It had been a close thing at the door, far too close and Pias had payed the price but hopefully had some consolation at keeping his life.  A few silent nods of acknowledgement were shared between the men, enough to assure Xavier there would be no immediate conflict between the occupants of the tavern over the handling of the door.  Regaining his feet he looked at the length of his bloodied blade, still dull and nicked from the abuse it received on the trip here.  He had promised to sharpen and oil it but he was far too tired, it seemed an apt symbol of how he felt.  As the immediate rush of violence began to fade he felt his exhaustion even more acutely, he needed sleep but that seemed an unlikely luxury after the last few moments.  He would at least have to clean it before so much as sheathing it but even that thought was quickly dispelled as the taunting voice of the vampiress was heard once more.  He had missed her show of draining Pias' arm of every last drop of blood but there was no missing the venom dripping from her voice as she laid out her terms.  He turned quickly to face the shifting voice, the effect chilling perhaps even more than her obvious show of strength.  He made a silent prayer for strength and courage, not just for himself but the others now besieged in the tavern, all would need measures of both if they were to survive the night.<br/><br/>As the chilling voice faded Xavier looked to the clock, noting the time, despite his fatigue his mind began sorting and prioritizing.  He fought his instinct to run immediately to Esperanza, he needed information if he was going to protect her effectively.  He had a million questions but only two were important at the moment.  He headed towards the bar but the keeper had retreated into the kitchen.  Xavier grabbed the rag the old man had been using to clean glasses and wiped the worst of the blood and gore from his blade, sheathing it for the moment.  He looked at the scene in the tavern, the gypsies working on their friend, and Bucren repeating his own advice and whether it was meant as pity or insult he hadn't the time to ponder.  The sound of crashing wine bottles upstairs had been drowned out by Pias' screams, had they not, Xavier would have been upstairs by now. Instead he looked to Bucren, the closest thing he had to a vampire expert and a brother in arms at the moment.  He had not fully lost his sense of humor as Bucren commented on the quality of their respective companions.  "Yes, Miss Sergovia has a knack for trouble and her apparent twin shares the talent.  I think though that I will keep them for the moment at least."  The smile faded from his face however as he considered one of his two questions.  "How do you kill them?"  He asked, the chill in the blood drinking beauty's voice made it clear that either she or he were going to die this night and he needed every advantage he could get.<br/><br/>He listened to all that the man had to offer as to the fighting of vampires.  Thinking them just legend he had never fully cataloged the many rumors and legends and this was no time to find a myth useless in combat.  Much of what he had seen began to make more sense.  He glanced again at the clock, having used half of their allotted time he knew he needed to warn the girls.    " I think you will find me a more reliable comrade then your previous companions but I ask one favor of you my friend."  He used the term in hopes that they were gaining some small sense of camaraderie and trust.  "Find the bar keeper if you can and find the most defensible spot for the ladies.  We don't have much time but I intend to stay between them and this night's fate."  He voice expressed a determination he could only hope his worn and tired body could deliver.<br/><br/>As he passed the gypsies his mind wandered to the idea of placating the evil beast but he knew he couldn't do something like that but would he stop them from doing it?  Did he want the to do it?  Such questions reminded him that not just his body but his soul was in peril here.  He may not be able to preserve both.  He then was taking the stairs two at a time and without concern for their modesty opened the door.  "Begging your pardon..."  He said but then his voice failed him as he found their room empty.  He was close to panic, going to the window but finding the barrier intact.  He turned in all directions, but there was no where for them to be hiding.  "Esperanza.'  He kept his voice low in response to the culture here but he repeated it louder.  Only on about his fourth try was he loud enough to be heard in the next room and it was then that he thought of the possibility they had went to find their own answers.  He started for the door and to find the room of the drunken noble.