by L. Filloon
We finally pass Sloan and crest a small hill taking us into the Las Vegas Valley . I don’t know what I expected, but the valley that spread s out before us seems to go on for miles. I’m surprise d to see a large area of residential homes, fitted snugly against a rocky desert hillside to our left and moving west ward . Roof to p after rooftop spreads out seeming to end at the mountain ’s edge . The mixture of residential communities with rows of tall hotels scattered like broken fingers reaching for the sky are gray and dull . At least in the daylight they seem lackluster and dusty compared to the glittering Las Vegas as seen in the movies.
The first hotel we pass to our right is the M Hotel. The hotel’s black lacquered exterior with a large “M” logo changing colors is a stark contrast to the desert landscape that surrounds it. It looks isolated, and trapped in a time w arp. I as k Tharin why it’s off the strip. He answers that it’s a ctually still on Las Vegas Boulevard , just farther out. He goes on to tell us that with man’s need to grow and consume as much land as possible, he had no doubts that the M Hotel will one day be surrounded by more hotel casinos connecting it to the rest of the Strip.
My hopes of staying at one of the big Strip hotels are quickly shattered when we drive by each off ramp that would have taken us to the main part of the Strip. We continue northward until we come to a cluster of freeway exits. Changing course , we now head east onto Hwy 95 and end up exiting onto Las Vegas Boulevard . My hopes are completely crushed when we end up on Main Street . Julia and I watch as several rundown motels come into view . Mellis’ car slows down ahead of us to make a r ight turn into one of the motel s ’ parking lot s . There are homeless people, bums and streetwalkers, or maybe they ’re one and the same, I can’t tell.
“Why are we stopping here ?” asks Julia from the backseat, looking about curiously.
“I have to meet with someone, but I can’t take you with me , ” answers Tharin as he slows to follow Mellis into the parking lot.
I quickly turn to him asking, “You’re leaving?”
I’m not sure how I fee l about him leaving us behind. For an insane moment , I picture him leaving to meet with his beautiful Kalis. Why would that be a worry for me? I push all thoughts of Kalis from my mind, but suddenly a strange feel ing comes over me. I sense Tharin will be walking into some kind of danger tonight , and what’s even more confusing is that I don’t know where that feeling is coming from.
Sensing my uneasiness, Tharin reassures me by saying, “I have to meet someone, an old acquaintance. I only need to deliver a message. I’ll be back , and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Okay ,” says Julia, “but why are we getting a room here?”
Pulling into a parking space, he parks the car and turns off the engine. Turning so he can address the both of us he answers , “Because my meeting isn’t until later tonight. This will give you a chance to get some rest and maybe shower if you want. We also need to stay under the radar, hence your current location,” indicating the motel with a wave of his hand.
He looks directly at me as he continues , “The two of you will share a room. We’ll get connecting rooms so we’ll be next door, but one of us will be in your room at all times.”
“Why?” I ask as a knot slowly develops in the pit of my stomach.
“Why what?” he counters.
“Why do you need to have someone in our room at all times? You don’t think the Ange can find us here , do you?”
“We can’t be too safe, Lily .” He look s at me a second longer before turning away and gets out of the car. I look back at Julia and she shakes her head at me, shrugging her shoulders. We both get out and I notice Tolan walking over to Julia’s si de. I look for Tharin, but he’s already with Phoris and Alorn as Mellis makes his way to me.
“Welcome to p aradise,” he greets me with a smile.
As usual when it comes to Mellis, I can’t help but smile back at him saying, “So this is your idea of a honeymoon, is it?”
His laughter cheers me as he takes my hand. “Come on. Let’s see what kind of accommodations this great establishment has to offer.”
He leads me to the entrance of the front office . However , we decide to wait under the small canvas tarp when we see Tharin and Alorn go in . The weather here is similar to San Diego , although San Diego is a little more humid. I heard of the fickle weather in Las Vegas with off and on raining , but it’s not raining now . I t’s just hot and muggy. Unlike San Diego , however, here the mugginess seems slightly greasy and dirty, and I can’t wait to get in the shower and wash it off of my skin.
“Mellis, where ’s Tharin going later?”
“He’s going to meet an ogre,” he responds.
“I’m serious,” I laugh, smacking him lightly on his arm.
He acts as if I hit him with all my might, “Ouch! Careful will you, I’m delicate.”
I laugh again, this time I smack him a little harder saying, “Spill it , or I’ll break your arm.”
“All right, al l right!” he laughs, “I’m serious, though. He really is going to meet an ogre by the name of Mareck.”
“Mareck. Wait, there are ogres here?” I step closer to him, looking around me.
“Not here, at one of the hotels on the Strip.”
“How is this possible? Anyone could see an ogre coming a mile away ! I mean…how is this possible?”
“Princess…”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Sorry ,” he gives me a silly grin . “What you see in the movies about ogres, orcs, goblins and even elves is way off—base. Do I look like any elf you’ve seen in the movies? I mean seriously, either we’re children-size d elve s who help a fat man in a red suit at the Nor th Pole, who by the way is real ― or we’re drawn looking like the faerie folks of lore, who by the way are real, too.”
A little stun ned all I can say is, “Are you serious?”
“You see,” he continues ignoring my q uestion, “an average ogre is less than seven feet, and a rare few can reach nine feet. Most ogres are about six foot seven, maybe six-eight. A nyway, a s for their appearance s , well, they’re not the prettiest kind around, but they’re passable enough so that when you do come upon one, you may just think you’ve run into a really large thug or an oversize d bouncer. I mean , have you noticed some of your NBA players, not to mention the NFL?”
“Sports athletes? Like who? Are there other famous ogres?” I ask, suddenly curious about them.
“A few, but famous in their own way and th ey tend to stay out of the lime light.”
“How can they be famous if they’re not in the lime light?”
“I said they’re famous in their own way, Lily. Take Pallus Stone of the Stone Pavements. His father moved to this world to find his own fortune , and he did it by creating the formula that’s now used in al most every paving material all over the world. Pallus now owns the company and it’s a multi-bil lion dollar empire; or Vua Cold ace of the Cold Blade fortune.”
“Cold Blade? I’ve heard of them,” I interrupt.
“Of course you have. They manufacture ice skate blades internationally, again a multi-billion dollar c ompany solely owned by Vua Cold ace.”
“That’s right. When I took skating lessons , Marilyn complained that the manufacture r , Cold Blade, shouldn’t make the blades on kids’ skates so sharp, that they were too dangerous.” That was one of the few times that Marilyn was truly outraged.
“It’s like I said, they’re passable enough to live in this world, but they’re not the prettiest. I think Mareck got it right as a gangster.”
I raise a brow at him, “Gangster?”
“Oh, sorry,” he apologi z es as he pulls out a glass ball that is slowly glowing white, “I mean , crime lord.”
“What? Crime lord?” I ask as my eyes lock on the glowing ball. Why does it seem so f amiliar? Then it hits me. It looks like the same one he gave Tharin back in Victorville when we first walked into the garage.
“Lily, you have an annoying
habit of repeating everything. Do you know that?”
I don’t answer. My focus is entirely on the ball . A s soon as Mellis notices my fascination , he snaps the ball up and places it back into his pocket.
I pull away, blinking a few times before I realize that Mellis has hidden the ball from me. I point at his pocket and ask, “What is that?”
“What’s what?”
If I didn’t know better, I would think Mellis was trying to hide something from me . “That white glowing ball you put in your coat.”
“Oh, that. It’s a message sphere.”
“A message sphere?”
“There you go again, repeating everything , ” he says attempting to change the subject.
“Where did it come from?” I ask persistently.
“From my pocket .”
“How did it get in your pocket?”
“It appeared there.”
“How?”
“Hasn’t Tharin explained to you about energy and will and all that?” he asks exasperatedly.
Giving up, I say “Why can’t you guys use cell phones like everyone else?”
“But we do, Lily. When we have to, but you can’t trace mental messages or a message sphere now can you?”
I stay quiet for a moment, then ask, “Well, aren’t you going to answer it?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not for me.”
“Oh, come on, Mellis. If it’s not for you, then who’s it for?”
“You know, Lily,” he says, serious for once, “when you get a call on your cell phone , do you tell everyone who it is?”
Looking at him a little embarrassed , I apologize, “I’m sorry Mellis. You should just say it’s none of my business. Sorry.”
“Aw, Lily,” he responds quickly , worried he has offended me. He pu ts an arm around my shoulder, “I t’s okay. I’m sorry . I handle all the message spheres , and if the person it’s for doesn’t give me permission to say who it is …well then , I ’m obligated to keep the information private; even from the p rincess of the Willow Clan. I’m sorry.”
He’s so sincere that I can’t help but forgive him. Smiling, I give him a small hug to show there are no hard feelings. He returns the hug, his way of letting me know we a re still friends.
“Mellis, take your hands off her.”
We both turn to see Tharin and Alorn staring at us. Mellis drops his arms and looks down at me w o ndering why I still have my arms around him. Well, I don’t car e what Tharin told Mellis to do , I keep my arms where they are. I’m tire d of his bullying and telling everyone what to do . So just to piss him off I lay my head on Mellis’ chest and smile contently. With a final squeeze, I step back . I look up grinning at Mellis, who gives me a look of you’ve just killed me . I smile broadly and say, “Thanks , Mellis.”
I turn to walk back to th e SUV passing Julia and Tolan who are lost in their own little world. I also pass Phoris who i s standing near the car with a grin on his face and eyes twinkling. I ask him as I walk by if he would open the back of the SUV so I can get my backpack out . He nods as we turn our backs to his pissed off cousin.
*
Chapter Twenty-Five ~ Tharin ~
Something about Lily has change d since we left Primm. I’ve kept a steady stream of conversation going sinc e we left the gas station and I’ve tried to pull her in. As for Julia…it ’s funny how a little quiet time with Tolan has brought a change over her . Her mood has improved and she did most of the talking.
I think back to the mini mart when Lily and I last spoke. Maybe she sensed something strange about the old couple as I did. Who would carry a statue of a Manui warrior around with them and then give it to a complete stranger? Not just any strang er, but one who would soon be q ueen of the two strongest clans of Velesi? Also, why would they have an old ancient relic that hasn’t been seen in over a millennium in the first place ? Not only that, but the more I think of the old man, the more sure I am that I know him. No, the encounter in the mini mart with Lily was no accident. As for the old couple, they weren’t human either, they were Sidhe.
Lily hasn’t brought them up since we left the mini mart. In fact, she hasn’t said much of anything. She’s sitting next to me but she might as well be back in San Diego . What did the old lady tell her? Was she an oracle and the man with her, her scribe and tether? If so, did she tell Lily about a scene from her future? A future where she would be in danger if she went through with the wedding? Damn. Lily has to be willing to sa y the vows or the marriage isn’t valid . Getting her to Velesi will be a hard task if every time we turn a corner someone is telling her the worst possible thing s that can happen if she marries me.
As we drive on, I try to refocus my thoughts. Thinking too much about Lily always gives me a headache and puts me in a bad mood. I have to start thinking about how the conversation with Mareck will go tonight. Even though the ogres and the Sidhe of the Thirteen Clans have had a treaty for centuries now, the relationships between the two nations have been precarious. Even bound to the treaty, Mareck is a sly foe, and a dangerous one. If Mareck is not already aware of the civil unrest among the Thirteen Clans, there may be a demand for a favor ― a favor put upon the k ing of the Oak Clan and that wouldn’t be good . It’s dangerous and it’s not my favor to give. Knowing my father, he would take Mareck out with a wave of a hand. However, he’s also aware that we need King Mahl’s continue d allegian ce should war be inevitable.
I notice Lily coming out of her self—impose d timeout as we drive into the Las Vegas Valley . It’s not much, but I answer her question about the M Hotel. It has been a while since I’ve been in this realm. My father, taking John Michaels’ advice, sent both Tolan and me here to attend a university . My father said we should learn as much as we could about this world as he did when he was our age. At first I was furious with the idea, but when I began my education , I was grateful to both John and my father. Unlike me, Tolan loved the idea from the start and couldn’t wait.
I steal a glance at Lily and wonder how she will do learning our ways. She has some of her mother’s powers . Ever y now and then I sense her will, but she has so much self doubt. I still don’t know why she won’t ask me questions when I know she wants to.
I shake my head and stare at the road before us. Hwy 15 will take us nor th to Ephraim in a straight shot, but we will be taking a brief detour downtown. My meeting with Mareck is not until later to night and , unfortunately, there is no time for sightseeing. If things don’t go as planned with Mareck, then I need Julia and Lily rested and ready for the rest of the trip. It’s too dangerous to stay at one of the main hotels, so I instruct Alorn to find a motel off the Strip. In the next day or two we will be without such accommodations, and Julia and Lily will have to take advantage of the little we will have tonight before getting back on the road again.
As I turn into the parking lot of the motel that Alorn has selected, Julia asks why we’re staying here. I know they had expected to stay at one of the main hotels and any other time, I would have indulged them . When I tell her why, Lily is suddenly interested. In fact, when she asks if I was leaving her, the concern in her eyes made things feel, I don ’t know …right again. Knowing she’s concern ed about me makes me feel oddly good inside.
I leave them and make my way to Phoris and Alorn. Mellis is to stay with Lily and Tolan will see to Julia. I watch Tolan as he makes his way to Julia’s side of the SUV and I have to smile to myself. I’ve never seen Tolan so nervous and excited at the same time. I will speak to father about allowing this relationship to happen, preferably without having to exile my brother.
“Alorn,” I call as I walk up to him, “did you find Mareck’s location on the map?”
“Yes. It took a minute to follow the streams, but I was able to locate the current location. It’s at the Mandalay , h igh r oller s uite,” he replies, scratching the back of his ears through the beanie material.
“Good. You and I will get the rooms sit
uated. Phoris,” I turn to my big cousin, “have you word on where the Ange are?”
Softly he answers, “No, Tharin. Whoever is assisting them is as powerful as you say. I wasn’t even able to sense the Demlok back in the desert.”
“Both Tolan and I barely sensed it , and I only sensed it because Tolan was right beside me.” It’s true. I should have sensed it s presence on my own , way before it got too close . I’m honest enough to admit that. It’s because of the connection we share as twins that our senses are enhanced . As the stronger of the two , I was able to feel its presence before Tolan, but nevertheless, I would have missed it completely until it was too late.
Whoever conjured up the Demlok was able to cloak it , allowing only the wearer of the Bells of Sheni to see it. I’ve been playing it over and over again in my head. Harlu didn’t seem to care that Lucas is dead and that this Falsad has taken over his body and mind . I n fact, I sensed he has no fear of this Falsad at all. Even if Falsad succeeds in having Lily killed , is able to rally supporters under the guise of Lucas and the Willow Clan throne accepts him …he would still be defeated . The coup would be bloody and senseless . My father would prefer to avoid any bloodshed among the clans. He would rather that war not be the outcome. There is a larger plan here, but I don’t know what it is. Everything depends on Lily and me .
I watch her as I make my way to the main office with Alorn at my side . She and Mellis seem to have developed a friendship, which means she trusts him. Unlike the rest of the ride to Las Vegas from Primm, she seems talkative all of a sudden. It should n’t matter to me that they ha ve become friends . She will have to be close to others in Velesi and it might as well be with someone I trust. Then why is it that the sight of him holding her hand irks the hell out of me? I walk on ignoring them, not that they notice.
The small office is dark and dingy but surprisingly neat. The smell of musty old carpets and drapes that have not been aired for a while mixes with the smell of Pine -Sol and chlorine. The cloying smell of the office is stifling and even though the air conditioner is on, the mugginess from outside is now trap ped inside with us just from opening the door .