An Incubus Only Calls Your Name Once

by A M Boone

  I pushed the button on the underside of my bracelet and got into a fighting stance.

  “You’re being proactive for once, Miss Delacroix. Is it bad that I’m proud?” He gave me a lopsided smirk.

  I just shrugged.

  “Anyway. We’re going to learn some things about Shade biology today,” he said, then pulled out a small metallic device from his pocket. A flashlight? “Shades are living shadows that can take human forms. And you know that the only thing that can destroy darkness is…”

  Light. He flipped a switch on the device and it shot out a beam of bright, off-white light.

  Francis screamed as soon as the light touched his skin, and before I could shoot, melted away into a pile of black goo.

  “You killed him!”

  “He’s not dead. Just shifted into his true form.”

  “Oh. Where’s he going—?”

  A tendril of darkness grabbed my leg and jerked me into the air.

  “No! No! Let me go!” I shrieked.

  Why couldn’t any of this shit end without us fighting for our lives? I pulled the trigger a few times, but the bullets were absorbed by the goo. Fucking figured.

  “Not inside!” Vincent cried, and turned up the flashlight.

  Francis let out an ear-splitting cry, skittered across the room, then slid under the door. The darkness vanished, and I fell to the floor.

  I rubbed my back, groaning, a dull pain radiating out from my tail bone. I should be happy I didn’t just break my neck and die horribly.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’ll live.”

  He offered me his hand, and I took it.

  The girl from before flung open the door. “What did you do?”

  “Just collecting,” Vincent said, shrugging. “Where did he go?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t lie. There’s more than one way to collect, you know.”

  She went pale.

  “Vincent,” I said quietly. “Don’t—”

  He pressed another tiny flashlight into my hand, and I shivered. “If you see anything that even seems like a shadow, aim that at it.”

  “Are we going to…” I trailed off, the words sticking in my throat.

  “If he’s going to run like a little shit, possibly.”

  We wandered throughout his house, shining the flashlights anywhere we saw anything. This could be a bust though. For all we knew, he could have changed back into his human form and ran off somewhere—

  Vincent let out a quiet cry and froze in place.

  “Are you okay?”

  He struggled against the invisible force, his arms twisting behind his back. What the hell?

  “Miss Delacroix—”

  He choked, as if someone stuffed something down his throat. Was this an eldritch thing? Was he just fucking with me?

  Wait. I glanced down at his shadow. Francis was grabbing Vincent’s shadow and shoving him to the floor, a tentacle of darkness shoved down his throat. They could do that? The further I got into the supernatural world, the more horrifying it was.

  “Oh, hell no!” I cried, and turned the flashlight on full blast.

  Francis screamed again and let Vincent go, sliding across the room.

  Vincent took a few, deep, shuddering breaths. “Good job.”

  Francis turned back into his human form, convulsing on the floor. He was covered from head to toe in bright black burns.

  Vincent rolled him over with his foot. “Get up. You look pathetic.”

  He groaned and mumbled something in the Shade language, then pulled himself to a sitting position, black blood dripping from his lips.

  “All right. Now that we’re done with that wild goose chase, let’s—”

  The girl from before burst into the room, shrieking. Tendrils of shadow energy wrapped around her arms. She shot a blast of spiraling shadow energy at Vincent.

  He batted it away with a flick of his wrist. He was that powerful? Well, his father was some Lovecraftian beast, it made sense he’d be that powerful…

  “This isn’t your place,” he said.

  “Mia… Go. This is embarrassing,” Francis choked out.

  I aimed my gun at his forehead, but Vincent rested his hand on my wrist.

  “Not yet. We have to at least ask first.”

  “He tried to kill you,” I said, scowling. “I think I have a reason to…”

  “At least you’ve gotten more of a spine.” He turned back to Francis. “Make your choice.”

  “Fuck you,” he spat.

  “It never gets any easier, does it?” Vincent asked.

  “No,” I said quietly.

  “Well, you have to remember my rules: pay, work, or die. And it seems like you’ve chosen the last one. What a pity. I really did want this to work out…” He turned to me, that blood-curdling smirk on his face. “Miss Delacroix?”

  I swallowed and aimed at his chest, then paused. Was I really going to do this? Take a life? Granted, he’d tried to kill us both because he didn’t have Vincent’s money, but…

  I pulled the trigger, and the recoil nearly knocked me over. Francis let out a choked cry, clutching his chest, then fell to the floor, shivering. He took one last shuddering breath before stilling and fading away into shimmering black dust.

  “Another job well done.” And just like with Neil, he snatched all his jewelry and accessories from the pile of dust. “Shade silver goes for a pretty penny in Dzramave.”

  Bile crept up my throat, but I swallowed it down. What had this turned into? What had this turned me into?

  Mia let out a quiet cry before letting out a guttural wail that shook me to my core. What was he to her? Her lover? Brother? Father?

  “Let’s go,” Vincent said quietly, resting his hand on my shoulder.

  I lingered in the front doorway, trembling.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Not really. Let’s just go.”

  I glanced back one last time. Mia was scooping up the dust that used to be Francis, still trembling, tears streaming down her face.

  The drive back to my apartment went on in silence. I’d really done that. Taken a life, killed someone, just to help Vincent and keep him happy.

  Was I happy? I wasn’t unhappy. I wasn’t suffering, like I was with Anthony, but…

  He turned to me. “Sometimes you have to do bad things for the greater good.”

  The greater good. Sure as hell didn’t feel like it. To Vincent, the greater good just meant lining his pockets.

  “Are you coming to the Christmas party tomorrow?” he asked.

  “No use in not going. I can mingle,” I said, my voice hollow.

  “Good, good. Always looking on the bright side of things.”

  As soon as he dropped me off, I stumbled back to my apartment and collapsed onto my bed, tears pricking at my eyes. He was turning me into a monster. Maybe not literally, but the Eliana Delacroix I knew, the Eliana Delacroix my parents shed blood, sweat, and tears to raise, was disappearing forever.

  I tried to sleep, but my dreams were filled with black blood and the sound of gunshots.

  * * *

  The next afternoon, Vincent swung by and picked me up again, with a note to dress in a regular suit. At least we weren’t going to kill anyone today.

  And as if the world was mocking me, it was sunny that December morning, with the sun shining down on me as if I wasn’t a murderer.

  I’d have to get it together. I slapped my cheeks a few times, then went outside. There was no use in moping over it. I made the contract, and I had to deal with the ups and downs.

  Vincent looked the same as he always did, dressed to the nines in a business suit that hugged him perfectly, with his hair tied back in a ponytail. Okay. I had to act like he didn’t tell me to murder a Shade last night.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Delacroix. How are you feeling?” he asked, glancing me over.

  No use in lying. “Could be better.”

  “I think you�
��ll enjoy the party. Free food, open bar, and you’ll get to be around your own kind.”

  Did he mean other supernaturals, or others who worked for him? Probably both.

  The drive went by uneventfully, and we arrived at his company. We went to the same room we went to when I first started working for him, but this time it was laid out differently. No chairs facing a podium, just tables and chairs set up with a tiny Christmas tree in the corner with presents underneath it.

  People were eating and drinking amongst themselves, but it was strangely segregated. Supernaturals with supernaturals and humans with humans…

  Lily was near the edge, talking to another woman, but sprinted over to Vincent as soon as he arrived.

  “Oh, Mr. Aldana,” she said, smiling brightly. “We didn’t think you were coming.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” he said, matching her grin. “It’s for my employees, after all. Now that everyone’s here, we can start opening presents and enjoy ourselves.”

  “Of course.” She turned to the party-goers. “You heard the man, let’s get started!”

  And everyone went to get their presents. The supernatural ones seemed a little confused, but fetched boxes anyway.

  Well, that made sense, after all. They probably didn’t even know who Jesus Christ was, let alone worship him.

  I lingered near Vincent and waited for everyone to get their gifts. I’d get mine last, most likely. It was probably nothing important. Just jewelry or money or something.

  He’d given Lily some jewelry. Oh. Jealousy reared its ugly head, and I swallowed down what I wanted to say, just grinding my teeth.

  Vincent gave me a look. He didn’t get me anything after all he’d dragged me through?

  “You’re getting your gifts tomorrow,” he said.

  Gifts. So he had more than one thing in mind for me. I unclenched my teeth and smiled at him.

  He matched it. “Don’t worry so much, Miss Delacroix. I have your best interests in mind.”

  Lily fastened her necklace around her neck. It had a few engravings on it—spell circles? Definitely spell circles. Protection, binding… He gave her magical jewelry? Maybe he was afraid for her safety too.

  The rest of the party went on normally… I drank a bit more than I should have, but at this point, I needed to be tipsy to get through the day. I mingled with a few other witches, and then went home. Boring. But I needed boring in my life. I needed something that wasn’t going to make me have nightmares.

  * * *

  The next morning, I headed out to my parents’ house, but not before getting a call from Anthony’s mom. Should I answer it? I didn’t have to, and Vincent wasn’t here to make it worse by making himself—and by extension, me—look hella suspicious, so… I declined the call, and then drove out to my parents’ place.

  This was going to bite me in the ass eventually… I just didn’t know when.

  By the time I got to my parents’ house, it was noon-ish, and everyone was already there enjoying themselves. I watched them through the living room window for a few moments before ringing the doorbell—

  “Merry Christmas, Miss Delacroix.”

  I screamed and if I could have, would have jumped a mile. “Don’t do that! There’s no reason to—”

  I turned around. He was carrying enough presents for ten people, both big and small. What the hell? Did he bring enough stuff for my entire family?

  “Think of it as a peace offering.”

  Fair. He was going to need it. As soon as Daddy saw him, he was going to dropkick him out the door. I took another deep breath and rang the doorbell again.

  Momma answered, beaming at me. “Ana! It’s so good to see you… Merry Christmas, and—” She got a good look at Vincent, and if she could have gone pale, she would have. “Is that…?”

  “This is my new boss and…” I couldn’t call him a fuckbuddy. Not in front of my own mother. She’d faint. And boyfriend was right out. Boyfriend meant more than just killing people together and occasionally fucking me so he could drain my energy.

  “I’d like to think we’re more business partners than boss and employee,” he said, his voice as smooth as silk.

  “R-right. My partner, Vincent Aldana.”

  She swooned. “Vincent Aldana? The billionaire? How did you start working for him?”

  “A long story,” he said, the words rolling off his tongue in a way that made my head spin. “But we’re excellent partners.”

  “Right… Well, come in, and—”

  Daddy came out of his bedroom, and then did a double take. “Ana?”

  “Hi, Daddy,” I said quietly. “Merry Christmas?”

  “No,” he said flatly. “Hell no. I’m not letting that man inside my house. Ana, you can come, but he has to go.”

  “Don’t do this,” I said.

  “Celia, how about you go check on Esme and Elliot? I’m going to talk to Ana and… Mr. Aldana alone.”

  “All right,” she said, shrugging, then left.

  He pulled out a marker and sticky note from his pocket. “I’ll make the wards stronger. I knew I should have put anti-demon wards on the house after what she said…”

  “I’m not here to fight, Mr. Delacroix. Just here to celebrate a holiday with your lovely daughter.”

  He squeezed my ass, his nails biting into my skin. I let out a quiet yelp. What the hell?

  That didn’t make it better! If anything, it made it worse! Did he really just not give a shit about being an ass?

  Stupid question, stupid answer. Of course he didn’t. He was a billionaire. He was royalty. He wasn’t even fully from this dimension. He didn’t give a flying fuck about human tact.

  “He’s not a bad guy, I promise.”

  So cliché.

  “He did a lot for me after Anthony’s disappearance, and I feel like I’ve become a better person for it.”

  “No. You tricked my abused daughter into making a contract,” he spat. “If I could, I’d kill you with my bare hands.”

  “Daddy!” I cried. Jesus fucking Christ, I was a grown woman, I could make as many mistakes, contracts, or whatever the hell I wanted as I could, and no one could stop me. “Leave him alone!”

  “Did he brainwash you?” he asked, his shoulders slumping.

  Vincent sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Last time I checked, cubi can’t brainwash people.”

  “Did you really think he’d have to brainwash me to for me to be with him?” I snapped.

  “But…”

  “But nothing. He’s not going to do anything shady, I promise.”

  Maybe he was just freaking out this badly because he knew we were fucking. Dads were weird like that.

  “All right, fine.” He threw his hands in the air. “But if you try anything, and I mean anything, against my daughter or the rest of my family, I’ll kill you.”

  Vincent let out a quiet chuckle, and said, “I’d like to see you try.”

  Daddy saw red, and scribbled a strength circle on his hand before swinging at him.

  Vincent caught his hand. “I don’t think so.”

  He just stared. “What the hell?”

  “Daddy! Vincent!” I wedged myself between them. “You’re both embarrassing yourselves.”

  It was one thing to give a shovel talk to your fourteen year old daughter’s homecoming date, but another thing entirely to try and give it to some extra-dimensional billionaire your twenty-six year old was fucking.

  Vincent let him go, and he winced in pain, shaking out his hand.

  “Both of you, stop it!” I cried.

  Esme and Elliot came out of the woodwork and joined Daddy, spell circles at the ready.

  “What the hell is Vincent Aldana doing on our doorstep?” Esme choked out.

  Elliot gazed at the scene, then slowly said, “Can I get your autograph?”

  “Elliot!” Daddy snapped.

  Great. Now every last witchy member of my family was in on it. This was my dirty laundry and my dirty laun
dry alone.

  I’d like to think I’m more to you than just some dirty laundry, Vincent said, and I glared at him.

  “Esme, Elliot, this is my business partner, Vincent Aldana. Vincent, these are my older siblings, Esmeralda and Elliot.”

  “How long have you been working for him—oh.” Realization washed over her face, and she pursed her lips. “I see. Ana…”

  “What?”

  “Did he get rid of Anthony?” She turned up her nose. “I mean, I won’t tell.”

  “He was kind of a jerk,” Elliot piped up.

  Understatement of the millennium, Elliot.

  “Y-yeah,” I said quietly, “but it’s not important now. Let’s just enjoy Christmas, all right?”

  Daddy pursed his lips as well, then turned on his heel and stormed out the room.

  “What crawled up Daddy’s ass and died?” Elliot asked.

  “He’s just mad I made a contract.” I shrugged. “Not much else to say.”

  “You’re letting the heat out,” Momma said from the kitchen.

  I took Vincent’s hand and dragged him inside.

  Daddy plopped down on the couch, grinding his teeth and watching some cheesy Christmas special. A glass of brandy sat in his hand. Not gonna lie. I couldn’t help but feel a little shitty. Just a bit. My chest grew tight.

  Vincent put his presents under the tree, then sauntered up to Momma. Daddy eyed them, but said nothing. I sighed. This wasn’t going to end well. Vincent was six-four and built like a brick, while Daddy was nearly half a foot shorter and could get knocked over by a stiff breeze.

  “Mrs. Delacroix, do you need any help?”

  “Oh!” She clapped her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, no, Mr. Aldana. Just enjoy yourself. It’s such an honor.”

  He rested his hand on hers, and Daddy nearly had a stroke right then and there. “No, no, I insist. And please, call me Vincent.”

  “I’m sure. I’m almost done anyway.”

  He was doing this shit on purpose. Ugh. I rolled my eyes and settled next to Daddy on the couch.

  “Just say the word,” he said, between clenched teeth. “Say the word, and I’ll get rid of him. For good.”

  “I don’t need your protection,” I said softly. “I’m not your little girl anymore. I’m my own person, and I made the contract out of my own free will.” I grabbed the bottle of brandy and poured myself a glass. No one could stop me from making bad decisions.