Garlic Is For Vampires (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 16: I think there's an Incubus over my Bed...

I didn't hear Brendon leave, but when I woke up again he was gone. So I drifted back to sleep, dimly aware of another presence in the room. I curled up on my side and closed my eyes, hoping to sleep some more before I had to get up and get ready for work...

I felt a kiss on my forehead, and then on my chin. I sighed contently. It felt like I was on a big, warm, fluffy pillow, and there was a nice cool breeze brushing over me. Another kiss by the same pair of cool lips brushed over my cheekbone.

"Mm..."

"Shh."

I listened to the soothing shushing and decided to keep quiet. I didn't needed to talk in my sleep. Then I felt a pair of warm, rough hands trail up my body, over the covers and onto my stomach. Hands grabbed my waist and squeezed. I turned my head and reached out with my hands. I found a smooth, hard chest, and then my fingers wrapped around bulging biceps. For a moment I wondered who this person was, but then I didn't care. All sense of caution went through the window.

I couldn't tell if I was still asleep or slowly waking up. But I knew if I was asleep then this was wrong. If I was awake and consenting, then I couldn't exactly charge anyone for sexual assault. I tried to force my eyes open but instead I found myself falling back asleep. Hands reached up and squeezed my breasts, and I sucked in a sharp breath as a low hunger spiked in my lower abdomen. What was going on?

As a pair of lips brushed against mine, I heard Dylan's voice whisper, "You belong to me."

Then my alarm went off.

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Ever since hearing Dylan's voice, I'd been very cautious about sleeping. I spent most nights watching TV, exercising, or roaming New York streets so I wouldn't fall asleep. When I read or sat in the tub with my eyes half-closed I sensed a presence there again. It was always in the room with me, but I couldn't do much about it.

So I decided to go to Howard Skylark for help. I decided going in daylight would be safer, but then I also thought, "what if the vampires stay in the dark club every day?" They would wonder where my vampire escort was, and Brendon was busy with his case. He finally found some leads-a lot of convicted murderers who were set free before the murders. A few of them were known for getting creative with a knife, so as long as his boss was content, Brendon had to keep it up. He secretly worked on finding Dylan with some of Howard's help.

As I sat in my kitchen eating, I re-read the letter Howard sent to us-the first letter. As I read through the sentences I wondered once again where I could find an address so I could contact him. I wasn't sure if vampire incubi existed, so that's why I needed to know. I studied the initials and the birthdate. I realized someone could help me.

"Hey, Bennett," I said, running my thumb over the counter idly. He grumbled something about wanting to sleep in for a whole day without being interrupted. But I had to call him, or else I'd go crazy just deciding whether or not to call him.

So here I was calling him.

"I need your help finding someone's home address," I said. I heard his bed springs creak and then he was talking rapidly.

"Give me a name."

"Howard Skylark." I heard him tapping a keyboard and rather quickly by the sound of it. Then I heard him belch and mutter a small sorry.

"Okay, Howard Buford Skylark. There's two of them. Which one do you want?"

"The one born in 1989."

"Oh. That's easy. Okay. He lives on...wow, he's only like twelve blocks away from you. Since when do you know ex-marine?"

"I don't."