Mika was sitting on the couch, her hands fidgeting on her lap - a habit of hers when she is anxious. Silver paced around the living room, his eyes on the ground. He was anxious too. Anxious and afraid.
"It will be fine." Mika said to Silver, though it sounded like she was convincing herself than him.
"It will be fine." She muttered again.
Silver didn't answer. He kept on pacing - waiting for their arrival.
"What if-" Mika asks, her voice cracking. Silver turned his head to meet her glassy eyes.
"What if they know about her Gray...?" Her voice was quiet.
Silver heart beat increased.
"No." He said loudly, surprising Mika. "They don't know."
Mika nodded slightly and went back to fiddling.
'But what if they do know about Gray?' Silver wondered. 'What if, they ask him in return for their merchandise or their lives?'
He shook his head.
No, he couldn't think about this. He doesn't know the powers of the members of Tartaros. They could have a mind reader, if that was the case, then Silver himself would give Gray away.
So he stopped thinking about his beloved son.
Gray... what is it that Silver and Mika are hiding from Tartaros? What is the actual truth?
Well, you see, Gray is a special demon child. He is powerful, really powerful - but, he is not aware of it. Normal demons inherit the magic used by one of their parents. Not Gray. He has inherited both magic types from both his parents.
He possessed Ice-Make magic which he inherited from Mika.
And he possessed Ice Devil magic which he inherited from his father, Silver.
Normally, inheriting two powers shouldn't bring much trouble. Gray, however, possessed both magic of the same element. Therefore, he could merge both types together. But, as I said before, he is not aware of all this.
How come, I hear you ask?
When Gray was young, he showed signs of inheriting both types of magic. When Silver consulted a trusted friend of his, she said that it was dangerous for Gray to possess such strong magic at a young age.
So they decided to seal it and unseal it when he was older.
"Can this seal ever be broken?" Silver had asked.
"No," she had replied, smiling. "It cannot."
But, it wasn't true.
Well, to be fair, she wasn't aware that strong emotions can break the seal.
But it can.
Strong emotions such as anger, hate, fear et cetera can cause the seal to break. But, Silver and Mika didn't need to worry because Gray almost never felt these feelings.
Or so, they hoped.
There was a sharp knock on the door. Not too loud, not too soft - just right. There was just one knock, indicating that the person outside had no hurry to come in. That they would wait all day if necessary.
Silver froze in his spot. Hearing the knock had woken him from the possibility of this being dream. Mika stood up slowly and walked towards the door. She glanced at Silver - who nodded - and opened the door.
And a long, black-haired man stood at the front. He smiled at Mika, but his eyes were emotionless.
This was the leader of Tartaros - Mard Geer.
Behind him, stood a young girl with horns on her head. They were nothing like Mika's horns, which were small and cream-colored. Hers was big and green. She was the consigliere of Mard Geer. Her name was Kyoka.
"May we enter?" A smooth but sinister voice broke Mika out of her trance. She hadn't realized that she was staring at them until now.
"Of course." She replied, forcing out a smile. Mard Geer - who was the owner of the voice - entered, along with his seven other colleagues.
Silver finally made his way to the door and greeted Tartaros politely. Mard Geer smiled at him.
"Silver! How long it has been." He said, his voice unwavering.
"It has, indeed."
"How have you been?"
"We're getting through," Silver replied, trying not to sound accusing.
"I see," he looked at Mika.
"And you?"
"Fine, thank you."
"I hear you have a son?" Mard Geer asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"Ah..." Silver looked at Mika, who shook her head.
"We're expecting." Silver finished.
"Oh?" Mard raised an eyebrow but didn't pry further with the topic to the relief of the couple.
After Mika made sure Tartaros was settled in their small living room, she hurried of to get drinks and food.
Silver stirred up the conversation.
"I..." Mard Geer looked up. His eyes bore through Silver's, and Silver felt like Mart Geer could see his brain, his thoughts, his life.
Silver avoided Mard Geer's gaze and let his eyes rest on the window. He cleared his throat and tried again.
"I wish to have my merchandise back." Silver was quite surprised and proud of himself. He managed to say one sentence to the leader of Tartaros without stuttering!
"Hmm," Mard Geer appeared to be thinking.
"Unfortunately, the answer to that would be 'No.'"
Mika, by this time, had come back and set the tray carrying food and drink on the coffee table. She sat next to Silver and laid her hand on his shoulder. She turned her head to face Mard Geer.
"What do you want?" She hissed. Mard Geer was quite surprised. No one ever talked to him in that tone, and yet, here was a woman talking back to him! He was impressed by her courage.
Kyoka on the other hand was not.
"You will talk to the master with respect." She demanded.
"And if I don't?" Mika questioned. Of course, Mika had no intention of ever disrespecting Mard Geer - or anyone for that matter. But, this woman pissed her off ever since she stepped into the house.
For a moment it looked like Kyoka would tear Mika apart. Then, she composed herself.
"Otherwise," she glared at Mika. "I shall wring your neck."
"Please," Mard Geer said. "Peace, young women, peace. We came to make peace and wish you no harm."
Mika scoffed. 'Yeah, sure. 'No harm' my foot!'
Silver cleared his throat, gaining the attention of everyone present in the room.
"What is it that you wish for me to give you?" Silver asked, his voice quavering a little.
"Oh, that's simple." Mard Geer smiled.
"I just want something little from you."
"Little? We have no money, but we do have land-" Mika started.
"No no no, not money. Or land." Mard Geer looked up with a smug expression.
"All I wish for is for Silver to join us."