𝙳𝚊𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚣: 𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝙴𝚒𝚗𝚜

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒

Strigoi – Of Romanian origin. Derived from the Romanian verb striga "scream", this blood lusting creature is known to tear horrific screams from its victims before their deaths. They are thought of as troubled souls and in some fables are even mentioned to be living people with particular magical properties. It was often thought that Strigoi were beings with two hearts and therefore two souls.

Finally sickened enough by the smell of death in the church, Koza steps outside where death is still present, but at least the scent of it is swept away by the cool night air. With Kasimir lending no hint of his plans to clarify Koza's purpose to continue watching him, he ventures to explore the village, perhaps there are survivors. A peek in a window here and there and a glance inside an open door every so often reveals no sign of living or living dead. The young Captain walks up onto a warped and slanted wooden porch and moves towards an open front door. As he steps into the doorway the light of the clouded moon shines down on a poorly made doll with shredded straw hair and a piece of pink cloth for a dress. Its craftsmanship is inexpert, but that merely tells Koza more about it. He considers its creator, how it was most likely a mother making do with the materials she could afford and how the odds were that the little girl who owned it loved it as though she could want for no better. Everything in the village is quiet, easily allowing for a moment of silence for those souls whose history of existence has culminated to a simple doll lying on a floor.

With victory literally in hand, Kasimir departs from the church with a firm grip on the once more covered stone. Kasimir and Biagio make their way down the main street through Hieb, eager to find the General and leave for Loviturä. After a few minutes they catch sight of the tavern.

Stepping up in through the door of the tavern, Kasimir and Biagio are greeted by the sight of Lorelei pouring herself a drink, with her back to the men. Paying little mind to her, Biagio watches Kasimir near her. Setting the stone down on the bar, Lorelei's eyes glide over to the object as the cloth its wrapped in flops down a corner, showing a glimpse of the rock. She looks back to her drink.

"What are you having?" Kasimir smiles.

"Vodka."

"Not a bad choice." He takes the bottle, her sideways gaze watching him put the bottle's rim to his lips.

Her brows lift and she goes back to her glass, taking a sip. "Used to the strong stuff I see."

The butt of the bottle sets to the bar and Kasimir smirks. "This is a celebration, Gypsy."

"Mmm, good for you." She swigs, tilting her head back.

Her dismissive nature towards the old man not bothering him, the motion of her drinking from the glass does. He sees bite marks on her neck when her head straightens and hair falls back around her face. Kasimir's study of those marks hangs on her throat through the thick hair, his eyes narrowing the more his mind reasons their existence.

Lightly, Kasimir lifts his free hand and brushes a stroke of her hair over her shoulder. In a blink, Lorelei latches a tight grip around his wrist, her shining eyes turning to him, a darkness in their brightness. "...You have been bitten, woman." Her solid gaze gives no reply. "You think I do not recognize such bites?... You think I do not know who has put them there?" He chuckles. "I have always thought him one of Hell's rodents, I see he has transformed completely."

At once, Lorelei's deathly serious glare into Kasimir's tarnished soul shifts to light humor. "Who?" she asks with the innocence of a child, fluttering her dark lashes.

Kasimir gives another soft laugh. "There is only one man whose mouth you would let on your body." Growing a smirk, Kasimir grows one of his own. "Your filthy body." Her smirk lowers just as slowly as it lifted. Around her grows a growl, sounds that call Biagio's attention to the tug of his coat, readying to grab at his daggers. He looks around the tavern as the walls creak, the tables and chairs beginning to quake and liquor bottles starting to rattle. Having a better idea than most of what is coming the brighter Lorelei's eyes shine their blue, Kasimir reacts. He grabs at her glass of vodka, tossing its remains into her face. The liquid burns the moment it touches her tissue, her eyes slamming shut as she grabs at her face, letting out a pained howling scream.