Succubus

Chapter 26: Brother and Sister

Charles was too nervous to pay attention during career day. He glanced over his shoulder to see if Miss. Kim was about to jump out of an empty classroom and kick his head off. Sometimes he looked out the window and saw her standing across the street.

The class gave some tepid applause as Mr. Hess finished his speech about how tractor maintenance turned out to be pretty fulfilling. Donnie Hess looked as though he wished he were anywhere else.

The next presenter was Officer Wright. His shaved head caught the fluorescent light and seemed to glow. He came in and talked about the responsibility of being a police officer. The class asked to see his gun, but he said no. Charles wasn't paying attention to what Officer Wright was saying because he smelled something. It smelled the same as Erlik's laser tag arena. Sulfur and cologne, or maybe perfume. An otherworldly smell clung to Officer Wright.

It had to be Erlik's sister. Unless it was Miss. Kim pulling someone else into her plan. Charles looked out the window again, but Miss. Kim wasn't there.

Career day ended with all the presenters coming up for one final round of applause. The final bell rang and the students were dismissed to go home. Charles didn't go home; instead he followed Officer Wright out to his black SUV.

The speed limit in Bridgeton was a firm twenty-five miles per hour, fifteen in alleyways. Keeping up with Officer Wright's car was not too hard for Charles on a bike. The hardest part was the long periods of nothing. Officer Wright would stop in a parking lot and stay there for hours as cars nervously drove by. Charles bided his time by doing homework, because on top of everything else he was still a student.

The sun finally decided to set. Bridgeton's street lights flickered on and everything became black and orange. Charles continued to watch the car sit motionless, but then it gave a small shake as the engine turned over. The car rolled out from the parking lot and headed toward the edge of town. Charles followed a block back, hoping that Officer Wright wouldn't see him.

The police car pulled into a convenience store. From behind a dumpster, Charles watched as Officer Wright went in and bought a late night sandwich. Charles felt defeated. The whole day had been a complete waste. Nothing was out of the ordinary, and Charles figured that his real mother was worried sick about him. Still, that smell needed to be explained, so Charles continued to watch.

The police car rolled down the street for a few blocks. It stopped in front of a house that looked ready to fall over. Surrounded the house was a chain link fence that sagged in a few places. Officer Wright got out and walked past a "For Sale" sign. He unlocked the gate and headed for the front door. The meal he'd just bought ended up on the front step, and Officer Wright got back in his car and drove away.

Charles stayed put and didn't follow Officer Wright. The house had become more interesting than the cop. From behind a thick tree Charles watched the front door. It never opened. Instead, someone slipped out of the window, collected the food, and went back inside.

Charles left his bike in the yard and crept toward the house. The window was unlocked so he eased it open and slipped inside. Once in the house Charles stopped to wonder if he had made a huge mistake. Officer Wright might just be feeding a local homeless person out of the goodness of his heart. And Charles had just put himself in an empty house with that person.

Charles took a deep breath. He imagined what Miss. Kim would do to him if he showed up empty handed to the dance. He was so busy imagining that he didn't notice the slight figure sneaking up behind him. Before he could react there was a wet finger in each of his ears.

Charles screamed and turned around. He saw a shadowy person with their index fingers extended. Charles realized he'd been the victim of two wet willies, and he became a little less scared. An actually dangerous person would have done something that hurt more.

"The hell was that for?" Charles yelled at the person.

They flinched, as though not expecting anger. "Sorry, that worked on the last person."

Charles pulled his phone out and switched the flashlight on. Harsh white light washed over the figure, and she winced as though in pain. She was still beautiful, but in a much worse state than the last time Charles had seen her. Dark circles surrounded both her eyes, and she was covered in dust. Her hair that switched between brown and white was sweaty and clung to her face.

"Tara?" Charles asked. The same feeling as when he'd seen Miss. Kim washed over him. That unmistakable gut feeling that he was looking at family. "Vine?"

Tara grinned and held her hands up in mock surrender. "You found me. No one else could, but you did it." She stopped grinning and her eyes narrowed. "What am I feeling when I look at you? It wasn't like this before."

Charles tapped his chest. Charles could feel Erlik's annoyance at his sister. "Vine's brother is in here. I could smell you on that cop."

Charles realized that he'd made a deal with Erlik for nothing. Looking at Tara now was like looking at his cousin. All his old feelings just felt gross now. Watching Straying from the Path was ruined.

Tara drummed her nails together. "I guess I'd better move then. Plenty of empty houses. Plenty more people to bring me food."

"Are you feeling okay?" Charles asked.

Tara looked at him with red eyes in deep black circles. "I haven't slept in awhile. I'll eat people if I do."

"What do you mean?" Charles asked.

Tara explained about Peter's mother, and how Adriel had been keeping her fed. Now she was dangerously close to closing her eyes and eating half the town. She finished speaking, zoned out, then drank another energy shot.

"I knew something was going on with those dreams, but I had no idea how to stop it," Charles said.

"We just need someone to willingly keep us fed. I was unlucky enough to feed on the wrong person."

Miss. Kim's face popped into Charles's mind. He had to find a way to get her to the big dance. So much of his time had been spent trying to find her that he hadn't come up with a plan for what to do if he did.

Tara let the energy shot fall out of her hand. She put her back to the wall and slid to the floor. Her eyes were fighting a losing battle to stay open.

"I need a favor," she said with a grimace.

"What is it?"

Tara didn't answer. She just held her arms up invitingly.

"No, ew," Charles said as he tried to take a step back.

Tara kicked her foot out and swept Charles off his feet. He landed on his back in a pile of dust.

Tara's face was a mask of resignation as she crawled toward Charles. "Look, I'm out of time. That guy who attacked me is going to find us if more sleepy people turn up. We don't need to go all the way, you just have to hug me or something."

Charles thought he saw a flash of whatever was hiding inside Miss. Kim. He couldn't tell Tara that someone much scarier than whoever attacked her was after them both. After a deep breath Charles lay down next to Tara.

Their embrace was like two fish trying to hug each other. Neither of them had ever cuddled with anyone, and neither of them wanted that first person to feel like a sibling.

"I'm such an idiot," Charles whispered into the darkness.

"Me too," Tara replied. She squeezed his hand and fell dead asleep.

Author's note: Did a lot of thinking about how I wanted this to go.