Chapter 16

Blood Feud

Ryan sat down next to Yoanna on the bed. His heart was racing. He fidgeted, looking down at his hands, unable to make eye contact with the exotically beautiful woman beside him. Yoanna was exactly the opposite. She relaxed and leaned on one arm while gazing at Ryan.

"Where are you from?", Yoanna asked the nervous young man.

"Kansas.", Ryan blurted out. "Earth, I guess.", he added, and then felt very stupid.

"I've never heard of Kansas before." Yoanna said, trying to put Ryan at ease. "Tell me about it."

Ryan did, talking at a mile per minute. He told her all about his home, about Notre Dame, about the trip he and his friends made that got them where they were, and about Irene. Yoanna watched and listened, moving from one seductive pose to the next as Ryan went on and on. He was finally relaxing and had gotten up the nerve to look Yoanna in the eyes as he talked. She stared back at him invitingly, which made him both nervous and aroused. His eyes drifted down to Yoanna's breasts more than once. Each time he feared that she would be angry with him for doing so, but she wasn't. He began to wonder if she would let him touch them.

Yoanna was delighted with the young man's innocence. She could sense the blood rushing through his veins and it made her feel excited, and thirsty. As she was able to get him to loosen up she was amazed at how intelligent he was, smarter than Strahd or anyone else she had ever met. She wondered what kind of a vampire he would make. She knew that he could be great one day, but needed some seasoning first. He needed to become well versed in the ways of magic, and to mature into a more confident man. Sensing that she knew that she could not take him tonight, but she couldn't resist giving him one bite, and showing him what pleasures could be had with her.

Ryan was staring down her dress again. "Master Ryan.", Yoanna said warmly. "Do you like women?"

Ryan was surprised by the question but quickly answered, "Yes".

Yoanna slid over right next to him, rubbing one of her breasts against his arm and moving her lips closer to his. Ryan sat perfectly still, too nervous to do anything at all. He felt her soft red lips against his, gently kissing him, once, twice, a third time. She pulled away and Ryan was speechless. It was his first kiss.

"Did you like that?", Yoanna asked.

"Yes.", Ryan said obediently.

Ryan was beginning to feel cold now that they had stopped, and he desperately wanted to kiss her again. She did so, this time with more passion. Ryan grew more comfortable and soon they embraced each other. Yoanna wrapped her arms around Ryan, who nervously placed his hands gently at her sides. They kissed deeply and Ryan's inhibitions began to fall away. He slid his hands across Yoanna's body and gently squeezed her breasts. Yoanna moaned slightly and slid her tongue across Ryan's neck, nibbling at it with her lips. After a few nibbles Ryan suddenly remembered what Yoanna was and knew what was going to happen next. Part of him wanted it to happen, but the part that felt that it was a bad idea was stronger. He pulled away from her reluctantly.

Yoanna didn't want to let him go. She was too close to getting what she wanted. But she knew that it would be her only chance if she forced it upon him. She let him go and looked deeply into his eyes. Ryan was breathing hard and looking scared as he looked back. Then his eyes dropped to his hands which were still caressing Yoanna's breasts. Yoanna leaned back on her arms and let Ryan caress her to his heart's desire. Ryan's hands wandered, circling her breasts, sliding up to her neck, cheeks, and lips, and then moving back down to her breasts as Yoanna gently moaned.

Then Yoanna leaned up next to him once more. They kissed again and this time Ryan led. He kissed her on the lips and nibbled on her neck in return, careful not to get his neck close to her mouth. Instead, he felt her hand sliding up his leg towards what was the hardest erection that he had ever felt. He froze as her hand reached the bulge in his pants. Then he gasped and shook as she stroked her hand up and down along his zipper. He could feel that he was going to have an orgasm, and have it soon. As much as he didn't want to cum in his pants he didn't want her to stop. Then he felt her lips press against his neck. He trembled, not knowing what to do, and in the heat of the moment decided that this was something that was worth dying for.

The warm pleasures Ryan felt were suddenly shattered as Yoanna's fangs pierced his neck and entered his vein. The pain was intense, but Ryan couldn't pull away for fear that Yoanna would tear out his throat. He grasped her tightly and hoped that it would be over soon. Then he felt something flowing into his veins. His panicked heart soon pumped whatever it was through his body and before long all of Ryan's pain had turned into the most sensuous pleasure that he had ever felt. He couldn't help but moan in ecstasy as Yoanna began to feed on his blood.

Now Ryan didn't want it to end, ever. With each swallow he felt closer and closer to what he could only describe as pure bliss. He also felt Yoanna's hand still stroking his swollen penis. That seemed to double the pleasure. He felt both his neck and his cock throbbing in unison with each heartbeat and it felt so good.

Yoanna was enjoying the taste of Ryan's blood. It had been so long since anyone had dared enter Castle Ravenloft and the new flavor was very much to her liking. She drank her fill and then a little more since Ryan had gotten her more aroused than usual. Then she gently pulled her fangs out and licked up the blood she had spilled upon his neck. As she did so Ryan gasped loudly and his eyes opened wide. His body jerked back and forth as he came as hard as he had ever come. Then he fell back on the bed and closed his eyes, feeling as if he were floating above the clouds.

Yoanna looked down at the young man, envisioning him as a prince. Perhaps he would become one, but not if Strahd had his way again. She wondered if by some quirk of fate that he and his group of odd friends would be able to kill the ancient vampire. Then she shook her head, remembering all the other times she had let herself become hopeful. She satisfied herself with the idea that maybe she could keep Ryan alive long enough for at least one more feeding. He had been wonderful.


Kevin turned to Chavese to ask her to show the way to the chapel, then he noticed that he could feel the icon around his neck glowing a little stronger.

"Something's coming.", Kevin warned the others.

Everyone got quiet and looked around in all directions. The hallway's other secret passage slid open and standing on the other side was another young maiden. She wore a dark blue gown that hugged tightly around her chest and hips before flaring out into a wide skirt. She also wore a thin dark blue collar that accentuated the fair skin of her exposed arms, shoulders, and neck. The maiden looked at Kevin and the others with calm confidence, a hint of a smile on her lips. Two large black wolves stood on either side of her who stared intently at the humans, growling, and baring their teeth. Richard remembered to put his hand on the hilt of his sword again.

"Giselle.", Chavese said, her voice filled with worry.

"Chavese.", Giselle replied elegantly but with a touch of scorn. "Still looking for your knight in shining armor?"

Chavese turned her head away. "Strahd will never love you.", she said just loud enough for Giselle to hear.

Giselle frowned. "Protect.", she hissed.

The two wolves began to bark ferociously at her command. Neither moved, but they looked like they could attack at any moment. Their cobalt blue eyes filling everyone who gazed upon them with primal fear.

"Chavese has placed Richard under a spell.", Giselle whispered in a voice that spoke directly to Anthony.

Anthony turned to look at Richard and became worried. He realized that the sword was no longer in safe hands. Richard positioned himself in such a way as to keep Chavese from being sunburned and pulled his sword out just a little. A few rays of sunlight beamed forth from the blade. Giselle backed away as did Chavese.

Kevin moved to get a clear angle and cocked the shotgun, taking aim. "We've got no fight with you.", he said to the newcomer.

"Heel your dogs or I'll have to draw this a bit more.", Richard added.

"No.", Chavese whispered to Richard. "Don't. Please."

Richard turned his head and hissed at Chavese angrily, "I told you, if she attacks us, I'll have no choice but to respond in kind."

"Sword or not my wolves will tear out your throats at my command.", Giselle said, moving to one side of the doorway where there was shelter from the light.

Rebecca loaded her rifle and aimed it at Giselle, but kept her eyes on everyone. Anthony watched the exchange between Chavese and Richard closely. What he was seeing didn’t seem to agree with what he was feeling. He wondered what was going on. Disappointed that Anthony wasn't responding, Giselle whispered another suggestion, this time to Travis.

Travis stepped up next to Richard and grasped his sword arm tightly, sliding the blade back down into the scabbard. "Don't. You'll kill them both.", the large man reminded him forcefully.

Giselle stepped out of the shadows once more, staying behind her snarling wolves.

"And what's so wrong with killing them both?", Rebecca almost asked but held back.

"Is there something you want?" Kevin asked.

"I want to warn you about her.", Giselle said, pointing at Chavese. "She is leading you to your deaths."

"I am not!", Chavese protested.

"And why should we believe you over her?", Kevin replied, glaring at Giselle.

"How many of you has she already led to their doom?", Giselle asked, looking deep into Kevin's eyes. But Kevin held the icon, which protected him from her influence.

The others however, stopped to think about what she had said.

"I didn't. I saved them.", Chavese pleaded, almost crying.

Richard remembered Chavese being the first one out the door when Ismark needed help. She also led them to Yoanna, and now Ryan was gone as well.

Kevin was thinking along the same lines, but he shook his head. "They made their choices.", he replied. "She is not responsible for that."

"How can you be sure?", Giselle asked the priest-to-be.

"We're being lied to.", Richard interrupted. "By both of them." He tried to free himself from Travis. "Leggo my sword.", he shouted at the large man.

Instead of letting go, Travis grabbed the sword belt buckle and tried to undo it, but Richard managed to squirm around and fight him just enough to thwart him.

"Cut it out!", Richard whined.

"I knew that we shouldn't have given you that thing.", Travis said.

Giselle smiled as she watched the struggle. Rebecca and Ireena wondered what was going on and Anthony felt helpless in the face of the two conflicting viewpoints. He didn't trust either, but he couldn't figure out which one was closer to the truth.

"No. Richard.", Chavese pleaded. "I've never lied to you. You have to believe that."

Richard looked at her coldly. Chavese backed slowly away towards the secret door that they had come in through.

"I can count the number of times a woman's been honest with me on one hand.", Richard shot back at Chavese.

"I like you Richard.", Chavese replied. "I do. You have an innocent heart. A pure heart."

Anthony choked back a guffaw, but her words were true, no matter who believed it.

Kevin narrowed his eyes at Giselle. "Unless you have something more to add, I suggest you leave.", he said firmly.

Giselle nodded and took a step back.

"She's trying to run away.", Richard alerted the others.

But everyone else was watching him and thought that he was talking about Chavese. Chavese had backed up against the far wall and had her hand on the catch stone.

"No shit, Richard.", Rebecca hissed. "I totally understand why you've never had a girlfriend if this is how you treat them."

"Chavese, wait.", Kevin called out over the fray.

Chavese looked into Richard's eyes and gave him one long desperate look. Richard didn't like how close he was to giving in to her. He began to wonder if distrusting women was a good thing after all. He wished that he knew whether she was for real or not. Unhappily he looked back at Chavese.

Ireena moved slowly towards Chavese. "Don't go.", she whispered, sensing the vampiress' next move.

Kevin was growing fed up with all the divisiveness. "Look, we'll talk about this, calmly and rationally, but not here.", he said emphasizing the last three words.

Then Kevin looked at Giselle. But instead of looking back at him, Kevin noticed that Giselle was gazing at Travis. Kevin turned his head and looked back at Travis, who was gazing back at Giselle. Everyone else was looking at Chavese at the other end of the hallway.

"Travis.", Kevin said sharply.

Travis didn't flinch. His eyes were fixed on Giselle. Kevin wasn't about to let another friend be charmed away. He took up the icon around his neck and held it out toward Giselle.

"Leave. Now.", Kevin said with a quiet anger and authority.

Her spell complete, Giselle did so. She turned away quickly from the icon, walking towards the door to the throne room. The wolves stayed put, guarding her back. Suddenly, Travis grabbed Richard in a bear hug, pinning his arms, and lifting him off the ground. Then he ran past Kevin and Rebecca, carrying the helpless young man towards Giselle. Richard screeched in anger, surprise, and fear. He tried to get his hand back on the sword but could only struggle futilely in Travis' strong arms.

"Let go of me, fucker!", Richard hissed as he tried to kick Travis between the legs.

"No!", Chavese shouted.

"What the fuck? Travis?", Rebecca shouted after him.

"This way.", Giselle hissed. Travis lumbered towards her, carrying Richard kicking and screaming.

"Rebecca! The sleep symbol!", Kevin called out.

Rebecca looked down at the wand. "Which one is that?", she asked. "Oh, screw it."

"Tongue of Rush Limbaugh and prick of Howard Stern.", Rebecca intoned. "Break out the sun block this bitch is gonna burn."

Rebecca aimed her rifle at Giselle's back and pushed the platinum symbol on her wand. In an instant the hallway was illuminated in bright light. The howls of two young women were heard as the others quickly covered their eyes. As the glare quickly died away Rebecca could see that the secret passage was now closed. Travis, Richard, Giselle, and the wolves were gone.

Kevin looked around to see if everyone was alright. He saw that the others were doing the same except for Chavese who was huddled in the corner.

"Shit!", Rebecca shouted. She ran up to the secret door, trying to find the catch stone.

Ireena watched Rebecca struggle and turned to Chavese. "Chavese, we need your help.", she said to the vampiress.

"No. You hate me. You hate me.", Chavese moaned.

"We don't hate you.", Ireena reassured her. "Richard just, well..."

Kevin walked over next to Ireena and the vampiress. He knelt down beside her, noticing that Chavese was burned more than before. It looked as if she had second degree burns all over her exposed skin.

"He's been betrayed before.", Kevin said softly. "Trust can be a difficult thing for some."

"Umm. Little help?", Rebecca said, searching for the catch stone. Anthony joined her.

"He needs you.", Ireena said. "He needs your help right now or he's going to be killed."

"You, better than anyone else here, know what Strahd will do to him.", Kevin added.

The words of Kevin and Ireena worked their way into Chavese. She nodded her head. Gingerly the young woman rose to her feet.


Travis dragged Richard through the accountant's room and up the stairs. Richard was kicking and screaming but Travis was a man possessed. Up the stairs they went, past the third floor to the landing on the fourth. Travis carried the squirming young man behind Giselle to the guest bedroom.


Ireena helped Chavese up and walked her to the other end of the hallway where Rebecca and Anthony were struggling.

"The square one.", Chavese said, pointing to a stone near one wall. "Push it in."

Kevin sighed. He looked down at the amulet on his chest, disappointed that it couldn't save them. He wondered whether the problem was with the amulet, that he's used it too much. Then he wondered whether the problem was with his faith, or lack of it.

Rebecca pushed on the catch stone and the door slid open once again. As it did so they could hear, then see, the wolves on the other side. They were poised to attack. Rebecca quickly aimed her rifle at one of the wolves. It lunged at her as she fired. Rebecca's shot echoed loudly though the cold stone walls of the castle as the bullet pierced the wolf's neck. The wolf bounced lifelessly off of Rebecca's legs and dropped to the ground, whimpering and bleeding like a slaughtered pig. The other wolf charged towards Ireena. Kevin aimed the shotgun at the wolf, fired, and missed with the shot narrowly missing Anthony. But Ireena was no helpless young maiden, at the last moment she spun out of the way, avoiding the snarling beast.

Anthony decided to get out of Kevin's line of fire. He, Ireena, and Chavese backed away from the others and the remaining wolf. The wolf skittered down the hallway a few steps and then turned to lunge again. Rebecca reloaded and fired at the wolf, but the bullet went wide of her target. Kevin also fired at the wolf and his shot found its mark, tearing into the wolf's ribs and knocking it off of its feet. Slowly it rose again, limping and whimpering.

"Nice shot.", Rebecca said, reloading.

"Why can't they just die..." Kevin mused as he aimed at the injured wolf and fired again.

Kevin put the wolf out of its misery. The other wolf was bleeding to death slowly at Rebecca's feet.

Kevin looked at the still living wolf and then to Rebecca. "Finish it.", he said grimly.

Rebecca seemed shocked by Kevin's command, but quickly obeyed.

Kevin drew a shuddering breath and asked, "Is everyone ok?"

Anthony got to his feet. "Yeah.", he said, still a little spooked by what had happened.

Ireena nodded. "We have to hurry.", she said. "Before they get the sword to Strahd."

Kevin reloaded the shotgun, his hands trembling. Once finished, he pumped the slide and said, "Right, let's go."


Travis forced Richard down onto the bed and fought to get the sword off of him. Richard fought back hard enough to prevent the strong man from getting the belt loose.

"You always were an asshole!", Richard screamed in Travis' ear.


Ireena hurried down the hallway and through the door into the throne room. Rain was still spilling in through the broken windows. No one was there and there were many exits that the others could have taken.

Kevin kept up with Ireena. "Where would she take them?", he asked Chavese.

Rebecca and Anthony followed with Chavese bringing up the rear. Chavese looked around and thought for a moment. Anthony also looked around and noticed that there were no hints of a trail leading down either stairway.

"Doesn't look like they went down here.", Anthony called out.

That left only the secret passage that they had used before and the door to the accountant's room. Ireena ran over to the door to the accountant's room and open it. On the other side was the accountant, working away.

Leif slammed down his pencil. "I can't work with all these interruptions!", he said indignantly.

"Did you see three people just come through here?", Ireena asked, trying to be polite but failing since she was in a hurry.

Leif reached reflexively for the rope but it wasn't there. Instead he frowned bitterly.

"Yes.", he hissed. "And they went up."

"But wouldn't you like to stay?", Leif added angrily, his face twisted with rage. "I'll fix you all up a nice cup of tea, hmm?"

Kevin stepped inside the office behind Ireena. "Up then?", he suggested, ignoring the accountant.

"Or perhaps you'd like to throw me off another stairway?", Leif sneers. "Or tie me up and lower me into a pot of boiling oil?"

Ireena nodded at Kevin's suggestion and looked back at the accountant once more before heading up the stairs. Rebecca and Anthony followed with Chavese once again at the back, hiding her face and sobbing quietly.


Richard managed to land a few firm kicks. Giselle was growing frustrated watching Travis struggle and so she reached in and grabbed Richard's arms. Pinning Richard's legs with his Travis was finally able to free the sword belt from around Richard's waist. Giselle laughed unpleasantly as Richard watched helplessly. He knew what was coming next. They were going to kill him.


Ireena went up one flight of stairs and then stopped at the door. They had been here before. On the other side was a passage to the wedding cake room. Kevin listened at the door but he didn't hear anything.

"No. She wouldn't go in there.", Chavese called up to Ireena, knowing that Strahd didn't want anyone going into that room. She thought for a moment. "The guest room. One floor up."

Kevin looked at Ireena and repeated his earlier suggestion, "Up then?"

Ireena went up one more floor to the landing. They had been there before as well. Beside the door they saw the portrait of a bearded man who was staring defiantly back at them. Ireena opened the door and went into the study. Once inside they could hear that something was going on in the room on the other side of the far door.


Travis got off the bed and held the sword away from Richard. Richard squirmed away from Giselle and grabbed for the sword, but Travis just put his shield in the way, blocking him. Richard then turned on Giselle. He balled his hand into a fist, remembering to keep his thumb on the outside, and swung at the laughing vampiress. The blow caught her in the face. Giselle stopped laughing and slapped Richard back, hard. Richard could feel his cheek burning from the impact.

"Kill him!", Giselle ordered Travis.

Travis raised the sword over his head.

Ireena opened the door to the guest bedroom. On the other side she found Giselle and Richard kneeling on the bed, facing off against each other. Travis had the sword in his hand but it wasn't drawn. He looked like he was going to whack Richard over the head with it.

Richard was pissed off now, more than when some girl took his basketball away from him in kindergarten. Richard landed a solid kick on Giselle who looked more annoyed than hurt by the blow.

"You better hope I don't get that sword away from him.", Richard sneered at the vampiress.

Giselle turned her head to see uninvited guests entering the room. Kevin strode into the room past Ireena who was readying her bow. Brandishing the icon and with barely contained anger Kevin advanced on Giselle with the amulet in front of him.

"Stop!" Kevin commanded. But Giselle did not stop.

Giselle backed away from Kevin off the bed and began to cast a spell.

Richard wanted to go after her but had to duck the sword that Travis had swung at his head. Anthony rushed into the room and tried to tackle Travis, but the big linebacker wouldn't go down. Ignoring Anthony, Travis slowly dragged the young man towards Richard, obeying the last order that Giselle had given him. Rebecca pulled out her rifle and aimed it at Giselle, her finger resting next to the platinum button and not caring whether Chavese would be hurt or not.

But Ireena drew back her bow and stepped in Rebecca's way to get a clear shot at the vampiress. The arrow whistled through the air and hit its mark, burrowing into Giselle's chest and piercing her heart. The vampiress froze, her eyes wide open and a shocked expression on her face. For a moment she couldn't move, then the moment grew longer. Chavese gasped in surprise.

"A wooden stake through the heart.", Ireena said, walking over to Giselle. "That's the only thing that can stop them."

Kevin glanced back at Ireena with wide eyes. "Nice.", he said with a little laugh.

Rebecca stared in amazement at Ireena's marksmanship.

Travis shook his head and lowered his shield. "Woah. What the heck happened?", he asked as he cleared the cobwebs.

Anthony let him go. "Hypnosis, or something like it.", he replied.

"Yeah. For a while you became like a total fucking asshole.", Rebecca hissed angrily.

Travis didn't protest. He felt like as asshole. "How could I have been so stupid.", he moaned. "I hope that you guys can forgive me."

"We always do.", Rebecca said to Travis with a silly smile.

"Gimme that!", Richard shouted at Travis, snatching his sword back.

Travis surrendered the sword without a struggle. Giselle stood motionless in the corner. Ireena was breathing a sigh of relief.

Kevin approached the paralyzed vampire. "Chavese, can she still hear?", he asked. Then he turned to look at Chavese but noticed that she hadn't come inside. "Where's Chavese?", he asked.

Rebecca looked back and spotted the young vamipress hiding in the study. "In here.", she said.

Travis was filled with grief. He sat down hard on the bed. "Jimmy Wilkins.", he said with a shrug.

Richard wasn't expecting to hear that name. "Huh?", he replied.

"Jimmy. What happened to him.", Travis confessed. "That was my fault. I didn't do what I knew was right and he got hurt. I swore never to do that again but I did, and you nearly got killed."

Travis threw down his shield. "I don't deserve to have this.", he said, disgusted with himself.

Richard turned to look at Travis, then walked around and stood in front of him.

"A few days ago, I'd have agreed with you.", Richard replied, kneeling down and picking up the shield. "But you fought to save us against that armor, er, thing. You didn't run away from danger."

"You've earned this.", Richard said, presenting the shield to Travis.

Kevin walked back into the study and next to Chavese who was curled up in a corner with her head in her hands. "What is it? What's wrong?", he asked.

"He hates me.", Chavese whispered.

"No, no he doesn't. Trust me.", Kevin assured her.

"I want to hear him say that.", Chavese replied.

"I nearly got us all killed.", Travis continued.

"You can't un-make the past.", Richard consoled the big man. Richard was struck by how strange it was that he would be the one trying to bring Travis' spirits up. "You want me to beat you up?", he added with a touch of irony.

Travis didn't smile. Richard lost his. "Travis. I have more reason than anyone here to hate you, man. So it should mean something more when I say you're a good guy.", Richard said earnestly. "Take the shield."

Rebecca walked over to Travis. "Come on Trav.", she said. "He's right. For once."

Travis looked up at Richard and nodded grimly. "I'm sorry about Jimmy.", he said quietly.

"I know.", Richard replied.

Travis reached out and held the shield weakly. Richard felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Kevin.

"Rick." Kevin said, nodding back toward where Chavese was. "She needs you."

"You can make up for that, now, though.", Richard said to the big man. "Let's get that bastard."

"She's waiting.", Kevin added. "What's it gonna be?"

Richard was confused for a moment, wondering who 'she' was. Then he realized that Kevin meant Chavese.

"How did you guys find me?", Richard asked as he walked back to the study.

"Chavese told us where to go.", Kevin replied. "For whatever it's worth, I trust her."

Richard stopped in mid-stride, stumbling a little. He had expected yet another betrayal from a woman who said that she liked him, another disappointment. Instead she had saved his life. Richard knelt down next to Chavese. The skin on both of her arms was burned bright red and covered with blisters. Chavese's head was buried in her hands.

"Look it's okay now.", Rebecca said, trying to comfort Travis. "If you would've screwed up and gotten us all killed, I never would have spoken to you again."

Travis glanced up at Rebecca. He still looked glum.

"And hey, if it wasn't for you, Richard never would have gotten a girl into bed with him.", Rebecca said with a grin.

Travis couldn't hold back a smile. He fought it back, trying to stay upset with himself. Ireena walked over to Giselle and examined her, making sure that her arrow wasn't going to fall out. Then she lay Giselle down on the bed. Giselle was as stiff as a board, her face still with the shocked expression on it.

"Should we just leave her here like this?", Ireena wondered out loud.

"The only other choice is to kill her.", Kevin replied. "We can't have her running around loose."

"Hey, hey.", Rebecca said, pointing at Giselle and grabbing Travis' arm. "Now Richard can get some."

"Becky.", Travis groaned, coming out of his funk.


"Chavese?", Richard said softly. Chavese didn't answer.

"I need a medic over here, guys.", Richard said, wondering how to treat sunburns on a vampire.

Richard put his arm around her, being careful of her burns.

"You hate me don't you.", Chavese said. Richard's arm didn't feel welcome around her.

"No, I don't.", Richard replied. "I, I hardly even know you."

Kevin went to Ireena and got whatever might be useful for burns from the first aid kit that she carried with her, then he gave it to Richard.

"I can see it in your eyes.", Chavese said, still with her head down. "You don't want me."

"I don't want to go into all the emotional baggage I'm carrying around, but until now, I've never had a woman do anything like what you've done, helping me.", Richard said in all honesty.

Chavese kept her head down, saying nothing.

"Chavese, you're not even looking at me.", Richard said. He squeezed some ointment out of a tube onto his fingers. "And I'm afraid to touch you. I don't want to hurt you."

Chavese jerked her head upwards suddenly. She looked Richard straight in the eyes. "Tell me.", she said, her eyes full of tears. "Tell me that you trust me."

"I trust you.", Richard answered. He carefully began to rub the ointment on Chavese's forearm.

Chavese let him touch her. "But you were going to use your sword on her.", she said.

"I told you.", Richard protested. "I can't stand by and let my friends be hurt. Any of them, and that includes you."

"But she's my friend.", Chavese replied. "Don't you see?"

"Yes. But she's not my friend.", Richard countered. "Her wolves aren't our friends. She was trying to kill me before you guys got here, and she looked like she was ready to kill them, too."

"So you'd use the sword on her? Even though I asked you not to?", Chavese asked.

"If it meant saving lives, I would have to.", Richard replied calmly. "If that makes you hate me, I understand."

Chavese sniffled and put her head back in her hands. As Richard rubbed the Aloe on her arm he suddenly moved his hand through her.

"Wha..?", Richard said with a start.

Richard watched at Chavese's body turned into a cloud of white smoke, slowly losing its form. Then the smoke cloud flowed out of the room, becoming long and thin. Richard just stared for a long moment as the cloud disappeared down the stairs. Then he threw a tantrum.

Richard hurled the ointment tube across the room and tossed his sword aside. "I just can't fucking win!", he shouted.

The others heard the commotion and went into the study. Richard ranted and raved about women and just what it was that they wanted from him. Rebecca decided not to say anything.

"Where...", Kevin begin to ask when he saw that Chavese was gone.

"She left!", Richard shot back at Kevin. "Maybe she wanted a sweet little lie...'oh, I would never hurt you. I would never piss your stupid friends off.'"

"I'll even leave the fucking toilet seat down.", Richard added. "Screw it. I'm staying celibate."

Rebecca couldn't resist. "Some challenge.", she murmured.

Kevin ignored Rebecca. He was saddened by Richard's unfortunate turn. "I'm sorry, Richard.", he said, trying to ease Richard's rage.

"Remind me to throw out and delete all my porn when we get back.", Richard ranted.

Ireena watched patiently. "We should get to the chapel.", she said calmly.

"I don't want to be a hero anymore.", Richard whined. "Maybe we should let him win. That would serve her right."

Travis walked over to Richard. "Dude. Who was that guy talking to me a minute ago?", he asked.

"Dunno. Wasn't me.", Richard answered.

Kevin picked up Sergei's sword and walked over to Richard. "Remember why we're here.", he said in a whisper that only Richard and Travis could hear. "Do you want Irene to end up like Chavese?"

"A bitch?", Richard sneered.

"Do you want Ryan to be trapped here too?", Kevin asked.

"Stop being rational, man. You know I can't fight against rationality.", Richard replied.

Ireena joined the small group. "Please Richard.", she pleaded.

Kevin held out the sword and scabbard to Richard "Let's just get it done, eh?", he advised.

"Times like this, I'd almost think there was a god, just out pissing on me for old times' sake.", Richard hissed, looking into Kevin's eyes. "Gawddammit."

"Let Tony have it if Richard doesn't want it.", Rebecca said.

Kevin ignored Richard's blasphemy and Rebecca's comment. He just smiled and held out the sword.

"I wanted a wand or something.", Richard sneered. "Nothing more ridiculous than some Goth-wannabe carrying a day-glow sword."

"I say let Anthony have the sword.", Rebecca said again.

"You're not gonna quote that book of yours, are you?", Richard said to Kevin, anticipating an inspirational bible verse.

Kevin grinned and said the one that was on his mind, "Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble."

Richard took the sword from Kevin and handed it to Anthony. "Want it?", he asked.

"I'll take it if I have to, or if you want me to.", Anthony replied. "But that gypsy seemed to be fairly close to the mark."

"Just take it.", Rebecca said rudely. "The little shit just isn't up to it."

Kevin frowned. "Rebecca, that's enough.", he said admonishingly.

"Look. I don't want to have him standing at the altar moaning about Chavese while Strahd kills us all.", Rebecca fired back at Kevin.

"Yes? No?", Richard said to Anthony, raising his eyebrows. He fully expected Anthony to say no.

"I don't want it.", Anthony said, standing firm.

"Settled.", Richard said, taking the sword back. He looked over at Rebecca. "You're voted down.", he said. Then he turned and walked away.

Rebecca sneered at him behind his back while Travis grinned.

"You sure you want to come along?", Richard said to Rebecca over his shoulder. "Hero stuff is man's work, lil' fillie."

Ireena breathed another sigh of relief as she saw Richard getting his confidence back. "Shall we?", she asked.

Kevin sighed at Richard's last barb and said to Ireena. "Yes, please."