(Italics show when they are using telepathy)
Alex awoke drenched in sweat and screamed. He clutched his head in his hands, gasping. After falling into normal sleep he had horrible nightmares, but the reality had been worse. He gagged and ran to the toilet to throw up.
There was a knock on the door. “Young master, are you all right?” The voice of the butler sounded worried.
Alex collapsed in exhaustion while holding the bowl of the toilet. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve before speaking. “I’m fine.” He barely managed to say it loud enough since his throat was a little sore from throwing up. He coughed and turned back to the bowl only to dry heave. He wheezed and tried to calm himself down. He could more clearly see now that all the wounds from last night were fully gone. He had vaguely noticed it when Zeltis had showered that they had seemed to close even faster than before, but now it was certain.
The wounds had hurt a lot when it had happened and had looked bad, but had healed so fast. The demon’s powers were certainly amazing. Still, after seeing what happened to those two he couldn’t help but worry. Would he end up like that?
“You won’t.” Zeltis answered suddenly.
“Why not? Don’t all demons consume their host’s energy, or soul?”
“Usually, but I’m not getting any energy from you.” Zeltis surprised even himself by revealing that.
“Really?! But how could that happ…”
“Just drop it. I’m not sure why and I’m not in the mood to answer all your questions.”
Alex could tell that Zeltis was more than just annoyed, and so decided to leave him alone. He felt slightly better and so tried to carefully push himself up off the floor. He washed his face and got dressed before going down with his luggage to eat breakfast.
He had gotten the name of his mother’s roommate from his aunt and used the internet on his phone to track her. After a brief conversation she had agreed to meet him at a café not too far away. He was lucky she lived in the area. He would have hated to have to extend his trip. It took about fifteen minutes to get there in a taxi because of all the red lights and traffic. It was early enough that they had hit the morning rush to work.
The taxi finally pulled up in front of the restaurant called “Popo’s”. He paid the driver with his card and grabbed his bag out of the trunk before going in.
A bell rang as he entered and a matronly woman in an apron with the name “popo’s” embossed on it, came up to him.
“I’m here to meet someone.” He said and looked around.
A woman a few tables from the entrance on the right waved to him.
He gave a polite bob of his head to the hostess before going towards the woman who had waved at him.
She was just like her picture she had sent. She looked about his aunt’s age but was fit and stylish. She had shoulder length dark brown hair and green eyes. She was wearing a straight skirt and long sleeved blouse and sweater.
“I knew it was you the minute you came in. You are very eye-catching.” She said as he sat down, putting the luggage on the booth next to him.
He ran a hand through his hair, blushing slightly before glancing away. “Um, well, as I said on the phone, I’m Alexander Kent. Angela’s son, but please call me Alex.
She laughed a little and waved her hand as a gesture to brush off his stiffness. “Of course, Alex. I’m Marianne Colter, just call me Mary. I was so surprised to hear from my former roommate’s son. It’s been over sixteen years; it’s hard to believe it’s been so long.”
“I’m just glad you remembered my mother and agreed to meet with me on such short notice.”
“Well I was free today and really curious. Angela kind of stood out to me so it would have been hard to forget her.”
“I never knew her since she died in childbirth but my aunt did tell me a lot about her. But there was a lot she didn’t know and she thought you might know more of what she was like at college.”
“Are you ready to order?” A man in an apron like the hostess came up to them with a order pad.
“Ah, well I already have a coffee but I suppose I could use a refill and a breakfast burrito please.” Mary said to him.
“And you sir?” The waiter turned to Alex.
“I’ll have coffee and a blueberry muffin with butter please.” He had already eaten but felt uncomfortable if Mary was the only one eating.
“Will it be separate checks?” The waiter asked.
Before Alex could offer to pay Mary spoke. “Yes, please.”
The waiter left and Alex had to think a moment before remembering what they were talking about. “Um, so my mother at college, if you don’t mind. I really want to know more about her.”
“Sure, I don’t mind. At first Angela seemed like a very shy bookworm type of girl. She was sweet and helpful around the dorm. She even helped me with some of my homework a few times. However one day she was suddenly completely different. She started dressing in revealing clothes and hardly went to class. We got in several arguments because she would no longer clean up after herself. She was staying out later and later. She came in with a rich looking guy a few times, I can’t remember his name. He looked like he absolutely worshipped her. He was extremely rude to me but he did whatever she asked him to. I couldn’t believe how much she had changed and it was odd how much the guy seemed to be obsessed with her. It wasn’t long until I was invited to the wedding. After that she quit school and I didn’t see her again.”
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Midway through her story the food had arrived and she had paused to say thanks and started to eat and talk. Alex had listened carefully as he nibbled on the muffin.
“Well, I don’t know what else I could tell you. She really didn’t talk to me much at all once she changed. The few talks we had were mostly arguing about her not cleaning. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.”
“No, I really appreciate all you told me. Thanks so much for meeting me.” He said.
The waiter saw Alex motion toward him and came over to take care of the bill. Once finished Alex stood.
“You take care of yourself, ok.” Mary said with a smile and a wave.
He smiled and nodded and grabbed his luggage. As he walked out he called a taxi and was soon on the way back to the train station.
The servants welcomed him back when he got home and he ate a quick lunch before going to his room.
He laid down on the bed, mulling over everything he had learned. “Was my mother also possessed by a demon?”
“It’s the most likely explanation, unless she suddenly got multiple personalities. Then again, most of those are just demon possessions anyway.” Zeltis answered.
“She had a child while possessed? Does that happen often?”
“I believe she did and no, it doesn’t happen often. It does explain your resistance to me and your powers though.” Zeltis said, not trying to hide it anymore. Alex would find out eventually anyway.
“Powers, but I don’t think I really…”
“You do. The healing is because of me, but you obviously are an incubus based on what I have seen.” Zeltis interrupted and continued while Alex was sputtering in confusion. “You can charm women and control people through speech. The one who inhabited your mother was most likely a succubus. They devour life essence, usually from the opposite sex, though some like the same sex. Somehow you gained some of her powers.”
“But how, she was only possessing the body how would I inherit her powers?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never heard of a human born in similar circumstances gaining powers like you have. Either you or your mother might have had some special power.”
“I’m so confused. What other powers does an Incubus have and do they also need to devour life essence?”
“An Incubus is the male version of a succubus so they do also devour essence, but they have a few other powers that a succubus doesn’t have. Incubus’ can manipulate dreams and illusions and they use those skills to get their prey.”
“But why are these powers only starting to show up now?”
“Well first of all it might be partly due to puberty. Second it also might have to do with my sudden appearance. I might have triggered your latent demon side.”
“Wow, I just have no idea what to say or do. This whole situation is so strange and unbelievable.” He covered he face with his hands and sighed.
Zeltis had been surprised too after he had figured it out. Alex was definitely different and he had no idea how their coexistence would continue to be affected by Alex’s strange existence.
next- na
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Author's note
This chapter did not want to be written. It's been getting harder and harder to write the chapters and I was so disappointed at the lack of views of the previous chapter. I don't know how long it will be before I write the next chapter. It could be longer than a month so don't hold your breath. I really need to know if anyone has any ideas to improve this story cause obviously there is a reason why the views have been dropping with the newer chapters. I will soon get some good feedback, I hope for the first five chapters. I joined a critique group. It takes forever to get through but I should get some really in depth crit once I do. I will probably re-write those chapters based on the feedback before writing more. So keep a look out and tell me what you think once I do re-write them. Any other advice or thoughts are very welcome.