Nightshift 33: The Grand Ballroom
[from here]
Before they’d even reached the bottom of the stairs, Aidou heard the sound of trickling water. And once he stepped onto the black marble floor, it was oddly the first thing he focused on. Fountains… His gaze trailed them up, to the seemingly infinite expanse of ceiling.
“Heh, it really is a ballroom,” thought the noble out loud, tone half-amused.
It was a common practice for vampire families, his included, to stage some of their events in buildings that appeared to be abandoned and near to falling apart. Places nobody wanted, would never think to enter and explore. If one did, they’d find the lower levels transformed into grand rooms much like this, fit for the most respected nobility to gather. To find such a place here… well, the vampire didn’t find himself all that surprised. Gaudy architecture, though. That was the least impressive thing.
His heels clicked along the smooth floor as he walked. A plain, black door, two wooden doors, and one door of white marble… He thought back to what he’d read on the bulletin board, and consequently gleaned as to what could lie behind them, absently approaching the closest door and examining the carvings. And, of course, that was when the glint of candlelight on metal drew his eye, to the opposite end of the hall where a hulking form stood sentient. He turned his head fully, blinking. Was that...?
The vampire let out a groan. "Not that thing," he complained lowly, looking over at the others before raising his voice slightly. "Hurry up. There's a guard dog down here too."
Before they’d even reached the bottom of the stairs, Aidou heard the sound of trickling water. And once he stepped onto the black marble floor, it was oddly the first thing he focused on. Fountains… His gaze trailed them up, to the seemingly infinite expanse of ceiling.
“Heh, it really is a ballroom,” thought the noble out loud, tone half-amused.
It was a common practice for vampire families, his included, to stage some of their events in buildings that appeared to be abandoned and near to falling apart. Places nobody wanted, would never think to enter and explore. If one did, they’d find the lower levels transformed into grand rooms much like this, fit for the most respected nobility to gather. To find such a place here… well, the vampire didn’t find himself all that surprised. Gaudy architecture, though. That was the least impressive thing.
His heels clicked along the smooth floor as he walked. A plain, black door, two wooden doors, and one door of white marble… He thought back to what he’d read on the bulletin board, and consequently gleaned as to what could lie behind them, absently approaching the closest door and examining the carvings. And, of course, that was when the glint of candlelight on metal drew his eye, to the opposite end of the hall where a hulking form stood sentient. He turned his head fully, blinking. Was that...?
The vampire let out a groan. "Not that thing," he complained lowly, looking over at the others before raising his voice slightly. "Hurry up. There's a guard dog down here too."