Incubus

12

QUIET TENSION enveloped both Celia and Aiden as they drove through the wooded backroads that would take them to her grandmother's house. A fog was creeping in from the shadowed pine forests on either side, just like the trepidation the young brunette felt.

Aiden's kindness had gotten in the way of her plan. Burn the book. Burn the spell that had summoned Cain into ashes. The sooner she got rid of the infuriatingly attractive demon, the better.

The ride to her house was mostly silent, save for when Aiden asked if he was going the right way. He had been to her house before, but it had been a while. He used to drive her home from school when she was younger.

"You didn't have to do this." Celia told him as she swung open the door to the chilly autumn air.

"Yes I did," Aiden retorted, his gaze was haltingly serious when he glanced her way, temporarily taking his eyes off the road. "When I was younger, I made a lot of stupid decisions. I don't want you going down the same path I did."

She distinctly noticed his fists tightening on the steering wheel. "You could've gotten seriously hurt. Hell, you probably have a concussion right now, Celia." His lips were pressed into a thin line.

"Aiden, I'm okay," she tried to protest, but to no avail.

"You're clearly not okay Celia. Last night, you and Valerie were reckless." His jaw tightened visibly.

Last night, a demon I summoned caused havoc and magically took away Valerie's memory. The truth was too insane to speak in words.

"I care about you, okay?" She distinctly noticed his fists tightening on the steering wheel.

"Aiden..." she trailed off, but her breath caught in her throat when his eyes fell on hers. Forest green against earthy brown. For a moment, she didn't feel like he only saw her as a little sister. For a moment, she felt like he saw her as the woman she had grown into.

But then his eyes fell back on the road, and the spell was lost.

"I'll be careful, I promise..." she whispered softly.

Her thoughts were racing the entire way back to the cottage. She had had feelings for him for as long as she could remember. He had always treated her like family, but now she was questioning if he felt the same.

However, right now, she only had one goal. And that was to get rid of the demon she had summoned. She saw what Cain had done to Valerie....She wouldn't let it happen to him too.

Once they reached her grandmother's small cottage in the midst of the pine forest, Celia wasted no time in slamming the door open and getting out.

"Thanks for the ride Aiden. I'll see you later—" she began to say, but he was already opening his door and stepping into the gravel pathway.

"Oh, you think I'm letting you go just like that? I have to say hi to Grams first." He smiled charmingly, waltzing toward the screen door as if it was his own place.

Her Grams loved Aiden. When they were younger, he had always given Celia rides from school when she was occupied with work. He had been 16, she had been 12. Not only that, he had fixed her Grams' car numerous times. His elective focus in college was engineering, after all.

Grams adored him. In fact, she always—not so subtly— talked about how he would make a "fine husband." It embarrassed Celia immensely.

"Aiden, you know she's gonna tease me!" Celia groaned, to which he only chuckled.

"I know."

She was thankful Aiden's playful demeanor had returned, but she didn't want him around— not until Cain was gone. Everyone around her seemed to get hurt because of the frustratingly beautiful demon.

Celia shook her head profusely, "Grams is probably asleep right now, you shouldn't—"

"Are you worried I'm going to tell her about you and Valerie's fun last night? Don't worry about that. Your secret's safe with me." He winked.

"No, Aiden—"

Aiden was already through the screen door before she could stop him.