Demon World

by Balvir Bhullar

  ‘Yes, you have,’ replied Alexander quietly.

  ‘Pardon?’ Rowanne could have sworn he’d just replied to her thought.

  ‘I said, it’s good to have a friend to rely on. What do you think of the one before you...?’ he asked. He stood still, waiting for her ludicrous response, which he knew was heading his way.

  Rowanne really hated him right now; I wish I had the power to blast green fire and wipe that smirk of his sanctimonious face. Where the hell had that thought come from?

  Alexander appreciated the fact that her knowledge of his world was growing, even though it was unconscious. I’ll add you to the list of people that want to burn me, you can go second after Driskell, he laughed silently.

  ‘I guess we can’t choose our acquaintances any more than we can our family,’ she said disparagingly, putting the topic to rest.

  Alexander felt a metaphorical slap to his face, and his response was to smile darkly; it was not over as far as he was concerned. ‘Oh, Rowanne!’ he said theatrically, taking the last step that brought him face to face with her. He put his hands on her shoulders calculatedly and looked at her with smouldering devil-may-care eyes, and waited a heartbeat...

  Rowanne was now almost level with him, he was only slightly taller than her. She tilted her head back to look up at him, feeling his hands scald her as her traitorous heart began to beat fast.

  Alexander captured her gaze as their eyes locked. He leaned down, satisfied with what he saw there, ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself... You are not a bad colleague to work with. I even deign to- sorry, I mean, I even consider you to be a friend,’ he said conceitedly, and his face took on a cruel expression as his eyes blazed furiously before he stepped back.

  He returned to the sofa, and, stretching his legs out, he put his hands behind his head while he waited impatiently for her to calm down and put an end to this nonsense.

  As if he would ever think of her in that way. She thinks too highly of herself. But as he reflected on his behaviour... Even as a friend, I get it wrong! he thought miserably, and sat up shamefacedly.

  Rowanne stood for a few seconds while she willed for her heart to slow down, but she was barely in control. Her face was inflamed, she felt humiliated. Conceited idiot! He thinks he’s God’s gift to women. I would never in a million years look at him in that way, even if he was the last human, no wait, demon, in the world!

  She walked back and purposely sat opposite him, letting her face unwittingly convey how incensed she was to be in his company. She wanted to say: ‘Get the hell out of my house and don’t let the door slam you in the face on the way out!’

  It was painfully obvious to both where they stood in each other’s estimation. There would be no more misunderstandings now, and the atmosphere was frosty to say the least.

  Alexander was thinking he’d gone too far. If his mother had heard him, she would probably have rebuked him severely for his discourteous behaviour towards a woman; she’d brought him up better than this. In his defence, it was only this particular woman who made him forget himself and act recklessly.

  ‘Rowanne, please look at me,’ he said softly.

  She just ignored him, and turned to the side. Much to her chagrin, he came around the table to her side, and sat close to her. He then had the audacity to take her hand into his. Rowanne wanted to pull her hand away and was about to, when he suddenly bowed his head down, so that it lightly rested on her hand; it was a bizarre act of humility to say the least.

  Alexander looked up at her, and said, ‘I beg your forgiveness, dear lady, for my insolent conduct.’

  Rowanne took her hand back, ‘Fine, on one condition. Sit over there.’ He obliged her request.

  He gets stranger by the minute, and the longer I’m in his company, the crazier I get. Rowanne didn’t know if he was genuinely trying to apologise, or if he was mocking her by merely acting the gentleman.

  Alexander ground his teeth - she really made it hard for him! Please, stop talking, he thought miserably. Suddenly he noticed that Rowanne’s knuckles were grazed and bleeding, and leaning across the table, he gently held her hands to examine them.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ asked Rowanne wearily.

  ‘You do realise that your hand is bleeding?! When did this happen?’ he asked, appalled at himself for not having noticed, and angry at her carelessness.

  Rowanne tried to extricate her hands but to no avail. His grip was surprisingly gentle yet firm; she was not going anywhere, and besides, she’d rather not damage her hands more than they already were.

  ‘Stay here,’ he said, and went to her bathroom.

  Rowanne was having none of it. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, thank you very much; especially, after his awful behaviour.

  Alexander turned around from rummaging around in the cabinet to find a very annoyed looking Rowanne standing in the doorway.

  ‘I thought I’d told you to stay put. I’m trying to find a first aid kit.’

  ‘Alexander, I am not your pet to command. And secondly, I am averse to follow orders,’ and shoving past him, she knelt down to open the bottom cupboard, and took out the first aid box, then stood up and waved it in front of his petulant face.

  Alexander snapped, and grabbed the box from her, placing it on the counter to open it.

  Turning around, he said, ‘Thank you, that helps,’ he was not amused. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he directed her towards the edge of the bathtub and sat her down none too gently.

  ‘Do you mind?’ she asked angrily.

  Alexander just looked at her steadily, and replied, ‘Why of course not. I’d be more than happy to help. I’m glad you finally asked!’

  ‘That’s not what I meant, and you know it,’ she said, getting up.

  Alexander pushed her back down ignoring her protests, as he began to wipe the blood away gently with a wet cloth.

  Rowanne reluctantly subjugated herself to his unwanted administrations.

  She settled for glaring at him, which Alexander heartily accepted as he ripped open an antiseptic wipe and began to gently dab it across her knuckles.

  Rowanne involuntarily hissed as it stung, and chose to look in any direction, but his; she didn’t need his sympathy.

  Instead, she got something unexpected, as he said, ‘That’s what you get for being oblivious, you should really take more care.’ He sounded so reasonable and matter of fact that it grated on her nerves.

  ‘Listen, how mindful can you be when you’re trapped and trying to get out? It doesn’t register in the moment of panic that you’re hurting yourself. The situation was so intense that I wasn’t exactly thinking of the pain. And I didn’t ask you to unduly trouble yourself by helping me,’ but silently, she thought, it sounded suspiciously like he cared.

  He ignored her while he applied a bandage to each hand. ‘There, done,’ and finally releasing her hands, he went back to the living room.

  Rowanne found him sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone; there went her theory that he actually cared. She sat on the opposite side to him, and decided to get on with trying to understand what had occurred earlier. ‘Alexander, what do you think I should do?’

  ‘You’re essentially saying that your apartment is haunted,’ stated Alexander, as he looked up.

  ‘That about sums it up, Sherlock. That’s what I have been trying to tell you for the past- I don’t know how long it’s been.’ Sometimes, Rowanne could not recall a time when Alexander was not around. He seemed to show up at the most unfortunate moments; it was maddening to say the least.

  I don’t particularly like spending time with you either but I have to bloody save you against my will. Try being me for a change! he thought churlishly.

  ‘Are you going to remain in this ghost house today? Or, do you have somewhere else you can stay?’ asked Alexander.

  Rowanne thought that her choices were very limited: it would have been better if she’d had friends as well as acquaintances, but she’d been
so busy working, that she never really formed any attachments outside of work.

  She could not very well show up at her grandmother’s home, either, and could just picture the disaster waiting to happen: ‘Hello, remember me? Your only granddaughter, the one that rarely phones and hasn’t seen you in years. Do you mind if I stay at your place tonight? I can’t go home because I’m having an exorcism: it’s like a party with an uninvited guest! Only the priest shows up, and even the host stays away until the big finale is over! Ta-da. So, what do you think?’

  Rowanne could imagine her grandmother’s response: she’d be thrown out so fast, that her head would spin — no pun intended. And as well as having her locked up, her grandmother would also take out a restraining order against her!

  Alexander turned around and started laughing. She’s even more wretched than I thought!

  ‘Alexander, please turn around. I am pretty much at a loss as to what to do,’ said Rowanne, wondering at his strange bout of lunacy.

  Wiping his eyes, and trying to look solemn, he said wisely, ‘So book yourself into a hotel until this,’ gesturing at the apartment, ‘settles down.’

  ‘What if it follows me? I’ve seen those films where the ghost doesn’t just haunt a place but a person as well, latching onto them.’

  ‘Possibly, like superglue. Or an ex, as an example,’ he laughed.

  ‘Alexander! It would actually help if you could come up with a sensible suggestion!’ she laid into him, letting him feel the full force of her anger. She did not find the situation funny; especially since it was happening to her.

  ‘Is there someone you can call?’ asked Alexander, curious as to whom she would name.

  ‘No!’ My God, I sound lame and completely pathetic. Trying to save herself, Rowanne amended rather desolately, ‘What I meant was, that there is no one presently that I can call. They would be at work until very late, and I’d hate to imposition them.’

  Alexander looked at her drolly. He came up with a solution that he was sure they’d equally hate. She was about to imposition the heck out of him; it would be all his own doing, though. I am the master of my own hell, he thought wretchedly.

  He was munificent; lent a hand to those in need. He could do this.

  ‘Rowanne, I have this piece I’ve been working on at home. It’s my first assignment for Eileen, and the deadline is just around the corner. I was wondering... if you wouldn’t mind giving it the seal of approval, before I turn it in. I can appreciate that you have a lot going on, but I really do need the help. Trust me, it’s not easy for me to ask,’ Alexander hoped he sounded sincere; this act was starting to grate on him.

  Rowanne jumped at the change in conversation; Thank God, something I can actually get my head around, and a way to prove myself useful.

  ‘Get the piece out then. I’ll have a look at it now,’ said Rowanne eagerly.

  ‘The thing is, I have it on my laptop at home...’

  ‘I was going to suggest emailing it to me, but judging by that look, I’d say that would be a problem too, right?’ asked Rowanne perceptively.

  ‘Perhaps you wouldn’t mind coming to my home to look at it... I’ll drop you back afterwards.’ Alexander knew that this could go in any direction; including blowing up in his face, if she got the wrong end of the stick - again!

  Rowanne looked at him steadily, and after considering her options, decided to agree. At least if the ghost decides to attack again, then I can use him as a human shield. I am nothing if not fair towards my fellow man, she thought, applying it distastefully to Alexander.

  To his commendation, he kept a civil facade while internally frustrated with her.

  ‘Let me grab some things, and I’ll be with you in a minute.’ Rowanne left Alexander waiting in the living room while she dashed into her bedroom to change. She grabbed items, shoving them into a bag.

  She walked past Alexander to her bathroom to get the essentials. It didn’t take long to change into her comfy jeggings and cotton plaid shirt, and after throwing a soft cashmere jumper on, she put on her trainers. She combed her hair putting it into a high ponytail. She could care less about makeup, it was only Alexander after all.

  Rowanne came back out, and was surprised to find a repairman fixing her lock. ‘When did you do this?’ she asked Alexander.

  He came towards her with her coat. Standing before her, he draped it over her shoulders. He really needed to learn what was and wasn’t acceptable.

  ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of phoning reception, and they sent this gentleman to repair your door.’ She’s telling me what’s acceptable! She should lead by example; I’m not the one who changes in front of a guest so easily. She hates my guts, yet has no problem with me waiting while she dresses. I wonder if she is aware that she’s entirely too comfortable in my company...

  On second thought, best not to mention it, she’d probably become self conscious. Rowanne seemed to be a person who liked to be in control. If she was slightly liberal with some things, so much the better! He laughed darkly, causing her to look at him questioningly. He shrugged his shoulders, leaving it up to her to make of it what she would.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, ‘let’s go. I need to get back and finish my work before the night is out.’ Rowanne could put up with his random inane smiles; God alone knew what went on in that disturbed mind.

  They took the lift down in silence, and she followed him to his car. Alexander was amazed she didn’t challenge him and insist on taking her own car. He wisely left her to get the door for herself; she’d only be peeved with him if he acted the gentleman.

  It was really hard practising chivalry in this century; half the time you annoyed the hell out of women by being considerate. Even when you helped someone, they’d look at you dubiously as if you had an agenda. He could not win, it was a minefield, but it was hard to change your nature; he’d been brought up to be respectful.

  Getting into his car, Rowanne thought, Respectful my foot; I’d hate to see what his bad side would look like.

  Alexander strapped his seatbelt in, and asked, ‘You would, would you?’ his eyes glinted devilishly, and for a moment it seemed to Rowanne as if he had winked at her.

  ‘Did you say something?’ she asked in an irritated voice.

  ‘I was just saying that you should leave your bag on the back seat, it might be more comfortable than holding it in your lap the whole way,’ and he pointedly fixed his gaze over his left shoulder, as he reversed out of the parking space. He noticed that her mood was as sour as ever. She leaned towards him as she stretched behind to place the bag on the back seat.

  Rowanne turned her head around the same time as Alexander, and froze at the close proximity to him, but he just looked at her coolly and smiled slowly before looking straight ahead.

  Rowanne leaned back sedately; well, she hoped it appeared that way. She really detested him right now, he was such a Casanova. Did he have no inhibitions, she wondered. She made it a point to ignore him and looked out of her window; that way her cheeks could return to their normal hue.

  The last thing on Alexander’s mind was romance! He enjoyed provoking her, just to see the expression of sheer loathing on her face. Actually, he was not at all inhibited; his family were free spirits! If only the old adage could prove true; that men and women could just be friends! Was it really so hard? Why the complications?

  He drove out of her building and turned onto the main road. Rowanne wondered what type of home Alexander lived in. Would it be a small place or somewhere upmarket? Especially if his clothes and car were anything to go by.

  It was lashing down with rain, and she heard thunder, but even so it felt stuffy in the car, so she rolled down the window.

  Alexander watched Rowanne close her eyes and relax as the rain wet her face. She seemed to be soothed by it, and slowly a smile spread across her face. Fascinating, the moments that bring a person joy. He quickly turned his attention back to the road, just as she spun around sharply to look at
him, having felt his eyes on her.

  ‘So, how far are we from your home?’ she asked curiously, trying to break the tension between them.

  ‘Actually, I am based- I mean live just two miles from you,’ he hastily amended - he’d slipped up. He had to be cautious in what he said, especially to a journalist.

  ‘That’s not very far at all. So, are you ‘based’ in central London?’ asked Rowanne, looking at him archly.

  Alexander laughed, ‘Well, you could say I live in the heart of the capital, so to speak.’

  Rowanne’s interest was piqued, and she was intrigued to know more. She swivelled in her seat to study him better, but all she saw was a stranger; there was something unfathomable about him. Alexander appeared transient, though, he was human when it counted, but at other times... she felt scared.

  Alexander switched off the internal chatter to focus on driving safely in the harsh weather. He could see lightning bounce off the tall buildings as they got closer to their destination. It had taken longer than he would have liked as traffic had started to build up with people leaving work to get home. Rowanne remained strangely quiet, although he could occasionally hear her tapping away on her tablet. ‘How’s it going?’ he asked, to kill time until they got moving again.

  Rowanne looked at him tersely, hating to be interrupted. ‘Alexander, do you think you could give me a few moments, I’m in the middle of something here.’ She cast her eyes back down and began to type furiously. ‘There, finished,’ she said triumphantly. ‘Forgive me for being rude. I’ve just emailed Eileen my completed piece.’

  Alexander nodded his head in acknowledgment. It was remarkable what you could do these days: you didn’t even need to sit in front of a computer to work, you could just do everything with a phone! He was fascinated with the advances in technology on Earth.

  He kept himself updated on all the latest technology, and made use of what this world had to offer; not that he really needed it. He could relatively get by without it, just by using the ways of his world. However, he liked the convenience of Earth’s gadgets: they saved time, and a lot of the Earth based demons used mobiles to keep in touch.