**** Chapter Eight: SUMMER SNOW

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Chapter Eight: SUMMER SNOW

Demon frowned and studied my face curiously for a few seconds. Then without a word, he began walking toward the door. I stayed glued to my spot on the chair. He must’ve realized I wasn’t following him because he stopped and looked back. I returned the stare but didn’t speak.

“You have lovely legs,” he finally said. “Why not use them and walk for a change – or do I have to pick and drag you up and down the entire Realm?”

“No thank you.” I bounced to my feet. “But it wouldn’t kill you to answer my questions!”

“Why take a chance? Since there are so many?” He said it with a straight face but I knew he was laughing inside. His eyes gave away his smirking heart! So mock me would he? Well, two could play at that game.

I slipped back into the chair very royally and looked into his eyes defiantly.

“Fine then,” I said with a stiff smile. “My lovely legs don't want to go anywhere. You may carry on with your mystery trip without me.”

“Get up Syhlain.” He snapped his fingers. “Your chair’s on fire.”

He had hardly finished the sentence when the very fabric of the chair I sat on so confidently started to smolder. I sat staring at it, completely overawed by the occurrence when the feet of the damn thing caught fire. Actual fire! I jumped up with a loud scream and ran away from the piece of furniture that was now going up in flames. Oddly enough the fire only wrapped the chair and touched nothing else – didn't even char the floor beneath it.

“How? What in the world?” I gasped, not ignoring the insulting fact that I was now standing next to Demon in my haste to save my – uhm – lovely legs.

“My furniture doesn’t take well to me being disobeyed.” He stared sadly at the glittering blue remains of his dead chair.

“Your furniture’s got some nerve!” I snapped.

“So do you.” He turned and walked away. And this time I followed him without drama.

He led me through a long, winding hallway made of white sparkling stone – spotless – with huge glass windows on one side through which the sun streamed in. I could see the clear blue skies and lush green grounds stretching for miles and miles on end.

Exotic flowers of all colors laced pathways that crisscrossed those grounds.

The sight of those meadows brought back memories of my own lawn, though much smaller in size but just as lush and more mine. I thought of Daddy dragging me out of bed for our early morning walks in the garden every day, before he died.

“Walking on green grass is good for the eyes, Aoife. And it calms you down as a person,” he used to say and his deep voice soothed my every chipped nerve like soft snow on an angry flame.

“I don’t need calming. Just make Nancy go away, and I’ll be like Buddha himself.” I would still pretend to be annoyed and say it with a smirk.

“Oh, Aoife.” He would chuckle softly and shake his head.

My heart tugged painfully at the memory. I couldn’t shake off the feeling of how I had wasted those precious moments musing over people who no longer mattered. In fact, they had never mattered. How could I be so stupid to not simply bask in Daddy’s warm embrace and just forget Nancy and everyone else? And now – I would give anything in the world, anything to –

“Watch it!” Demon’s warning came too late as I tripped over a high step and landed facedown in his arms. He quickly grabbed the upper half of me while the lower part of a most surprised and adequately clueless Aoife lay sprawled onto a stone pavement.

“I’ve seen women fall for me before but this is ridiculous!” He helped me back to my feet.

With his hands still on my shoulders, I peered into his face, trying to come up with a matching retort or an insult or work up a seething stare even. But none came to my rescue as I looked into his cool aqua eyes. They were clear, clean and not malicious. And something pure in his gaze tickled something wholesome in my soul. And it made me laugh.

I was so happy. I didn't know why and neither did he. His confused expression made me laugh even more.

“What is so funny?” he finally asked.

“I don't know.” I stopped to breathe between giggles and wiped a tear off my face. “I so hate your house. It’s driving me nuts.”

“Indeed,” he said sarcastically and I knew that was a substitute for it’s not my house darling – it’s you. Great! So now I could even hear his words even without him having to say them. Yes, I must be nuts after all.

While I had been reminiscing, Demon had led me out of his castle. It was a castle indeed as I scanned the surroundings. A looming gray structure with huge arched doorways – all stone and ancient but sparkling somehow as if someone had scrubbed it clean. He probably had people to do just that. I mean he was a king after all. It was spooky though how I had yet to see other people beside us in this gigantic building.

I frowned at the high stone step that had caused me to trip so miserably and then at the stone walkway on which I stood and followed it with my eyes to where it led. I felt as if a freeze ray had iced my spine as I gawked at the landscape sprawled in front of me.

“A graveyard!” The words got stuck in my throat. I guess the whole Demon and magic mix was having quite an effect on my speech. But don't blame me. What would you do if there was an assortment of ugly black gravestones planted one after another, continuing to the very edge of the land in sight?

This area, in contrast to what I had seen of the castle so far, was in dire need of maintenance. Creeping vines crawled all over the place and the trees were sparse, burnt, and barren. The ground was covered with the same sparkling blue dust that I’d seen left behind as the chair burned. I touched it and it melted on my fingertips.

“Snow?” I turned to Demon. “Blue snow?” but it wasn’t cool to touch. The air outside was quite warm – as if I were on a beach in summer. Very tropical and yet there were no palms in sight.

“We’re going that way.” He pointed in another direction.

The same path we stood on diverged into a fork ahead of us and led to where Demon was pointing. It looked like a long ranch style log cabin – and was surrounded by an entirely different season. Spring! Green grass and all. From where I stood I could see the drab, lifeless blue winter on my left side next to the fresh, colorful meadows on my right. It didn't make sense but it was there.

Demon had already started walking toward the cottage.

“What country is this?” I ran after him, panting for more reasons than mere loss of good old breath.

“Volttus.” He didn’t look at me.

“You said this is the Realm.”

“Realm is the universe I live in. You asked what country this was.”

“Okay – so how many seasons do you get at one time in Volttus?”

“Just these two.”

“I see winter – well, sort of whatever you call it – and spring. But it feels like summer in both so I’d say you get three.”

“Three it is.” He smiled but kept walking. The path seemed longer than it looked.

“So – is that real snow? Why is it blue?” I followed him but my eyes kept stealing glances at the cemetery. “Why is there snow in the graveyard? And why do you have such a huge graveyard?”

“That’s where I bury my one night stands.”

“What?” I nearly shrieked and stopped in my tracks. “Seriously? You’ve slept with so many women?”

He stopped too and looked at me. His brows were knotted and a strange smile played on his slightly parted lips. It was as if he couldn’t decide whether to speak out his mind or laugh at me. And it was then that I realized what he had actually expected me to say.

I cleared my throat with what little poise I had left. “And I am extremely appalled that you would kill them all – very cruel of you.”

Then with my head bowed, I resumed walking, almost breaking into a run to get away from his amused stare. The distant structure now looked very friendly.

As I drew nearer the building, I became aware of its function. It was a very large stable that was designed to look like a cottage. I could hear snorts and horsey noises coming from within but before I reached the doorway, I saw a beautiful black stallion trot toward us.

It was a well groomed beast with a gleaming coat; boasting of good health and an arrogantly high tail that rivaled my own glossy hair. As it passed by me I had an eerie sense that it had looked at me. It walked over to Demon and nuzzled its handsome snout into the King’s hands as he gently stroked it.

The horse was bareback – no saddle, no reins. But Demon grabbed its mane and perched himself on it. I looked around for a second horse that I might climb onto – but there was none. I looked at Demon. He looked indifferent to my confusion as usual.

“Oh, no need to be the gentleman; I can just walk to wherever we are going.” I spoke loudly just to make sure he actually heard me.

“I thought you girls liked to be treated equally these days.” He caressed the neck and head of his horse as if it was the only important living thing left in the world. So he preferred animals to people. Hmm. Good we had that clarified.

“Chivalry is indeed dead in this part of town. Besides this isn’t about equality. How am I supposed to get to where we are supposed to be going if you’re sitting on the sole means of transport? And may I remind you, there are three of us – you, Azure and me. Unless you have some form of a Demonmobile tucked away somewhere, I don’t see how this is going to work.”

“Turn around.” He spoke calmly.

“What?”

“Your valiant steed.” Although I wasn’t looking at Demon, I knew he’d be smiling his mocking smile.

This horse, like Demon’s, wasn’t saddled either. I looked at it for a few more minutes, mostly trying to get over my fear of touching a – well – weird colored horse and also I didn't know how to mount it without a stirrup. I would have to hold its mane, meaning I would have to touch it. I didn't want to touch it. What if it bit me?

“We don't have a ceremony for mounting horses if that’s what you’re waiting for,” Demon said.

“It’s not saddled.” I kept staring at the horse. “It’s so high I don't think I can mount it. Maybe you should tell it to sit or get lower or saddle it for a change; I mean is that the only way you ride horses here? Nakedly? I mean –”

I was interrupted by my own shriek. Demon had scooped me up in both his arms and placed me on the horse.

“What’s the matter?” He smirked. “Daddy didn't arrange for riding lessons?” “Not with naked horses!” I glared back.

“Pity.” He turned to his stallion.

“You can act all mysterious and powerful but I see right through you. You’re nothing but a big bully. Don’t you dare pick me up again!”

“I don’t intend to but it seems the quickest way to shut you up. Even if for a moment.” He tilted his head to look at the blue horse. “Isn’t that right, Blue?” The damn horse nodded in response!

“Whatever.” I was clearly losing strength to argue now. I mean – whatever! I looked at my new companion and stroked its mane. “This must be Azure’s horse right? Where is he anyway?”

“Right here, Aoife.” A voice spoke. “I’m right here.” “Where?” I looked around.

That’s when the horse turned its face to look straight into mine and said, “Boo!”

I jumped off the beast and fell on Demon who had dismounted in a bound, and caught me like a ball.

“How? What? Did the horse eat Azure? Like the shark?”

The horse was laughing uncontrollably now and Demon was smiling too. Damn it! I scowled at both of them. I looked at the horse carefully and noticed for the first time that it was the same shade as Azure and the eyes also seemed to be the same.

“Azure!” I exclaimed, my much departed color and humor returning to me, “You can turn into a horse? Wow! That is so cool.”

“Not just a horse, Milady, I can turn into anything I want. An ant, an elephant, a butterfly, you name it. I can be it.” He tossed his head proudly.

“I know the bird transformation was awesome and now this! Can you show me more?” I bounced up and down.

“Oh, sure. Show her. We can save the world later.” Demon frowned. I pushed him away as I got back on my own two feet.

“Sourpuss! It’s not like you have any powers.” I turned to Azure pointing to Demon with my thumb. “Does he have powers?” I looked back at Demon. “Demon can’t be what your parents named you when you were born, can it? Oh wait, that makes perfect sense. ‘He’s evil, let’s call him Demon.’ So can you do anything besides being a grouch? Can you fly?”

“When all this is over, that lock of hair is going to cost you big.” Demon glared at Azure and walked back to his horse. "Arsh Vahn!” He mounted.

And much to my amazement – and a little embarrassment – the beautiful black horse sprouted large silver wings and took to the skies.