it as if it were a stone wall.

Travis stopped before he ran into Anthony. "Uh, Kevin?", he called out.

Kevin stopped and looked back up the stairs. "What are you all waiting for?", he asked.

Travis knocked his hand on the curtain, making no sound, and shrugged his shoulders at Kevin. "We can't get through.", the big man said.

Anthony tried pushing a stake through the curtain. The stake went through, but his hand could not.

Kevin came back up to the sheet of blue light. "That is strange.", he said as he watched Anthony.

Kevin reached through the light again and was relieved to see his hand go through easily once more.

"Kevin's got godly protections.", Richard said sarcastically. "We don't."

"It must be the icon that is letting him through.", Ismark concluded.

Anthony thought of saying, "Kevin, it only lets virgins through!", but decided against it. He wondered if Rebecca would say it instead.

"So what do we do? Do I just go down there alone?", Kevin asked.

"That must be where the sword is.", Ismark said boldly. "Do you see it?"

Kevin looked back down the stairs toward to tomb.

"The Quest of Sir Galahad, the Pure.", Richard joked.

Rebecca aimed her rifle down the stairs over Kevin's shoulder. "I've got you covered.", she said.

Kevin didn't feel all that comforted by her words. Impulsively Ireena stepped up to the curtain and reached out with her hand. She smiled as her hand went through the curtain and she stepped through. Ismark tried to follow but could not. He scowled as he saw Ireena with Kevin. Kevin smiled as Ireena joined him on the other side of the barrier.

"Naughty, naughty Zoot!", Richard continued, off in his own little world.

Kevin looked quizzically at Richard through the bluish glow.

"You still haven't seen Monty Python's Holy Grail?", Richard called out. "Still think it's blasphemy?"

Kevin laughed and shook his head. He extended his hand to Ireena. "Shall we?", he asked.

Ireena nodded and took his arm. They walked down the stairs together.

"It's too perilous Kevin!", Ryan called out. "Great peril."

Kevin didn't get the reference. "Have a little faith, Ryan!", he called back.

Kevin and Ireena arrived at the bottom of the stairs. The central tomb rested before them in hushed silence. Windows, stained black from the ages gone by, filtered dim moonlight into the room. A closed coffin stood on each side of the chamber. Over the coffin to the right of the stairs was a mural of a great warrior king astride a horse. His army was spread out in the valley below him. Over the coffin to the left of the stairs was a beautiful woman standing upon a balcony. Three young boys stood at her side. In the castle courtyard below the woman, a jousting contest was being held. Ireena once again stared at the pictures of the three boys. One looked like Strahd, another like Sergei.

Kevin looked at the image with her and whispered, "They must have been happy once."

"We were.", Ireena said absently. Then she corrected herself. "They were."

Kevin tilted his head slightly and peered at Ireena. "We should look for the sword.", he said.

Ireena nodded. Kevin moved to the king's coffin and ran his hand over the surface. Atop the coffin was a golden candelabra adorned with unlit candles. Where the center candle would have been there was a blue gem. Kevin remembered seeing a similar candelabra upon the altar in the chapel.

"Any bright ideas on what we should do?", Anthony asked the others.

"Try not to get killed.", Rebecca said, wishing that she was on the other side of the curtain. But it had resisted her as well.

Kevin held his torch near the candelabra, lighting the candles. Then he examined the gem and picked it up cautiously. At the top of the second flight of stairs, the blue curtain disappeared. Kevin replaced the gem to see if the lit candles had any effect on it. The curtain appeared once again.

"What's going on down there?", Travis asked. "The curtain just went down and up."

"There's a blue gem down here. It must be generating the wall.", Kevin called back up the stairs.

"Cool.", Ryan replied.

Rebecca watched the wall as did everyone else, then she turned around. "Where's Richard?", she asked, beginning to panic.

Everyone looked around, but Richard was nowhere to be seen.


Richard found himself in the catacombs once more, only this time staring into the eyes of a beautiful young maiden who was smiling warmly and invitingly back at him. Her hair was long and brown, complimenting her fair complexion, as did her dark red lips. She wore a formal white evening gown with gloves and shoes to match. They were immaculately clean, unlike the dust which seemed to cover everything in the castle.

"Um, hi.", Richard said awkwardly.

"Hi. I'm Chavese.", the maiden said shyly. "What's your name."

"Rich, erm, Rick.", Richard said nervously.

This kind of thing never happened to Richard, except when someone was trying to play a joke on him. But Chavese's inviting eyes began to put him at ease. He also started to wonder how he got from being with his friends at the blue curtain to somewhere in the catacombs. But when she spoke again he could concentrate only on her.

"Are you from around here?", Chavese asked.

"No, I'm from umm, a place called Kansas.", Richard replied. He tried to look her in the eye but was too intimidated to do it for very long. Beautiful women always had that effect on him.

"It's kind of dull, really.", Richard added, disappointed that he didn't come from somewhere like California.

Chavese frowned shyly. "That's too bad.", she said sympathetically.

Richard looked into her eyes again and found them warm and inviting. He found himself more and more able to look into them as he talked.

"I like what you wear in Cansis.", Chavese said with a thick accent, looking at his strange clothes.

"Lots of pockets.", Richard replied.

Chavese giggled a little and nodded. "Is this your first visit here?", she asked.

"Yes.", Richard said. Then something occurred to him. "How did you get here?", he asked.

"I live here.", Chavese answered. "I should show you around."

Richard began to agree and then stopped himself. He didn't trust women, and for good reason. He'd had too many bad experiences in school that involved pretty women. But it seemed to be different with Chavese. He found himself overcoming his fears.

"You should meet my friends.", Richard said, finally remembering them.

Chavese smiled and nodded.


"Richard!", Anthony called out. He waited for about five seconds, then called his name again, a little louder.

After hearing Anthony call Richard's name Kevin looked to Ireena.

"Something's wrong.", Kevin said to Ireena. A moment of indecision struck him. The gem had obviously been put in place to protect the resting place of the king and queen. He wondered if it would it be wise to take it.

"We can't open the tomb without the others.", Ireena said as she saw him looking at the gem.

Kevin grabbed the stone and headed back up the stairs followed by Ireena.

"Richard's gone missing.", Rebecca called down to Kevin. Then she climbed the first flight of stairs, her rifle at the ready.

Anthony followed on Rebecca's heels with the others close behind. At the top of the stairs they saw Richard standing next to one of the tombs facing away from them and talking to a beautiful young woman. As Chavese saw the others come up the stairs, she shrank back behind Richard just a little. Richard remembered a mannerism he read about once and offered his arm to her, hoping that it seemed natural.

"They're alright.", Richard assured Chavese. "Even the redhead."

Chavese hesitated before putting her hand on Richard's arm. Richard's arm felt like it was burning up where she touched him. He hoped she was for real.

Rebecca wasn't buying it. She leveled her rifle at the young woman. "Get your hands off of him.", she demanded.

Chavese drew her hand back quickly.

"Well, okay, the redhead's a little edgy.", Richard corrected himself.

Kevin came up behind the group and pocketed the blue gemstone. He glanced at Ireena, making sure that she hadn't become lost as well. Chavese cowered behind Richard. Rebecca swung around so that she could see her and kept her rifle trained on the young woman.

"Easy, there, Tex.", Richard said to Rebecca in his best John Wayne voice. "You're scarin' the little filly."

Richard moved to block the field of fire, feeling a burst of courage. Travis was disarmed by the scene. Ismark had his hand on his sword. Anthony had his machete and stake in hand, but his hands were at his sides.

"Who...is...that?", Ryan asked slowly.

"Her name's...", Richard began, then looked to Chavese, having completely forgotten her name.

"Chavese.", the woman whispered.

"Chavese!", Richard said, smiling gratefully at her. "Sorry", he whispered.

"Umm, Richard.", Ryan said calmly. "Do you remember all those adventures when we found women inside castles? Only to find out later..."

Ryan didn't finish the thought.

"Yes.", Richard replied defiantly. "And I remember your first one, too."

Kevin noticed that the icon had started to glow a little. He moved slowly to where the young woman could see him and the icon.

"Use your head.", Ryan said, exasperated.

"There's too much at stake to be thinking about sticking it to her, Richard.", Anthony chimed in, hoping that his wit would not be lost on everyone.

"Don't let them hurt me.", Chavese whispered to Richard.

Rebecca had her finger near the silver symbol. Her rifle was trained on the young woman.

"Someone check his neck.", Ryan asked, not wanting to be the one who did.

Richard pulled his shirt collar out of the way to show the others his neck. There were no marks on it.

"Where did she suddenly appear from?", Anthony asked.

Richard scratched his head. He didn't know. His memory was blank right before he met her. "They do kind of have a point.", Richard said, turning to Chavese. "How do we know we can trust you?"

"I won't.", Chavese replied, looking hurt.

"Won't what?", Richard asked.

"I won't hurt you.", Chavese said.

Kevin stepped a little closer. He addressed the girl. "Why are you here?", he asked.

"I live here.", Chavese explained, turning her head away from Kevin.

"...live here.", Kevin repeated.

Chavese nodded without turning her head to face Kevin. The icon was making her uncomfortable.

Kevin looked at the tomb behind Richard and Chavese. The inscription read, "Chavese Ivliskova: Wife". The door was open just enough for a small woman to get in and out.

Richard turned to look. "Figures.", he said disappointedly. "Every time a woman acts friendly to me..."

"I'm not acting Rick.", Chavese said quietly.

"How can we know that, though?", Richard asked her. We've seen some pretty fuh, er, messed up things in the last few days."

Chavese didn't answer. She gave him a hurt look and turned away.

"How long have you lived here?", Anthony asked.

"I've lived here a long time.", Chavese explained. She looked sad.

"You're one of his brides." Kevin whispered with a mix of pity and fear.

Chavese nodded sadly at Kevin's words. "Forgotten.", she added.

"Are you a, um, there's no gentle way to ask.", Richard said, nervously. "A vampire?"

"Don't be angry.", Chavese said to Richard. She put her hand gently back on his arm. Once again Richard felt a warm feeling beneath her hand.

"I was young. I was in love.", Chavese explained. "Strahd was, well, he was everything a girl could want. How could I say no?"

Ireena looked away from Chavese, knowing exactly how she felt. Richard looked at Chavese's neck. On its smooth pale surface he saw two small punctures. Then he looked into her sad eyes. Kevin's expression softened as Chavese spoke. A thought floated through his mind: "This could be Irene". And if some day Irene were to become like her, Kevin wondered if he would he have the strength of will to end her life.

"So...", Rebecca said, not knowing how to say what she was thinking. She wondered how to broach the subject of killing someone.

"What is it that you want?", Kevin interrupted.

"To be happy again.", Chavese said, still not looking at Kevin. She tugged at Richard's arm.

"To make us all into vampires.", Ismark said loudly.

"No. No.", Chavese pleaded.

Kevin shot a glare at Ismark. "And how do you mean to go about that?", Kevin asked her.

"I can't go with you.", Richard said. He didn't want to become a vampire. He knew that he couldn't deal with it. The sight of blood made him queasy.

Chavese turned back to Richard. "I wouldn't do that to you.", she said in all honesty. "Not unless you wanted me to."

Richard thought that her promise sounded a lot like the one Laurie McGovern had made when they were in the eighth grade. Then he wondered if the others had ever heard about what had happened after he had fallen for it.

"She's lying.", Rebecca said coldly.

"No. I'm not.", Chavese pleaded.

Richard kept thinking about it. Rebecca must not have heard about Laurie or she never would have let him hear the end of it now. Then he wondered if Rebecca did know, and had some tact after all, but it didn't take him long to reject that idea. Then he wondered if Laurie was still the Genital Herpes girl. She always wanted to be an actress, but the only thing that she could land was a role in a TV commercial.

Chavese looked all around her, then she whispered, "I'll help you."

"How could you help us?", Kevin asked.

Chavese looked all around her again. "I know why you're here.", she said quietly. "I know what you're looking for."

"Where's Richard's sword?", Rebecca asked sternly, cutting to the chase. "The one with the sunlight."

Chavese looked all around once more. "I don't know, but I heard Strahd talking about it once.", she said. "He said that he didn't like it being with Sergei. He said that he was going to hide it as far away from him as possible."

"How far?", Kevin asked.

"In another kingdom?", Ryan added.

"No.", Chavese replied. "In the castle."

Ryan rifled through the maps again, doing calculations in his head for a few minutes.

"The tower.", Ryan finally said. "But we've been there already. That's where we found Becky's wand."

"Wrong answer, babe.", Rebecca said, menacing Chavese with her rifle.

Richard kept himself between the rifle and the girl. "Cut it out.", he said firmly.

"She would lead us into a trap.", Ismark said.

"We haven't seen any of those so far, have we?", Richard said, his voice filled with sarcasm.

Ryan scratched his head. "False bottoms, hidden chambers.", he said. "We didn't really search the tower all that well."

"Are you suggesting that a vampire is telling us the truth?", Ismark said as he stared at Ryan.

Chavese winced at the word 'vampire'.

"Did you miss the bite marks on Ireena?", Richard countered. "Do you think she's a liar, too?"

Ismark scowled. "We'll all have bite marks if she has her way.", he said pointing at Chavese.

"Bite me.", Richard shot back. He wondered where he was getting all his courage from. He figured that it was the strength potion. He figured wrong.

"Maybe we should vote.", Travis piped up, trying to make peace.

Rebecca gave Travis a sideways glare. "Vote?", she said, thinking that there was no alternative but to kill the vampiress.

"All in favor of Ismark shutting up?", Richard said, raising his hand.

"I've been fighting against Strahd for years. I know how he works.", Ismark said indignantly. "You have no idea what tricks he is capable of."

"I've been fighting against Strahd for years.", Richard said mockingly. "Have you been winning?"

"You took us on as allies.", Richard added in a more reasonable tone. "She could be a great help."

"No.", Ismark said, flatly refusing Richard's suggestion.

Ryan turned to Travis. "Voting is a good idea.", he said.

"Better than sitting here yelling at each other.", Travis replied.

Kevin came closer to Chavese, close enough to touch her if he wanted to do so. He knelt down to appear non-threatening. "Sometimes we've just got to have a little faith.", he said soothingly. "A little trust and sometimes that is rewarded."

"Do you trust me?", Chavese said to Kevin with a sad but hopeful look on her face. Kevin nodded. He knew that it was the right thing to do, but wondered if he could truly trust her.

Richard habitually rolled his eyes at Kevin's religiosity. He watched Kevin's holy symbol glow stronger the closer her got to Chavese.

"Hey, hey, listen up.", Travis began. "We're going to vote on this."

"All in favor?", Richard said, raising his hand again.

"In favor of what?", Rebecca asked.

"Of her helping us.", Richard added.

"Fuck that.", Rebecca answered.

"This is not even up for discussion.", Ismark said.

"Okay, two to one so far.", Richard said. "Ryan? Travis? Kevin? Anthony? Ireena?"

"We have to search the castle anyway. So why not start at the top?", Ryan said.

"Vote first, explore next.", Richard said.

Ryan didn't want to vote. He didn't want to be the tie breaker either. He hoped that it didn't come down to him.

"I'm with you Richard.", Kevin said, choosing faith over fear.

"Two to two.", Richard said happily. "And this isn't Florida, so everyone only gets one vote."

"I'm with Becky on this one.", Travis said, surprising no one. "Vampires...", his voice trailed off and he shook his head.

"Three to Two.", Richard said.

"Three all.", Anthony spoke up. "With serious reservations, though"

Ismark scowled at Anthony.

"In our world a great warrior of another culture wrote 'The Ancient Art of War'.", Anthony said, trying to explain himself. "He advised keeping ones friends close and ones enemies closer."

"Tis a very bad idea with these vampires.", Ismark replied.

"Perhaps, but knowing the location of one of them is better than knowing the location of none.", Anthony explained. "And if she does turn out to be on our side, the she's a potential and powerful ally."

Ismark pondered Anthony's words, but did not accept them.

"Ireena?", Richard said, looking at the young woman. "Ryan?"

Ireena was dreading casting the deciding vote. Kevin could barely stand the suspense.

Ismark looked at Ireena who still hadn't made up her mind. "Surely you won't be voting along with those fools.", he said angrily.

"I can't vote against her, just because she's been bitten.", Ireena explained. "It isn't right."

"Four to three.", Richard said happily.

Chavese gave Richard's hand a squeeze. Ismark gasped and protested.

"She had time to kill me, if she wanted to.", Richard said, squeezing Chavese's hand back and trying to calm everyone. "She still could, as close as she is."

"No. I couldn't. I wouldn't.", Chavese whispered to Richard.

"I abstain.", Ryan said happily, avoiding making a choice that others could fault him for. "To the tower then?"

"Four and a half to three and a half. The ayes have it.", Richard said happily. "Let's go."

Rebecca looked around and slowly lowered her rifle. "I don't believe it.", she said.

Travis just shrugged and fell in line. Kevin smiled, stood up, and went back to Ireena. Ismark was carrying on an animated and one-sided debate with Ireena in quiet hissed tones.

Finally Ismark said, "There is nothing more to say.", and fell silent.

Ireena welcomed Kevin's approach.

"Okay, we voted.", Rebecca said, annoyed that her side lost. "Can we get the fuck out of here?"

Richard offered his arm to Chavese again. Chavese wrapped her arm around Richard's and smiled at him. Kevin mirrored Richard's offer to Ireena and fell in with the rest of the group, satisfied for the moment that he had done the right thing. Ireena took Kevin's arm with a flourish, trying to make Ismark jealous. Rebecca covered the rear and the group walked backwards towards the stairwell.

When they got to the stairwell Chavese walked to middle below the hollow shaft in the center of the staircase and looked as if she was preparing to do something. Then she stopped and looked at Richard.

"Oh, you can't do this.", Chavese said.

"Huh?", Richard scratched his head.

"You can't go up the stairs.", Chavese added.

"Can you turn into a bat?", Richard asked.

Chavese nodded, looking a little embarrassed about being able to do so.

"There's a wall there now.", Chavese explained.

"With a hole in it.", Rebecca replied.

"Is that how you came down here?", Chavese asked.

Richard nodded. "We opened it, trying to get down here.", he said.

"Wow.", Chavese replied, looking up at Richard. "Strahd made that wall himself. You must be powerful magicians."

Rebecca just shook her head.

Kevin led everyone up the stairs, going around and around. On the way up Chavese told Richard the story of the tower that they were climbing.

"Every night the bodies of those slain here rise from their graves and return to the castle.", Chavese explained. "They climb this staircase all the way up to the top and then step off into the hollow middle part. Then they fall all the way to the bottom. They're cursed to relive their deaths every night for all eternity."

Hearing the story, Kevin swallowed hard but said nothing.

"I did not need to hear that.", Travis moaned.

"Pervo, sadist.", Rebecca muttered.

About halfway up the stairs Kevin heard a noise coming from above.

Kevin called for silence and the others stopped. He listened closer. Faintly, but growing louder he could hear the clank, clank, clank of metal footsteps coming down the stairs.