@eveofsin [ x ]:
“No!” Melodious giggle sang sweetly from her lips. “We don’t do that! At least, not down here.”
The catacombs served as a sanctuary for their coven. A place hidden in the depths of Isola di San Michele, already so masked with the stench of death that few hunters ever detected their presence. Their home was air-tight, a necessity to prevent the great seas surrounding the island seeping in. An unfortunate detail for most humans if any of them should wander into the catacombs. The catacombs were a deliberately designed labyrinth to themselves. Anyone who wandered in who did not have their senses often perished in the dark, wandering endlessly until the lack of air began to smother the lungs. It was not uncommon to discover the occasional corpse when one was departing the coven.
“Our home is beneath the ground, deeper than most graves. No light has breached our home in over a millennia. Scarcely air or water enters. We allow some to enter our bathing areas, but those are on our lowest area to prevent anything entering the main area of our home. We can sleep in beds, as humans do. The only occurrence we ever require a coffin is when we must rest in an area that cannot keep us from the sunlight. During travel, homes that do not have adequate shutters. I assure you, it is rarity now we must resort to that.”
Patient as ever, Sofie answered each question posed to her with grace and an abundance of knowledge. Each path, each doorway being explored or explained if they could not enter for one reason or another. They visited the advisory council chambers, the handmaiden chambers, the library, the laboratory, the guards training area, the servants quarters, the roman inspired baths, the parlour and now eventually to his own room. Currently stationed upon the corridor usually housing the advisors, her parents and finally herself at the very end of the corridor in her private quarters. A proximity to her at present until she decided where he should be placed in the coven’s hierarchy.
“Here is where you will stay, Loki. Until we find where you desire to settle. Let me know if you require anything more than our usual amenities.”
With coffins and crucifixes out of the question, he found himself enjoying the rest of the tour. As young as she was, she possessed the patience and wisdom of an ancient one. Not even the Allfather had the same traits as her, and he was the leader of the most powerful realm in Yggdrasil. However, his optimistic prospects at being her fledgling didn’t erase the fact that there was still a small level of wariness at the concept. His earlier behaviors had showed him that he could be dependent on her, and it was definitely frightening for someone who thought that he did well working alone.
But he voiced none of those concerns, and he accepted the room he had been given. Right now, he wasn’t sure where he fit in. He couldn’t show himself to Thor and the rest of their remaining allies. Thanos was gathering strength, and it would be foolish to strike so soon. His ruse was working so far; Thanos was turning his attention to the remaining defenders of the stones and away from the gauntlet he so cherished. If he could be distracted until the very last moment...
Loki hadn’t needed to sleep as a god, but as a vampire, it felt mandatory. Or maybe it was just for those ‘newborns’. He hadn’t seen another newly sired vamp since he returned. His armor was kept in one of the closets in his room, and his daggers were still kept on his person. More out of habit than need: his fangs alone were stronger than his favorite weapons.
He found his way back to the hall with a few difficulties, having made two wrong turns and being distracted by a better glimpse of the library. He’d also taken a book about the history of vampires ( so there WAS a record of it! ) and tucked it under his arm. The relaxed atmosphere quickly changed when he entered the throne hall, and he glanced at the very front. He was on guard at once, his eyes narrowing as he watched the scene in front of him.
