The air seemed to shift as the matriarch of the Solerna family descend down the stairs, each step careful, graceful, almost calculated. Her cold eyes swept to the members of the family, and they all lowered their gaze for a second in respect. Annette Solerna look to the rest of the visitors as they, too, went down the stairs.
"I am quite happy that we had such a fruitful discussion, Miss Contance. You and your party are, of course, welcome to stay here in our Casa. It may not be much compared to the ones you are all familiar in the. . . city, but whatever is ours, you are welcome to use."
"Ah, that's very kind of you, ma'am, but my associates and I already arrange our accommodations in advance. But thank you for your kind offer."
Something flashed in her grandmother's eyes, but Lilith didn't have enough time to look into it more.
"Then, we will be meeting again tomorrow to finish our discussion and for tea."
"Indeed." As the ambassador and Henry bid their farewell, Henry a little more enthusiastic in his wave to Lilith, Lilith didn't really noticed her grandmother walking towards her.
"Lilith, darling, how was your excursion with young Henry Contance?"
"Oh. It went well, Grandmother! I showed her around town and let the other townspeople talk about our way here. He was quite excited when I talked about our family and what we do here in town, and he's really appreciative, too!"
"Does this mean that the two of you are friends, dear child?"
"Um, I would say so. We did enjoy our time together, and it's fun to talk with someone around my age without really shying out for a change."
"Good." Her grandmother cupped her face with her hands, "You've done perfectly, darling. Thank you for helping out. With this and my discussion with the ambassador earlier, I am certain that we can help prosper this little town of ours more."
Lilith didn't notice how the atmosphere seemed to drop cold the moment her grandmother touched her.
"But Mother," Leon called, "Would it really be alright for us to open our gates for outsiders? With the people here, it's alright since they're used to us, but such abilities doesn't exists in the outside world."
"No need to be concern Leon," she replied as she straightened her back. "I understand your worries, but I believe that this family is strong enough to ward off any I'll-intent that might come our way."
"I am also in agreement to brother-in-law Mother," Silona moved a step forward, looking a little anxious. "I... I think I speak with the rest of us that we share much concern for our safety. How would we handle the outsiders when they came in our town?"
Annette hummed in thought. "So you all worry about this?" They nodded. "Those ambassadors that came here earlier, do you believe that they are people that could harm us? Will we helpless if they try to move against us?"
"Well that--"
"Lilith, darling," her grandmother suddenly turned her intense stare to her direction. "During your trip earlier, do you feel that that boy could easily lay a hand to you, to any of your cousins?"
Suddenly feeling scared of saying the wrong answer, Lilith swallowed and chose her words carefully, "I. . . couldn't really answer in all sureness right now, Grandmother. Our interaction only extends for a couple of hours. I would need more time if I want to make an assessment on your question."
Annette hummed again. "Then, I would like to hear of your thought if you finally gather them. For the meantime, we need to make sure to make a good impression on them throughout their days here. We need to show them the values of our family. Mistakes are unforgivable this time. Are we clear?"
"Yes, ma'am!" a chorus of voice answered. Annette nodded and went back up her rooms and the rest of the people disperesed.
"I guess you better make watch yourself more, cousin," a melodious voice from behind said. Luna was inspecting her nails as she continued to talk. "We are not really familiar with how the outside people think. You need to double your effort to protect yourself, seeing as you're. . ." her eyes roamed from foot to head, Lilith understanding the fullness of her unfinished sentence well."
"You didn't need to worry yourself for such things, Luna," Lilith gritted out. "I'm more that capable of protecting myself for anything."
Luna scoffed, "But the again, seeing as Grandmother's "favorite grandchild" did so perfectly in her little chore for the day, maybe you are more capable that what I would have thought." She gasped lightly, "Or was it a little pity? My dear. . . normal cousin?"
Lilith was about to throw something to Luna's smirking face--most probably her fist since she wasn't holding anything nor was anything small enough to be projectile was around her vicinity--when her parents pulled her along.
"Baby, I though I told you to control your temper more, especially to your cousins," Kasper, her father, chastised her when their far enough. "Would you wish to send your grandmother out again because you caused a commotion? She just told us to make sure that everything is perfect."
"But Dad!" she cried. "It's unfair! She keeps saying things like these to me, but I'm always the one getting into trouble when she's the one that started in first!"
Her mother sighed heavily as she turned away without looking Lilith in the eye even once. The disappointed feeling that dropped to her stomach at the action was already familiar to her, so she tried not minding it too much.
"Just. . . make sure you stay out of trouble, at least for now, alright? I. . .We can't afford to upset Mother this time when she's had a big plan like this. We need to do our part for the family."
Lilith couldn't help but laugh at this. "And just what is my role in this family? I'm just an ordinary person, just like Luna said. What place could I have in this house? Can something like can even be carved out enough for me to fill?"
"No, love, of course you're important for us!" Kasper said as he gently held her shoulders and moved her to look at him. "You are a Solerna, a vital member of this family. Of course we will always need you."
"Being needed doesn't equals to being a part, Dad. Things just doesn't work that way." At that, she moved and ran away from her parents. She needed a place to cool her head.
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Author's Note: I was listening to Disney/Pixar songs while writing these things. Can't believe how inspirational many of their songs are