Entering the main gate, Cosmos extended his arms as he opened the gates himself. Although there were many men around them, including the butler that was behind him, he himself always opened the doors and gates when he was to enter, and the same goes for his family.
"Welcome back," all said in unison. His wife, their two daughters, and the youngest child, their son Estes.
"My, to be greeted by your loved ones as you enter your home. Truly fascinating," Cosmos commented, the words he always said whenever he goes back home every time. He looked at the eyes the same as him, small, long, and looking like a single line—slit eyes, yet it has a sharp gaze. "My son. I brought you a new friend." Cosmos hummed a playful tone as he slightly push the devil towards his youngest child, Estes.
"I see, thank you." Estes's monotonous voice was hinting disinterest and contempt. His dirty look at his father did not come across Cosmos at all. 'Attempting to please me as you diss me, how absurd.'
"Why do you keep giving him friends he will not need? How about us, what did you bring for us?" The eldest daughter, Shireen asked, as though waiting for what his father might have brought for them.
"... If you perhaps had the freedom to travel the world, would you bring me with you or bring an object from there to me?" Cosmos asked; his wife chuckled. Her hands moved to his and caress him, asking him to stop being childish.
"What do you mean? Of course, we shall not do either." The twin, Shireen and Shireel responded to their father's test-like question. They laughed in harmony as they slowly enjoyed their time with each other—together, walking towards the front door of their mansion. And with that, their first of the usual family ritual has finished. They were no ordinary family. They were a Baron, a noble. Other than that, they tend to show each other their dark side, and yet, find it lovable from each other—they were twisted and aligned at the same time.
As Estes walked slower and slower, the devil does the same, following the pace without being asked. He knew he was to be in good terms with the young child beside him, accompanying a child was not difficult for him, and so does rejecting so. Which made him ask himself why he was going with the flow.
"How much did he pay you?" Estes questioned the devil.
"I was paid?" The devil questions back.
"Are you stupid?" The boy inquired, nearly rolling his eyes at the devil's question.
"Not sure, are you?" The devil said in slight anger, he was dragged out of bed and was quickly sent there through a carriage without his permission and without feeding him first, he was still confused as he just woke up and now, a child three hundred and thirty-three years younger than him asks whether he is stupid or not. It was not even worth a chuckle.
"Wolf with sharp fangs but no legs." Estes dissed.
"Twisted knot made of glass." The devil dissed back.
Estes laughed, almost hysterically. Fascinated and tongue-tied, he is. He did not understand the devil's mockery, yet felt that it has hit right at the center—bullseye.
Then a bird so small flew by. Suddenly landing on Estes' shoulder. It was a sparrow with its leg tied a small pouch where a short letter was written on a small piece of cheap, brownish paper.
"Father, I may not be able to attend today's dinner." Estes announced after reading what was written in the letter.
"You may go." His mother, the baroness, consented after her husband and daughters took a glance at her. She was smiling gracefully and her voice was clear and soft, as easy to understand as reading dark letters on a pure white paper.
"Do take your friend with you." Cosmos suggested, yet his tone was not aiming for any answer, it was an order.
"Is that all?" Estes tilted his head. Normally, it would be too hard to ask for permission, specifically going outside, yet there they are, his family, quickly letting them leave.
"Oh right, boy," the eldest daughter, Shireen called.
"Even a scratch is your head." Shireel continued. Warning the devil that even a scratch on their youngest sibling will cost him his life.
The devil could not help but laugh deep inside. As a devil that lived for three centuries, to be threatened by mere humans who could hardly live for one, it was laughable.
"Sure." The devil said, reassuring. Laughing deep inside.
Estes walked towards the gate, hardly able to open the gates himself with his hands shaking and veins popping, still, not one person helped him, they only stood there and watched. When the gate showed an opening, Estes quickly walked out and the devil followed. A lavish carriage was prepared right beside the gate for Estes to use, which he only took a glance at and walk away, as though saying 'there is nothing to more see'. The devil too, walked past him with the same glance and the same message.
"Where are you going?" Estes inquired from the ruthless devil that just walked past by him, he felt the devil's disrespect which he normally did not care about a person.
"Look," the devil's wings appeared, flapping. "I am not going to get myself involved with you any further, rather, I will take this off chance to get myself new breeds of seeds." The devil said and flew off, leaving the child Estes walking by himself. Estes started running.
"WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" Estes shouted, asking. The devil looked over his shoulder as he looked at the running child and whispered to himself, "I don't have one, don't need one." Then suddenly, as though a person holding on to his last straw suddenly lost the grip of the straw, he jolted. Losing his wings and falling, he lost all his senses, yet he was conscious. There was no sound, no light, no cold or warmth, no taste as well, just a ringing all over his body. He felt like his entire body was turned into a bell and was hit so hard, it rang. Everything was vibrating. 'I MUST LOOK FOR HIM!' his instinct shouted. 'What a strange fall' he thought deep inside, ignored by his instinct.
"Wake up." Estes ordered as he slapped the devil, strangely enough, it put him back to his senses. "As far as I know, asking for one's name does not cause them death." Estes stood up as he noticed the devil gaining consciousness.
"Tricen," the devil spoke in a very low tone.
"Hm?"
"It's my name."
"Unnatural.... I would rather call you cat."
"The animal...?"
"Yes."
"....."
It was a quiet agreement, and an awkward one as well. Standing up, Estes noticed that Tricen was having a hard time.
"You have two useless things supporting you." Estes commented on his cat's feet that were too weak to support him. Now he carries the arms of Tricen, his cat, on his shoulders to support him and take him where he was supposed to go.
"You speak like you only have one."
"...."
"...."