Demon World

by Balvir Bhullar

  ‘Not everyone views eternity in that way, of course! There are whole demon families that choose immortality, as it gives them great comfort to know that they will never die, and a lot of families have consolidated power in this way,’ said Grandfather Hou, thinking of his own family as being lasting rulers.

  ‘So, you have the choice, then; you can age normally or become an immortal? That’s incredible.’ Rowanne didn’t ask why her grandparents had turned their back on immortality; it was private, between the two of them.

  ‘The First Family are the only ones that do not have a choice in this matter. As rulers, they have responsibilities that must be upheld by each member, forever. Now can you see how it is a curse to be born into that noble family? The power can only pass down through their line, as such there must always be someone to carry on the authority and legacy. You asked me before what would happen if there was no Morning Star Clan; there would be one of the biggest power struggles and bloodiest battles, the likes of which Demon World and Earth has yet to see - and I hope that dark day never comes. The Morning Star Clan are more than rulers, they keep the peace in Demon World as well as ensuring the safety of this one,’ said Grandfather Hou.

  Rowanne imagined hundreds of faceless demons made of shadow, descending on people. She envisioned the world being covered in a smothering dark blanket snuffing out humanity, and when the darkness cleared, what would remain of their world…?

  ‘They are the only ones to keep the hordes of demons in check, although not every Noble family agrees with them. If any of the others ever came to power, then I’m afraid it would mean the very fabric of this world changing. There would be cruel laws to govern the whole of humanity, and punishment beyond your worst nightmares. We would become their prisoners,’ finished Grandfather Hou.

  ‘But then, if something has happened to the Princess, is that the reason why Lady Enid continues to lead?’ asked Rowanne, wondering how she bore the weight of two worlds on her shoulders, as well as living with whatever happened to her child. ‘And is there no other heir to carry on the family name, was she an only child?’

  ‘That’s right,’ answered Grandfather Hou, pleased to see how sharp his granddaughter was at gathering all the facts and quickly putting them together. Rowanne would make one tough half demon, someone who would hopefully become a force to be reckoned with, especially if she took after the warrior side of his family! ‘Lady Enid is a strong and wise ruler, but she also has no choice but to rule indefinitely, unless...’

  ‘Unless what?’ asked Rowanne, wondering what the alternative could be. She respected and greatly admired Lady Enid as a courageous person to look up to.

  Grandfather Hou replied, ‘She can pass on the power to another demon not of her family, as long as they belong to the First Families. This has never been done before in the history of Demon World. Again, the consequences of this could be catastrophic for this world, depending upon whom she passes the mantle to, and whether they looked favourably on humans. Demon World citizens and the Nobles would have to abide by this decision. This is the least terrible scenario that I can think of; though truthfully, it doesn’t bode well for the humans.’

  ‘Surely, Lady Enid must have support?’ asked Rowanne.

  Her grandparents exchanged weary looks before Grandmother Angelique answered, ‘The Nobles are more likely to hinder you and stab you in the back than help you. It is all a game of chess played by pretenders who long for the ultimate throne.’

  Grandfather Hou laughed darkly, and outside thunder cracked ominously, causing the lights inside to flicker and go out, so that momentarily they were plunged into darkness before the lights reluctantly came back to life. ‘Well, perhaps not the ultimate throne! There’s not a demon yet that would be that fool hardy, unless they have a death wish!’ his green eyes glowed in fear at the thought even being voiced aloud; even to utter such things was not without peril...

  Her grandmother nodded her head vehemently, sending up a silent prayer that they not be heard.

  Rowanne’s spine tingled and the hairs on the back of her arms and neck rose. Goosebumps broke out, and she felt ice lodge and settle in her heart. She had the strong feeling of someone walking over her grave. Ever so slowly the temperature in the room began to rise after it had suddenly plunged.

  Rowanne felt the burning heat as sweat trickled down her forehead. ‘Perhaps, we should move onto another topic,’ she said, and smiled weakly at them.

  Her grandparents held their breath, and once they felt the danger pass, the tension drained out of their weary bodies.

  ‘What happened to the Princess?’ asked Rowanne.

  ‘She was accused of breaking the law but no one knows the exact details. And because it was a Noble of a First Family that made the accusation, she was investigated at the First Court. This created a great scandal for the Morning Star Clan, and Lady Enid barely survived it. Judgement was passed onto their daughter, and she was taken to Prima Stella,’ answered Grandfather Hou.

  ‘That’s the highest court in Demon World, right?’ asked Rowanne. Lady Enid had spoken of it with her.

  Her grandparents worried about the level of knowledge that she already possessed, and hoped for her sake that the demons who had helped her were really on her side. When the time comes, would they choose her life over theirs? It seemed highly unlikely. If only they knew who these demons were, then they could manoeuvre themselves into a better position in order to protect her.

  Rowanne caught the looks that passed between her grandparents. ‘You have to have faith in me. I am a good judge of character, and I trust the demons who have helped me. They had no need to do what they did for me, especially as it was at great danger to themselves, but nevertheless, they shielded me, and came to my aid unbidden,’ she looked at them unwaveringly with her strong green eyes. She sat straight as a tower, emanating a gentle power of her own; unbeknown to her. Was she scared? Yes, but she refused to be beaten down by fear. She’d face it, and come to a better understanding of herself because of it.

  Rowanne thought of all the people that helped her, and if she could, she hoped to help them someday; once she knew more of how Demon World worked. She desperately wanted to help Lady Enid, and didn’t like the idea of her being alone amongst the wolves. The Nobles were like scavengers, vultures just waiting for the opportunity to pounce on Lady Enid; and it would be when she least suspected it.

  Rowanne’s blood boiled, and the room flashed as lightning repeatedly struck the road outside. The ominous clouds gathered together, beginning to swirl unnaturally; this was not normal weather.

  Rowanne was suddenly shook out of her dark reverie by her frantic grandparents, who worried for her, for what she was becoming...

  She looked at them, oblivious of what had just occurred. ‘Sorry, where were we?’ she asked her grandparents, who sat on the lounge opposite her with strange looks passing between them.

  Her grandfather coughed, clearing his throat that had swelled due to the fear she had invoked in them for her safety. If she continued like this, then she’d be on the Demon World radar in no time.

  ‘The Princess did not return, and it nearly tore apart Lady Enid. From that day on, she rarely appeared in public, and when she did, it was behind a black veil. And still to this day she wears the mourning clothes. Her daughter was her light, her life resided in her,’ said her grandfather.

  Rowanne felt her heart become heavy, weighed down with sadness for this great woman, for all she had endured and still did for the greater good. She felt a connection with Lady Enid, and now understood what she had gone through, even if she could not fully realise her pain.

  ‘Who was the Noble that raised the complaint against the Princess in the first place?’

  ‘That information has never been revealed, but it made her prosecutor the most feared and hated demon in the land.’

  My God! he makes Driskell seem like a walk in the park, thought Rowanne, and out of curiosity she asked who it was.

  ‘
Dewain Driskell of the Dark Lake Clan,’ replied Grandfather Hou, and watched as the colour drained from Rowanne’s face to be replaced by anger that flashed in her eyes.

  ‘I knew that man was evil, but I didn’t know what he was truly capable of.’ It all began to make sense, why Lady Enid hated him so much, and why he feared her fury. But why did he hate her?

  Rowanne knew now why Lady Enid had helped her: maybe, she was trying to reconcile with the past that had so cruelly taken her daughter from her, whilst, she had been powerless to stop it because of her title. Lady Enid above all others must be seen to uphold the law of Demon World, especially if she was to continue to be seen as the rightful ruler.

  Everyone had told her that Demon World politics was akin to playing a deadly game of chess, and even Lady Enid was a piece on the board who had to manoeuvre herself safely through the minefield that was her world in order to consolidate her power.

  Rowanne could imagine that there was no end to the Nobles who’d usurp the throne in a heartbeat, if they could. They were like jackals licking at Lady Enid’s heels, maintaining only an outward show of respect for her power. In the end it was all an illusion; how fragile everything suddenly seemed to her.

  Rowanne was alarmed at the knowledge pouring into her... Was this normal? She was processing everything quickly, her mind barely tired. Where was this all coming from, and were they even her thoughts? She could almost imagine her brain sparking as new connections were rapidly being made. She felt dizzy, and closing her eyes, sat back.

  She must have passed out, because the next thing she saw was her grandmother lightly throwing water in her face to wake her.

  ‘What happened?’ asked Rowanne, groggily. Her head still felt like it was spinning, but she was getting used to its pace.

  ‘Here, drink this. I think your body is going through some adjustments, shall we say. I’ve seen it happen at a slower pace for half demons that are born. But with the way you were transformed... I can’t say. I suspect it’s happening at a faster pace, and it is dangerous to have so much knowledge in one go, as it is too much for a person to handle, but thankfully your demon side is taking the brunt of it,’ replied her grandmother.

  Rowanne looked at her watch, and could not believe that so much time had passed - it was already late into the evening. She was due to meet Amanda at her offices soon. She smiled at her grandparents, ‘I’m afraid I have to make a move. There are some pressing matters that I need to attend to,’ she said, and started to gather her belongings.

  ‘Wait, Rowanne, there is so much that you do not know! And there is still much to discuss,’ said her grandfather, exchanging a worried glance with his wife.

  Rowanne took a deep breath to centre herself. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll visit again soon, I promise. I don’t feel alone anymore. And I know now that if I have any questions, and I’m sure there’ll be many, that I have family whom I trust and love that I can turn to.’

  This didn’t ease their tension, but they also knew that they’d have to eventually let her go. Rowanne was, after all, a grown woman, and they could shield her only so much; after that it came down to her instincts and her own sound knowledge. They were proud of her, and they would do all in their power to keep her safe.

  Rowanne got up and hugged her grandmother fiercely; her grandfather shook her hand warmly, and gave her a meaningful look, and in her mind she could have sworn that he asked her to take great care of herself, for their sake.

  Rowanne’s grandparents walked her to the front door, and waved her off. They didn’t go back inside until they saw her car pull out of the road.

  CHAPTER 22

  Dark thoughts swirled in Rowanne’s mind, and she was now a different person than the one that had first stepped into her grandparent’s house. Turns out, she was now an unofficial member of Demon World; but she didn’t know how she felt about it. Did she even want to go to Demon World? Maybe... not that she’d be allowed, she’d probably be executed on sight!

  She tried to focus on the road ahead; there was a lot of traffic, and by now it was dark, but thankfully it had stopped raining, and slowly she inched closer to home.

  Rowanne was still trying to make her mind accept the fact that her grandparents were actually demons! She would never in a million years have believed them if she had not encountered it herself.

  To think, my ancestry stretches back into another world... How could people not have realised that another world exists right alongside our own? Surely, scientists would have known by now? Where in the universe is Demon World? she wondered.

  The world as she knew it had changed, and as much as she’d like to go back and erase everything, she could not disregard the knowledge she now possessed. How should she view the world? She could have been speaking to demons all along without even realising it, as they passed themselves off as humans in society. Would she now have to think twice before speaking to a person?

  Rowanne’s head hurt with the amount of things that she’d have to get her head around eventually. Some of her questions were still unanswered, including the precise nature of the incident involving the Knight Family and the Princess - it was still a mystery. It didn’t seem as if her grandparents actually knew the finer details; it was all just speculation, not to mention the fact that the First Family would have covered it up.

  The Knight Family would surely know the reason why their ancestors were expelled from Demon World, including Grandmother Angelique? She grew up in that family, they must have told her; especially with her being a demon, thought Rowanne.

  If this was the case, then why would her grandmother not discuss it with her? Rowanne knew that the Knight family were extremely private, they guarded their secrets well; after all, they had survived Demon World.

  How had the Knight Family survived unscathed, whereas the Princess it seemed had faced the full judgment and was (from all that she had heard and witnessed) executed? It was such an ugly word and her spine tingled with the horror associated with it.

  She didn’t even want to think about what a demon, let alone a human, faced when the death sentence was passed. Maybe it was the fact that she was dancing with death, her newly acquired knowledge putting her at risk of discovery from Demon World. And if they ever found out just how much she knew, then everybody she cared about would also be put in danger.

  No wonder Alexander was always uncomfortable in her company. He must have always been wondering if she’d accidentally tell the wrong person about Demon World, and consequently how fast they would find not just her, but the demon responsible for her knowledge. How exactly would she explain being turned into a half demon...?

  Her grandparents had known at once that she was a half demon, so how was it possible that Driskell (the most feared demon in the land) had failed to pick up on this vital knowledge... she had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had thought that she was free from Driskell, but now she could not help but wonder if that was really the case at all.

  Driskell had discovered the truth about the Princess and then disclosed it. Unfortunately, her status and family name had not been enough to save her; Who the hell am I in comparison, and what hope do I really have of keeping out of his clutches? wondered Rowanne.

  She was beginning to think it was just a matter of sheer dumb luck and helpful people that had kept her beneath his notice. Perhaps there was more to come. She was at the centre of a sinister game, and didn’t know who all the players were, so how could she possibly know when they’d make their move? She had a feeling that a nasty surprise was in store for her.

  Rowanne’s necklace pulsed in warning. She wished the damn thing could actually communicate with her: what good was a warning on its own, without the details!

  ‘That’s what I’m here for! Hello, Rowanne, it’s been too long...’

  Rowanne swerved her car, and narrowly avoided the oncoming traffic in the adjacent lane.

  ‘You scared the life out of me! You can’t just show up unannounced like this, e
specially when I’m driving!’ said Rowanne angrily to the beautiful girl in the passenger seat.

  ‘Nice to see you, too!’ said Lillian, irritated. After all she had done for the ungrateful human, she’d at least have expected a thank you. After all, she had been the one left behind in Demon World, whilst madam here had run off in the arms of her Romeo.

  ‘That is not exactly true. If you remember, I was the one who’d insisted you not be left behind. But you told me to go!’ said Rowanne, mortified by what she was hearing. ‘And another thing, escaping from the guards hardly constitutes romance! Alexander was merely helping me...’

  ‘How quickly you come to his defence. Not so long ago, you were both at each other’s throats!’ scoffed Lillian.

  Rowanne thought it best that they change the topic quickly: she didn’t want to venture into those murky depths, especially with Lillian of all people. ‘When did you get back? I tried to reach you.’

  ‘It’s getting harder now to come back each time.’ Lillian didn’t add that revisiting Rowanne’s memories to unlock the truth for her, as well as taking her to Demon World, had taken its toll. She had used up a lot of energy in the human world; energy that was slowly trickling back to her, though there was less of it each time. And she didn’t want to worry Rowanne by burdening her with this information.

  ‘It’s because we’re separate, you are no longer a part of me. I think the necklace and my life force were what kept you going,’ stated Rowanne matter-of-factly, not a hint of recrimination in her voice.