Heaven’s Rejects - Episode 6

Episode 6 – “What Happens in Vegas”

Previously:

We met with Kaye from Team One One Seven.  She wants us for our knowledge.  Her team is going to do the heavy lifting.  Me and mine get to sit back and relax.  And we're in Las Vegas!  Casino, here I come!

Nadia's happy and Demona's miserable.  And here I am, not trying to get in the middle.  Yeah.  Anyway, if we're not being called in to deal with a problem that the team onsite can't handle, I'll take advantage of the down time.  A show or two, try out a few restaurants, maybe wander through a casino or two.  Maybe there's a bus tour for other sights.  My gear should be on its way, but it's not going to be needed.

I hope I didn't jinx myself.

I hate this place.  Not the hotel.  The entire city.  I could do what I'm doing back in Chicago or even back home in Iowa City.  But, no, here I am in the suitably named "Sin City".  I am never leaving this room except to go to the airport to go home.


Now
Nadia took a deep breath of the night air.  Neon light up her black t-shirt and jeans in a kaleidoscope of colour.  Throngs of people walked around her.  On the road, a steady stream of traffic flowed by.  Nadia turned to the camera crew.  "This is the life, you know?  No worries about what I might be facing tomorrow.  No creature trying to rip off my limbs.  No fighting for my life.or my soul.  You don't get that often in the Agency."  She resumed walking.  "Look at everyone here.  Not a care in their worlds.  I get to be like that for a night.  The only decision right now is which casino I want to go to.  Caesar's Palace?  Circus Circus?  New York New York for a taste of home?  So many choices."

The fountains at the Belagio began their show.  Nadia stopped to watch.  "You never get a chance to just see the sights.  Me and Ian were sent to Paris last year to deal with a phantom at an opera house.  We were there for five days.  Once we figured out that the phantom was just an old pipe organ that was boarded up, the Chief brought us back to Chicago.  Never did get to see the Eiffel Tower."  Once the water show finished, Nadia resumed her trek.  "Look, you guys are going to get bored following me around.  Go annoy Ian.  I'm sure he's doing something touristy."

-**-

The camera crew found Ian as he came out of Circus Circus.  "Hey, guys.  I guess Nadia told you to take a hike?"  He kept walking towards the Strip.  "You can't get Cirque du Soleil tickets the day of, did you know that?  I checked out the Midway.  It's changed a lot since /Diamonds Are Forever/.  I guess you can't rely on movies for accurate info, especially older ones.  I'm just going to wander for a bit, see what tickles my fancy.  Excalibur should be close.  You guys don't mind walking, right?  It keeps me fit, especially since I'm not fighting some monster."

Hitting the Strip, he created his own space in the pedestrian traffic.  "I probably should've checked online for all this.  Then again, when me and Nadia arrive somewhere, it means the shit has already hit the fan and we'll be neck deep in supernatural before we get an idea of what's really going on.  This is really a change of pace.  Nothing pressing, just talking to Team One One Seven."

Ian stopped to get his bearings, then pushed forward.  "I'm kinda worried about Demona, though.  Poor girl.  She's just not having a good time, and this is one heck of a city to have that happen in.  I hope she isn't miserable in her hotel room.  Look, no matter where I go, you're going to run into someone objecting to you filming.  Personal photography, it happens.  Selfies are a fact of life today.  A crew like you two with pro gear?  I don't think you're getting in without a fight.  Can you go check on Demona?"

-**-

Demona peered through the peephole to see who knocked.  Seeing the camera crew, she opened the door.  "Come on in."  She stepped back to her bed, where she already had her nightgown laid out beside her laptop.  "Not sure why you're here.  I'm not doing much."  She picked up a stack of papers.  "Kaye got me all the details on the missing John Does.  There's not much in common.  All had dark hair, all were men.  The ages are estimated, so early twenties to mid-forties.  And because no one knows who they are, I couldn't say if they all did the same work or were related or lost a bizarre game of Russian Roulette."

Perching on the bed, Demona poked at a key on her laptop's keyboard.  "I've tried a few searches based on what I know, but even that comes up with nothing or so much that it might as well be nothing.  Maybe I need to sleep, get a fresh look in the morning.  At least I'm doing something.  Have you seen Nadia or Ian?  Would be great to bouncec ideas off the experienced agents, you know?"

Demona yawned, covering her mouth.  "Sorry.  It's been a long day.  I'm going to go grab a shower and turn in.  You're going to have to leave."  She gave the camera crew a friendly smile.  "Maybe if Nadia and Ian are treating this trip as a vacation, you should, too,"

-**-

The next morning started near noon for Nadia.  She rolled out of bed, showered, and got dressed in a clean black t-shirt and her jeans.  When she finally stepped out of her room, it was well past twelve.  Nadia grumbled to herself about missing the breakfast buffet.  She knocked on Ian's door.  Hearing no sounds from the other side of the door, she knocked a second time, then a third.  Miffed, she stepped over to Demona's room and hammered on the door.

Demona pulled the door open.  "What?"

"I thought I woke up mean."  Nadia took a step away from the door.  "Not dressed yet?"

"Why should I?  I'm not going anywhere and I'm not expecting anyone."

"You are going to eat at some point, right?"

"There's this handy thing called 'room service'.  You call them, place your order, and when it's ready, someone brings it up to you."

"Sarcasm doesn't become you.  And what's with the nightgown?  My mother wore that when I was a kid."

Demona sighed.  "Did it occur to you that I don't feel the need to flaunt my body?  Do you have any idea what it's like having men stare at your chest?"

Nadia glowered at her teammate.  "What's your point?"

"I've had these," Demona pointed at her breasts, "since I was fourteen.  Instant spectacle.  And my parents were of no help.  Dad was clueless.  Mom, well, that was an awkward summer.  So, while I'm here?  I'm covering up.  I'm not going to be stared at."

"By hiding here the entire time we're in Las Vegas."

"If I have to.  Nadia, this entire town feels sleazy to me.  I was raised better."

Nadia raised her hands in surrender.  "That's fine.  We probably won't need you.  Team One One Seven probably won't need us at all."  She turned to leave.  "Oh, have you seen Ian?"

"He's not in his room?"

"If he is, he's dead to the world."

Demona looked over at Ian's door.  "I went to bed early.  I never heard him.  Maybe he never came back.  Have you tried calling him?"

"I was hoping not to.  I hate cell phones."

"Come in."  Demona held the door long enough to let Nadia in, then retrieved her smartphone.  She found Ian's name among her contacts and called him.  The call rang once, twice before the other end connected.

"Hey, Demona," Ian said.

Demona placed the phone call on speaker.  "Hi, Ian.  I have someone looking for you."

"Ian, where are you?" Nadia asked.

"I'm at the Flamingo.  I should be back soon.  It's only past midnight."

"Have you looked outside?  It's past noon."

"Noon?  Well, crap.  Okay, let me finish up here and I'll get back to our hotel."

Demona rolled her eyes.  "How could you not noticed?"

"I'm in a casino.  They don't have clocks, and it's a steady light in here."

"Ian, don't worry about it," Nadia said.  "Don't rush back.  We're still on stand by.  Just remember to catch some sleep today."

"Alright.  Sorry about that guys.  Bye."  Ian broke the connection at his end.

"See how easy it is to get sucked in here?" Demona said.  "And Ian's one of you, an agent."

Nadia ran a hand through her hair.  "I'm not arguing this with you."

"Good."

"Just keep looking through what Kaye sent you.  No rush, but it'll keep you busy.  And watch the room service.  The Chief gets antsy when he sees too many expenses.  Try the buffet.  It's easier to hide on the expense report."

"If I have to."

"You have to."  Nadia walked to the door.  "Find a way to deal.  Go to a church if that works for you.  Just cope, okay?"

Demona sighed.  "Fine."

-**-

Apparently, I'm the woman in charge now.  Okay with me.  Someone needs to lead.  Of course, it'd help if the people I'm leading would listen to me.  Who am I to complain, though?

"Go to a church," she says.  The ones that would be of comfort are the ones I have problems with.  No, not a disagreement.  More of an allergy.  Churches, at least the good ones, are holy ground.  The allergy is genetic.  I got it from Mom.  The church I go to in Iowa City, St. Benedict's, with Father Roy, had to make allowances for me.  I don't want to be treated special, but when you catch on fire just crossing the church's threshold, it gets a little awkward to sit through a service.  So, no, I can't really just go to a church.  Maybe Father Roy has time for a chat?

-**-

The day turned to night, the temperature cooling once the sun set.  The neon lights of the city blazed.  Demona, now dressed in an oversized sweater and an old pair of jeans, found Nadia in the hotel's buffet.  She sat down across from her teammate.  "I think I found something."

Nadia held up a finger.  "No work during dinner.  Not unless you're also going to eat."

"I needed to stretch."

"Then stretch."  Nadia picked up her glass of red wine.  "I am eating."

A waitress arrived at the table.  "May I get you anything?"

Demona looked over at Nadia.  "How's the coffee here?"

Nadia grimaced.  "I wouldn't."

"I'll have a coffee."

The waitress smiled.  "I'll go get that for you.  Are you staying for the buffet?"

"Kid, I haven't eaten this good in ages.  The salad bar alone would make vegetarians weep for joy.  And the roasts?  To die for."

Demona glanced at the serving tables.  "Okay, yes, I'll stay.  Thanks."

"Feel free to go up when you're ready."  The waitress left with Demona's drink order.

"Now can I tell you what I found?"

"Are you eating?"

Demona rolled her eyes.  After a huff of exasperation, she left the table, coming back a few minutes later with a plate filled with roasted vegetables, slices of roast beef, and a side of calamari.  She sat back down.  "Now can we talk?"

Nadia smiled.  "Please, go ahead.  What did you find?"

"There are common factors to the missing John Does."  Demona picked up a fork and stabbed at her vegetables.  "First, all male, which we already knew.  Second, the missing Jogn Does were all between five-foot-ten and six-foot-one.  Third, none are older than mid-forties.  I called Kaye about the other unidentified bodies that weren't taken.  There were some who were elderly.  None of the missing John Does were, though."

"It's something."  Nadia sipped her wine.  "Did you get a chance to look at the dessert bar?"

"What?  No.  I wanted the entree first.  Anyway--"

"You should look.  Chocolate cheesecake.  Seriously."

"I'm not interest--  Chocolate cheesecake.  Really?  Have you had any of it?"

Nadia nodded.  "Last night.  Along with a red velvet cake."

Demona craned her neck to check out the dessert table.  "Later.  Anyway--"

"Hold that thought."  Nadia jumped out of her seat to head to the desserts.

The waitress arrived with Demona's coffee.  "Is there anything else I can get you?"

Demona ignored the snarky responses forming in her head.  "No, I'm good for now, thanks."  She watched the waitress leave to check on another table, then turned her focus on the food on her plate.  Since she was there, might as well try to enjoy dinner.  Demona stabbed a roast carrot, impaling it on her fork.

Nadia returned with a plate holding a selection of baked goods, including a slice of chocolate cheesecake.  "I am going to have to find a gym here."

"We can roll you to the airport if we have to."

"Anyway, you found something."  Nadia scooped a bit of the cheesecake on to a fork.  She savoured the taste.  "Oh, you have to get a slice."

Demona sighed.  "When I'm done the main course.  Can I continue?"

Nadia waved her hand at Demona.  "Go ahead.  I'm all ears."

"Are you sure?"

"What did you find?"

"There is a link between the missing John Does.  They're all adults, none under twenty, none over mid-forties.  They're all Caucasian.  They all have dark hair, brown or black.  None had missing limbs."

Nadia stared at Demona.  "You checked that?"

"I was being thorough.  I noticed it the ninth time I went through the reports.  I thought it was odd that none of them lost an arm or a leg.  Other than being dead, they could get around."

"Are you thinking someone wants to animate them?"

"I really have no idea.  For all I know, whoever has these bodies is making a gross treehouse for their kid."

"Really?"

Demona rolled her eyes.  "I'm just processing data here.  I'm not ready to guess at what's going on.  Anyway, I asked Kaye about getting information about the John Does who haven't gone missing.  I want to see if other bodies came in matching what I found.  Maybe I can see a pattern to when John Doe goes missing."

"That'd help Kaye.  Maybe her team can--"  The lights flickered in the restaurant.  Nadia screwed her eyes shut.  "Did you feel that?"

"Maybe?  It felt like a storm rolled in."

Nadia doubled over, gasping in pain.  She fumbled for the silver chain around her neck, pulling out her Star of David.  Raising it, she said, "Tsurik tsu genem, demonspaun!"

"Really?  Again?"

"Tsurik tsu genem, demonspaun!"

Demona opened her mouth to chastise her teammate, then paused.  "Wait, nothing happened.  I didn't even feel that."

The Star of David fell out of Nadia's numb fingers, coming to a rest against her black t-shirt.  "No.  This can't be happening."  She stood up, sending her chair tumbling backwards.  Pressing a hand against her temple, Nadia ran out of the restaurant, barely seeing the people in her way.

Demona retrieved her phone from her purse.  She found Ian's number in her contacts list and pressed the dial icon.  Midway through the second ring, he answered.  "Ian, hi, it's Demona.  Look, you have to get back here.  Nadia--  Something's wrong and Nadia just ran out of the buffet."

-**-

Demona's call has me worried.  Nadia doesn't run out of a buffet, ever.  And Demona sounded worried, maybe even scared.  Something is up.

Granted I haven't known Nadia for long, but that display in the restaurant?  Not what I'd expect from her.  She always had her act together.  I can see her angry.  Not scared.



-**-

Ian found Demona pacing in the hotel's lobby.  He jogged over to his newest partner.  "Demona, I got here as soon as I could."

Relief flooded Demona's face.  "Thank God."

"What happened?"

"I was trying to tell Nadia about what I found.  The lights flickered and then she tried to dismiss me, like she did when we first met.  Except nothing happened.  At all.  When she tried at my library, I could feel the power fighting me.  It was like me stepping into Father Roy's church, except instead of flames, I was getting nauseous.  And then she ran off and I don't know where to start looking."

"The lights flickered here, too?"

Demona nodded.  "Not long, and I don't know if anyone else noticed.  Why?"

"I was at Caesar's Palace and the lights flickered there, too."

"What's the weather like out there?"

"Clear, hot, what you'd expect for a city in the desert."

"Really?"  Demona arched an eyebrow.  "Because it felt like a storm came in.  The air felt heavy all of a sudden."

Ian rubbed his chin.  "Are you sensitive to magic?"

"Not that I know of.  Why?"

"And you said you didn't feel anything when Nadia tried to dismiss you?"

"Nothing.  Ian, what's going on?"

"Something big."  Ian looked around the lobby.  "Go up and check Nadia's room.  Call me if she's there, text me if she isn't.  Stay up there in case she comes back.  I'm going to ask around and see if anyone saw her."

"Okay."  Demona hesitated.  "Ian, will she be all right?"

"Probably.  Nadia's been tied to the ebb and flow of magic for a long time.  If something happened that you can feel, it has to be worse for her.  How do you feel right now?"

"Worried, mostly."  Demona closed her eyes.  "I don't know.  Like it's going storm."

"Go upstairs.  I'll start looking."  Ian watched Demona walk to the elevator.  Once she was in one going up, he walked over to the main desk.

The desk clerk looked up from his computer.  "Hello, sir.  How may I help you?"

"I hope so," Ian said.  "I'm looking for my friend.  She's about five foot nine, dark hair, wears black.  She was at the buffet not too long ago, but got upset and ran off."

"I did see a woman like that maybe fifteen minutes ago.  She ran by too fast for me to do anything."

"Did you see which way she went?"

The clerk pointed at the main entrance.  "She ran outside, turned left.  I lost sight of her after that."

"Thanks, man.  Much appreciated."  Ian hurried, following the clerk's directions.  He shaded his eyes as he stepped into the sun-drenched parking lot.  His phone buzzed.  Turning so that his body provided enough shade so he could read the notification, he saw a text from Demona saying that she hadn't found Nadia.  Ian sent a quick text message back telling her that he was on the trail.

Ian shoved his phone into his pocket.  He continued down the street, hoping to pick up Nadia's trail.  The only people he stopped to talk to were those who had reason to stay in the area for longer than five minutes.  Some had seen her run by; others hadn't noticed her at all.  Ian quickened his pace, trying to catch up.  There were too many possible places for her to have run to.  Checking them all would take time, but Ian didn't have any other choices.  He stopped in stores, other hotels, even checked with a cab driver.

As the sun set, Ian stepped into a nondescript bar.  He blinked to get his eyes to adjust to the dim light inside, then walked over to the bar.  "Hi, I'm looking for my friend.  She's about five-nine, dressed in all black, and may be upset."

The bartender pointed to a corner.  "She came in not too long ago.  You here to collect her?"

"Maybe.  How much has she had?"

"Look, the lady's having a hard time.  Maybe she should be left alone."

"Maybe."  Ian took a step back from the bar.  "At least she's safe here, right?"

"Safe as anywhere else."

"Thanks."  Ian stepped outside again.  He fished his phone out of his pocket and called up Demona's number.  She answered the call during the first ring.  "Demona, it's Ian.  I'm at a bar called," he looked up at the sign, "Dave's Emporium.  It's east of the hotel, same road.  Get here as soon as you can."

-**-

Demona found Ian half a block away from the bar.  She ran up to her teammate.  "Where is Nadia?"

Ian hooked a thumb at Dave's Emporium.  "Still inside.  I had the feeling that if I tried to talk to her, it'd get a little messy and I didn't want to deal with bouncers or police tonight."

"So you want me to deal with the bouncers?"

"Of the two of us, who looks to be more threatening?  There's no way anyone is going to let me throw Nadia over my shoulder and walk out of that bar.  You at least can go in and talk to her."

"Nadia.  Talk to me.  Ian, I've noticed how she behaves around me.  She won't listen to me.  She kept interrupting me when I was telling her what I found before she went off the deep end.  What makes you think that she'll listen to me now?"

Ian rubbed his forehead.  "Do you have a better idea?  I could call in Team One One Seven, but if one person does something stupid, we get a barroom brawl, people getting hurt, police getting called, and so much paperwork to fill out, many trees will die."

"Fine, fine.  I go in, talk to her, get insulted by her, and then walk her out into a cab and that's all?"

"Please?  She's sitting along the back table."

Demona sighed.  "Nadia owes me for this."  She turned on her heel and walked to Dave's Emporium.  At the door, she clenched her hands, trying to will the tension she felt out through them.  She stood up straight then marched into the bar.

Like Ian had, Demona needed to blink to adjust to the dim light inside.  She took a few steps further, trying to find Nadia.  Spotting her, Demona strode over to her table.  Without waiting to be invited, she sat across from Nadia, ignoring the empty glasses arrayed on the table.  "We've been looking for you."

Nadia raised her head.  "Go 'way."

"Not a chance."  Demona moved some of the glasses out of her way.  "Just how much have you had to drink?"

"Not 'nough."  Nadia let her head fall again.  "Go 'way!"

"You couldn't get rid of me back at the hotel."  Demona leaned closer.  "Nadia, what happened?"

"It's gone!"  A sob wracked Nadia's body.  "I can't feel it anymore!"

"Ian and I will look.  You need to--"

"No!  The magic, it's gone.  I can't feel it anymore."

Demona reached out.  "Nadia, getting drunk isn't going to fix things."

"It can't be fixed!"

"Why?  Why can't it be fixed?"

Nadia met Demona's gaze.  "Because there won't be time.  Your people are coming to get me."

"My people?  What, librarians?  What did you do to piss off so many librarians?"

"What?"  Nadia grabbed Demona's sweater and pulled her over the table.  "Demons, you putz!  The first demon I fought promised he'd take my soul the moment I lost my magic."  She released her teammate and sank into herself.  "At least it won't hurt if I'm drunk."

Demona smoothed out her sweater.  "I didn't know."

"Now you do."

"Nadia, Ian's waiting for us."

"No.  When the demons come, I want to be alone, so no one else dies with me."

"The only demon right now is in the bottle you've been drinking from."  Demona sat back.  "Nadia, if you come with me, I will not let one demon come near you.  They'll have to go through me first."

The sound that erupted from Nadia was a mix of crying and laughing.  "You?"

"Yes, me.  Okay, I might not look it, but Mom had me for summers.  She had great lawyers, so Dad didn't even try to fight it.  I spent summers in Hell until I was sixteen.  I know what demons are like.  Few are going to want to cross Mom."

Nadia stared at Demona.  "I'll haunt you if something happens to me."

"Ah, yes, because having your ghost insulting me is scary."  Demona stood up.  She held out her hand to Nadia.  "Coming?"

-**-

Nadia's safe, sort of.  I'll keep an eye on her.  I'm just hoping she passes out soon. She's not a quiet drunk.

Demona told me what Nadia said.  I forgot about her first banishment.  Yeah, I see why she went off the deep end.  I'll check around the city to see what happened.  I'll also get the Chief to send a selection of swords.  Guns would be better, but there's too many innocents around.  I don't want a stray shot hitting someone.