Chapter 13

Strahd's Champion

Kevin listened closely. It sounded like but a single set of footfalls coming down the stairs. But the footfalls were heavy, heavier than those a normal man would make, and the footfalls were coming closer. Kevin sensed that whomever it was, it was only one full turn of the stairs above him. He motioned for everyone to fall back.

Anthony concurred. He didn't want to fight on a stairway, especially if they were below their foe. Rebecca made room at the back and they descended once again, but Rebecca wasn't going quite fast enough. The footsteps were growing louder.

"Faster!", Kevin whispered harshly.

Rebecca glanced up over her shoulder and then sped up. Kevin kept glancing back and up, ready to turn on whoever or whatever was coming if he couldn't get to the bottom in time. They did, but they only had a few seconds to prepare. Rebecca stood just outside the stairwell with her rifle pointed up the stairs. Travis did likewise beside her. Ismark, Ryan, and Ireena got behind them and stared up the dark stairway. Kevin took up position off to the side near a corner, out of the line of fire. Richard had to think about it for a moment, then remembered a gentlemanly thing would be to put Chavese behind him like in "Star Wars". He pulled out his machete and wished that it was a light saber. Anthony hid around a corner, a stake in one hand and his machete in the other, hoping to surprise whomever it was if the others had to fall back.

Chavese hid behind Richard, looking all around her. "Can you stop it?", she asked.

Two hours ago Rebecca would have confidently said, "Of course.". Now she was silent.

"We'll know when we see it.", Richard answered.

Chavese squeezed Richard's hand and hoped.

In the flickering light of the torches they saw a figure come around the center pillar of the stairs. When it saw them it stopped. Standing before the group was a shining suit of armor, the same suit of armor that they had seen on their way to the dining hall. Saying nothing the armored foe drew its sword, making its intentions very clear.

Rebecca slid her finger down the wand to the gold symbol. Kevin glanced at Ireena and then back to the advancing warrior. He held his position for the moment, hoping that Rebecca and Travis could put an end to the threat quickly with their weapons.

"Chavese! What is that thing?", Kevin asked. But before she could answer the thing attacked.

The castle guardian lunged quickly towards Rebecca and Travis, jumping down the last few steps and striding towards them.

"Violets are blue, Roses are red.", Rebecca said, too pressed for time to think of a good rhyme. "Mess with us and you're better off dead!"

Rebecca pressed the gold symbol on her wand and a brilliant golden light burst forth from the wand. But the castle guardian rapidly moved its shield in the way, deflecting the beam which seared a deep scar into the stones of the stairwell. With its sword raised on high it charged Rebecca who was too startled to fall back, so Travis leapt into the way, shield in front, hoping to stop the charging warrior. Kevin watched helplessly as the castle guardian's sword smashed heavily into Travis' shield, driving the big man backwards into Rebecca. Startled, Ryan, Ismark, and Ireena quickly got out of the way, rushing towards Anthony.

"What if I use my new strength with the machete?", Richard said, making his way towards Anthony.

"The phrase 'can opener' comes to mind.", Kevin suggested as he retreated.

"Weak points are at the joints.", Richard mused.

Chavese tugged on Richard's arm. "Come on.", she urged.

Richard glanced at her. "Where?", he asked.

"There's another way out.", Chavese whispered and tugged at his arm again. But Richard was too strong to be budged.

The castle guardian swung its sword with the strength of three men. It smashed mightily off the surface of Travis' shield, driving him backwards in the process. Travis tried to raise his shotgun but the guardian was moving too fast and all the large man could do was backpedal, blocking blow after bone-crunching blow.

"Chavese says there's another way!", Richard called out.

Rebecca backed away from the furious melee. She slunk away into the darkness between a pair of tombs, waiting to get another clear shot at the thing.

"Guys.", Travis gasped. "I can't hold this guy off for very long."

"A tactical withdrawal seems like a good idea right now.", Kevin called out.

Travis was backing up straight down the central aisle, past Anthony, who waited until the guardian had his back to him. Then, putting his machete and stake on the floor Anthony charged, going in low and hard and diving at the guardian's legs. But to his dismay the guardian's legs felt as firm as tree trunks, and he found himself lying on the floor at the guardian's feet. The guardian turned his attention towards the helpless young man.

Chavese tugged at Richard's arm. This time she pulled harder, but she still couldn't move Richard. "No.", she whispered.

Ismark came to Anthony's rescue, charging headlong past Richard, screaming loudly, and holding his sword high above his head. With all his strength he brought the blade down towards the guardian's helm, hoping to put an end to the menace. But almost effortlessly the guardian cut down the young man's hopes, blocking Ismark's sword with a quick and graceful move. Then, too fast for Ismark to raise his sword and defend himself, the guardian slashed brutally at the young man's chest, opening up a gaping, bleeding wound. Ismark fell to the floor, dropping his blade. Ireena screamed, but she was too afraid to run to her brother's side.

Anthony rolled out of the way as Travis charged the guardian. They clashed again and once more the former linebacker was driven backwards by Strahd's champion. Kevin dropped his torch and rushed toward Ismark, gripping his blessed icon tightly. He hoped that it would be enough to protect him and to help Ismark though a cold splinter of doubt sent a chill down his spine as he went into action.

Rebecca got a bead on the guardian but held off, not wanting to hit one of her friends by accident. Ryan scooped up Kevin's torch and backed away slowly.

"Please, Rick.", Chavese begged. "You can't fight it."

Richard agreed. He felt a strong desire to run back the other way. "Does he have any weaknesses?", He asked.

"I've never seen it beaten.", Chavese replied.

"It?", Richard asked.

"You can't kill it. There's no one inside.", Chavese explained. "The armor. It's possessed, by the greatest warrior that Barovia has ever known."

Richard nervously looked around him. "Rebecca, can you get a shot?", he asked.

"Yeah, maybe...", Rebecca said nervously. "But..." She reached for the platinum symbol, wishing that she knew what it did and hoping for the best.

"Not that it'll do any good against it, other than putting a hole in the armor.", Richard muttered to himself.

"Everybody move in among the crypts and spread out!", Richard started shouting out orders. "Move to its shield side. It'll be at more of a disadvantage! And anyone with a gun. Aim at hinges, elbows, anywhere the armor flexes. Maybe you can jam it if you hit it enough."

Kevin moved towards Ismark, trying not to catch the guardian's attention, but as he reached towards the fallen man the guardian turned on him.

"Kevin!", Travis shouted.

Kevin grabbed Ismark's armor with one hand and tried to drag the young man away from harm. His eyes widened as the attacker charged and he let go of Ismark. Kevin held forth the amulet and prayed out loud, hoping to stop the thing in its tracks.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...", Kevin chanted. It was the first bible verse that came into his mind.

"Umm, get behind me Satan?", Anthony suggested.

Kevin's prayer went for naught as the suit of armor brutally struck at him. But as if moved by the holy spirit itself, Kevin leapt backwards just out of the way of the guardian's blade. And though off balance, Kevin pulled off a perfect roll and ended up squatting next to Richard. He ended up dizzy, but uninjured. Seeing her opportunity, Rebecca pointed her wand at the suit of armor and pressed the platinum button.

"Bush is an asshole and Kerry's a jerk.", Rebecca chanted. "This god-damned thing had better work!"

The darkness of the catacombs was shattered by an almost blinding light. It was as if the sun itself had come out, bathing the surrounding tombs in a warm glow.

"Woah.", Rebecca gasped, reaching instinctively for her sunglasses and then stopping herself.

Richard heard a shriek behind him as Chavese let go of his arm. As he turned to look he saw her running away towards a far corner of the catacombs. But alas, the light did nothing to slow the guardian down, who once again went after Travis. Travis tried desperately to keep the guardian's attention since everyone else was defenseless against it.

"Let's get out of here!", Richard shouted. "There's another way out!"

Kevin clenched his jaw, wanting to try again to save Ismark but fear and self-preservation won out. He felt that there was no way of winning the battle. Rebecca cursed loudly and retreated. Anthony thought about the gate in front of Sergei tomb. He wondered if he could somehow lure the guardian inside and lock the door. Then he shook his head. It was too risky a plan. He looked up to see Chavese slowly prying open the door to a tomb. The others were retreating behind Travis, and closing in fast.

Richard considered the fallen Ismark and wondered if he would be able to circle around, grab him, and return before the guardian had made it to him. He could tell that it would be close. Travis was giving ground rapidly and could barely stay on his feet.

"Shit.", Richard whispered. He decided to go for it. Unnoticed, he ran into the catacombs, circling around and making his way to Ismark.

Kevin helped Chavese pull the tomb door open the rest of the way. Chavese scampered inside, followed by Ryan and Ireena.

Richard stood over Ismark as the battle raged far away. He picked him up easily with one arm and began to carry him towards the rest of the group, but even with his great strength he could not move faster than a walking pace, the load was too awkward. Richard carried him a short distance closer to the others and then checked to see if he was still breathing. He was.

"Someone get your ass back here and take Ismark!", Richard shouted angrily.

"Richard?", Rebecca called out in disbelief, expecting that Richard would have been cowering in the tomb by now. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Jerking off!", Richard shouted back. "I always get turned on by shit like this!"

Chavese ran to the back of the tomb. She found the catch stone and quickly opened the secret door at the back. Beyond the tomb was a long, dark hallway. Chavese scampered down the hallway, needing no light to guide her. Ryan and Ireena watched her disappear, and slowly followed using Ryan's torch to guide them.

"Last chance Richard!", Rebecca shouted as she backed into the tomb.

Richard noticed that Ismark was coming to, but he was in no condition to stand let alone walk. Being carried was making his bleeding worse, so Richard set him down.

"I guess we won't make it together, then.", Richard shouted at Rebecca angrily. "Go!"

Kevin stood at the threshold, torn. The swordsman kept advancing but Richard and Ismark were still out there. Indecision paralyzed him. Anthony reached a decision and rushed out towards Richard to give him a hand with Ismark. Kevin watched helplessly, feeling pangs of guilt. He tried to build up the courage to follow but by the time he did he had waited too long. The guardian had backed Travis up into the nook in front of the tomb, cutting Anthony and Richard off.


It didn't take long for Anthony to find Richard and Ismark, they were close to the way out, but not close enough.

"Get him out of here.", Richard said to Anthony, relieved to see that someone had come back for him. "I'm going to try to help Travis."

Anthony took Ismark in his arms. Straining hard he managed to lift Ismark off the ground. The man winced in pain.

"Stop, stop, stop.", Ismark hissed.

"There's some chance we can save you.", Anthony replied. "We're not leaving you."


Kevin saw the shotgun hanging from Travis' arm. He reached out to take it, but the guardian slammed his sword into the big man's shield once more, sending both Kevin and Travis backwards into the tomb.


"Leave me. I've fought my last fight.", Ismark gasped. "Just promise me that Strahd will be destroyed before the dawn."

"We'll keep doing what we can.", Anthony said, refusing to leave Ismark. "Right now that's trying to get you out of here."

"Leave me you fool.", Ismark gasped.

Ismark gritted his teeth as Anthony carried him. He was in tremendous pain. Anthony wished that the pain was bearable, remembering the magic in Kevin's amulet and hoping that if he could just get Ismark to it that everything could be made well again.

Richard snuck up behind the suit of armor who was pulling the tomb door open wider to get at Kevin and Travis. Bravely and defiantly Richard strode up behind the castle guardian and chopped at it hard with his machete. Richard felt the metal of the suit give way and his blade opened up a gash in the armor, but no blood came out. Chavese was right, there was no one inside. The guardian spun rapidly around and slashed at Richard. Richard brought his machete up as fast as he could but seconds later his weapon was in pieces. His hand stung from the blow.

"Travis! Run while you can!", Richard called out, trying to think of a good move to put on the guardian.

Travis stumbled towards Kevin who got out of his way. Once through the secret door the big man leaned up against the wall, exhausted.

"I tried to hold him off.", Travis said, gasping for air. "As long as I could."

Kevin patted Travis on the shoulder. "You saved us, Travis.", he assured him. "You saved us."

Travis nodded weakly. He regretted not keeping himself in football shape. He felt that if he had, that maybe they would all be safe by now.

Richard charged hard into the guardian before it could land another blow with its sword. But the thing got his shield in between and the collision sent both of them backwards. Anthony carried Ismark around a tomb and nearly bumped into Richard. He set Ismark down and backed away from the fight.

Remembering a show he once watched on the History Channel, Richard circled around to the guardian's shield side. But Richard was still a novice, and the guardian was well prepared for the tactic. As Richard dodged, the guardian thrust his blade at him and Richard couldn't circle quite fast enough. Kevin watched his friend collapse to the ground outside the tomb clutching his stomach. The guardian then turned towards the fallen Ismark and stepped away from the tomb door. Kevin grabbed Travis' shotgun and took aim at the guardian's back.

"No.", Travis said between breaths. "Bats."

Kevin reluctantly nodded. As soon as the suit of armor passed out of sight, he rushed to Richard's side. Richard was hurt bad, but his wound wasn't going to be fatal if the bleeding could be stopped. Kevin helped his wounded friend limp back into the tomb where he sat down up against the wall. Then Kevin passed the gun back to Travis and took hold of the icon around his neck. He placed his other hand on Richard's wound, praying that the trinket would work once more. Kevin's faith flowed through the icon and light burst forth from it, engulfing Richard's wound with a soothing light. Richard felt the pain lessen, but the icon's healing power was waning and the wound didn't completely mend. Richard felt like he could stand, but not much else.

As he lay there and staring up at Kevin, Richard wondered if he had been to quick to discount the whole religion thing. Kevin tried to give Richard a reassuring smile but failed miserably. Anthony was still out there.

"Don't forget me motherfucker!", Anthony shouted, hoping that he could lure the guardian towards him and away from Ismark.

The young man took several loud footsteps towards Sergei's crypt. Anthony stopped and listened and heard the sound of Ismark protesting, and then the sound of a man being dragged along the floor towards him. He looked up and found himself staring straight at the suit of armor which was striding towards him dragging Ismark behind it.

Anthony quickly turned and ran towards Sergei's tomb, remembering the plan that he had dismissed before. The guardian dropped Ismark, drew its sword again, and pursued. Anthony ran as fast as he could, but to his dismay, he realized that the guardian was faster than he was. Anthony reached the tomb a few steps ahead of the guardian, where he jumped down the stairs and ducked around the corner. He stopped next to the wall, hoping that the guardian would go flying past him. When he heard the guardian clattering down the stairs he prepared to make his move.

The guardian leapt down the remaining stairs, quickly spinning around to find its prey. But Anthony was too quick and the guardian turned around to find Anthony charging back up the stairs. The guardian slashed at the young man, missing his running shoes by inches. Once at the top of the stairs Anthony grabbed at the gate and used it to stop himself, swinging it shut in the process. Then he groped around his pocket for the key. But the young man couldn't find the key fast enough, and he saw that if he stayed there any longer that the guardian would be able to run him through, locked gate or not. He turned and ran toward Richard and the others.

Kevin saw Anthony running towards him with the guardian not far behind. Travis staggered to his feet and got his shield ready once more.

"Incoming!", Anthony shouted as he ran past Kevin through the secret door.

Travis moved in and tried to block the entrance as Kevin slid the catch stone back into place. With a crash the guardian and the linebacker collided again, but Travis had been able to keep the guardian from getting all the way through the doorway. The secret door slid shut as Travis stumbled backwards, pinning the suit of armor in between the door and the wall, but the guardian was not crushed, and it struggled to free itself.

Kevin reached over and grabbed Travis' shotgun. He took aim and fired at the trapped metal man. The shot ripped a hole in an armored sleeve but once again no blood came out. Flailing and straining the guardian struggled in the door and Kevin could see that slowly but surely, it was squeezing through to his side. The priest-to-be reloaded.

Anthony bent over panting, then helped Richard down the hallway as Rebecca charged forward with her rifle. Rebecca and Kevin both fired, but the guardian slid its shield through the crack and blocked both shots. Rebecca cursed and reloaded. Time was running out. Kevin and Rebecca each fired one last time. The shotgun blast deflected off the guardian's shield but moved it just enough out of the way to allow Rebecca to put a bullet through its helmet. The guardian's head rocked back. Then, as if angered, it grabbed the door and forced itself the rest of the way through.

"Get back.", Travis groaned, and stood in the thing's way once more.

Rebecca shook her head. "Things are supposed to die when you shoot them in the fucking head!", she shouted as she retreated down the hallway. She could see a torch off in the distance, about fifty feet down the hallway where Ryan, Ireena, Anthony, Richard, and Chavese stood, waiting for them. As the one sided battle raged behind her she saw that Chavese was standing in the hallway about ten feet ahead of the others, motioning for her to stop. She did.

"You see the stones with the diamond shaped patterns?", Chavese asked, pointing at the floor. "Those are the safe stones. If you step on any of the others you will set off the trap."

Then the maiden stepped lithely across the stones, careful to step on the ones with the diamonds on them. She stopped a little further down the hallway and turned around.

"Now you do the same.", Chavese said.

Rebecca nodded, looked down, and stepped lively, reaching the other side quickly.

Kevin followed after Rebecca, and soon everyone but Travis was on the other side of the trap.

"That thing is like some medieval terminator robot.", Kevin gasped.

"Travis!", Rebecca shouted. "When you get here you have to step on the stones with the diamond shaped pattern!"

Anthony wondered if Rebecca had given away the secret to their foe.

"Umm.", Travis gasped under the many blows he was fighting off. "What happens if I mess up?"

Ryan realized that Travis was going to be in a hurry to get across. He thought quickly, then he tore out pages of one of the books that he was carrying and placed them on the safe stones.

"Step on the pieces of paper.", Ryan called out.

Travis nodded and instead of blocking one the guardian's swings he made a break for the others. The guardian gathered itself quickly and was hot on his heels. Travis stumbled across the paper strewn part of the hallway, barely hitting the right stones and knocking the papers away as he crossed. On the other side the big man rolled to a stop. From his knees he turned to look. The guardian had stopped short of the trapped area.

"Come on.", Chavese said, and once again pulled on Richard's arm.

Ireena and Ryan backed away from the thing down the hallway.

"Who's got shotgun shells?", Kevin asked, backing down the hall. "I need to reload."

Rebecca reached into her purse and pulled out four more shells. With trembling hands, Kevin loaded each shell into the weapon while keeping an eye on the guardian. But the hopes that the trap had stopped the ferocious warrior were dashed as the shining suit of armor stepped expertly across the stones, stepping only on those with a diamond shaped pattern.

"No...fucking...way.", Rebecca cursed as she watched, ready to run once again.

Travis watched, breathing heavily, resigned to playing more defense on tired legs. Then he sensed an opportunity. He waited until the guardian had stepped off the last safe stone and then charged forward with his shield raised. The two clashed like thunder. Travis felt the guardian give ground, but not enough to knock it backward into the trap. He struggled to gain a few more inches as the guardian raised his sword into the air. Kevin saw that he needed help, so he dropped his shotgun, ran forward, and barreled into Travis, adding his momentum to the shove. Anthony joined in and together they had the guardian struggling so hard to hold its ground that it couldn't attack them with its sword.

"Travis! Duck!", Rebecca shouted as she leveled her rifle at the suit of armor.

Realizing what Rebecca meant with her warning the linebacker dropped to his knees. Kevin and Anthony both ducked, expecting to hear her rifle firing once more, but with her sights set on the guardian's chest Rebecca pressed the water symbol on the magic wand. She knew what it was going to do.

"Demon's blood and scale of quasit.", Rebecca chanted. "Gonna crush you like a can and get back my deposit."

A torrent of water was released from the wand, driving the suit of armor backwards. The guardian tried in vain to step only on the safe stones but ended up falling onto its back instead. A loud clacking sound echoed through the hallway as the floor beneath the guardian gave way and pitched down at an angle. Struggling helplessly the suit of armor flailed its arms and legs as it slid down the slope and disappeared into the depths of the dungeon.

Travis, Anthony, and Kevin collapsed on the floor in a heap. None of them could move for a while. The trap door slowly rose once again until it was flush with the rest of the hallway.

"Yes!", Rebecca shouted exuberantly, jumping up and down and pumping her fist in the air. "Tin can in the side pocket!"

"Sweet goal line stand.", Travis said weakly. "Thanks, dudes."

"Jesus.", Kevin muttered as he sat up on his knees. "Is everyone okay?"

Kevin looked around. Rebecca was buzzing like she was on speed. Ryan nodded that he was okay. Chavese had led Richard a little ways down the hall. The young accountant looked like he had recovered a little more.

"Ismark?", Ireena asked hesitantly.

Kevin's face betrayed a great pain and sadness at Ireena's question. He shook his head. Then he stood up, leaning against the wall for support, and approached Ireena hesitantly.

Anthony looked up at Ireena. "I tried.", he said, wishing that he had succeeded. "Sorry."

Ireena stepped forward sadly. She put one hand on Anthony and her other one on Kevin.

"Thank you for risking your lives for him.", she said quietly. She wanted to say more, but tears came to her eyes.

Kevin placed his hand over Ireena's.

"Does it hurt?", Chavese asked Richard.

"Yes.", Richard replied.

"I wish that I could make it better.", Chavese said sympathetically. Then she got a look in her eyes as if she knew a way.

"Chavese?", Richard asked. "What is it?"

"There's a potion around here somewhere...", Chavese began. Then she thought hard, trying to remember where it was.

"Ismark's still alive right?", Rebecca asked. " We can go get him now. Coast is clear."

Kevin stood off from the wall and readied the shotgun. He wobbled a little and said, "Let's go see."

A hopeful look came over Ireena. She started walking back up the hallway. Then, a blood curdling scream echoed down the hallway from the catacombs, making the hairs on the backs of everyone's necks stand straight up. It sounded as if Ismark was living through his worst nightmare. Slowly the screaming weakened until it finally fell silent.