The Incubus Under My Bed #wattys2019

Chapter 7- Snowed In

Henri walked into the apartment and rage quickly settled into him. He could smell his brother everywhere he turned. He knew his brother was going to invade Aria's dreams one day. Now, that Henri's incubus powers were on the frits (until he was accepted by this world), seemed to be that time. Henri could only keep David away by sharing a bed with Aria. He knew after their fight that wasn't going to happen. Henri walked over to her room sure to be as quiet as possible as he opened the door. Stella was gone and Aria was asleep. He could see a smile clearly etched on her face.

He knew she had little control over his brother's action, but she was a witch. Surely, if she put forth the effort, she could make David's feelings go away. That was a clear sign to him that a part of her wanted this. Apart of her wanted to be with David, damn the consequences. That wasn't Aria. She cared about people, and what she felt wasn't right. She worked hard to be a moral compass and to keep everyone around her on the right path. She was who everyone turned to when they did something wrong.

Henri stroked the exposed side of her face. She was an angel and didn't know it. God molded her himself, and if it was the last thing, he did he was going to save her from herself. Aria was fully capable of taking risk and handling herself, but she knew nothing about incubi. She didn't know about the determination one had to get his charge. Aria was beautiful and lively. She gave off a subtle charge of energy that wasn't hard to read. She had power and it wasn't just because she was a witch. She was an honest to God good person all the way to her core, the kind that no matter how hard you try you could never corrupt. That was her problem. She was purity's core.

"Henri," she mumbled after she felt his hand in her fading dream. She wouldn't remember what happened with David in her dreams as long as Henri was present when she awakened.

The second her gentle, brown eyes looked into his, his anger started to fade. "You okay?" he asked noticing panic starting to form on her face.

"Stella never came back," she looked around. "What time is it?" she asked setting up in bed.

"It's only ten thirty you, old lady. I'm sure she's okay," he said as he sat next to her on the bed. "I'm sorry."

"I am too, but"-

"Don't say anything else," he said kissing her. Aria started to push away from him. "Come on Ari," he groaned, but he still let her have some space.

"We need to talk," she said folding her legs Indian style.

"About?" he asked.

"You know!" She was tired of him playing dumb with her. He damn well knew what she was talking about, and the fact that he had the audacity to say he didn't made her blood boil.

"And what might that be?" he asked as he stroked her knee.

Aria slapped his hand away. He wasn't going to smooth talk his way out of this. "You knew all this time that David was your brother and never once, did you say anything to me. Why?" she asked.

"Would it have made a difference? You know now, and you're wearing his scent like its Chanel." He said with an angry edge to his voice.

She chuckled to herself. She knew he was only being an ass because his feelings were hurt, but it amused her, nonetheless. "You were right. I should've stayed away from him," she agreed. "But I can't. I want to, but I can't," she shrugged. She felt about as pathetic as she sounded.

His anger folded as it always did with her. "It's because of what he is not anything you're doing Ari. Stop blaming yourself," Henri said seeing it on her face. He knew if she could help it, she would, and he knew sometimes she just didn't want to.