The ending credits roll on the screen, and I lower my eyes to the sleeping children leaning against me, quite literally drooling on my arms. They've fallen asleep during the movie, not even one-third in.
So much for protecting me, heh.
Well, it's not like I need their protection, to begin with.
Jordan turns off the TV. Now, the only source of light left in the room comes from the lightbulbs of a flower tree lamp.
"Let's put the kids to bed, shall we?"
I nod, more than happy to get these heavy weights off me. For the record, my arms have long gone numb.
A moment later, Jordan pulls Ellena into his arms, while Eve shifts over to take Elois. Although I'm reluctant to follow along, I still go with them upstairs to the kids' bedroom. I only now realize how close it is to mine and Jordan's.
Anyway, they barely flinch when their parents expertly drop them on their beds. At most, Ellena smacks her lips in discomfort, trying to grab something. Jordan swiftly stuffs a teddy bear in her arms, and she curls around it, drifting back to dreamland. Thank God.
After we're done pulling the blankets over their shoulders, Eve turns off the light, signaling it's time to leave, and we close the door behind us.
We then go back downstairs to the dining room. I wait for Eve to sit at the kitchen island before taking place at the far end, putting as much distance as possible between us. That's only about two stools wide, but it's better than nothing.
There's a playful scoff that echoes, which I pretend not to have heard. Sorry, but I'd rather sit beside Jordan than you; he has fewer wings and therefore is less scary.
"Jordan, how about a glass?" Fortunately, Eve decides not to comment on my now very obvious distancing behavior. Instead, she focuses her attention on Jordan. "We haven't drunk together in a long time."
"It's only been two weeks since the last time we shared a drink, Eve."
"That's what I'm saying! Oh, don't make that face now! Dear, you just got married. It's something worth celebrating; we have to at least make a toast."
The said marriage is a marriage of convenience to show allegiance, nothing worth celebrating for the newlyweds. But I refrain from reminding her. I feel like she just wants an excuse to drink, so, fine, we're going to be that excuse. At this point, I don't care anymore.
"…Alright. What can I serve you today?"
"I'm in the mood for a good old whiskey."
"Sure, sure," Jordan sighs, appearing resigned, and bends down to take flasks of alcohol out of a hidden cupboard carved in the kitchen island. Oh, so that's where he stores the good stuff. Noted. "What about you, Scott? Do you want something?"
Actually, yeah, I frigging do.
But it's better not to. Even if I could do with some liquid courage to face the night ahead, I don't trust my drunken self. So, you'll have to excuse me for tonight; I'm staying sober.
"No, thank you."
"You sure?" Eve smiles at me knowingly. "Dandan here has quite the collection."
Dandan? A pet name? Really?
"A glass of juice will suffice."
"Oh, come on, Scotty! Don't be so stiff!"
Looks like I get to have a pet name, too. Awesome.
"Eve, don't be a pest."
She clicks her tongue but complies and stops bothering me about drinking. Of course, that's not without pursing her lips into a pout.
What is she? A kid? Please, girl, we have enough of—
"Grape, apple, or orange juice?"
"Grape."
I can pretend it's wine, that way.
Propping my chin on my hand, trying to appear calm when I'm clearly not, I watch Jordan turn around to open the miniature fridge he's bought for me. Unlike demon food, most of my meals need to be kept cool, and right now, the kitchen next door is a sinister zone. I'm not braving it again to get to the not-exactly-working big fridge, thank you.
"Here you go."
Jordan hands me over a glass of grape juice, then pours Eve's whiskey on the rocks. Another glass stands beside hers, most likely for himself. Well, looks like he's going to drink, too.
…There's no camaraderie left in this world, huh?
Whatever. A moment later, we're sipping our drinks in silence.
Tic, toc.
I wonder who's going to speak first. It certainly won't be me.
Honestly, I'd love nothing more than to continue to ignore the issue altogether. If we don't speak about it, it doesn't exist.
Unfortunately, that's not how life works, and I know we'll have to discuss the matter at some point. I fear that's going to be tonight.
"First things first," Eve smiles, reinforcing my bad premonition, "we need to teach the kids how to lie and conceal things. It's fine today since their blunder happened in front of me, but if they ever have a slip of tongue in front of the staff, we're in for quite a headache."
A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.
I don't want to think about what could happen to me, then.
These two are the weirdos for barely reacting and acting as though they've heard nothing; maybe because they're old geezers who are already all-powerful or something.
But not everyone is like them. I know others wouldn't be as apathetic. Seers might be revered, but they're also seen as tools that have to be used and restrained. They're overworked, often to the bones, and chained to whoever gets their hands on them. The ability to see through everything is as enticing for hunters as it is for supernatural beings; it gives them an edge over everyone else.
Even if the history books try to gloss over the Seers' restrained lives, it's clear as day to anyone with critical thinking that they have no freedom. They're too 'important' to be left to their own devices, too 'precious' to be allowed to roam the lands freely. They have to be 'protected' and 'sheltered' for their own good.
Bullshit.
No honor and fame could make me forgo my freedom.
These two might not care about my ability, but I wouldn't say so for their staff. Humans aren't the only greedy beings in this world.
"—Don't worry too much." Jordan's calm voice snaps me out of my thoughts. "Even if the kids have a mishap, the staff won't be able to act on it."
Beside me, Eve chuckles, and I catch a vicious light flashing across her eyes. I can't help but try to scoot a little farther away with my stool, even if there's not really any space left.
"Don't tell me… Did you already modify their pact of servitude to include Scott in the family tree? Damn, you're fast! It's only been two days since your wedding!"
"Who do you take me for? Of course, I did. Like you said, it's already been two days. I spent the whole night after the wedding meeting each and every one of them to upgrade their pacts. Loose mouths aren't welcome in my house. They can try to curry favors with me, yes, but outsiders? No."
"You worked Todd to death again, didn't you?"
"Don't give me that look. You know how he is."
The two continue to bicker about the chauffeur, aka Todd, but I don't listen to them anymore. I can feel my mouth run dry, even though I've been sipping on my glass of grape juice all this time.
Family tree? I've been added to Jordan's family tree? And a pact? What the fuck—
"Sorry, but what pact?"
I interrupt them, and both turn their attention toward me. Eve seems surprised. Does she think her Dandan has already told me about it or something? Well, sorry, but that guy doesn't talk all that much.
Or, it could be that I've been avoiding him too much.
Whatever the case, it doesn't take long before Jordan opens his mouth and answers me.
"A blood pact that requires absolute secrecy about my family members. Anyone who dares to try to breach it will have their soul shredded to pieces. There's no second chance."
The smile he offers is kind. The words he says? Not so much.