Unpleasantries

Hamza was either right about Antonio's guilt or the half-devil was shockingly free despite being an inhuman hunter. Much to Jean's surprise, he found himself standing near the side window of the manor's right entrance waiting for a sign of Antonio and his niece just four days later. Arms crossed and brows scrunched, he felt wretchedly agitated. Over the past five years, and it was hard enough to believe that much time had passed, he couldn't remember feeling this way. It was a type of feeling he had when he was younger, a righteousness that came too easily, too naturally.

Even after all this time, he was a Lowell, true and through.

The thought made him huff, but there wasn't time to linger on it.

In the distance, with his advanced eyesight, he spotted the boat that was bringing his niece and her guardian to the isle. The moment he saw it, he wanted to bolt to get his brothers, uncle, and Hugh. But he calmed himself and stayed still, deciding to wait until Patiel and Antonio made it to the front door.

His eyes remained transfixed on the autumn horizon, waiting for the carriage that would bring the guests to the manor.

What felt like at least an hour was only some long minutes when he finally saw the brown, blue, and white horse-drawn carriage standing out among the reds, oranges and yellows of the season. He exhaled, finally moving from his sentinel position near the window to walk into the foyer. Tristan was coincidentally entering the sitting room at that moment, and he nodded at him.

"Ah, they're here, then." At Jean's second nod, Tristan turned to walk down the main hall. "I'll get Mother and Friedrich. Do you know where Ulrich and Hugh are?"

"No, though I suspect they may be in the game room, trying to let off steam," Jean responded with a soft laugh.

Chuckling in agreement, Tristan disappeared down the hall.

For some minutes, Jean watched after his older brother. He then sighed, moving up the stairs to stand on the balcony of the second floor that overlooked the foyer. And he waited.

Shortly, he sensed the two foreign presences nearing the door. He narrowed his eyes. Both seemed perfectly human. Antonio was hiding his inhuman aura well; hard as he tried, Jean could sense nothing. The only thing tipping off a difference between the presences was that one was surrounded by a barrier--a painfully familiar one he hadn't sensed in ages.

The corner of his mouth twitched in the beginning of a smile, but he couldn't let it fully form. Not when a living reminder of his sister was soon to be in his direct sight.

Resting his arms on the balcony rails, he watched his family enter the foyer. His mother only briefly watched, chatting softly with his brothers, before leaving to enter the seating room. Likely for dramatic effect, Jean figured. He could have rolled his eyes if they weren't fixated on the door.

A servant suddenly appeared at the door and opened it while moving out of the way, and in stepped a man who still exuded an aura of danger and power--however that would translate to a human. Even at a distance, Jean could feel it, and he had to wonder if it was something the nephilim could control or not.

The man was tall, which wasn't uncommon for natural-born inhumans; Jean learned this some time ago. He bore silver hair with slightly darkened tips, which was unusual but still human enough, pale skin, and pale blue eyes. He appeared to be in his forties, and his somewhat rugged look was completed with light stubble. His garb was also black with dark red accents, and he was lowering a wide-brimmed black hat from his head.

From behind him, a little girl wearing a large, fluffy pink dress and matching bonnet entered and looked around the foyer with childish wonder. Jean briefly focused on her, giving her a once-over, before focusing on his family as they approached the guests.

"Greetings," said Tristan, "and welcome to the Lowell Manor." The door of the manor closed seconds after the words left his mouth, the sound slightly echoing in the space.

The girl's sapphire blue eyes twinkled with magic as she removed her bonnet to look at her uncle. "It's beautiful!" she said, her small voice high-pitched in awe.

Taking off his coat to hand it and his hat to a servant, the nephilim made a small smile that seemed somewhat sad. He then gave Tristan a nod. "Thank you. The isle's real nice," he said, his voice carrying well despite its soft tenor, and it had a prominent lazy drawl to it.

The girl also relinquished her coat and bonnet to another, younger servant, and she thanked them both before the servants disappeared from normal sight. This only seemed to startle her for a moment, then she skipped to the nephilim's side and took his hand.

From where Jean stood, he could see Hugh tense. Jean knew the man well enough to know Hugh wanted to take the girl away as soon as possible. But for all their sakes, Jean sincerely hoped his brother-in-law wasn't that suicidal, even if he was entirely unaware of the very real threat he faced.

Tristan, ever cordial, made a small laugh. "Yes, Isle Veni is one of our many pride and joys." He nodded at the nephilim. "I understand your name is Antonio Alighieri?"

"Yep." The nephilim briefly glanced at the rest of the family with interest. "And you are...Tristan Lowell?"

Slowly, Jean walked to the staircase, his eyes moving to fix on the little girl. She indeed carried the visual markers of a Lowell: Uncannily bright sapphire blue eyes and blonde hair. But that meant little, in the end. The one good thing that should placate his family was the small version of the very pendant that Nadelyn was last seen with around the girl's neck...

"Ah, good guess. Yes, I am. Firstborn of Gwendolyn and Darryl Lowell." Tristan nodded.

Ulrich was next to give a curt nod. "Ulrich Lowell. Third-born."

"Friedrich," their uncle introduced with crossed arms. "Gwendolyn is my older sister."

Jean was just beginning to walk down the stairs when he noticed Hugh hadn't said anything after the otherwise rapid-paced introductions. The girl was looking at him, and he seemed to be observing her in turn.

She was such a small thing, standing somewhat beside, somewhat behind Antonio, that she barely reached his thigh. She was abnormally small for her age...

On his own, Hugh looked up at the nephilim. Jean couldn't even see his brother-in-law's face and knew he was sizing up the man.

It really didn't help when Jean noticed the smallest of smiles appear at the corner of Antonio's mouth. From where Jean stood, it looked almost--almost--amused.

Recalling what Hamza said about Antonio's estranged mentality, Jean decided to ignore the slight this time.

"Jean?" Ulrich called turning to look at him. "Come down!"

Sighing softly, Jean finally landed on the foyer floor. He approached at his own pace, continuing his examination of the nephilim.

Instead of allowing him to speak, Tristan introduced him. "This is my younger brother, Jean-Luc, second-born son. He is also the leader of the family's inhuman hunters."

Jean didn't mind the introduction, opting to merely give Antonio a slight nod. One was similarly given to him--though not without a slightly more apparent smirk-like smile.

"Pleasure to meet you all," said the nephilim. He glanced down at the girl, slightly shaking her hand, and prompting her to look up at him. "As you know, this is Patty..."

A light blush appeared on the girl's fair face, then she let go of Antonio's hand and took a few steps forward with a beaming smile at them. "Hello! My name is Patiel Lowell Alighieri!" She made a gentle, perfect curtsy. "Pleased to meet you!"

Jean didn't need to see his family's expressions to know they all melted at her loveliness.

Tristan chuckled, giving her a pleasant smile. "Hello, Patty. You look just like your mother."

She giggled, taking the sides of her dress and turning side-to-side. "I know!"

Jean softly laughed at her mannerisms as he was slightly reminded of Celestal.

This was not going to end well.

Together, they entered the sitting room where Gwendolyn sat with crossed legs on the bergère at the left side of the fireplace. Two large portfolios rested on the coffee table before her. The moment she saw them enter, her already stern expression deepened. It then immediately lightened up when her eyes landed on the girl at Antonio's side.

Friedrich made himself comfortable, sitting on the bergère to the right side of the lit fireplace, while Antonio sat with Patty on the sofa at Gwendolyn's left. Jean, Ulrich, and Tristan sat on the opposite sofa facing them, and lastly, Hugh sat closer to Antonio and Patty on the sofa to their left.

"Antonio Alighieri," Gwendolyn said, giving the man a nod. Her eyes were giving him a thorough look-over.

"Madam Lowell." Antonio gave a bow of his head before sitting.

Gwendolyn seemed somewhat pleased by his manners, then looked at Patty. "Ah, young one. Your name?"

"Patiel Lowell Alighieri, Ma'am," the girl responded, once more giving a small curtsy.

Jean was surprised when his mother actually smiled. A bit. He also didn't miss how her brow quirked at the girl's chosen surname. Alighieri.

As Patty sat beside him, Antonio nodded in admiration of the upholstery. "Nice place you have here," he said. "How old is it?

Gwendolyn gave him a peculiar look. "At least two hundred years old. Fancy architecture?"

"A bit. I've seen a lot of places like this as an inhuman hunter."

Unexpectedly, a young servant entered the room with a large tray of teacups and a teapot. He placed the tray on the coffee table between the couches and seats but was not acknowledged in the slightest by the brothers. Unsurprisingly, the Alighieris did. The servant was waved away by Ulrich just after he bowed, and he disappeared from the room without making so much as a sound.

Jean's gaze lingered on the doorway.

"Don't mind the servants," Ulrich said upon seeing Patty's curious expression, pouring himself a cup. "They're all descendants of demons sworn by magic to serve the family."

Tristan gave his youngest brother an exasperated glance. "They are demons with diluted blood modified to keep them harmless," he corrected.

Ulrich nodded and shrugged. "One and the same."

"Please, help yourself," Tristan offered, beckoning to the tea before helping himself to a cup.

The tea was rosemary, to no surprise, which was a natural demon repellent. Every basic Infernal hunter knew this. Jean knew, however, that the tea wouldn't harm him any more than it would harm Antonio. Perks of being an estranged hallow hybrid and a nephilim.

"Thank you," said Antonio, reaching for a cup, "though I admit I can't remember the last time I drank tea. Rosemary, eh?"

A sly smile formed on Jean's lips, though he was the only of his siblings who did not pour himself a cup.

"Naturally," Friedrich hummed, eyeing Patty as she and Antonio exchanged what seemed like a wordless conversation. In the end, only Antonio had some tea.

Briefly closing her eyes, Gwendolyn made a soft huff. "I'm a woman of insistence. Let us get the necessary questions out the way."

Antonio sat back on the sofa, taking a soft sip from his steaming cup. "Of course."

Placing her cup atop the table, Gwendolyn picked up and went through one of the portfolios. "I am most curious about you, Antonio. The Alighieris. We do not know of an Alighieri hunter family in Clovure. The old Alighieri family one typically refers to that was known for its inhuman hunters were eradicated over 200 years ago. Today, the only Alighieri family we know of are normal, ordinary folk, from what we understand, with not a speck of inhuman knowledge. Would you happen to be related to them?" she asked, looking into Antonio's eyes.

Antonio made a fond smile. "Yes, distantly. There are two Alighieri branches, the one you mentioned and then my branch, of which I am the only biological survivor." His smile grew lopsided. "I suppose you can say they are the normal ones."

Jean softly hummed at this information. His mother looked somewhat satisfied with this answer, but Jean knew she was anything but.

"Patty? Would you like a tour of the manor?" Gwendolyn suddenly asked her granddaughter.

The girl thought about it for a moment, then she nodded with a smile. "Yes, please."

Her grandmother snapped her fingers. "Bring a female," she said, seemingly to no one.

Not a second after she spoke, a young servant appeared in the room's doorway. She looked to be perhaps in her twenties. She bowed her head. "Ma'am."

Patty looked between her and her grandmother. There was a look of confusion on her face, but she still smiled and slid off the sofa to approach the woman. "What is your name? I'm Patty!" she said.

The servant blinked in obvious surprise. No one addressed them so casually.

Jean watched the exchange with a sad internal smile as the servant replied in a soft voice, "Aileen, Miss Patty."

To deepen the surprise he could sense in the room from his family, Patty said, "You don't have to call me 'miss', I don't like that address. My name is Patty."

Sensing the servant was nervous, the corner of Jean's mouth twitched. It then turned into a sad frown.

"Yes...P-Patty," the servant said, her voice even softer. Clearly, she was unsure of how to react.

Directing his gaze towards the nephilim, who sat sipping his tea, Jean was surprised Antonio was apparently agreeable to the idea of his ward roaming around the manor with a person she did not know. Likewise, Patty seemed confident, if not perhaps naive.

As soon as the girl disappeared around the corner with the servant, Antonio lowered his cup to the coffee table.

The atmosphere immediately shifted.

"Why is she a child?" Hugh all but demanded. "She should be at least seventeen today."

Jean was entirely unsurprised that his brother-in-law threw pleasantries out the window.

"She was attacked by a demonic affliction," Antonio answered without looking at them.

Hugh's teeth grated audibly. "A...a what?"

Antonio's expression darkened, and he raised his head to stare off at nothing. "It was...the first and only mistake I made..."

When he went quiet, no one else spoke. Four pairs of sapphire and one pair of brown eyes simply stared at him. Jean closed his own as he listened.

"I..." Antonio looked at the floor. His hand tightly clenched the sofa's arm as he exhaled. He then explained, "I am somewhat of a lone hunter. Hamza Akhdar, as you know, is one of the few hunter friends I have. Mostly, I hunt simple enemies: Changelings, shapeshifters, lesser were-folk. When I know or am certain a hunt will require aid, I'm not stupid enough to go on my own. In any case, I was hunting alone and for the first time found myself against a demon after all."

There were soft sounds of disdain from Jean's family, but Jean himself ignored them.

This information was a lie, of course. He wondered what the real story was.

"Yeah, I know...I know." Antonio rubbed his neck, continuing to look at the floor. "It's shameful enough to have found myself in that situation. Long story short, the demon teleported from me and went after Patty, who was four at the time. It...It gave her some kind of demonic illness. I asked everyone I knew, asked for help in the most unusual places, and nothing worked. So, I had no choice but to put her into a cryostasis."

Jean opened his eyes, raising a brow.

Cryogenics was a rather new technology and thus absurdly expensive; it was perhaps the most expensive procedure humankind had in his world. For Antonio to have done that, and for Patty, was not only worthy of respect, but it meant he probably had some contacts in very high places...or was secretly dripping with money.

Glancing at his brother-in-law, Jean saw the begrudging expression of appreciation. A similar expression lay on his brothers' faces.

Friedrich and Gwendolyn appeared entirely indifferent.

"Well...Thank you, regardless," Hugh muttered. He raised a brow. "But, that would mean she came out of cryo...three years ago?"

Antonio still didn't raise his head. "Yeah."

"I cannot fathom how that must have hurt you," said Tristan.

Lips tightening, Antonio merely nodded.

"Then, the most pertinent question," said Gwendolyn, lacing her fingers together in her lap. Her eyes were still pointedly focused on him. "How did you come upon Patty? How do you know her intended name?"

An audible sigh escaped the nephilim, and he began, "I was there when her mother died."

"What?!" Hugh shouted, grabbing the couch's arm and bearing a dark gaze onto the man. "How the--?!"

"I was only coincidentally nearby when she was attacked," Antonio continued, his brows furrowing. He briefly glanced up, as if he was somewhat annoyed. After sighing once more, he finally met Hugh's eyes. "It wasn't a particularly powerful demon, but it seemed to have ambushed her and her escorts. It's been a while now, but...I remember."

Jean caught a sense of sincerity from him, and shoulders he didn't know were tense slightly eased.

Ulrich moved forward. "Did...she die..."

Antonio gave a single curt nod. He seemed to think about it, perhaps about the incident itself, and nodded several more times, lowering his head again. "She...told me Patty's name after giving birth to her."

Jean murmured a soft prayer that was echoed by his brothers, mother, uncle, and brother-in-law, who looked away with a shaky exhale.

"Where is she buried?" Friedrich asked.

"The nearest town to where she died," Antonio responded, pale blue eyes focusing on him. "Papan."

"Did you know she was a Lowell?" Gwendolyn immediately demanded afterward.

"No, Ma'am. And the pendant she wore was...unfamiliar to me. All I knew was that it was alchemic." Antonio paused. "And...I admit I've been over-protective of Patty since she was attacked..."

"That's your excuse for not seeking out her family?!" Hugh demanded, nearly on the verge of standing up.

Once more, Antonio met the brown gaze, but before he could answer, Ulrich scoffed. "Surely, you've heard of the Lowells before two days ago?" he asked, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Antonio looked at him and was about to answer, but Hugh was relentless. "Admit you simply didn't want to look for her family!"

"I didn't."

The easy admittance took them all by surprise. There wasn't a lick of hesitance or abrasion in the man's voice.

Friedrich's already narrowed eyes darkened. "And why is that?"

Antonio cracked a small smile, but it was somber. "I was...lonely. I knew she was someone important. Not immediately; hell, in the first several days I was a mess just because she was an infant. I didn't know what to do. I'd never been a father before, let alone had any interaction with a baby. But...she eventually brought...light into my life, you know...?"

Much as Jean didn't want to hear this, he did understand.

The life of an inhuman hunter was a lonely one. Just as it wasn't uncommon for some to remain single, it wasn't unusual for them to start families. Some needed to. The loneliness, the tragedy of it all; it could overwhelm even the most hardened of hunters.

Exhaling softly, he focused on Antonio as the nephilim once more lowered his head. "In the end, I knew what I was doing. I just...didn't care too much. She was happy, she was safe. That was all that mattered to me."

Soft sounds of movement and mutters brought Jean's gaze towards his family. Hugh was disgruntled, though he interestingly remained quiet. If anything, he looked frustrated, as did Friedrich.

Raising his cup, Antonio finished his tea. As quiet lingered, he lowered his head and idly played with the cup in his hands. After some time, he sighed. "I'll leave whatever decision that's made from here on to Patty," he said softly. "If she wants to stay, or often visit, or anything, I'll easily give. I'll do anything to keep her happy."

Hugh relaxed, but Jean could sense that he was still agitated. Casting a glance at his family, Jean saw a myriad of expressions ranging from considerate to apathetic.

He focused on his mother as she smoothly raised her cup of tea and took a sip, eyes closed and expression unreadable.

She was the most apathetic of them all.

"Very well," she said, returning her cup and saucer to the coffee table. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I am most interested in you, now, young man. We were told you live alone with Patty, but surely as a full-time hunter you have someone to take care of her?"

Antonio's broad shoulders slightly relaxed, and he raised his head to give a small, wry smile. "I've an adopted sister who visits sometimes."

"Does she have a family?"

"No; she is also an inhuman hunter."

Gwendolyn slightly frowned. "Do you have any other family?"

"Yes, Ma'am. A nephew, the son of my late twin, but he lives far away..." He hesitated, then admitted, "I do also have a partner. We don't live together."

"That's a shame," said Friedrich, crossing one leg over the other. "Patty needs a maternal figure in her life."

Antonio lowered his eyes at this comment. Jean noted he looked a bit sad.

"Tell us about her," Gwendolyn said.

"Her name is Cocoliloc Tōnalli. We haven't been together very long, but she's native to Mēxihco and is an alchemist."

"Tōnalli." Gwendolyn slowly nodded her head. "Yes, that is a very old family, older than us Lowells, even."

"Yeah. Cocoliloc has an older sister, too." He laced his fingers together. "I otherwise don't ask much about her family or anything."

Hugh frowned. "Does Patty go to school, then? Have friends?"

Antonio paused, then sighed, "She doesn't have many friends, but she does go to school, yeah. She doesn't like it very much but not for any significant reason."

"Not a boarding school, obviously," Hugh commented, crossing his arms. "Is it co-gender?"

"Of course." Antonio raised a brow when Hugh huffed but neither man graciously said anything more of the matter.

"She spends the majority of her day at school, yes?"

"Yep."

"Then, I've a burning question."

Antonio cocked his head to the side, and Jean sensed another shift in the atmosphere.

Hugh sat forward, his expression dark and accusatory. "We were told you both spoke a demonic language." He pointed at the nephilim. "Why. In the Nine Hells. Does she, or even you for that matter, know demonic tongue?"

Another white brow rose. Sitting back, Antonio easily responded, "Knowing what Infernals say gives a hunter a great advantage in battle. Being able to read demonic texts can save your life." Before Hugh could sputter words, he continued, "There are also always Infernals undeserving of death that can't speak human languages. Knowing what they say helps prevent any unnecessary deaths."

Exhaling deeply from his nose, Jean closed his eyes as scoffs and disgruntled noises were made around him.

"You sympathize with inhumans?" Hugh spat. Before Antonio could get any words out, he made a sound of disgust. "And you taught such ideals to Patty? And you taught her how to fight?!"

Antonio narrowed his eyes. "Of course I taught her how to fight. She knows alchemy, magic, and basic, age-appropriate combat. How can that possibly be a problem, especially after what happened in the past?"

"If you had raised her with a family--"

"I simply made sure she can defend herself," Antonio said, his voice hard.

Jean figured this was a touchy subject for the nephilim, like many others, it seemed.

"I also have neighbors who check on her when I'm not around," Antonio continued.

"You leave her by herself?" Ulrich balked while Hugh gave the nephilim a look that could kill.

Lips pursing, Jean idly ran a hand down his beard. He noticed Friedrich shaking his head out the corner of his eye.

Antonio wasn't getting any good points in the eyes of his family.

"Yes," Antonio acknowledged. "No one bothers her. No one ever has."

"Except that demon," Hugh reminded with a deep scowl.

Antonio looked at the floor.

"I can't believe you," said Ulrich. "An inhuman hunter should know better."

Antonio gritted his teeth but said nothing in his defense.

Tristan sighed, holding out his hands. "Now, let's not gang up on the man. Patty seems like a well-raised girl."

"She is," said Antonio. He didn't raise his head. "She's a wonderful, gifted child. And even if you don't think so, that's fine...I know her far better than you do."

Jean immediately placed a hand on Hugh's shoulder to hold him back as the man all but shouted, "She's my daughter!"

Antonio slowly looked up at him. There was something in the nephilim's pale eyes that Jean perceived as a threat, and it made his hackles rise.

"You may be her sire, but she doesn't know you," Antonio calmly responded.

Jean slightly winced, but he held Hugh back. "We're not here to fight," he finally said, looking from his brother-in-law to Antonio. "We only want what's best for Patty."

"What you think is best, you mean," the nephilim corrected. He shook his head, glancing at all of them. "You Lowells are infamous, you know, for forcing your beliefs down others' throats. Even when you're wrong."

"Patiel is a Lowell," Friedrich reminded.

Jean noticed his uncle and mother were eerily calm throughout all of this. Normally, they would be just as righteous as Hugh in this situation.

Antonio gave Friedrich a strange look. It was almost mocking. "Is she?"

Hugh smacked Jean's hand away, on his feet in seconds. "You are no guardian of Patty's," he said, spitting the word. "You're a selfish man, and I'd hate to know your real reasons for keeping her away from us."

Undaunted, Antonio shrugged and settled into the couch. "Believe what you want. I already told you, I'll do whatever Patty--and only Patty--wants to do. Your words and opinions mean nothing to me."

"She's a child!"

"That's obvious."

"She shouldn't be making decisions on her own--"

Antonio outright scoffed, turning a narrowed-eyed gaze on the man. "She's been making her own decisions since she was old enough to say she liked pink clothes."

Hugh cried out with frustration and walked away. He didn't leave the room, but he did turn away from everyone to seethe while standing near the closest window.

Jean looked at him, then focused on Antonio. His upper lip twitched at the almost smug look on the nephilim's face. He wasn't even trying to hide it.

Tense, heavy silence permeated the room. The clacking of Gwendolyn's tea cup as she lowered it to its saucer broke the quiet.

"It's almost lunch time," she said suddenly. Calmly looking at Antonio, she asked, "Will you be staying for it?"

The triumphant look gone from his face, the nephilim shrugged. "Patty would probably like that. Sure."

"Very good. Once she returns from her tour, we will begin. She should be guided back here shortly."

Jean watched Antonio nod, then glanced back at Hugh. His brother-in-law remained still near the window. He wanted to say something to him, but his job wasn't to deal with domestic matters; that wasn't why he was present. He was there in case Antonio was a threat to them.

Unfortunately, at the moment, they were very real threats to one another.