The Incubus Under my Bed

Chapter 2

Stella got out and Aria stayed put knowing her grandfather had questions that she needed to answer. Able got into the back of his granddaughter's Honda Civic. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed her forehead.

"If you're not happy say something," he started. "Your parents will understand if school isn't working out."

"Grandpa everything is fine. I got a B+ on that test and I wanted an A- at least. I felt like I failed myself because I could do better and have done better. Tyrell has nothing to do with anything. We're over and that's that," Aria said.

"Aria you're twenty-one and a junior in college. You don't have to justify any feelings you have. As long as you're happy I'm happy," he said trying to make this into a chill moment. Aria knew if she really did fail that test she'd be getting her ass chewed out right now.

"I love you," she said hugging him.

"I love you too baby girl."

-IUMB-

Dinner was perfect. All her family gathered in her house yelling over one another like kids on a playground, and her evil little cousins destroying the house. What could be better?

Allie Mae, Aria's older sister came over with her three kids and so did her older brother Lukas. Together Alejandro Fernandez-Zugasti and Diana Davis had three kids, but the totals for kids they had with others weren't as well rounded. Lukas and Allie weren't a part of that three. They were Diana’s oldest two along with Aria's older brother Logan who chose not to make an appearance tonight. Aria, her little brother Aj (Alejandro Junior), and her sister Eve (Evangeline) were Diana's last three and only three with Alejandro sir. The younger two were bickering about the PS5 and the older two were reminiscing about something Aria didn't remember and people she hope she'll never see again.

Aria's father started to play the piano and everyone stopped what they were doing to join in. He was playing her mother's favorite song "I'm Going Up Yonder." Aria sat next to her dad and Eve was on his lap. Aria loved singing with her dad, it was her favorite thing in the whole world. Nothing mattered around this piano. They were just a happy family, there were no expectations, no magical manipulation, no disappointment, just love. Sunday was by far the best day of the week.

After a couple of songs Henri was standing by her little brother in front of the piano. "Times up," he reminded her. Aria looked over at the clock and it was 10:45 twelve hours from the time he disappeared.

Aria kissed her dad on the cheek and got up. "Going to bed already?" he asked her.

"I'm just really tired," she lied.

Her dad looked at her. He was reading her aura like her grandfather did in the car, and Stella before him. She was tired of everyone invading her privacy. They could never take things at face value they always looked for more.

"I'll tuck you in," he teased her.

"I don't need you to check on me. Night daddy," she said kissing his forehead as Aj took her spot on the piano bench.

Aria waited until they were in her room with the door closed to address him. "How many times do I have to tell you not to pop up when my family is here? They can sense you, you i***t!" she yelled at him. "Do you really want one of them to kill you?" she asked.

"You said twelve hours that's how long I stayed away," he said laying on her bed. "Make with the magic Glenda," he ordered her.

"Take this somewhere that's not here," Aria said. She went through her jewelry box and pulled out a small vial with purple liquid in it.

"You had it in there the whole time?" he questioned. He knew she made the potion before but was too afraid to give it to him.

"Yes, yes I did," she said. "Now leave," she ordered him.

"I can't do that," he said taking the cap off the vial.

"Why not,” she yelled.

"I have to know this is the real deal," he said as he tossed his head back and swallowed the potion in one gulp.

She stared at him and he still looked the same. "Can you see me?" he asked.

"Yes i***t," she yelled. "That's the problem!"

"Not for me I was try the invisibility thing you like so much. Sorry it's busted," he smiled. "Get Stella," he demanded.

"No, I won't get Stella. She'll tell half the world, specifically, the half my parents live in," she yelled as she felt panic rise in her stomach and tighten her chest. He looked into her deep brown eyes and smirked at the worry she was trying to hide with anger. He rubbed her soft mocha colored cheek. "I can't get Stella," she said knowing he was trying to break her.

Henri put his forehead to hers. "I need to know that other people can see me before I go," he said locking eyes with her.

"I'll get Aj, and try not to be an asshole to my little brother," she asked.

"He should knock before he opens your door, so you have the opportunity to tell him to go away," Henri grumbled. Aj was usually the one catching them in the act, not that he could see Henri if he wanted to. Anyhow, Henri was just as annoyed.

"He's the only one I trust," she said begging for his cooperation with her eyes.

"Fine," he said letting her wonder downstairs to collect her little brother.

Aria raced down the hall and down the steps back to the living room which a lot of her family still occupied giving that the next day would be a work and school day. "Aj, I need you for a minute," she said as she pulled him away.

Her dad saw her desperation as she tried to drag her little brother away. "What's wrong?" he asked as he stopped playing the piano.

"Nothing, keep playing I just need Aj," she insisted. Everyone in the room analyzed her weird behavior. That was the last thing she needed.

"What do you want Ari?" Aj groaned.

"It’s just a spider can you please kill it?" she begged him. Her family knew about her fear of spiders and everyone thought it was stupid. Eve took a piece of paper and gently rubbed it across Aria's neck. Aria jumped and screamed. Everyone laughed at her.

"I'm going to kill you in your sleep," Aria yelled.

"It’s not my fault you're a big baby," Eve said acting like a ten-year-old and not the sophisticated thirteen year old she claimed to be.

"Girls stop it. Come show me the spider," her dad said.

"No, I'll handle it," Aria said.

Aj felt bad for her and followed his sister upstairs. "It’s not a spider is it?" he asked.

"No, it’s not a spider," she said as they walked down the hall to her room.

"I knew it. You wouldn't care who killed it you'd just want it gone."

Aria stopped at her door and turned to Aj. "You can't tell anyone about what you see in here," Aria pleaded.

"You seem really desperate," he smiled.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Open the door. I have to assess the damage before I can give you a final cost."

Great, she was now being extorted by her little brother. "Just because you're almost eighteen doesn't mean I won't kick your ass," she warned him.

"You wish you could kick my ass." She'd never admit it but over the years Aj got stronger and she didn't. Ari sucked in a deep breath and turned the knob on the door. "No one can know," she repeated for good measure.