Ulmed rode up to the gates of Castle Ravenloft. The same servant from before, Amir, ran up to greet him. The doors remained shut.
"You!" Ulmed cried. "Is Strahd back yet?"
"Not yet, Lord Ulmed," Amir informed.
"Then where is he?"
The servant shrugged.
Cursing, Ulmed turned his horse around and rode away.
Amir watched him leave. When he was nearly out of sight, she raised one hand, revealing a green skull tattoo that glowed the same green as her eyes.
"Kill," Amir the Priest of Osybus whispered in a demonic language.
And the thing inside Ulmed's chest awoke.
Strahd sat in his room, comparing the drawings Tatyana had done of him and Sergei. His face was twisted with anger.
"She doesn't love me," he muttered. "Why doesn't she love me?"
He shook with his fury, tearing the pictures apart with his hands.
"WHY DOESN'T SHE LOVE ME?" he roared. Furiously, he took his room's shelf in his hands and threw it to the ground, sending papers, books, and carvings flying. He kicked them and tore them apart. There was a painting of Sergei hung up on a wall; he took a knife and cut gashes along the portrait, then threw it off the wall. He did the same with the painting of him. He panted with fury, regarding the destruction of his room, reveling in it.
"WHY DOESN'T SHE?" Strahd shouted.
Through his window, somehow, he could see the Amber Temple from miles away. As his anger faded, he began to think.
The next moment, he was riding his horse south, away from the castle, as fast as he could go.
"Make the announcement!" Sergei announced to the castle servants, who were gathered together. "Tatyana and I will be married within the tenday!"
The servants applauded him and left to prepare for the event. Sergei looked around anxiously. No one had seen Strahd since last night.
"Excuse me," Sergei interrupted a servant who was leaving the room. "What is your name?"
"Amir, Lord Sergei."
"Do you know where my brother is?"
"He's in his chambers, my Lord," Amir answered smoothly. "I believe he needs some time to himself after the trip, to recover and think about ruling the valley."
"Of course," Sergei should have realized Strahd would need time; he'd nearly died. "Tell him I hope he gets better, and I'm there if he needs anything."
Amir nodded and left.
Sergei turned to find Tatyana, who had entered the meeting room.
"It's official!" he announced happily. "Let's start our plans for the wedding."
As Ulmed rode, the pounding in his chest got more and more painful. It increased until he thought he couldn't take it anymore. Right at that moment, an explosion seemed to take place inside his torso. He fell off his horse, crashing onto the ground. When his vision cleared, he saw there was a gaping hole right through the center of his chest. He could see through it to the other side. And it was vomiting blood.
There was a growling in front of him. Ulmed looked up to see a horrible creature he'd have been happy to never see in his life. The thing that had come out of him.
The horror was indescribable; it was half-formed, aberrant, mind-breaking. Ulmed could barely begin to process its horrible form. It was impossible to distinguish limbs, or a head, or any appendages from the mass that was its body. It was coated in petrified wood, alien crystal, and rusted mechanisms. Its sharp exoskeleton seemed sculpted from stone. It had countless legs, with many jointed appendages, and thrashing tentacles. Half its skin seemed to be clots of boneless flesh, with shadowy tendrils reaching through the air for Ulmed's flesh. The monster advanced towards him, entrails and maggots falling out of its body that seemed to be inside out.
The beast slammed two massive spider-like legs into the ground, and suddenly mist was surrounding it and Ulmed, enclosing them in a dome. As Ulmed looked around him, he noticed the time there was strange. His movements and the speed things changed would alternate between speeding up and slowing down.
The creature made some horrible sound that was impossible to describe. Shakily, because of his quick blood loss from the chest wound, Ulmed stood and drew his two swords. He was fighting it in a bubble of the Mist.
The aberrant grabbed one of Ulmed swords with a boneless, skinless hand, and crushed it as though it were a fly. Gripping his remaining sword in both hands, Ulmed tried to stem his blood flow and prepared to fight.
Strahd stood at the front gates of the Amber Temple, a howling wind blowing around him. He watched the massive jewel doors until they creaked open, and he strode into the Temple.
Exethanter stood at the front of a crowd of the Priests of Osybus, all of which were smiling devilishly.
"Welcome back, Strahd," said the lich.
"You said," the von Zarovich muttered, "That you can change people. Make them how they want to be."
"And how do you want to be?"
"I want Tatyana to love me," Strahd growled. "I want to be young and healthy and beautiful and strong again."
Exethanter nodded. "We can do that. Follow us."
Two days had passed since their wedding announcement, and Sergei and Tatyana were still busy planning it.
"What kind of napkins do you want for the feast?" Sergei asked, considering the options.
Tatyana had been staring blankly at a napkin. She jumped. "I don't know. I've never even seen this many napkins in one place."
Sergei frowned. "Tatyana, are you alright?"
"Of course," she answered quickly. Sergei could tell that wasn't true, but he didn't push it. He trusted her to tell him if anything was wrong.
Strahd followed two cultists to where Exethanter stood in a doorway.
"For the past two days, I've been locked in a white room," he began furiously. "No one will talk to me, and I've been fed only once a day. What is this?"
"Apologies, but we had to rid you of the outside world's influence," Exethanter ducked her head. "As well, we needed time to build this."
She led him into the room, where Strahd found a massive pool. But instead of water, it was filled with churning blood.
He leaned over to look into it, and saw his reflection, only it was different. It was him, but how he wanted himself to be: younger, handsome. There were no scars on his face. No grey in his hair. No wrinkles on his brow. He looked like someone Tatyana could love.
As he opened his mouth to gasp in shock, Exethanter slapped the blood pool, and his reflection vanished.
"That is what we can make you become," she promised.
"How do we begin?" he demanded.
Ulmed wiped his sweaty hair out of his eyes. He and the horror had been circling each other in the mist chamber for what felt like forever. It struck quickly, and in countless different ways. He'd barely been able to parry its attacks. And his blood kept spilling out of his chest wound, making his head fuzzy and him tired.
The monster lurched forward, and Ulmed raised his sword to block its strike. But before he realized what was happening, another clawed hand had grabbed one of his legs and was pulling it upwards. He fell to the ground, and felt himself being lifted up. He slashed out blindly, trying to keep himself from being taken off the ground, but the creature snapped his leg in one swift movement, breaking it, and dropped him.
Ulmed fell to the ground, his vision glowing red with pain that was thrumming through his whole body. He couldn't feel his leg anymore, he could only feel a throbbing agony scorching his flesh.
Ulmed lashed out with his sword in case the beast was getting close to him, and felt himself be rejuvenated when he felt the steel connect with aberrant matter. He opened his eyes and found his weapon had cut deep into one of the monster's legs. Feeling a glimmer of hope again, he drew the sword out and tried to stand up. But when he took it out, a spray of black, shiny liquid splashed from the wound. Before he could react, it had splattered all over him. Immediately, he was howling in pain. The acid had sunk right into his skin, and burned hotter than fire. Ulmed clawed at his own skin, feeling it melt off like wet paper. His hair was burning and melting too, and he writhed from the thing's acid blood.
"Sergei," Tatyana began hesitantly. She'd been wanting to ask him some questions for the three days that had passed since their talk while choosing napkins, but hadn't been able to work up the courage. "What would you do if… someone wasn't who you thought they were?"
Sergei considered it. "What do you mean?"
"Or, what would you do if… someone could ruin everything, and they might?"
Sergei frowned. Was she talking about herself? "You don't have to worry," he promised her. "Everything will go fine. And, we can cancel the wedding if you don't want to."
That wasn't it at all.
"No, Sergei… I want to marry you."
Strahd hadn't left his room for the past five days, according to the servants. Tatyana couldn't tell Sergei what his brother had said. It would only make things worse for everyone.
Two Priests snuck through the Amber Temple in the dead of night, creeping silently into the room with the blood pool. Strahd lay in the center, unconscious, floating and soaked red.
"It's not fair," one of the cultists muttered. "He's been lying there for days, and hasn't even woken up. I don't see any change on him yet."
"He's just hoarding it," accused the other. "He hasn't woken up in days, let's just take a little."
The two Priests knelt down by the pool edge, but the moment their lips touched the blood, Strahd's eyes flew open. The von Zarovich flew across the pool with inhuman speed. He grabbed one cultist by the neck, before crushing the green immortality tattoo on the Priest's forehead with two fingers. Then, Strahd threw the thief into the wall, where he lay unmoving.
Strahd turned his attention to the second Priest, who was backing away slowly. Before she could flee, Strahd had grabbed her by the shoulders and sunk his teeth into her neck, simultaneously killing her and destroying the tattoo that glowed on her throat.
Exethanter stepped slowly into the room, watching the bloodsoaked, panting Strahd, and the cultist's bodies, which faded away into nothingness.
Strahd beheld his bloodstained body as he felt the might and energy he'd had vanish.
"That was only an ounce of the power you'll have when we're done," Exethanter promised. "Let's continue."
Ulmed writhed on the ground, moaning in pain. His leg- his skin- his head- it was too much to bear.
It was cold in the mist-chamber, and the chill seemed to slice through his raw flesh that no longer had skin protecting it.
The horror loomed dimly over him. Ulmed tried to stab it, but it grabbed the tip of his sword as though it were nothing and pulled the weapon towards it. Feeling like it used every scrap of energy left in his body, he pulled the sword out of the monster's grip. Before he could celebrate the small victory, something that looked like a spell had shot out of one of the creature's openings. The hex projectile plowed into his chest, throwing him backwards through the air. Ulmed landed on his back. As he tried to push himself up, a swordlike limb stabbed him in the gut, going straight through.
Ulmed screamed louder than he'd ever screamed. The pain was too much. Every nerve in his body was on fire. He pressed his hands to his stomach, but the blood still flowed like a waterfall, out of his chest as well.
He felt his vision fading, the beast's noises replaced by a muffled ringing in his ears. He was slipping away. He was losing the fight.
"I don't like this," Avon Dilisnya whispered. "It would be easier to just kill them."
Corv shook his head. "There would be too many people missing. It would cause suspicion."
It was night. Avon, Corv, and two of their allies were waiting in the shadows of a building, on an empty street. At last, their targets passed. Three rich men, all wearing expensive clothes, all of them with decorative rings on their fingers.
"You three," Avon said, stepping out of the shadows. The rich men turned to him.
"Those rings are invitations, aren't they?" while Avon talked, Corv and the two others were sneaking around behind the men. "They're going to admit you to Sergei and Tatyana's wedding."
"That's Lord Sergei," one of the rich men interrupted.
"Of course," Avon agreed.
Right at that moment, each of the rich men were grabbed and restrained by Avon's allies.
"Hand the rings over," Dilisnya ordered.
Trembling, the victims put them in Avon's open palm.
"Very good," Avon gestured to the biggest of his allies. "See this man here? This is Wojtek. The next few days, you'll probably see him wherever you go. He'll be watching you. If you so much as mention anything about us or your rings being stolen, he'll kill you. Do you understand?"
The frightened men nodded vigorously. Avon's allies released them, and they ran off.
Dilisnya considered the rings in his hand. "It looks like we're invited to the wedding, Corv." he smirked. "This is too easy."
Sergei stood by Strahd's door in Castle Ravenloft, feeling hesitant. It had been eight days since they'd returned to Castle Ravenloft from their trip. Eight days since he'd asked Tatyana to marry him. And his brother had been in his room the whole time. Was he seriously injured? Had something happened?
Feeling worried, he knocked on the door. There was no response.
"Do you wish to see him?" Amir the servant asked, arriving beside him.
"Yes, if it's possible," Sergei answered.
"I'm afraid not," Amir shook her head sadly. "He's recovered now, but he's been busy organizing everything. He has to establish his rule over Barovia, and clean up after his war campaign. He didn't want to be disturbed in his room. I'm sure you understand."
"Yes, I understand," Sergei nodded.
"I can promise he'll be there for the wedding, though," the servant added.
Feeling slightly more cheerful, Sergei thanked her and left.
Amir watched him leave.
"He most definitely will be there," she murmured, a wicked grin crossing her face.
The next day, Exethanter entered the blood pool chamber to find Strahd floating, unconscious, in the center. But he seemed agitated. His face was set in a deep frown and he was thrashing, like he was fighting something in his sleep.
"He's been at the Temple nine days," the lich stated. "The time has come. Everyone, gather."
The blood was frothing and bubbling, boiling and splashing, surrounding Strahd. Exethanter stood at the edge of the pool, the Priests of Osybus lined up around the edge, peering into the water.
"The time has come," Exethanter chanted. "Dark Powers, take this soul and use it as a vessel. Bring power, bring hatred, bring malice."
The cultists dived one by one into the blood pool. They surfaced, gasping for breath, and began to swim toward Strahd.
"Give him what he wants… and more." As Exethanter spoke, the column of mist that had lurked through the Temple for days swirled over the pool, then surrounded it in a swirling dome, blocking Exethanter's view from the edge of what was happening.
"Let him conquer the world!"
Strahd's eyes flew open. Instantly, the Priests turned and swam away from him as fast as they could. But the von Zarovich was quicker, and he soon caught up to his fleeing prey.
Exethanter stretched out a skeletal hand and placed it on the swirling mist. "I bless this union. He is the Ancient, he is the Land. He is ours!"
The mist vanished. The blood that had filled the pool was gone. Strahd stood in the center of the empty pool, radiating power. The Priests of Osybus had retreated as far as they could from him. However, some hadn't gotten away in time. Those lay dead at Strahd's feet.
Exethanter opened her mouth and laughed, a malevolent cackle that filled the air and echoed around the Temple.
The wedding had begun! Guests had started to arrive at Castle Ravenloft when it had gotten dark. Sergei surveyed the excitement and chatter in the Entrance Hall, where it was being held. Food was being served, and everyone seemed abuzz with excitement.
Tatyana entered the room, robed in a beautiful dress she had chosen. Sergei walked over to her and took her hand.
"You've made me the happiest man in the world," he smiled.
Strahd would arrive soon, he knew it.
"Is it done?" Strahd demanded. "Have I been changed?"
"Most definitely," Exethanter promised.
Strahd felt his face, checked himself over. "I don't feel any different."
"There is one last step," the lich admitted.
Strahd set his jaw. "What is it?"
She leaned forward and whispered it. Strahd nodded, understanding.
"Go now," Exethanter encouraged. "Do it and be quick."
The von Zarovich turned and left, heading north as fast as he could. He would make Tatyana love him. She would see who he truly was, very, very soon.
The Priests of Osybus stood on the front balcony of their Temple, watching Strahd leave. Each one of their eyes glowed with excitement.
Tatyana danced arm in arm with Sergei; everyone was dancing and having a good time. When the music paused, she had a chance to look around.
It relieved her, and worried her, when she saw Strahd wasn't there.
The horror picked Ulmed up by his still-functioning leg, lifting it up as high as its arm could go. Ulmed's broken leg flopped uselessly; it wouldn't move to kick the creature. His arms couldn't reach, and he was using them to try and stem the blood flow from his chest and stomach. He must have lost over half the blood in his body.
Desperate, Ulmed tried harder to kick the monster's limb, but his injured leg refused to cooperate. Suddenly, he felt himself being slammed to the ground. He crashed into it so hard he felt teeth break, felt a few ribs crack, thought he heard his brain rattling around in his skull. The beast lifted him up and slammed him again, again, again. He blacked out, his brain so damaged and his body so bloodless. The horror picked him up again, lifting him towards one of its mouths. Ulmed's dangling arms scraped past something. It was his sword! He must have stabbed his enemy when he was writhing in pain earlier.
As he was lowered towards a gaping black toothless maw, he found strength he didn't know he had. Ulmed pulled the sword out of the monster's skin, and stabbed it straight through what looked like a head.
The monster screeched in pain, legs and body parts jerking and convulsing. The black acid blood pumped out of the wound right into Ulmed's face, and he screamed too as his teeth disintegrated and his melted skin sloughed right off his face. The beast dropped him to the ground. As its body faded into nothingness, so did the mist-chamber he'd been trapped in. Ulmed found himself back in the forest where the thing had first emerged from his chest. He noticed the moon had changed position in the sky, and lots of things looked different. Dimly, he wondered how much time had passed, since time moved differently in the mist-chamber. Then, his senses stopped working and he fell to the ground.
For a moment, he imagined how he must look: a pale, bloodless, broken and twisted corpse, with skin melted and holes right through its body. Then he couldn't think anymore, so he lay there and waited to die.
"May this union offer much joy to the both of you, and may the gods bless this marriage," the priest read to Sergei and Tatyana. They gazed at each other with joy.
From the pitch-dark forest, Strahd emerged to see Castle Ravenloft. He headed towards the front gates.
Avon and a dozen of his closest allies entered the wedding. He and the original inhabitants of Barovia, who'd lived there before Strahd, wore large hats to hide their faces. The rings let them enter without trouble.
The gates were thrown open as Strahd stormed towards them. The door to the Entrance Hall was in front of him.
"May you be united in heart and soul," the priest continued.
Avon and his allies sat in the row where Jaco stood guard. After catching the rebel guard's eye, Avon casually bent down and worked the stone beneath his feet, revealing the hidden cache of weapons. Without anyone noticing, he passed the weapons to his allies.
"Sergei and Tatyana," the priest asked, "Do you-"
Strahd reached the hall doors and threw them open.