[color=gray]Jack sauntered back and forth, boots sloshing in the muck before coming to a standstill. To his mind it was troublesome enough to trek halfway around the world at the request of somebody he had never heard of. Sometimes he thought he was too ignorant for the ways of the world, but where Mama went Jack followed. It had been that way since she first embraced him, he had his own life – if you could call it such, and very much looked after his own affairs however, if Sire had need of him, childe would willingly oblige.[/color] “I don’t quite understand it.” [color=gray]Jack piped up, his breath visible in the crisp night air.[/color] “Understand what exactly my dear?” [color=gray]Mama replied, a thick Caribbean undertone to her voice- Jack hated it when she would patronize him. She was a slender woman who to look at first glance, did not have much about her person but she could carry herself well. Her hair was tied and knotted as was a familiar style back home, dark skin and large teeth. Her eyes were almost as dark as her skin, slightly sunken and held a wisdom and wealth to them that her clothing and general outward appearance may not necessarily give off.[/color] “So, what do you propose we do about this then?” [color=gray]Jack decided against pressing and just accepting what was, was. He kicked the broken wheel on their carriage, cursing lady luck silently and sweeping his hair back out of his face.[/color] “I do love it when you be getting so angry with things.” [color=gray]Mama’s voice was the only one Jack had heard that boomed, yet was so gentle. She walked over but it seemed like more of a glide, the hem of her dress dirty and slightly torn up caressing the sodden ground beneath them. Placing a loving touch on his shoulder she pointed her stick up the beaten track and through the screen the light drizzle gave to their surroundings a light could be seen and the sound of a carriage shortly followed.[/color] “There is the solution to all ones problems.” [color=gray]She laughed and took out into the middle of the track. Jack paused for a minute before following suit.[/color] [color=gray]They waved down the passerby, a loner – travelling merchant type probably looking to shift some goods.[/color] “Maybe we can buy some of this crap he’s selling and he’ll give us a ride.” [color=gray]Jack teased, he was promptly hushed.[/color] “Well, how can I help you two then? Seem to have come across a bit of a stick in the mud here.” [color=gray]The merchant greeted the two with a friendly disposition. Jack began to walk around the carriage, taking it in as Mama dealt with the good Samaritan.[/color] “I don’t suppose you be having a wheel in your shop then?” [color=gray]She joked with him, moving in close her general tone and body language, open and inviting. There were few who could resist her once she opened her mouth, she had a certain way with men, women and children even animals – Jack had seen it on a few occasions.[/color] “No…” [color=gray]The merchant began as Jack made his way around full circle encroaching upon them,[/color] “But I would be more than happy to give you two strangers a ride up the road, how much farther are you going?” [color=gray]Jack could feel that the man felt uneasy around him, he was an average looking man, a few inches shorter than Jack and rather stout looking.[/color] “About an hour.” [color=gray]Jack spoke, his voice blunt.[/color] “We’d be very grateful for your assistance.” [color=gray]Mama ushered Jack to the back of the carriage after they collected their belongings, where the two climbed up and sat on the roof, legs hanging over the rear. It was the only place there was really space to sit in any kind of comfort. The rest of the ride was bumpy for the most part, but nothing the pair couldn’t handle. There was a soft rain the whole time, which in reality only worsened the road but made for a refreshing change to the heavy downpour of earlier. The trail itself was like something out of a painting, picturesque and if nothing else it was at least a nice looking part of the world. Mama had said her piece about where they were going just not a whole lot on the reasoning, it all got Jack’s brain working trying to guess at what they were doing here. He’d never liked surprises - and while totally trusting of his sire, the mind would occasionally drift to thoughts of an unpleasant surprise for himself.[/color] [color=gray]The vampire had let his mind wander off and was caught off guard when Mama prompted him from below.[/color] “ ’Ey Jack, let’s go.” [color=gray]She taunted. He shook off his daydream and hopped from the back, splashing muck up the leg of his trouser and the cuff of his sleeves. The pair walked through the woods bordering the bay for what seemed like an eternity in silence when they finally came across Rosewood Manor. Jack was taken aback and had to make a conscious effort for his jaw not to drop. He smirked, this was probably once of the fanciest places he had ever seen.[/color] “See smiling man?” [color=gray]She asked,[/color] “Worth it already huh?” [color=gray]Jack nodded, oblivious to the words of his sire, the landscaping and scenery was quite a bit to take in. Whoever owned this place, the vampire thought, was one lucky son of a bitch. As they came up to the main entrance way Jack fixed his cuffs, as Mama Lion rapped her stick off the large heavy doors three times and they waited, occasionally glancing at each other.[/color]