The Incubus
Chapter 6: Ache
I left Roger and his hotdogs to watch over Natalie while I went out and got hammered.
It had been a long time since someone had seen my horns glowing, the revelation of my true self. I hated what I’d done to Liz, even though I didn’t do it, and it was obviously just my brain sorting out the sensory overload of the day’s events. I didn’t even want to imagine that my brain could put those actions together. I wouldn’t hurt Liz if my life depended on it. Nothing. Nothing could make me into that beast.
But I am a man.
Partially a man; and sometimes my horns glow for other reasons. They ache.
I left a note on Abe’s door “Don’t call me unless the world is ending, I’m taking tomorrow off”.
I fell asleep in my armchair with the t.v. on, my eighth beer dangling between my fingers. Some kittens were curled up at my feet, purring like a lullaby, keeping my hooves warm. I dreamt of Liz again, but it was much different, as if I were making up for what I’d done to her earlier. I was gentle with her. We were in love.
I missed being in love. I woke up aching and finished myself off before falling asleep again.
When I finally emerged from my cave, with a splitting headache and the theme to “Headline News” running through my head, there was a note on my door from Liz and Abe.
“Need chicken soup, HB? Didn’t know you were sick….Liz”
“I did! …. Abe”
Har har. I crushed the papers in my hand and went looking for Advil. Before I could get to the bathroom, I ran into Natalie, who was looking more haggard than ever.
“Hellboy!” she said, her brow all scrunched up and worried. “I haven’t seen you all day. I thought you’d come check on me. You promised you wouldn’t leave me alone in there.”
“Isn’t Roger watching you?” I said, shouldering past her to the blessed medicine chest. A guy like me could eat a bottle of Advil like it was Skittles and it still wouldn’t do shit, but it’s the thought that counts, and right about then I was thinking I was dying.
She didn’t answer me until I looked at her again.
“I can’t sleep if Roger’s there. I can’t sleep if anyone is there but you.” She put a hand on my chest and stepped close enough for me to feel the heat of her tiny body. “Are you mad at me HB?”
I am a man. I ache.
“No,” I said, pulling her hand away. “No I’m not mad. I’ll stay with you tonight Natalie. I promise. No one else.”
“He told me he wouldn’t give up. He’d take it from me. What he wanted.”
“I know what he wants,” I said quietly.
“So do I,” she answered. “He’d have no use for me if I gave it away.”
And then she was gone.
“Will you lay next to me?” She asked, pulling back the blanket. Just teasing you HB!
“Nah, I’ll sit here.”
“I won’t hurt you,” she said with a smile. “I just want to make sure you’re here. When I was little my dad would sleep next to me to keep monsters away. Well, monsters and lightning.”
“Natalie,”
“Please. I know it’s weird. Please. That way you can get some rest, too.”
We engaged in a stare down that had to have been at least fifteen years long. She blinked maybe once. Her face was sallow and sunken, twenty years older than when I first saw her. The incubus was killing her, weakening her.
I put my book down and lay next to her on the bed, turning onto my side to make room. She snuggled backwards against my chest. I ached. I was too warm. Her chest expanded and fell in a slow sigh.
“Natalie…”
She moaned, already asleep. The curtains on the single window rustled and I heard breathing, heavy wet breathing. She tensed in my arms and the breathing got louder. I smelled sulphur…copper. Blood and fire. I wrapped my arms tighter around her sleeping body and curled my tail around her legs.
"Brother," a bodiless voice said. "Brother, we'll work together..."
“Take off,” I growled to the night air. “She’s with me.”