Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse (20 page)

"I should have called first," she said.
 
"Sorry about that."

He shook his head.
 
"You don't have to call, you know that.
 
You want something to eat?
 
Drink?"

"No, thanks.
 
I won't be here long."
 
That didn't sound good.
 
"I just wanted to get some of my things.
 
My toothbrush, crap like that.
 
And I know I've got some clothes in your dresser."

Jack nodded, processing her words.
 
He leaned against the stove and crossed his arms.

"You don't want to talk at all?
 
It's just over?
 
Done?"

Erica turned and eyed the stairs.

"Tiff's in her room," he said.

She sighed as she faced him.
 
"What would we talk about, Jack?
 
How can we possibly move on from here?"

"I don't know.
 
But I'd at least try."

"We've only been dating a few months, and you drop all that shit on me?
 
Vampires, witches, werewolves.
 
Curses and Nazi Germany.
 
Is there anything else I should know?"

"Oh, probably a lot.
 
And I'll share it all with you."

"No.
 
Don't you see?
 
That's the problem.
 
I don't
want
to know."

He hesitated.
 
"You're the first mortal I've cared about in…ever."

"Mortal," she said, nearly spitting the word.
 
"Is that what you call me?
 
Is that what you call Tiffany?
 
You don't even think of yourself as human?
 
Do you see how that might cause a problem in a dating relationship?"

"Problems can be solved."

"You—"
 
She forced herself to lower her voice.
 
"You kill people.
 
And you don't have a problem with it."

Jack could feel his patience slipping.
 
"If I didn't
kill
people, you wouldn't be here now."

She was quiet a moment, reflecting on her thoughts.
 
"You did save my life, Jack.
 
Thank you.
 
These past few months with you and Tiffany, I wouldn't trade them for anything.
 
But let's be honest.
 
I really don't know you.
 
I thought I was getting there, but I was obviously wrong, wasn't I?
 
The way you talked about killing those people in Germany…."

He opened his mouth to speak, but a sad realization dawned on him.

Erica was right.

They truly didn't know each other.
 
If he opened himself up to Erica, showed her everything, she would certainly be repulsed.
 
As wonderful as she was, she was mortal, and there were certain things mortals would never be able to understand.
 
There were also things about mortals he would never grasp.

"Hell, what do you do for a living?" she asked.
 
"I know you have money, and you said you owned a few businesses, but that's not all, is it?"

The question stung, simply from her accusing tone.
 
He brushed aside the pain quickly, and said nothing.
 
The simple answer to her question was
No, that's not all
.
 
He had two centuries to build his wealth.
 
Buying and rebuilding businesses, or just liquidating them.
 
Underworld dealings, blackmailing senators and presidents.
 
Wise investments, along with a simple lifestyle.
 
He even earned money from the occasional supernatural hunt.
 
Victoria would never accept payment, but he always did.

He was quite certain Erica wouldn't want to hear the truth.

Erica pressed on.

"And shit, let's not even talk about Tiffany—"

"No," he cut in, his gaze hard.
 
"Let's not even talk about her."

She went quiet.
 
They said nothing, simply watching each other.
 
She finally gestured to the stairs.

"I'm going to get my things," she finally said.
 
"You can follow me if you want, make sure I don't steal anything."

"I'm not worried about that," he said, mildly insulted.
 
"Go ahead."

Erica went upstairs.
 
Jack crossed the living room and opened the front door to take in the morning.
 
It was beautiful out, the leaves turning a deep shade of orange, but he had trouble feeling the positive vibes.
 
He was numb inside.
 
His thoughts and feelings clashed with each other.
 
Emotions swirled, and before he could get a handle on what he felt, another emotion swept in.

He sat on the front step, exactly in the same spot where Erica and he had their previous fight.
 
Erica opened the door behind him, carrying a small pile of clothes and a few toiletries.
 
She took a breath as she sat next to him.

"It
was
fun, Jack," she said, her tone genuine.
 
"You are a
machine
under the sheets."

He finally laughed.
 
"A part of my curse.
 
I don't get tired."

"Well, it's not much of a curse, then, is it?"

He held in a snarl.
 
One of the driving forces mortals had to live their lives to the fullest was the simple fact that life ended.
 
Not for him.
 
He was born mortal, and a curse twisted him into something else.
 
Awake for so long, forced to watch the passage of time with eyes wide open.

His thoughts drifted to the pocket-watch upstairs.
 
At least he could finally sleep.

"I guess it's got its moments."
 
He playfully nudged her on the shoulder.
 
"You're not so bad yourself."

Erica smiled, one last time for him.
 
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
 
Out of everything that was said, that tiny kiss was the action that felt the most final.

"I won't bug you or anything," Jack said.
 
"I won't be one of those crazy ex-boyfriends camping on your lawn."

"Well, that will be hard.
 
I'm actually moving.
 
I'm loading the moving van up this weekend, in fact."

"Are you serious?
 
Moving?
 
Come on, Erica, whatever you think about me, you don't have to run away."

"No, it's not you.
 
I was thinking about a change of scenery before I met you."

"Leaving the state?
 
Back to San Diego?"

She shook her head.
 
"Believe it or not, I'm headed to Montana.
 
Nice and peaceful, crisp, clear sky.
 
You can see all the stars up there."

Jack still needed time to process, but said the only thing he could.

"You'll be missed."

"Thank you."

They were quiet, watching the cars drive back and forth in the street together.
 
The awkwardness was gone, but a small emptiness took its place.

Jack would have been content to leave it at that, but Erica had something else to say.

"Jack," she said.
 
"I'm going to say something you won't want to hear."

He frowned, and wandered what could possibly be left to make him feel worse.

"What's that?"

"You have to give up Tiffany."

He studied the lines in her face, trying to figure out why she would unleash such a horrible joke.
 
The lines were soft, her eyes true.
 
There was a certain sadness there.
 
Erica really believed what she was saying.

"Uh, excuse me?"

"Tiffany.
 
I'm not sure she belongs with you."

"That's the anger talking."

Erica stood, getting serious once again.

"I'm past the anger.
 
I'm only thinking about that little girl.
 
A man broke into my house through the back door.
 
He kidnapped me, was willing to kill me to get to you."

"I saved you," he reminded.

"I know that.
 
But what happens next time?
 
I was just your girlfriend, Jack.
 
Imagine if someone wanted to get to you again, and used Tiffany.
 
She's not safe with you—"

"She's perfectly safe."

"Now you're just being stupid and pigheaded.
 
Think!
 
The bad guys in this world—"

"I
am
the bad guy!"

He rose to his feet.
 
For a moment, Erica was afraid, and recoiled a step.
 
Her jaw hung open slightly, stunned at the outburst.
 
She said nothing, studying the man she thought she knew.

Jack calmed down, but the edge didn't leave his voice.

"Do you want to know how Tiffany and I met?"

She didn't respond, but Jack didn't wait for her.
 
He would tell her anyway.

"She ran away from an abusive foster home, and I took her in.
 
She ended up witnessing a crime, and forces both mortal and supernatural were after her.
 
You got sideswiped by it a little.
 
Remember that car accident you and Tiffany were in?
 
Anyway, let's just say, I got her out of danger."

Her lip quivered.
 
"W-What do you mean?"

"They kidnapped her, threatened to kill her unless I paid ransom."
 
A smile crossed his face that Erica had never seen before.
 
"Well, I just did one better.
 
They kidnapped her, and I kidnapped
everyone
.
 
Aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters, bowling partners.
 
It's safe to say, Tiffany was returned to me unharmed."

Fear was etched across Erica's face.
 
She said nothing, her mouth moving, but no words coming out.

"You think she's not safe with me," Jack said.
 
"I say there's nowhere in this world that girl is safer than by my side.
 
I hate to admit it, but you're right.
 
You really don't know me."

It took a moment, but Erica's expression hardened as she found one last thing to say.

"Goodbye, Jack."

She turned and walked away.
 
Jack didn't think she'd turn around, give one last passionate look, and he was right.
 
She climbed in her car and drove away.

Jack sat back on the step, alone.
 
The muscles in his cheek twitched from the raw emotion coursing through him.
 
Despair, anger, relief.

A tear escaped, and he thought he'd explode when he felt the moisture on his skin.
 
Pulling his phone from his jeans, he called the one person who could possibly give him guidance on the unfamiliar river he was drifting on.

The phone continued to ring.
 
He didn't worry about not getting an answer.
 
When Jack called, it
never
went to voice mail.

"Well, well," she greeted.
 
"And just how the hell are you?"

Jack clenched his eyes shut.
 
It felt good just to hear her voice.

"Victoria.
 
Listen, Erica and I are no longer a couple.
 
What am I supposed to do now?"

"Whoa, wait.
 
What?
 
Say that again?"

Anger bubbled.
 
He didn't feel like repeating himself.
 
"I thought you were supposed to have good ears.
 
I said Erica and I are done.
 
Didn't you split with that vampire hunter guy not long ago?"

"His name was Jake, and yes.
 
We did
split
."

"Well?
 
Come on, don't hold out on me.
 
What did you do?"

"Jesus, Jack.
 
Give me a second, alright?
 
I'm still processing this."

"Okay.
 
Just take your damn time.
 
I'll be here jerking off while you process."

Thirty seconds passed, and Victoria made noises unbecoming of a vampire.
 
A few sighs, whoas, and oh-my-Gods were in there somewhere.
 
If he had her strength, he would have crushed the phone in his hand.

"I'm so sorry," she said.
 
"Tell me what happened."

"Long story short, she found out more about me than I would've liked.
 
A little about the curse, a little about shit I've done."
 
He slammed his hand on the railing guarding the front porch.
 
"This is that witch's fault.
 
If only he had a cure.
 
I'd be mortal, and Erica never would have found out.
 
He's not even looking for a cure.
 
I know that pussy, cat-screwing bastard."

"He gave you the most precious gift of all.
 
Sleep.
 
And come now, you have better vision than that.
 
Without your curse, you wouldn't have been able to deal with whatever threat forced you to reveal yourself to Erica."

Jack was quiet.
 
He knew Victoria was right.
 
His mood came down to a few simple words.