She thought he was still pulling her leg, but he looked deadly serious.
“Why?” was the first thing that came into her mind.
“Think about what you’re dealing with here, myths, monsters, demons, devils, they’re larger than life. If you’re not larger than life as well, you’ll never stand up to them, they’ll laugh at you.”
“So who are you?” She asked curious.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he grinned and rolled down the window, “Indiana Jones. I’m a big Harrison Ford fan. Sometimes I mix in a little Han Solo from Star Wars. Excuse me,” he leaned out the window and pushed the button on the speaker.
“Yes?” came the mechanical reply.
“I’m expected.” He replied.
“Who is it?”
“If you can’t tell by now, I’ve got the wrong place. Go ask your boss.”
“He’s not my boss Mark. Now apologize or I’ll make you sit out there until he opens the game himself.”
“Sorry Janet, but the speaker out here leaves a lot to be desired sound wise.”
“You’re full of it Mark, but I love you anyway. Come in.”
There was a loud click and the gates started to open, Mark put the car in gear and drove in.
“So why are you telling me all this now?” Judith asked concerned.
“Simple, you’re about to meet your first big monster.” He replied driving up the house and stopping under the large carport roof that extended well out from the front door putting all of it into the shade.
“But you said we were going to see a man about some information.” She opened the car door and got out walking around to follow him up to the front door.
“Man, monster, yup, he’s all of that. Probably the most dangerous monster you’ll ever meet if you’re lucky. Just don’t let him throw you, no matter what he does.”
She nodded and straightened up, preparing for the worst.
The door opened and a very striking young man with black hair combed back over his head, wearing dark sun glasses and a rather flashy skin tight white leather jacket and pants came out. The jacket was open almost to the waist, exposing a rather trim and fit chest beneath it.
“Mark, greetings. Please come in, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” he said reaching out and shaking hands with Mark.
“Still doing the show at the Mirage I see?”
“Of course, I have to uphold my reputation after all.” He turned towards Judith then, “Who is your friend?”
“This is Judith, Rafael. And Judith, meet Rafael.”
Rafael took Judith’s hand and gave a little bow, and then said to Judith in the best Elvis voice she’d ever heard: “Welcome darlin’, it’s a pleasure to greet such a lovely young lady such as yourself.”
Judith smiled, “You’re an Elvis impersonator!” She was surprised. No wonder Mark called him the ‘King’ of Las Vegas.
“I’m not just an Elvis impersonator,” Rafael continued in the same voice, “I’m the Elvis impersonator. All hail the King baby!” and he flashed her a very warm smile.
Judith nodded and smiled her best smile back at him; Mark could see she was smitten already.
“Please come in, let’s get out of the heat.” Rafael continued in a more normal voice.
Rafael turned and they followed him in. Mark bringing up the rear, he tried not to laugh as Judith took the time to admire Rafael’s tight leather clad butt.
“Wait here a moment while I go and change,” he told them as he showed them into rather comfortable room.
“Sure,” Mark said walking over and sitting down on the couch set behind a low glass table. The room hadn’t changed much since he’d been here last. Judith sat down on the other end of the couch leaning back into the cushions.
“An Elvis impersonator huh?” she smiled, “Okay, now I know why you call him ‘The King’.”
“He’s not just any impersonator, he’s the one that they measure all the others against. He’s been doing that act for six years now and every other Elvis gig in town has gone out of business because they just can’t measure up. That’s part of why everyone calls him ‘The King of Vegas.’”
“And here I thought I was going to see something scary,” Judith laughed.
“Don’t let his appearance or his act fool you,” Mark warned.
Judith shook her head, she’d seen scary guys before and Rafael didn’t fit that description at all.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Rafael said and came back into the room in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Judith gave him a good look, Rafael’s body was damn near perfect. She wondered how much time he had to spend at the gym to look like that? Well muscled, but still kind of sleek. She noticed his hair was sort of brown now, and he didn’t look that much like Elvis anymore, where before he could have been his twin.
She watched as he sprawled rather sensuously on a large recliner motioning to Mark from the other side of the room, a little smile on his face as he relaxed.
“So what brings you here Mark? And where is Jake?”
“Jake’s dead Rafael.”
Judith started slightly as she noticed that Rafael was suddenly leaning across the table his face inches from Mark’s. She hadn’t even seen him move it had been so fast. He was just there.
“What!” he demanded loudly. “How, where?”
Mark told him the details as Judith watched Rafael. She listened as well, not having heard the whole story herself yet, having only read the report he had given her on the flight from Edwards, but she found Rafael’s body language to be intriguing as she watched. He didn’t move a muscle, he was completely still, focused. When Mark finished Rafael stood up and started to pace back and forth obviously agitated.
“So you’re going to be next, aren’t you?”
Mark nodded, “That’s my suspicion.”
“You can stay here if you want. But I don’t think that’s what brings you here, is it?”
Mark shook his head, “No, I need help.”
Rafael nodded, “Whatever you want, I owe you and I owed Jake.”
“I’m going to need some money, and some information.”
“Money is no problem, but I don’t know what information I can get for you that you can’t get from the Abbey Mark.”
“I trust you; I’m not so sure I trust the Abbey.”
Rafael stopped in mid pace then and turned to face Mark. His whole body shimmered and suddenly there was another man standing there. He looked like Rafael did, but not quite. And then there were the tiger stripes all over his body. It had been a long time since Mark had seen Rafael's true form; he could see Judith's eyes were wide open in surprise.
“You trust me?” Rafael said, “You actually trust me?”
“I have no choice, Jake is dead and my new partner isn’t exactly up to snuff yet. I have to trust someone, and I remember what you were like when we helped you. I’m hoping you haven’t changed over the years.”
Judith felt uncomfortable as Rafael turned to look at her, his eyes those of a hunter. She had the sudden feeling that a large tiger lurked behind those eyes, and that tiger wanted her.
“Partner huh? And here I thought she was a peace offering.” Rafael smiled at Judith as she tried to sink into the couch while nonchalantly moving her hand to the gun under her jacket.
“We were never at war Rafael. Put it back in your pants.”
“Yes but I still remember all those things you said to me, some of them weren’t exactly nice you know.”
Mark could see that Judith was starting to get more uncomfortable; Rafael’s eyes were still locked on hers.
“So I was wrong. Vegas is still standing and we didn’t have to come in here and kill you.”
Rafael laughed, “Not that you would have had much success I fear. I rule here now. This is my city.”
“I don’t doubt that. However if you keep looking at Judith like that I suspect she’s going to shoot you.” Mark chuckled.
Rafael smiled and bowed breakin
g eye contact, “I’m sorry, just where are my manners?” He looked back up at Judith and winked, “You would be delectable my dear, if you ever should feel the desire, do not hesitate to ask.”
Judith tried not to gape at him as he turned back to Mark.
“I’ll have Janet show you to your rooms, dinner is at eight. In the mean time let me talk to a few people to see what I can hear. We can discuss what you need of me while we eat.”
“Thank you Rafael.”
“Jake would be upset with me if I did not help.” He walked to the door, “Tell your partner the rules, I wouldn’t want her to get hurt by accident.” And he left the room.
Judith looked at Mark, “What the hell was that?”
“He’s a Rakshah. Only one in America. Jake and I helped him get away from his Master and come back to the States.”
Judith shuddered, “That look in his eyes when he focused on me. I can’t believe he thinks I’d actually let him eat me though!”
Mark laughed, “He was teasing you Judith. Besides he doesn’t eat people, well hasn’t yet that I know of. But he definitely wants to get you in bed.”
She blinked, “Sex? With him?”
He nodded, “yup. Rakshah feed off of emotions. Fear, hate, violence, death. That’s what makes them so dangerous and powerful. This one however feeds off of love, sex, and lust. Why else would he live in Sin City?”
“Now I’ve heard of everything.” She sighed shaking her head.
Mark shrugged, “He’s an American, like you and me; far more obsessed with sex than with violence. We took a chance on him, and thank the Lord it paid off, cause once he’s full grown it’d take an army to get him out of here. No one takes on the Rakshah. It’s the only reason the Chinese never invaded India, they got their asses kicked. They're invulnerable to almost any kind of physical damage and most magical damage as well. Even devils fear them.”
“You mean he’s not full grown yet?”
“No, he’s still young by their standards. I have to admit he’s gotten a lot more powerful than I thought he would by now. He’s going to be something when he’s full grown.”
“So what are the rules he was talking about?” She had stood and was looking around the room. It was a fairly comfortable den, dark, yet warm and secure. She noticed a lot of the pictures on the walls were of tigers or nudes. Some were both.
“There are tigers wandering the property and the house. Under no circumstances are you to point a gun at one, no matter what.”
She looked at him “Tigers?”
“Yes, walking free. There would be several in here normally but you’re new so he didn’t want you frightened I guess.”
She nodded warily. “What else?”
“Things can get pretty sexual here at times. Walk away if you don’t like something you see, but don’t interfere.”
“How likely am I to see something?”
He shrugged and then smiled at her, “Depends if you decide to sleep with him I guess.”
“What?!” she glared at him, “How can you suggest that? You just told me he’s a monster!”
He nodded, “I’ve been told he’s fantastic in bed, kind, considerate, loving, kinky as hell, and you’ll feel ecstasy like you’ve never felt before. It’s okay with me if you want to. I’ll drag you away with me when I leave.”
“But you said he was a monster?” Judith was obviously confused by this change of tact by him.
“Oh he is, definitely is. But not all monsters are evil.”
“Have you slept with him?” she was suddenly curious.
“No, not my bag of tea.”
She nodded and Mark could tell she was thinking about it. Then she shuddered a bit and looked back at him.
“Yeah, he does that to you,” Mark said watching her. “Part of his powers, especially as you’re in his den now.”
A young woman entered the room then, and Mark smiled, “Ah Janet, so nice to see you again!”
“Hello Mark,” She said with a smile. “Who’s your friend?”
“Janet, allow me to introduce my new partner Judith Keen. Judith, this is Janet, she’s Rafael’s girlfriend.”
Judith came over and shook Janet’s hand, she was shorter than Judith, with long brunette hair, a very lovely face and a striking figure.
“Judith,” Janet said smiling, “Nice to meet you.”
“Are you ummm...” Judith asked a little nervously.
Janet laughed, “No, I’m human just like you.”
“How did you end up here then?”
“Oh we met when Rafael first came to Vegas. You could say it was love at first sight.”
“More like lust,” Mark said.
Judith winced at that as Janet gave Mark a smack on stomach. “Behave you, or I’ll sic Rafe on you.” She turned back to Judith, “Old sour puss there has forgotten what it’s like to be young and in love,” Janet grinned then, “or how to have fun. Now, follow me please?”
“Of course!” Mark said smiling at Janet. “Lead on.”
“Dinner will be at eight. Dress is entirely up to you, Judith.”
“Thank you,” Judith said.
“As for you Mark,” Janet turned and smiled at him, “A g-string will do!”
“Just for that I’m wearing a suit,” he replied smirking.
“Awww, so much for any eye candy!”
“Sorry Janet, but I’m spoken for. You know that.”
Janet laughed, “A girl can dream, can’t she.”
“You can not expect me to believe that Rafe isn’t enough for you!” He laughed.
“Well I figure he’s going to be entertaining your friend here tonight, so I might as well find my own fun!” Janet said and giggled.
Mark laughed again when he saw Judith’s expression.
“Well let’s get our bags out of the car and get comfortable, hopefully Rafe will have something for us by dinner.”
“So what should I expect at dinner?” Judith asked him as they headed down to the dinning room.
“Well Janet is a wonderful cook; her parents run several five star restaurants in LA.”
“What about Rafael?”
“He tends to let his hair down when, well when Jake and I were here at least he did because we know all about him. I suspect he’ll do the same with you.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because only four people in Las Vegas know what I am,” Rafael said coming up behind them as they entered the dinning room. “And three of them are here tonight.”
Judith gave a little jump when Rafael spoke, obviously she hadn’t heard him approach. She turned to look at him and noticed that he was still covered in stripes, well at least the parts of him that she could see were.
“I think a couple of people in the FBI know about you,” Mark said thinking a moment.
“Yes, and one is stationed here, that’s the fourth one. She’s very pretty,” Rafael said with a smirk.
“I don’t want to know,” Mark said.
“She’s supposed to be bait,” Rafael laughed, “Someone thought she’d be able to get on my good side, seduce me, and control me.”
“Too bad that’s my job!” Janet called from the kitchen.
“Exactly,” Rafael said smiling.
“Take your seats, dinner is ready!” Janet called.
“Allow me,” Rafael said to Judith and helped her into her seat. Mark smiled and shook his head. Rafael had definitely set his sights on her.
They didn’t talk much during dinner, and the food was wonderful as always.
“So find out anything for us?” Mark asked after they’d finished eating.
“Not yet. I’ve got a few people looking into it, they’ll call me back in the morning.”
Mark nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
“So, just how did this happen to you?” Judith asked motioning to Rafael’s body.
Rafael smiled, “Naiveté and stupidity.”
“Oh?”
“I was on my summer b
reak from college and I had decided to go to India and bum around for a month or two.” Rafael smiled, “I had a thing for Indian girls back then. I ended up in the mountains, far away from the major towns and villages and didn't listen to the warnings of the locals about avoiding certain places and people.
"So I was enjoying the hospitality of what I thought to be a rich eccentric Indian gentleman, and one moment I'm admiring his collection of tigers and then the next I've been tossed in with them."
Judith gasped, "He threw you in with his tigers?"
Rafael laughed, "I was so stoned I didn't even realize it until the next day. Like I said, stupidity and naiveté."
"So then what?"
"He made me his latest protégé, took me as one of his lovers, and became my Master. The older more powerful Rakshah usually have a couple of young men they've ensnared, sort of how they reproduce. Sadly however mortality is close to one hundred percent."
"Why's that?"
"Because as you get more powerful they start to worry that you might try to kill them and take over their territory. But they're rather possessive so they won't just let you go or toss you out. Fortunately for me however I was able to realize my plight and made my escape one day and took refuge at a Catholic Church I came across."
Mark nodded, “The Church didn’t know what to do with him, so they sent us out to talk to him and deal with everything. He wasn’t evil so we couldn’t kill him, and India wanted him gone as he was an American, so,” Mark shrugged, “We brought him here. Figured he’d fit in fine in Vegas.”
"Ah. So how did you meet Janet?"
Rafael smiled, "Luck mostly. I was looking for a woman to seduce, to feed those hungers that regular food does not. Janet is a very rare woman; her passions and her love are so overwhelming that I could not let her go."
"So you're food?" Judith asked Janet looking rather shocked.
Janet laughed, "Oh hardly, though I do enjoy 'feeding' him!"
The Hammer Commission Page 8