Drained: The Lucid (37 page)

Mrs. Hanfield flicked a dismissive wrist and motioned for Riley to return to her seat. “You don’t get to own a shop like mine without bumping into a few cubare.” She dropped the book onto the small table; a small cloud of dust puffed up. The teacups rattled with the impact but didn’t spill their contents. Riley waved a hand in front of her face as she used her other arm to shield their drinks from the ancient dust.

“Normally, I’d suggest a simple protection amulet, but your situation seems a bit more serious.” Mrs. Hanfield flipped to the near center of the book and pointed a stout finger to a drawing on the yellowing page. “But, this is what you need, dear, for your incubus problem.”

The dust now settled, Riley leaned forward to better inspect the page. She took in the line rendering of three uniquely shaped stones. “What are they?”

“These amulets will protect whomever uses them. The combination of the three,” Mrs. Hanfield explained, “will keep the cubare from the sleeper’s dreams. Even if it were Lilith herself.”

“So they’re similar to a dream catcher?” Riley asked.

Mrs. Hanfield hummed. “Similar is the key word. Dream catchers keep out the nightmares. These amulets will keep out
all
the dreams. And without dreams, the cubare have no doorway to enter.”

“So she won’t be able to dream?” The words slipped out of their own fruition.

The shopkeeper’s keen eyes narrowed shrewdly. “Who is it that you’re trying to protect, dear?”

Riley jerked to attention. “This has been extremely helpful, Mrs. Hanfield.”

“Please, call me Meriel,” Mrs. Hanfield corrected.

Riley scooted to the edge of her chair and leaned closer to the pages of the book. “So it’s really that easy?” She read a short passage that accompanied the drawings. “A couple of amulets, and we’re locked out? It sounds like garlic and vampires.”

The shopkeeper nodded. “It’s all true. Well, I’m not sure about the garlic bit. But this is the oldest method on record. It’ll work.”

Riley lowered her voice, even though the last customers had exited the store hours prior. “If it were that simple, then why aren’t we all blocked?”

“You forget that most humans have no idea of your existence. And even if they did, what good would that do? Your kind is most satisfied through dreams. If we blocked it off, then you’d be forced to drain energy in person.” She topped off Riley’s still-full teacup. “If that scenario doesn’t stir trouble, I don’t know what would.”

The succubus nodded wistfully at the awful thought. She could imagine how angry the cubare community would be if they were dependent on feeding outside of the realm. There was so much risk and not enough gain to justify the means.

The two women continued their conversation, enthusiasm and curiosity fueling the discussion late into the evening. In the few hours that Riley spent at the shop, she learned far more about her own kind than she ever had from other cubare or even from the archives at work. She wouldn’t be leaving empty-handed. With Meriel’s help, Riley had filled three large bags worth of goods. The last time she had bought so many things, Madison had dragged her to the fashion district.

It had been tempting to buy everything she had touched throughout the day. They were like tales from another world: theories, spells, biographies, and more. She couldn’t stop thumbing through the pages or observing the worldly trinkets. For the books she purchased, she would have to store many of her old company manuals to make room for them.

But the most important objects sat on top of the bagged items. The amulets Morgan would require were carefully packaged in bubble wrap and packing paper.

When the sun disappeared into the horizon, Riley decided it was best to begin her trip home. She had a few clients to see before visiting Morgan, and she didn’t want to be late.

• • •

That night, when Riley arrived in Morgan’s dream, she brought the amulets with her instead of a bag of books. She dangled the metal charms by their chains and held them in front of the other girl. Each piece bore slightly different markings and different colored stones. Morgan looked skeptical at her findings.

Her fingers traced over the metal detailing, and she inspected the delicate craftsmanship closely. “This will work?” She eyed Riley with suspicion. “Don’t get me wrong, they’re very pretty, but I honestly was expecting something more …”

“Ancient and grand?” Riley folded the chains into Morgan’s hand. “I was underwhelmed, too, but the woman at the store was pretty convincing. You’ll have to take them out of the realm when you wake up.”

“Well, I have a great teacher.” Morgan stepped closer to the succubus. It was the closest they had been since the night of the break in. “I’m sure I’ll be able to do it.”

Even though this was a dream, Riley could feel the heat radiating off of the human’s body. The air surrounding her was laced with Morgan’s subtle scent, and it was intoxicating. There was a magnetic pull toward the other woman, and Riley couldn’t help but wonder if it would be the same outside of the realm.

“What do I do with these once I wake up?” Morgan gripped the amulets together.

“You need to hang them on your wall. Each side or one side, but they need to be in the room you sleep in.”

Morgan inspected the simple stones that would be the resolution to her nightmares. “So I hang these up in whatever room I’m sleeping in, and I’ll be protected,” she echoed. “I don’t suppose you know how they actually work outside of magic?”

Riley’s lip curled up on one side. “That big brain of yours is working overtime, huh?”

Morgan nodded. She flexed her fingers around the amulets and they clacked against each other.

“They prevent you from having dreams.”

Morgan looked up sharply. “I won’t be able to dream?”

Riley felt guilty all over again. She had never wanted this for Morgan. The average person might take dreams for granted, but as a succubus who rarely had the ability to dream herself, she knew what she was asking Morgan to give up.

“Why can’t I lock the doors and cast bars on the windows?” Her gaze lifted and turned to the kitchen. When Riley looked as well, a set of black bars had appeared over the restored windowpane.

Riley laid her hand on Morgan’s forearm. “Stop. You’ll be tired when you wake up,” she stated quietly. “If there’s a dream, there’s always a way in.” She sighed at the truth of her words. “Your locked door didn’t stop me from entering my first time.” Riley cracked a weak smile in an attempt to lessen the thickness of the air.

“I’ll get rid of the spare key.”

“I know you will.” She faltered and pulled the woman into a quick hug. Morgan’s hair smelled clean and sweet. “Until I can understand that brain of yours, I can’t assume that it’ll be enough to keep you safe. Right now, all I know is that blocking all access is the safest bet.” She pulled back and distanced their bodies.

Morgan’s lower lip stuck out. “I think I’d much rather have you here with me.”

“I would if that would be enough. But you saw what happened to your home. What if they blindside you and flash in here without warning? No sofa against a door will save you then.”

Morgan had a point about her dreams; her brain worked in a mysterious way. In Riley’s own experience, it wasn’t until later into their visits that she could flash herself directly inside. Each time before had deflected her to the exterior of Morgan’s home. And with the rate in which she was learning to manipulate the realm, Riley was sure Morgan would be able to defend herself. But it was, however, a theory she didn’t want to test.

Riley slipped the card out of her back pocket, second-guessing if she should give it to Morgan. She sucked in a sharp breath. “I’ve got something else for you.”

“Another present?” Morgan weakly teased. “You really are one of Santa’s elves.”

“Minus the mistletoe,” Riley said, unthinking.

Morgan’s lips curled into a playful grin; it was a sight Riley had almost forgotten. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Riley recoiled with suspicion.

Morgan looked toward the ceiling, and Riley’s gaze followed, settling on the green-leafed plant. “I taught you too well,” Riley muttered.

Morgan hummed and rocked back on her heels. “So what’s my second present?”

“It’s less of a present,” Riley admitted. She awkwardly pressed the paper stock into Morgan’s palm.

Morgan’s eyebrows lifted as she inspected the careful font on the front of the business card.

“If this doesn’t work, call me,” Riley explained.

“So this is really it then?” Morgan’s eyes couldn’t stray from the floor. “I think I can say, with finality, that I officially hate Christmas now.”

“Hey.” Riley guided Morgan’s chin up to meet her gaze. “I’ll see you again. I promise.” It was her word, and she planned to keep true to it. “Now, wake up.” With one last kiss to the corner of Morgan’s mouth, she urged the girl to go.

Morgan stood rigid after the too chaste kiss. “I don’t know if I can.”

Riley took Morgan’s hands in her own. The action was difficult because she didn’t want to let go of the woman. But for now, for her safety, it had to happen. “All you need to do is focus.” An endearing pet name danced on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back. “Focus on what’s in your hands and the safety of your bed. Before you know it, you’ll wake up.”

“And all I have to do is hang these in the room and try to go back to sleep.”

Riley nodded her head. She watched Morgan close her eyes and breathe out through her mouth.

In a few moments, Riley woke up in her own bed, jolted from the realm. Morgan had made herself wake up. A part of her was proud of how quickly her pupil had learned to manipulate the realm, but being kicked out of a dream was still unsettling and unnatural.

She looked over at her nightstand and stared at the digital clock. Minutes took forever to pass by, and it made her anxious. When enough time had passed, Riley closed her eyes to focus on the yellow kitchen she had come to adore. “Morgan Ambre Sullivan.” She muttered the words out loud, but the familiar pull of the realm never came. Disappointment washed over her when her eyes opened to the familiar sight of an apartment bedroom. If Morgan had fallen asleep again, it meant that the amulets had worked as promised. Riley would continue to try to access her throughout the night in case the human with an overactive brain had trouble falling back asleep. To be certain that the amulets continued to work, she would test every night forward, but until what end, she wasn’t sure.

She blinked back the excess moisture that had begun to well, determined not to let it get the best of her. If she had felt less, she could have immediately looked for a new mark on the database to replace Morgan—a new mark that would give her the life source she needed and push her toward her work goals. But until the whirlwind of emotions inside her chest decided to settle, she would lie in bed and try to forget what the last six months had done to her.

For over six hours Riley stayed in bed and watched as night turned into the first glimmer of a dawning day. It was a new start, and the world outside seemed determined to move forward at a pace that her own body did not agree with. From the moment she had phased back from Morgan’s dream, the will to move from beyond the confines of her mattress was nonexistent.

Although much her body had ceased to function, her mind, on the other hand, was running on all cylinders. The amulets had worked and she could no longer access Morgan’s dreams. But more importantly, so could no one else. She replayed their last moments together countless times and entertained hundreds of scenarios where things could have resulted differently. But it was the regret of all the questions that were never asked that spun in her head like a chaotic whirlwind.

The largest of her regrets was not being able to ask,
Is there even an us?
For a seventy-year-old succubus, what had transpired with Morgan was making Riley feel unsure of herself.

It wasn’t long ago that Morgan had given her a name. It was a moment that Riley knew she’d remember for the rest of her days. Hearing the words come from Morgan’s panting mouth was intimacy in a way she wasn’t aware existed, and she wanted to experience it again. But to hear consent from Morgan, to know that she wanted her in the same ways, merely confirmed that their physical attraction was mutual. Physical attraction wasn’t the part of the equation that Riley needed to know. She had lust and physical connection in her life—ample amounts. What the succubus wanted was more in a relationship, and she realized she wanted that
more
with Morgan.

She ruminated over their final moments one last time. Before she had made Morgan wake up, she had slipped her a card along with the amulets. It had been her Trusics business card that listed her name, personal phone number, and work e-mail. She had boxes of them gathering dust in a closet in her apartment. She rarely gave them out, and she had most certainly never given one to a mark. By giving Morgan that rectangle of paper stock, Riley was letting her hold all the power. It was a complete role reversal, and she hoped that detail didn’t go unnoticed. Previously, Riley controlled when and how often they would see each other in the realm. The only way Morgan could deny her was by staying awake. Now, however, the business card left Riley vulnerable to whatever Morgan would or wouldn’t do with the information. She had given Morgan a way to solidify an intangible connection. It would be up to the other woman to take their relationship out of the realm and into the waking world.

Riley blinked. The simple act made her painfully aware at how much it stung. Her eyes were dry from staring at the ceiling.

She glanced over to the phone on the nightstand. Her sanity would unravel if she continued to dwell over what Morgan was thinking. She knew it was unlikely that Morgan would call or text this soon, if at all. But all Riley wanted was to hear her playful, taunting voice to help her forget her problems, if only momentarily. Morgan was her drug, and she needed a fix.

The phone sounded a single chime, and it broke the silence of the home. Riley shot up in bed and fumbled at grabbing the device. The tightness in her throat relaxed.
Been worried about you, stranger. Meet for brunch?
It was Heather.