The Devil's Heir (2 When The Devil Falls In Love)

2. WHEN THE DEVIL FALLS IN LOVE!

A familiar voice said with authority, "Walk straight and after ten paces turn left. LEAVE. NOW." It was Evan.

"Evan, what's going on? Where are you?"

"I request you to leave. Please go...."

Something in his voice told her that it was in her best interest. She walked slowly, judging her way by feeling the lockers. '1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10, now turn left....' She collided into Hikari who said, "Ria, is that you? the electricity just went out," she reached for Rihette's arm and said trying to make herself audible over all the noise in the corridor, "Why are you shivering, is something wrong?"

Her eyes were accommodating to the dimness. It had probably become cloudy "Uh, no it's nothing, I forgot my bag in the hallway, I'll see you later." . It was a decision made out of curiosity and instinct. Her heart maneuvered her right and then ten paces back. She was once again standing in the dark. Her hands felt the coldness of the Russian scarf. She could hear metal glinting. Who was Evan fighting with? She hadn't seen anybody else. Just then she heard Evan scream. She left her hold on the locker and rushed into the darkness.
--

Evan heard footsteps approaching. Hadn't he asked Rihette to leave? He strained his exhausted mind to push out the darkness. The pitch-blackness heard the call of its master and willingly retreated to the corners, where it belonged. He breathed heavily as he saw Rihette run towards him. She kneeled by his side but didn't say anything. It was all so fictional to her. Evan eased himself. He felt Rihette's arm holding his shoulder. His shut his eyes in pain.

"Evan, I would really appreciate if you could explain what was happening here." He shook his head and stood up. The darkness had seeped into him. It loved him, wanted to be in him. But he considered himself as its tourniquet. It gave him strength. His eyes glinted black. Rihette walked beside him, her bag slinging on her shoulder.

"See, if you can't tell me, I'll find out what was all that from somewhere else. Because I was involved in this highly unrealistic stuff with YOU, I guess you know what this is about."

Evan nodded guiltily and said, "Listen Rihette, I'm really sorry for putting you in trouble. Trust me I can explain, but not here, not now...."

"Then when exactly are you going to tell me?" they reached the exit and walked towards the gate.

"I will, when I think that knowledge will not harm you."

Sighing, Rihette walked alongside him. After a few steps he was literally walking skin to skin with her. He sensed her discomfort and said, "Stay close. You could be in danger."

'It has been less than a day since I talked to him and here he is rubbing skin with me!' thought Rihette. Her eyes caught a glint of metal as she moved in public view with one of the hot listed guys of her college.

"What's that supposed to be?"

"That, uh that is my stiletto. It's a dagger I keep for protecting myself."

"I've heard of guys with guns, not ancient men with daggers, Evan!"

"You have no idea what you are talking about. So let's drop this crap and talk about what we were supposed to talk about."

She smirked, he was caught unawares about that. 'I wonder what all I've got to discover yet...'

"What?" asked Rihette.

"Do you believe in God and Satan?"

"I believe in God, Evan not Satan. Why do you want to know?"

"I was wondering how much we have in common.... What if I tell you that the devil does exist?"

"Considering that we have hopefully become friends, hopefully," she paused for a positive response and got it when he nodded, "I do believe you..." She then continued in a calculative tone, "Which implies, I believe that the devil does exist. But the way we know God exists, we may have to accept that Satan does too..."

"Not Satan Rihette, the devil." Evan piped in.

Rihette continued not giving much importance to the difference in Satan and Devil but changing Satan to devil she said, "Alright then, the devil, we may have to accept that the devil also exists. There is nothing to prove the existence of the devil..."

"But I know he exists," Evan said and then thought, 'Well you are walking beside the devil's heir'.

"Listen first, God is accepted because everybody believes in Him. However, you know what there is nothing to prove that God exists either. Still we believe in Him. The very same way, people can believe in the devil also. Both are at the same level. Nothing stands to prove either's existence."

"Or non existence," Evan said stubbornly.

"Exactly!"

Evan clapped in mock appreciation of her long confusing lecture. "You sure have a knack for picking out the logic."

"Well yeah! I have won quite a few debates you know."

Evan gave a wicked grin and said, "I'm aware of that, especially after Mark Grison dropped his application when he came to know you were standing in opposition, last year."

Rihette blushed with embarrassment. It had been a laughingstock for those who didn't like her debating style. She could justify anything. That's what Evan said, "You can even sympathize and justify Satan, can't you?"

She made a face and looked away. It had been a big win against some seniors and many of the college students (most of the senior batch and Mark's friends) ruined her victory by making a laughingstock out of it. And Evan, who she had thought was softer than his classmates was at it, on her face.

"Are you mad at me?"

Rihette nodded mutely to refute his mind reading capacity.

"Hey! I didn't want to hurt you. Come on! You are one of the first people to whom I've talked to for more than ten minutes..."

"Yeah! It's been an honor to talk to you!"

Evan rolled his eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder. She was the Queen of sarcasm when she was angry. He smiled when he saw the color rush to her face. Being able to read people's mind sure was an advantage. "Rihette, I didn't mean to tease you. I had intended to say what a logical person you are..."

She shrugged off his hand defiantly and said, "Your face was perhaps obeying the devil's orders and so you had to unwillingly plaster that devilish grin on your face." Rihette was smiling now. She had won and they both knew it. Evan raised his hand in defeat and said, "Alright I did tease you, but that's exactly what comes to mind whenever I think about your debating skills." So saying he burst out laughing and Rihette looked at him laughing with him. It was his eyes she most wanted to see. The enigma in them, their blackness. She had read that pure black eyes are not a human trait. The closest to it could be extreme dark brown eyes. There was not a hint of brown in them. She didn't realize, his eyes were the darkest possible black, hair was black but with a slight tinge of dark blue... dark blue? Just as they were walking a gust of wind blew across them, his full sleeved shirt shifted to show a bit of his shoulder. There were so many scars, from where had they come?

"Evan, how did you get those scars?"

"Don't see too much of me, I'm not a part of the human race..."

Rihette's eyes registered shock and she said, "What are you talking about?"

Evan's face showed pain but then he started laughing as though the previous expression had never been there, "I was just kidding you. I got those marks during practice. Now don't ask me what practice!"

Hikari's car went by and Evan bent backwards to allow Rihette to see her friend, Hikari raised an eyebrow and winked at her before the driver turned towards the main road. Rihette found herself touching the scarf she had worn around her shoulders. It felt good. Evan looked at her. Her hair was a muddy brown, tied in a high ponytail. Wisps of hair came out of her tied hair.

"So, we were going to talk about Blood+, right?" asked Evan.

Rihette's eyes shone with recognition, "I was like so glad to know that at least someone knew blood+, Animax for that matter!"

"Same here!"

"I wish there could be a sequel to it. A movie or perhaps a single season series. I wish Saya knew before going into hibernation that Haji was still alive and kicking."

"Yeah, I know. at least the viewers were shown that he was alive. I wonder how Nathan was alive even after Saya killed him."

Evan gazed into the distance and said, "Well, he said somewhere in the last few episodes that Saya and Diva's mother also had a chevalier. It is implied that he survives because he was probably their mother's chevalier."

"Guess so, but honestly, I wish there could be a sequel, like full metal alchemist has a movie - the conquer of Shamballa. Have you seen it?"

Evan said slightly surprised, "You watch action?"

Rihette nodded and asked him again, "Have you seen the movie?"

He nodded affirmatively and said, "I have the CD if you'd like to watch."

"What? That's like great! We are having a half day tomorrow, so I guess I could watch it tomorrow. May I have it tomorrow?"

"Sure thing!" he paused for a bit and then asked, "Is that your father?"

She giggled and said, "No silly, that's our neighbor. My house is on the opposite side. And for you truly kind information, I don't happen to have a father." He flinched and said, "I'm sorry."

She said, "You don't have to be. He died in a bus accident, leaving everything in my mother's hand. I wasn't born then... so I, kind of, don't feel the pain as much as my mum does."

As they neared her house, Rihette said, "Wanna see my garden?"

He said hesitantly, "Not today, I've to meet my uncle today. He has been calling me to his place from quite some time, you know..."

"Where does he live?"

"Uh, he... he lives by himself not quite far from my house."

Rihette turned in her lane and stood at the corner to say, "It was nice meeting you. I'll wait for you tomorrow right here."

Evan smiled gently, bowed a bit and said, "I too enjoyed walking with you, hope we'll be good friends." As he started walking ahead, he heard her yell, "Tomorrow! 8:15!"

He turned and showed her thumbs up sign. He turned and the fear of meeting his uncle finally started eating in on his nervousness. His uncle had probably seen him with Rihette in the café, but how? It must have been his ravens' herald- a team of shadow spirits aimed at keeping an eye on the cursed and on some special people whom his uncle thought to be disobedient. The ravens had even tried to hurt Rihette when she was alone. Evan had to distance himself. But how could he when every time he closed his eyes her muddy hair, those brown eyes flashed in front of him. Life was giving him a difficult time. Nevertheless, it was sweeter than before.

He threw himself with the wind and his feathery black wings appeared just as he became invisible to the world around him.

Within fifteen minutes, he would be standing at the gates of his uncle's palace. The ruling devil's palace.

If you have any questions, please post them through comments. I'll try to answer as soon as possible.

NEXT: 3. PUNISHMENT...

A punishment for falling in love with the devil could never be worse. Rihette is accused of spreading Evan's true identity by none other than Evan himself. But Rihette doesn't believe him because things are just as they were. Nobody knows who he is other than her. Then why is Evan finding fault with her? Will they be able to patch up? If so... how? And when?