Demon World

by Balvir Bhullar

  Everyone had repeatedly asked her at each junction whether she really wanted to know the truth. Lady Enid, Alexander and Lillian had all warned her that there’d be consequences; once she knew, there would be no going back to her beautifully ignorant state...

  ‘I remember her. Do you think it’s more than a coincidence that Evelyn went to Driskell’s home? Alexander, I think you might be in a better position to give me an answer, right?’ asked Rowanne.

  ‘I can answer for the both of us,’ replied Lillian. ‘Evelyn was my best friend and one of my ladies-in-waiting. I can vouch for her, she went through everything with me, and was one of my supporters. The fact that she still helps my mother every night is a testament to our friendship, and the kind of warm hearted gentle woman that she is.’

  ‘Evelyn warm hearted?!’ asked Alexander incredulously.

  ‘Watch what you say, Alexander. You grew up with her as well. You know her. A woman can be gentle and also firm when the need arises. If you think the two are mutually exclusive, then think again!’ said Lillian.

  Alexander hated it when these women presumed to think for him, and put words into his mouth that he had never uttered. For demon’s sake! He respected women. He had only to look to his own mother, or Lady Enid for that matter, to know how wise a woman could be. They were formidable warriors in his heart, and at the same time they had the capacity for infinite kindness.

  Rowanne looked at Alexander; some of what he had just thought had unwittingly drifted through her mind, and she smiled, amused, knowing that he’d hate it if he thought someone had just read his mind. He could be a mystery at times that incensed her, and yet, again, he could be transparent as glass, not afraid to show his emotions. Rowanne could almost hear him say: ‘This is who I am and I make no apologies for it. Deal with it!’

  To break the tension between the two, Rowanne intervened, ‘Alexander, will they still accept you if they find out you’re human? I don’t quite know what to call you...’

  Alexander broke his glare from Lillian, and turning to Rowanne, he said, ‘Even though I have lost my immortality, I’m still technically a demon. I still have the powers of a full demon, except with a human life span. So far, thankfully, they haven’t detected this pertinent fact.’

  ‘It’s not going to be good if they find out, right?’ Rowanne didn’t want to think about the inevitable consequences.

  ‘It would be horrific, I won’t sugar coat it for you,’ answered Lillian starkly. She turned to Alexander and looked at him steadily, and said, ‘Forgive me for saying this, but now is the time to lay out all the facts on the table. We can’t afford to bury our heads in the sand and admit defeat. Well, I can’t, anyway.’

  ‘Fine. I would be executed,’ said Alexander coldly. ‘And that would not be the worst fate... I could accept that. But what would follow would be far more horrendous-’

  ‘You’re talking about our families. They’d investigate them and... deal with them accordingly.’ Rowanne could not bring herself to say killed, wiped out of existence.

  Rowanne felt physically sick, her heart ached, and she knew that Alexander was going through the same emotions. They had to find a way for the sake of their loved ones.

  ‘So, operation proposal is out?’ asked Rowanne.

  ‘No one has rightly asked my opinion, not that I have ever really considered the proposal, but out of respect, I have spoken with Evelyn,’ said Alexander, directing his answer to Lillian.

  She snorted. As if Evelyn would ever approach this fool, she thought.

  ‘Hold on a minute, if Alexander is out of the running, then that means — Evelyn is next in line?!’ asked Rowanne.

  Lillian answered smoothly, ‘Well, naturally. That is the most likely scenario, if and when they find out. I love Evelyn, but I’m not so naive as to not know that, as Nobles, her family would push her to take the crown in a heartbeat.’

  ‘But you just said you were best friends and that she is supportive of your family,’ said Rowanne, though she had a feeling what Lillian’s reply would be.

  ‘Love and friendship has its own place. It’s a system, Rowanne. It’s just the way things work. If a ruler of our world steps aside, then naturally the next in line will be looked at as the successor. Power is extremely addictive, once you’ve tasted it, you want more. What’s more enticing than the throne? Never forget that underneath their beautiful veneer, all of us Nobles are sharks just waiting to seize our prey.’

  Rowanne was shocked at hearing these words come out of Lillian’s mouth. She could not reconcile them as being true of the woman before her; least of all, with the few demons she had met who were so far removed from sharks in their candour and demeanour. She silently disagreed with Lillian, but thought it best not to argue the point.

  ‘So, Evelyn taking the crown, and I mean no offence by this, Lillian, is a bad idea because of the consequences to Alexander and myself, not to mention our families.’ Rowanne thought long and hard before hitting upon an idea, ‘What if Alexander and I directly approach Lady Enid. I mean your mother. We could explain the situation and if it comes down to it, perhaps ask for her intervention?’

  Lillian’s eyes gleamed as she looked at Rowanne. ‘I see what you’re saying. My mother and Evelyn, as far as I know, get along and respect each other. When we take all of these factors into consideration, then we might have a chance.’

  Alexander looked sceptical. Both of them, as far as he was concerned, were deluded. He could not think of Evelyn as someone to go out of her way to help others, even those she considered friends.

  ‘Do you really believe that if we set up a meeting between Evelyn, Lady Enid and I, and give Evelyn leverage in the form of the knowledge that I have lost my immortality, and therefore, cannot legally ascend to the throne, that she’d happily agree to keep quiet about it, while taking the throne for herself?’ asked Alexander derisively.

  It sounded laughable to Rowanne’s ears, now that she really thought about it. ‘So, Evelyn will agree as long as you’re willing to renounce your claim?’ asked Rowanne, and turning to Lillian, she said, ‘I mean no disrespect to your friend Evelyn, but what’s to stop her from getting rid of Alexander, once she’s the queen? She could easily expose his truth. There is also another thing you’ve both overlooked.’

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Lillian, not liking the direction this was heading in.

  ‘I was thinking the same thing myself...’ said Alexander to Rowanne, before turning to Lillian, ‘Rowanne is alluding to the quandary I now find myself in: if I formally renounce my claim to the throne, then Evelyn and the other Nobles will become suspicious, and will want to know why. It will only be a matter of time before they discover that I have lost my immortality. What explanation can I give that will satisfy them without involving Rowanne? After all, there’s only a limited number of reasons why a demon loses their immortality. And if they should piece it together... Think about it, if you were in Evelyn’s position, what would you do?’

  ‘I hate to admit it, but you’re right. Friend or not, I can’t afford the possibility that at the last moment Evelyn or her family turn on us. I do not want to be deceived a second time by those I love and trust...’ said Lillian cryptically.

  ‘We need to think of another plan. We could still approach your mother, she knows the truth. Maybe she could have some idea as to how we can survive this situation unscathed, if at all possible,’ said Rowanne.

  ‘You’re right, Rowanne,’ said Lillian. ‘I think the time has now come when we can no longer put off going back to Demon World.’

  ‘You’re both crazy. You’d be risking Rowanne’s life, and if she were to be caught, then you know very well what that would mean for her. If I go back, then I’ll have people I need to answer to as well. Let’s not forget the fact that if a demon finds out my truth, then we will have lost before we’ve even started.’

  ‘Be that as it may, we are left with very few options. The one thing that you both have going for you is that you ha
ve powerful families that could shelter you there, until we come up with a plan,’ said Lillian.

  ‘We have to get Lady Enid alone. How difficult is that going to be, Lillian?’ asked Rowanne.

  Alexander hated the plan, he thought it was beyond reckless to go into Demon World, not to mention the fact that they might be playing into the hands of whoever originally attacked Rowanne. One word was screaming in his mind, drowning out all thought.

  ‘Hold on a minute, Lillian,’ said Rowanne before she could answer. Turning to Alexander, she said, ‘You’re not the only one to think that going to Demon World could potentially be a trap. I too, believe that we haven’t actually considered every angle, but despite that we still have to deal with the present situation. And we can’t avoid the question of who’ll be the next to rule.’

  Alexander nodded his head in agreement. There was something bothering him that he could not put his finger on. He hoped he’d remember what it was before it became too late.

  ‘We can rely on my family to shelter the both of us, or you could stay with your grandfather,’ said Alexander to Rowanne. ‘Incidentally, Lillian, did you know her grandfather is no other than Ju-Long Hou of the Dark Fire Clan?’

  An uncomfortable expression quickly passed over Lillian’s features.

  She knows! thought Rowanne. Why would she hide this...? It made her suspicious. She wanted to slap her forehead, as she recalled Lillian’s earlier words. How had she found out? Then it dawned on her slowly. Lillian is always close by me, even when I can’t sense her presence, so she probably overheard everything that was said in my grandparents house. She could not shake the feeling now that Lillian was hiding something from them...

  ‘Yes, I know who your grandfather is. He’s a powerful demon of our world, and there’s no one you could be more safe with than him. He would have a veritable army of demons to protect you,’ said Lillian.

  ‘I don’t want any bloodshed over me. If we can avoid fighting, so much the better. I’m not naive, though, so perhaps it’s better if we can keep as many people out of this as possible.’ Rowanne thought that if they could not link her to her family, then they would be spared.

  ‘I think you’re right,’ Alexander squeezed her hand in solidarity. ‘Rowanne, I think I can find a place for us to stay in Demon World. I will try to make less frequent trips, if it can be helped, but they do call me up for work, which is unavoidable. Perhaps I could ask for a permanent transfer to Earth.’

  ‘I find that idea to be entirely fanciful. It would work if you were a lesser demon. But First Families cannot reside permanently in this world, it’s against the rules, or have you forgotten everything of our World. Especially the fact that you are second in line!’ said Lillian in a disparaging tone of voice.

  Her voice alone could cut through glass, thought Rowanne. ‘So that is the reason why my grandfather travels a lot.’

  Alexander tore his hostile gaze away from Lillian, and turned back to Rowanne. ‘Yes. It’s to keep his cover and to protect all of you,’ he said in a kinder voice.

  Rowanne knew they’d need more information to help them. The time had come for Lillian to reveal what she knew. ‘Lillian, I know you don’t want to talk about it, but can you tell us what you remember of Demon World, when...’ she knew that Lillian understood.

  ‘Alright, but I don’t see what relevance this has to our present situation, and I don’t remember much, anyway.’ Lillian dearly wanted to lay her hands on the individuals responsible for her demise, but knew in her heart that it would have to wait; if she ever got the chance at all. ‘I was sent to Prima Stella to be judged, and was found guilty of treason against our World... and the rest is evident,’ she said devoid of emotion.

  Rowanne was shocked - there was definitely more to it than that. Lillian didn’t seem the type of person, especially after spending time with her and Lady Enid, who would ever do something to jeopardise her life, let alone her family’s.

  ‘Can I ask you something?’ said Alexander.

  Lillian nodded reluctantly. He felt the icy chill of the tower she was trying to imprison herself in to avoid talking of her passing.

  ‘Does this have anything to do with the infamous case that made Driskell the formidable demon he is today?’ Alexander didn’t know the exact details. The First Family had covered it up; but they could not shut down the rumours that had abounded in its wake.

  The living room light started to flicker on and off. Rowanne could hear the rain as well as hailstones start to ricochet off the window. The room grew darker as outside a magnificent grey cloud blanketed the entire city.

  ‘Lillian, you have to calm down, or never mind Demon World, they’ll find us right here.’ Rowanne went to Lillian and sat beside her, and gently turned her face away from the city, bringing her awareness back to the present, to the people around her.

  Lillian shook her head, and the violet light that had smouldered dangerously in her eyes slowly diffused. The lights came back on, but the weather continued to lash outside, she could not help it. Had she not told Rowanne before of the dangers of demons who could not control their powers; yet here she was doing the exact same thing, again.

  Lillian turned to Alexander, ‘That man, whom we both used to call friend, is partly the reason behind my demise.’ She squeezed Rowanne’s hand instinctively, trying to reach out. She was tired and could not do it alone. ‘It’s hard to believe that we were once children, that time seems so long ago. I was eighteen, my birthday only a few months away, and was getting ready for my coronation for the following year. When a new ruler is crowned in our world, it is a momentous occasion, and you can just envision the sort of grand celebrations we would have had. My mother had ruled for a long period up to that point, and was glad to pass the mantle onto me.’ She took a deep breath before continuing, ‘I only reached the first initial ceremony of accepting my title as Princess and Lady of the Morning Star Clan. The following year I would have been crowned Queen of Demon World.’ Lillian appeared quietly happy at the memory, almost as if she were reliving her past, her lost youth.

  Rowanne could not even begin to imagine Lillian’s life. The Queen and the royal family were her closest comparison.

  ‘What happened?’ asked Rowanne gently.

  Lillian looked long and hard at the people before her - maybe they’d be luckier than her... She’d damn well make sure that they would have a chance at least. ‘I was happy for almost two years, life seemed like one long celebration. What was it that Shakespeare said in one of his sonnets? “...But thy eternal summer shall not fade...” You see, when you are young, you think you’re invincible, the world seems to be made for you. How wrong I was, dying at the tender age of twenty. Wait, I mean — my life was cut down and stolen at that age!’

  Rowanne could feel waves of pain coming off Lillian, and her hand had become numb from her death grip, but she bore it quietly. Before her was one of the strongest women she had ever had the privilege to meet.

  Rowanne looked at Alexander, who gave her a small smile. He too was enraptured by Lillian’s story. Rowanne knew that there was some enmity between him and Driskell, but she had not been able to find out what it was, let alone ask about it; it was not her place.

  ‘What did Driskell find out?’ asked Alexander. His old friend had never fully gone into the details of what had happened. Nobody outside of the royal family knew - that he was aware of. He wondered whether Lillian had confided in the others within her inner circle, those closest to her who she trusted.

  ‘You’re very perceptive, Alexander. I was wrong about you. You merely play up to people’s expectations of you. Beware of this one, Rowanne. He is a dark horse,’ said Lillian, watching Alexander’s carefully maintained neutral facade.

  Rowanne looked steadily into his eyes, then quickly turned back to Lillian. He was not a danger to her, it was as simple as that.

  Are you sure you aren’t a little afraid of me? asked Alexander of Rowanne.

  She arched an eyebrow, P
ossibly of your manners. Were you born conceited? He looked at her wickedly.

  I get better with time, it gives me a chance to cultivate my natural talents, he replied sardonically, much to Rowanne’s dismay.

  Lillian smiled wistfully for a brief moment at the quarrelsome pair before her.

  ‘Was Driskell the only other person outside of your family to know the exact details of what happened to you?’ asked Alexander.

  Lillian thought about it. ‘I told only those closest to me initially. My mother knew. Definitely not my father, for painfully obvious reasons.’ Alexander shuddered in response; most people thought of her father as intimidating. ‘I told one other and that was-’

  ‘Your best friend Lady Evelyn Blaze, of course,’ supplied Rowanne confidently, confirming what her gut was telling her.

  ‘Yes,’ replied Lillian, smiling. ‘You have to understand, Rowanne, that neither Alexander or Driskell knew the truth. Sometimes I get a little hazy on the finer details. I can’t always fully remember the events.’

  ‘So, your inner circle would have consisted of Alexander, Driskell, Evelyn and Lady Enid as the people you could implicitly trust?’ asked Rowanne.

  ‘Actually, that’s not quite true... Tell her the rest. You know...’ said Alexander.

  ‘Alexander was the oldest in the group, and he had spent his time away from the rest of us developing his skills. He’d more than likely be found in Driskell’s company; they were almost inseparable.’

  ‘Well, what Lillian means to say is that we were both competitive,’ said Alexander.

  ‘In my eighteenth year something extraordinary happened... it was a first, as far as I know for Demon World,’ said Lillian.

  Alexander leaned forward eagerly.

  ‘It was 1944 or maybe it was ‘45. Rowanne, you have to understand that it was unprecedented at the time: the first time a human was allowed to reside permanently in Demon World. The pilot programme started a few years back with specially chosen humans, who were temporarily allowed access to our world because of their unique skill set,’ said Lillian.