Summary

The Hard-Hearted Child – In the aftermath of Dunya’s death, Vasya takes Alyosha hunting for the walking dead she saw in Konstantin’s quarters. Together, they find Agafya’s body, discovering that she has become an upyr (an undead), and drive a stake through her. Shortly afterwards, a desperate man from one of the villages over which Pyotr is landlord arrives and asks for help: the village has burned to the ground. Ignoring Vasya’s desperate pleas that he stay and help protect the family, Pyotr takes Kolya and several villagers to help. In Pyotr’s absence, Vasya (with the help of the domovoi, support from Alyosha, and comfort from Irina) fends off several more attacks from upyrs, including one from Dunya, who has joined the undead. As she chases the upyr Dunya away, drawing on the power of her pendant, Vasya senses...