The Incubus, Succubus and Son of Perdition Box Set: The Len du Randt Bundle, Page 2

  He ignored her and helped her to her feet. ‘Let’s get you into bed,’ he said and gently helped her down the path to their cabin.

  ‘I don’t want to ruin the weekend,’ Rebecca said as Justin tucked her into bed.

  ‘Nonsense,’ he said. ‘Just try and get some rest while I make you a nice cup of tea, okay?’ She nodded, but Justin doubted that she registered anything he said to her. He waited until her eyes were closed before he left the room to boil some water. When he returned with her tea, she was fast asleep. He placed the cup down next to her on the bedside table and picked up his novel. He then lay down next to her, and three turns and one pillow fluffing later continued with the story. Justin read for most of the afternoon before taking a half an hour nap after which he read some more.

  ‘Justin...?’ Rebecca said softly when she woke up.

  ‘Yes, baby?’

  ‘I...I have to prepare dinner...’

  Justin put down the novel and walked around to her side of the bed. He touched her forehead and frowned. The fever showed no sign of breaking. ‘Stay in bed,’ he said. ‘I’ll get us something to eat from the restaurant. What would you like?’

  She didn’t answer. She merely smiled and then closed her eyes. Within seconds she was asleep again. Justin switched off the lights and closed the bedroom door. He took some money from Rebecca’s purse, locked the door and headed for the restaurant.

  * - - - *

  The waiter behind the counter looked up when he saw Justin approaching. ‘Good evening, sir,’ he said politely. ‘What would you like to order?’

  Justin eyed the menu. They didn’t have too much money to splash around, but Justin figured that given his current situation, it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

  ‘I think I’ll have the steak,’ he said.

  ‘Excellent choice, sir. How would you like it done?’

  ‘Medium,’ Justin said. ‘Thanks.’

  With rice, baked potato, or fries?’

  ‘Baked potato would be fine.’

  ‘Anything to drink with that, sir?’

  Justin sighed. Do you think I can have my food now? ‘Just a soda water, thank you.’

  ‘Eat here or take away?’

  ‘Take away.’ He wanted to be with Rebecca. In case she woke up and needed him.

  ‘Would that be all?’

  Justin bit his lip and then exhaled slowly. ‘That would be all,’ he confirmed. ‘Thank you.’

  The waiter took the menu and left Justin to his thoughts. He was worried about Rebecca. If he only knew what was wrong, he could perhaps get her some medication. He felt small and powerless; incapable of helping her with whatever bug she had picked up. The thought of hospital bills sent a shiver down his spine.

  A human-like creature invisible to the eye stood beside Justin and placed its claw on his shoulder. The figure leaned forward and bought its mouth close to Justin’s ear.

  Look up.

  Justin looked up and his stomach flipped when he saw the beautiful receptionist, sitting alone at a table. The elegant evening dress was a sharp contrast to the denim she wore the previous afternoon when they arrived.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Justin said and motioned for a waiter.

  ‘Is everything all right, sir?’ the waiter asked.

  Justin nodded. He then indicated at the receptionist. ‘Do you see that girl over there?’

  The waiter looked at where Justin was hinting. ‘Megan?’

  Justin flinched and motioned for the waiter to lower his voice. ‘Her name is Megan?’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ the waiter said.

  ‘Is she here on a date?’

  ‘No,’ the waiter said. ‘She always eats here. Staff account.’

  ‘So she’s alone?’

  ‘She and her fiancé split up about three weeks ago.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Justin said and dismissed the waiter. He looked at Megan, almost hypnotized by her beauty. Justin swallowed hard to try and get rid of the lump in his throat, but it didn’t help. His pulse raced and he could feel his heart beating loudly in his chest.

  Go to her.

  Although Justin couldn’t consciously hear the voice, he still obeyed it.

  ‘Hi,’ he said when he finally reached the table she was sitting at. ‘I couldn’t help but notice that you’re alone, and was wondering if you would like to have some company.’

  Megan looked up and smiled. ‘Sure,’ she said.

  He thanked her and sat down, then extended his hand toward her. ‘I’m Justin,’ he said.

  ‘Green as in the colour, but with an e, right?’

  Justin chuckled. She remembers! ‘That’s me,’ he said. ‘And you are...?’

  ‘Megan,’ she said and shook his hand.

  ‘Pleased to meet you, Megan.’

  ‘Likewise,’ she said. She stole a quick glance around the room. ‘Where’s your wife?’

  ‘She...she’s feeling a little under the weather,’ he said. ‘So I decided to rather let her rest while I got myself something to eat here.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Megan said. ‘Do you know what’s wrong?’

  ‘Nope,’ Justin said and shrugged. ‘But I’m hoping that she will feel better by tomorrow.’

  ‘We do have some emergency medical supplies,’ she said. ‘Let me know if there’s anything that I could do to help.’

  ‘I will,’ Justin said. ‘Thanks.’ Oh wow! You’re stunning! There was a moment of silence that could have turned awkward if Justin kept quiet. ‘So what’s a nice lady like you doing alone in a place like this?’ he asked.

  ‘Staff account,’ she said.

  ‘Ah,’ Justin said and nodded knowingly. ‘Best reason in the world.’

  A waiter brought Megan her order of Calamari and onion rings.

  ‘I ordered a steak and a soda water to go,’ Justin said. ‘I think I’ll have it here, please.’

  ‘No problem at all, Sir,’ he assured Justin.

  ‘That is if the lady doesn’t mind,’ he said and winked at Megan.

  ‘Not at all,’ she said.

  ‘Could we also have a bottle of wine?’ Justin asked the waiter before he could stop himself. ‘Something red and sweet.’

  The waiter nodded.

  ‘What’s the occasion?’ Megan asked once the waiter left.

  Justin thought for a moment. ‘New friendships,’ he said. He had been sober for five years since vowing to never drink again. Not going to start now, he thought. Just a glass or two during dinner, that’s all.

  ‘So what do you do for a living, Mister Greene, with an e?’

  Justin didn’t want to spoil the mood by telling her that he was jobless, so instead opted for the little white lie. ‘I run my own computer business,’ he said.

  She smiled, showing off her perfect teeth. ‘I’m impressed, Mr. Greene.’

  Justin’s steak arrived and the two of them wined and dined for almost an hour. One bottle turned to two, and before long, Justin’s head was spinning.

  ‘Want to come back to my place?’ Megan asked after they finished the bottle.

  ‘I can’t...’

  Go with her, the voice instructed.

  ‘...see why not,’ Justin said and raised his hand to beckon the waiter. He paid for both meals and both bottles of wine and realized that he would have some heavy duty explaining to do in the morning.

  ‘Great,’ Megan said. There was the slightest hint of a slur in her speech. ‘I could use the company tonight.’

  They both left the restaurant together and the sudden fresh air only made Justin’s head spin even faster. Justin almost took the path back to his cabin, but Megan playfully tugged at his arm.

  ‘This way,’ she said and hooked her arm into his. Arm-in-arm, the two made their way toward her cabin.

  * - - - *

  By the time they reached Megan’s cabin, Justin’s head felt like it was bobbing around inside a tumble dryer. Just before reaching the door, Justin stumbled and Megan caught him. He hun
g his arms around her shoulders for support and they both giggled at his antics.

  ‘This is me,’ Megan said and there was a moment of silence as Justin tried to read her body language to see what it was that she wanted of him. Did she want him to return to his own bungalow? No. Her warm smile and inviting posture told him that she wanted quite the opposite.

  ‘So, Mister Greene with an e,’ she said and hooked her arms around his shoulders. ‘Do you want to come in?’

  Justin’s heart bounced around furiously in his chest. ‘I don’t know if that is such a good idea...’

  She ignored him and instead nibbled softly on his ear.

  Justin’s legs weakened. She smelled lovely; sweet and innocent, yet mature and irresistible at the same time.

  Kiss her, the invisible creature whispered into his ear. In the spiritual realm, little imp-like demons danced and twirled around the two. Kiss her! The demons danced faster and faster as they hissed suggestions of lust and desire.

  Justin’s head spun faster.

  Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her!

  His mouth searched for Megan’s.

  The demons chanted even louder and faster until their voices buzzed in a blur of white noise. Justin’s mind reeled. He pressed his lips hard against Megan’s and kissed her passionately.

  Silence.

  The demons stood perfectly still, eyeing the embraced pair; their mission accomplished. The creature waved them off and they scattered into the night air, in search of other victims. The demon grinned as it watched the two. Something caught its attention. It looked towards a few trees not too far away. Glowing eyes stared back from the darkness. The demon bowed and, taking one last look at the couple, shot into the night skies.

  Justin pulled himself away from Megan. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t do this,’ he said.

  ‘Yes you can,’ Megan said and tried to pull him closer.

  He broke free from her grip. ‘I have to get back to my wife...’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Megan asked seductively. ‘I only invite once.’

  Justin rubbed his throbbing temples. ‘I...I have to go.’ With that, he turned and stumbled down a path in the general direction he thought would lead to his cabin.

  Megan shook her head. ‘Men,’ she sighed and then went inside and closed the door.

  From behind one of the nearby trees a figure stepped into the path and observed Justin stumbling away in the distance. Its eyes glowed like burning embers and its snarl revealed razor sharp teeth. Justin’s one small act of adultery was all it needed to proceed with its mission. The damage was done. The gateway had been opened.

  * - - - *

  Justin tried to suppress the throbbing headache as he weaved through traffic. ‘Hello,’ he shouted into his cell phone. ‘Is this emergency services?’ The voice at the other end confirmed. ‘It’s my wife,’ he said and stole a worried glance at Rebecca. ‘There’s something wrong with her and I need to get her to a hospital urgently!’

  The dispatcher asked Justin a few routine questions and directed him to the nearest emergency room from his current location. Justin hung up and flung the phone on the back seat and accelerated the car.

  ‘You’re going to be fine, Baby,’ he said, not entirely sure just whom he was trying to convince. ‘I’m going to find you to a doctor and you’re going to be okay.’

  Rebecca didn’t answer. Her eyes were rolled back into her head and she shook while sweat ran down her forehead. Justin placed his hand over hers. It was icy cold.

  Food poisoning? he wondered. Not likely.

  Thoughts about the previous evening with Megan popped into his mind. No! Justin rebuked himself. That was a mistake! The throbbing in his temples stabbed into his brain like small daggers; unsympathetic and relentless.

  It took just under twenty minutes to reach the hospital. He pulled into the emergency parking lot and called a nurse for assistance. She rushed at them with a wheel chair and, with Justin’s assistance, carefully moved Rebecca from the car into the chair.

  ‘When last did she have anything to eat?’ the nurse asked as she wheeled Rebecca into the hospital.

  ‘Around noon, yesterday,’ Justin said. His throbbing head didn’t help much with the remembering process. ‘I think...’

  ‘Do you know if she’s been bitten or stung by anything?’

  ‘Not to my knowledge, no,’ Justin said.

  ‘Any allergies?’

  ‘Nothing that I’m aware of, except maybe gelatine and dust. Contact with it gives her a rash.’

  The nurse stopped at the front desk. ‘Any medical history that we should be aware of? Any recent operations or drug prescriptions?’

  Enough with the interrogation already! Help my wife! Justin merely shook his head.

  ‘All right,’ the nurse said. ‘Please fill out the relevant forms at the desk. We will take care of your wife.’

  Justin looked at Rebecca. She was barely conscious and not aware of her surroundings at all. ‘Where can I find her?’

  ‘Please wait here,’ the nurse said. She had no time for small talk. ‘I will fetch you when we’re done.’

  Defeated, Justin could only watch as the nurse pushed his wife down the hallway and into an elevator. The doors closed with a ding and Justin found himself standing in the reception area, alone. He made his way to the counter.

  ‘Excuse me,’ he asked the nurse behind the counter. ‘Do you have some aspirin?’

  She handed him two tablets and pointed to a water fountain in the corner of the room. Justin took a plastic cup from its holder and filled it with the crystal clear liquid.

  He then returned to the front desk and filled out the forms to the best of his ability. He paused at the employment section, wondering if he should write down his old job’s details. The word unemployed didn’t particularly go hand-in-hand with bill payments. He decided to fill the blank space with self-employed instead.

  ‘Mister Greene?’

  Justin turned to face the nurse that disappeared with his wife. ‘Is she...?’

  ‘She’s going to be fine,’ the nurse said. ‘We gave her something for dehydration as well as a Vitamin B12 intake.’ She paused. ‘Did you notice anything odd about your wife the last few days? Did she stop drinking water? Maybe vomit occasionally?’

  Justin shook his head. ‘Not that I know of.’

  ‘Well, I suggest you keep her in bed for two or three days and make sure that she keeps down all her liquids and solids.’

  Justin nodded.

  ‘Keep a close eye on her and notify us immediately if the symptoms should return.’

  Justin agreed, and while he waited for the nurse to fetch his wife, paid for the consultation and medication. He flinched when he thought about how they were going to get through the month. His antics the previous evening knocked a huge dent into their budget.

  He let Rebecca sleep on the way home and decided that he wouldn’t mention anything about the finances until she felt much better. Right now what she needed was a lot of rest and a worry-free mind.

  * - - - *

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Rebecca said weakly as Justin covered her with blankets. ‘I’m sorry that I ruined our anniversary.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ Justin said. He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the forehead. ‘It could have happened to anybody, and besides, it doesn’t matter what we do as long as we’re together, right?’ He tried to comfort her, but didn’t know if she registered anything he told her. ‘It’s not the location that matters. It’s being with you.’

  Rebecca forced a faint smile and closed her eyes.

  For a brief moment the thought of losing her crossed Justin’s mind. He shuddered and blocked out the idea. ‘Would you like something to eat, Becky?’ he asked. She managed a faint nod. ‘Maybe a nice cup of tea?’ Another nod. ‘I’ll be right back, baby,’ he said and left the room. On his way to the kitchen something felt out of place. He couldn’t figure out what it was at first, but soon realized that it was the study door.
It was open. Justin had a “house rule” that the study door should be closed at all times. It was mainly to keep his “work area” separate from the rest of the apartment, but also because the room only had a lace curtain that people could see through when the lights were on at night. He didn’t like the idea of outsiders being able to look right into their him and he insisted on having the door closed until they could afford decent curtains. Could be the wind, he thought and closed the door. He then made some toast and a cup of tea for his wife.

  * - - - *

  ‘Justin Greene?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘This is Doctor Jacobs, how are you?’

  ‘I’m fine, thank you, Doctor,’ Justin said. ‘And yourself?’

  ‘Likewise,’ Doctor Jacobs said. ‘Justin, I’m calling you about your wife.’

  Justin held his breath. ‘Yes…?’

  ‘I received Rebecca’s blood test results. When would you two be able to come in and see me?’

  Justin had to think. ‘We can make it on Thursday,’ he said. ‘Would that be all right?’

  There was a moment of silence and Justin almost thought that the line cut off. ‘Thursday will be fine,’ the doctor confirmed. ‘Say around nine?’

  ‘Nine is perfect,’ Justin said. ‘Is...is everything okay?’

  ‘I’d prefer to discuss the results with the two of you in person.’

  ‘Okay,’ Justin said defeated. ‘We’ll see you on Thursday. Thanks for calling.’

  Justin killed the line, wondering what could be so bad that the doctor couldn’t tell him over the phone. He figured that only time would tell.

  * - - - *

  ‘The reason I wanted you both to come in,’ Doctor Jacobs said once they were seated at his desk, ‘is because I have some rather interesting news regarding Rebecca’s blood test results.’

  Both of them leaned a bit forward without realizing it.

  ‘Rebecca, the analysis of your blood indicated the presence of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone.’