Incubus Among Us

  "Oh, to live in your world. . ." I mumbled.

  By the time we arrived at my apartment it was near lunch time. The streets were still empty. They would soon be crowded with people home for the noon meal hour. The black car was gone from the alley, and I couldn't see it anywhere along the roads.

  "Want me to pull up and drop you off?" Ann suggested.

  I nodded. "Yeah. I doubt they'll try anything in the middle of the day, and I don't want them seeing you and hunting you down, too," I told her.

  "All right. I'll call Tiffany and tell her you're coming up."

  "Thanks. See you later."

  "Later."

  Ann slowed to a stop short of the stoop and I hopped out. The moment my door was closed she sped away. I rushed up the stairs and ruffled through my purse for my keys. My nervousness kept me from finding them. "Damn it, why didn't you take these damn things out in the car?" I scolded myself.

  "Excuse me?"

  I jumped at the voice and I jerked my head down the stairs. There stood the older priest in all his black glory. He had a smile on his face as he slowly climbed the stairs toward me. I stepped back, but I only had a foot before my back hit the panel with the buzzing buttons.

  "N-no, that's fine. I can manage," I told him.

  He shook his head. His unblinking eyes stared straight into mine as he came closer. "No, I'm afraid that's not possible. However, I can help."

  "No, really, it's-" I didn't get a chance to finish before he jumped me.

  The priest was old, but not infirm. He swept behind me and covered my mouth with a cloth. I struggled in his hold, but my frantic struggles were useless and I gasped for air. The smell from the cloth made my head spin, and I realized too late that it was chloroform. I had enough time to see the young priest hurry up the stoop before I lost consciousness.

  Chapter 7

  The next I knew I awoke with a slight headache and the sensation of being in a confined space. The headache was from the chloroform, and the tight sensation was because my arms and legs were bound to a chair. I opened my eyes and saw I was a prisoner in a small room. The walls were made of panels of dark wood ,and crosses were positioned on every wall. A simple wooden table and chair stood to my left and against the wall, and I guessed the door to the room was behind me because I couldn't see an exit. There weren't even any windows. The only light came from a long florescent tube light suspended from the vaulted ceiling.

  The young priest sat in the chair, and at my awakening he looked up from his dark-cover book with its white pages. I didn't need three guesses to know he was reading the Good Book, but it was bad news to me. The priest stood and passed behind me. I heard the hinges of a door creak.

  "Father Sterling, it's awake," he called. I heard an echo of his voice and guessed the door led to a hall.

  Footsteps traveled down the hall towards us, and in a moment the old priest himself made his appearance. He walked around me to stand before me in all his imperiousness. His eyes beneath his bushy eyebrows looked at me with a mixture of pity and disgust.

  "My child, I apologize for what I had to do," he told me.

  I squirmed in my ropes. "I'll accept your apology if you let me go," I replied.

  He smiled and shook his head. "That isn't possible. You see, a demon inhabits your body, and it must be exorcised from you."

  I paused my struggles and scrutinized him. "Exorcised how?"

  "It is a purification by holy water which I myself have blessed," he explained.

  My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open. "But that stuff burns me! Doing that would probably kill me!" I argued.

  Father Sterling sighed and gave a single, solemn nod. "Yes, I'm afraid that is the price for your absolution, but salvation is worth such a price."

  "No, it's not!" I argued.

  His brow crashed down and he pulled forth a crucifix. "That is the demon talking. It wishes to keep itself alive through any means necessary."

  "I wish to stay alive!" I insisted.

  He stepped up to me and laid a heavy hand on my shoulder. His attempt at a benevolent look was more akin to that of an executioner to me. "You shall be freed from this demon, I promise, but first we must attract he who touched you and bred this thing inside of you."

  My heart skipped a beat. "David. . ." I whispered.

  Sterling raised an eyebrow. "David? So the creature has a name?" He lifted his hand and stroked his chin. "We shall see if we can't use that to our advantage."

  I glared at him. "Don't you dare touch him! He hasn't hurt anyone!"

  Sterling scowled back at me. "He has corrupted countless innocent souls with his devil hands, including those among my flock, and for that he must be punished."

  "What the hell is wrong with you? Both of you?" I glanced between the two. The younger priest's eyes flickered away from my accusing gaze, but Sterling held firm. "Can either of you say he's done anything more than remind people that they love each other? Or hasn't he punished people who deserved it?"

  Sterling's eyes flickered to his younger comrade. He strode past me and set his hands on the young man's shoulders. "Don't listen to her venomous words, Judah. It is the demon who cries such lies to your ears."

  Judah looked into his mentor's face and nodded. "I know, Father, but her words have a tempting tone to them."

  Sterling led him to the small table and set him in the chair. He pushed the book close to his disciple. "Read the good book and nothing can harm you. I will finish the plans for the other demon, as we have only a few minutes until sunset."

  Sunset! The time when David would be active and could save me! All I had to do was get to my locket and call him, and he'd be here in no time! I squirmed and pulled at the ropes to try to get at the item in my pocket.

  Father Sterling noticed my frustrations and turned to me. He dipped a hand into his robe and pulled out my locket. It swung by its chain close to me. "It's no use looking for this enchanted item. It's mere design told me it was a make of that devil."

  "Give it back! That's mine!" I growled at him.

  He shook his head and pocketed my treasure into his robe. "I may find this item of evil useful for our purposes of good. Now rest, my child. Soon the demon inside you will attract its mate and you will be at peace."

  Father Sterling walked behind me, and I tried to follow but my neck would only crane so far. I heard the creaky hinges strain as the door was opened. "Get back here!" I yelled even as the door shut on my words.

  I whipped my head forward and growled. "Damn him!"

  In the silence of the room the sound of the turning of a stiff page caused me to look to my left at my sole companion. Judah focused his entire attention on his book. I recalled the uneasy look in his eyes when I'd met him with my accusation of insanity. I tried to scoot my chair towards him, but the legs were bolted to the ground.

  "So you been in the priesthood long?" I asked him. He didn't look up from his Bible. I strained my neck to see the page. "You at the Book of Ruth? That's my favorite."

  "Revelations," he replied.

  Finally some progress. "That sounds cool. What's it about?"

  "The final punishment for sinners," he quipped.

  I cringed. That hit too close to home. I had to go at him from another angle. My mind strained for more ideas and my body fidgeted in the seat. If only I could get a hand or a finger loose I might have a chance at escape, but the ropes were tied too tightly. The bindings cut into my bulging breasts.

  That was it! A sly grin slid onto my lips and I turned my eyes to the young man close by. He was a lot like Johnny: young, innocent, and a little uncertain in his confidence. The perfect prey.

  "Judah," I whispered. He scowled, but didn't raise his eyes from the book. I strained against the ropes and moaned as they rubbed against my swelling breasts. I could feel the succubus rise within me, and she was hungry for lust. "Won't you please loosen these ropes just a little? They're so tight."

  Judah shut his eyes and ground his teeth together.
He furiously shook his head. "Shut up, demon," he growled, but I could hear the need in his tone. He wanted me.

  I wanted him. My breaths came out in soft pants and when I rubbed my legs together I felt my folds press against my sensitive nub. I leaned my head back and moaned to the quiet air. "Judah, please. Please, I can't take this anymore," I groaned. Judah raised his eyes to mine, and I caught him in my lustful gaze. His eyes took on the familiar needful look, and he rose from his seat. He walked behind me and I felt his hands work on the knots to my ropes. "Yes, that's it. More. Faster," I teased.

  He worked faster and in a moment the ropes slipped down my body. I stood and the bindings dropped to the ground. Judah came around to stand in front of me, and his eyes swept over me with such hunger that all thought of escape swept from me. There was only us, and we were alone in a small, locked room.

  I stepped up to him and wrapped my arms around him. My breasts pressed against his chest and I captured his lips in a passionate, needful kiss. He groaned and leaned into me. Our lips fought a battle I won as my hands pulled at his shirt. His unbuttoned my shirt and revealed the tops of my swollen, sweat-covered breasts. He dove down and buried his face between them. His tongue lapped at my sweat. I shuddered and petted his hair.

  "Yes. That's it. More," I pleaded.

  He suddenly stopped and raised his head. His face twisted with confusion. It only took me a moment to recall what that look meant, especially when Judah leaned his head back and his face changed. His body changed with it, and in a moment David stood before me. There was a wide grin on his face as his heated eyes swept over my half-nakedness.

  "You are quite the vixen," he complimented me.

  I grinned back at him and shrugged. "I learned from the best."

  David looked past me at the door. "And the best says that we must hold off our reunion celebration for a few minutes while we make our escape." He grabbed my hand, turned me around and led me to the door.

  "Can't you just use the shadows?" I suggested.

  "The walls are soaked with hymns and holy water, making the shadows merely that, shadows. Therefore we must escape on foot," he explained.

  I grabbed his hand and gave him a yank to stop him. "We can't escape yet! The Father has my locket!" I told him.

  David froze and whipped his head to me. His face lost its color and his eyes were wide. "Does he know what he has?"

  I shook my head. "Not entirely. He knows it's something special, but he doesn't know what." I noticed his hand that held mine shook. "You told me the locket was your heart. Can he do anything with it?"

  David pursed his lips and gave a nod. "Yes, he can destroy me by dipping the locket in holy water."

  Now I felt my color drain from my face. "Then we have to get it back, but how?"

  David looked to me and a small smile slid onto his lips. "You must convince him to return it."

  I cringed. "I don't think he works that way. There's not an ounce of love in that old body."

  David turned to me and grasped both my hands in his own. He stared into my eyes with a pleading look. "My wiles won't work on him. He has no interest in men. You must save me."

  I hung my head, but nodded. "All right, but I'm not going to like it. He's not exactly my type. You know, old and trying to kill me."

  My lover chuckled and pecked a kiss on my forehead. "I have faith you can work your wiles on any male of the human species."

  I sighed and looked to him with a smile. "Let's do this."

  Chapter 8

  David opened the door and we crept into a long, wood-paneled hall. It ran along the length of the rear of the church. We stood at one of the ends of the hall. At the opposite end of the hall and just behind us were two exits to the grounds. To our immediate left and in a depression of ten feet was a large door that I recognized as being in the back of the congregational room. On the opposite side of the hall were a few other smaller wooden doors that led into offices.

  One of the doors to the offices was open and I glimpsed Father Sterling pacing the floor. In his hand was the locket. I glanced between the open office door and the exit behind us. A plan hit me. It wasn't a good plan, but it was something, and I sidled up to David.

  "You said this place has a lot of holiness?" I whispered to him. He nodded. "All right. You go outside and stand by the nearest tree. I'll get him outside and work my magic on him. I hope."

  "I would rather stay with you," he insisted.

  "So would I, but we don't need to be tripping over each other on the escape." I swung him towards the door and gave him a heavy push. "Now get!"

  David reluctantly stepped outside. I turned my attention to the office door. Father Sterling wasn't in view, but I could hear a soft rustling of papers. I tiptoed to the entrance and peeked inside. The place was a small, messy library of opened and stacked books, and the walls were covered in bookshelves filled to overflowing with ancient, dusty tomes. At the back of the small room was a desk covered in papers, and behind that desk stood Father Sterling.

  I slipped into the room, plastered a wide grin on my face, and spread my arms on either side of me. "Surprise!" I yelled.

  My loud, sudden entrance startled the man so much I thought I'd given him a heart attack. He jerked back and whipped his head up. When he realized who stood before him his eyes narrowed and his jaw stuck out in a horrible, twisted scowl. "How did you escape?" he growled.

  "Oh, just some feminine wiles, but if you want to capture me again you're going to have to catch me," I teased.

  I raced out the door and down the hall. Papers flew behind me, as did the father. He was much faster than I expected and I had to sprint down the hall to keep ahead of him. I slammed into the exit and flew out into the cool night air. Fresh snow crunched beneath my feet as I saw the exit led to the rear of the park that surrounded the church. Old trees towered above us with their branches thick with snow, and under the nearest tree behind its trunk, partially hidden, stood David.

  I stopped in front of that tree and turned to face my adversary. Sterling halted three yards from me. I put on my sweetest smile for him. "You know, you're not too bad-looking for a priest." A really old, psychotic priest.

  Father Sterling's eyes narrowed. "You dare try your witchery on me, demon? I am stronger in my faith than you are in your devilry." He reached into his frock and pulled out a gun.

  I held up my hands and my smile shook on my lips. "Can't we just talk about this like civilized people?"

  Sterling scoffed. "Civilized? There is nothing civilized about a left-over heathen god like you." He cocked the hammer back and aimed the barrel at me.

  David stepped out from behind the tree and moved to stand in front of me. He held his arm out to his side and blocked my path. "I won't let you harm her," he told the priest.

  The priest smirked and pointed the barrel at David. "So the monster shows himself. I won't let you ruin another innocent soul."

  "I won't, but you will," David argued.

  Sterling paused and frowned. "If you're referring to the she-demon behind you then you're mistaken. She's inhabited with the same demon that makes up your soul, and only death will bring her salvation. I will ensure that after I've taken care of you for the last time."

  "No!" I yelled. I jumped in front of David and held out my hands to Sterling. David tried to pull me behind him, but I batted away his hands. "Wait! Please, just wait a minute! We're not trying to trick you!" I insisted.

  Sterling sneered at me. "You are only tricks. Your absolution can only be granted through holy water, so step aside while I rid the world of this creature."

  I pressed my lips together and frowned. "No. I'm not going anywhere until you put down that gun and give back my locket!"

  David grasped my upper arms and pulled me against him. "Father Sterling, would a creature of tricks choose to sacrifice herself for another?" he pointed out. Sterling furrowed his brow and the gun lowered just a fraction of an inch.

  "And would an evil demon thing really w
ant to just leave in peace without causing you trouble?" I added. Father Sterling's eyes flickered back and forth as his mind spun with the ideas we placed in his head. I shrugged off David's hands and stepped closer to the father. "Come on, you know we're telling the truth. You can believe us."

  Father Sterling sighed and his gun arm dropped to his side. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Oh, my child what have I done?"

  "A good thing by dropping that gun," I told him.

  The Father's eyes flew open and his gun-arm whipped up so the barrel pointed at my forehead. A smirk slipped onto his lips. "I should have realized I reached you too late. Even holy water won't cure you, so this blessed bullet must take its place."

  "No!" David screamed as I heard the report of the gun.

  His hands grabbed my arms and flung me out of the way. I fell to the ground and twisted in midair to see David stand nearly where I had stood. He stumbled back and clutched at his arm where I saw blood pour from a bullet hole. I hit the grass as another report sounded. That bullet hit David in the chest just shy of the heart. He crumpled forward onto the ground and gasped for breath.

  I whipped my head to Sterling as the priest strode up to David. He lorded over my lover and aimed the barrel at David's bowed head. "No more innocents, demon," Sterling growled as he pulled back the trigger.

  "Sterling!" I shouted.

  His eyes flickered over to me as I stood. I tore off my shirt and slipped down my pants so I stood nearly naked before him. His eyes bulged from his head and his mouth dropped to mid-frock. I took a step to the right, and he followed like a man mesmerized by what he saw. A sly smile slipped onto my lips as I realized I had him in my power.

  I opened my arms and slowly stepped towards him. "I think you've been alone a little too long," I cooed.

  Sterling shook his head and stumbled away from me. The gun dropped from his shaking hand and he waved his hands in front of him as though to ward me off. "N-no! Stay away from me, monster! None of your devilry!"

  "Is it devilry to want humans to love and be loved?" I questioned him.

  He clapped his hands over his ears. "No! None of your lies!"

  I reached him and wrapped my arms around his quivering body. My breasts pressed against his black frock and I could feel the heat that came off his excited body. I petted his partially-bald head with one hand and reveled in his shaking. He was a challenge, and like David I liked challenges. "No lies, Father. We're God's messengers of love, and I'm here to tell you that the desire you feel for me is very much a human thing."