Chapter 38

This party sucked.

It sucked more than Matthew's eleventh birthday party, when Francis' flight back home wound up being delayed, and no friends from school bothered to come. Alfred did not care; he took matters into his own hands and tried to make his own cake, but wound up with a blob of watery flour that he grew bored with, and left his brother to clean it up from the counter, stove, and floor so Francis would not have came home to the mess and screech.

When Ivan said 'demon party,' Matthew thought there would be balloons and cake...or at least some tunes!

Their guests weaved around one another, wings clutched tightly to their own backs as even their trails of shadows shrunk from one another. Some grumpily muttered amongst themselves. Matthew did not want to imagine what they were saying, based on their not-so subtle glances in his direction. Ivan sat in the adjacent throne chair, with his elbow propped on an armrest, and an equally unamused glower back to the crowd.

Everyone needed to get over themselves and enjoy the new, lavish décor. Irunya worked long and hard on those banister cloths while Natalia did an excellent job decorating, and nobody offered a small compliment. Nobody approached the thrones. Good thing Ivan's sisters were upstairs, away from the 'party.'

Ivan had said he would loathe every moment.

Matthew clamped a palm over the back of his hand, and gave the whitened skin around his knuckles a tender rub.

Ivan was mistaken; he loathed almost every moment.

"I think we should get up and talk to them. We're trying to sell ourselves, after all."

"What?" Ivan picked up his head, now attentive for the first time that night. Day, whatever. "I do not want to do that!"

"Too bad. It's business." Matthew smacked his feet onto the tiled floor and leaped out of his seat. "Come on! Let's go make some friends!"

"Matvey," Ivan groaned as his arm tugged from its socket. "No, I'm tired. I just want to sit. They have food. The place is clean. What more could they need? These are not friends, anyway."

"Not yet!" Matthew leaned down and pressed their lips together before coaxing the big lug from his seat. "I'm not phenomenal at making friends, either, but I'm going to do it, and I'm not doing it without you!"

As much as he tried not to, a smile broke along Ivan's face as his butt finally peeled from the chair. Matthew wound around his arm and squished against his side, and together, they breached the crowd.

Some demons did double-takes, cutting off their sparse conversations to hang their mouths open, while others flinched away like the pair was going to bite them. They would not; not at that moment, at least.

Matthew latched onto the eyes of some random demon, and grinned, not learning his lesson by holding his hand out. "Hi! Are you enjoying yourself?"

The demon gawked like Matthew just sprouted three heads, and ducked into the crowd.

Matthew shook a thumbs-up at the guy's retreating backside as Ivan let out a giggle, "No, Matvey, like this." He clamped a large hand on some demon's shoulder, and shouted in her ear, "Hello!"

The she-demon shrieked and whirled around. Onlookers backed away from the looming figures grinning down at them. Ivan said her name, and asked, "You are enjoying yourself, yes? Did you get something to eat?"

"Uh, I, um, I-I ate before I came here!" She curtly nodded, then scrammed.

Ivan turned to the others. They shrunk back and murmured incredulously amongst themselves as he swept his arm out in an open gesture. "You look like you just urinated yourselves! There is no need for that! Eat some meats and take in some of the landscape! I made it very beautiful for you!"

Matthew grinned at their sloppy attempts to excuse themselves, and gave Ivan's bicep a good squeeze. Kill them with kindness, dear.

"See, Matthew? I can make friends, but the friends do not want to make me."

"There's a whole half of a room of people we didn't get to torture yet."

Some demon weaved between others with purpose, tapping a stylus to his chin as he gazed at the banners hanging from the balcony, before scribbling something onto a bound booklet. Matthew hissed to Ivan, "What's that guy doing?"

"Oh, him? He is paying attention. That is good." Ivan pulled to the attentive demon's direction, and called over everyone's heads, "Do you like my designs, lord Ludwig?"

The straight-laced blond picked up his head, before his distant gaze sharpened to, of course, a defensive scowl. He nodded to the pair as they grew close, but Ivan was not satisfied until he tapped his cheek to Ludwig's. Matthew copied, giving his other side of his face a quick peck before pulling back and giggling from his barely-disguised distraught.

"I, uh, it is something to fill the empty space, that is for sure." Ludwig broke with a sharp sigh, "What did I tell you about doing that? Some of us appreciate personal space."

"Not in front of anybody?"

"Not ever."

"Oh," Ivan shot Matthew a devious grin, "yes, sir."

"It's nice to meet you," Matthew tried to mimic the demon's odd head-bow. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"I am not here to enjoy myself," Ludwig was firm, but not obnoxious. "However, you have obviously took a great deal to turn yourself and your lands around, and that is something to be aware of."

"Thank you," Ivan said. "How nice of you."

Ludwig simply blinked. He probably was not there to be nice, either. "That being said, with everything being put together again, there are some pieces of important matter we need to discuss."

"Yes?"

"Without company."

"Then let us go upstairs. There is a lounge-" Ludwig trained his eyes on Matthew. Before Matthew could say a particularly much less eloquent remark, Ivan leaned in with a certain drop to his tone, "My Matthew is the reason you are standing here now. Whatever you tell me, I will tell him, so let us not waste time or breath, and say what you need to say only once, yes?"

Ludwig kept his cool and his face blank. "Of course. Upstairs, then?"

The thin crowd scoured every movement the trio made, and they found solace from their many eyes only when they fled up the steps. Between the doors to the sisters' bedrooms, a short hall led to a quaint rest area with cushioned benches decorating the floor. Ivan held a hand out for Ludwig to take a seat first, in which he did, before he settled.

Matthew saddled up to Ivan's side, sneaking an arm beneath his and pressed all against him, trying not to smile like a complete fool as Ivan ran his fingers through his hair. Ludwig stared, utterly baffled, so Ivan had to prod, "What is so hush-hush to get away from prying ears?"

Ludwig raised his eyebrows. "Hush...hush?" He shook his head, turning to Ivan, "Err...I am not intending on starting a fight between us, but I believe there is something in your possession that was mine."

"That is what this is about?" Ivan tittered, "You were acting so secretive. I thought this was going to be important."

"It is important," Ludwig retorted. "You cannot keep avoiding the subject forever."

Matthew blurted, "Avoid what?"

"Do not worry about it, my little grub. As I said, it is not important."

"Honey," Matthew gave his arm a tight squeeze. "You dragged me up here. What are you two on about?"

Ludwig was so rigid, he could have been mistaken for a statue, encased in awkwardness as Ivan smiled warmly as he brushed a finger across Matthew's cheek. "Land disputes. As always."

"Yes, another land dispute," Ludwig stated, "but I am not going to let this one slide like the others. You know why."

Ivan had not taken his gaze off of Matthew's face, probably not paying attention to the blood vessel that popped in Ludwig's neck. "Oh, but I am getting my lands revived, and I need all the cultivation I can get!"

"You possess the largest area out of the surrounding lords. A small borough is negligible to pass up, especially when you already have so much agriculture and other potential spots. Just this little bit of land...I am even willing to pay for it if I have to."

"Really?" The other demon enticed with a wider grin. "How far are you willing to go?"

They jumped as Ludwig leaped to his feet, snapping his broad wings from his back with a sharp scorn, "My family is buried there, damn it! How far do you think?!"

"Wait," Matthew grumbled, "Seriously?"

"What do you mean 'Seriously?'" Ludwig scoffed, "I am deathly serious. That land is respectfully mine."

"Respectfully," Ivan stuck his nose to Matthew's hair, and kept a steadier grip on his own tone, "My parents have shed blood over that land, too. They have fought, and won it, since you seem to forgotten."

Ludwig did not respond right away to take a deep breath, and slowly lowered himself into his seat. "I know. I know the ways of war, and how victories are handed out, but those times are over. It is getting to be a time of prosperity, especially for you. Do you not think we have other things to worry about than old disputes?"

Matthew sent him an apologetic look as Ivan's gaze lifted to the ceiling. He hummed, like he was thinking, but his cheeky grin said something else. Ludwig grinded his jaw. "What do you think, Matthew?"

I thought you'd never ask. Matthew smiled sweetly, "You have no business with other people's graves. If you're just keeping it for bragging rights, then you should let it go."

Ivan tipped his head, pouting as he poked a claw to the tip of Matthew's nose. "Matvey. Together."

"Not if you're going to be a dumbass."

Ludwig clamped a hand over his mouth.

Matthew kept going, "How often do you use the land or go there? He's even willing to pay for it. Just accept the damn money or whatever and be done with it."

Ivan broke into a fit of giggles, "As always, my Matthew's ass is smart while mine is dumb!"

A smaller presence scurried across the hall. Ludwig coughed into a fist, "So..."

"So?" Ivan straightened, finally getting into business, "I suppose I will relinquish my hold on your...graveyard. It is the nice thing to do, yes?" He suddenly shouted, "Ravis!"

A head of dull brown hair peered around the corner. His words barely made it across the corridor, "Y-yes, sir?"

"I need Eduard. Bring him to me."

"Yes, sir!" Ravis immediately fled.

Business over. Ivan draped his arm over Matthew's shoulder and cooed in his ear, "My beautiful Matvey. My smart Matvey."

Matthew cracked a shy smile from the attention. "Behave yourself."

The floors were about to start smoking under Ludwig's stare.

"Are you all right?"

Ludwig slapped his palms to his knees, and curtly nodded. "I am going to get a drink. Maybe ten. In the meantime."

"Oh. Enjoy yourself."

Nobody watched him go.

"Good," Ivan murmured as his eyes closed. "He left."

"He wasn't that bad." Matthew snatched his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "But yeah, good. Let's go to bed."

Ivan broke into a great yawn. "Ah, sleep-"

"I don't mean to sleep. I want to-"

"Matthew, no!" Ivan pulled his head from Matthew's shoulders with a big groan, "No!"

"Don't you 'no' me! You're supposed to say 'yes, yes, yes!'"

"No!" The bastard leaned away as Matthew leaned forward to get in his face, "Three times! We went three times last night, Matvey. Give me a break!"

"Give you a break?! You sound like an old man!"

Eduard's voice proclaimed from the other end of the hall, "I heard you wanted to see me!"

Matthew gave his glasses a sharp push, sending a look Ivan's way that told him this was not over yet, and straightened to be decent as Eduard hurried to the benches.

"Ah, very quick!" Ivan propped a hand against the bench, totally casual, and snipped, "If only you were in such a hurry all the time..."

Eduard prompted, "D-do you need something?"

"I called you here, did I not?"

"Uh, yes, sir. What is it you need?"

"I need resignation sheets for my..." Ivan's face puckered, and he was quick to be done with the words, "my surrender of the lord Ludwig's family lands."

"You are relinquishing some of your land?!"

"I just said that. Did you not listen?"

"I-I did, sir! I will get your papers filled out right away!" Eduard scurried away.

Matthew called after him, "Thank you!"

"Oh!" Ivan copied, "Thank you!"

Eduard ducked his head as he descended the stairs.

"Not so hard, is it?"

Ivan grinned. "I'm still tired."

"Too tired to kiss me?"

"Maybe not..."

"M-m-m-mister!" Something squeaked.

Ivan sighed, "Oh, for the love of-"

Someone, Ravis, snuck up on them, and broke the pair apart with a panicked screech, "Y-Your hellhound is giving birth! You need to be with her!"

Matthew leaped from the bench, "Cujo!"

"Oh, no. Oh, no."

Ravis eagerly pressed against the nearest wall to let the storm pass. Once downstairs, a somebody barked, "Back! Get back. Give her space!"

Ludwig crouched before Cujo's clumps of blankets beneath the staircase, holding his palms out to the gathered partygoers who clumped together from the commotion. "All of you need to leave the room. You are making her nervous, and something can easily go wrong with all the stress."

Ivan's boots hit the floor, and he made sure to send everyone a look that made them want to leave the room. "Lord Ludwig breeds hellhounds. Let those who know what they are doing to attend to her."

Matthew asked, "Is there anything we can do?"

Ivan looked to Ludwig. Ludwig said, "Just...be patient. Your hellhound has to go through with this herself. We are here in case something goes wrong." The 'dog' let out a high whine, her paws kicking at her blankets. "It will be all right. I do this all the time." After a moment of consideration, he added, "I believe it will be best for you three to wait in the other room. I will be right here in case something is needed."

It did not seem like they had a choice, but the situation was intense enough for Ivan to take orders from another lord under his own roof. He grabbed for Matthew's hand, towing him from the stairwell, away from Cujo's cries of pain. "We are going to have puppies soon."

"I just hope she'll be all right."

Ravis had followed them into the throne room at Ludwig's dismissal, and looked up in surprise as Matthew murmured in worry and tossed his arms around Ivan. "Stay in here," Ivan told his guests. "Panicking will make matters worse."

One of them dared to joke, "Some timing, right?"

Someone made a cut-throat motion.

However, Ivan snickered, "It livens the gathering phenomenally."

Instead of responding coherently, they stared, vexed by his calm. Matthew managed a weak smile as he pressed against his chest, sighing at his demon's quick heartbeat. Some demons have manners, but others have staring problems that they tend to not make an effort to fix. He closed his eyes and turned his head away.

Toris weaved between the attendees with a platter, pausing to ask if its contents interested anybody. He spotted the pair, gazing in wonder for a long moment before slowly approaching. "Would I interest you in some meats?"

Matthew immediately perked up, eyes on the plate. When Toris lowered his arms to display the small slabs and bits of food, he curled his nose. "Oh, they're all raw."

Ivan turned to investigate with a sniff. Toris faltered, taking a step back. "Th-That is the way it is supposed to be."

"Thanks, anyway."

Toris glanced to Ivan in confusion, lingering as a large hand flicked a piece of meat over before lifting it from the platter. Ivan dangled it in front of Matthew's face. "You do not want?"

A wide-eyed look of horror told him with all means, "No." Matthew shook his head, shying from the threatening meat. "No. No, I don't want that. You can eat it."

"I can, but are you sure you do not?" Ivan enticed with a broad smile, "Not even a little nibble?"

Toris took a step back. Then another. He spun on his heel and scooted away, motioned with a jerk of his chin for Ravis to follow. Both were more than willing to slip away as Ivan shrugged, tilting his head back to drop the food in his mouth.

Matthew blanched, "That is beyond disgusting. I'm not kissing you ever again until you wash out your mouth!"

Toris and Ravis bent their heads together, and the latter whispered not-so-discretely, "Last time there were this many demons in this room, they were all slaughtering each other."

"Ravis!" Toris warned with a hiss. They glanced up to Ivan making kissy faces, complemented with obnoxious noises until Matthew clamped a palm over his mouth. Ravis steadily gawked until Toris waved a hand in front of his face. "I know. It is not like that anymore, and hopefully...it won't ever be again. Come on, we still have all these dishes to wash."

One of the partygoers squealed, pointing a clawed finger at the new litter. "Oh, oh, look! Puppies!" The surrounding demons started to murmur to one another, getting hyped. Matthew watched Ludwig reach forward and reassuringly rub Cujo's flank, coaxing the next pup into the world. The hellhound bent to lick one of the wet bundles attached to her stomach, releasing another wave of delighted coos from the crowd.

Ivan said, "Now, they're enjoying themselves."