"I just don't get it," he releases a frustrated sigh as his eyes look on with awe at the surrounding landscape that was all...his. Well, his in contract anyways as he is not really into the concept of personal ownership of nature but as far as society norms go there was a piece of paper that said this land is now his, recently passed onto him from a now dead relative who he had hardly even heard of before, and this land was vast. It had already been at least 10 minutes of non-stop driving since they entered the reinforced steel gate that was connected to a strong looking concrete wall that supposedly wrapped around, completely, 25,000 acres, about 40 square miles of land built close to the mountains with a vast forest surrounding it. 'Secluded;' that was the word the guard at the gate used to describe the location of the estate while passing on the information of the place's size. Apparently seclusion was a much desired quality around these parts as the identification process to get through the gate was one stroke short of having to give a full rectal exam.<br/><br/>"Mr. Verance wanted to be sure that no one of ill means entered the premises," said the guard, a gruff looking man of an age somewhere in his 30s it seemed. Not too much younger than John himself but with an air of dominance on him that would make even the most tenacious of people think it over before trying to mess with him. Obviously ex-military and obviously very adept at the duty of guarding any sort of post. The man was a clear 6'8 with arms the size of tree trunks and a stare that was both emotionless and commanding. The man has gone through some shit, as a keen observer would note. Put that with the small arsenal of weaponry that could be seen both on his hip and inside the guard house, he was a formidable presence, to say the least.<br/><br/>"How do you keep watch of the entire area," the soft yet challenging voice of Ambrosia was heard from the passenger seat as the guard checked both of their ID cards and the documents that were provided to them by the person who told them of the estate to begin with. While he checked those, another group of 5 guards made a check of the vehicle, a small dark blue sedan with a few years on it, all of them with a similar look as the first guard.<br/><br/>The question made the man beam, a look that John did not expect the towering figure could pull off, as if he was proud to make the next statement, "Mr. Verance had gone through painstaking ends to ensure that this estate was armed with the best security measures that money and hard work could provide. Every section of the outer wall is equipped with sensors that alert us to anything that comes near it, within twenty feet, to be exact. There are high definition cameras at each section as well, those were recently put in. We are instructed to ensure that the security is up to current standards as to the development of technology."<br/><br/>It only took about 20 more minutes of identification requirements and questioning before the guards were sure that this was Corann's great-grandson and that he be given permission to enter the premises. The gate opened to a lone road that wound its way through a slightly dense wooded area that looked like it popped out of a painter's best dream. To say the land was beautiful would be an understatement. As John drove, the couple saw that there were many smaller paths that broke out from the road and into different sections of the woods, not quite big enough for a full sized car but probably for some atvs or cart and horseback. Both of them were awestruck, not that the place was so beautiful but the fact that it was so beautiful and seemed to be rather untouched aside from the paths and obvious effort to keep it all guarded and clean.<br/><br/>After driving a bit longer the view of trees and brush was almost immediately replaced by another wall and gate, this one armed with a guard as well, except only 1 and this one is a bit more..rugged. A long, shaggy beard that seemed to have no end to them, hair that matched and though the man is still a mountain compared to most men instead of lean and cut physiques you find with former military, this guy sports a girth that would be fitting for kings of old; large belly, big arms and even bigger legs. The most noticeable difference between this guard and the ones from earlier, however; this one sports a warm and welcoming smile as the vehicle made its stop. The eyes of the guard light up as he rushes out to greet the newcomers, making John forget his earlier frustration for a moment, "Welcome, lad," says the guard. A cheery expression could not be hidden behind his beard, broken and rotten teeth showing through.<br/><br/>"Hi, there," John gave back with a subtly surprised expression, "you seem much friendlier than the other group down there." He gestures back towards the road heading to the first gate.<br/><br/>The guard laughs, a hearty, healthy laugh that one can only find from people of long and full histories to tell. The guard breaks off the laughter and shakes his head, "Oh don't be lettin them boys give you any freights, lad. They just like to act tough to keep the local kids from causing havoc here. Appearances, you understand. Really they are tough as kittens."<br/><br/>John couldn't help but be confused, "I don't know, they were pretty convincing to me."<br/><br/>The guard shrugs, "Ehh, don't get me wrong. Those ones down there ain't exactly nothing to mess with for normal folks but they wouldn't be a bother to us, for sure."<br/><br/>John could feel the simultaneous tilt of his own head as well as the shifting of Ambrosia in her seat. He gives a quick glance to his wife who quickly hides a subtle look of unease from her face. "Normal folk," he says under his breath not to anyone in particular to digest the words for a second. Before he can make a comment on it, Ambrosia touches his arm.<br/><br/>"What is your name?" She asks the guard with a serious yet warm tone, hoping John would just let the comment go. It works as John's expression changes to show his new interest in his wife's question, wanting to learn who this kinder man is as well.<br/><br/>"Oh, right," the man says before extending his hand towards John, "My name is Erryn. Erryn Sammite but most folks call me Err, as you can as well. Pleasure to make your quittance Johnny and Ambrosia Verance."<br/><br/>Both of them share a shocked expression, "You know who we are," John asks while taking the man's hand in his.<br/><br/>Bringing his hand back down Err gestures nonchalantly towards the gate, "Why, of course. We have been expecting you, the whole house has. Plus I would recognize my own kin no matter how old they get or how long it has been since I've seen them. Oh, yes it has been quite some time since I last saw you, you were just wee thing back then, barely off your mother's breast. Doubt you would remember me and your mother was never truly fond of us coming around."<br/><br/>Another uneasy shift from Ambrosia as John let out another exasperated sigh, "Yes, I know. My mother never really spoke much of my father since his passing nor of anyone from his side of the family. The fact that I still had a living grandfather and great-grandfather, although dead now of course, she never told me. Apparently it has been several years since he passed and the whole time his people have been trying to get in touch with me about this estate." He gives another glance towards his wife, "It would have been nice to known about this place while we have been struggling to make ends meet over the years. Us and my siblings, I mean," he makes the statement looking back at Err. "Of course it would have been nice to get to know Corann before his passing as well."<br/><br/>The smile on Err saddens a bit at the mentioning of Corann's name, "Aye, he was a good one, your great grandpa was. Sad to see such a man as that go but all for the best, as they say. He was suffering so the last few years of his life. Some disease we knew nothing of, even modern doctors couldn't figure out what was ailing him. He tried to come see you once while you were still at home but your ma wasn't having none of it."<br/><br/>"What," John barks out, "you mean he came to visit me before?"<br/><br/>"Aye, lad. It was right before you left to see the world, as your ma was saying. Corann had only a few years left to live at that time and wanted to make it a point to see you at least one more time. Due to an agreement between your ma and pa though, Corann had to ask Melissa first and she flat out sent him packing. Didn't even think twice on the idea, that she didn't. Right shameful thing too, if you don't mind me saying."<br/><br/>Clenching his jaw, John sits back into the seat to try and absorb all this, looking to his wife for some sort of help, "Why would she do that?"<br/><br/>"Maybe she had a good reason for it, my love," she says in an effort to comfort him.<br/><br/>"Aye, if trying to keep her son away from our kind is a good reason," Err spat, quickly losing his friendly demeanor in that one statement, John turning his head back to face him.<br/><br/>"Our kind?" John tilts his head again.<br/><br/>"Perhaps this is not the time to get into a discussion about what was done and focus on getting back to what we are here for?" A sharpness to her voice told Err that the subject would be dropped immediately, not to mention the glowing light that shone from her eyes while John's eyes were set on the guard.<br/><br/>Understanding, and perhaps a bit of persuasion, entered the mind of Err and he nodded briskly before shaking his head, "Aye, that is correct. Please forget my comments, I get a bit worked up about Corann's passing at times. I'll open the gates for you and you two head on to the house. Like I said, everyone is expecting you but I will call ahead to let Jaime know you are on the way. She will also have to phone the mayor, as I'm sure he would like to know of your arrival as well."<br/><br/>"Just who was this guy?" John looks back at his wife.<br/><br/>"We can talk about that later, Johnny," Err says as he goes back into the guard house and hits the switch for the gate, coming back out as it is opening. "You just go on up and get settled in. I will be up a bit later once my replacement here comes."<br/><br/>"Okay.." John assents and pushes on the gas when the gate is clear, making their way up the road again, the 'house' visible after only a minute or so of driving through more woods that end at a large clearing where trees are replaced my finely kept hedges, lawns, gardens, statues, and all sorts of decorations one would find surrounding a mansion, which the building they were heading to was, by any regards. The place was HUGE. Not so much tall, though it did have 3 stories, as it was expansive.<br/><br/>"There must be dozens of bedrooms in there," Ambrosia noted with a slight awe to her voice. "And look," she says as he points across the open landscape, "there are more buildings around it too. Must be a lot of people that live here.<br/><br/>Nodding absently, John again lets out another sigh as he thinks of his mother, "Why did you hide this from me?" He mutters to himself though Ambrosia hears it and gently places her hand on his arm, worrying about what sort of nightmares this dreamland is going to uncover.