The grin he had been wearing disappears at the shriek - it echoes down the hall, shrill and telltale, unmasked by the storm. He had hoped to keep this simple, but...well. It's excitement, anyhow, isn't it?

It would be very easy to catch up with Herbert right away, with his speed - and if the boy does look back when he gets to the bottom of the stairs, he will see the creature is right behind him, moving as though this mad dash is a pleasant jog.

Before he can jump down those stairs, however, a servant pops out of a nearby door...and in a flash, the vampire is upon him, clamping a hand over his mouth before burying his teeth in his throat. The man can't even scream as his blood dribbles messily over the bannister, down to the floor below.

It's an opening. A small delay, but - something.