“Curiosities?” Lucas said. “That curiosity almost killed Braedyn and me.”
“I didn’t realize,” she glanced at Hale. “You mean to tell me these children faced an attacking Thrall on their own and survived?”
“Would you believe it wasn’t the first time?” Hale answered. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Seth turn to give us an appraising glance. “We take their training seriously,” Hale said.
“Apparently.” Angela adjusted her glasses. “Perhaps Seth could join you for some lessons?”
“Mom,” Seth looked pained. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“I think a few pointers in the self-defense department might do you a world of good.”
“A few pointers won’t help me,” he murmured. He looked so miserable, I felt my heart go out to him.
“I’m confused,” I said, pulling Angela’s focus back to the subject at hand. “Why is it such a big deal that the Thrall was a woman?”
“Excellent question. I assume you know how a Thrall is created?” Angela asked.
“I do,” I said, blushing. It was one of the first things I’d learned about Lilitu, back before I knew I was one of them. Lucas had explained it to me; the first time a Lilitu spends the night with a man, she weakens him severely, but it is possible for him to recover over time. The second time, he becomes a Thrall; a walking shell of a man bound to obey the Lilitu without the will to fight or question her orders. There is no recovery possible, once you’ve become a Thrall. The third time a Lilitu sleeps with a man, he dies.
“Then you know that a Lilitu’s power begins with desire,” Angela explained, as though she were telling me how to make a peanut butter sandwich. “And as far as we can tell, the Thrall who attacked you had been a happily married, heterosexual woman.”
Angela watched my expression as I mulled this over. When the realization hit me, it was suddenly so obvious. “So, the Lilitu that attacked her, it was male?”
“Very good, Miss Murphy,” Angela said. “Rare as he may be, a male Lilitu is known colloquially by another name; incubus.”
“Wait,” Lucas breathed. “You mean an incubus is here? In Puerto Escondido?”
“That is my theory, yes.”
“How do we fight it?” Gretchen asked. “Is he like a regular Lilitu? Will I be able to spot him?”
Angela spread her hands helplessly. “I wish I could answer your questions, but I’m afraid we simply don’t know. We need to try to reconstruct as much of the history of your mission as possible. It seems tied to this incubus somehow. I hope, if I can piece together what happened, I can fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge. Seth,” Angela turned to her son, beckoning him closer, “did you get a chance to take another set of rubbings in the mission?”
Seth opened his backpack and pulled out a stack of ruffled pages. Some of them were still edged in dirt. He laid them out on the coffee table gingerly.
“What do you see?” Angela asked the group.
Hale frowned. “The stations of the cross. Hand carved. Typical of Catholic missions.”
“Yes, but that’s only part of the story,” Angela said. “Look here.” She pointed to a collection of figures in the skinny border of one of the carvings. The group leaned closer.
“I’ll be damned,” Thane murmured. “What is this?”
“Well, keep in mind that the first set of rubbings Seth collected for me were rougher, so it was hard to make out but,” she bent over the rubbings, concentrating. “My goodness. Well done, Seth. There’s quite a bit more detail here. Yes, I think—” She fell silent, absorbed in her thoughts.
“Linwood?” Hale prompted.
She looked up, as if suddenly remembering we were there. “I believe there’s a second story being told in the borders of these carvings. A story about the missionaries and their fight against the Lilitu.” As she narrated her version of the story, she pointed from one rubbing to the next. “You see here. These are the monks who build the mission at Puerto Escondido. Notice the shields they carry? They clearly believed they were here to protect something.”
The carving showed the unmistakable silhouette of the original mission sanctuary. Beneath the carving of the sanctuary, I saw a rough circle and my blood ran cold. I was sure it was the seal. I leaned closer for a better look as Angela continued her story.
“In the next carving, there is trouble. You can see here two distinct Lilitu.” Two figures stood side by side, facing a row of monks with shields and swords at the ready. Angular, bat-like wings protruded from both of their backs, and needle-like teeth ringed their mouths. “And—yes! I thought I noticed something on the previous rubbing but here there’s really no doubt, is there?” Angela turned the drawing around so her audience could better see the figures. She held a hand out to Thane. “Do you mind?” He returned the notes she’d given him to look over. Angela scanned the page in silence for a moment. “Yes, here it is. This is an account of a story told to a traveling friar by one of the monks of this mission. One of only five survivors of the events, if we are to believe him. According to this monk, the mission was attacked by two demons. Siblings.”
Angela stabbed her finger back at the rubbing. As I stared, it became clear. One of the Lilitu in the carving had the curves of a beautiful woman, while the other had the triangular chest of a fit young man.
“A sister and a brother,” Angela said. “The monk’s story seems consistent with the rest of these carvings. There was a great fight against the Lilitu. The monks overpowered and possibly killed the sister, but the brother escaped into the night.”
“What are you suggesting? That it’s the same incubus who attacked that woman in town?” Dad asked.
“I’m not suggesting anything,” Angela said. “I’m merely sharing the preliminary fruits of my research into the mission. Whatever happened to that incubus was lost to history, I’m afraid. The friar who recorded this monk’s tale moved on from the mission and the five surviving monks were never heard from again. The later stations of the cross that these monks carved, the ones that presumably continued their story, they were defaced long ago.”
“So despite all your research, we know very little,” Thane said.
“There is one additionally curious thing,” Angela said, pulling another rubbing from the bottom of the pile. “You see here, on the carving of the last station of the cross? This is a common druidic symbol for winter solstice, and here we have a full moon.”
“Which means?” Hale asked.
“Well, I don’t know what it means, but it appears to be some kind of pagan lunar calendar. That in itself is curious, considering it was carved onto a Catholic religious image, presumably by a Catholic monk.” Angela studied the paper thoughtfully.
“You have a theory,” Thane said. It wasn’t a question.
“Yes,” Angela gave Thane a small smile. “But until I’ve gathered more information, I’d rather not share it. I’d hate to be wrong about this.”
“All right.” Hale stood, pacing to the living room’s great mantle. He ran a thumb along the scar dividing his eyebrow—a souvenir from a fight he’d had with a Lilitu in his youth. I’d come to recognize this gesture as a sign that Hale was wrestling with unpleasant thoughts. “If there is an incubus in town, we need to be on our guard. Keep your eyes open. Until we know more we proceed with extreme caution. I don’t want anyone stumbling blindly into more than they can handle.”
“Excellent advice for us all,” Angela said, glancing pointedly at Seth. “We can’t be too careful.”
“Speaking of which, we have rooms for you and Seth here,” Hale said.
“Oh, dear,” Angela winced. “That is very kind, but I’ve never done well in communal living situations. I’ve already rented a small house in town. I think we’ll both be a bit more comfortable there.”
Hale looked like he wanted to argue. Dad caught my eye.
“Why don’t you and Lucas take Seth over to our house,” Dad said. “Order a pizza. I hav
e a feeling we’re going to be here talking strategy for a while.”
Seth glanced at Angela hopefully. She looked resigned, but she nodded permission. “At least order something with vegetables on it, if you don’t mind.”
Seth noticed me watching him and looked away quickly. My eyes lingered over the marks on his cheek. He’d have a tender black eye in the morning.
But it could have been much worse, a voice inside me said.
I stepped onto the Guard’s front porch, drawing my sweater tighter around me. Lucas closed the door, and Seth let out a long breath.
“And here I thought I was the only kid whose life’s been ruined by the Guard.”
“How do you mean?” Lucas asked.
“Oh, come on,” Seth’s smile was tinged with bitterness. “They see Lilitu around every corner. I can’t go to a movie because a Lilitu might be prowling the theater. No, I get to spend my afternoons taking rubbings of old carvings in deserted churches because they might hold the key to a centuries-old mystery about who-gives-a-crap. Why should I care if some horny loser ends up in bed with a demon? Right?”
Seth didn’t read the warning in Lucas’s eyes. “You know the truth,” he said. “How can you not take a stand?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Seth’s smile faded when Lucas didn’t respond. “Okay.” Seth shrugged his shoulders and leaned closer to me conspiratorially. “Guess no one told him not to drink the Kool-Aid, huh?” Lucas turned abruptly and walked toward my house. I could see the tension in his shoulders. Seth watched him go, surprised. “He’s serious about this stuff?”
“His brother was killed by a Lilitu,” I said, but I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Lucas. “Lucas was there when it happened. So was Gretchen.” Across the yard, Lucas disappeared into my house. I heard the door close softly, and my heart wrenched for him. Eric’s death was a wound that never healed for Lucas.
“Seriously?” Some of the color seemed to drain out of Seth’s face.
“The Lilitu who killed him got away,” I explained. “As far as we know, she’s still out there. Hunting. So yeah, he’s serious about this stuff.”
“I didn’t know.” Seth glanced at my house, his expression sober.
“Now you do.” I left Seth standing on the Guard’s porch, alone with his thoughts.
When I walked into our comfortable foyer, I heard Lucas in the living room. He was planted on the couch with the TV on. He wasn’t paying it much attention, though. I sat gingerly beside him. Silently, he draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me in tighter.
Seth appeared in the entryway to the living room a few minutes later. “Mind if I join you? Or is this going to turn into another make-out session?”
Lucas only glanced at him.
Seth leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Let me ask you something. I’ve been reconsidering my approach to making new friends. The ‘putting-my-foot-in-my-mouth’ plan isn’t working out as well as I’d hoped it would.”
“I don’t know,” Lucas said. “It’s better than the ‘I’m-an-arrogant-asshat’ act you pulled in the mission.”
“You think?” Seth said, moving to sit on the leather chair next to the couch. “I was afraid it might be too subtle. Could give people the wrong idea, like I’m some kind of sensitive, decent human being.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Lucas said, finally breaking into a smile.
“Oh, good,” Seth leaned back in the chair. “As long as it’s clear I’m a total jerk-face.”
“It’s clear,” Lucas replied. “Who wants pizza?”
“I’ll get the phone.” I hopped up and went to grab the handset from the kitchen. From the living room, I could hear Seth say something and Lucas laugh in return. The sound gave me a warm feeling inside, easing a tension I’d felt since Seth had looked at me with that aching vulnerability after the fight at school.
It was a roundabout way to do it, but Seth had finally made some friends in Puerto Escondido.
It’s strange how, when you’ve got a major problem absorbing all your attention, the things that really matter to you can fall through the cracks without your notice.
The last chilly days of September sped by, ushering in a crisp October. The Guard kept Lucas and me busy after school with practice, while Cassie and Royal were making themselves comfortable fixtures in the theater building. Outside of class and lunch, we didn’t see much of each other. When Cassie made a comment about missing me, I reassured her that things would settle down eventually. The truth was, I was so caught up worrying about the coming war that my non-Guard friends got shoved way down on my list of priorities. And so much of my time was spent with Lucas and Seth that it didn’t occur to me I barely saw Cassie and Royal anymore.
Seth started coming over to the Guard’s house every time Angela found some new piece of research or wanted to consult with Thane about something. Then he started coming over even if she was nose-deep in some book at their house. Before too long, Seth was catching a ride home with Lucas and me every day after school. He watched us train some afternoons, but each time Hale offered to show him a few things he politely declined and fled back up the stairs to wait for us in the Guard’s living room.
Lucas was warming to Seth day by day. It felt strangely comforting to have another friend our age to talk to about the Lilitu. With Seth, Lucas and I could be—almost—completely honest. Hale had warned Lucas and me to keep my secret. Angela and Seth might be part of the Guard, but there was no telling how they’d react if they learned I was Lilitu. And so the days passed as my life fell into this new routine.
I was so focused on my own thoughts that I completely missed the signs that morning.
Amber and her friends were gathered outside the North Hall when I arrived at school with Lucas. I noticed Ally turn to look at me. I hesitated. The other girls with her pulled her back, hands clamped over their mouths to muffle their laughter. Suddenly self-conscious, I nudged Lucas.
“Is something wrong with my hair or something?”
He looked at me blandly. “You look ready for a photo shoot. Isn’t that one of the benefits of your genetic heritage?” But when I didn’t smile, he tilted his head to the side, trying to catch my eye. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason.” When I glanced back at the girls, they were already hurrying into the building, out of sight. Only Amber paused at the door. The look in her face sent a chill down my spine. Her face could have been carved from granite. Her eyes flickered to look across the quad. A moment later they returned to my face and her lips pulled back in a smile that was more of a sneer.
I turned, trying to follow her gaze. I could just make out a group of guys beyond the dining hall, gathered at the edge of the faculty parking lot at the other end of campus.
“What is that?” I murmured, my heart suddenly leaping into my throat. Lucas saw the group a second later. Before he could answer, I was running across campus.
As I got closer, I could hear the jeers of the crowd. They were looking at something on the ground.
I reached the edge of the crowd and shouldered a few guys out of the way.
“Dude, take it easy,” one of them said, rubbing his arm.
I elbowed my way through to the heart of the group. Two guys from the soccer team were holding Royal down on the ground while Rick ran a buzzing razor over his head, sheering off the last of his hair.
“Stop,” I screamed.
Rick stood, grinning. “My work here is done.” The two guys holding Royal down released him and stood, giving Rick high-fives. Someone in the crowd gave a loud Wooo!
“Braedyn?” Lucas arrived, winded. The crowd was already starting to disperse.
“What is wrong with you?!” I spun on Rick.
“Chill out,” Rick said. “It’s just hair. It’ll grow back.”
“Why?” I was so angry I could barely speak. “Why would you do this?”
Rick smiled a secretive smile and shrugged. “Let’s just say I owe some
one a favor.”
I lunged for Rick, ready to tear that smile off his face.
“Don’t,” Royal said hoarsely from the ground behind me. He had pulled himself up to his knees, but his hands were shaking. A few stubbly patches of hair crisscrossed his bald head, but my eyes latched onto the red, raw places where the razor had sheared skin. A few spots of blood stood out starkly against his pale white scalp.
“Later,” Rick said, walking away with a spring in his step. The last of his friends joined him, turning their backs on us with a last snicker.
I dropped to the ground beside Royal. His shirt was a rumpled mess of dirt and grass stains. I saw a small rip at the shoulder, evidence of the futile struggle against his tormentors. He was staring down. The wind stirred drifts of light brown hair along the pavement. Royal lifted a shaking hand to touch his head. What he found there seemed to break something inside him.
“I don’t think—” he looked at me, his brown eyes wide. He cleared his voice, trying for a measure of calm. “Tell Cassie I had to go home. I’ll see her tomorrow.”
“Royal,” I tried to catch hold of his hand, but Royal pulled away from me with more strength than I expected. I stood to follow him into the parking lot. Lucas grabbed me by the shoulder, holding me back.
“What are you doing?” I hissed at Lucas. “Let me go.”
“I think—I think you should leave him alone for now,” he said. His eyes, tight with concern, followed Royal across the faculty parking lot toward the soccer field. “I don’t think he wants anyone to see him like this.”
“But I’m not anyone,” I said. “I’m his friend.” As I heard the words leave my lips, I froze inside.
I’m his friend.
Amber. Amber had done this. A strange calm came over me, as though my mind had pulled some kind of emergency switch, disconnecting my emotions from my body. Like some part of me knew I couldn’t be trusted to act with this helpless rage boiling inside of me.
Incubus (The Daughters Of Lilith) Page 8
