Catch A Succubus



  Catch

  A

  Succubus

  By

  J. R. Bowles

  Copyright by John Bowles

  Chapter 1

  Daniel rested his head on the fertile grass covered hill and stared up at the blue. A webbed vision before him weaved downward, shimmering a pale translucent light into his vision. Small buds of brilliant sparks danced around, sparks that spun, dancing themselves momentarily and then faded, only to be replaced by more orbs repeating their ritual.

  Yesterday while standing in line for assembly at school, he asked his teacher if these bright lights revolving in motion were atoms, or molecules. She had looked at him as if he were a three eyed toad, and told him it was impossible to see atoms with the naked eye, they were too small.

  If they weren’t atoms, then what were they? Quark? That was smaller than atoms. He kept gazing at the sky when his thoughts were interrupted.

  “Daniel. Where are you?” He heard the deep pitch yell of his best friend calling.

  He lay there a moment wondering whether he should answer or not. Finally, he came to the conclusion he probably should, after all, he was moving tomorrow.

  He liked Jimmy a lot. Probably because he was his only friend, and that he may even love him like friends that were close as brothers. If he would admit it he also felt jealous. Jimmy had everything going for him. They were both seventeen and Jimmy had it all. He was a super athlete, tall, good looking, just the thing all the girls liked and he made straight A’s in school.

  Daniel often wondered why Jimmy even tolerated him as a friend. He was everything Jimmy wasn’t. He hadn’t even hit puberty yet and he was past his seventeenth birthday. He was close to a foot shorter than Jimmy. He was on the heavy-side. Heavy-side? He was fat, short and squatty. Hair hadn’t even grown under his arms or around his private parts, yet. The doctors kept telling his mother―anytime. Some of the kids at school called him “jelly belly.” He hated that too, but didn’t know what to do about it. He had to admit he was lazy. He rarely did his homework and was lucky to make C’s in school.

  He guessed he should answer Jimmy, he might not see him for a while after today. He was moving. He had mixed feeling about moving. On one hand, he could start fresh and maybe he would leave that awful nick name behind, but basically he would miss his friend. Then there was his Stepfather. He didn’t like him. The truth was he hated him. He was an overbearing shit-for-brains. SFB for short. He was a high school football coach and all his brains lay in his crotch and his mother had fallen for him.

  Daniel’s father had died years earlier and even his image was becoming fuzzy in Daniel’s memory. Coach shit-for-brains, was always on him for something or other. Especially when his mother wasn’t around. Do this, do that, don’t sit around all the time. Put the video games up. He had tried to get a cell phone and his mother was going to say yes but the Coach said no and his mother had agreed. They weren’t even married then. They had only been married a couple weeks now and they were finally moving into Duncan’s house tomorrow.

  Daniel hadn’t seen the house yet but his mother said it had sixteen rooms and sat in the middle of a farm. He wondered where this place called Hiwassee was.

  He stood up, stretching, and motioned towards Jimmy. “Yo, Jimmy, I’m over here.”

  Jimmy swaggered up and grinned. “What are you doing out here? Flogging your log?”

  “No man, I had to get away from Coach shit-for-brains, Mr. Perfect.” Daniel answered with a shrug. “How did you find me?”

  “I went by your house you weren’t there, so I figured you would be here staring up at the sky again?” Jimmy glanced up at the sky a minute and then looked back at Daniel. “See anything new?”

  “No, same thing. I wished you could see it or at least somebody could. I feel like I’m going crazy.” Daniel shook his head while brushing grass off the back of his jeans.

  “I wished I could too. That’s what makes you so much fun. You see all kinds of things that nobody else sees.”

  Daniel shrugged off the compliment. “So, what do you want to do?”

  “Let’s go over my house and see if we can call up that ghost.” Jimmy said, already turning in that direction before Daniel could answer.

  That was another thing Daniel hated. Jimmy knew he was Daniel’s only friend and was always ordering him around and they were the same age. Just because he had grown tall several years ago. Daniel didn’t say a word and fell in behind Jimmy as they headed to Jimmy’s house.

  “Are your parents home?” Daniel asked as they walked through the field.

  “Nope, just Sandy.”

  Sandy was Jimmy’s older sister and he was forever tormenting her. That was another thing Daniel envied about Jimmy. He wasn’t an only child. Being an only child sucked. You got lonely, at least with a brother or sister you had someone to fight with.

  “She won’t bother us will she?” Daniel asked.

  “She's probably still on the phone with her new boyfriend, Hot Shot. We can go down in the basement. I've got the Ouija Board set up and waiting.”

  When they reached Jimmy's house they crossed through the kitchen to the back closed in porch and went down into the cool basement.

  Daniel liked Jimmy's house. It was always clean with its shiny hardwood floors. His own house was small with only two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. Since his mother had to go to work after his father died there hadn't been much money and she was always tired after work. In the back of his mind he hoped, “at least let the house they were moving to, be nice.” He couldn't blame his Mom for getting married again. He guessed it would make her life a lot easier.

  Daniel followed Jimmy down the steps and into the center of the basement. The only light came through a small window close to the ceiling. They squatted down in front of the Ouija Board and crossed their legs.

  “No cheating, okay?” Jimmy said.

  “Okay.”

  “Do or Die?” Jimmy asked.

  “Do or Die.” Daniel promised. It was their sacred vow of everlasting torment in hell if they broke the promise. They had formed the bond several years earlier when Daniel caught Jimmy in a lie. But if you broke it to your friend he would never be your friend again.

  “Do or Die?” Daniel quizzed him back.

  “Do or Die.” Jimmy said as he placed his fingers on the planchette. “Okay, put your fingers on the plain shit.” That was what they called it.

  Daniel followed touching it lightly. “You ask the first question?”

  Jimmy rocked back a moment and thought. “Is there any such thing as ghosts?”

  They became quiet and watched as the little wedge began its journey toward “yes.”

  Jimmy looked at Daniel and smiled. “Your turn.”

  “Is there a ghost here now?” Daniel asked in a whisper.

  Again it moved to “yes.” Each boy breathed shallowly for fear of breaking the concentration of the moment.

  “Can you show yourself?” Jimmy asked as his turn.

  “No.” Came the answer.

  Daniel sat there a moment and looked over at his friend. The coolness of the floor was already seeping in and numbing his ass cheeks. The darkness of the room seemed to close in on them as their external light source, a small window, dimmed from a passing cloud.

  “Are you a man or woman?” Daniel asked.

  Slowly the board went to the word “no.”

  “What?” Daniel said. “That don’t make any sense.”

  Jimmy took a slow deep breath. “What is your name?”

  “J. I. B. B. E. R. J. A. B.” Both boys repeated after each letter.

  “Your name i
s Jibberjab?” Jimmy asked again, out of turn.

  The planchette slide rapidly to “yes.”

  Daniel squinted his eyes at Jimmy for going out of turn but didn’t say anything. Jimmy hadn’t even realized he did it. After several moments Jimmy finally said to Daniel, somewhat disgruntled. “It’s your turn!”

  Daniel was feeling a little put out over the loss of a turn and glared back at his friend and nodded his head.

  Daniel finally came to the conclusion Jimmy didn’t know what he had done, and if he accused him of it now it would probably break the spell.

  Daniel inhaled and swallowed. “If you’re here, prove it.”

  As soon as Daniel issued the challenge a super loud pop came from the darkened corner of the basement.

  Both boys’ eyes widened and Jimmy jumped to his feet. Daniel was slower but moved faster than he normally did. Jimmy was already at the top of the basement steps by the time Daniel reached the first step. Daniel followed Jimmy all the way out the back door.

  “What was that?” Jimmy stopped and waited for Daniel.

  “I don’t know.” Daniel answered, in between wheezes of breath.

  “Do you think it was that ghost, Jibberjab?”

  Daniel looked back at the house to see if anything followed them and tried to rationalize. “Probably just the house settling or a can popping.”

  “Awful loud for the house settling.” Jimmy argued running his hand through his sandy hair. “Uh oh. Here comes the cannibal.”

  Jimmy’s sister, older by just over a year, opened the storm door and stuck her head out the door. “What’s going on out here?”

  “Nothing.” Jimmy glared up at her.

  “Listen, Mom said, I’m in charge so you better quit running through the house.”

  Jimmy huffed up and challenged her. “Shut up, and leave us alone or I’ll tell Mom you had Hot Shot in the house and we caught you in the bedroom.”

  Sandy reached inside the door, grabbed a broom and sailed down the steps at Jimmy. “You lying little turd eater. You might have just had your seventeenth birthday but you won’t live to see eighteen. You go telling lies and I’ll kill you while you sleep.”

  Jimmy turned and sped away with Sandy in quick pursuit. He ran around the corner of the house and into the small vegetable garden, jumping rows of bean plants. He turned to see how far she was behind him, which caused him to trip. He hit the dirt and jumped back up breaking into a run. At the short pause Sandy swung the broom flat into the side of his head.

  Jimmy turned and started screaming profanity and picked up a clod of dirt and slung it at her. His face was burning red with rage as he pelted her over and over with dried dirt balls.

  “You whore-bitch!” He yelled as Daniel was joined by several neighborhood kids to watch their latest battle.

  “Don’t call me names you ass-wipe.” Sandy retorted, raising her arm to fend off the dirt clods. She swung the broom again, connecting with his side.

  Jimmy lost the last of his control and ran at her with fists in motion. “Go fuck Hot Shot, you slut!”

  Sandy didn’t back down and commenced with repeated slaps to his face and head.

  Daniel turned and walked away just as Jimmy kicked her in the shin. Daniel had seen enough of their fights to know they would be at it for a while. The sun had set behind the distant mountain. The street lights had popped on and he knew his mother would be home soon. So would Duncan and he groaned inwardly at the thought.

  Duncan had already been at him for being late for supper last night and they hadn’t been married long. At least his mother hadn’t tried to make him take Duncan’s last name. “Osborne,” he whispered to himself, “ugh, it’s enough to make me sick.”

  Daniel was proud of his own name, Austin. Truly a proud name to have. He had often wondered if he was related to Steven Austin, the man they named the capital of Texas after. Of course this was Virginia, a long ways from Texas but then there was a town west of them called Austinville. A much better name than this town Pulaski. Pulaski! What a name. Even if it was named after some Polish General. Of course the story he liked to believe was that there was a man who had a horse named Laski and the horse shit in the middle of the road and the man said, “pu...laski,” and that was how Pulaski got its name.

  As the stars began blinking in the sky Daniel picked up speed. He wasn't a runner, it made his belly bounce too much, but he started walking fast. Several times he had to catch himself as he started to skip. Boys don't skip!

  Although, Pulaski was a small town its street lights were far apart. As Daniel walked under the first one it blinked out. Daniel was startled and tried to run. The darkness ahead of him seemed to close in and wait for him. He was afraid of the dark. He even had to have a night light. He stopped and gasped for air from the short sprint and stared into the dark foreboding road ahead.

  He began to walk quietly listening to every sound. What had caused that street light to go out, he asks himself? That had been happening frequently lately. Twice, he corrected himself. Last night his night light blew, just before Duncan opened his bedroom door to check on him. Thank goodness for that, at least he hadn't caught him sleeping with the light on. It would only be something else for him to complain about. The night before the kitchen light blew out and Daniel climbed up on a chair to change it. That was when he heard Duncan say, “Kelli, you overindulge the boy, you're going to turn him into a sissy.”

  Daniel turned to look behind him at that same moment the street light came back on. He took off running again. Why did these things happen to him? Did they happen to anybody else?

  Daniel managed to run the rest of the way down Dillon Street and onto his front porch before he felt like puking. Although, his side hurt, he smiled as he eyed his mother's car in the driveway, realizing Duncan wasn’t here yet. His smile faded quickly as a car light turned the corner and Duncan’s car pulled up in front.

  Daniel tried to calm his breathing so he wouldn't hear him puffing.

  “Boy, what are you doing out here?” Duncan climbed out of the car slamming the door. His big frame approached and loomed over Daniel's mere five feet, or actually four feet eleven and a half, but Daniel claimed five even.

  Daniel leaned his head back and glared up through the dim light provided from the living room window at the man. He studied his stepfather's face a moment but didn't answer.

  Duncan's eyes beaded up, his lips drew thin, and Daniel watched his mouth move but Daniel didn't catch what he was saying. It sounded like he was mumbling.

  Duncan ran his hand across the top of his rust colored flat top and leaned down toward Daniel.

  “Are you listening to me? I just ask you, if you just got home?”

  “Yeah.” Daniel shuffled his feet back and forth and dropped his head to stare through the darkness at his own worn-out tennis shoes. Was the man going to hit him?

  Duncan shrugged and straightened up and started opening the front door but paused and looked back at Daniel.

  His voice became deep and stiff. “I'm going to tell you once and you better listen. Last night I told you to be home before dark. Since, I'm new and you're not used to me, I'll excuse you once, but only once. Do you understand?”

  “Look at me when I talk to you. What did you say?” His voice boomed.

  “Yes.” Daniel muttered refusing to look at the man. “I understand.” Daniel looked up in fear.

  “Okay, come on in now. Your Mom's probably worried. I'll handle her. You go wash up and get ready for supper.”

  Daniel followed behind him and headed straight to the bathroom. He heard Duncan through the outer door complaining to his mother.

  “Kelli, you've let that boy run wild. He’s seventeen; practically a man and you let him do anything he wants. He has no discipline. He has to straighten up if he ever wants to make it in this world.”

  “Honey, try to let him get used to you a little while.” He
heard his mother answer and then a pause with the sound of a kiss.

  Daniel felt sick. Why had his mother married this jerk?

  “He lives in a fantasy world, all those worthless books about UFO's and the occult. It's not healthy.”

  “I know you're right but with working full time and everything I just haven't been able to spend enough time with him. Besides he needs a man’s strong guidance.”

  Daniel stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He balled his fists up and punched at his own image.

  He punched at the air pretending it was Duncan. After several seconds he calmed down and started to think.

  Tomorrow they were moving to a big house. Duncan's house he corrected himself. Maybe it would be big enough so he wouldn't have to run into him.

  Daniel finished washing and joined his mother and Duncan at the kitchen table. He pulled out a chair and flopped down.

  “That's no way to sit down in a chair.” Duncan scolded. “Now get up and act like a respectable young man. It's no wonder your mother's furniture is split, broken or frayed.”

  Daniel glanced over at his mother with a short plea for protections but she just stared down at her plate.

  Daniel didn't say anything but just stood up and slowly sat back down.

  “Better.” Duncan paused and reached for Daniel's plate and forked up a small portion of roast beef and a spoonful of broccoli and handed it back to Daniel.

  “Here,” Duncan said and Daniel stared down at the meager amount of food. “Since you were late getting home tonight, this is all you get to eat.

  Daniel didn’t even glance at his mother this time. He knew it wouldn’t do any good. Daniel wolfed down the food while Duncan talked to his mother. He tuned them out and faded away into his own thoughts.

  “If you’re finished go to bed.” Duncan said and then paused for a moment while waiting for Daniel to respond. “Are you listening? Boy, you better start paying attention when somebody talks to you.”

  Daniel stood up, picked up his plate and went to the sink. He placed his plate in the sink.

  “Now go to bed.” Duncan ordered. “The movers will be here early and you’re going to help them. Even if we’re not taking much of this junk.”

  Daniel felt his mother cringe slightly at the word junk. He knew it wasn’t valuable but his father had bought a lot of the nick-knacks for her.

  Daniel didn’t look at either one of them but mumbled goodnight and went towards his room. As he started to open the door Duncan said, “And I want you in bed in fifteen minutes.”

  He turned and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. It was all Daniel could do to keep from slamming the door but he knew if he did it would only make Duncan worse. He hurried so he could get to bed. He wanted to hurry up and go to sleep. The previous nights had been miserable. Daniel had lain awake listening to them, “doing it.” It was disgusting sounds. He hated his mother for doing it with Duncan. Although, Daniel understood that it was to be expected. They were married.

  He thought back at the several times he had heard his mother and father “doing it.” Back then Daniel thought how great it must be, but not now. Daniel finished and went to his bedroom, stripped down to his underwear and crawled into bed. He lay there reading a graphic novel when he heard his mother knock at the door. He knew it was her, Duncan always just walked right in!

  “Come in.” Daniel answered.

  “Hi baby.” She said walking over to the bed and sitting down. “I brought you a little snack. But don’t tell Duncan, okay?”

  “Thanks Mom.” Daniel sat up and started to reach for the sandwich then stopped himself. “I better not.” He shook his head. “If he finds out he’ll be angry at you too.”

  Kelli sat there for a moment and pushed the dark brown hair off Daniel’s forehead and kissed him there. “Try to be patient with him. I know it’s difficult right now but it will get better.”

  Daniel nodded and watched her walk away. She still treated him like a young boy. He knew it was his size and the fact he hadn’t reached puberty. Sometimes he even felt like a young kid but he wasn’t! “Damn it,” he thought, “I’m seventeen.”

  At the door his mother turned and pushed her hair behind her right ear. “Better turn out the light now and go to sleep, tomorrow’s a big day. Goodnight.”

  Daniel finished the page and folded the corner. He was placing it on the night stand when Duncan walked in.

  “Turn out the light and go to sleep.” He barked while moving closer to stand over Daniel. He looked around the room for a second and then reached down and pulled the covers off Daniel. “Just checking to see if she brought you any food.”

  “What the… She didn’t!” Daniel snapped and reached for the covers but Duncan didn’t release them at Daniel’s tug.

  Duncan ran his eyes over Daniel’s body. “Boy, if you get any fatter you’re going to have to wear a bra.” He dropped the covers, reached and turned out the light. He walked to the door and paused, looking back at Daniel.

  “Boy, don’t you ever snap at me again.”

  When the door closed Daniel felt tears forming in his eyes. He rolled over and cried into his pillow. He knew he was too old for this but he couldn’t help it. He felt like a child.

  “Why God, why?” He cried quietly. “It just ain’t fair. I miss you daddy.” His heart felt as if he had been stabbed and his throat had a large angry lump in it. His cries were long continuous hissing notes and finally they faded to quiet sobs and sniffles.

  Finally the pain was exhausted and he drifted into a restless sleep.