Dance With The Demon

• Taylah Woehrle
• Short Story
• 2011

I awoke to the song of the birds and the warmth of the summer sun. I awoke to the laughter of children and the knock at the door. Wait. Knock at the door? I sat up, feeling quite nervous about opening the door. I stood, grabbed my opal-coloured silk dressing gown from the mahogany vanity table and waited. Waited for the second knock to ring through my ears. When it didn’t come, I carefully put my arms through the sleeves of the dressing gown and gently tied a bow at the front. I silently crept through the house to the front door. As I edged nearer, I finally heard the second knock I’d been waiting for. I opened the door and there stood the man I encountered at the café yesterday. But how did he find me? Did he stalk me and wait here until I was just waking up? He broke me train of thought as he said, “Good morning, Scarlett. I hope you had the most pleasant of dreams last night.” Startled by the deep, velvety tone of his voice, I did not greet him as politely as I would have liked. He looked at me with such curiousity and intensity; I figured I’d better ask what he wants. “Hi Lucas, is there a reason behind this untimely visit or should I wait until you’re ready?” Lucas slightly frowned, smiled the laughed. “I see you’re not a morning person. Well, by noting that fact, I’m guessing you probably want me to get this over with and leave. Am I correct?” I just looked at him. Hoping he’ll get the message. “Okay, uh, yesterday at the café you left your mobile phone on the counter and I’m just here to return it. So here you are.” Lucas handed my phone to me. I held out my hand and took it then looked at him suspiciously. I watched him leave. He was occasionally looking back at me. By the second time he looked back I was inside, getting ready for my daily exercise. I was just about to walk out the door when a robust arm covered my mouth and I blacked out. I awoke to the jingling of keys. That’s all it took. It was dark and smelled of rust and mold. The bricks around me felt cool and rough beneath my Lorna Jane singlet and shorts. I didn’t need to be told where I was. It was a prison cell. I heard the iron cell door creak open and I man entered the cell. He wrapped a blindfold around my eyes and told me to keep quiet. I was pushed into what seemed like a car and the mysterious man untied the blindfold. I glanced up at the man. It was Lucas. Only, he resembled what appeared to be a demon. He smiled down at me and gave me an emerald green velvet box. “Open it.” suggested Lucas. Curious to know what the box held inside, I opened it. Inside was a silver ring encrusted with rose pink sapphires. Lucas’ eyes held the excitement of those of a boy’s. He grinned and said, “Dance with me Scarlett. You’ll be the happiest woman alive.” I was flabbergasted and replied. “Yes. I would love to dance with a demon."