Incubus

13

CELIA HELPLESSLY watched as Aiden disappeared through the screen door, right before it shut right in front of her face. Letting out a sigh, she reached for the door handle in pursuit of him. Of course, he hadn't listened to her.

But before she could open the door, an uneasy sensation creeped upon her. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and chills raced across her skin.

She glanced around her, at the tall, towering trees surrounding the clearing. Her grandmother's cottage was tucked away in the midst of the shadowed pines. Anyone... or anything... could've been watching her from the curtain of darkness...but she wouldn't have known. She shuddered, feeling as though she was being watched. A sudden wind surged through the trees, causing branches to rattle soundly.

Long wisps of dark brown hair whipped around her face. She swiped the hair out of her face in annoyance, her gaze settling back on the forest— only to immediately fall on a gleaming red pair of eyes glowing from the shadows.

Cain.

Celia ripped the screen door open and stepped inside, her heart pounding as she slammed the screen door shut behind her, locking it with shaky fingers.

Her eyes were shut as she took a few calming breaths, her back pressed against the door. It's okay. As soon as I burn the book, Cain will be gone for good.

She looked up, only to realize the living room was empty. The voices pouring from the dining room guided her in that direction. She needed to get Aiden out of there.

She was about to walk in, but the sound of her name had her pausing in her footsteps.

"It was kind of you to give Celia a ride here, with her feeling sick. She never told me she was unwell." By the tone of grams' voice, she knew she was in for a lecture as soon her grams' saw her.

"But as always, I know the perfect herbs to give her for a cold." Grams' was saying. Celia let out a breath she'd been holding, quietly thanking Aiden for sparing the details of why he had given her a ride.

Her grams loved growing herbs in the garden. The eccentric woman considered natural remedies to be the cure to all ailments. Every now and then, Celia would sneak in the garden and steal herbs for rituals. She suddenly felt sick—A ritual was what had gotten her into this mess. A ritual was what would get her out of it.

"Of course. I was worried about her," was Aiden's response. At that, a blush dusted her cheeks.

He was worried about her?

"You've always been caring of her. Back in the day, you were always there for Celia— taking her to school whenever I was busy, and taking her back home. Not only that, but it was also Valerie who got Celia the job at the café. I am grateful to you— and your sister— for being there for her."

"She's our family, grams'." Aiden shrugged, as if it was the simplest statement in the world.

Celia smiled to herself. Besides grams', they truly were the only other family she had. Which was why she had to protect them at all costs.

Once again, the threat of danger— the threat of Cain— loomed over her like a dark, menacing cloud. There was no way she would even let Aiden stay within proximity of her if it meant he ended up getting hurt. He had to leave.

So she revealed herself from the shadows of the hallway, stepping into the light.