Incubus

18

IF ONLY CELIA could bury herself in a deep, dark hole of shame and never return to the light again. Then she wouldn't have to deal with the mortifying predicament she was currently faced with.

The girl who had witnessed her little episode stood before her with a perfectly angled arched brow, awaiting her response.

Celia opened her mouth, then closed it like a fish out of water.

Her speechlessness was in part due to the embarrassment of someone having witnessed her mental breakdown, and in part due to the fact that the girl was very beautiful. Which only deepened her embarrassment. Raven black hair fell around the young woman's angular face in rivets, her voluminous waves shining in the light. She wore a leather jacket and rugged jeans, paired off with black platform boots. But despite the girl's edgy style, it was her amber eyes that truly stood out.

"Well? Why did you attack this poor, defenseless vending machine?" The girl's amused, accented voice brought her out of her train of thoughts.

Celia blushed visibly, realizing she'd been staring too intensely at her. A sense of dejá vu crept upon her— she shivered.

"I... I've been having a bad day?" She grimaced her own half-assed excuse.

"Oh? That perfectly explains why you attacked it." She clicked her tongue.

Celia narrowed her eyes. "Oh, did you need to use it?" She took a large step away and gestured emphatically, "it's all yours."

The dark haired girl chuckled, and Celia couldn't help but notice the sound was like velvety chimes soothing her ears, "actually, no. I just happened to be walking by. I like your fire, though." She winked, eliciting a surprising response from Celia. Why was she blushing at this rude person!?

"Umm... thanks?" She lowered her gaze with tinted cheeks. "Sorry I snapped at you. My day has been... rough." She explained awkwardly. The excuse sounded ridiculous in her own ears.

"None taken." The girl brushed it off, but something about her grinning red lips unnerved her.

Celia laughed awkwardly, "Ummm... yeah, I'm gonna head back to my friend. Have a nice day," she smiled although it surely looked more like a grimace, before turning on her heel.

"Bye!" the girl called after her. As she started walking away, Celia finally let herself relax again—but it hadn't been more than a minute when she heard the footsteps that were following her down the hall.

She turned her head only to see the girl was following her. They met each other's gazes.

"Oh! We seem to be headed the same way," she proceeded to quicken her pace and fall in step with Celia. Oh, alright then.

"It seems that way. Which direction are you headed?" She asked as they started walking together.

"Room 2190. It's on this floor, right?" The dark beauty inquired, scrunching her eyebrows together.

Celia halted in her steps. Room 2190? That was Aiden's room.

"Hold up a minute. Who are you visiting?" Her eyes widened.

"Oh, just a friend from college. I received a call that he was a hurt, so I came here as quickly as I could." She explained with a shrug, in that strange accent she couldn't place.

Celia just stared. The more she stared, the more she grew uneasy.

"You're visiting him? Aiden? I'm with him right now."

"Would you look at that," the dark beauty laughed. "What a coincidence. Well it looks like we're headed the same way, so I might as well come with you." She continued walking on, hips swinging confidently.

Celia took a few seconds to stare at her, perplexed, before she decided to catch up.

"Umm... So who called you here?"

"His sister Valerie. I take it you know her?"

Celia nodded in response. "Of course. I'm a close family friend of theirs. I was actually there when... the incident..." Celia stopped herself short, then connected gazes with her, "Who are you to Aiden? Why are you here?"

"Like I said, I'm a friend of his. The name's Rayna. Has he ever mentioned me?" She smirked.

Celia narrowed her eyes. No, he hadn't.

"This is the room?" Rayna suddenly halted in her steps, stopping them both in their tracks.

Room 2190. They had reached Aiden.

Celia nodded and placed her fingers over the handle. She glanced at Rayna, her heart skipping a beat. Something felt off.

"What are you waiting for?" Rayna murmured lowly, her sultry tone causing her to shiver.

The brunette shook her head, blinking. Thanks to Cain, she was paranoid about every little thing.

"Nothing. Come on in."

With that, the door swung open.