Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #7)(38)

A bright light flashed behind my eyes. I cried out in pain and dropped to my knees. I was thrust out of Arys’s head, whether by his doing or my own, I wasn’t sure.

“Alexa?” Jez was beside me, pushing hair back from my face. “What happened? Is it Arys?”

I nodded and dug my fingers into the carpet. Blinking rapidly, I concentrated hard on the hotel room around me, disoriented as Arys and The Wicked Kiss slipped away. “Yeah. I connected with him, but he’s gone now. Everyone is ok, but it’s pretty bad over there.” I repeated to her what I’d seen as she helped me to my feet. “We have to find Roscoe. And get ready for a fight.”

“What exactly are the three of us going to do? We can’t take on that many vampires. Can we?”

“We might have to try. Roscoe should have a better idea of what we’re facing. There’s got to be someone else in this city he can call on for help.” I hope.

I retreated to the washroom where I washed the blood from my skin and freshened up before heading to the bedroom to change. Jeans and a racer back tank top were much more fight friendly than a skirt. I slid a chunky silver bracelet on to hide the bite on my wrist. My hair did a decent job concealing the others.

Returning to the empty living room, I stared out the floor-to-ceiling window at The Strip. The Bellagio fountain was on. The water shimmered with bright lights as it leaped and danced. It was enchanting. I gazed at the fountain and wondered how the hell I was going to help Arys and Shaz without ending up in the blood ring’s clutches myself.

When Jez re-entered from her adjoined room, she too wore jeans. Along with a Batman t-shirt, ass-kicking boots, and a high ponytail, she looked ready to lay down a beating.

She strode over to the minibar and appraised the interior. Plucking a bottle from its place, she studied the label.

“Twenty seconds,” I warned.

“No worries.” She twisted the lid off and took a swig. “I don’t need that long to decide.”

“Look, Jez, I know that it’s Vegas and that you can process booze like a champ, but I’m not sure this is the time for that.” I couldn’t help but be concerned. Our group had just been split in half. I needed her alert and at my side.

Without warning, Jez tossed a bottle of imported beer my way. “I can’t think of a better time for a drink.”

I turned the bottle over in my hands a few times before opening it. The girl had a point. “Alright, let’s go find Roscoe.”

I felt naked without my phone and wallet. They were both inside my shoulder bag back at the club. Slipping Shaz’s key card into my back pocket, I closed the hotel door behind us, fearing I might not return.

* * * *

After battling not one but two pedways jam-packed with warm, blood-filled bodies, we were walking through Planet Hollywood.

“So where do we start?” Jez asked, surveying the casino.

It was a nice place, like most casinos, full of lights, noise and tourists. It was also big enough that simply walking around looking for the vampire would be a waste of time.

“I think I can find him.” I reached out metaphysically, feeling for any vampire energy in the building. There were a few in the vicinity, but that familiar flavor of vampire energy drew me to Roscoe. “This way.”

We weaved between slot machines, taking careful note of our surroundings. The pull led us away from the main casino and into a more adult-only area called The Pleasure Pit. It was a sensory overload. There was an abundance of glowing pink, heart-shaped signs boasting the casino’s name. It was certainly an interesting place. All of the dealers were gorgeous women clad in very little. Wearing even less were the ladies dancing and gyrating on poles at various points around the casino.

“Holy shit, why have I not been here before?” Jez gushed. “I think this might be my new favorite place.”

“Settle down, wildcat. Let’s try to keep it to one woman a night, shall we?” I grinned, shaking my head.

The casino was busy. It came as no surprise that the patrons were mostly male. Following the trace I had on Roscoe’s energy, I led the way through to a Blackjack table where we found him flirting with the dealer.

He appeared mildly surprised to see us though surely he’d felt me when I metaphysically reached for him. He looked past me, clearly expecting Arys to be on my heels.

“What are you doing here?” Roscoe got right to the point. I enjoyed a man who doesn’t beat around the bush.

“Jenner sent me,” I said, studying the two other men seated at the table, both human. They didn’t seem to be with Roscoe. “There’s some shit going down at the club. You might want to check it out.”

I was wary of saying too much in front of the humans present, but none of them paid much attention to us. Roscoe nodded and tapped his cards. The dealer laid another card on the table. Bust.

Roscoe turned in his seat to face us. He raised a hand, signaling to a waitress. “Bring these two a drink. It’s on me.”

“No, thanks. I’m good,” I protested at the same time Jez said, “I’ll have a long island iced tea.” I shot her a frown, which was wasted on her. Ignoring me, she added, “She’ll have the same.”

“So what happened?” Roscoe prompted. “Did Jenner and Arys finally kill one another? That’s been a long time coming.”