Meeting the Prince of Darkness

"Since when does the Prince of Darkness hide like this?" I asked with a hiss. I didn't much like the devil. And though he didn't know me, he knew that I didn't like him. That much was evident from the cross that hung lifelessly against my collarbone. He raised an eyebrow at me. My friend Cedric was into all this devil worship shit. Why the hell would the devil be here? He didn't look like much of a devil to me.

"I'm not hiding. Just biding my time," he said casually, with a flippant gesture of his hand. I rolled my eyes. What the hell kind of answer is that? "Just biding my time." What time did he have to bide? Shouldn't he be torturing the souls of the damned? I mean, what time did he have for my twenty-four year old friend that has no life whatsoever? I mean, he's the only person I know that has enough time to sacrifice animal babies. The rest of us are working our ass off.

"What the hell kind of devil are you supposed to be? You're not tempting anyone or damning the innocent. You're just renting a room from Cedric? You've crushed any expectations I had about you being big and bad." The devil raised an eyebrow at me. I stared at him, waiting for him to tell me one of my deep dark secrets to try to impress me. Cedric glanced at me uneasily. I noticed with a touch of annoyance that his charcoal eyeliner was smudged on one side. I am obsessive compulsive. Sue me.

"I read it in the newspaper. He had an ad for an extra room in his apartment. I was just looking it over. Why, may I ask, are you here, Miss? Are you looking at the room as well?" the devil asked innocently, making casual conversation. I resisted the urge to gape at him. He was the devil. Why was he renting an apartment? Then again, why did I believe that he was the devil? After all, Cedric had told me that. And Cedric is a bit on the eccentric side.

"You read the newspaper? Why do you care? And shouldn't you know? Aren't you omniscient like freaking God? Why aren't you answering my questions you fallen bastard?" I was nearly yelling at the top of my lungs. I vaguely wondered if Cedric's fellow apartment dwellers minded my outbursts. Cedric decided to intervene in the conversation. The devil didn't seem to mind either way.

"Desdemona goes to school with me. She just stopped by, but she'll be leaving now. She has things to do," he said, his eyes pleading with me to leave. I took one look at his smudged gothic makeup and scoffed. Why would I leave this freak of nature to his own devices with someone who wants to damn all of mankind? I planted my feet even more firmly on the ground.

"Oh, that's a pity. I was going to suggest that we all go out for dinner," the devil said with a bright smile. I had expected the devil to be attractive. He had thick, curly red hair that hung down in his face, shooting out at odd angles and shadowing his dull, pale green eyes. He was rather scrawny too. I wondered how the stereotype about him being seductive and attractive ever got started.

"Actually, I'm free tonight. I have no idea what little Cedric here is talking about. I'd 'love' to dine with the devil," I said. My voice nearly seethed with venom. I saw Cedric flinch a little. How does he kill little animals? Really now. "Cedric, you should grab your jacket and then we can all go out to eat. I suggest a good hearty New York strip for the God of the Underworld."

"I am truly sorry, Desdemona, but I happen to be a vegetarian. And you can call me Aiden. I'd rather not have people listening to you talk of me like this. I can't afford any publicity," the devil stated with a small sigh. He didn't strike me as an Aiden. He struck me as a serpent that tempted Adam and Eve. I've really got to stop with the bible jokes.

"Um, alright then. I'll be right back," Cedric said, mesmerized by the one and only "Aiden" standing next to him. He stumbled out of the room to go and find his jacket. I went back to staring at the normal looking man in front of me. His eyes were on the cross around my neck. I could almost see the hellfire in his eyes. That's when I realized I was being an idiot.

"You are a Christian, Desdemona? Such a pretty name," he commented, his eyes returning to my face. His smile seemed genuine enough. Was I making small talk with the devil? Would God damn me for that? What was the Christian thing to do? I mean, surely, Christ had talked to him, right? I fidgeted with the zipper on my sweater. What to say?

"Yeah, I was raised Catholic. I hardly ever have time to go to church anymore though. I suppose God hates me for bumping him down on the priority list. And most people call me by my middle name but-"

"I think it's nifty that it means "of the devil." It's wicked," Cedric said with a toothy grin as he reappeared from his room. I shot him a biting glance. Aiden looked amused by the thought. "Ready to go?" Cedric asked as he threw on his trench coat. My, my. Does he always have to be so goddamn dramatic?

"Sure. Don't worry about your budget, Cedric. I have a sufficient amount of money. I can handle a dinner with some new acquaintances," Aiden said as he walked past us, towards the door. He opened it without a bit of uneasiness and waited for us to walk out through the doorframe. I wondered if it was a doorway to my doom and fiery damnation. I only hesitated for a fraction of a second. I followed Cedric out the doorway, wondering why I had actually listened to Cedric, anyway.

"You have to hear him, Dez, he's fucking awesome. You just don't understand! He's so freaking normal. He doesn't even sound like the devil! He wants to rent a room from ME! Me, Dez, me! It's like he's heard me or something!" Cedric cried, his voice a decibel louder in his infinite excitement. I stared at him. Maybe he had finally gone off the deep end?

Our professor shot us a glare. I kicked Cedric's shin. If he got me in trouble with our professor I would kill him. He grinned. I rolled my eyes. He looked like he could rave on for hours about his almighty Devil. I couldn't deal with that kind of torture. Why the hell was I friends with this idiot in the first place? I had to shut him up now.

"Fine, Cedric, I'll come and see the devil, alright. Just shut the hell up or else I'll beat your face in," I growled quietly at him. His eyes filled up with excitement. He really didn't seem like the type to worship the devil, if you asked me. He was way too cute for it.

"YES! Be at my place at six! I can't wait! You'll love him, Dez. He's so fucking awesome!" he cried with glee. I kicked him as hard as I could. Our professor turned the death glare on us. Why, oh why, am I doomed to be outcast with a devil worshipper?

Oh, how I wonder about my sanity sometimes.