Homoween 2019: Hollywood Coven

Day 17: The Great Pump King

It took longer than Luke wanted to admit for Channing's spell to wear off. He knew he was being watched after that, knew that he'd probably lost Derek. Knew without apprehension that something was going on. But what? And why? What did Channing need that could only be offered by Vegas? And why was he protecting the magician? 

What worried Luke more than anything else was not that Channing had been able to spell cast but that he'd done it to a vampire. That wasn't magician territory at all. That was siren territory. Which was frightening and thrilling. Sirens were the only ones who could thrall other supernaturals. Likely Derek was in Channing's power now. Likely it was too late for whoever he and Derek might have been.

A thrall on a were would change them. Damage them. Possibly even break them. And Luke had a particularly well guarded mind. But it had been nothing against Channing. Nothing at all.

He laid on his bed at the Sahara. He'd driven up towards Salt Lake and traded the car in quickly, under an assumed name. His new car was not great. It was a lemon. But it would get the job done. He'd changed his clothing too. He still had the ruby earrings only by virtue of hiding them in his shoe. 

Everything seemed to be going ass up. What was even possible now? It seemed the whole of underground Vegas was aware and afraid. Or at least the people that mattered. Not the tourists.

He missed Derek, especially at times like these. Derek was warm and optimistic. He was so much more aware of his loneliness without the other. Odd thing. In LA he didn't feel this way. But now-

"I think I'm coming home-" he said, naked and sitting up on his bed. He spoke low into the phone and his voice was raggedy.

"Are you okay?"

"No. Everything's wrong. There's bad magick here and I'm all alone. I don't have anyone."

"You're a survivor Luke. But there's no reason you can't come back."

"What's worse is that I'm leaving without any idea of what is really going on. There are sirens here. In the desert."

"Sirens? No. There aren't any sirens in the desert." David's voice was authoritative. Luke could hear the sound of a book flipping open and quickly. "Yeah, there can't be. There's a treaty with a former Native American shaman tribe. Sirens are illegal in that part of Nevada. The only way a Siren could break through spell casting would be a dark water nymph. But all the American water nymphs died in the Great Depression from the Dust Bowl spell."

Luke was thinking now. "I'm not wrong. I was nearly enthralled David. You know how hard that is to do to a vampire?"

"Sirens. Goddess. Now you have to come home. Get out of there. Forget the fucking jewelry! It was nonsense."

"Are you sure?"

"I was a language cypher for two years during my Literariet Internship Luke! I KNOW- I know what I'm talking about. Just turn around. Just forget it. It's bad. It's New York bad."

"No! Nothing is- nothing is New York bad."

"Look, this Siren isn't good news. Come home. Please. If not for yourself, for us okay? Nobody wants to tell you but your coven is kind of freaking out. All of your pledges have disappeared. It- it got so bad that Ryan told me they were doing an investigation."

"Shit. Dominic."

"Please tell me it's not a vampire war."

"I don't think it is. We're not really warring with any of the other California covens. We're are own world. We make movies and fuck each other. And drink gay porn actors sometimes but they always seem to enjoy themselves-" Luke heard himself shrug. 

"Look, I'm not going to tell you what to do but what I do know is whatever is happening is bad news but at least it's self contained. Hopefully. We all remember what happened in New York. Don't do that to yourself. Especially for Vegas. You deserve better, Luke baby."

"You called me baby."

"Force of habit."

"I can't promise I'll come home. But- would you-" a pause- "for me? Would you check on Nick? Make sure he's okay. I spoke to him just a couple of days ago- I think it was- time is weird here-"

David's voice was reassuring next to Luke's own. "Sure, sure I can. Luke- even if things were left bad, I still care for you and you know I'd never let anything happen to your Nick, okay? I'll even wear that nice Pump jock you got me- it has some goodwill magick stored up in it. Maybe that'll be of use."

"Oh. Yes, I remember. The red one. And - uhh- the way it framed your ass was hilarious."

"Yeah, it lifted sure but it also separated. I couldn't wear it at all without it being obvious! You might as well have bought me a butt plug!"

Luke's laughter felt strange in his throat. It helped. David always helped.

"I wish I wasn't alone."

"You're not."

"I know."

"Have you slept?"

"Not since I was drugged by somebody's blood."

"Try for some sleep then, huh? I'll send a meal to your room."

"Davey-"

"Now, now vampire. We both know it's better for you to have rest and a full stomach than for you to be stressed out and hungry. That's how Valentines Massacres occur."

Luke lay back on his bed, phone in hand. 

"You'd be a tasty treat. Sure you don't have a brother?"

"No, you scoundrel. Now be safe or the next time I see you, I'll beat your ass."

"Sounds like fun."

"Get some rest, Luke."

"I will David."

The phone clicked off after a long silence. Luke lay there, looking up the ceiling. Listening to the faint sound of the world around him.