Page 45 of Oh No! There's an Incubus in my Hot Spring
“I don’t know. He only lets me in when he wants to.”
A heavy knock—rap-tap-ta-tap-tap—hits the door, and I jolt.
Apollo sits up beside me and dons his human form in a flash. “It’s the turtleneck man,” he says, blinking at me blearily.
I hop out of bed wearing yesterday’s clothes and brush the chips from my chest. “I’m going to see what he wants. You guys stay here,” I say, even knowing Charlie can’t move without help.
I close the door to my bedroom and look out over the railing to the floor below. Damn, this house is so much better than it was before. Apollo is incredible.
The knocking comes again, and I hurry down the stairs to the main level. “Coming!” I yell so he won’t knock again.
I brush my hair back, trying to look like a put-together business owner, and then open the door. I knew it was going to be Mark, so I don’t know why I’m disgusted when I see him and his off-season turtleneck.
“What do you want?” I ask, keeping the door open just enough for me to look out.
Mark leans against the frame with a smile. “I heard a rumor that someone was up here helping you.”
I’m not sure what to do with this information. I had texted Irene to let her know I had the upgrades under control, but Ihadn’t told her I had help. The only other people who could’ve known were the movers.
“And you came here because?” I draw out the word with annoyance.
“I wanted to see how much you were paying them, if I could pay more,” he says with a jackal’s grin.
I roll my eyes and move to slam the door, but he shoves his foot in the way. He throws it open and I stumble back, barefoot and caught off guard. I turn and grab the first thing I can find on the table—of course it’s a fork.
I brandish my pathetic weapon as best I can. “Get out of my house.”
Mark glances around. “Looks like you made some upgrades…overnight.”
“Get the fuck out!” I scream, standing my ground with a freaking fork.
Mark’s eyes settle on me, then he advances. I should stab him. Fuck, I don’t want to go to jail for stabbing him with a fork.
Mark stops just inches from me and takes a long inhale through his nose. A shiver rolls down my spine and I repress a gag.
“You’re his little whore. You don’t have the prowess to fix this place on your own. I could tell when I first saw you.”
My head spins. Is he talking about Apollo? How does he know?
A hand falls on my shoulder and I jump as Apollo materializes in a puff of hot mist. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Mark laughs. “The devil himself appears. It’s been a long time since you’ve had a body, hasn’t it?”
Apollo’s hand tightens on my shoulder.
“Out. Now. Or I will call the police,” I say, holding the fork up toward his neck.
“The police—oh, no,” Mark says with mock fear, then laughs. “You think they’ll take me downtown and lock me up for trespassing?”
“I could always disappear you instead,” Apollo snarls, his claws growing.
I glance at him over my shoulder and see his face contorted to that of a beast. His maw is longer like a dog’s, with sharp canines and bloodthirsty eyes.
“Mark, if you like your balls, get out,” I say.
He scoffs. “Demon’s whore.”
Apollo lurches forward and his fist lands on Mark’s cheek with a crack. Mark goes down, crumpling to the floor as he cradles his face. I gasp, shock sticking my feet to the floor. Apollo steps in front of me and Mark looks up from the ground.
