Awakening
Johannes' timpanic footfalls echoed through the hallowed halls of marbled antiquity. With gloved hands clenched tight he strode otherwise expressionless toward the winding stairway leading toward the world far below. He had months ago walked away from his sire, uncle, aunt, and grandsire, leaving them motionless in the rich opulence of their dark mausoleum. He and Astrid in one stroke had become the only waking decendants of Salvatore Savage, and he the only one to carry the name. "Duty" was a word some had come to hate through interaction with him, at times spitting the word out as if a wet bezoar. The weight of his line, both eclipsed and active, both weighted his steps and straightened his spine. He never balked at an order, the gravity of those duties entrusted to him a mark of pride -- none would measure up to the length and breadth of his successes. Though his confidence remained unshaken, trying to maintain the stability of the First Estate on both sides of the Atlantic would not be his lightest assignment.
His wife had not travelled with him to Austria; in fact, none of his family shared travel to the home in which he died. His grandsire had placed him, and him alone, in charge of protecting the estate and all contained within. Carrying the voice of Lord Edward Savage's most world-renowned childe could never be an easy task, but Salvatore's spirit had been entrusted neither lightly nor in error. Nightly did Johannes stalk the halls of his post-mortem ancestral home, not attending to other duties until he had assured, by his own senses, that his family reseted securely.
Ignorant of the small flakes of snow dusting his suit from a pensive tour of the outer veranda, his colorless eyes were harder than agates. One of his grandsire's servants, whose face he did not mark other than to recognize permission to be on this floor. The boy was quick to bow stiffly and run to the closed double-doors, swinging them open at Johannes' approach. Once through, Johannes closed the doors without ceremony -- swathed in darkness he touched rare and priceless artifacts, seeking the hidden catch to open the stairs. Finding the indendation, he allowed the minute blade inside to taste his blood, triggering the wallplate.
Walking as if sighted, he didn't strike flint to steel to light the brasier until he stood within the massive stone doors at the bottom of the descending staircase. With measured stride he approached his sire's coffin.
"Grandsire," he intoned, raising the prepared chalice, "your childer and grandchilder need you."
His wife had not travelled with him to Austria; in fact, none of his family shared travel to the home in which he died. His grandsire had placed him, and him alone, in charge of protecting the estate and all contained within. Carrying the voice of Lord Edward Savage's most world-renowned childe could never be an easy task, but Salvatore's spirit had been entrusted neither lightly nor in error. Nightly did Johannes stalk the halls of his post-mortem ancestral home, not attending to other duties until he had assured, by his own senses, that his family reseted securely.
Ignorant of the small flakes of snow dusting his suit from a pensive tour of the outer veranda, his colorless eyes were harder than agates. One of his grandsire's servants, whose face he did not mark other than to recognize permission to be on this floor. The boy was quick to bow stiffly and run to the closed double-doors, swinging them open at Johannes' approach. Once through, Johannes closed the doors without ceremony -- swathed in darkness he touched rare and priceless artifacts, seeking the hidden catch to open the stairs. Finding the indendation, he allowed the minute blade inside to taste his blood, triggering the wallplate.
Walking as if sighted, he didn't strike flint to steel to light the brasier until he stood within the massive stone doors at the bottom of the descending staircase. With measured stride he approached his sire's coffin.
"Grandsire," he intoned, raising the prepared chalice, "your childer and grandchilder need you."