It's funny, how a sad, confusing night, could really be what was needed to get some clarity.
In my head it was very gloomy that night, bordering on depressive.
"Excuse me?"
A hand on my shoulder, shaking me out of my reverie.
I sat in a crowded club, at a glossy piano, running my fingers over the keys, earphones in my ears, essentially cancelling all noise out. Ironic, to go into a club and listen to songs on earphones. I know. But there was only one song my head was singing.
I turned reluctantly.
A Knight in shining black armor stood before me. That's what I thought the first thing when he appeared in my sight.
He said something that couldn't hear. I pushed back my hair, to show him that I was wearing plugs.
The expression on his face was one word: horrified.
He plucked the phones out of my ear, as I sat there, watching him, in quiet amusement.
"Of all the things, you would do this in a club?" he asked, waving my earphones in his hand.
I smiled. He looked so emphatic.
He continued, "And you do know what you were doing to that piano, is called harassment, yes?"
"I don't know how to play. But I love the instrument dearly." I replied. I didn't want to get into an argument about piano. And he seemed very incensed at my random key tapping earlier.
"What were you doing, then?"
"I was listening to a song, in my head, and just tapping the keys in imitation. I liked to imagine I could play."
I also added a sad look, hoping he'd go away, and leave me alone to my sad thoughts and song.
He looked at me, nay; he looked into my eyes, as if he looked for something.
"What are you lost about? What is it you desire, right now?" he uttered.
"I want to listen to this piano played. I want to forget everything else and listen to the notes coming from this beauty." I answered, my gaze struck to his. He smiled, every so beautifully, at what I said.
"I assume you play, don't you?" I asked him.
"Yes, of course I do."
"Then won't you sit down please?" I said, tapping the empty seat beside me.
He sat down, poised, elegant.
And what followed was even more beautiful than the player himself, which is saying something.
"I could listen to this all the time. I wish I could just not hear anything else right now, there'd be silence, except for you and your magic fingers." I said, eyes closed, as he played.
"Don't open your eyes until I tell you to." He said. The music stopped. I wanted to open my eyes, but I didn't.
And then suddenly, I was picked up. I did open my eyes, and saw him carry me. "Hey!"
"Close your eyes." The tone was authoritative.
And I closed my eyes.
"Now, open them."
And I opened my eyes.
I stood in a gorgeous room, and in front of me was another piano, just like the one in the club. "Where are we? Have we died and come to heaven?" I asked him.
He looked at me, mixture of emotions on his face. "This isn't heaven, dear. This is the exact opposite of Heaven. Welcome to the Devil's home." he said, smiling wickedly, eyes shining.
"Then that's even better, isn't it?" I said.
"Why?"
"I don't have to be good then." I said, afraid to move, and break the harmony of the setting.
He walked up to me, held my hand, and drew me to the piano.
It seemed like hours, I don't know, when he stopped playing. I was sitting on the couch in his room. He stopped abruptly in middle of lilting tune. I looked up, tears in my eyes.
"Why are you crying?"
"That was… I wish I could play like that."
"Come here. C'mon." he beckoned. I stood by his side, when he pulled me down, and made me sit in his lap. "What are you doing?"
"Lay your hands on mine. Go on."
I placed my hand on his hands, my fingers on his fingers.
And he took up the melody right where he left it. My fingers moved with his, as if I played too. And an overwhelming happiness welled up inside me.
I laid my head in the crook of his neck, hugging him tight. He kept playing, and for some time we sat thus, me in his lap, and him playing the piano.
He began a soul-wrenching piece, suddenly, and my heart beat frantically, raising beats, with each note he raised. And at one point, the music raised my nerves so high, I reverberated with the sound. And just as suddenly he stopped.
We looked at each other. For a few seconds, trying to gauge what was going on.
He quietly moved forward, and took possession of my mouth. He felt so good, that I let him have control.
After a few minutes, we broke off. My fingers were in his hair, circling, playing.
"What is your name?" I asked, giggling a little, as I realized I didn't even know who he was, this magnificent man.
"Lucifer. Lucifer Morningstar."
"Then you really are the devil." I said, kissing his rosy cheeks.
"That I am." He said, smiling, kissing my neck, pulling me closer.