The Search

VIVA LAS VEGAS

I felt my body start to shake, breaking me from the dark haze that was my dream. I drag my eyes open in a lazy fashion to see Raidon positioned over me, a hand on each of my shoulders. I scowl and push him away to take in my surroundings.  We were back in the car on, now on the side of the road. I glance around and see that our luggage made the trip with us.

“We might as well figure this out,” Raidon groans. “The faster we solve this, the faster we get to the meaning behind it.”

“I know, you know what this is about, so don’t insult me by pretending otherwise.” I am very close to losing it. All I want is answers, and that seems to be the one thing nobody wants to give me.

He stays quiet after my outburst, choosing to start the car and continue onto the highway instead. I, on the other hand, think of the riddle. The first half is fairly simple. A place where sin thrives, where else but sin city itself. Las Vegas. The home to most supernatural’s, with miles of desert and a ranging selection of people who wouldn’t be missed. My father’s obsession with my knowledge of the supernatural has become very clear. I guess I’ve always known deep down that the thick books on mythical creatures A-Z had some kind of importance; my father does nothing without reason. After seeing those hooded…things, and Raidon, looking like the poster child for health even after all the bleeding in the car, I knew, without a doubt, that everything supernatural I have learned about was true. I take it all in stride though. There is no point in freaking out over something I have always kind of known about. Besides, I’m prepared. All that reading left me able to know every weakness a being has, and now on this journey…I suppose everything my mother and father did is starting to become HD clear. The multiple fighting and weapon lessons, the private tutors (one for every language), the endurance training, and the odd multi-cultural training was to prepare me for this day.  They knew it would come. I don’t know if I feel betrayed or not, I’m not really sure of anything at the moment, except that we need to go to Las Vegas, so that’s where I told Raidon to start heading.

“Vegas? Are you sure,” he questions.

“Don’t question my judgment.”

“You’re a little rude.” I roll my eyes and suck my teeth.

“I tend to be a little rude to people of a completely different species, who have lied to me, therefore don’t trust.”

He looked nonplussed for a few moments before trying…and failing, to defend his self.

“Save it,” I interrupt him mid-ramble. “I really don’t want to hear any pathetic half-assed excuses, just shut-up and drive.”

I pull out my music player, slip on my headphones and listen to the hauntingly sweet melodies filling my ears at top volume, effectively ending all conversation. With a five hour drive ahead of us, I know I only have that much time to relax and pretend I never left my semi-normal life.

We arrive in Vegas around 7 a.m. It was surreal seeing clubs and casinos opened and crowded at this hour. People were still wearing evening gowns and tuxes, it is as if they never left, for all I know, and they probably haven’t. It is different seeing Vegas during the daylight hours. It is like seeing a carnival during the day, its still looks fun, but it loses that magical look that draws you like my mother to silk. I frown when I’m suddenly hit with the reality of the situation. This is not another elaborate family vacation, we are on a mission. I stare out the window, looking for any “god” named places. I see nothing at all, but I could easily be overlooking it, even a woman of great mental control, would get lost upon the many weird and strangely not out of place things around this city.

“I’m tired,” Raidon groans, breaking me out of my inter monologues.

“Fine then, find a nice hotel we can stay at.” I am tired to; I didn’t sleep at all during the drive, instead read off of a map when Raidon decided to tell me (thirty minutes after he started driving) that he didn’t know where he was going.

“Yes master,” He says dryly.

“Shut up.”

It takes us about 20 minutes to find a hotel. This would be all Raidon’s fault of course. We passed by multiple hotels, with him rejecting each and everyone for one reason or another.

Too red. Too gaudy. Too small. Too wild. Too skanky.

I finally had enough. I made him pull over him pull over into a five star Marriott, thinking it would make him shut up, because it was a top class establishment.

“But its pink!” was his outraged reply which leads to me cussing him out in many languages for about five minutes.

This is how we ended up explaining to hotel security that I was indeed not trying to commit an act of violence, much to Raidon’s amusement.

“I’m sorry for my behavior; it’s been a long and tiring drive.” I say sweetly to the security guard while making a pleasant, if not tense parting.

“Get our stuff and meet me inside,” I say to Raidon once the security guard had left.

I walk into the hotel without a backward glance, and make my way over to the front desk. To add more frustration unto my already frustrating day, I had to deal with a bitchy hostess not taking me seriously when I asked for the presidential suite.

“Look lady, I’m tired and already in a bad mood, so just give me the suite so I can be on my way.” I say keeping my emotions in check and my voice neutral.

“This is a place of business; please go play your pranks somewhere else.” The lady sneered.

Rolling my eyes I see the manager roaming around behind the desk, and I’m pleasantly surprised that it Fredrick, one of my parents many clients. I call out to him, waving my hand to beckon him over.

“Well if it isn’t Kyler Ace, what can I do for you love?” Fredrick greets in a heavy Italian accent.

I explain to him the situation while looking the hostess dead in the eye, loving the way her smirk slowly drops off her face with the knowledge of me being close to her boss.

“Well this is unacceptable,” Fredrick scolds to the hostess. “You must treat everyone like a customer until they are proven not to be, you are dismissed Rebecca, I will deal with you later.”

Thankfully Fredrick handles the transaction with me from that point. He must have seen the tired look on my face because he handles everything quickly, even offering to give Raidon his key for me, and had me on my way. Stopping at the elevators, I wait for it to reach my floor. In the corner of my eye I see Raidon flirting with some girl with our bags firmly strapped to him. I sigh at the sight, deeply disappointed that he isn’t the man I thought he was, more like a childish boy. The elevator dings, and I make my way to my room to take a much needed nap.