The vampiress lingered in the fringes of the clouds of fog that covered the eerily silent town square of Barovia.  Her ears were sharper then any predator that nature could offer up and even at this distance she could clearly hear into the tavern.  Her velvety smooth tongue wiped the blood away from the top of her protruding bottom lip as a hint of color washed across her otherwise pale figure.  But there was so much more blood to be had in that place and as she heard the bounding steps of Xavier heading upstairs a vague smile began to form as she let the blood drained severed arm of Pias fall to the ground.<br/><br/>Like a silent breeze she drifted across the empty square until her diminutive and dainty figure came to the side of the Vine's front door.  She leaned gently forward there, letting the pulsing muscles of each mans heart that was still on the first floor settle distinctly to her ears and she listened as Bucren spoke with the gypsies back in the kitchen.<br/><br/>If they knew where Arik was they weren't saying and if there was a plan they didn't seem interested in sharing theirs.  One of the gypsy's stole a quick glance to the middle of the kitchen floor but said not a word when Bucren questioned about potential exits.  In the heat of the moment the gesture of his gaze to a hidden door set into the floor of the kitchen was lost to the outlander as he concentrated on setting the searing hot edge of his blade to the bleeding stump of Pias's arm.  During the whole exchange, Fayne who was the senior most man amongst the lot of gypsies that ran things at the Vine was the only one to speak up.  Simply offering with an irate spit towards the ground as Bucren went back into the tavern hall.  "You worry about yours, we'll worry about ours."<br/><br/>The door to the kitchen suddenly slammed shut not long after Bucren had gotten finished blockading the front door and had found himself back behind the bar with one of the very finest vintages that the Vine had to enjoy.  Off in the corner of the tavern the sword that Ismark had left leaning up against the wall fell to floor from the jolt of the door being slammed shut.  Candle light briefly flashed across a portion of the expertly crafted blade that had come free from its scabbard.  The pure silver of that sharpened short sword reflected the candlelight perfectly.<br/><br/>The lock to the kitchen door clicked and before Bucren could of done much the team of gypsy's in the kitchen had slid a heavy pantry cabinet in front of the door.  There was the sound of something thudding as the small team of gypsy's descended down into the cellar through the well oiled hidden door in the floor of the kitchen.  Down in the security of the cellar they made sure to bar the hidden door before joining Arik at the entrance to the tunnel which was behind a false cabinet.  From there they would be making their way to a nearby safe house not connected with the tavern proper.<br/><br/>She smiled from the other side of the door while she listened to that lone heart beat as the white mists of the fog began to gently gush under the front door of the Vine.  As they slowly crept beneath the entry and slipped past the abrupt barricades her sultry yet sinister voice spoke with a hiss from just outside the front door.  "You've been left all alone."  Like a steady march of army ants the fog continued to creep across the floor boards obscuring everything beneath them.  Even Ismark's blade that had clattered to the floor was swallowed up by the ever approaching carpet of fog.  The candles on the tables started to waft about, even the flames from the small blaze in the fireplace seemed to begin to flicker and fade.<br/><br/>"So I'll take you instead, outlander."  The voice came from the fog which was turning into a hue of sickly venomous green that was now passing beneath the doorway.  The clouds of grey that covered the floor began to rise, diminishing as they reached towards the ceiling.  In the midst of it all a familiar slender figure bathed in a pearly white nightgown stained with fresh blood began to form from out of the mysterious green mists had gathered before the door.  "Come to Catrinel, I'll take you away from all of this torment and satiate your darkest desires while you feed mine."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">-------------------------------------------------------------------​</div><br/>Elrick's askew head looked over the bookshelf with it's soulless black and oil oozing sockets.  There was something to this shelf and he knew as if by instinct that his quarry would be here.  But despite how right the feeling was, how he knew Ireena would be brought here if she was in grave danger, he could not recall how the sturdy bookshelf before him was opened. Frustration, anger, and a measure of undeniable rage started to overwhelm every fiber of Elrick's thoughts as he pounded a fist against the obstruction that tormented him.<br/><br/>He would pound this bookshelf to pieces if he had too and with blows that held little regard for his own well being undead creature that Elrick had become began to wail with his fists against the bookshelf.  Tomes and trinkets went flying from the sturdy structure but before Elrick could make much progress against the barricade it came flying open.<br/><br/>The zombie stumbled back, knocked off balance by the movement of the bookcase as Ireena and Andrei burst from out of hiding.  His haunting voice chased after the pair long before the monster itself recovered enough to pursue.  "Come back to me Ireena!  You are not to leave this manor!"  Elrick's footsteps quickly followed after his voice as the zombie showed a surprisingly nimble burst of speed.<br/><br/>Down the steps they fled, passing through the entry parlor of the dark and shadow manor.  The pace kept by their pursuer seemed to have not faltered one bit as he screamed.  "You are not to leave!  Ireena!"  Down through the tight spiral staircase they went and if it was not for the torch grabbed up by Andrei at the top of those steps they would of stumbled into the darkness of the cellar.  Ireena was able to slam the door at the top of the stairs shut behind them and made sure it was locked before she followed after Andrei down the stairs and into the wine cellar.<br/><br/>The smell of mold and mildew filled the damp air of the cellar as the pair looked through the fluttering light of the torch towards the array of wide kegs laid upon their sides in a series of alcoves.  The face of the third was false and would lead them north via a brick lined tunnel that exited into the basement of the Burgomaster's guest house.  As they made their way for the exit the sound of splintering wood was heard from up the tightly spun spiral stairs.  Elrick had found an axe, and he was starting to hack his way through the door.