Incubus (The Daughters Of Lilith)

by Jennifer Quintenz

  Seth nodded, but he didn’t look happy. “I’ve been trying to reconstruct the instructions, but that photo only shows one side of the vessel, which basically means we only really know one half of the instructions. We need the actual vessel if we want this ritual to work. Someone has to know where it is.”

  “Wait.” I sat up in my seat, something tickling the back of my mind. “Do you remember when we first told Hale and the others about the ritual—how it has to be done on winter solstice?”

  “Yeah?” Seth watched me, waiting to see where I was going with this.

  “Lucas said something...” As I replayed the memory in my mind, I remembered dad interrupting Lucas right after he’d started to say something looked familiar in the photograph. “I think Lucas might know something about the vessel.”

  “Do you think he’ll help us?” Seth asked.

  I didn’t answer. I was already thinking of what I’d have to say to get Lucas to see why we needed to do this ritual. He had to help us. He was our only lead.

  Chapter 13

  “When are you going to ask him?” Seth murmured.

  “I don’t know,” I whispered back. “Shhh.”

  We were sitting in English, hunched over our quizzes. I’d actually studied for this. I didn’t want to get an F because Mr. Avila thought I was cheating. Seth sighed and looked back at his own paper.

  The final bell rang as I was finishing up the last essay, which was supposed to be a personal reaction to the nature of disguise in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Viola summed up her thoughts pretty neatly when she said, “Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness...” I had plenty of personal reactions to that, but I couldn’t exactly write an essay on what it felt like to be a Lilitu trying to pass as a normal girl in high school.

  “All right, folks,” Mr. Avila said. “Pencils down. You made it through another day. Bring your quizzes up here and then you’re free to enjoy your weekend.”

  I felt a chill move through me. The weekend, already? That meant winter solstice was only eight days away. Suddenly it didn’t feel like there was enough time. I walked my quiz up to Mr. Avila then fled the classroom, feeling numb.

  Seth was waiting for me in the hall. He read my expression and frowned. “Braedyn? What’s wrong?”

  I spotted Lucas approaching in the hall. “Now,” I whispered. “I’m going to ask him now.” I moved toward Lucas and Seth fell into step with me. “Actually...” I glanced at Seth and he flinched.

  “Right. You probably want to do this alone.”

  “I think it’ll go a little smoother if—yeah.” I gave Seth a quick, apologetic smile. Lucas was already on edge when it came to me and Seth sneaking off to do things without him. This might be easier for him to hear if it was coming from me alone. Seth nodded and turned back the way we’d come.

  Lucas waved. “How’d it go?” he asked. “The quiz?”

  “Pretty good, I think,” I said. “I would have aced it if I’d been able to share my personal feelings about what it’s like to have to hide your true nature from all but your closest friends and family, but, you know.”

  “Shucks,” Lucas said, smiling.

  “So, actually, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” I hesitated, unsure how to begin. “You know, maybe we should go outside.”

  Lucas’s smile faded. Concern crinkled the edges of his eyes. “Okay, lead the way.”

  I walked out of the building, and drew Lucas off the path onto the quad. The wind was picking up, and we huddled against gusts of biting air. December was ushering in the beginning of winter. Heavy clouds edged the horizon, fat with the promise of snow.

  “Talk fast,” Lucas said, trying to keep his voice light. But I could see the worry lingering in the back of his eyes. I pulled a folded piece of paper out of my satchel. Lucas took it gingerly and unfolded it, revealing the annotated drawing of the vessel. He looked up at me, understanding. “Murphy told you to leave this stuff alone.”

  “I need your help.”

  “Sorry, Braedyn.” He shoved the drawing back.

  “Wait. Hear me out.” I caught his hand before he could leave. A warm energy flowed through the touch, and I could see Lucas felt it, too. He hesitated, meeting my eyes reluctantly.

  “What do you want?” Lucas asked.

  “You,” I said. “I want to be with you. Without the fear of what might happen if we touch, or kiss, or—” I lowered my eyes, unable to voice the thought. Lucas swallowed.

  “I want that too,” he said.

  “Then help me. Please.”

  “Braedyn.”

  “We have eight days, Lucas,” I pleaded. “This ritual could end the war. And that would set me free.”

  “Could,” Lucas said. “If it works.”

  “It will work.”

  “How do you know that?” Lucas asked. “We don’t know anything about this ritual. Thane’s halfway across Canada, and all of Angela’s research burned up in the fire.”

  “Not all of it,” I said. Lucas stared at me. “We have her journal.”

  “We?”

  “Me and Seth,” I said. Lucas’s jaw tightened. “We just need the vessel, and then we can end this whole—”

  Lucas pulled his hand away. “Braedyn, no.”

  “Do you know where it is?”

  Lucas shook his head, helpless with frustration. “I don’t. And if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. Hale and Murphy said no. We have to trust them.”

  “But this is our life, Lucas. They don’t know how hard we have to work, just being this close to each other.” As I spoke, I felt my words reaching Lucas. I placed my hands on his chest, urging him to hear me. Urging him to understand. “This is the only thing keeping us from being together. Can’t you see that?”

  “I—” Lucas looked torn.

  “Please.” I willed my words to move him. Lucas’s green eyes seemed to lock onto mine. His pupils started to open—

  “What are you doing?!” Amber grabbed my arm and spun me away from Lucas. As we parted, Lucas staggered back. It was like a spell had broken. “What was that— What are you doing to him?!”

  I looked at Amber, shaken. I’d been so focused on Lucas, I hadn’t heard her approach. And then the reality hit me. I turned to Lucas, fear leaping into my throat. I must have used my Lilitu powers on him, trying to bend his will. Lucas stared at me. His face lost its color as the same realization hit him.

  “Are you okay?” Amber asked, turning to Lucas. “Did she hurt you?”

  Lucas couldn’t pull his eyes away from my face. “Braedyn?”

  I gave a strangled cry and fled. I had to get away; I couldn’t bear the accusation in Lucas’s eyes. Terror gripped my heart. I hadn’t intended to exert Lilitu power over him, so how had it happened? Was I losing my mind? Were my powers growing beyond my ability to control? Or was this simply what it meant to be a Lilitu? To manipulate and control people without any effort at all?

  I was dimly aware of Lucas shouting after me. He caught up to me behind the theater building. He spun me around to face him.

  “What the hell happened back there?” He was breathing hard from the sprint.

  “I’m sorry.” I said. He deserved an explanation, but I didn’t have one to give. “I didn’t realize—” Lucas’s hands relaxed on my arms. It was all I could do to choke back a sob. “You should stay away. Stay away from me. I—I’m dangerous.”

  Lucas shook his head, too angry to speak.

  I’ve lost him, I thought. I’ve finally lost him. Part of me had always believed this was too good to be true. That I didn’t deserve Lucas’s loyalty, or his love. Of course it was over. We were enemies; a Lilitu and a Guardsman—we could never work. And now Lucas knew it, too.

  “I’ll leave you alone.” My voice quavered as I pulled free from his grasp. I turned away from him, ashamed of the tears threatening to stream down my cheeks.

  “I know what you are,” he said. I felt his hand on my arm and reacted without thinking, spinning aroun
d, ready to strike. “Whoa! I wasn’t trying to—” Lucas looked sick at my reaction. “Braedyn, I don’t want you to leave me alone.”

  I lowered my hands, stricken. “I don’t understand. I almost—” But I couldn’t say the words.

  “Enthralled me?”

  “I didn’t mean to,” I whispered.

  “I believe you.”

  “You don’t understand. I didn’t mean to use any Lilitu powers on you. It just—happened.”

  “So let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

  “Lucas—” I started to protest.

  “Like I said. I know what you are. It doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

  I shook my head, unwilling to accept this.

  “You’re forgetting,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve felt you in my mind. When Ais had me, when I thought I was going to die, you were there for me, giving me strength. I felt your love. I know you would never hurt me.” Lucas gave a bitter laugh. “That’s why I don’t care that you’re spending so much time with Seth, even though it’s obvious the guy’s head over heels in love with you.”

  I felt a hot tear slip down one cheek. Lucas gently thumbed it away, leaving his hand to cradle my cheek.

  “Until you tell me you don’t love me anymore, I will never doubt you.” Lucas enfolded me in his arms, and I responded, circling my arms around his back and holding on for all I was worth. We stood there for several long minutes, ignoring the icy December wind. Finally, reluctantly, Lucas pulled back and looked into my face. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to help you get yourself killed.”

  “Lucas?” I felt a knife of ice twist in my stomach and knew then that someone—Dad? Hale?—had talked to Lucas, convinced him that the best way to protect me was to keep me from the vessel.

  “If keeping you safe means we have to wait a little longer, I’ll deal. It’s worth it.”

  “Lucas, you’re not listening to me. Twenty years isn’t a little—” But Lucas cut me off, placing a finger across my lips.

  “Braedyn.” Pain laced his voice. “I’m too vulnerable to you right now. I’m asking you to stop, please.”

  I stared at him, suddenly speechless. Lucas brushed his hand against my cheek again, then pulled away from me.

  “And—don’t take this the wrong way, but I think maybe we should cool it on the dreams for a few nights.” Lucas turned and left, without waiting for a response.

  I stared after him, at a loss. I had to make him see—that vessel was the key. Whatever he knew, he had to share it with us before it was too late. But before I could summon the energy to follow him, a door opened behind me. It was Mr. Hart.

  “Braedyn?” he asked. “I thought I heard someone fighting out here.”

  “No, it’s fine,” I said, taking a step away from him before I could stop myself.

  Mr. Hart’s eyes tightened, and he studied me for a long moment. “Everything okay?”

  I stared at Mr. Hart, suddenly remembering I’d been unable to touch his dreaming mind. After Seth and I had seen the stranger in his house, I’d simply assumed we’d found our incubus. Now, looking at Mr. Hart, I couldn’t fathom why we’d left this stone unturned.

  “Braedyn?” he prompted. “Is there something on your mind?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I said, fighting to keep my voice level.

  “You don’t like me very much, do you?” he asked with a small smile. Before I could figure out how to answer this question, Mr. Hart looked around, then lowered his voice. “Listen, Braedyn. I’m not a bad guy. I mean, you can ask Cassie.”

  “What does this have to do with Cassie?” I asked, my voice faint.

  A group of students rounded the corner of the building. Mr. Hart glanced at them, eyes narrowing. He turned back and caught my gaze. “Just that, whatever you think you know, you should consider the possibility that you’re wrong. I know you don’t want to see her get hurt any more than I do.”

  I stared at him. Was that a threat?

  “If you think about it, we’re really after the same thing,” he said. He retreated into the theater, closing the door behind him.

  I stood there until my hands ached with the cold, torn by indecision. On the one hand, I wanted to find Lucas and convince him that we needed his help to locate the vessel. On the other hand, I needed to make sure Cassie—who spent every afternoon under the power of the charming Mr. Hart—was okay.

  The costume closet, nestled in the heart of the building, was a cozy little den of creativity. I poked my head into the room and saw Cassie hard at work at the table. A sturdy sewing machine hummed as she guided material under the needle with expert moves. She was so absorbed in her work, she didn’t notice me enter. I waited until the sewing machine stopped.

  “Cass?”

  Cassie looked up. When she saw me, she held a finger up. “Hang on.” She clipped a few loose threads and turned the creation inside out. It was a large tunic in rich black brocade and velvet. Cassie glanced at it, then turned to drape it over a wide dressmaker’s form. “I am insanely overwhelmed,” she said. “Our Mortimer broke his leg—compound fracture. They think he’s going to be in traction for a week or two. So Mr. Hart had to cast a new Mortimer, who’s three sizes bigger than the old Mortimer, hence the mad scramble for new costumes at the last second.” She finished draping the tunic and stepped back to give it a critical once-over. “Well, that’ll be good enough for a fitting, anyway.”

  “It’s gorgeous,” I said.

  Cassie turned away from the costume. “What brings you to my kingdom?”

  “Just, wanted to check in,” I said. “See how things are going.” Make sure you’re not turning into a little snack pack for an incubus.

  Cassie wrung her hands. “I know things have been kind of weird between us this semester. I hate it.”

  I felt a swell of emotion at her honesty. “Me too,” I said. “I really hate it.”

  “Hug it out?”

  I laughed, and opened my arms. Cassie and I embraced tightly. When she pulled back, she was smiling. “I’m so glad you came. I’m freaking out about this play.”

  “Why?” I asked. “Everything I’ve seen of your costumes looks amazing.”

  “It’s—” Cassie shook her head and I saw that she was really nervous. “I just wish I had more time to get everything right before all my work is paraded in front of the whole school.” So it wasn’t that she was worried about the costumes, she was worried about putting her talents on display for our peers. “I know that’s stupid. People are going to be paying attention to the actors, not what they’re wearing.”

  “Cassie,” I chided. But telling her that her costumes were likely to be as eye-catching as the best performances on that stage probably wouldn’t help matters. So I bit my tongue.

  “Maybe—” Cassie gave me a pleading look. “Do you think you could come to dress rehearsal on Friday? It’d be great to just get an outside perspective on the whole thing.”

  “I’ll be there,” I said.

  “Knock, knock.” Mr. Hart walked into the costume closet. Cassie turned, her face filling with a happy glow at the sight of him. I eyed Mr. Hart, trying to conceal my worry from him. But I didn’t have to bother—he wasn’t looking at me. His attention was focused on Cassie. Try as I might, I couldn’t sense anything supernatural about him. And yet, Cassie looked at him with such devotion.

  She straightened, unconsciously straightening the hem of her shirt. “Hi, Mr. Hart.”

  “I’ve brought you a Mortimer to fit.” Mr. Hart made a sweeping gesture back at the door as a stocky kid waved. Cassie barely glanced at him.

  “Excellent. I’m all ready.” Cassie turned back to me, almost as an afterthought. “I should get back to work.”

  “Right,” I said, stepping out of the way as the new Mortimer entered to admire the tunic.

  Mr. Hart glanced at me with a veiled look. “Anything I can help you with?” he asked.

  “Nope.” I t
ried to keep my voice light for Cassie’s benefit. “I was just leaving.”

  “Then we’ll see you later, Braedyn.” Mr. Hart turned his back to me, watching Cassie measure the new Mortimer’s arm length with her tape measure.

  Oh yeah, I’d be at that dress rehearsal. It’d give me a chance to kill two birds with one stone; support Cassie, and keep an eye on him. In the meantime, I had a bigger problem to solve.

  I had to figure out how to convince Lucas to tell me what he knew about the vessel.

  Training sessions were becoming the perfect outlet for my pent up frustrations. After our fight, Lucas put a little distance between us. He was still angry, and I totally got that. But it made finding time to talk to him alone impossible. Also, I was respecting his request that I not visit his dreams, which killed any chance of a private conversation entirely. But when Saturday dawned, I was faced with the uncomfortable reality that we only had one week until the full moon. I was running out of time to be patient. Lucas had the key, and if we couldn’t talk, he couldn’t hand it over.

  As I fought Gretchen and Matthew that weekend, I turned my thoughts to the enemy, picking apart our assumptions about the incubus—and who he might be. Mr. Hart didn’t seem overtly supernatural, but then again, I hadn’t been able to glean anything from his dream. What did that mean? And who was the stranger in Seth’s house? That guy had seemed otherworldly—but I hadn’t seen him before or since, and whoever the incubus was seemed extremely plugged into what was going on in my life. So—where did that leave us? Nowhere.

  Sunday’s training session was grueling, but I embraced it. The harder I trained, the less time I had to think about the approaching solstice. For a few hours every day, I didn’t have the energy to think about anything beyond the next attack, the next defense.

  “It’s good to see you applying yourself again,” Hale said as we broke for some water. “I haven’t seen you this focused since—” Hale hesitated only briefly, then gave me an encouraging smile.

  “Well, you know, incubus on the loose,” I murmured. Lucas shot a look at me from the corner of his eye. I drank half a bottle of water, then set the bottle down on the back table.