09-01-2022, 01:53 PM
Sage sat at the table for a while longer. He stared off into the nothingness that told Cruz he was busy on the net doing whatever thing he was. So he packed up his things, ordered another coffee and waited for his friend to finish whatever deep dive he had going on.
Cruz used the time to orient himself with the images, and the small bits of information Sage had found. It wasn't much to go on. But the underground was full of things both horrific and wonderful. They had a front door to the depths -- or rather a back door. Nox had dug an escape tunnel into the darkness while he had lived with the Vegas. Christian had installed a vault door impenetrable from either side. It served as an easy access escape hatch and kept the ghouls and thieves from entering through the basement. Nox had used a large rock while living there, but the Atharim were still a threat to his family and Christian intended to keep Cruz's mother safe -- and whoever else chose to live in the newly fortified mansion. Though no one but the newlyweds did.
Cruz still found it hard to beleive that his mother had finally left his father. And that her affair was no longer that. Christian had been family longer than Cruz could remember -- he hadn't remembered anyone other than Christian having the head of the house title. Now someone else had the job, though Christian was not his father and the staff was much less and more casual than they had been under Vega rule.
When Sage was ready Cruz gave him a smile. "We can go through the escape hatch?" Sage grinned -- going home meant hot food and good wine. Cruz wouldn't mind either of those things either.
Cruz used the time to orient himself with the images, and the small bits of information Sage had found. It wasn't much to go on. But the underground was full of things both horrific and wonderful. They had a front door to the depths -- or rather a back door. Nox had dug an escape tunnel into the darkness while he had lived with the Vegas. Christian had installed a vault door impenetrable from either side. It served as an easy access escape hatch and kept the ghouls and thieves from entering through the basement. Nox had used a large rock while living there, but the Atharim were still a threat to his family and Christian intended to keep Cruz's mother safe -- and whoever else chose to live in the newly fortified mansion. Though no one but the newlyweds did.
Cruz still found it hard to beleive that his mother had finally left his father. And that her affair was no longer that. Christian had been family longer than Cruz could remember -- he hadn't remembered anyone other than Christian having the head of the house title. Now someone else had the job, though Christian was not his father and the staff was much less and more casual than they had been under Vega rule.
When Sage was ready Cruz gave him a smile. "We can go through the escape hatch?" Sage grinned -- going home meant hot food and good wine. Cruz wouldn't mind either of those things either.