Demon World

by Balvir Bhullar

  He even liked using public transport, finding it highly amusing. Occasionally, he was forced to use it for the sake of appearance, as well as adopting other Earth customs. The demon’s who were sent to Earth were those who had been brought up on its knowledge, on how it worked, and they were the ones that could pass effortlessly as humans.

  The demons didn’t really integrate that much in society, keeping on its outskirts whilst wielding power internally, and always monitoring the situation between both worlds from their sometimes prominent, sometimes low positions; whatever suited them best — the key point was to gather information, that was where the real power lay.

  Alexander held a finger to his lips, and a look of incredulity passed over Rowanne’s face at being cut short; it gave him a warm feeling inside.

  Alexander clipped a wireless headphone to his ear, and switched it on just as the traffic began to crawl forward. ‘Call, Venus,’ he spoke to the car system, and it dialled the number.

  Rowanne had wanted to get one of these systems built into her own car, but she feared it could not be done to a classic like her 1955 Pegaso. She’d find a way, though.

  ‘Good evening, it’s Alexander. Yes,’ he said, briefly looking in Rowanne’s direction. ‘No, I can’t. Can we reschedule? Great. Forgive the late notice, I’ll be in touch,’ Alexander said before switching off.

  Rowanne found it cryptic. ‘Look, Alexander. You should have told me if you had plans, I wouldn’t have come,’ she could not believe his rudeness at cancelling a prior engagement.

  He looked at her steadily, and replied, ‘It wasn’t important, it can keep for another day.’

  The rain by this time had let up, so that Rowanne was able to observe the city lit up around them, especially the skyscrapers shining like beacons in the horrendous weather, unfazed each time that lightning struck them. Even the steel grey clouds could not hide the neon blues and reds.

  Rowanne thought that she had never really seen the city like this; it was beautiful, a modern fairytale kingdom of steel and glass cast into spectacular structures that twisted and turned their way up, fighting to rise above the ancient city, taking it into the future.

  After fifteen more minutes, Alexander turned onto St Thomas Street, and there before them was a colossal building. Rowanne thought, We can’t possibly be heading there... We’ll probably drive by it. She gazed in wonder as lightning struck the top of the glass behemoth, lighting it up momentarily as a supernatural wonder. The Shard was truly impressive, she thought.

  Alexander slowed down and took the entrance to the underground car park, leaving Rowanne in no doubt, and she could not have been more astonished at learning that this was where he actually lived. He parked in his reserved spot, and facing her said, ‘Well, this is where I call home. Come on, let’s get out of the cold.’

  CHAPTER 15

  Rowanne sat dumbfounded until she heard a tapping on her passenger window - it was Alexander, and clearly he was annoyed with her.

  He opened her door, wondering why she was behaving in this absurd manner. ‘Rowanne, are you going to sit here all day, or will you do me the courtesy of coming up?’

  She nodded mutely, and got out, shutting the door behind her, and following him to the lift. She looked confused as she asked, ‘Don’t we take the lift on the other side to go up?’

  Alexander looked at her patiently. If she was so easily impressed by this building (he was bored of her admiration) then the next part would literally blow her mind. He smiled charmingly.

  ‘No. I take this lift to get to my apartment.’

  ‘But it only has one floor!’

  ‘I know. It is my home,’ he said.

  ‘But that’s the top floor!’ said Rowanne, her jaw almost touching the ground.

  ‘Yes, well if you don’t mind, I really want to get a move on. I’d rather not stand here all night,’ he ushered her into the lift and pressed the only button available (apart from the alarm, that is). His thumb was scanned a second time by the building’s security as he placed it on the glass panel: the first had been outside the lift. The doors closed, and the lift began to rise up.

  A disembodied voice spoke through the speakers, ‘Good evening, Mr Black. I hope that you received your delivery expediently? Is there anything that you require?’

  ‘Good evening. I was pleased with your efficiency,’ as Alexander recalled having phoned his staff to have his car delivered to Rowanne’s address. He continued thoughtfully, ‘Nothing presently but I will let you know in due course,’ he spoke like a person in power; used to having people obey him.

  Rowanne looked at him, and speculated as to how he was able to afford one of the hottest properties in London that a person would have to part with a small fortune for. Who are you, Alexander Black... she wondered.

  ‘The person who’s inviting you into his home.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ Rowanne was having one of those moments again, she could have sworn that she had not just spoken aloud. She felt momentarily puzzled and mortified to be caught out thinking about him. What must he think of me? she wondered, and resolved to be more cautious in the future.

  In no time at all they had reached the top floor. Alexander stepped to the side gallantly to allow Rowanne to leave first.

  Stepping out of the lift, the first thing Rowanne noticed were the double doors made of mahogany with inlaid metal scroll work. There appeared to be initials elegantly written in calligraphy overlapping each other, but she could not discern the individual letters.

  Alexander stood behind, amused at Rowanne trying to decipher the mystery of the door. If she calmed her mind, then the initials would stand out to her, although not what they stood for. He was perfectly safe, and not breaking any laws with his little indulgences.

  He walked a fine line between life and death, and here stood one such testament: a clue to his world, and decipherable unto death, should anyone be foolish enough to solve it. He moved forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Rowanne as he took out his key and touched it to the monitor adjacent to the door.

  It opened before them, and he gestured for Rowanne to go through and the interior was just as spectacular as the exterior; she could not believe that people actually lived like this.

  She stepped into the high ceilinged room, and to say that it was open plan did not do it justice. It was so beautiful and ephemeral. It was airy to say the least, as the windows almost gave you a three hundred and sixty degree view - depending on where you stood, of course. Turning to Alexander, she asked, ‘Don’t you mind not having any privacy? I know you’re so high up that you veritably look down on everything, but still,’ and gesturing with her hands all around them, she continued, ‘I’m not sure, how I’d feel living in a glass house.’

  ‘Rowanne, it might surprise you to know that I too value my privacy. Looking around, you wouldn’t think so. But the beauty of this particular glass is that I can look out, but no can look in. We are virtually invisible,’ he said with a flourish of his hands, and a strange look came into his eyes that unnerved Rowanne.

  I don’t know if I like being up here, so far from humanity, and hidden from view with only him for company, she shook her head to clear it of absurd thoughts. Alexander was silhouetted against the window, and a sudden burst of lightning behind him changed his appearance momentarily - he had appeared to be bathed in blue light, a black winged shadow with blazing eyes.

  He gazed at her darkly with a knowing look, and Rowanne fought the urge to step back, turn around and run into the lift. He smiled, but this did nothing to ease the anxiety that she had felt ever since she had stepped into his home.

  Coughing more out of embarrassment than anything else, Rowanne said, ‘Well, let’s get started, shall we? I need to finish this as soon as possible so I can get back.’ She wanted to fill the uncomfortable silence that had started to build between them.

  Alexander walked towards her, and just as he passed her, he whispered, ‘Now that’s a shame. I was hoping we
could burn the midnight oil...’ He picked up a tablet next to the front door, and suddenly the living room flooded with light.

  Rowanne didn’t even want to hazard a guess as to what he was implying and chose to ignore it. Instead, turning to him, she said sarcastically, ‘I’m amazed that you could not just give a verbal command and have the lights come on. Everything else about this glass tower seemed so sophisticated and hi-tech!’

  Alexander liked the challenge, and standing by the door, he replied piously, ‘Lights off!’

  Rowanne was suddenly plunged into darkness, and the room appeared much larger than it actually was, and she could see the city outside glittering in the night. Suddenly a shadow stepped in front of her, and her heart was in her mouth as the lights came back on quickly.

  Alexander stood close to her, his dark eye’s swirled an unearthly sapphire burning with a dark green corona. Funny, she’d never really noticed that before. Her eyes travelled down to the arrogant turn of his mouth, as he smiled at her tauntingly, and hastily she looked back up to his eyes.

  Rowanne stepped back almost tripping, but Alexander’s arm shot out encircling her waist, keeping her in place. She glared at him, letting him know in no uncertain terms that she’d rather have fallen than be rescued by him.

  ‘Rowanne, you do seem to have the propensity to fall... a lot. A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed. And I hope your original question has been answered by my modest display,’ he laughed darkly. Looking deep into her eyes, he said, ‘I occasionally enjoy exerting some energy by switching on a light in the traditional way! I am not a slave to-’ he paused, letting go of her and opening his arms wide to encompass the grandeur that was his home, he finished, ‘all this!’

  He walked away from Rowanne, speaking over his shoulder, ‘Please, follow me this way, and make yourself comfortable,’ gesturing towards the large sofa. She walked over and sat on the very edge of it. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ he asked, standing before her, forcing her to tilt her head up just to look at him.

  Rowanne had a permanent look of disgust pasted onto her face, much to his delight. ‘Do you have anything that will keep us awake long enough to go through your assignment?’

  Alexander considered his options before replying mysteriously, ‘I’ve got something...’ he left her, and went into the kitchen.

  He returned a few minutes later with a silver trolley with what appeared to be a mini stove on it. Rowanne was fascinated despite herself.

  ‘Observe the sacred art of making tea,’ said Alexander solemnly, as he looked at Rowanne steadily to ascertain that he had her complete and undivided attention.

  He rolled up his shirt sleeves, and began by boiling water in a copper pan. To her questioning look, he replied, ‘I picked it up on my travels through India.’

  Rowanne was impressed, he appeared to be well travelled. She wondered what India was like...

  ‘As soon as the water heats up, add the tea. I generally like to give it a kick, so to speak, by adding these,’ and paused as he proceeded to add the spices from the glass jars that she had only just noticed sitting on the trolley. He held up each spice for her before adding it to the water. ‘Cardamom,’ he continued, holding a green pod, ‘is best crushed or split,’ he tore it apart, and black seeds floated down to sit on the water. Next, he added saffron, which to Rowanne looked like thin red threads. ‘The most expensive spice in the world, worth its weight in gold. Now, we’ll wait for it to infuse.’ The flames licked the copper pot as the water simmered gently.

  Rowanne was amazed at the level of concentration he devoted to what she would have called before the simple act of making tea. Apparently not; there was more to it! She would have just thrown a tea bag in a cup and added boiling water from a kettle, complementing it with cold milk and a lump of sugar to finish.

  There was definitely more to Alexander than meets the eye - he was a dark horse waiting in the wings to take the time to enlighten her as to the finer intricacies of life, and the beauty that could infuse them. She was grateful that he of all people would take the time for her. Rowanne was puzzled, because she had been convinced that he disliked her... She laughed awkwardly.

  Alexander raised an eyebrow and looked at her accusingly for breaking his concentration, and only resumed once she’d finished. ‘Next, we add a pinch of fennel seeds, and a small stick of cinnamon,’ he then took a mortar and pestle, and crushed black peppercorns and cloves before adding them to the water.

  Rowanne leaned forward, resting her head on her hands, completely immersed in what he was doing, and forgot where she was. She felt completely at ease, and actually interested in something for once; a feat for her, as she was usually engrossed in work.

  Alexander smiled as he sensed Rowanne was at peace; for the moment at least, he amended, and thinking better, he shook his head - it was a temporary state for her.

  ‘Come here,’ he said, and as Rowanne obligingly came to stand next to him, he proceeded to gently wave his hand over the pot.

  It hit Rowanne in heady waves. The aroma alone invigorated her senses, and, closing her eyes she inhaled, smiling joyfully.

  Alexander was amused at her child-like wonder, as it reminded him of his own childhood, spent travelling through various countries and experiencing things for the first time. Demons were not that different from humans; in many respects, they too had their fair share of joy and melancholy.

  Rowanne opened her eyes to see Alexander holding a jug. ‘Do you take milk?’ She nodded her head, and he poured it into a small saucepan letting it heat up. ‘You can do the honours, by the way,’ and he gestured for her to add the milk.

  Rowanne looked at him straight-faced, and asked, ‘Are you sure you trust me? I might ruin it.’

  Alexander looked at her wickedly with a mischievous glint in his eyes, ‘I trust that you will do your best, or...’

  She rolled her eyes at his pathetic attempt at intimidation, took the pot off the stove and poured the milk into the Chai tea.

  Alexander waited a bit before finally turning off the gas. ‘Please, take a seat.’ He strained the tea, pouring it into two jewel coloured, glass tea cups. He set down the tray on the glass table, and placed a cup before her. ‘Do you take sugar?’ he asked. Rowanne nodded her head, and he brought back a small glass bowl of brown sugar. He sat next to her waiting patiently for her to take the sugar, before adding a spoonful to his own.

  She held her cup in both hands for warmth and inhaled deeply. The taste of the individual spices danced on her tongue before converging into the whole. She felt rejuvenated and suddenly alert: it was akin to having a shot of espresso, but more complex and with a subtle fire that warmed the body.

  Alexander was pleased to see her eyes sparkle with the intensity of the tea. ‘I’m glad that it meets with your satisfaction.’

  Rowanne looked sheepishly at Alexander, feeling embarrassed to be caught in such abandon over tea, of all things. ‘Thanks, you’ve certainly delivered on your promise.’

  ‘I’d hate to see what state you’d be in if you were intoxicated,’ he said rather innocently.

  Rowanne chose to not be goaded by him or play into his hands. ‘I don’t know about you, but I feel so alert as to be able to finish a dozen assignments before work.’

  ‘Is that the tea or your ego speaking?’ he asked unrepentantly.

  ‘A bit of both,’ replied Rowanne and laughed it off.

  ‘I’ll just get my laptop,’ said Alexander, and went into a room that Rowanne assumed might be his office.

  Rowanne used the opportunity to take a look around, and getting off the sofa, cup in hand, she walked towards the large glass doors. Despite the rain coming down in a fine shower, she had a strong urge to go out onto the balcony. After all, she might not come back here again. So, what excuse could she use?

  She abruptly turned around at the sound of Alexander coughing. She had not even heard him come in, and he’d already started to set up his laptop.

  ‘For your info
rmation, people don’t usually find an excuse to visit a friend,’ he said, busily trying to find the correct assignment. ‘Just say, “Alexander, I’m coming over!”’

  Rowanne coloured slightly having been caught out yet again talking to herself, about him. ‘I was just admiring the view from the doors...’

  Alexander was focused on the screen, and asked, ‘Why don’t you go out there? The view’s better observed from the balcony instead of just standing there.’

  Rowanne didn’t mind getting some fresh air, especially, away from him, even if it was for a few precious moments. Opening the doors wide, she stepped out into the damp night.

  There was no accounting for some people’s taste; She could not wait to get away from me, thought Alexander, somewhat vexed.

  He finally managed to locate the assignment that he wanted her to look at. He was about to call her in when he spotted her standing at the edge of the balcony looking up. Fascinated, he left his laptop, and walked towards her but stopped short of going out, and instead leaned against the door post.

  Rowanne closed her eyes - she was drenched but she didn’t care. The view was worth every penny this apartment cost, it could be sold for that alone. It was so beautiful, and she had thought that being on the London Eye was amazing, but that dwarfed in comparison to what she was looking at now.

  She could see the London Eye, and the river Thames meandering away into the distance. The city was lit up in reds and yellows, a permanent shower of colour every evening as the sun set, and the city came out to play.

  Rowanne felt the cold begin to seep in, and jumped when she saw Alexander watching her from the door, and wondered how long he’d stood there. He walked back inside, shaking his head. What’s wrong with him? she mused.

  He came back out a minute later to find her still engrossed in the city. He stood behind her as he draped his coat over her shivering shoulders.