Incubus (12 page)

figures in the skinny border of one of the carvings. The group leaned closer.

“I’ll be damned,” Thane murmured. “What is this?”

“Well, keep in mind that the first set of rubbings Seth collected for me were rougher, so it was

hard to make out but,” she bent over the rubbings, concentrating. “My goodness. Well done, Seth.

There’s quite a bit more detail here. Yes, I think—” She fell silent, absorbed in her thoughts.

“Linwood?” Hale prompted.

She looked up, as if suddenly remembering we were there. “I believe there’s a second story being

told in the borders of these carvings. A story about the missionaries and their fight against the Lilitu.”

As she narrated her version of the story, she pointed from one rubbing to the next. “You see here.

These are the monks who build the mission at Puerto Escondido. Notice the shields they carry? They

clearly believed they were here to protect something.”

The carving showed the unmistakable silhouette of the original mission sanctuary. Beneath the

carving of the sanctuary, I saw a rough circle and my blood ran cold. I was sure it was the seal. I

leaned closer for a better look as Angela continued her story.

“In the next carving, there is trouble. You can see here two distinct Lilitu.” Two figures stood side

by side, facing a row of monks with shields and swords at the ready. Angular, bat-like wings protruded

from both of their backs, and needle-like teeth ringed their mouths. “And—yes! I thought I noticed

something on the previous rubbing but here there’s really no doubt, is there?” Angela turned the

drawing around so her audience could better see the figures. She held a hand out to Thane. “Do you

mind?” He returned the notes she’d given him to look over. Angela scanned the page in silence for a

moment. “Yes, here it is. This is an account of a story told to a traveling friar by one of the monks of

this mission. One of only five survivors of the events, if we are to believe him. According to this

monk, the mission was attacked by two demons. Siblings.”

Angela stabbed her finger back at the rubbing. As I stared, it became clear. One of the Lilitu in the

carving had the curves of a beautiful woman, while the other had the triangular chest of a fit young

man.

“A sister and a brother,” Angela said. “The monk’s story seems consistent with the rest of these

carvings. There was a great fight against the Lilitu. The monks overpowered and possibly killed the

sister, but the brother escaped into the night.”

“What are you suggesting? That it’s the same incubus who attacked that woman in town?” Dad

asked.

“I’m not suggesting anything,” Angela said. “I’m merely sharing the preliminary fruits of my

research into the mission. Whatever happened to that incubus was lost to history, I’m afraid. The friar

who recorded this monk’s tale moved on from the mission and the five surviving monks were never

heard from again. The later stations of the cross that these monks carved, the ones that presumably

continued their story, they were defaced long ago.”

“So despite all your research, we know very little,” Thane said.

“There is one additionally curious thing,” Angela said, pulling another rubbing from the bottom of

the pile. “You see here, on the carving of the last station of the cross? This is a common druidic

symbol for winter solstice, and here we have a full moon.”

“Which means?” Hale asked.

“Well, I don’t know what it means, but it appears to be some kind of pagan lunar calendar. That in

itself is curious, considering it was carved onto a Catholic religious image, presumably by a Catholic

monk.” Angela studied the paper thoughtfully.

“You have a theory,” Thane said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” Angela gave Thane a small smile. “But until I’ve gathered more information, I’d rather not

share it. I’d hate to be wrong about this.”

“All right.” Hale stood, pacing to the living room’s great mantle. He ran a thumb along the scar

dividing his eyebrow—a souvenir from a fight he’d had with a Lilitu in his youth. I’d come to

recognize this gesture as a sign that Hale was wrestling with unpleasant thoughts. “If there is an

incubus in town, we need to be on our guard. Keep your eyes open. Until we know more we proceed

with extreme caution. I don’t want anyone stumbling blindly into more than they can handle.”

“Excellent advice for us all,” Angela said, glancing pointedly at Seth. “We can’t be too careful.”

“Speaking of which, we have rooms for you and Seth here,” Hale said.

“Oh, dear,” Angela winced. “That is very kind, but I’ve never done well in communal living

situations. I’ve already rented a small house in town. I think we’ll both be a bit more comfortable

there.”

Hale looked like he wanted to argue. Dad caught my eye.

“Why don’t you and Lucas take Seth over to our house,” Dad said. “Order a pizza. I have a feeling

we’re going to be here talking strategy for a while.”

Seth glanced at Angela hopefully. She looked resigned, but she nodded permission. “At least order

something with vegetables on it, if you don’t mind.”

Seth noticed me watching him and looked away quickly. My eyes lingered over the marks on his

cheek. He’d have a tender black eye in the morning.

But it could have been much worse,
a voice inside me said.

I stepped onto the Guard’s front porch, drawing my sweater tighter around me. Lucas closed the door,

and Seth let out a long breath.

“And here I thought I was the only kid whose life’s been ruined by the Guard.”

“How do you mean?” Lucas asked.

“Oh, come on,” Seth’s smile was tinged with bitterness. “They see Lilitu around every corner. I

can’t go to a movie because a Lilitu might be prowling the theater. No, I get to spend my afternoons

taking rubbings of old carvings in deserted churches because they might hold the key to a centuries-

old mystery about who-gives-a-crap. Why should I care if some horny loser ends up in bed with a

demon? Right?”

Seth didn’t read the warning in Lucas’s eyes. “You know the truth,” he said. “How can you not

take a stand?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Seth’s smile faded when Lucas didn’t respond. “Okay.” Seth shrugged his

shoulders and leaned closer to me conspiratorially. “Guess no one told him not to drink the Kool-Aid,

huh?” Lucas turned abruptly and walked toward my house. I could see the tension in his shoulders.

Seth watched him go, surprised. “He’s serious about this stuff?”

“His brother was killed by a Lilitu,” I said, but I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Lucas. “Lucas was

there when it happened. So was Gretchen.” Across the yard, Lucas disappeared into my house. I heard

the door close softly, and my heart wrenched for him. Eric’s death was a wound that never healed for

Lucas.

“Seriously?” Some of the color seemed to drain out of Seth’s face.

“The Lilitu who killed him got away,” I explained. “As far as we know, she’s still out there.

Hunting. So yeah, he’s serious about this stuff.”

“I didn’t know.” Seth glanced at my house, his expression sober.

“Now you do.” I left Seth standing on the Guard’s porch, alone with his thoughts.

When I walked into our comfortable foyer, I heard Lucas in the living room. He was planted on the

couch with the TV on. He wasn’t paying it much attention, though. I sat gingerly beside him. Silently,

he draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me in tighter.

Seth appeared in the entryway to the living room a few minutes later. “Mind if I join you? Or is

this going to turn into another make-out session?”

Lucas only glanced at him.

Seth leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Let me ask you something. I’ve been

reconsidering my approach to making new friends. The ‘putting-my-foot-in-my-mouth’ plan isn’t

working out as well as I’d hoped it would.”

“I don’t know,” Lucas said. “It’s better than the ‘I’m-an-arrogant-asshat’ act you pulled in the

mission.”

“You think?” Seth said, moving to sit on the leather chair next to the couch. “I was afraid it might

be too subtle. Could give people the wrong idea, like I’m some kind of sensitive, decent human

being.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Lucas said, finally breaking into a smile.

“Oh, good,” Seth leaned back in the chair. “As long as it’s clear I’m a total jerk-face.”

“It’s clear,” Lucas replied. “Who wants pizza?”

“I’ll get the phone.” I hopped up and went to grab the handset from the kitchen. From the living

room, I could hear Seth say something and Lucas laugh in return. The sound gave me a warm feeling

inside, easing a tension I’d felt since Seth had looked at me with that aching vulnerability after the

fight at school.

It was a roundabout way to do it, but Seth had finally made some friends in Puerto Escondido.

It’s strange how, when you’ve got a major problem absorbing all your attention, the things that really

matter to you can fall through the cracks without your notice.

The last chilly days of September sped by, ushering in a crisp October. The Guard kept Lucas and

me busy after school with practice, while Cassie and Royal were making themselves comfortable

fixtures in the theater building. Outside of class and lunch, we didn’t see much of each other. When

Cassie made a comment about missing me, I reassured her that things would settle down eventually.

The truth was, I was so caught up worrying about the coming war that my non-Guard friends got

shoved way down on my list of priorities. And so much of my time was spent with Lucas and Seth that

it didn’t occur to me I barely saw Cassie and Royal anymore.

Seth started coming over to the Guard’s house every time Angela found some new piece of

research or wanted to consult with Thane about something. Then he started coming over even if she

was nose-deep in some book at their house. Before too long, Seth was catching a ride home with Lucas

and me every day after school. He watched us train some afternoons, but each time Hale offered to

show him a few things he politely declined and fled back up the stairs to wait for us in the Guard’s

living room.

Lucas was warming to Seth day by day. It felt strangely comforting to have another friend our age

to talk to about the Lilitu. With Seth, Lucas and I could be—almost—completely honest. Hale had

warned Lucas and me to keep my secret. Angela and Seth might be part of the Guard, but there was no

telling how they’d react if they learned I was Lilitu. And so the days passed as my life fell into this

new routine.

I was so focused on my own thoughts that I completely missed the signs that morning.

Amber and her friends were gathered outside the North Hall when I arrived at school with Lucas. I

noticed Ally turn to look at me. I hesitated. The other girls with her pulled her back, hands clamped

over their mouths to muffle their laughter. Suddenly self-conscious, I nudged Lucas.

“Is something wrong with my hair or something?”

He looked at me blandly. “You look ready for a photo shoot. Isn’t that one of the benefits of your

genetic heritage?” But when I didn’t smile, he tilted his head to the side, trying to catch my eye. “Why