"Didn't there used to be a house
here?"
I glanced around the neighborhood recognizing several of the houses I had spent the previous night staring at. It was all the same. I knew this was the right place. At least, I thought I did. I stared in awe at several neighborhood children playing on a swing set, merry-go-round, and jungle gym. They squealed in delight as they romped, wrestled, and played on the vast patch of green grass stretched out from the sidewalk to a high wooden fence at least two lots back. The rundown houses on either side of the park looked even worse compared to the brand new equipment and beautifully arranged, lighted, stone path that swept through it. A small pond was situated in the far corner of the grass with a wide, arched bridge spanning it. The park was absolutely gorgeous. No trace of the Vampire nest was left. The Witch had outdone himself.
I could see the residue of magic with my preternatural sight, but that was the extent of it. I didn't know how much the Witch had actually changed, or specifically what spells had been cast. I had the feeling something remained of the house, but I couldn't be sure. Call it a gut instinct. There was still the lingering scent of old death here. I didn't know exactly what that meant. The sun had just set leaving an orange glow in the western sky. I knew it wouldn't be long before the children's mothers called them home then I could get down to business. This spell was way beyond anything I was capable of undoing. This was some serious magic. It almost seemed beyond the comprehension of a lowly cleaning Witch. I needed help. And I knew where we could get some. Sliding into my midnight blue coupe, I glanced across to the empty passenger seat. Toby was mostly healed, but he wasn't quite back to full strength yet. I left him with the healers for one more night. I couldn't risk bringing him with me.There will be other hunts. Let him take the night off. I could handle this.
Sliding the key into the ignition, I listened to the engine rumble then settle into a throaty purr. I liked this car, but I was glad it wasn't mine. Part of the Brimstone motor pool, it had been “acquired” from an alpha Werewolf who didn't need it anymore—he didn't need anything but a pine box now. The story was the same for many of the sporty, high-powered vehicles in the pool. The Brimstone Syndicate was an organization dedicated to protecting humanity, but it wasn't exactly the March of Dimes. The sparkling, spinning, twinkling lights of the Las Vegas Strip loomed ahead of me. I couldn't help but wonder how much power this city consumed on a daily basis. The mob bosses weren't the only ones who were rich here. I imagine the power companies turn a tidy profit as well. Turning onto Frank Sinatra Drive, I could see the backside of the Strip. Across the way I could make out the Tropicana, the New York, New York, and the MGM Grand. I didn't like to drive on Las Vegas Boulevard thanks to the glut of tourists and the multitude of yellow taxis that seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was just safer, and quieter to stay on the backstreets.
Before I could see my destination, I saw the banks of lights that announced its presence. Cutting across Tropicana Avenue, I slid begrudgingly into the traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard. Past the Luxor and Mandalay Bay, I spotted the monument growing out of the Las Vegas desert, and it didn't strike me as odd. Not even a little bit. This was Las Vegas. The Eiffel Tower was four blocks down the street. Rising four hundred feet into the sky, the Aztec is one of the largest hotels in the United States. The step-side pyramid-shaped hotel and casino boasts four thousand rooms in the two adjoining towers, a casino that's over one hundred thousand square feet, and a meticulous reconstruction of the city of Teotihuacán, or so the pamphlet read. Built from actual blocks transported from Mexico City to Las
I glanced around the neighborhood recognizing several of the houses I had spent the previous night staring at. It was all the same. I knew this was the right place. At least, I thought I did. I stared in awe at several neighborhood children playing on a swing set, merry-go-round, and jungle gym. They squealed in delight as they romped, wrestled, and played on the vast patch of green grass stretched out from the sidewalk to a high wooden fence at least two lots back. The rundown houses on either side of the park looked even worse compared to the brand new equipment and beautifully arranged, lighted, stone path that swept through it. A small pond was situated in the far corner of the grass with a wide, arched bridge spanning it. The park was absolutely gorgeous. No trace of the Vampire nest was left. The Witch had outdone himself.
I could see the residue of magic with my preternatural sight, but that was the extent of it. I didn't know how much the Witch had actually changed, or specifically what spells had been cast. I had the feeling something remained of the house, but I couldn't be sure. Call it a gut instinct. There was still the lingering scent of old death here. I didn't know exactly what that meant. The sun had just set leaving an orange glow in the western sky. I knew it wouldn't be long before the children's mothers called them home then I could get down to business. This spell was way beyond anything I was capable of undoing. This was some serious magic. It almost seemed beyond the comprehension of a lowly cleaning Witch. I needed help. And I knew where we could get some. Sliding into my midnight blue coupe, I glanced across to the empty passenger seat. Toby was mostly healed, but he wasn't quite back to full strength yet. I left him with the healers for one more night. I couldn't risk bringing him with me.There will be other hunts. Let him take the night off. I could handle this.
Sliding the key into the ignition, I listened to the engine rumble then settle into a throaty purr. I liked this car, but I was glad it wasn't mine. Part of the Brimstone motor pool, it had been “acquired” from an alpha Werewolf who didn't need it anymore—he didn't need anything but a pine box now. The story was the same for many of the sporty, high-powered vehicles in the pool. The Brimstone Syndicate was an organization dedicated to protecting humanity, but it wasn't exactly the March of Dimes. The sparkling, spinning, twinkling lights of the Las Vegas Strip loomed ahead of me. I couldn't help but wonder how much power this city consumed on a daily basis. The mob bosses weren't the only ones who were rich here. I imagine the power companies turn a tidy profit as well. Turning onto Frank Sinatra Drive, I could see the backside of the Strip. Across the way I could make out the Tropicana, the New York, New York, and the MGM Grand. I didn't like to drive on Las Vegas Boulevard thanks to the glut of tourists and the multitude of yellow taxis that seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was just safer, and quieter to stay on the backstreets.
Before I could see my destination, I saw the banks of lights that announced its presence. Cutting across Tropicana Avenue, I slid begrudgingly into the traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard. Past the Luxor and Mandalay Bay, I spotted the monument growing out of the Las Vegas desert, and it didn't strike me as odd. Not even a little bit. This was Las Vegas. The Eiffel Tower was four blocks down the street. Rising four hundred feet into the sky, the Aztec is one of the largest hotels in the United States. The step-side pyramid-shaped hotel and casino boasts four thousand rooms in the two adjoining towers, a casino that's over one hundred thousand square feet, and a meticulous reconstruction of the city of Teotihuacán, or so the pamphlet read. Built from actual blocks transported from Mexico City to Las