Inside Outcast

Inside Outcast

by Shannon Phoenix

Smashwords Edition

Copyright and copy; 2013 Shannon Phoenix

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover created by Shannon Phoenix

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people, except as stated via vendor contract. Thank you for respecting my hard work in writing this book.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter13

Chapter14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

About Shannon Phoenix

Contact Shannon

Excerpt of A Wolf's Song

Excerpt of Guardian of the Abyss

Chapter 1

It was the scent of smoke that woke Katrina. It had been teasing around her nostrils for a long time before finally the fog lifted from her brain and she sat up. All around her, the air was filled with a swirling white haze. She idly wondered if smoke shouldn’t be black, before it dawned on her... there was smoke everywhere!

Galvanized by the realization, she stood up, trying to clear her mind enough to figure out what to do. The building stood silent except for a distant roar, like an airplane. Confused, she headed for the front door of her apartment.

The door to the connecting suite, long ago locked since the suites were no longer supposed to connect, unexpectedly burst open. Her neighbor, Jasper, stumbled into the room, coughing.

Don’t! he cried as she reached for the knob of the door.

She jerked her hand back, startled. What is it?

The fire’s in the hall. That knob is probably hot enough to sear the skin off your hand. And right on the other side of it is a wall of flames. If you opened it, you’d die.

That was something a girl could take seriously. Okay. So what do we do?

There’s only one way out. Up. But to take you there, I will have to trust you with my greatest secret. He held his hand out to her. Can I trust you?

Her eyes met his, and intuitively she felt as if something had shifted in the world. She had loved this man from afar for so long now that seeing his hand held out to her made everything around her seem surreal. Something profound and impossible had just happened, symbolized by his hand held out to her. Yes. She’d just made a promise from the bottom of her soul, and she knew it with that same intuitive surge that told her everything had changed now that they were united, if only in fear of a fire.

After I change, climb on me and hold on tight. Wrap arms and legs around me, and don’t let go no matter what.

She stared at him for a second. Okay. What did a person say to that, anyway? It wasn’t like What’s your sign or Thank you, where you knew the right response. She waited for him to shift position so she could piggyback out the window or through his apartment, whatever. Why he wanted to carry her, she had no idea, though. And now seemed like a singularly inappropriate time to change clothes.

Lightning began to crawl across his skin until all that was left was a massive black cat with hands that curled to become paws as he dropped to all fours. The boxers he’d been wearing fell to the floor.

Holy shit. Kat scrubbed at her eyes, trying to clear the smoke-induced vision. But something boomed somewhere in the old refurbished mill they lived in, and his head bumped against her leg.

She stared. She was hallucinating. That was the only possibility. She was dying of smoke inhalation and seeing things that couldn't possibly be real. She closed her eyes, rubbed them again, and then opened them.

The cat remained. He reached out and grabbed her with a paw--hand?--and tugged. He looked at the door behind her, and she read panic in the tawny, golden gaze. She turned to look, and there were tiny wisps of flame running up the door.

Recognizing that she had no choice, she climbed on him, astounded by the fact that he was a cat about the size of a Saint Bernard. And he was real. And really warm. She wrapped her arms around him, promising herself that she would wake up any second and find this was all a nightmare.

He turned and opened the window with hands covered in black fur--a cat opened the window!--and climbed out. Once on the fire escape, she saw that the bottom of it was engulfed in flames. Jasper turned and made his way up the fire escape, climbing it with impossible speed, his 'hands' now back to paws. Once at the top, she buried a scream in his black fur as he gathered himself and leaped for an area of unburned roof.

From there, it was a mad dash across the roof to the top of another fire escape. He changed back to human and lowered her over the roof, dropping her the last couple of feet to the fire escape. There, she scrambled for the ladder and started down, hearing him above her.

Don’t stop, Kat, he told her. We don’t have much time.

So she rushed down as fast as she could go, not looking up. Once at the bottom, she dropped the last bit of the way to the ground as firemen rushed from the street upon hearing the clatter of her landing. She looked up and saw Jasper hanging from the ladder and moved out of the way.

She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Thank you.

It’s what neighbors do, he answered, as if that explained everything.

No, some neighbors care only about themselves. Then she thought, But I have to admit, when I thought about having you naked above me, that wasn’t what I had in mind.

A strangled cough sounded. She glanced at him and saw him trying to hide a grin.

Yeah... She wanted to die right then and there. I said that out loud, didn’t I?

His eyes glittered with mirth as he attempted to be serious. I’m afraid so.

She ran a hand down her face. Just kill me now. I’m sorry, I’m not myself. The fire and everything... She also spent too much time alone, and wasn't used to anyone being around to hear her mutterings.

She trailed off, the firemen having arrived and now handing them blankets.

Before he walked away, wrapped in a blanket, though, he muttered in her ear, It’s not what I have in mind when I think it, either.

Let’s get you checked out by the medics, ma’am. The fireman beside her gently took her upper arm in his hand to guide her as she stared after her neighbor.

She turned to smile up at him, about to say, ‘Of course, thank you’. Instead, her brain disconnected from her mouth and she blurted, Whoa, what are you, the Chippendale fireman? He was so handsome that he would have easily fit in with the famous group of male strippers.

As his lips turned up into a grin, she slapped her face with her hand. Oh my god, I have foot-in-mouth-itis tonight. I am so sorry.

He tugged gently and steered her towards the street where the emergency vehicles were. How did you know I was a stripper? he demanded. I was on my way to your apartment when the fire broke out.

She gaped at him. What?

He laughed. It’s a joke. Although, I admit one woman did think I really was a stripper once.

Now she smiled at him. Thanks for your help.

He nodded, serious now. We didn’t know anyone was still in there. You two were the only ones not out, and a couple people thought you were both gone for the evening, anyway. I don’t know how you got out, but I’m glad you did.

Katrina sobered. I was afraid we wouldn’t. Jasper saved me. I almost opened a door to the hallway, when it was filled with flames.

He looked serious immediately, also. That could have resulted in a backdraft. You would have both died instantly--or worse, wished you had.

I’m glad he thought to come get me when he did.

You’re lucky. Let’s get you checked out by Medical.

They arrived at the ambulance and he pointed her towards it as he turned to speak to another firefighter. Jasper sat in the back of it, wrapped in a blanket. He smiled as she approached and sat down beside him, barely better dressed than him, and shivering in the cold.

Are you alright? Jasper asked.

She nodded. Just cold. And I have nowhere to go. Everything I had was in there. I didn’t even think to grab my purse or anything.

Maybe you can flirt with that firefighter and borrow a hundred bucks. We’ll go get a hotel room. Two beds, I swear. He smirked, holding his hands wide. A year of knowing him and never a single flirt, now two in one night. If not for the whole fire-destroying-everything-I-own thing, it might otherwise be one of the best nights of her life.

You’d have better luck than she would, but unfortunately, my husband wouldn’t approve of me flirting. The handsome ‘stripper’ fireman had walked up from around the side of the ambulance. Obviously, he’d heard their comment.

Katrina laughed. Too bad, I would have liked seeing Jasper try to flirt you into a hotel room--pun intended!

Jasper sighed. Alas, there’s always a husband. It was said perfectly deadpan.

Or they’re gay, Katrina added. Then she realized how silly that was to say to a guy joking about getting a guy. I guess I need new jokes.

The fireman laughed. Imagine how we feel. The good ones are always taken or straight. His eyes sparkled with residual amusement as he pulled his wallet out and handed her two one-hundred dollar bills. She tried to refuse, but he said, Please, take it. My husband would never forgive me if he found out that you were in such need and I did nothing to help. He’s a big bleeding heart.

And you love him that way. Katrina grinned, accepting the money. Thank you. And please tell him that we’re very grateful.

I wish I could give you a ride, as well, but I’m afraid I have to go. Burning building and all that.

What’s your name? Katrina stopped him.

I’m Chad, and my husband’s name is Adam. He smiled and waved as he left, calling for more water to the other end of the building.

Awkward and uncertain, Katrina sat as the medic approached and looked them over, declaring them free to go. She stood up, looking at Jasper. So I guess now we get a hotel room. I hope you understand that I’m not being forward by offering to share one. I know you don’t have any money on you of your own, either. Or credit cards or anything.

Don’t worry, he agreed. I know. It’s okay. I won’t harm you.

She felt tremulous and afraid as she smiled weakly. I’ve never been in a fire before. I guess I don’t really know what to do or how to act. I feel like I’m being foolish, but I feel too tired and worried to make sense of anything. Strangely, the fire scared her more than... that thing Jasper did that she wasn't going to think about. Ever.

He ran his hand awkwardly up the side of her arm. It’s okay. I understand. He kept the blanket on as he turned to one of the medics. Could I use your phone, please? Once he had it, he dialed Information, and asked for a local motel or hotel within a radius from their location. From the sound of the conversation, the woman working the line apparently knew about their fire, and gave him directions to a hotel with free rooms for those who had been in the fire.

They tried to give Chad his money back, but he refused. He was distracted anyway, so they didn’t pester and headed over to the motel, only a few blocks away.

You’ll be able to get your own room if you want, then. Jasper was walking as easily as if he weren’t barefoot. Should call the condo association and find out what insurance rights we have.

She walked beside him in her socks, wincing when rocks stabbed into her feet now and again. Jasper?

Yes?

If it’s alright, and it doesn’t come across the wrong way, I don’t really want to be alone. I don’t have anyone to call or stay with, and I’m more than a little freaked out.

It doesn’t come across the wrong way. I’d like that.

She had never really gotten to know him, even though he’d been her neighbor for nearly a year. She had always been too certain that she’d make a jerk of herself, like her comment earlier about having him ‘above her’. Like she was doing now by stealing looks at his tall, powerful body out of the corner of her eye when she hoped he wasn’t looking.

They went inside, and the older woman behind the counter clucked and fussed, exclaiming over the fire and asking how they got out. Were they okay? Did they need anything? She could send out for clothes if they needed them.

Although, she added, you probably won’t need them for several days. Not two good-looking young folks like you. She winked and Kat felt her face heat up from a fire totally unrelated to burning buildings--burning beds, perhaps, but not burning buildings.

Actually, we’re just neighbors. We were hoping for a room with two beds. She corrected the woman, who laughed and scoffed.

Pah, no need to pretend with me, young lady. Besides, only rooms left are single beds. You’ll have to make due somehow. She laughed hard as if she’d said something exceptionally clever.

Handing Kat the key, she turned away and went back to her TV show. Kat and Jasper headed out and down the sidewalk to the room they’d been offered in slightly strained silence.

I’ll sleep on the floor, Jasper told her as they entered the room.

Almost before he could finish, Kat was shaking her head. No. I’ll just sleep on top of the sheet. It will be fine.

I don’t min--

I insist, she interrupted him.

He smiled slightly, still standing in the doorway. Okay then.

Uncomfortable and far too aware that he was naked under the blanket, she turned away. Should we call tonight, or--

I think we can do it in the morning. He crossed towards the bathroom just as she began to head for it. They ran into each other before stopping to stare awkwardly. Go ahead. You take yours first. They both needed showers.

Kat desperately wanted to wash away the scent of smoke and the lingering ash on her skin. Face burning again, she said, Thanks, and hurried into the bathroom. It was surprisingly uncomfortable knowing that he was naked with only a door between them while she showered. If she was bolder, braver, more assertive, she’d ask him to join her. The worst that could happen would be that he’d say ‘no’ and she’d die of humiliation. No biggie, right?

Yeah. The sad part of that was that she wouldn’t actually die from it, but instead would have to live forever with that certain shame. She finished her shower and stepped out, finally letting her mind wander to where it had been studiously avoiding all night.

The man in the other room wasn’t human. He was gorgeous, he was kind, he was thoughtful... and he turned into a cat that could rip her head off with a paw--or a hand, whatever. In all the excitement and fear, it had been easy to ignore that fact. She’d invited him to hotel with her, but was it wise? Had she made a terrible mistake? Was he safe to be around? Would he kill her to protect his secret, now that he knew she sometimes blurted out stupid things?

Maybe he should. She did, after all, have that problem. Although in her defense, she’d never blurted anything that wasn’t nonsensical and silly. She’d never broken a trust or divulged a secret. Of course, she’d never known a secret like this one, either.

She got out and began to dry off, still acutely aware that he was so close and essentially naked. Wooden doors had never seemed so insubstantial--yet so insurmountable--before in her life. She should know better, really. Guys like Jasper dated the cool chicks that women like Kat loved to hate.

She stared