Devil's Music

Music played, it was a soft jazz melody. The type of melody that you just gently nodded along to. It helped set the mood of this place, along with the low lights, the music, it all created this...vibe, I loved this vibe. Any other word couldn't describe the strength of the emotion. This is a feeling I search for daily, pure carnal energy in one of its rawest forms, expression through music.

The band switched to Bebop Jazz

I stood by the bar, watching the crowd of people sway and rock on the dance floor. Some were embracing like life long lovers, others moving as if it was their first interaction. They are on the edge of getting lost in the dance, that's my favorite part when the music starts to take you away. When you don't even feel your feet anymore, all you feel is the rhythm of the music. I Sipped my drink waiting for everyone on the dance floor to hit that high but before I could witness the moment, my moment, I saw her.

She was beauty personified & and her radiance, her energy, drew people in like a sun pulling in planets. Her eyes were a cool hazel that had a calming effect while at the same time felt like they were piercing the darkest breaches of your soul. Her hair, an afro with 3 braids down the left side of her head, bounced as she walked, but not loosely it bounced with intent as she moved to the beat. She never missed a step, dancing through the crowd as her blouse flowed like clouds in the sky. She eventually made her way to the bar next to me, never fully stopping, always swaying to the beat as she ordered a drink “ Rum & coke, James, make it a double and put it on my tab” She said. I took in every detail of her, the tattoo on her shoulder of what looked like a mural of multiple birds flying around music notes. The intricately drawn red designs she had on her thumb and middle fingernails, that only made the rest of her black painted nails stand out even more. The smell of her perfume filled my nostrils and overtook me, it was of a sweet lavender scent. All of that paled in comparison to the most amazing thing about her… her energy, it radiated powerfully, it changed the atmosphere, Like the moment when people get lost in the dance and taken away by the rhythm of jazz. She wasn't just in the moment, no, she was the moment in living form.

The band switched to a more cool jazz tune

I found myself lost in the moment, staring at her as I sipped my drink. Trying hard not to seem too obvious about it but in truth, I didn't care, she was the living embodiment of my moment, of that feeling I always searched for. I had to take in as much of this experience as I could. She definitely noticed because as soon as the bartender, James, handed her a drink she turned around to lean up right next to me and said “ Like what you see? Because if you keep staring like that I may have to charge you” her voice bold, confident, demanding my attention. “ I would say I didn't mean to stare, but that would be a lie & lying is something I've made sure not to be known for doing” I responded, it’s the truth, I hate liars. “ You are by far the most encapsulating person in this club tonight and I was just caught in your area of effect,” I said while sipping my drink. She laughed for a second, short but sweet, then took a sip of her drink as well. “ I haven't heard that one before, I accept the compliment but don't make staring at me a habit, I don't accept or appreciate unwanted attention” her words were nothing but true, I didn't feel an ounce of a lie behind them. “ Wait, does that mean my attention was welcomed?” I said with a chuckle fully turning to face her. She didn't respond, she just smirked, finished her drink & turned to match me. We now stood facing each other with an elbow leaned up against the bar.

Swing Jazz began playing

“ I love this tune, this will be the moment,” I said as I slightly turned my head to see the dance floor.

“ The moment?” she questioned turning to match my stance.

“ Yes the moment, when they lose themselves, the moment the music takes them away, their mind, body, and soul entangle and get lost in a haze of energy, at this moment, they lose all sense of self, perception, being. All they know is the dance, and they don't stop chasing it. when someone starts to get lost in the wild moments of the dance. Their hearts start beating to match the rhythm” without realizing I started clapping my hands, mocking a heartbeat, and matching it to the rhythm of the song

“ and the jazz has you, you are now its prisoner...and at that moment...a person is at their most beautiful... I enjoy watching that until the song ends of course” She now stared at me, probably caught off guard by my response.

“ I love that moment, there's something beautifully dreadful about people losing themselves to something so deeply, they'd be willing to give everything up to keep it going. Jazz brings it out of people the most. My favorite kind of music” I continued.

“I wonder if that's why it's called the devil's music?” she pondered out loud. I simply glanced at her in response.

“ Do you come here often, I don't think I've ever seen you before,” I leaned over and asked.

she glanced at me, took another long sip of her drink,

“ from time to time,” she said. We both watched the people dancing, nodding our heads to the beat.

“So for all the talk of watching people get lost in the dance, why don't you hit the dance floor?” she asked

“Oh I only watch and admire from afar, I am not a dancer” the answer left my lips without much thought.

“I don't think I've ever heard someone who doesn't dance… talk so passionately about it,” she said with a big laugh. “it is not just dancing, it's jazz...I love the effect jazz has on people. It grabs them like no other music, puts them in an almost out of body trance.” I responded as I signaled the bartender for another drink.

“The devil’s music indeed” I chuckled while picking up my drink. I turned to her and held out my hand.

“ My name is Sam,” I said as she grabbed my hand, with a firm grasp and replied “ Eva, nice to meet you Sam... fairly normal name”

“were you expecting something drastically different” I pondered

“ random man at a bar, almost guaranteed to be the best dressed here, no date, not dancing, but so passionate in your speech about watching people lose themselves to jazz… I don't know your vibe screams main character in some movie, not Sam” she explained

“ That's uh, quite the compliment Eva but I assure you I am simply regular old Sam”.

“ Well regular old Sam, I must take my leave,” she said with a quick twirl and away she went. Without a second thought or hesitation. I didn't even have the time to say goodbye.

The music changed to an eerie blues tune

“ I…” and she was gone, lost in the crowd of people. Her beautiful energy, the magnificent aroma of her perfume, my living moment...gone.

“Moved to slow, Sam, moved to slow” I sighed to myself. The bartender, James, slid up behind me on the other end of the bar, leaning forward just to be in earshot.

“You let her get away boss, I'm surprised, never seen you take to someone so quickly,” James said.

“ The moment is always fleeting James, even in human form” I responded standing up straight.

“Hand me my saxophone, I think I'm going to play for the crowd” I continued

“Sure thing boss,” James said as he went under his bar, unlocked a door, and pulled along a solid black case. It looked pristine and polished, the words Morningstar were emboldened on it in a deep red color. In the corner, there was a small white font inscribed on it that read “Property of Samael”. He handed the case to Sam.

“Should I lock the doors, boss?” James asked slyly looking around the room.

“ yes James, I've lost my moment… let us steal all theirs with some devil music,” I said as I walked toward the stage to play a wonderful tune.