Road Trip, Chapter 2
Title: Road Trip
Fandom : Moonlight
Characters : Mick, Beth, Josef, Simone
Rating : R, for some sexual content and strong language.
Spoilers: Post -"Sonata"
Summary: Tenth in my post-Sonata series. Josef hires an RV to take the gang across country to meet Simone's parents. Fun, humorous, and dangerous adventures await them. Told in alternating pov's of all the main characters.
A/N: Sorry for the long time between chapters-it’s a busy time at work right now. Now, introducing the voice of Simone, with the second half devoted to Josef. First stop, Las Vegas!
Chapter 2
SIMONE
I pulled Beth up the metal steps into the Winnebago, so happy and excited to be starting the trip. So much had changed for me in such a short time, that it was hard to fully grasp who and what I was now. But this trip that Josef was taking us on meant more to me than I had thought possible, because he was taking me so he could meet my parents, and along the way we would decide what-if anything-- we would tell them about my new condition. Whatever we decided, he would be there for me. And Josef hated road trips, but he was doing this for me. He had told me when I’d first proposed the idea of this trip that after my sacrifice for him, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for me. Looking around the RV, I didn’t doubt him for a minute.
“So, too much?” I asked Beth, as she stood in awe of the plush surroundings. The leather built in sofas, the gourmet kitchen (not that we would use that much),the custom made vampire quarters. And don’t get me started on the bathroom!
“I’ve never known Josef to do anything half-way,” she commented, fingers running over the smooth beige Italian leather. She looked toward the front of the vehicle, at the barely legal tinted windows, and the huge flat screen TV mounted above the cockpit. “It’s really beautiful, Simone,” she said, trying her best to match my enthusiasm. “So, explain to me the sleeping arrangements.”
We went to the rear of the RV, which had been totally retrofitted by a vampire contractor Josef knew-the same guy who had customized his jet. There were two doors at the end of the hall. What had once been one big room that had housed a queen-sized bed, was now divided into two areas. Behind one door, was Josef’s climate controlled, fully encased sleeping berth, built like a shelf into the wall. I was somewhat claustrophobic, so there was no way I was going to have a similar bed. No, I had an ice bed. A full-sized waterbed had been modified to freeze, simply encased in light sheets, just waiting for me to climb in and rest. Oh, and if the occasion uh, arose, there would be plenty of room for Josef to join me. On the other side of the new partition was a much smaller room, which housed two more freezer berths similar to Josef’s. This would be Mick’s room. And maybe Beth’s one day, if I had my way. But I didn’t mention that.
“Josef says he feels more like he’s in his mama’s womb inside that little box. There’s no way I’m getting into one of those morgue drawers.”
“I totally agree,” Beth said. “Even seeing Mick in his big freezer is a little too creepy and coffin-like to me.” I told her about waking up in Josef’s freezer the morning after I was turned. It had been traumatic, to say the least. She shuddered in sympathy
“Damn, it’s freezing back here,” Beth said, rubbing her arms uncomfortably.
“Oh, sorry,” I said, shutting the doors. “We’ll just keep the bedrooms ice cold.” Beth looked closely at me a minute, and I tried not to fidget under her gaze.
“You really are a vampire now,” she said, as if finally getting it. “ Do you feel like one? I mean, how do you feel, really?” We walked back into the living area and made ourselves comfortable on the leather couch.
“Different, Beth. In some ways, more alive than I was when I was…alive. You remember what it’s like to be on Black Crystal? Multiply that by a hundred, without the drunken feeling. Everything is just so…sensual. Every sensation is amplified. Every emotion too. I’m only just now getting a handle on it.”
It was true, especially where emotions were concerned. At first, it had felt like PMS from Hell, and Josef drove me crazier than usual, but once I got the hang of drinking blood from freshies and staying out of the sun, things began to be…wonderful.
“Well,” Beth replied, “you seem to have adapted fine. Mick and Josef were impressed with how quickly you have taken to it. And you seem happy.”
“I am, Beth, truly.” I looked down at the huge pink diamond on my left hand. “Josef is a huge part of that.” I felt myself tearing up, and Beth reached out to squeeze my hand.
“I’m glad for you,” she said sincerely. Then, to break the sappy mood, she asked, “So, uh, where’s my bed?”
I laughed. “You’re sitting on it. This couch folds out into your bed, up here in the above freezing section.”
“Very cool. You vampires can have your igloos back there. The human needs warmth.”
At that moment, a loud exclamation and some surprised laughter emanated from outside at the back of the RV. I smiled at Beth.
“Sounds like Josef showed Mick his surprise.”
“We’ve got everything here,” Beck was saying, “what more could there possibly be?”
JOSEF
With a flourish, I unsnapped and pulled off the cover of the small trailer the Winnebago was pulling. I was rewarded by Mick’s shout of surprise as he beheld the two motorcycles strapped to it.
“Oh, my God, Josef! What did you do?”
I laughed. “Just living the dream, Mick. I figured we needed some other transportation once we park the RV. Lots of places the White Whale here can’t go, but that these little beauties can.”
He walked around the trailer, reaching his hand out to touch the bright yellow side of the 1953 Indian Chief I’d picked out for him. For me, I liked things on the more modern side. My bike was a blue and white BMW Sport. Sleek and sexy, just like my woman. The thought of Simone sitting behind me, her arms clasped around my waist, did crazy things to my lower anatomy.
“Wow,” Mick was saying under his breath. He looked up and met my eyes, his sparkling with a sense of adventure I hadn’t seen in awhile.
“You like?” I asked needlessly.
“You know how many times I drooled over a bike like this when I was a teenager? With a girl magnet like this, my scoring ratio would have quadrupled. I gotta say, Josef, this trip is suddenly sounding a lot more fun.”
“What can I tell ya-I’m here to make all your wet dreams come true. Why didn’t you ever buy yourself one?” I asked him, as he fingered the fringe that hung from the saddle. He looked up at the branches of the tree that just barely shaded us.
“Well, I’d only get to ride the thing at night, so I thought it would be a waste of money. But what about you? You don’t seem like a motorcycle kinda guy to me.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Mick. I take her out sometimes, drive her along Highway One up the coast on a moonlit night. There’s nothing like it. I don’t know why I didn’t think of getting you one before. You think the girls will be game?”
Mick laughed. “If I know Beth, she’ll be up for it. Simone though? Biker chick doesn’t come to mind when I think of your high class attorney.”
“Ha. You watch. I’ll be fighting with her over who’s driving the damn thing. If I thought she was a control freak before, now that she’s a vampire, I’ve literally created a-Sweetheart!” The girls chose that moment to come out of the Whale and walk around to see what all the commotion was about. Simone smirked at my quick save. She draped her arms around me, planting a sexy smooch on my cheek as she evaluated Mick’s expression.
“I take it Mick likes his new ride?”
“Yes, he does,” Mick answered for himself. He turned to Beth, who was looking a little intimidated by the big bikes. “How about you, Beth? Can you picture riding on the back of this baby?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before. I’m willing to give it a try though, as long as I can hold on to you,” she finished, naughty thoughts apparent in her adoring gaze.
It’s funny how Beth and I thought alike sometimes. Mick too, by the looks of it. He leaned down and kissed her while I looked on, not embarrassed in the least to watch the love birds snogging on the sidewalk. Mick felt the weight of my stare, and opened one eye, then closed it and pulled Beth closer, deepening the kiss for my benefit. I just laughed and put the cover back over the bikes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The lights of Las Vegas welcomed us from a distance as we pulled into an RV park on the outskirts of town. Something about driving the Whale down The Strip didn’t strike me as being very cool, so, after Mick and I hooked up the RV’s electrical and water systems, we took the motorcycles off the trailer and started them up. The girls stood by, dressed for the casinos in short skirts and high heels. We only halfheartedly reasoned with them that they’d be more comfortable in jeans on the back of a bike, but something about having sexy women straddling the seats behind us, long legs and heels on full display, did something to our male psyches that had absolutely nothing to do with reason. Mick insisted Beth wear a helmet, however, which actually didn’t detract from her sexiness as much as you might think.
Now, my fair vampire needed no helmet, and her long, light brown hair flew like a mane behind us as we made our way back to the interstate. Just like in my vision, her arms encircled my waist, and her chin rested between my shoulder blades. She teased me with her hands, sliding them up and down under the silk shirt I’d changed into. I just grinned into the breeze. I glanced over at Beth, who was hanging on to Mick for dear life, her eyes squeezed tight, cheek pressed against Mick’s back. Still wearing his Ray-bans, even in the darkness of night, I caught Mick’s exalted smile as he pressed down on the gas pedal, unwittingly challenging me to a race.
I heard Beth’s squeal of fright as they picked up speed. I knew my bike was more powerful, but I couldn’t resist the heady feeling of riding side by side with my best friends, free as the wind, heading for a night of blackjack, craps, and fine whiskey.
We slowed down as we entered the traffic on The Strip, and Beth lifted her head up to enjoy the dazzling neon lights and crazy array of people milling about the streets. We pulled into the Bellagio Casino, parking our bikes and turning to lift our girls off the seats. The dancing fountains shot high into the air, bubbling up and down in stunning synchronicity. Above the dull roar of the press of humanity and the bells and music from the casinos, came the sweet sound of cool jazz. We’d come during a jazz festival; it was like Mick and I had entered the gates of Heaven.
We all began running our hands through our windblown hair, brushing down our rumpled clothing and helmet hair, laughing in glee at the glorious ride we’d just had. Beth seemed a little shaky, and she leaned in to whisper to Mick that her legs were shaking like she’d just ridden him. I had the pleasure of seeing her blush when she realized I’d heard her. I just winked and pocketed the bike keys, straightening my shirt and tie as we walked toward the casino entrance, our ladies on our arms.
Las Vegas. Possibly my most favorite place on the planet besides LA. The smell of money and sin hung over the place like LA fog, and I breathed it in, leading my friends unerringly to the craps tables. I traded in several thousand dollars for chips, and Mick took out only about a thousand, despite my encouragement.
Mick and I had both been winning steadily after gambling about two hours, having moved on from craps to blackjack. The girls had migrated to the dollar slot machines, and I’d catch their shouts of joy when they hit a jackpot every once in awhile. I was in the middle of a great hand when I caught the whiff of a pair of vampires making their way through the crowds. I caught Mick’s eye and he nodded imperceptibly. I felt Simone suddenly at my side, a complaining Beth dragging behind her.
“That machine was just about to pay off,” she was saying. “What’s going on?”
“Vampires,” Simone whispered to her. Beth tried to look nonchalantly around, then moved to stand by Mick.
About this time, the two strangers had sensed our presence as well, and took the pair of empty seats around our table. It was a man and a woman, looking to have been in their twenties when they’d been turned. Their odor of decay told me they’d been vampires at least twenty years, and their demeanor told me they were on the hunt. The man was of medium height, brown hair, brown eyes, totally nondescript except for the way his eyes glinted slightly silver when he looked at Beth.
When he’d been dealt in, the man looked over at Mick.
“You from around here?” he asked, swiping the table with his card, indicating he be dealt another.
Mick decided to be friendly. “No, just stopping over. You?”
“Just flew down from Seattle. Yvonne and I are getting married, and thought we’d check out the action around here.” That was vampire shorthand for we plan to eat and run.
“Congratulations,” I said coldly.
Yvonne, very thin and hungry looking, wore an ill-fitting dress of a garish yellow, which perfectly matched her lifeless, wispy hair. She clung to her fiancé’s side, eyes combing the gamblers for an easy target, but kept returning to Beth. Her rare blood type made her irresistible.
The male vamp swore in dismay as he went bust, and Mick and I pulled in the chips the dealer pushed our way. These vamps were dangerous, especially in the way they were eyeing human Beth. By unspoken agreement, Mick and I cashed out, flipping the dealer a tip, as we grasped the ladies’ hands in ours. We nodded politely to the vampires and headed for the nearest exit.
Outside, the cool desert air hit us, and the jazz music no longer seemed so nice. I could read Mick’s mind like a book--he wasn’t going to let this go. He turned to Simone.
“Get a room for the two of you in the next casino over. Take Beth there and don’t leave her for a second until we call.”
Simone looked at me, unused to Mick’s take-charge attitude. I sighed, my earlier good mood having faded considerably. “Yeah, that might be for the best. We’ll keep an eye on those two, make sure they play nice.” I kissed her softly on the mouth. “It’ll be alright.”
Mick was comforting Beth, trying to reassure her that we could take care of ourselves. “I would love to just leave town and head back to our RV, but these two are on the prowl, and they don’t look like they can afford to rent a freshie.” Beth’s eyes widened, finally understanding what we vampires had known instinctively.
“Okay. But call us soon, will you?”
“As soon as we can,” Mick said, kissing her cheek. We watched them walk through the crowd until they disappeared into the hotel next door. Together we walked back to our bikes, opening the saddlebags and removing machetes in long leather scabbards, attaching them to our belts and slipping them down inside our pant legs. I watched Mick take a stake and put it in his inside coat pocket.
“Shall we?” I asked. Serious Mick had returned, and he only nodded. We went back inside the casino, but the couple had vanished.
“Dammit! Well, they can’t have gone far,” Mick muttered. He headed for the back of the casino. I sighed in frustration and followed after him. There was nothing worse than going to Las Vegas with a boy scout.
Fandom : Moonlight
Characters : Mick, Beth, Josef, Simone
Rating : R, for some sexual content and strong language.
Spoilers: Post -"Sonata"
Summary: Tenth in my post-Sonata series. Josef hires an RV to take the gang across country to meet Simone's parents. Fun, humorous, and dangerous adventures await them. Told in alternating pov's of all the main characters.
A/N: Sorry for the long time between chapters-it’s a busy time at work right now. Now, introducing the voice of Simone, with the second half devoted to Josef. First stop, Las Vegas!
Chapter 2
SIMONE
I pulled Beth up the metal steps into the Winnebago, so happy and excited to be starting the trip. So much had changed for me in such a short time, that it was hard to fully grasp who and what I was now. But this trip that Josef was taking us on meant more to me than I had thought possible, because he was taking me so he could meet my parents, and along the way we would decide what-if anything-- we would tell them about my new condition. Whatever we decided, he would be there for me. And Josef hated road trips, but he was doing this for me. He had told me when I’d first proposed the idea of this trip that after my sacrifice for him, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for me. Looking around the RV, I didn’t doubt him for a minute.
“So, too much?” I asked Beth, as she stood in awe of the plush surroundings. The leather built in sofas, the gourmet kitchen (not that we would use that much),the custom made vampire quarters. And don’t get me started on the bathroom!
“I’ve never known Josef to do anything half-way,” she commented, fingers running over the smooth beige Italian leather. She looked toward the front of the vehicle, at the barely legal tinted windows, and the huge flat screen TV mounted above the cockpit. “It’s really beautiful, Simone,” she said, trying her best to match my enthusiasm. “So, explain to me the sleeping arrangements.”
We went to the rear of the RV, which had been totally retrofitted by a vampire contractor Josef knew-the same guy who had customized his jet. There were two doors at the end of the hall. What had once been one big room that had housed a queen-sized bed, was now divided into two areas. Behind one door, was Josef’s climate controlled, fully encased sleeping berth, built like a shelf into the wall. I was somewhat claustrophobic, so there was no way I was going to have a similar bed. No, I had an ice bed. A full-sized waterbed had been modified to freeze, simply encased in light sheets, just waiting for me to climb in and rest. Oh, and if the occasion uh, arose, there would be plenty of room for Josef to join me. On the other side of the new partition was a much smaller room, which housed two more freezer berths similar to Josef’s. This would be Mick’s room. And maybe Beth’s one day, if I had my way. But I didn’t mention that.
“Josef says he feels more like he’s in his mama’s womb inside that little box. There’s no way I’m getting into one of those morgue drawers.”
“I totally agree,” Beth said. “Even seeing Mick in his big freezer is a little too creepy and coffin-like to me.” I told her about waking up in Josef’s freezer the morning after I was turned. It had been traumatic, to say the least. She shuddered in sympathy
“Damn, it’s freezing back here,” Beth said, rubbing her arms uncomfortably.
“Oh, sorry,” I said, shutting the doors. “We’ll just keep the bedrooms ice cold.” Beth looked closely at me a minute, and I tried not to fidget under her gaze.
“You really are a vampire now,” she said, as if finally getting it. “ Do you feel like one? I mean, how do you feel, really?” We walked back into the living area and made ourselves comfortable on the leather couch.
“Different, Beth. In some ways, more alive than I was when I was…alive. You remember what it’s like to be on Black Crystal? Multiply that by a hundred, without the drunken feeling. Everything is just so…sensual. Every sensation is amplified. Every emotion too. I’m only just now getting a handle on it.”
It was true, especially where emotions were concerned. At first, it had felt like PMS from Hell, and Josef drove me crazier than usual, but once I got the hang of drinking blood from freshies and staying out of the sun, things began to be…wonderful.
“Well,” Beth replied, “you seem to have adapted fine. Mick and Josef were impressed with how quickly you have taken to it. And you seem happy.”
“I am, Beth, truly.” I looked down at the huge pink diamond on my left hand. “Josef is a huge part of that.” I felt myself tearing up, and Beth reached out to squeeze my hand.
“I’m glad for you,” she said sincerely. Then, to break the sappy mood, she asked, “So, uh, where’s my bed?”
I laughed. “You’re sitting on it. This couch folds out into your bed, up here in the above freezing section.”
“Very cool. You vampires can have your igloos back there. The human needs warmth.”
At that moment, a loud exclamation and some surprised laughter emanated from outside at the back of the RV. I smiled at Beth.
“Sounds like Josef showed Mick his surprise.”
“We’ve got everything here,” Beck was saying, “what more could there possibly be?”
JOSEF
With a flourish, I unsnapped and pulled off the cover of the small trailer the Winnebago was pulling. I was rewarded by Mick’s shout of surprise as he beheld the two motorcycles strapped to it.
“Oh, my God, Josef! What did you do?”
I laughed. “Just living the dream, Mick. I figured we needed some other transportation once we park the RV. Lots of places the White Whale here can’t go, but that these little beauties can.”
He walked around the trailer, reaching his hand out to touch the bright yellow side of the 1953 Indian Chief I’d picked out for him. For me, I liked things on the more modern side. My bike was a blue and white BMW Sport. Sleek and sexy, just like my woman. The thought of Simone sitting behind me, her arms clasped around my waist, did crazy things to my lower anatomy.
“Wow,” Mick was saying under his breath. He looked up and met my eyes, his sparkling with a sense of adventure I hadn’t seen in awhile.
“You like?” I asked needlessly.
“You know how many times I drooled over a bike like this when I was a teenager? With a girl magnet like this, my scoring ratio would have quadrupled. I gotta say, Josef, this trip is suddenly sounding a lot more fun.”
“What can I tell ya-I’m here to make all your wet dreams come true. Why didn’t you ever buy yourself one?” I asked him, as he fingered the fringe that hung from the saddle. He looked up at the branches of the tree that just barely shaded us.
“Well, I’d only get to ride the thing at night, so I thought it would be a waste of money. But what about you? You don’t seem like a motorcycle kinda guy to me.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Mick. I take her out sometimes, drive her along Highway One up the coast on a moonlit night. There’s nothing like it. I don’t know why I didn’t think of getting you one before. You think the girls will be game?”
Mick laughed. “If I know Beth, she’ll be up for it. Simone though? Biker chick doesn’t come to mind when I think of your high class attorney.”
“Ha. You watch. I’ll be fighting with her over who’s driving the damn thing. If I thought she was a control freak before, now that she’s a vampire, I’ve literally created a-Sweetheart!” The girls chose that moment to come out of the Whale and walk around to see what all the commotion was about. Simone smirked at my quick save. She draped her arms around me, planting a sexy smooch on my cheek as she evaluated Mick’s expression.
“I take it Mick likes his new ride?”
“Yes, he does,” Mick answered for himself. He turned to Beth, who was looking a little intimidated by the big bikes. “How about you, Beth? Can you picture riding on the back of this baby?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before. I’m willing to give it a try though, as long as I can hold on to you,” she finished, naughty thoughts apparent in her adoring gaze.
It’s funny how Beth and I thought alike sometimes. Mick too, by the looks of it. He leaned down and kissed her while I looked on, not embarrassed in the least to watch the love birds snogging on the sidewalk. Mick felt the weight of my stare, and opened one eye, then closed it and pulled Beth closer, deepening the kiss for my benefit. I just laughed and put the cover back over the bikes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The lights of Las Vegas welcomed us from a distance as we pulled into an RV park on the outskirts of town. Something about driving the Whale down The Strip didn’t strike me as being very cool, so, after Mick and I hooked up the RV’s electrical and water systems, we took the motorcycles off the trailer and started them up. The girls stood by, dressed for the casinos in short skirts and high heels. We only halfheartedly reasoned with them that they’d be more comfortable in jeans on the back of a bike, but something about having sexy women straddling the seats behind us, long legs and heels on full display, did something to our male psyches that had absolutely nothing to do with reason. Mick insisted Beth wear a helmet, however, which actually didn’t detract from her sexiness as much as you might think.
Now, my fair vampire needed no helmet, and her long, light brown hair flew like a mane behind us as we made our way back to the interstate. Just like in my vision, her arms encircled my waist, and her chin rested between my shoulder blades. She teased me with her hands, sliding them up and down under the silk shirt I’d changed into. I just grinned into the breeze. I glanced over at Beth, who was hanging on to Mick for dear life, her eyes squeezed tight, cheek pressed against Mick’s back. Still wearing his Ray-bans, even in the darkness of night, I caught Mick’s exalted smile as he pressed down on the gas pedal, unwittingly challenging me to a race.
I heard Beth’s squeal of fright as they picked up speed. I knew my bike was more powerful, but I couldn’t resist the heady feeling of riding side by side with my best friends, free as the wind, heading for a night of blackjack, craps, and fine whiskey.
We slowed down as we entered the traffic on The Strip, and Beth lifted her head up to enjoy the dazzling neon lights and crazy array of people milling about the streets. We pulled into the Bellagio Casino, parking our bikes and turning to lift our girls off the seats. The dancing fountains shot high into the air, bubbling up and down in stunning synchronicity. Above the dull roar of the press of humanity and the bells and music from the casinos, came the sweet sound of cool jazz. We’d come during a jazz festival; it was like Mick and I had entered the gates of Heaven.
We all began running our hands through our windblown hair, brushing down our rumpled clothing and helmet hair, laughing in glee at the glorious ride we’d just had. Beth seemed a little shaky, and she leaned in to whisper to Mick that her legs were shaking like she’d just ridden him. I had the pleasure of seeing her blush when she realized I’d heard her. I just winked and pocketed the bike keys, straightening my shirt and tie as we walked toward the casino entrance, our ladies on our arms.
Las Vegas. Possibly my most favorite place on the planet besides LA. The smell of money and sin hung over the place like LA fog, and I breathed it in, leading my friends unerringly to the craps tables. I traded in several thousand dollars for chips, and Mick took out only about a thousand, despite my encouragement.
Mick and I had both been winning steadily after gambling about two hours, having moved on from craps to blackjack. The girls had migrated to the dollar slot machines, and I’d catch their shouts of joy when they hit a jackpot every once in awhile. I was in the middle of a great hand when I caught the whiff of a pair of vampires making their way through the crowds. I caught Mick’s eye and he nodded imperceptibly. I felt Simone suddenly at my side, a complaining Beth dragging behind her.
“That machine was just about to pay off,” she was saying. “What’s going on?”
“Vampires,” Simone whispered to her. Beth tried to look nonchalantly around, then moved to stand by Mick.
About this time, the two strangers had sensed our presence as well, and took the pair of empty seats around our table. It was a man and a woman, looking to have been in their twenties when they’d been turned. Their odor of decay told me they’d been vampires at least twenty years, and their demeanor told me they were on the hunt. The man was of medium height, brown hair, brown eyes, totally nondescript except for the way his eyes glinted slightly silver when he looked at Beth.
When he’d been dealt in, the man looked over at Mick.
“You from around here?” he asked, swiping the table with his card, indicating he be dealt another.
Mick decided to be friendly. “No, just stopping over. You?”
“Just flew down from Seattle. Yvonne and I are getting married, and thought we’d check out the action around here.” That was vampire shorthand for we plan to eat and run.
“Congratulations,” I said coldly.
Yvonne, very thin and hungry looking, wore an ill-fitting dress of a garish yellow, which perfectly matched her lifeless, wispy hair. She clung to her fiancé’s side, eyes combing the gamblers for an easy target, but kept returning to Beth. Her rare blood type made her irresistible.
The male vamp swore in dismay as he went bust, and Mick and I pulled in the chips the dealer pushed our way. These vamps were dangerous, especially in the way they were eyeing human Beth. By unspoken agreement, Mick and I cashed out, flipping the dealer a tip, as we grasped the ladies’ hands in ours. We nodded politely to the vampires and headed for the nearest exit.
Outside, the cool desert air hit us, and the jazz music no longer seemed so nice. I could read Mick’s mind like a book--he wasn’t going to let this go. He turned to Simone.
“Get a room for the two of you in the next casino over. Take Beth there and don’t leave her for a second until we call.”
Simone looked at me, unused to Mick’s take-charge attitude. I sighed, my earlier good mood having faded considerably. “Yeah, that might be for the best. We’ll keep an eye on those two, make sure they play nice.” I kissed her softly on the mouth. “It’ll be alright.”
Mick was comforting Beth, trying to reassure her that we could take care of ourselves. “I would love to just leave town and head back to our RV, but these two are on the prowl, and they don’t look like they can afford to rent a freshie.” Beth’s eyes widened, finally understanding what we vampires had known instinctively.
“Okay. But call us soon, will you?”
“As soon as we can,” Mick said, kissing her cheek. We watched them walk through the crowd until they disappeared into the hotel next door. Together we walked back to our bikes, opening the saddlebags and removing machetes in long leather scabbards, attaching them to our belts and slipping them down inside our pant legs. I watched Mick take a stake and put it in his inside coat pocket.
“Shall we?” I asked. Serious Mick had returned, and he only nodded. We went back inside the casino, but the couple had vanished.
“Dammit! Well, they can’t have gone far,” Mick muttered. He headed for the back of the casino. I sighed in frustration and followed after him. There was nothing worse than going to Las Vegas with a boy scout.