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Midnight approached on a scantly clouded Fifsday night. Light from a waxing gibbous moon illuminated the forest. Crickets chirped in the distance. An owl hooted. Fog wafted along the forest floor.

A solitary paladin crouched in the shadows behind a massive oak. He prayed to the goddess Arinna for strength. The trap was set. A deep hole covered with branches. The afternoon had been spent digging the pit with the help of the local villagers. At the bottom of the pit the paladin had placed a cloth covered in his sweat. He closed his eyes. An inner power was summoned within him. His golden armor glowed with a defensive aura created to hide human scent from approaching quarry.

The forest went silent. Too silent. Mournful howling echoed throughout the wilderness. The reviled beast that he had been sent to slay was approaching. He fluidly slid the imbued sword from its sheath and slid the visor over his face. The sword was bane to the monsters he sought to exterminate. Snarling brought the paladin to attention. He stealthily stole a glance at the monster. Damn. A werewolf.

The magical sword would only be an annoyance to the lycanthrope. The paladin slid the sword back into its sheath. Crouching, the paladin withdrew a silver dagger from a sheath within his armor-plated boot. Fortunately, the moon was a couple of days from being full. Werewolves are most powerful under the light of a full moon.

Sniffing could be heard from the werewolf. The scent at the bottom of the trap had been caught by the monster. A deafening crash resounded through the forest as the werewolf fell into the trap.

The paladin had scant time to kill the beast before it escaped the trap. He reviewed the arsenal of magic. Holy bolts would be ineffective. Defensive auras would protect him for a short time, but eventually would fail. Perhaps an offensive blazing aura would protect him. He summoned power from within himself. A fiery aura covered his armor. Cautiously, the paladin peered into the deep pit.

The werewolf leapt from the pit toward the paladin. He was a blur of thick fur, menacing claws, and slavering canines. Lashing out with his dagger, the paladin attempted to stab the beast in the heart. He missed.

The werewolf lashed at the paladin with his razor sharp claws, yelping in pain as the aura burned his paw. The force of the attack slammed the paladin into the nearby tree bringing a grunt from the holy warrior and knocking the dagger out of his hand. The claws did not penetrate the runic armor, only a huge dent evinced the attack. The paladin lay there struggling to regain his footing, gasping for breath. The blazing aura dissipated. The werewolf approached, burns healing rapidly.

The paladin looked for his dagger. The weapon was out of reach. He knew it was over for him. One bite from the lycanthrope and he would share the nightmare of becoming a mindless beast that preyed on the innocent. He prayed to the goddess.

The werewolf growled maliciously, gazing at the human with his savage golden eyes. A cloud shielded the monster from the moon. The fur fell from his shoulders, claws slid into fingers, and the muzzle diminished into a human visage. A naked man stood before the paladin in the shadows, shivering from the chill.

"Where am I?" the man asked the paladin.

"In the wilderness," the paladin responded.

"How did I get here?"

"You walked as a werewolf." The paladin used the tree as leverage to regain his footing.

"There is no such thing as a werewolf. Wh-who are you?"

"I am Sir Rolland Helle Stutz, the paladin sent to free your soul." Rolland walked toward the dagger.

"You've got to be shitting me!"

"I speak only the truth." Rolland retrieved the dagger from the muddy ground.

"Fuck you! Leave me alo-" The naked man screamed as he caught sight of the revealed moon. His face distended into a muzzle and fur began to emerge.

The paladin prayed for the goddess to guide his aim. With a fluid motion, he threw the dagger. The blade struck the werewolf in the heart. The monster collapsed breathing his last. The werewolf had been in mid transformation. The paladin would leave the dagger in the corpse for good measure.

"Thank you great goddess," Rolland prostrated. He removed his helm and gazed skyward. Rolland's blond hair came to his shoulders, sweaty from confinement.

"You have served me well," Arinna spoke. "You have earned a respite."

Rolland fired three holy bolts into the air from his right hand signaling the villagers to fill the hole with dirt that had been placed in a cart. He didn't want anyone to fall into the pit unawares. He dragged the body of the werewolf into the pit and covered the corpse with salt. The pit would serve as a grave. After the villagers had buried the monster he marked the site with a holy spike bringing forth the blessing of Arinna on the tortured soul.

Rolland walked back into the village. The twenty villagers followed, some riding in back of the cart, others walking. The villagers had housed him at the inn and he was offered lodging for as long as the need arose. He would remain there until the goddess summoned him again, which would not be long as the pace of evil increased.

Rolland trudged up the steps to his room exhausted. Using magic usually left him drained and in dire need of rest. The elderly innkeeper greeted him at the top of the stairway.

"I have prepared a bath for ye," he said.

"Thank you," Rolland said.

Rolland walked into the bathing room and placed his helm on a nearby chair. He slipped off his boots, gauntlets, and undid the straps on the armor. Within moments he was clad only in his undergarment. He stripped out of the rest of his clothing and examined himself. A dark bruise marred his chest, otherwise he was unharmed. The goddess would most likely heal his bruise overnight. He slipped into the lilac-scented bathwater and closed his eyes. The floral scent relaxed his aching muscles.

Rolland had been in service to the goddess for about five years now. The Order of the Orchid was pledged with the extermination of the forces of evil from the world. He had faced many monsters from dragons to banshees and from vampires to demons. He spent his entire adult life fulfilling his duty. The paladin's life was a lonely one; celibate and in service to the light.

Rolland slipped out of the bathtub and dried himself with a provided towel. He wrapped the towel around his waist and wandered into his bedroom. He left his armor and undergarment for the maids to remove. Withdrawing a fresh undergarment from his saddlebag the paladin dressed and plunged beneath the covers of the king-sized bed. He was asleep in seconds dreaming of Arinna's love.

Rolland awoke at noon the next day, which was Seisday and yawned deeply. He chastised himself for sleeping late and missing his morning ministrations. Kneeling he prayed to the goddess for forgiveness. She usually did not respond save for during missions. His armor had been returned, the dent hammered out by the local blacksmith. He dawned his armor leaving his sword and helm in his room. The armor was heavy, but he had grown used to the reassuring weight over his nine years as a warrior of the light. The first four years had been training.

The paladin went downstairs for lunch where he consumed some roasted chicken and biscuits.

Several villagers came by thanking him for his service. A middle-aged woman approached him after the others with a worried look on her face.

"Was Michael with the other villagers during the hunt?" Her brow creased with concern.

"What did he look like?" Rolland asked.

"Medium-length brown hair, hazel eyes, and a scar under his chin."

"That could be many of the local villagers."

"He also had a strange mark on his left hand."

"Like a star?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but I think Michael was the werewolf."

"You killed my son!" The woman beat her fists on his armor weeping bitterly. Rolland tried to console her with a tender embrace. "Don't touch me you murderer!" She walked away cursing the paladin.

It was part of life as a paladin. Often the monsters turned out to be ordinary folk that had been cursed by other monsters that had once been ordinary folk and on and on. He knew his welcome in the village would be short, especially if the villagers were fond of Michael. He prayed the goddess would have another mission soon. He hastily finished his lunch and sprinted upstairs to gather his belongings munching on a biscuit as he ran. He knew it would not be long before the villagers assembled a posse and came after him. Rolland walked briskly to the stable to get his horse. Gale had been his mare for a few years now, a magnificent white horse that had seen him through numerous treks.

The stable boy greeted him jovially. He was a red head with freckled skin about twelve years of age. The preteen brought the mare to Rolland and saddled her. Gale nickered softly as Rolland fed her a carrot. Rolland knew it was going to be an arduous ride for the mare and would most likely require magic. The paladin straddled the mare and rode out of the stable.

"Wait!" The town constable shouted. "I need to have a conversation with ye!"

"I have to leave. No time to talk now," Rolland galloped toward the road.

The town constable was a young man with black hair and a goatee named Edgar Ravenwood. He blew his whistle and fifteen riders appeared with a sixteenth riderless horse. Edgar slipped onto the vacant horse and the posse rode in pursuit of the paladin.

Rolland brought his mare to full gallop. If he made it past the bridge over the Chronnie River he would have evaded his pursuers. The road was little more than a muddy trail through the wilderness. Gale's hooves splattered mud as she maintained her rapid pace. Hours passed and the paladin continued to ride. As his mare tired, the villagers almost caught up with him nearly riding their horses to the ground. It was time for some magic. Rolland summoned his magic and fired two holy bolts into the horse. Gale recovered her energy and resumed the pace. About another hour into the chase, the posse had to rest their horses. Their pursuit had ended. Rolland breathed a sigh of relief.

Rolland crossed the bridge and decided it was a good time for a rest. He removed his helm and gazed down the road. There was no sign of the posse. He fed and watered Gale, then let her rest awhile. He ate some day-old bread he had placed in his saddlebag and drank some water from the river dunking his head into the chilly water. He figured it was about three in the afternoon. It was difficult to determine the exact time of day with the heavy covering of clouds over the sky. Rolland removed a map from his bag and scanned it for temples to the goddess. The nearest temple was to the north about four hours away in Blutwelt. Blutwelt was one of the three largest cities on the continent of Abvalia.

Rolland rode at a vigorous pace. About two hours into the journey, the clouds came together. A heavy deluge drenched paladin, mare, and road. Mud spattered with each gallop. Gale was covered in muck, nearly turning her brown. He was too tired to use his magic. If he had the energy, he could have formed a protective aura around both himself and the horse. The journey that should have taken four hours ended up taking six. It was about eight in the evening when he finally made it to the cobblestone roadway an hour from Blutwelt.

The terrain changed from forest to valley at the beginning of the cobblestone road. The rain continued as the paladin rode towards Blutwelt. Much of the mud that had covered him and his mare was washed away with the downpour. Only the stubborn stains remained as they made it to the large city.

Blutwelt was a large city with cottages for the peasants, a shop center, and a giant castle looking over the town from a perch atop a massive plateau. Rolland assumed there was a path to the castle on one of the sides of the mesa, but he couldn't see it from the direction he was traveling. The Temple to Arinna was a massive golden dome on the eastern side of Blutwelt. He made a right turn at the intersection toward the temple. Few people saw the paladin enter the town, for it was late.

Rolland made it to the entrance of the temple nearly collapsing in exhaustion. He dismounted and guided Gale to the door. He knocked thrice listening to the booming echo beyond. A white-robed priestess opened the door and gazed at the paladin. She was a beautiful bronze-skinned woman with high cheekbones and luminous green eyes. She wore a golden medallion in the shape of a sun, similar to the sun that adorned the breastplate of his armor.

"Welcome honored paladin. I am priestess Talia Shaka," She beckoned him inside.

"I am Sir Rolland Helle Stutz."

Paladins were the only men allowed in the temple. Their vows of celibacy allowed for them to serve the clerics without becoming a threat to the chastity of the priestesses.

A stable girl came in to guide Gale to the stables. The mare would be well cared for among the temple inhabitants.

Few people walked the temple at night. Talia had nighttime vigilance for the temple. She led Rolland toward the steps to the paladin quarters. The room was round with stairs to the north, dining commons to the west, and the sanctuary to the east.

Rolland observed an acolyte performing a dance to the goddess on a dais in the center of the circular foyer. The moon illuminated her with white light through the skylight. The torches cast their flickering light about the chamber. The acolyte was naked and dancing gracefully. Her black hair flowed about her slender frame. Her proud breasts and dark bush revealed unabashedly. The paladin saw the beauty in her ritual rather than any sexual ramifications. He went around the dais to the stairway.

Talia guided him into the bathing commons to clean the filth from his body. Rolland removed his armor and weaponry to place them in a storage cupboard. He would not be allowed to bring them into the sanctuary or the bathing room. Talia stripped him of his undergarment and led him in the bathe. He stood naked before her, his rigid discipline retaining his calm.

The massive pool was vacant at this time of night and the paladin could relax in the warm soapy water. The room including the pool was formed by marble tiles. Golden statues of naked women with massive breasts surrounded the pool. Fountains of water spouted from the breasts of the four statues surrounding the pool. Talia left him to his bath. Rolland slipped his head below the waters to scrub his blond locks. When he reemerged, a blue velvet robe had been placed for him on the hook next to the door. He studied the bruise that still marred his chest, but had lessened since the day prior.

Tomorrow, he would commune with Arinna in the sanctuary. Tomorrow was Sevsday, the sanctuary would be deserted for much of the day. The day after tomorrow was Firsday and men were not permitted in the sanctuary during the weekly rituals. He often wondered what the women did during those rituals, but Arinna told him to focus on his duty.

Rolland finished his bath and dried himself with a towel. He slipped into the soft velvet robe and exited the chamber. Talia was waiting for him in the hallway.

"Follow me," she instructed.

Rolland followed the priestess to the room set aside for visiting paladins. The room was sparsely furnished with a bed and chair. The priestess left him in the room. He closed the wooden door and slipped beneath the quilt. The bed had been perfumed with a rose scent. He slept fitfully dreaming of Arinna and the day she had appeared to him in a vision. Since that day, he had served her diligently. She told him that he had a destiny and would one day save the world. For now, he served the world one evil at a time.

Rolland awoke at about nine on Sevsday. The temple was quiet as if in anticipation for the rituals of Firsday. The robes Talia had provided him served as both a sleeping garment and an appropriate robe for venturing into the halls of the temple. He went downstairs to the dining commons for a bite to eat.

Several female acolytes were consuming pastries at a nearby table. When they saw the paladin, they bowed to him in reverence. When he passed, they resumed their meal.

Rolland acquired a plate of scones with an apple crumb topping from the cook. The cook was an elderly female who had most likely been in service to the temple for her entire life. He ate alone in silence thanking the goddess for the meal.

After finishing his breakfast Rolland strolled into the sanctuary. He felt the love of the goddess wash over him as he approached the altar. A gargantuan statue of Arinna adorned the area behind the altar. The statue was gold and a perfect reflection of the naked beauty of the goddess. Her palms were suspended downwards over the pedestal casting shadows to the sides of the altar. Tears flooded the paladin's eyes as he beheld the idol to Arinna. Rolland was in awe. He kneeled and began praying to the goddess.

"Welcome great paladin," Arinna spoke to him. "The statue is magnificent but it is only a representation of me."

"I know. But the likeness is uncanny," he brushed the tears from his eyes.

"Blutwelt is in need of your services. The city is ruled by a family of chiropteran who reside in the castle on the mesa. Lately, suspicion has fallen over them due to several deaths of innocents. I know not whether they are responsible or not."

"Why not determine that with your omnipotence?"

"The more involved I become the more likely the Dark Lord will become aware of your presence and send minions to try to stop you. If I read the minds of those in Blutwelt, you may find yourself fighting more than a single evil."

"I will do my duty," Rolland stood up gazing deeply at the statue. Arinna had finished her summons. It wasn't like him to question the goddess.

Rolland exited the sanctuary and climbed the stairs to his room. He commanded an acolyte to bring him his armor. He removed the velvet robe and slid into a fresh undergarment. Sitting on the bed, he pulled on his torso armor adjusting the straps in place. He pulled on his armored boots and gauntlets. He slid his enchanted sword into the sheath at his belt. Dressed in full paladin garb, Rolland was ready to face evil.

Rolland exited the temple, leaving his horse within the stables. The sun was shining today with few clouds marring the blue perfection. Visiting townsfolk was best done on foot. He decided to begin in the town center. He went to many shops on this day including the florist, the butcher, and the blacksmith. No one had lost anyone to evil thus far in his search. He continued down the road.

Late afternoon approached when he entered the bakery. The scent of fresh baked bread, with a slight yeasty tang, filled the room. A haggard young woman greeted him behind the counter. She must have been in her twenties. Her brown hair was slicked back in a mousy fashion. Haunted eyes gazed at him amid craters of darkness. She had obviously been grieving.

"Can I help you sir paladin?" She set a tray of muffins down upon the counter.

"No," Rolland replied. "Can I help you? Have you been touched by a foul evil?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to talk about it? I am here to help the innocents of Blutwelt."

"I'll close up my shop for the day," the woman walked to the door and turned the sign to closed. She locked the door and directed the paladin to the room above.

Rolland followed the baker to her living quarters. She brought tea and raspberry pastries to her guest. Her quarters were decent but well lived in. Gazing around the room it was obvious that she liked daisies for artwork depicting the flowers decorated everything from the walls to the tablecloth covering the table they sat around.

"I am Sir Rolland Helle Stutz, paladin to Arinna."

"I'm Genevieve Barina, baker to Blutwelt."

"What has been troubling you?" Rolland asked followed by a sip of vanilla tea.

"My daughter has been murdered. She was only five! It was evening and we were walking home from Firsday services in the temple. A winged beast swooped in and took my daughter.

The last thing I saw of her was a drop of blood that struck my forehead,"

"I'm terribly sorry," Rolland consoled.

"It was the chiropteran, I know it!" Genevieve wailed.

"Are you sure?"

"It has to be! Who else around here could do that?"

Rolland had a few guesses, but it could have been the chiropteran. He was sure other townsfolk would have lost loved ones too. He needed to visit the castle on the mesa. The clerics called the castle Mondfluch Schloss.

"I will look into the chiropteran," Rolland stood and took the pastry to go.

"Thank you noble paladin," Genevieve hugged him as he prepared to leave. The hug made the paladin uncomfortable so he quickly extracted himself from her arms.

Rolland left the bakery and headed toward the cottages. He went door to door in the cottages into the early evening hours. He met several more townsfolk who had lost someone to a winged flying beast. He exited the final cottage in the evening hours. The final victim he questioned was a carpenter who had lost a son to the beast. The blond bearded man discussed the loss with Rolland outside his cottage.

The paladin decided it was time to return to the temple. As he walked back, Rolland smelled an aroma akin to nutmeg mixed with something he could not identify. He could feel his face flush with excitement as he was assailed by the odor. He felt a stirring in his loins that he usually had control over. His throbbing erection strained against his armor. He sprinted to the temple fighting to get away from the aroma. He entered and closed the door behind him. Rolland fought to regain his composure, forcing thoughts of sexuality deep inside his mind.

Rolland strode toward his room and caught the sight on an acolyte performing a ritual dance in the nude. She was feline, very rare for this region. He watched as her tail swayed with her graceful movements. He averted his eyes, rapidly moving to his room. Rolland kneeled and prayed.

Several hours later a soft knock at his door brought him out of his prayer meditation. Talia brought him a small letter. She left him alone.

Rolland withdrew a silver dagger and gingerly opened the envelope. It was an invitation to a dinner party at Mondfluch Schloss. The next piece to the puzzle had to be among the residents of that castle. A formal dinner party required dress robes. Fortunately, there were several dress robes in the closet of the paladin quarters. He opened the golden door to the closet and selected a white robe embroidered with golden suns. He slipped the robe on. He pulled on white tight leggings and matching dress boots. He would leave his sword in his room. The party was in about an hour, very short notice. His presence would not have been known until recently. He gazed outside his window noticing the large full harvest moon illuminating the town.

Rolland walked to the entrance of the temple about a half hour later to be greeted by a male human chariot driver.

"Welcome, sir paladin."

"Thank you."

The driver opened the door in the side of the mahogany chariot and gestured to his guest. Rolland entered and took his seat. The door was closed. Rolland meditated as the four black stallions guided the vehicle toward the castle. The road behind the mesa spiraled into the high precipice. The journey took about thirty minutes and the horses were winded at its conclusion.

The driver opened the door and the paladin was greeted by a chiropteran dressed in a purple fur-fringed robe. He cringed in revulsion at the hideous creature. Massive pointed ears twitched at each sound. The leathery wings draped to the side of his regal robes. Short, brown fur covered the entirety of his exposed body. His eyes were the shade of dark merlot.

The protruding fangs of the chiropteran from a stubby snout held the paladin's attention. The fangs reminded Rolland of the vampires he had once fought. He told himself these were not vampires, but a unique species that shared few vampiric traits. He reminded himself that one couldn't assume they were evil without robust proof. Several human and chiropteran attendants served the count's every whim.

"Welcome noble paladin. I am Count Vladmir Des Mondfluch."

Rolland followed the count into the banquet hall. He was to be seated at the table of honor. Many guests had already been seated at the lower tables. The guests were mostly humans, with few chiropterans sprinkled among the hominine. The room was dimly lit due to the light sensitivity of the chiropterans. A few candles provided limited illumination.

Rolland stood as the count introduced the honored guests.

Rolland watched as a smallish human with a shaved pate entered the room. He wore green robes and seemed to radiate a ghastly green aura. The man in green continuously stoked a triangle of hair beneath his lips. Rolland was not sure whether anyone else could see the aura for his senses were greatly amplified with years of paladin training.

"Welcome Baron Sven Von Todeserbauer," the count announced. The baron bowed and took a position to the left of the count.

Welcome my daughter Lady Anika Des Mondfluch."

Rolland was entranced by the beautiful creature before him. He was shocked that the female chiropterans would be so ravishing compared to the ugliness of the males. Her gown was a deep royal blue that accented her shapely curves. The flickering candles seemed to make the dress sparkle in hypnotic patterns. Six blue sapphire earrings evenly adorned her massive pointed ears. Her long hair flowed betwixt her ears in locks of black and purple. It was her massive violet eyes that held the paladin transfixed as they gazed about the room. A slender tongue snaked from between her perfectly proportioned muzzle. He could imagine the sensual feel of the soft fur covering her body. She curtsied gracefully before she took her place right of the count. Rolland also stood to the right of the count with Anika directly to his left.

Rolland tried not to stare too deeply at the female chiropteran. It was then that he was buffeted by a whiff of spice. He recognized the nutmeg-like scent immediately. There was nowhere to run this time. His breathing quickened. He was grateful his robes would conceal his rigidity. He couldn't focus on the other introductions as six others entered. He nearly jumped when he heard his name introduced as the guest of honor. He bowed stiffly feeling his hardened member against his abdomen. He was grateful when the count sat down. All the guests were allowed to take their seats after the count took his.

Rolland gazed askance at Anika, noticing her large firm breasts. He fought within himself to stem his sexual desire. It would help if he did not pay so much attention to her.

"So what brings a paladin to Blutwelt," Anika's musical voice caught Rolland off guard.

"I came here to rest after slaying the Werewolf of Jasper," Rolland said.

"Was that difficult?" Anika gazed deeply into the eyes of the paladin.

"He almost had me when the goddess intervened."

"So, you serve the goddess Arinna?"

"Yes."

"We chiropteran worship the moon god Khonsu."

"Arinna hasn't mentioned Khonsu, but she seldom speaks to me."

"I wouldn't doubt that, she seems to be a goddess that prefers the company of women. How can you possibly serve her?"

"She called to me in my time of need. She told me I would find what I sought as I served her."

"Have you found what you were looking for?"

"I forgot what I was originally seeking."

"Maybe you'll find it here in Blutwelt."

Rolland was lost in thought as a servant brought a dish ornately prepared with ham, potatoes, and slender asparagus stalks to him. He detested the weed, but would nibble on the vegetables to be polite. Food was served to all the humans. The chiropterans were each brought a silver goblet, which they clasped between clawed fingers. He did not want to think about the liquid the bats were drinking. Many of the humans were drinking champagne, but he refused the alcohol and instead drank water.

The count looked in the paladin's direction gazing at him sternly. "I heard you were asking the townsfolk about us."

"I was trying to ascertain the culprit in the deaths of innocents," Rolland said.

"Tell me about these deaths," the count commanded.

"I was told they were snatched up by a massive winged creature with the wings of a bat."

"And, you naturally assumed it might be us."

"It was a possibility," Rolland said.

"We do not kill innocents!" Anika hissed.

"So no chiropterans have gone feral recently?" Rolland fidgeted slightly under the scrutiny of the bats.

"All blood is taken from willing subjects," Vladmir suggested.

"I'm sorry if I offended you," Rolland said bowing politely.

The dinner was completed and plates were taken away by the servants. The count clapped his hands three times. A small group of male human minstrels came in playing flutes, strumming mandolins, and beating on tambourines. They wore royal blue with silver sequins scattered about their garments. The musicians marched in and assumed positions to the sides of the hall.

The humans silenced their instruments. A hush filled the room as a beautiful chiropteran dancer flew into the room and landed before the count. She curtsied. Her transparent clothing barely concealed shapely curves. Her face was covered by a dark veil. Only hazel eyes and pointed ears were fully revealed. The minstrels began to play a slow rhythm. The graceful chiropteran began to sway to the music twirling to the delight of the spectators. As the dance continued, it became apparent that her garments were constructed of scarves. As she danced she removed scarves at the end of each stream of notes.

Scarves littered the floor as the chiropteran dancer stood naked before the crowd. Her nipples were pierced with silver rings which she rubbed sensually. Her substantial bosom quivered with every twirl. Wings took turns hiding her erogenous zones as she spun. Rolland was deeply aroused by the display; he had never seen such a show. As the minstrels reached their last series of notes the dancer flew upward tumbling. The claws on her feet gripped the chandelier as she suspended herself in the cocoon of her wings. The crown cheered.

A naked human man with brown shoulder-length hair strode into the room. He bowed to the count as he proceeded to sing in a rich baritone to the dancer. The language was unfamiliar to the paladin. The suspended chiropteran opened her eyes and gazed seductively at the singer. She flew downwards and landed in front of the singer. The twosome danced together. The dancer hugged the human into her wings. The singer pulled the veil covering the dancer's face off. She screeched and bit into the human's neck. Blood sprayed from the wound as she drank from the bloody fountain. The singer collapsed with an ecstatic visage. He appeared to be in a state of euphoria. A blue robed figure came to the entertainers and touched the singer with his hand. The wound healed. The performers bowed to the applause of the guests and exited the hall.

The entertainment concluded and the time of mingling commenced. Rolland walked amongst the crowd. As he questioned the guests he learned about the blood orgy that was to begin at midnight. The humans had all willingly visited the castle to participate. Rolland was unable to fathom the willingness of the humans to be bitten. Content that none of the guests were participating against their will, the paladin decided to seek out the Lady Anika.

Rolland spotted Anika sitting at a table appearing bored. He approached her. She was delighted that someone came to keep her entertained.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have the most beautiful blue eyes?" Anika caressed his shoulder unconsciously as she conversed, her wings draping beneath her arms.

"No," Rolland replied.

"Well you do."

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure," Anika replied gently touching his shoulder.

"Why do humans let you bite them? Doesn't it hurt?"

"At first, but it becomes pleasurable for them."

"How?"

"Our saliva contains compounds that ease pain and put our prey in a state of euphoria."

"So it's like a drug?"

"Sort of. If you want to participate in the blood orgy you can experience it for yourself."

"I'm forbidden to," Rolland stated while inwardly wishing he could take Anika into his arms and let her bite him.

"You know where to find me if you change your mind," she whispered erotically. Rolland could only try to still his throbbing heart.

"I can tell you want me. I can hear your heart beat, smell your pheromones, and see the arousal in your eyes."

"I can't."

"Well, you're welcome to watch us from the balcony of the temple. We are not embarrassed by our sexuality," Anika licked her lips eliciting a blush from Rolland.

Anika and Rolland talked for nearly an hour before the gong sounded. The midnight hour had come and it was time to proceed to the lunar temple. Rolland ascended the stairs to the balcony and Anika descended to the floor of the temple.

Rolland watched from a perch overlooking the temple. The massive room was decorated with runic symbols and images of the moon god. He wasn't aware of Khonsu and knew not whether he was a true god or a false god. A pyramidal shape was suspended from the roof of the sanctuary. Torches were snuffed plunging the room into darkness. Rolland could barely make out the shape of a chiropteran flying to the top of the silver pyramid. He could hear the grating of a giant mirror being moved into place. The room was flooded with moonlight. He watched as forty humans filed into the room and removed ceremonial robes to stand naked. Twenty nude chiropterans including Vladmir and Anika flew into the room and stood before the humans. Six blue robed figures stood outside the gathering, prepared to heal the wounds before death ensued.

Rolland watched as two female humans came forward offering their wrists to the count. With fervor, the count bit into the wrist of the nearest woman feeding from her gushing wrist. Vladmir was first to feed before the rest began the blood orgy. He watched the humans and chiropterans fan out to various locations about the room. He witnessed the group frolic in a pile of hairless and furry bodies. He watched blood fountains from various activities. The leftover blood oozed toward the center of the room. The room was slightly slanted to allow the red fluid to flow to a central location. He assumed the blood was collected and filtered beneath the temple.

The floor of the room was drenched in red. Rolland began to feel nauseous, yet could not look away. He sighted Anika in a distant corner lapping at the thigh of a male human. Her fur was matted with blood. He looked to the center of the room to see Vladmir bite into the jugular of a female human. He could see the count's arousal before he pushed the female down to mate with her. Count and human writhed in passion as the chiropteran continued to suckle the human's neck. He returned his attention to Anika as he witnessed her riding a human's cock as another took her anally. He had never seen such a carnal display in his lifetime.

The scent of tobacco caught Rolland's attention as he heard footsteps behind him.

"What a disgusting display of blood lust!" The baron spat. "Have you ever seen so much blood?"

"I was once covered in blood when I slew the Dragon of Vanadia. It was greenish blood though."

"I forgot you were a paladin," he took a puff from his pipe that resembled a demonic sperm. "You seem to have a thing for the Lady Anika. It must disgust you to see her so violated."

Rolland studied the baron with his shaved head, dark eyebrows, and dark triangle for hair under his lip. He could still see the green aura surrounding the baron. The baron's green robes were decorated with black skull patterns. He carried a candle with him.

The baron emptied ashes from his pipe and retrieved some fresh tobacco from a pouch. "Why do you look at me so strangely?"

"I can see a strange aura of power surrounding you. What kind of magic do you employ?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" The baron lit his pipe with the candle. "Would you like a puff?" The baron took a drag from his pipe blowing the smoke into Rolland's face.

Rolland coughed. "I am forbidden to."

"You paladins are no fun," the baron joshed.

Rolland studied the look of hatred for the chiropterans reflected on the baron's face. "Why do you hate the chiropterans?" Rolland asked.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yes. You seemed friendly towards them during dinner."

"Don't confuse protocol with friendship."

"Why?"

"The baron title is only an honorary one. My family once ruled Blutwelt. One tragic week, the chiropterans swooped in and decimated our forces. We fought valiantly enough, but were no match for their aerial attacks. They took over rulership of this region. My family surrendered. As part of the treaty, they were given the lowly title of baron. I am the last of my family line. I live in the ruins of my family castle with little wealth to my name. I live with the skeletons of my ancestors. The Todeserbauer Barons are nothing more than a running joke," the baron took a deep puff of smoke and exhaled with a sigh.

"I'm sorry you have been so wronged."

"We will have our vengeance!" the baron growled.

"Are you responsible for the recent deaths in Blutwelt?"

"Do you see any wings?"

"No," Rolland regarded the baron with concern seeing the malice in his gaze.

"I am going to take my leave. Don't try to follow me!"

Rolland waited a few minutes before following the baron. He didn't want to appear too obvious. He took one last look at Anika and her look of contentment after bloody coitus. He descended the stairs in pursuit of the baron. He could see the blur of green at the exit to the banquet hall. Rolland continued to follow the baron as he left the castle and headed toward a gazebo at the end of the lawn.

Rolland came across a body with a dagger plunged into his abdomen. He recognized the body as one of the servants of the chiropterans. He felt for a pulse. Nothing. Death had been instantaneous, probably poison. He scanned for the baron seeing him nearly reach the gazebo.

As he prepared to continue his pursuit the dead body exploded sending bone fragments in a radius about the corpse. Rolland was knocked onto his back with the full impact of the explosion. He cried out in agony as he felt a stabbing pain in his thigh. He glimpsed at his leg; a piece of what looked to be a rib had pierced his quadriceps. He tried to sit up and was hit with another jarring pain. The end of a femur bone had impaled him narrowly missing his spine. Rolland noticed the blood pooling about his body and knew he would likely bleed to death. Only the healers in the temple to Arinna could save him now.

Rolland closed his eyes sucking breath through his teeth as intense pain assailed him. The sound of claws digging into grass alerted him. Anika had come to his rescue. She gazed at him in concern seeing the mortal wound. She was naked, her fur matted with blood from the orgy.

"Can you walk?" She glanced at his wounds with worry reflected in her features.

"No. Not with this injury," he gestured to his leg.

"I can help you."

"I need to make it to the Temple of Arinna."

"Why not use our healers?" Anika asked.

"I am beyond their skills. Only those who serve Arinna can help me now."

"We need to get you to the gazebo."

"Why?"

"It's a waypoint. There is a portal near the temple."

"Now to get there."

"You might not like this," Anika warned.

She brought her short, conical muzzle down about his wounded thigh. Rolland screamed as the fangs punctured his muscle. The pain subsided and his leg went numb. She grabbed the bone and yanked it from his leg. She didn't think it wise to try removing the bone from his abdomen. She found a clean region on his robe and used one of his silver daggers to slice it from the garment. She bound the wound with the white strip of cloth. He felt the euphoria hit him enveloping his mind in a powerful buzz. Anika helped him to his feet as they headed for the waypoint. The twosome reached the structure and Anika activated the portal. Rolland collapsed from loss of blood falling into unconsciousness.

*********

Rolland awoke to find himself in the paladin quarters in the Temple of Arinna. Talia was watching over him. He felt for the bandages and found one wrapped about his abdomen and another about his thigh. He fell back into darkness. Rolland slept through the morning of Firsday.

Rolland awoke in the afternoon to see a veiled figure clad in a plain black dress watching over him. It was the Lady Anika.

"Are you doing better?" Anika caressed his hand.

Rolland examined his wounds. The bandage had been removed from his leg, the laceration fully healed. The wound on his abdomen was nearly healed. A pounding headache reverberated inside his skull. "I'm doing much better, save for this pounding headache."

"It's an aftereffect of my bite. Kind of like a hangover."

"I think I'm falling in love with you."

"Isn't that forbidden," she kidded.

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Rest well. If you can find a way, meet me tonight at the castle. If you heal well enough that is."

Anika handed him a note and left him to rest.

Rolland fell into a deep sleep to waken around nine in the evening. His wounds had fully healed and he felt like getting out of bed. He had been cooped up for too long. He needed to convene with the goddess. He left his room and went downstairs to the sanctuary. Firsday services had been long since completed. He stood before the statue in silent contemplation before praying. Only silence followed.

"Why!" He screamed at the statue.

"Why what?" the goddess answered him.

"Why do I have such feelings for Anika?"

"Your feelings are natural. To continue your service as a paladin you must quell said feelings."

"I can't do this anymore."

"Don't throw your calling as a paladin away. What have you learned?"

"The chiropterans only drink the blood of willing subjects. There is a baron named Sven Von Todeserbauer who seems to hate them and radiates a powerful energy. When I tried to follow him a body exploded nearly vanquishing me. The Lady Anika saved my life."

"The baron must be a powerful sorcerer. The only way for you to face him is without these doubts. Go be with Anika. I release you from your vows for tonight," the goddess ended her communication with a slightly disappointed tone to her voice.

Rolland was delighted. He withdrew the note. The note contained directions to the waypoint and instructions regarding its activation. He dressed in simple blue velvet dress robes, for tonight he wasn't a paladin, but a human with desire for a chiropteran. He could feel himself hardening at the mental image he formed of Anika. He stared at the skies noticing the waning gibbous moon that was nearly as full as the evening prior. The waypoint was only a block from the Temple to Arinna. He entered the alley and activated the portal finding himself in front of Mondfluch Schloss.

Rolland walked to the entrance of the castle and knocked. An elderly manservant answered the door.

"I am here to see the Lady Anika Des Mondfluch," Rolland announced.

"Very good. She is expecting ye Sir Rolland Helle Stutz."

Rolland was led to a stairway and guided to an upstairs room. The servant beckoned him to enter and left him there. He entered the dimly lit room noticing a fire burning in a nearby fireplace. Moonlight lightly illuminated the room. He studied the massive bed decorated with red streamers and covered with a black fur blanket. A glass of champagne had been placed on the nightstand for him. He downed the alcohol savoring the bubbly liquid. He looked about the room. She was nowhere to be seen. He placed the glass back on the nightstand. A light breeze was coming through the door to the balcony agitating the curtains.

Then he saw her. Anika entered from the balcony, her naked form silhouetted in the lunar glow. Her hips were curvaceous, her breasts a wonder to behold. She extended her wings forming a wicked shape in the shadows.

"Are you going to sit there gaping or are you going to strip for me," she whispered huskily.

Rolland removed his clothing and leaned on the bedpost. Anika strolled forward, slinking her hips as she walked. Her tongue flicked out to lick her fangs. He could smell her spicy aroma, which stiffened his cock and caused his balls to ache. She came forward engulfing his shaft in her muzzle. He could feel her fangs brush the sides of his member as she fellated him. Her tongue slipped inside his prepuce spiraling about his apex. He couldn't hold back as he sprayed seed into her waiting maw. She savored every drop.

Rolland nudged her toward the bed. She lay back to let him explore her body. He stroked the soft fur between her knolls caressing the silken mounds. He brought his mouth to her left nipple hidden beneath layers of fur and suckled the hardened nub. Her clawed hand reached out to stroke his blond hair. He buried his face between her cleavage inhaling her delicious scent. He moved to her loins probing her folds with his moist tongue. His explorations found her clit which he lapped at delicately. He found the tactile feeling of licking fur to be delightful. She panted deeply savoring the sensation.

"My turn," she whispered.

Anika grabbed his shoulders and wrenched him onto the bed. She straddled his waist looking down upon the prey for this evening. Their mouths locked into a deep passionate kiss. Deep, shuddering breaths emerged from her as unquenchable desire flared. Rolland grunted as he attempted to meet her kisses. She kissed him savagely, her fangs piercing the delicate skin of his lips. His mind flooded with euphoria as he ingested her saliva. He absorbed her essence into his very cells. He could feel her wetness seep into his navel as she held him in full mount. The room filled with her steamy scent that overwhelmed Rolland.

Anika caressed his shoulder with a clawed hand. "May I bite you?"

"Just don't kill me."

"I'll avoid the major arteries."

Anika brought her muzzle down and bit deeply into his shoulder. He gasped as she proceeded to suckle into the wound filling it with her saliva. He groaned with the pleasure of her feeding. He held his wrist out to her. She bit into his arm about the wrist drinking his blood hungrily.

"Your blood is so sweet! So innocent!" she clamored.

"Is that why you have been watching me?"

"Yes!"

Anika dismounted Rolland.

"I want you to fuck me from behind!" she demanded.

Rolland stood up as she kneeled on the bed. He could see wetness glistening from her pilose gash. Her black and purple hair fell before her eyes like a mane. He could feel blood gushing down his arm. Her stubby tail swayed in anticipation. He teased her with the collared tip of his manhood. She whined in complaint as he held back. With a swift thrust he plunged into her viscid crevice. He heaved into her with a measured, insistent motion. She lay forward on her wings leaning into his thrusts forcing him deeper into her recess. He could feel the downy fur on his sac as it rubbed onto her mound. His eyes nearly burned from the nutmeg scent as it intensified. She shivered beneath him as he mounted her in pulsing cadence. He summoned past discipline to delay his eruption. He was growing lightheaded from the combination of her saliva and his blood loss. She whimpered and lifted her hips from the bed as an orgasm pulsed through her body. She screeched as her orgasm buffeted inside her. The screech shattered the champagne glass and caused his ears to ring. Her labored breathing echoed from the walls of the room. Rolland couldn't hold back any longer. With a loud moan he filled her with his cream. He collapsed next to her, the room twisting before his sight. He giggled giddily like a little boy. He felt like he was floating and realized why the other humans enjoyed this so.

Rolland watched as Anika ambled over to the fireplace to add another log to the fire. She picked up a small bell from the mantle and shook it thrice. The door opened and a blue robed figure entered. The healer strode over to Rolland and touched his wounds with a delicate red-furred hand. He gazed up to see that the healer was a vixen. He had never in his lifetime seen one. He thought the fox people were myths. His breath caught in his throat, his heart skipped a beat as he beheld the elegant vulpine muzzle. The healer's eyes glowed blue within the folds of her hood. A burning chill flooded his wounds and he was healed. He sat up to look about the room.

"Would you like me to stay for your next mating?" the vixen asked Anika.

"Yes. Watch from the chair over there," Anika gestured toward the corner left of the fireplace.

The vixen seated herself and seemed to enter a deep meditation. Anika sauntered over to Rolland. Anika brought him a goblet full of water and Rolland drank deeply. He was very dehydrated from their coupling. He stood before the chiropteran with a throbbing erection.

"I hope you don't mind having the healer here. I want to drink more of your blood."

"It will take a bit of getting used to. Does she ever participate?"

"Not during our bloodletting."

"But, she's not celibate."

"Not by any means."

"Have you ever bitten a nonhuman?"

"Yes. I didn't like it. Human skin is so nice to bite into, like biting into pudding. My uncle bit a velociraptor once and lost his fangs in her hide. Now he can only drink the leftovers. Are you ready?"

"I think so."

Anika crouched before Rolland. With a tensing of her leg muscles she pounced on him. He fell backwards onto the bed. She mounted his pole in one swift motion. She brought her wings up like a bird as she ground her snatch up and down on his aching member. He moaned at her feverish pace as her dampness slicked his cock. He lay there prostrate as she held his wrists down by her claws.

"This is going to hurt," she whispered. "Then it's going to feel real good."

Anika leaned forward. Her tongue flicked out to lick his neck, coating her target in saliva. Her muzzle opened wide as she clamped her fangs upon his neck. Her fangs sank deeply into his neck. He cried out in agony as the sharp pinching burn hit him. Blood sprayed from the deep wound as she lapped at the red geyser. He groaned in ecstasy as pleasure wracked his body. He could feel her suckling his blood and at the same time grinding her vulva into him. Blood dripped from her muzzle as she observed her lover. Sparkles blazed before his eyes as the fugue ensnared his mind. He spurted his seed into her barely able to isolate the sensation of ejaculation. Rolland blacked out.

*********

Rolland awoke the next morning feeling Anika stir next to him. Her wings enveloped him. It was Secsday. The healer had long since departed. He gingerly extracted himself from her embrace. He sat up on the bed and gazed outside at the rising sun. He walked over to the window and went out upon the balcony closing the draperies behind him. He felt a cool breeze upon his naked body. Anika would be nearly blinded by the sunlight. He couldn't go back to his life as a paladin now. He felt the dried blood that had encrusted upon his chest. He never knew vampirism could be so pleasurable.

"Did you enjoy that?" he heard Arinna's voice inside his head.

"Very much so," he whispered.

"Are you going to throw your life as a paladin away for that?"

"Yes. I believe it has been what I was seeking."

"I would never have guessed that a relationship with a nonhuman would be your destiny."

"I didn't know until I met her."

"You are no longer my paladin. You armor, sword, and horse are no longer yours to possess. You are banished from the Temple of Arinna."

"I accept the consequences."

"So be it."

Rolland never heard the voice of Arinna again. Tears filled his eyes. He entered the room and snuggled next to Anika. She moaned in her sleep. She awoke when she heard him snuffle.

"Are you well?" she asked.

"I think so. I am no longer a paladin for Arinna."

"You gave it up for me? Just like that."

"Yes."

"You should know that we chiropterans are not normally monogamous."

"I don't care."

"That also means that you don't have to be exclusive with me. You could be with the vixen. After years of denial, you must be itching to experience new things."

"I should have defeated the baron first. I should have, at least, conquered the evil in Blutwelt."

"You could become a cleric for Khonsu and still fight the baron. The vixen is one of his clerics as are all the healers. His presence is strong in the lunar temple," she said. "I'll have some food brought to you in bed. Don't worry about the crumbs. The bedspread is already dirty."

The former paladin ate the food that was brought to him by the manservant. The breakfast consisted of toast, poached eggs, and bacon. It had been a while since he had bacon, for it was also forbidden among the paladin. The crisp strips brought back long forgotten memories of childhood. Following his meal he was led to bathe in preparation for his meeting with the clerics of Khonsu. It took a lot of scrubbing to clean the blood from his skin. He shaved the stubble from his face with a dagger and soap.

Rolland dressed in a red robe that had been left for him near the bathtub. A male cleric in blue robes greeted him as he left the bathroom.

"We are ready for you," the cleric said.

Rolland followed the cleric toward the Temple of Khonsu. They descended the stairs to the location the blood orgy was held on Sevsday. He noticed that the pyramidal structure that had been on the ceiling was now on the floor of the temple. An opening could be seen at the base of the silver pyramid. Six blue robed clerics including the vixen stood to the sides of the entry. The cleric that had led him here stood behind him.

"You must go in alone," the vixen said.

"Blessed be Khonsu," the other clerics chanted.

Rolland entered the rather large pyramid and found himself plunged into darkness. When his eyes adjusted he noticed the statue. The silver figure representing Khonsu was a massive masculine form with the head of a ram. He walked forward till he stood before the statue. He knelt humbly before the representation of the god.

"Welcome Rolland Helle Stutz," the deep voice of Khonsu filled the room.

"I bow before you in humility."

"Do you wish to be one of my clerics?"

"Are you a true god?" Rolland felt the god's power wash over him after he asked the question.

"Yes. Don't you know that there are nine deities of goodness in the world?"

"I only recognized Arinna before today."

"Let me tell you the whole story. In the beginning, there was a powerful deity called the Divine Spark that created the universe. After the act of creation the Divine Spark watched the universe growing restless without anything left to do. The darkest part of the deity decided he wanted to destroy everything and separated into a god that all now know as the Dark Lord. The entity of the Divine Spark was shattered and nine deities of goodness formed from the wreckage. Arinna and I were two of the deities spawned from the original spark."

"So the Dark Lord is the most powerful god?"

"Yes. But, not more powerful than the nine other deities combined. United the deities of goodness are slightly more powerful."

"It seems that evil has been flourishing lately with all the monsters I have fought."

"The deities of good have become disparate and split by inner struggles. Arinna hated the act of breeding that most of the other deities felt necessary for procreation. She found great beauty in the feminine and her rituals tend toward the lesbianic. There, of course, is another god called Everis that tends to favor the masculine and his rituals are the opposite of Arinna's."

"The world cannot go on this way!"

"Why not? As long as there are people to fight for what is right and good, evil will never hold sway."

"What about the baron? He is evil here in Blutwelt."

"What about him? Do you wish to conquer him?"

"Yes."

"Beware of him. He is a high-level necromancer. My clerics are not paladins, but they can do battle when necessary."

"I would become a cleric of Khonsu."

"So be it. You should note that my magic differs from Arinna's. While her paladins depend on auras and the like, my clerics have different skills. You will still have holy bolts, but will not be able to use auras. You will be able to heal others, but not yourself. The other clerics will pray for you and heal you as wounds are inflicted. You will also have use of a magic called vengeance that will infuse your mace with the ability to inflict cold, heat, and shock damage simultaneously."

"Do we wear armor?"

"No."

"Remove you red robes and exit the pyramid naked. The clerics will dress you in your new blue robes."

"Thank you my god." Rolland stripped and left the chamber.

The vixen draped a blue robe on Rolland as he came out. "Welcome to the Blutwelt Order of Khonsu. I am Cassandra." She gestured toward the others. "This is Michael, Penelope, Lara, Iain, Victor, and Phillip."

"I intend to confront the baron this evening."

"And we will pray for you," the clerics all chanted.

"Let's get you a mace so you can practice," Cassandra said.

Cassandra and Rolland sparred into the afternoon. He found the mace to be a little unwieldy, but the silver weapon packed quite a wallop. The vixen was very skilled with a mace and he found himself grounded by her attacks time after time. Hours passed and he began to learn her graceful fighting technique, becoming bested by the vixen less and less. Combined with his prior skills and the new technique, the new weapon would be most formidable.

"Now try to summon vengeance," she instructed.

Rolland meditated to Khonsu with his eyes shut. When he opened his eyes the mace glowed with an aura that fluctuated in yellow, red, and blue. Cassandra threw a cantaloupe towards Rolland. He bashed it with the mace and the melon exploded into icy splinters.

"I think you're ready!" Cassandra yelped in a foxy manner clasping her hands together. Rolland was startled by the excitement from the usually serene vixen.

*********

Rolland went to have dinner and rest for the battle ahead. Anika joined him drinking leftover blood from a goblet. She wore a simple black dress. He consumed the roast duck and rice voraciously.

"You look good in blue robes," Anika complimented.

"I'm still getting used to them," Rolland said.

Anika took a sip of blood from her cup. "May I confront the baron with you?"

"It's too dangerous," he stated matter-of-factly.

"I am not some weak lady in waiting!" Anika shouted.

Cassandra slipped in next to Rolland hidden beneath her hood as usual. "You should take her with you. Her magic may aid you in your quest."

"Alright! Lady Anika can come along."

"You won't be disappointed," Anika hugged him tight. "You might want to bring these with you." Anika handed Rolland a pair of ear muffs and went to ready herself for the evening. He assumed she would fight naked to enable flight for she had trouble flying in her dresses.

"Good luck Rolland." Cassandra warmly kissed his cheek ending with a gentle lick to his cheek. Rolland slipped his hand beneath her hood and scritched her behind her soft pointed ears. Cassandra closed her eyes savoring the affection. He watched her leave to join the other clerics in prayer.

He found himself considering Anika and Cassandra. Anika had a raw sexual energy that he found enticing. Casssandra, on the other hand, had a more subdued sexuality that seemed to be waiting to pounce on him. He didn't know whether he actually loved them or not, for he had only before known the love for a goddess.

Rolland finished his meal and went to his downstairs room to retrieve his mace. He felt the cleric's prayers begin to fill him. His energy increased dramatically. He felt like he could conquer any evil he was confronted with. He rushed to the entrance of the castle to await Anika. He found the chiropteran already waiting for him. She was clad in black robes. He stared at her quizzically.

"I don't want them to know I'm coming." Anika winked at him.

"So we will take him and his minions by surprise. Should we sneak in via his castle waypoint?"

"He'll expect that. He probably either has the waypoint heavily guarded or more likely redirected to somewhere we don't want to be. Maybe even into a volcano."

"What do you suggest?"

"We should use the waypoint to arrive at the temple just north of Todeserbauer Schloss."

"Then what?"

"We play it by ear," Anika said.

"Your ears can hear a lot more than mine." Rolland smiled at Anika.

"I believe that the baron is most likely underground, since the upper part of his castle is in ruins.

Rolland and Anika walked to the gazebo waypoint. Rolland reflected on their night together. She really seemed to like being in control of their lovemaking. It was not uncommon for an experienced female to take control when coiting a virgin. While she enjoyed the mating, she seemed to be more focused on ingesting blood.

They entered the gazebo and Anika activated the controls. Rolland found himself staring at a gigantic marble statue with the head of a horse and a massive phallus. The statue, the waypoint, and several pillows were the only decorations in the temple.

Rolland pointed at the statue. "Who is that god?"

"That is Everis."

"Oh. This temple looks like it has been abandoned."

"They most likely fled from the baron's forces. Be mindful, the baron's forces may still be lurking." Anika removed her black hood. Her ears twitched as she listened.

"Do you hear anything?"

"Sh." She brought a finger to her lips. "I hear clacking sounds," she whispered.

Rolland and Anika walked to the entrance to the temple. Glancing through the crack in the door, Rolland spied a trio of skeletal warriors holding swords and wearing ancient armor.

"Is there another exit?" Rolland asked Anika in a hushed tone that sounded like a shout to the bat's ears.

"I don't know."

"Hide." Rolland picked up a pillow and threw it at the door. He hid within an alcove.

Anika removed her robes. She flew upwards hanging from the ceiling rafters with her feet.

The skeletal warriors entered the building gazing about the room. The clicking of their foot bones the only sound in the room. Rolland jumped from his hiding place firing holy bolts from his hands. He struck two of the warriors who dropped to the floor lifeless. The third skeletal warrior lashed at him with his sword slitting his shoulder open. He dropped his mace to the ground. Anika flew down and picked up the dropped mace and began striking the head of the warrior with the blunt weapon. The skull was crushed into the dust. The headless warrior walked outside the temple slashing blindly with a sword. Rolland fired another holy bolt silencing the decapitated warrior. He watched his wounded shoulder heal, almost feeling the delicate paw touching him.

"Why didn't you use your magic!" Rolland shouted at Anika.

"My magic is very loud. We should save it for when we are closer." Anika redressed herself in the black robe.

"Sorry."

Rolland and Anika exited the chamber and began to stroll towards the baron's castle. They didn't see any more undead warriors along the way, but the region was enveloped in darkness. The baron's forces were most likely guarding the depths of his abode. The warriors for Khonsu made their way to the ruins watching cautiously for minions. The area looked deserted without even a night creature stirring. Rolland wished he had decided to do this in daylight. With Anika with him, it was probably best that it was nighttime. Rolland and Anika searched the ruins for a passage into the depths of Todeserbauer Schloss.

Rolland heard Anika chirp in exuberance. She had found the way down. It was a dilapidated mortar stairway leading into darkness. He put his hand on her shoulder as her superior night vision combined with her bat sonar guided their way below. Rolland felt a tingling sensation and held her back for a moment. He had sensed the wraiths before seeing them. He rapidly fired six holy bolts into the darkness. The bolts illuminated the three wispy forms that floated ethereally about the passageway. Rolland fired three more times hitting the wraiths. The specters vanished. No further minions were seen on this floor.

Rolland and Anika descended to the next level. The bottom floor was lit by the glow of several lanterns strung about the halls. Anika slipped her veil over her eyes to dim the brightness. Maybe their presence had been expected. Perhaps the baron could detect waypoint activation in his vicinity or more likely sense the resting of those he had resurrected. The hallway was deserted and appeared to form an intersection a few hundred feet ahead. Rolland and Anika proceeded forward nearing the intersection. As they entered the forking, Anika heard a snap.

"Watch out!" She warned.

Too late. Massive stone slabs slammed down in front of them and behind them. Rolland looked right and Anika looked left. They both saw nearly fifty skeletal warriors. Rolland summoned vengeance which caused the mace to glow. A zombie warrior among the skeletons in front of Rolland spoke.

"Surrender or join our ranks," the zombie wheezed.

Rolland fired a holy bolt at the zombie. The magic struck him directly, but had not effect.

"Did you think I was a mere skeleton?" The zombie laughed in a manner that chilled the blood.

Rolland approached the warriors with his mace glowing. Anika slipped behind him, retrieved ear muffs from the inner pockets of the cleric's robes, and quickly placed them over his ears. Her deafening screech reverberated from the walls causing Rolland's ears to bleed beneath the protection. He watched as the skeletal warriors were shattered to dust. Only the single zombie remained. Anika collapsed in fatigue. The zombie slid his sword from its sheath and spun the weapon threateningly.

Rolland skillfully blocked the combination of strikes from the zombie. The zombie brought the sword overhead attempting to split Rolland's head in two. Rolland struck the sword with his mace breaking the weapon into ice shards. With a powerful spinning attack, Rolland shattered the zombie into grotesque smoldering ice cubes. He removed the muffs from his ears.

"Are you alright Anika?" Rolland helped her to her feet.

"I'm drained of my magic. I might have one more, lesser screech in me," she said in a hoarse voice. Rolland touched her throat summoning healing magic.

They walked the halls for a while seeking another path down. After about half an hour they found the stairway, which was a little less worn than those above. They had to be getting close. The room below was the wine cellar. Wine racks lined the walls. As they walked forward they saw a makeshift throne in the center of the large cellar. The baron stood there clad in dark green armor and a helmet designed to resemble a hideous skeletal mask. Rolland noticed about five corpses at the feet of the necromancer.

"Welcome former paladin. I have been expecting you," the baron said. "I see you brought the bat bitch."

"We will remove your evil from Blutwelt!" Rolland assumed a fighting posture.

"You can try. I see you changed your deity affiliation. Maybe you change affiliations one more time. Join forces with the Dark Lord and help me bring order to the world." The baron clasped his gloved hands together.

Anika flew behind the baron, her unclothed form flying gracefully. A winged shape flew at Anika knocking her to the ground. A clawed foot held her down.

"Nice try Lady Anika," the baron laughed.

"What is that?" Rolland asked.

"Anika should be able to tell you," the baron said.

Rolland gazed at the broken form of Anika being held down. Her captor appeared to be a zombie chiropteran in a severe state of decay.

"I don't recognize her!" Anika screamed.

"She is your great, great grandmother. The Lady Ophelia. The last of your kind to go completely feral."

"You have desecrated my ancestor!" Anika spat.

"Now Rolland. Surrender or I shall have the Lady Ophelia rip her throat out."

Rolland watched Anika close her eyes. He put the muffs back over his ears. Anika screeched at the undead chiropteran knocking her to the wall. Anika wasn't as damaged as she appeared. She had been playing opossum. Ophelia hissed at Anika. Ophelia flew toward Anika who took to the air flying about the room to escape the claws of the undead chiropteran. Rolland removed the muffs.

"I gave you a chance!" The baron shook with fury. "Now prepare to die!"

"Do your worst."

The baron pointed at the five corpses. The bodies exploded spraying bone shrapnel at Rolland. Bottles shattered around the room drenching the floor in wine. Rolland sprawled on the floor with the mace in front of his head. He cried out as a piece of rib tore through forearm. Rolland stood up. Blood gushed from his arm staining the sleeves of his blue robes. He yanked the rib from his arm and faced the necromancer. The wound sealed and healed.

"That's a nice trick." The baron looked at him in astonishment. "I guess I'll have to do this the hard way. Let's see you heal from my venom!"

The baron pulled the sword from his sheath. He held the serrated blade like a skilled warrior. Rolland watched as black poison oozed from the blade. Any cut by that sword would cause instantaneous death. Then he could be forced to serve the necromancer.

Summoning vengeance, Rolland prepared to face the necromancer. The baron strode forward nonchalantly, twisting suddenly to bring the blade into an unexpected backhanded strike. Rolland ducked, narrowly missing the slash. The attack nearly caught Rolland by surprise. He rolled over and fired three holy bolts at the necromancer.

"Do you think to kill me with those pathetic bolts?" the baron taunted the cleric. "They are a minor annoyance."

Rolland backed up. The baron summoned his magic trapping Rolland in a bone cage. Rolland smashed the cage to find the baron lunging at him. He blocked the attack with his mace, the venom melting from the baron's sword. Had the baron been fighting without his gauntlets, he would have received a severe shock. The baron hit Rolland with a slash to his side. The wound healed; the attack held no venom.

The baron removed his helm and threw it at Rolland in rage. Rolland evaded the thrown helm. The baron summoned more venom and gazed fiercely at the cleric. "I will kill you and then I will torture your bitch!"

"You talk too much," Rolland mocked.

Red with rage, the baron lashed out recklessly. Rolland bashed the baron's sword arm breaking the limb into ice cubes. The baron wailed. The sword fell to the floor with a clang. Rolland watched Anika flee the undead chiropteran. With a swift downward glide, Anika evaded Ophelia and dropped down upon the baron. Her fangs ripped deeply into his neck sprigging blood into her waiting maw. Ophelia dropped to the ground lifeless as the baron breathed his last.

"Yuck!" Anika whined. "His blood tastes filthy." She spit out the distasteful blood.

Rolland and Anika left Todeserbauer Schloss victorious.

*********

Rolland awoke on Tetsday to gaze out the window. He hadn't seen Anika since they had returned from Todeserbauer Schloss two days ago. They had been deeply fatigued after their defeat of the baron. He heard a soft knock on his door. He dressed in a clean blue robe and answered the door. It was Cassandra.

"Have you rested from battle?" She asked.

"I think so."

"I have come to discuss your duties as a cleric with you."

"Come inside my room."

"Let's walk instead."

Cassandra guided Rolland toward the temple. She led him to a stairway that led beneath the sanctuary. The room was dark, but seemed to be illuminated by a red glow. In the center of the room, Rolland saw a large glass vat filled with red liquid.

"Is that blood?" Rolland asked.

"Yes," Cassandra replied.

"So this is where the leftovers are collected."

"The fluids from the blood orgies seep into a tube in the center of the temple to drain here after passing through several filters. The filters remove everything but the blood."

"What is our duty here?"

"We are responsible for cleaning the filters before every blood orgy."

"What else do we do?"

"Healing during the orgies, of course. We also heal outside the orgies like when you and Anika mated. Two days a week we travel into the villages to offer our healing services to the populous. We pray to Khonsu every morning and evening. The remaining duties you'll learn when you need to."

"Thank you, Reverend Cassandra."

Cassandra led him back upstairs to show him the layout of the castle. He had gotten lost within the castle yesterday. As they proceeded down a hallway he caught sight of a female chiropteran. Unlike the other females, he found this one repugnant. She was all fangs and beady eyes. Her fur was greasy and unkempt beneath a shimmering red gown.

"Who is that?" Is that Lady Anika's ugly sister?" Rolland asked Cassandra.

"No. That is the Lady Anika."

"What happened to her? She was so beautiful."

"Nothing," Cassandra whispered.

"I loved her! I want the Lady Anika I fell in love with back."

"You'll see her again during the few days around the next full moon."

"What!"

"The count is very handsome to me during the full moon as well. His metamorphosis following the chiropteran mating cycle took me by surprise as well."

"How do they appear so magnificent during the full moon?"

"They affect our minds. They come into season every month during the few days surrounding the full moon. They are at their most appealing during the full moon."

"How?"

"When the females are in heat and the males respond to the heat of the females, the chiropterans release a pheromone that affects our perception of them. These pheromones affect other species more potently than the chiropterans are affected. They find feeding on other chiropterans to be cannibalistic, so they use the unanticipated effects of their chemical responses to their advantage."

"I think I need a bath."

"Do you need help scrubbing your back?"

"Yes. I think I do. I thought you weren't interested in me."

"It only appears that way. I take my duties as a cleric very seriously, but I also enjoy some recreational activities." Cassandra smiled at him craftily.

She led him back downstairs to a room left of the temple. The room held a massive silver spa with a white marble shelf surrounding the tub. The walls were decorated with half moon symbols. Cassandra turned a small knob to fill the tub with water. Rolland removed his robe revealing his naked body to the vixen. Cassandra slipped out of her robe, bringing a gasp from Rolland. Soft pointed ears peaked out above waves of amber hair that flowed down her back. She was sleek and sexy. Her body was covered in red fur with white accents about her torso, breasts, and loins. Her red brush ending in white wagged slightly as she gazed deeply at the human before her. Rolland had never seen a female so exquisite. Her beauty rivaled Arinna.

Rolland's hard rod dripped precum at the sight of the vixen. She nudged him towards the floor of the spa where their robes had fallen. Rolland lay back on the robes as Cassandra brought her elegant muzzle down upon his pole. She mounted him bringing her hirsute gash toward his waiting tongue. Her brush draped atop his head. Rolland lapped at her silk funnel. He felt her moist mouth work on his rod, enveloping the entire length to the balls. He slurped on her ivory nether fur, bringing pants from the hot vixen. Fluids seeped from her torrid snatch as his tongue slipped inside. He ejaculated within Cassandra's mouth unable to hold back with her slit covering his face. Rolland sucked her clit lasciviously bringing soft cries from the vixen. Nectar dripped from the hairy den as her orgasmic spasms rocked her. She barked loudly as she came. Water overflowed from the spa drenching robes and bodies as they finished 69ing.

Cassandra stood up and turned off the water. Her brush was soaked and dripping water, reducing it to a thin length. Rolland stood up to walk into the spa. Cassandra slipped into the warm water signing in contentment. Rolland slipped in beside her. They took turns soaping each other's bodies and washing the soap from their bodies. The fur on Cassandra's body was matted with soapy water. Her wet hair slicked back. Rolland became too excited to continue and moved in to kiss the vixen. Rolland moved his hips toward Cassandra's. Moving forward, Rolland buried himself fully into the vixen who yelped in surprise at the sudden penetration. Her delicate paws rubbed his shoulders as he ground himself into her. She rubbed against him in sensual rhythm panting as he moved within her. Rolland discharged into her groaning loudly in abandon. He slipped out of her bringing a hand to her wet pudenda caressing her sensually. He rubbed her slit for several minutes. She trilled in pleasure as she came. They sank into the spa cuddling close. She nuzzled his cheek with her muzzle closing her eyes in contentment.

The love Rolland and Cassandra felt for one another deepened with time. Rolland and Cassandra served Khonsu together for many years. The Lady Anika's interest in Rolland never returned for he was no longer innocent; he was just another cleric to her. Blutwelt remained peaceful for a time, no longer influenced by the evils of the baron.

*********

Necromancer and Paladin spells based on Diablo II computer game copyright 2001.

Waypoints also from Diablo II.