Sleep Honey

"You're home!" Owen exclaimed as I walked through the door. He peered out of his study, his smile dropping slightly when he saw who was with me.

I knew why. Shadow was trailing right behind me. "Ah, remember Aunt Kathy?" I said, trying to keep my tone light. I was banking on Owen's notoriously bad memory when it came to faces or people. The strategy was simple: I would trick Owen into believing that Aunt Kathy—an aunt I didn't actually have—had asked me to babysit her son for a couple of days.

"This is Kevin, her son," I continued, gesturing to Shadow. "She asked me to babysit him for a bit." Owen looked at me, a bit of confusion clouding his eyes as he tried to recall a person who didn't exist. After a moment, he shrugged and smiled. "Sure," he said, easily swayed as always.

Shadow stepped beside me, his expression wary as he glanced at Owen. It was the first time he'd seen Owen in his human form, and I could sense his unease. "This is Owen," I said to Shadow, giving him a pointed look. "Please, behave."

Shadow seemed to understand; he remembered how he used to growl at Owen when he was just a pup. "Hello, Owen," he said, his voice a little stiff.

Owen grinned, walking over to us, his broad frame barely covered by the shorts he was wearing. He patted Shadow on the shoulder in a friendly manner before moving past him into the living room. Then he picked up his white PS5 controller and turned back to Shadow. "Do you want to play?"

He held out the controller, and Shadow looked at it, confused. I suddenly realized I had no idea how much experience Shadow had with things like this. "I never had," Shadow admitted, his voice uncertain.

"Never?" Owen asked, blinking in surprise. "You've never played?"

Shadow shook his head, looking troubled by his lack of experience. Owen just smiled. "Don't worry, kid. I'll teach you." He gestured for Shadow to sit down and turned on the console, settling next to him.

As the screen lit up, Shadow glanced at me, still confused. I gave him a reassuring smile, encouraging him to give it a try. I felt a pang of guilt for putting him in this awkward position. Shadow had always been wary of Owen, growling at him whenever he got too close. Yet here Owen was, relaxed and friendly, completely unaware that this was the same pup who used to snarl at him.

I made my way to the kitchen, glancing over my shoulder to see how they were getting along. Slowly but surely, Shadow was learning, his interest piqued by the new experience. I watched them in silence as I started to cook, the simple domesticity of the scene soothing my frayed nerves.

Bringing Shadow over had been my idea. I needed an anchor, something to keep me grounded, especially with all the strange things happening at night. I planned to sleep in the guest room with Shadow tonight, hoping his presence might help me make sense of my confusion.

I glanced back at the living room again, watching as Shadow's eyes widened in awe at the game unfolding on the screen. He was learning quickly, his little hands mastering the controller with growing confidence. My heart warmed at the sight of them together, Shadow's curiosity blending with Owen's easygoing nature in a way I hadn't expected.

We settled down to eat together, and I could see Shadow becoming more at ease. He was asking Owen questions about the game, his initial shyness replaced by a genuine interest. Owen answered each question patiently, seemingly enjoying the role of teacher. It was almost… normal. And for a moment, I allowed myself to hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be normal. At least for now.

I was lying down on the small bed with Shadow curled into my arms, his small body warm and comforting against mine. We spoke softly, his little voice full of excitement as he recounted stories of his days with the other kids at the reservoir. He mentioned how Zeff would take him training in the woods, exercising twice a day, his eyes lighting up as he talked about his newfound strength and agility.

The door to the bedroom creaked open, and I turned to see Owen peering in. His expression was hard to read, but there was a strange tension in his eyes. "It's past midnight, Liliam," he said, his voice low and firm. "Why are you in here?"

"I was just talking with Kevin here," I replied quickly, trying to keep my tone light and casual.

Owen's gaze shifted to Shadow, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Shouldn't he be asleep at this time?"

I glanced between them, my mind scrambling for an excuse. "Let him sleep,"he said. "He'll be fine. Come back to bed with me."

Something felt off, a prickling sensation at the back of my neck. I forced a laugh, hoping to ease the tension. "I'll be there soon," I promised.

But Owen wasn't satisfied. He strode over to the side of the bed, his movements too smooth, too controlled. He grabbed my hand, his grip firm and unyielding. "He can sleep by himself," he insisted.

Shadow, sensing the threat, growled instinctively, his small hand shooting out to grab Owen's wrist. Owen blinked, his lips curling into a slow, sinister smirk that sent a chill down my spine.

With his free hand, Owen snapped his fingers. "Go to sleep, mutt."

Shadow slumped back onto the bed, his eyes closing instantly, his body going limp. It was as if an invisible spell had been cast over him. I gasped, alarmed, and sat up, my heart racing. I glanced at Owen, my breath catching in my throat as I saw his eyes—they were no longer his familiar brown, but a dark, inky black with a hint of red.

"See? All asleep, honey," he said, his voice smooth, almost mocking.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. "Who are you?" I demanded, trying to control the quiver in my voice, my hands trembling at my sides.

"Owen is tired after a long day of babysitting," he replied, his voice warped and distorted, a cruel smile playing at his lips. "So he went to sleep. As should you." He gestured towards the door, a clear command to follow.

My mind was racing, my heart pounding against my ribs. What the hell is going on? "Liliam," he said, his tone growing more impatient. "I'm still Owen, you know. Just… not the saint version of it. I promise you, I don't bite."

His eyes glinted with a strange light, and I could feel a dark energy emanating from him, something primal and dangerous. "If you don't want things to become complicated with the little pup here," he added, nodding towards Shadow, still asleep on the bed, "just come to bed with me."

My blood ran cold. The sinister undertone in his words was impossible to ignore. I glanced back at Shadow, his small form peaceful and unaware, and then back at Owen—no, not Owen, not entirely. Whoever this was, whatever he had become, it wasn't the man I knew. My mind screamed at me to run, to get out of there, but I was frozen, caught between fear for Shadow and the dark, magnetic pull of the man in front of me.

I stood up, my legs trembling slightly as I cautiously followed the man in front of me. His grip on my shoulder was firm, pulling me closer as he whispered, "Thank you, honey." He guided me toward our shared bed with a familiarity that sent shivers down my spine.

I didn't know what else to do. My mind was spinning with confusion and fear. This man looked like Owen—his face, his build, even his voice was the same—but there was something profoundly different. His eyes glinted red, an unsettling glow that made my stomach churn. His energy felt... off. How long had he been like this?

"I was born with Owen," he said suddenly, as if he could read my thoughts. His tone was casual, almost conversational. "He's a decent guy, to say the least, but he went all out when he met you."

The statement sent a chill through me. I had been naked with Owen countless times, but tonight, under this gaze, I felt exposed and vulnerable in a way I never had before. I crossed my arms over my chest, instinctively trying to shield myself, but he just chuckled. "After all those years? Come on, Liliam, I promise you that this time we're just going to sleep. I just want a little contact, that's all. Unless, of course, you want something else. I would gladly provide."

His words were laced with a strange mix of playfulness and something darker, something that made my skin crawl. My eyes stayed locked on his as he guided me to the bed. I felt like I was walking into a trap, but I didn't know how to escape.

Under the covers, he wrapped himself around me, his arm snaking around my waist, pulling me against his chest. The warmth was familiar, the same warmth I'd known from Owen, but now it felt alien, tainted by the knowledge that this wasn't entirely him.

My heart pounded in my chest, my body tense with fear and uncertainty. I could feel his breath on my neck, hot and steady, as if he were savoring the moment. "Relax," he murmured softly. "I'm not going to hurt you. Not tonight, at least."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my breathing steady. My mind was racing, trying to piece together what was happening, who—or what—this was. And then his hand moved slightly, brushing against my stomach, a touch that was both familiar and foreign.

"Just sleep, Liliam," he whispered, his voice soothing yet somehow threatening. "Just sleep."

But sleep was the last thing on my mind. Every nerve in my body was on high alert, every instinct screaming at me to run, to fight, to do something. But I couldn't move. I was frozen, trapped in his embrace, my heart pounding in my ears.

This wasn't Owen. It couldn't be. But then, who was he? And what did he want?

As I lay there, my body tense and my mind spinning, I felt a tear slip down my cheek. I didn't dare move to wipe it away, didn't dare make a sound. I just lay there, waiting, hoping that this nightmare would end.