Leori reached his new home in an hour. Just beyond the deep woods, the road led to the Obelensky mansion, hidden away from the rest of the world. Melissa and Akagi now lived in the Obolensky mansion since Vierne left for the Purgatory, as Vierne wished. Leori looked as deep as he could in the woods. He could look far within the forest, beyond the mist, the fog and the snow, he saw a Christian cross dug into the soil, "Father," He asked Akagi. 
"Yes?" Akagi looked up from his book.
"Why is there a cross in the ground?"
"What?" Akagi looked outside, "Where?"

"I was deep in the woods,"
"You could see it from so far away?"
"Yes? Can't you?" He asked. 
Akagi looked at Leori, 'The child is no mere demigod. He is something else,'

Leori got down and looked at the old mansion. Akagi walked ahead of him and he followed. He looked at the tea table in the lawn, made of white marble. And he looked at the dried rose garden. Melissa opened the door with a lantern in her hands. It was snowing harder, "My Lord, you're late!"
"The weather is terrible,
"Yes, I can feel a blizzard coming," She looked at the sky. The moon was now covered behind the clouds. The clock struck eleven as Akagi walked in with Leori behind him "But where were you?"
"Mrs Winston kept me with her for some important discussion,"
"I see. You sent the teenage boy with a letter in his hands, I read it,"

"Ariel? Where is he?"
"Asleep in his quarters," She looked at Leori, "Who is he? I just noticed him,"
"Oh, I'll you about it. But first, Leori, you wish to go to bed? Your mother can show you your room,"
"Me?" Melissa looked confused, "Mother?"

After she put Leori to bed, she looked at his weary fingers, one of them had been amputated, there were light bruises on his neck and scars on his hands. Akagi stood half naked before the water tank and washed his face with some warm water in a bowl. Melissa looked at him as he dried himself with a towel while sitting in front of the hearth. He looked at her, "The child has a long story,"

While Ariel and Leori slept in their respective rooms, Akagi told Melissa what Mrs Winston had told him. Of Ariel and of Leori. He also told him about the horns on Leori's head. 
"I have never seen a demigod with horns," Melissa said.
"What if he's not a demigod?" Akagi said, "What if he's a demon?"
"Do not be silly," Melissa laughed, "Mrs Winston is no fool. If it was a demon, she could tell. I don't know why he has horns, all I know is that all of us are connected by one thing," She looked at him, "Magic,"

"I hope you are right," Akagi said as he looked at the fire, "But you must promise me something,"
"Yes?" She asked.
"If it turns out that he was a demon after all, I will kill him. You will not interfere,"
"Of course...How could I? You're my cruel master"
"Don't misunderstand me. I want to be a father, but before that... I am a demigod...It's my duty,"

The next morning, Akagi was tasked to wash Leori. Leori sat before him in a tub and splashed the water with his hands, "Father, can we go make a snowman outside once I we are done?"
"No, it's still snowing outside," Akagi said as he rubbed soap on Leori's scalp. He moved his fingers across his hair, there were no horns there anymore. Was it his imagination? No, he searched for them as if looking for ticks. No horns. 

Leori looked at Akagi, "What after it stops snowing?"
"Son, I have to work. Ask your mother, she will play with you,"
"Yes, but you are to teach me how to catch a snowball! Teach me!" He said.
"I will. When I am done with work. Now stay put,"

"What are you doing?" Ariel stood at the door, "Toilette?"
"Washing your brother,"
"My brother?" Ariel looked confused. 
"Father, who is that?" Leori asked. 

"That's your elder brother, Leori,"
"I am NOT! I am not your son, sir!"
"You live in my house and eat a pig's worth. You are the sole nemesis of my income, might as well take my name,"
"No, I already have a name,"
"Whose your father?"

"I don't know. I know my mother was Aphrodite. And she would never sleep with you,"
"I know my father," Leori said and looked at Akagi, "That's him!"
"What a lovely bond," Ariel said, sarcastically, "You both look nothing alike though. Sir, I think your missus is keeping some secrets from you,"
"Ariel!"
"I am just pulling your leg. Your missus told me the child is adopted," Ariel grinned, "So much for not being capable of having your own,"

"Do you have a problem, son?" Akagi got up.
"Me? No, sir! Oh look at the time, I must get to school at once," Ariel ran out. It was still snowing. He ran to the stable while covering his head with his books. The carriage lay outside, while there were four horses inside. Two brown ones were used on the carriage, a darker brown one and a white one. The coachman got up from his nap and looked at Ariel, "Shall I take the carriage out, my lord?"

"No," Ariel shook his head, "I don't do carriages, I am not a princess. I want a horse,"
"You know how to ride one?"
"Are you mocking me?" Ariel said.
"No, of course not," The coachman got up and cleared his throat, "Well, you can take Valesha," He pointed at the darker brown horse, "He's a Gelding, so he's quite timid and won't cause you any trouble at all"

Ariel looked at the white stallion. He tried petting it but the horse scoffed and pushed his hand away, "Right," He smiled, "What's this one called?"
"His name is Armedon," The coachman said, "But he doesn't like being ridden by anyone except master. Master found him a year back, wounded by a creek. He has cared for him thus only he can ride him," 

Ariel smiled, "Unbuckle him. I'll ride him. It's my horse now,"
"Young master, I can't! It's too dangerous-" Ariel unbuckled the saddle and pulled the horse out. It was a beautiful stallion with a white mane and hazel eyes, and larger than all his peers. Ariel tied his books in a rope and hung it around him. He looked at the horse and smiled, "Ready to go, Armedon?"

He began mounting the horse, Armedon raised up and Ariel fell on his back, "Are you alright, master?!" The coachman asked.
The horse neighed and sneered at him. Ariel got up and brushed the snow off of him, "Stupid beast," He picked up the snow and turned it into a halter, "I'll tame you,"
"Young master!"

The horse tried moving, but Ariel threw the halter at him and tried grabbing the horse. Finally, it pushed him away and raised its forefeet up. Ariel dodged it and fell in a puddle of mud. 
"Ugh!" He got up and turned back to look at the horse, "Are you okay, young master? I told you, that horse does not like being ridden!"

"I'll make it like it," Ariel said, "For now, I'm getting late. Coachman, get the carriage,"
"As you wish, master. Should I get you something to clean the mud with-"
"Just get that awful carriage!"
"Yes! Of course!"

While the coachman was busy reading the horses, Ariel looked at the clear water of the water fountain. He dipped his fingers into the ice and turned it to cold water. He gently rubbed the water against coat to remove the dirt stains. Ariel saw a reflection of blue roses in the water. He got up and looked inside the water, the reflection was gone. The coachman called out to him from the stone way. His carriage waited for him. 

Ariel looked at the fountain as he got into the carriage.

What is this mansion? I feel like it holds something I don't know of.

-To be continued