The kids have been adamant about skipping nap time today, but the moment the clock hits two in the afternoon, they start to doze off, leaning their heads against my arms. In their defense, they're trying hard to stay awake, rubbing their eyes and yawning.
Ultimately, though, they lose the battle and fall asleep.
Thus, we tuck them in before going back down to the living room; Eve and Todd sit on one couch, while I slouch on the other with Jordan.
I glance at the low table, where the cards have been carelessly discarded. The kids were a little more enthusiastic about today's game than usual. Maybe they've realized its true purpose and decided to put some effort into it out of childish pride or something.
Well, whatever.
As long as they're making progress, that's all that matters. If I'm lucky, perhaps they won't blurt out my secret next time, or at least hold onto it for a little longer.
"Scott," Eve calls my name, and I lift my eyes to meet hers. Her gaze is gentle, and so is her smile. "I wanted to give you my condolences for your friend. I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier."
Of course, Jordan has told her. That guy tells her everything.
"Don't worry about it." I force a smile out. "We weren't even that close, anyway."
For some reason, there's a sad expression that flashes across her face, but she doesn't comment. I appreciate it.
I also appreciate that she's waited until the kids were asleep before bringing up the subject. They don't know why I was puking my guts out a few days prior, and I'd rather it stay that way. The official story is that something had upset my stomach at the time, and that's all. There's nothing more to add.
With that out of the way, let's address the elephant in the room.
"I'm starting to miss your deadpan face, Todd."
The demon is startled by the comment and quickly massages his jaw, visibly unaware of the look he's been giving me since earlier. However funny that shocked face of his is, we can have him parade it everywhere in the house. I don't want to deal with the staff's gossipy souls later on, thank you.
"My apologies."
"Sure, whatever."
There's something that's been bothering me, though. His silly face might have boosted my ego a bit, but… isn't he a little too shocked? It's been hours, and he has yet to recover from the news.
As far as I know, he's serving two old geezers far more terrifying and awe-inspiring than me, an unknown Seer whose ability has yet to be proven. With these two as masters, I'd be expecting him to come across beings far more outrageous than me on a fairly regular basis. Like, I don't know, patriarchs and matriarchs from other species?
…Should I ask?
Or should I ignore that bad feeling twisting my stomach and wait for it to blow in my face later? 'Cause I know it will. It always does.
Oh, fuck it. Might as well ask right now and get this shit over with.
"I don't even get why you're that astonished, to begin with. I mean, you're kind of serving a patriarch and a matriarch. So—"
"Sorry, what?"
Ah, it's that shocked face again. It's even more ridiculous than earlier. His eyes are literally about to fall out of their sockets.
Wait, why?
A low chuckle by my side draws my attention to Jordan. His mischievous smile is back; the mirth in his hazel eyes, too.
No frigging way.
I turn my head to Eve. She's got the same expression on her face, amusement brightening her facial features to the point where she's almost glowing.
You've got to be shitting me—
"HE DIDN'T KNOW?!"
I can't help the scream. 'Cause holy shit, he really didn't!
Thanks to Todd's four pairs of wings, with a fifth on the way, I've kind of assumed he knew who he was serving. Noble demons rarely, if ever, pledge allegiance to those weaker than themselves, and Todd is only a few centuries short of becoming a patriarch himself. Then again, neither Eve nor Jordan has to reveal just how much stronger they are than Todd. They don't need to be a patriarch or a matriarch to be perceived as worth serving, either.
The rarity of their lineage already puts them on a pedestal. It's not like being old is the only prerequisite needed to become a patriarch or a matriarch, too; wings need as much time as they need spiritual energy to develop. On top of that, beings born with a vast amount of spiritual energy are always revered and feared.
Anyway. That's not the point. I'm just making excuses for the goddamn blunder I've just made.
"...Did I just out you?"
"We've outed you earlier, so it's fair game, I'd say."
Eve winks, and Jordan nods.
…These frigging two! Couldn't they have told me?! No, of course not! I swear these guys!
Like, I know it's partly my fault. I'm deeply aware supernatural beings can't see other supernatural beings' true forms without the permission of the beholders, but darn! I thought! I was so sure that…! Is that how the children feel whenever they blurt out my secret?!
"Really, don't worry about it." Jordan snaps me back to reality, and I give him a wronged look. Dude, I'm not your kid. I don't need to be comforted because of one small blunder on my part, OK?! "I'd have to bring up the subject with him sooner or later, so you're saving me time."
"Right. Yeah, sure. Whatever! It's not like you had centuries to tell him! Oh gosh, how come he didn't know?!"
"Sweetie," Eve laughs softly, and I can feel my lips purse into a goddamn pout. You know what? Fuck it. I'm regressing into a kid, and that's it. They're gonna have to deal with it.
"What now?!"
"Nothing, nothing. I just thought that you might love to get some inside knowledge from yours, truly."
Well, yeah, I'd love that, just so I don't make a fool of myself again.
Knowledge is power, after all.
So, I nod.
"You see, dear, the patriarchs and matriarchs that hunters are aware of are those little brats who love to flaunt their titles and draw attention to themselves. They aren't exactly very representative of our group."
"Most of us don't usually go around telling the world about our ranking," Jordan adds with a nonchalant shrug. "That's asking for trouble."
"Trouble? Wait, no. Brats? You're calling other patriarchs and matriarchs brats?"
The old geezers smile but don't answer, so I shift my gaze to Todd, whose face seems to have turned a shade paler. I don't like that. I really don't like that.
"Todd? Mind enlightening me here?"
The demon doesn't answer immediately, eying Jordan instead. He keeps his mouth shut until my dear husband nods, giving his approval.
That's… A little annoying, but to be expected, I guess.
"In all honesty, I think hunters have a misconception about patriarchs and matriarchs," he starts with a trembling voice. Oh, oh, that doesn't bode well. "Patriarchs and matriarchs are indeed old beings from their respective species."
I'm feeling that 'but' coming from miles away. So, I straighten myself and get ready for the blow. It can't be worse than learning you're getting married off to an unknown dude, anyway.
"But what hunters don't seem to understand is that these, hum, these beings' standing in the demon society varies greatly depending on their species. A patriarch or a matriarch from the ghoul species, for example, is not at all the same as one from the vampire species."
"Yeah, I know that."
"Well, I guess you don't get the implications of that, then."
Todd pauses to suck in a deep breath. It's strange to see him so fidgety when all I've seen from him up to now is perfect indifference.
"Eve and Jordan are from a species that has a stupidly long longevity, and the longer the longevity, the longer it takes to form their wings, and the more spiritual energy it takes."
Again, Todd takes another pause, as if to weigh his next words. "That means that in their case, if they have enough wings for you to perceive them as a matriarch and a patriarch, they have to be at least older than the current demon king, who, as you know, has reigned over our realm for quite a long time already. Does that help?"
"…Uh-huh."
I slowly turn toward Jordan, a stiff smile on my lips. Dude, what's wrong with you? No, but seriously. What's a relic of the past like you doing in the human realm?!
"Mind telling me why you went through the wedding with this puny human again?"
The answer I get is a goddamn smile.