The Incubus

Chapter 10, Scene 4

'Hi,' Dominic greeted Rebecca with a perfect smile as she opened the door. She didn't hide her relief when she realized it was him. 'I'm Dominic from next door.' He looked at her facial expression and then at the knife in her hand. 'Is this...a bad time?'

Rebecca shook her head. 'Not at all. You come as if you've been sent.'

'How so?' Dominic asked. 'Is everything all right?'

'I think there's someone in the apartment,' she said with a hushed voice.

'What do you mean?' Dominic asked, also barely above a whisper. 'Like a burglar or something?'

'I don't know,' she whispered back. 'But I'm sure glad that you showed up when you did.' She stepped aside and allowed Dominic to enter.

'Want me to look around?' he asked.

She nodded. 'But be careful. I think he's in the study.'

'Wait here,' he said and made his way deeper into the apartment. He did a quick scan of the kitchen, and then moved to the living room. No real hiding spots there. He walked to the hallway and stopped in front of the closed study door, leaning forward to listen for any strange sounds. He couldn't hear any.

I'll save this one for last, he thought and checked the bathroom before entering the bedroom. Everything appeared to be in order. Only the study left. He then walked back to the study door and slowly opened it.

'Hello?' he asked loud enough for Rebecca to hear from the front door. 'Is anyone in here?' At first he didn't see anyone, but when he stepped into the office he saw the dark shape with its glowing eyes in the darkened corner of the room. The sunlight piercing the curtains weren't enough for him to see who or what it was. The huge shape growled softly and suddenly advanced towards him at a rapid pace. It stopped short in front of Dominic, towering over him. It was a bulky creature that reeked of scorched hair and had razor sharp claws.

'Well done,' Dominic said and grinned. 'You can go now.'

The creature let out a grunt and a snort and slowly backed away to the corner of the room where it sniffed the air a few times before it dissolved in the shadows.

Dominic left the study and closed the door behind him again. 'All clear,' he announced loudly as he made his way to the front door.

'I could swear I saw someone,' Rebecca said when Dominic joined her. 'I also heard something in the study.'

'I'm sure it was a cat or something,' Dominic said and smiled. The study window was open. Either way, whatever it was is gone now.

Rebecca couldn't help but notice how perfect his teeth were. 'Thank you,' she said and tried her best to suppress the blush lighting up her cheeks. His mere presence made her feel comfortable and she couldn't tear her gaze from his face. 'How could I ever repay you?'

'Well,' he said. 'I came to borrow some sugar. But if there's a cup of coffee in your offer, I wouldn't mind having it here instead.'

'Done,' she said. 'Make yourself comfortable and I'll go make us some. How do you like it?'

'Black,' he said. 'Three sugars.'

She entered the kitchen and a short while later returned to the living room with two mugs. 'This one's mine,' she said. 'It's the tea I made just before you came.'

Dominic smiled and it felt like her legs melted.

'And this one is for you, my hero.'

'Thank you, my dear damsel in distress,' he said and tapped her mug with his.

Is he flirting with me? Rebecca wondered. Or is he flirting back? She couldn't tell. Right now that didn't matter to her. Here was someone that could keep her company and protect her from ghosts and goblins. Here was a man that understood that all she needed was a willing shoulder; someone that would at least try to understand. She smiled her best smile as she thought of topics that she could use to keep him there for as long as possible.