Damned and Dangerous (Damned and Dangerous Quartet Book 2)

by S D Hegyes

  “Wow,” Larz said. “Thirsty much?”

  Sorsha laughed and glanced at her phone. “I imagine I have an hour before Irene calls to ask if we’ve banged one another yet.”

  “That predictable, huh?” He chuckled.

  “She likes her beauty sleep, and it’s the weekend. I doubt she’ll wake before noon, and she’ll call me as soon as she’s awake because she knows I’ll have been alive for much longer.”

  He chuckled. “I heard the alarm go off at five. You really get up that early every day?”

  She nodded. “I like to run before work.”

  “Where do you work again? If you said, I don’t remember.”

  “At the clinic across the street.” Sorsha finished her coffee and shoved her phone in her pocket. “I’ll be back in a bit.” She grinned. “Maybe I’ll grill you then.”

  “Give me five minutes and I’ll join you. You can grill me while we run.”

  She nodded and waved a hand at him. “Off you go then, officer.”

  He winked at her and turned away. He left his door open, and the temptation to peek inside filled Sorsha. She ignored the temptation and listened instead. Did he know how good her hearing was? If he was also a supernatural, was his hearing just as good?

  How many kinds of supernaturals existed? It was nice to have a different name for people like her and her mother though.

  She wondered how long Private Thaddeus had known what she was. She didn’t often ask him questions. He’d made it clear he didn’t like her, and she respected him enough to leave him alone as much as possible.

  “I’m ready.” Larz’s voice broke her thoughts, and she blinked at him. He wore a pair of sweatpants, sneakers, and a long-sleeve shirt.

  “That’s a different look for you.” She saw he wasn’t wearing any piercings though, and she squinted at him, trying to see if her memory would kick in. It didn’t. She sighed. “Let’s go.”

  He followed her from the apartment, locking it behind them.

  Mr. Church stood in the hallway, bending to pick up his paper.

  “Heading out a little late this morning, Sorsha,” he said with a warm smile when he saw her.

  “Good morning, Mr. Church. It was a late night.”

  He chuckled and glanced at Larz. “And who’s this?”

  “Mr. Church, this is Larz, my new roommate. Larz, this is Mr. Church, our neighbor.”

  The man snorted. “The name’s Will Church. Told her years ago to call me Will, but she doesn’t listen. Don’t you start with that Mr. Church either.” He took Larz’s hand. “Strong handshake.” His eyes shifted to Sorsha. “Breaking him in early, I see, Sorsha. That’s not really nice.”

  “Something tells me he can handle it. I won’t be too hard on him. I promise.”

  Mr. Church nodded and smiled. “I won’t keep you. Have fun.”

  “Have a good day, Mr. Church.” Larz grinned as the other man narrowed his eyes at him. “Just testing. Have a good day, Will.”

  “That’s better. You too.” With a small wave, the man disappeared into his apartment, and the pair walked downstairs and outside.

  “How far do you usually go?” Larz asked her.

  “It varies.” She tipped her head down the sidewalk. “Five miles one way, or until my knee starts acting up. Whichever happens first.”

  “Five miles? That’s it?” There was a teasing smirk on his face and a gleam in his eyes.

  “What? You think you can do more?”

  He snorted. “You’re the phantom. Ever tested just how far you can go?”

  She remembered PT. She’d often beaten the times of several of the fastest men and women she’d done PT with. Tanner included. She could outpace them too without ever feeling winded. She hadn’t ever pushed herself to see how long and fast she could go on though. Especially not since her hospital release.

  “I bet you can’t beat me.”

  “Oh, ho, ho! Is that a challenge I hear?”

  He leaned close to her, his face close enough she felt his breath on her lips. “Most definitely.”

  She stared at his dark eyes, watched as they twinkled with excitement and then grew hot with desire. She licked her lips, her mouth stretching out in a smile. Two could play the game.

  “Challenge accepted. What happens if I win?”

  “You won’t win.”

  “So confident.” She put her hands on her hips. “What happens if I do?”

  He grinned. “You get to ask me another question about our past. No strings attached.”

  That was tempting. “And if I lose?”

  “I get to kiss you.” He grinned. “We both know I’m going to win.”

  Sorsha snorted. “Let’s go.” She started down the sidewalk, unsurprised when he kept up. She grinned. It wasn’t a matter of keeping up. It wasn’t a sprint. It was a marathon.

  Besides, he was probably right. He’d probably win. Not because he could outlast her—although he definitely could if her knee started acting up—but because part of her wanted that kiss as much as he did.

  “So, what do you know about phantoms?” she asked after she found a decent pace. He met her speed and settled in beside her.

  “Why don’t we start with what you know? Your memories are the ones that are compromised, not mine. Let’s find out what you’ve re-learned about yourself since the last time we had this conversation.”

  She frowned. They’d talked about this before. She cursed herself.

  “We don’t have to talk about it at all if you’d rather not.”

  Sorsha glanced over at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking straight ahead, a frown on his face. He’d mistaken her response as being about their conversation rather than the situation of her memories.

  “No, I do. I just hate that I can’t remember anything.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I died. . . again.” That still threw her. “I can’t believe I’ve apparently died multiple times. I don’t remember dying even once.”

  He chuckled at that. “I imagine it’s a traumatic experience. No wonder your memories are gone.”

  “It’s not fair.” She sighed. “Anyway, since there’s nothing we can do about that. . .” She let her words trail off. “What I know about phantoms.” She explained how her power worked. When active, it revealed itself in the vapors he could see around her hands as well as the change in eye color.

  “No one else has ever noticed though,” she told him, glancing his way. His pace and breathing were still as even as when they’d started. “It still freaks me out that you can.”

  He grinned. “What can I say? I’m special.”

  She snorted. “I doubt that’s it. I think Private Thaddeus is right. It has something to do with the fact that you’re a supernatural as well.” She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Why do I get the feeling that even if I asked, you wouldn’t tell me what you are?”

  “Because you’d be right.” He spun around and started jogging backwards. How he could do that without tripping, she didn’t know. She would have fallen flat on her back. Still, his confidence was something to be admired.

  She shook her head and started jogging again, catching up with him easily. “Mind if I ask why?”

  “It’s better that you don’t know,” he said, spinning around and jogging beside her again. “Safer for you. Safer for me in the end too. Safer for everyone involved.”

  She sighed. “I hate when people say stuff like that.”

  He laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “This is a repeated conversation from ten years ago when I told you the same thing.”

  “Well, at least I know I didn’t know back then either. That makes me feel a little better.”

  He grinned. “I promise I’m only trying to keep you safe, Sorsha. Trust me.”

  “I can trust you and still not agree with what you’re doing, Larz,” she told him. She continued explaining that she saw spirits, people who’d died of unnatural or unexplained c
ircumstances.

  “People killed by vampires,” he corrected.

  “Excuse me?”

  He nodded. “You heard me correct: vampires.”

  “You’re telling me each of the spirits in my deck died because of a blood-sucking fiend that hides in the dark?”

  “Have you ever met a vampire, Sorsha?” He grinned at her, as if teasing her.

  “Not that I know of. Are you going to sit here and tell me I’m Buffy now, Larz?”

  “Basically. Vampires can be killed other ways than stakes through the heart, and while they’re more sensitive to sunlight, they don’t turn to ash when they step out into its light. That’s all myth.”

  “Wait. Back up. You’re saying I am like Buffy? How?” She stopped, breathing hard for a second and putting her hands on her hips.

  Larz faced her and ran in place. “You’re a phantom, Sorsha. Phantoms are a vampire’s worst fear.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they’re immune to their powers, of course. Vampire abilities don’t work on phantoms.”

  Sorsha shook her head. “There’s got to be more than that.”

  “Isn’t that enough? Vampires have hidden for centuries. A lot of the myth and lore you probably know was spread intentionally. Dracula himself invited Stoker to his castle so Stoker would have inspiration for his story by the same name. Then again, Stoker had no idea he was in the Dracula’s castle at the time, and beyond the story notes he wrote during his stay, had no memory of ever visiting.”

  Sorsha shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  Larz flinched. “That’s because I’m getting ahead of myself. What else do you know about phantoms?”

  “I know that I’m different from mediums. I’ve met a couple of real psychics now. Their power is similar. They are more in tune with the other plane of existence, but they deal with ghosts, not spirits. I’ve even called for a spirit when talking with a medium, and she had no idea I was seeing, talking or interacting with anyone but her. She was sensitive enough to know there was something else in the room, but she couldn’t tell what it was. Only that she didn’t like it.”

  Sorsha shook her head. “As you saw last night, spirits can possess me and use my body as their own. I have to be willing for it to occur, but once they’re in, they have to release me.”

  “That explains why you’re picky about the spirits you add to your deck.”

  She nodded. “It does. I’ve dealt with too many angry spirits not to walk on the side of caution. Another thing I can do is change a spirit’s haunt.” She paced in front of him to keep herself from stiffening up. “If Gloria decides she wants to join my deck, I guess you’ll see that as well.”

  “You’ll let me watch?”

  “Yes.”

  His grin was so wide, he looked like a child whose every wildest dream has come true.

  Shaking her head, Sorsha started jogging again. They had a bet after all, and she kept stopping. The last thing she wanted was for him to accuse her of cheating because she wanted to save her energy.

  “What else do you know about phantoms?” Larz asked a few minutes later.

  “That’s pretty much all I know.”

  “That’s pretty much close to everything I know too. I do know that you can kill vampires.”

  She grinned at him. “Of course I can. Stab them with a stake, but that will kill anyone. Me included.” She shuddered again, remembering she’d died not once, but a couple of times.

  “Well, yeah, but you can match the speed and strength of a vampire.”

  That made her frown. “What do you mean?”

  “Phantoms are stronger, faster, and have better hearing than humans. When you were in the army, didn’t you often beat those around you?”

  “Yes, but I just thought that was because of me, not because I’m some inhuman freak.”

  Before she knew what was happening, he stopped and spun her toward him so that she slammed against his chest with a loud thud and an “Oof!”

  As she looked up into his face, she thought his eyes flickered red for a moment, but then they were dark again. She must have imagined it.

  He leaned down close to her, tipping her chin up to meet his gaze. “I don’t ever, ever, want to hear you call yourself a freak. Understand?”

  She blinked in surprise. “This is a sore spot, I can see.”

  Realizing how close they were, he stepped back. “It used to be a sore spot for you. In a way, I’m glad it’s not anymore, but in another—” He shook his head. “It’s just another reminder of the memories you’ve lost.” He sighed and turned away.

  Sorsha reached out and brushed her hand against his arm. “I’m trying to remember,” she said in a low voice.

  He gave her a small smile. “It’s nothing against you,” he told her. “It just. . .” His words trailed off and he looked away. “It sucks is all.”

  She grinned at him. “Isn’t that what vampires are supposed to do?” It was a lame attempt at a joke, but for some reason, she felt the need to comfort him. After all, it was her fault he was upset.

  A weak smile crossed his face. “Most would kill you without ever touching your blood,” he told her.

  “Why?”

  “Legends say it’s your blood that can kill them.”

  “My what?”

  “Your blood. A phantom’s blood is supposedly potent for a vampire.”

  “Guess I don’t have to worry about becoming one’s personal buffet then, huh?” She grinned, but he didn’t. His expression remained neutral.

  “It’s why they’d rather kill you, Sorsha. You have the power to call forth an army of spirits to act on your behalf, you’re just as fast and as powerful as a vampire, and your blood is poison to them. It’s where one’s power resides after all.”

  “Huh.” It was a lot to take in, and she wasn’t certain she believed it. She was sure he did, but she didn’t know if she did. “So, what do vampires look like? Is there something I should be keeping an eye out for?”

  “Well, most vampires find a way to hide themselves these days. They have sharper, longer canines, of course, but they usually file them down. They also use contacts.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because a vampire’s eyes are red.” He grinned. “They can, of course, take a human’s mind and make them believe they’re seeing things when they suggest a vampire’s eyes are red, but it’s easier to wear colored contacts instead.

  Sorsha frowned. She remembered both Frank and Simon. Both men had had scarlet eyes and elongated canines. Had they been vampires?

  No. They couldn’t have been. If they had been, they’d have tried to ki—

  She froze, staring at Larz’s chest. Frank had threatened her. Simon had applied as her roommate and then gotten violent when she’d refused to see him.

  “You alright?” Larz reached toward her, but he stopped just before touching her.

  Sorsha gave him a reassuring smile and nodded. “I’m fine.”

  They started jogging again, but it was obvious their hearts weren’t as into it as they’d been when they started.

  Finally, Sorsha called it. “Alright,” she said. “I’m ready to head back.”

  Without a word, Larz turned around and started back toward the apartment. Sorsha bit her lower lip for a moment, regretting the way their conversation had gone, and followed suit.

  12

  Back at the apartment, Sorsha took a shower and dressed in jeans and a tank top. She ran her hand over the three scars on her bicep, wondering if she’d shown them to Larz ten years ago on purpose or if he’d seen them when she wore an outfit like this. When she emerged from her room, she saw Larz’d had the same idea. He came out with a towel still draped about his shoulders and no shirt.

  She swallowed as her eyes traveled over his bare chest, following the ridges of his abs down toward his trim waist where a trail of hair led from his belly button down into the pants hanging low on his waist. The sheer number of tattoos printed
across his skin made her want to stare at him all day.

  He took a long drink from a water bottle and grinned at her. “See something you like, Sorsha?”

  Sorsha licked her lips and turned away, returning to her room and yanking up Gloria’s file. She grabbed her phone and spirit deck before she returned to the kitchen.

  She refused to stand and stare at Larz’s chiseled features. How could someone have such sharp angles that looked so soft to the touch? All she wanted to do was run her hands over him, but she had work to do.

  As if reading her naughty thoughts, her phone rang. She grinned as she saw Irene’s name flash across the screen and checked the time. “Noon. Right on time.”

  Dropping the file and deck on the table, Sorsha answered her phone, grabbing her bluetooth from the counter where she’d last left it and shoving it in her ear.

  “Good morning, Irene. Any hangovers today?” she asked, knowing full well Irene waited to call until the hangover was well on its way out the door.

  Irene snorted. “You owe me details. Did you leave with Hottie Roommate, and did you bang him?”

  Sorsha turned to Larz, on the opposite side of the kitchen searching the fridge for something. She had no idea what.

  “Hey,” he said, straightening. “I’m going to head to the store to pick up some groceries. Anything in particular you want?” He glanced at the phone in her hand. “Oh, sorry.” He grinned and winked, and Sorsha knew he’d responded on purpose.

  “Can’t think of anything. I’m a simple person. If I can throw it in a microwave, it’s good enough for me. Pass me the butter.

  “Sounds like you two are getting along well,” Irene pointed out.

  Sorsha rolled her eyes. “Aren’t roommates supposed to get along?” She could hear Larz chuckle at her quoting him.

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  She pinched the bridge of her nose until Larz tapped her with the butter she’d asked for. She took it without glancing his way. “Hottie Roommate’s name is Larz, Irene. And no, we didn’t bang each other. After you left, we did too. I had work to do.”

  “The mysterious second job you won’t tell me about?” Irene chuckled. “One of these days I’m going to make you tell me about it.”