A hunter chats with a were and wizard Who: Cian, Tasha & Gabe What: Drinks & a drive When: 20th October, cont: from here Where: Lucky’s Saloon Bar, Gabe’s car Ratings G
Gabe nodded. After working for, and with the were for more than three years he knew his needs, especially around the full moon. “Here’s to letting off steam,” he grinned in return, reaching over with his beer and the two men clinking the glass necks together before taking a swig, emptying the bottles and ordering another round.
The night began as it often did for Tasha, by entering a bar. Lucky’s was familiar, and she needed something familiar just then. As she approached the counter, she spotted two slightly familiar figures. She searched her memory and came up with, once again, the diner meeting.
She hovered near a stool next to the two men. “Hey,” Tasha said with a half-smile. “Cian and...Gabe, right?”
Cian turned around to face the woman as Gabe straightened up and nodded and held his hand out to the woman as he quickly went back to that night in the Blind Eye in his mind. “Right, yeah, I’m just… thinking… Tasha?” he said, looking questioningly from her to Cian and back again.
Tasha shook Gabe’s hand with a smile, and nodded in confirmation. “Yeah, it’s Tasha. I know I wasn’t exactly talkative at that meeting, but I like to hang back and watch. You like magic, and you…”
The hunter turned to Cian. “You showed up with Rhiannon.” Her voice was cautiously lowered as she stated these facts, making sure their little triangle of conversation was away from prying ears.
Cian smiled and nodded, holding his hand out. “That’s right. And from what I hear you’re back in the ‘game’ again,” he replied, his own voice low, but audible to the two others. “I’m glad Rhiannon has someone with her,” he added.
She grinned, shaking Cian’s hand as well before taking the seat next to him. “Yeah, that’s a fair assessment. I’m glad Rhiannon has the patience for me, rusty is an understatement. But she has my back, which I appreciate.”
Tasha placed her order with Nikk. “Did I come at the tail end of a private party?” she joked.
“Nothing private about this party,” Cian joked, giving Gabe a teasing wink, the wizard rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
“Please excuse my friend, he tried to be funny, but sadly so often misses the mark,” Gabe said apologetically to Tasha, slightly ducking and giving an exaggerated wince as Cian lightly cuffed him. “And of course he’s always good to have in a fight,” he continued as he straightened again, “just sometimes forgets when it isn’t one.”
It was the were’s turn to roll his eyes and he almost choked as he took a swig from his beer. Managing to get his mouthful swallowed he wiped the back of his hand across his chin, grinning and shaking his head.
Tasha chuckled at the banter, then wondered if they could get as well as they gave. She leaned in, grinning. “I don’t know,” she said, a teasing note to her voice. “Inside jokes, fake punching. I feel like a third wheel.” The hunter nodded in appreciation as a whisky neat was set before her.
“Thanks, Nikk.”
To Gabe, she said, “So, when you say magic, are we talking bunnies out of hats?”
It was Cian’s turn to look at Gabe, lifting an eyebrow and grinning, wondering how he was going to respond. One thing he knew was Gabe always underplayed his powers, and he was pretty sure he’d still not seen the full extent of them, even after all these years.
Gabe shrugged one shoulder lightly. “My magic does involve contributions from the animal kingdom…”
’Nice, good to know you at least acknowledge us.’
‘Who’s in a snitt?’
‘I jammed my tail when you woke me up to sort out the machine thing.’
‘I apologised for that.’
‘Hmmph...’
He looked at Cian for a brief moment and back at Tasha. “... but I don’t tend to earn anything from any stage shows or Vegas sidewalks.” He paused for a brief moment, looking at Tasha as if considering his next words. Given what he knew of Rhiannon, and how little information he’d been able to glean from the contacts he’d made so far, he’d been thinking it was time to put out a few more feelers in his search for the Mariner’s Ring. The family had been keeping the loss of the ring very quiet, in the hope of hearing something that hadn’t been generated by gossip and rumours, but nothing had come to light in all the time they’d been searching and waiting. He pursed his lips for a brief moment, then continued.
“I’m actually on a bit of a search at the moment, for an heirloom that’s gone missing, and is pretty important to my family. From what I can gather from getting to know Rhiannon, and that ‘meeting’, back in the diner, you’re someone who would have some contacts, and can be trusted, yes?”
She looked between the two men while sipping her drink. It was like a tennis match of ribbing, even when they were silent. Tasha set down her glass. She did have a whole network of contacts — her family, who didn’t know yet that she was back ‘in the game’. “I’d like to think I can be trusted,” she answered.
“I’m guessing heirloom doesn’t mean pearl earrings? You’re referring to something…other.”
Cian remained silent, taking a swig from his beer as the wizard explained what he was prepared to share.
“No, not pearl, and not earrings,” he smiled. He held out his right hand, displaying the sapphire signet ring he wore. “It’s a much older version of this, and has been in our family line for generations, worn by the Santorini family patriarch,” he explained. “It was stolen from my grandfather, and we haven’t been able to trace it, nor who was behind it, so we’re now searching all avenues.”
Tasha visually examined the ring. She knew of magic, of course, but had never really been in the close proximity of magic. As a hunter, she was more magic adjacent. But that ring gave off a vibe of power. “My family are hunters, too. They’re pretty much my network,” she explained, looking up at Gabe.
“I can talk to them, see if they know anything. I’m assuming you’ve already tried looking where it was stolen?”
He nodded, returning his hand to his side, fingers gently curled so the ring was not obvious. Very few knew the circumstances of the theft, the death of his grandfather being the only thing that was reported to the police that evening. The fact that only the ring had been stolen, along with the timing and manner of the Santorini patriach's demise, had given the family reason to be wary as to how much was shared with anyone outside the family, even those in the police who were well known to the family.
"Yeah, we checked," he replied. "It was a while ago, and we've had no luck trying to locate it, which could mean a few things. Maybe whoever has it doesn't know what they have, or it's either been lost, stashed away in someone's jewelry box, or even lost over the side of a boat!" He gave a wry smile and laugh as these were just a few of the options the family had discussed, all of which would explain their difficulty in finding any information on its whereabouts. The other option was that whoever had it still did not knowing how to use it,and that was what kept them hunting for it, as the thought of someone figuring out how to do so was not something any of them wanted to think about.
“Wow,” Tasha replied, draining about a third of the contents of her glass in one go. “That doesn’t really narrow it down, does it?” She cast a glance at Cian, wondering how he and Gabe knew each other. They seemed like totally opposite people. He was also quite quiet, she noticed. The hunter nudged the bottom of his stool with her foot.
“What about you?” she asked him. “Have any ideas?” Tasha gave Cian a smile to let him know she wasn’t trying to antagonize him.
Cian smiled and shook his head. "worked through those when I first learned about it all, and we were down the Caribbean then," he explained. "Interesting area to spend a few years, a number of countries all next door to one another, sort of. Island life is sure different to things up here.
"What about yourself? Where's your family?"
Tasha kept her smile even as her eyes dropped down to her glass. “Seattle,” she answered. “Pretty far from island living, unless you count Bainbridge. What about you? I have a guess based on both of your accents, but I’m no expert,” she added, addressing the both of them.
She wouldn’t even know where to begin to find an item like that. She wondered if her parents would, either.
“County Tyrone, Northern Ireland,” Cian replied, dropping into a heavier brogue as he said it. “This one’s a citizen of the Mediterranean, according to him, and given the family it’s probably the best description, really,” he continued, indicating Gabe.
Gabe smiled and nodded. “You could say of my family we’ve drawn blood from many of the countries around the Greek Islands,” Gabe joked, “so gatherings at home are rather multi-cultural.”
The hunter had guessed Ireland for Cian, and it was amusing when his accent got heavier. However, she raised her eyebrows at Gabe’s answer. “That’s an interesting way to put it,” she told him. “And delightfully vague.” Tasha polished off the rest of her whisky and slid the glass away from herself.
“So how do two seemingly different people such as yourselves meet and become such good partners in mischief?” Tasha asked curiously, starting to feel like she was interviewing them for a magazine article or something.
Gabe looked up at Cian and raised his beer to him. "All yours, Captain!" he told him and finished his beer, turning to the bar and raising the bottle, signaling for another round for the three of them.
Cian huffed a laugh at him and explained to Tasha.
"Few years back I was working down at the marina here, was headhunted down to the Caribbean to join a crew there, working on one of the luxury super yacht fleets. Not too long after this clown came along and given his family background, and his charming personality, he joined the crew." He paused as Gabe gave a rather extravagant bow, complete with flourish as if doffing an imaginary cap.
"As you can see he was quite the hit with the clientele," Cian drawled, rolling his eyes again as Gabe turned back to the bar and paid for the fresh drinks, passing them around as Cian continued.
"The hurricanes last year wiped out the fleet, or at least put it all in dry dock, insurance companies were fighting the claims, I felt it was time to come back here, and he decided to check out the scene in Nevada."
"And California," Gabe added. "Where I can go anywhere I need to fly if any tip comes in." He held out the neck of his beer. "Cheers, to quick travel options!"
Tasha raised her glass, too. “Yeah, I don’t travel so much anymore,” she admitted. “But that’s probably going to change soon.” Once she told her family. She had been hesitant to do so. There were a few alternatives as to what their reaction would be, and the hunter wasn’t looking forward to any of them.
“So, what do you think of the so-called Nevada scene? Especially here in Searchlight,” she asked curiously.
Gabe and Cian looked at each other then gave her a wry smile.
"I'm going to guess Rhiannon gave you an update on the fun down at the marina? Seems there were some fairly nasty critters let loose from somewhere up north," Cian replied.
“And I saw the text message chain,” Tasha added. “Well, after the fact. But yeah, I know about that.” She wondered if these mysterious creatures from up north had anything to do with the pet cemetery that had been dug up around the same time.
“But all par for the course, from what I’ve heard,” she continued, nodding her head in thanks as a fresh drink was placed before her.
"You ever come across anything like that before?" Cian asked. Rhiannon had told him about Tasha, a former hunter who was getting back into the field, fair bit of experience under her belt.
“What, reanimated corpses? A little.” Tasha took another slug of whisky, eyes traveling between Cian and Gabe. It had been a while since she had talked shop in this much depth. “It’s not pretty, I know that. And some of the outfits they wear are downright embarrassing, depending what year they were buried,” she joked.
“Note to self, opt for cremation, am I right?” She raised her glass again.
"That, and spread my ashes in the sea," Gabe agreed, raising his beer solemnly. "Any sea, after all, there's only one."
Cian gave a wry smile and nodded his agreement to Tasha, lifting his beer and all three clinked together.
"I've been up there, where they think the things came from. Some old cemetery where people used to bury animals." His shoulders rolled a little as he recalled the way the place had felt as he'd approached, still getting used to being able to recall what had gone on when he shifted, what Siofra felt.
"Definitely not a place I'd want to end up."
Tasha didn’t know if she actually had a preference. If she was dead, she wouldn’t really care. She flashed back to when the EMTs found her nearly dead body, her floating in and out of consciousness, in and out of pain. One of them kept apologizing as they hefted the gurney into the ambulance. It was weird, that’s what she remembered most, those muttered little ‘I’m sorry’s’.
It suddenly occurred to the hunter that wasn’t what they were apologizing for. “Well, at least not any time soon,” she smiled. “At least it’s not boring. Wasn’t there also some crazy fight that went down in this bar a few months back?”
Cian nodded, glancing across to, and indicating the door on the other side of the room. "They came outta there, some looking a little on the demonic side, others possibly were," he said, describing the bear, "and something that looked like it belonged in the water. Black ink stuff everywhere. Took Brian and a good cleaning crew some whole lotta elbow grease to get the place cleaned up." He paused before adding, "there was also something crazy up at the diner the next night. People going crazy and attacking others…" He shook his head and took another mouthful from his beer.
"Some doctor from up in town said he was starting to pull all this stuff together, that there were other things he'd found," Gabe continued. "He's probably a handy guy to have on speed dial in your line of work," he added.
“He was at the meeting, too, wasn’t he?” Tasha asked. “I remember a doctor being there.” She needed to thank Brian again for having the foresight to take notes and write down everyone’s contact info. And James, for having the meeting in the first place.
“It seems like the best way for us to get through whatever’s happening is to stay networked,” the hunter remarked.
"For sure," Gabe agreed. "And yeah, forgot you would have his number already. It would be good to catch up with a few people that were there, I've known Cian for years, and am staying at the place Brianna manages, the one who thought the invite was for her twin sister who's also a hunter. Know Brian from here, met James here too, and Nesryn at the diner. Do you know many of the others?"
“Here and there. I know Brian from music, actually, before we ever stepped foot in the diner. Had no idea he was, you know. Not that I care. He’s a good dude.” Tasha wasn’t too familiar with Brianna, Nesryn, or James.
“Like I said at the meeting, I’m cool with you if you’re cool with me.” She glanced at Cian as she said this and winked.
Cian nodded, giving Tasha a smile. "Any hunter Rhiannon will work with is OK with me," he replied, not sure how much Rhiannon had told Tasha of the first time Rhiannon and he, or at least Siofra, had met all those years ago. "I'm hoping t' be able to join y'all on patrol soon, sometimes, now it's past the summer. Gets a bit crazy at work but that season's almost done." He grinned and added, "that's if y' cool with that?"
Tasha shrugged. “I don’t mind if Rhiannon doesn’t. Maybe we could find a nest, or something.” It had been a while since she had tackled something like that, and maybe it was due time to get fully back on the horse. Or the bicycle. Or whatever metaphor she had settled on.
“What about you, Gabe?” she asked. “Do you ever lend your expertise to eradicating the forces of darkness?”
Gabe shrugged lightly as the wizard and the were glanced at one another and grinned.
"Haven't done anything like what you're talking about, like there patrolling, or fighting," he admitted, "but have had some interesting times with some other practitioners in my field of work who lean a little over the line." He paused, his eyes darting around to double check the individuals surrounding them, checking there was no interest being shown, or anyone with super alert hearing paying special attention. "Black magic, voodoo, demon worshippers, and others who invest their efforts in such sources of energy are the kinds of things I usually deal with, sometimes coming too close for comfort, as Cian had had the chance to witness at one point."
"A little?" Cian huffed, shaking his head. He'd not really witnessed Gabe 'at work' first hand in the years they'd been in the Caribbean as he'd usually shifted to help the wizard when things had been bad enough to call on the energies Gabe could channel through him. Not until the night at the marina.
“Sounds harrowing,” she replied, watching the two of them. “Demon worshippers are fun,” Tasha added. “I once fought this wrath demon that a group had summoned. Meaning it created and fed on wrath. The only problem was, I get pissed off when I fight, you know? So it kept getting stronger with each blow. That was tricky.”
She trailed off, grinning. “Sorry, tangent.”
"No! It's great, glad to hear about it," Gabe said, keen interest showing on his face. "It's always good to hear what's out there, never know what might be round the corner."
"Especially in this town," Cian added. "You been here in Nevada long?"
“A couple of years, but I was inactive until recently. Still noticed things, but figured they were none of my business,” Tasha answered honestly. In her mind, she had been a civilian again because that’s what she thought she had wanted.
“Stuck to Vegas, mainly. I’ve only been in Searchlight recently because I was hanging out with someone staying here.” There was no need to bring up Summer by name. Or at all.
Knowing how hunting was as much a part of Rhiannon as Siofra was of him, or Gabe’s magic was in his blood, Cian was genuinely curious. “Do hunters go inactive much? I mean, is it a choice?” he asked Tasha.
She had been hoping to avoid a question like that. Tasha shook her head. “I can’t speak for other hunters,” she said carefully. “But yes, I chose to.” She didn’t want to go into what had happened, especially to someone in a relationship with a hunter. It would just breed worry, and that was the last thing they needed to be thinking about when on the job.
“I wanted to focus on my music.” That wasn’t a lie.
Cian nodded, accepting the feedback, and taking another swig from his beer.
Gabe was a little more curious, not having a hunter as a girlfriend to learn about them, and having only had acquaintance with any from a distance previously. “So hunting, true hunters? It’s a bloodline inheritance, isn’t it?” he asked, again having checked briefly over his shoulder for anyone looking like they were trying to listen in on the conversation.
“Yep. Mom, dad, grandparents. All hunters. So no pressure on me whatsoever,” she joked sarcastically. Tasha heard the bitterness in her own voice. “Sorry, that wasn’t directed toward you,” she assured Gabe. “Just family dynamics. I’m sure you understand.” It sounded like he had some idea of what that would be like, given the talk of magical heirlooms.
“I do,” Gabe admitted, a little ruefully, glancing at his beer then back up at the other two. “I can understand it from their point of view, after having the bloodline build such a dynasty, in our family’s case, there is a lot riding on continuing the bloodline, which of course doesn’t happen unless we… well, have kids. So far my sister and I haven’t shown that either of us are really looking to do that, so I know there are some rumblings up the chain. I told Ana she could have Europe to find someone, that there’d have to be someone to put up with her there, and I’ll take responsibility for finding the ring,” he joked, a twisted smile giving some indication of his sister’s dislike of his suggestion. He went on to explain, “my sister is amazing, and beautiful and a very talented practitioner, but she’s also very exacting, which makes her very good at what she does. It also makes her a little… challenging, shall we say, to please?”
She smiled at Gabe, listening. When he was done, she nodded in understanding. “We’re in the same boat, it seems.” Then she paused for a beat, before laughing. “Oh, that’s funny. Because you and the ships.” Tasha bit her lip, then clinked her glass against his good-naturedly.
“I’m not having kids, period,” she admitted. “It’s...not for me. My sister can deal with that, she’s back home. If I can’t see my parents, I can pretend they aren’t furious with me.”
“Here’s to siblings and their reproductive successes!” Gabe laughed and took a mouthful of his beer. After swallowing he sighed softly. “Fortunately I’m still of an age where they’re not getting too upset, but I’m also not looking to rush things. Too many marriages I’ve seen that were for the wrong reasons, or not good enough reason, have caused pretty damaging consequences.” His mind went to his uncle down in Lima, and he shook his head. “And there are some who should never marry,” he muttered.
“That...sounds kinda weird, but I get what you mean,” Tasha laughed in agreement and she finished her second drink. “I think this will be the limit for me tonight,” she told them both. Since becoming active again, she had limited the drinking to certain nights. Well, limiting by her standards.
“I have a hike back to Vegas,” the hunter explained. “Don’t worry, not driving.”
That made Gabe lift an eyebrow. “Oh? I thought it was only me who used portals,” he said jokingly, though not exactly joking.
Tasha mirrored his expression before breaking out in another peal of laughter. “A portal? Sounds cheaper than an Uber. Can you send me home in one?” She grinned teasingly at Gabe.
Gabe arched an eyebrow and looked around. “Yes. Though I warn you, if you have a location where people might see you arrive? The explanations are always hard, unless it’s in a bar like this, where it seems stuff… you know… happens.” He smiled and finished his beer. “The other option is I can drive you. I’ve only had the two, and Amphitrite knows the way now.”
Cian rolled his eyes, and shook his head, but added, reassuringly, “he’s fine behind the wheel, trust me.”
“Amphi-what?” Tasha looked at Cian and Gabe cluelessly, then shrugged. A ride was a ride, and Gabe seemed trustworthy enough. “I’d appreciate it. As long as it’s not like a magical invisible car or something.” The hunter paused and reconsidered. “Actually, that might be kind of cool.”
Cian laughed and shook his head. Gabe’s necessity to name his vehicles had always amused him, but he accepted it when he realised how long the wizard’s family had been in shipping, and how their main form of transport had been boats at home, all of which had names.
“Amphitrite,” Gabe repeated, “the goddess of the sea, wife to Poseidon.” He straightened and offered his arm to Tasha. “Your chariot awaits! Just one small drawback, we need to walk to my place around the corner, where it’s garaged. I still haven’t felt comfortable leaving it just anywhere, especially here, given what happens from time to time.”
Tasha wasn’t sure if anyone had ever actually offered their arm to her before, but she took it. She had the strange urge to curtsy. To Cian, she said, “It was nice seeing you again. Tell Rhiannon I said hey.” She clapped him on the shoulder with her free hand.
To Gabe, she replied, “A small walk sounds nice. We might even make it there in one piece.”
Cian nodded, replied “will do, good to catch up!” and gave the two a wave as they headed out. Leaning an elbow back on the bar he reached for his phone to see where Rhiannon was.
Gabe pushed the door open as they reached it and once outside he looked around to see if the coast was clear and stopped, the two of them outside the ring of light cast by the streetlamp. “OK, we can walk, or do you want to check out a portal?” he asked, grinning.
“I thought you were joking,” Tasha replied, turning to him with alarm. “I don’t know, I think maybe a portal might make me, you know...queasy. Best stick to driving for now,” she laughed.
“I’m curious to see where a wizard lives,” she added.
Gabe nodded, and they started walking again. “Believe me, it is just your average trailer here, three bedder. Biggest draw card was the double lock-up garage so I could secure Amphitrite. I’ve had some times when vehicles have been… well, targeted by people with a grudge,” he said as they made their way toward Montana Street to head up to the corner of Addition Street. “My actual home, where my family is, might be more what you’re thinking about, but that is over in the Mediterranean, so not tonight.”
“The Mediterranean? Like...the whole sea?” Tasha smiled teasingly. “And this must be some car,” she commented after the mention of people with a grudge. “Or you’re good at pissing people off.”
The night air felt good, the temperature in the mid 70s. She liked that she got to wear short sleeves more often here.
“No, an island in the Mediterannean,” Gabe laughed, and shrugged lightly. “And some people are cowards, so try and get you through other ways, not face-to-face,” he replied. “Trouble is it can sometimes backfire and hurt innocents who just happened to be in the wrong carpark at the wrong time.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Tasha frowned. That sounded serious. Sometimes she didn’t know when to turn off the sarcasm. “Did something happen to…” She trailed off. The hunter knew better than anyone that sometimes people weren’t comfortable telling their story.
“You don’t have to answer that,” Tasha answered.
Gabe gave a light shrug. "Probably better I don't," he responded, his voice lowered, "not here, not now." He tended to keep his conversations outdoors rather limited, and generic. He'd been able to surveil the bar as it had physical barriers and the wards and other influences added a level of protection and a sort of static-type inference. Walking the dark streets of Searchlight was a completely different story, especially since he'd seen and experienced some of what could take place… and be ignored by regular citizens.
“I’ll take you up on it later,” she said gently, trying to lighten the mood. Tasha slipped her hands in her pockets awkwardly as she cast around for a change of subject. “Do you get up to Vegas much?”
Gabe nodded. “I am probably up there a bit more than down here. Been across to California a couple of times, just to get a bit of sea air in the lungs,” he continued as they walked. “Did you come here straight from Seattle?” he asked lightly.
“Yeah, my ex and I drove down here together in a U-Haul,” Tasha answered. “It was a whole thing. You know, bad impulsive decisions. But once I got here, I decided stubbornly that I was going to stick it out. If I went back too soon, my family and friends would me ‘I told you so’ and that’s the worst.”
She cast a sidelong glance at Gabe. “Am I ruining the air of mystery?” she joked. “Now that you’re learning I’m kind of a trainwreck.”
He chuckled as they walked, shaking his head. “We all have our pasts, and regrets in those pasts,” he replied. “Sorry about the ex, and what sounds like a bit of a disconnect with the family?”
“It was a long time coming,” she shrugged. “No sorries necessary.”
Gabe smiled and nodded, their footsteps crunching on the gravel along the road’s surface, the sound seeming to echo into the darkness of the night as they made their way along the streets of Searchlight in companionable silence. “So have you spoken to them recently? Now that you’ve started hunting again? Your family that is.”
“I call them once a week to let them know I’m alive. But I haven’t told them I’ve started again. No matter what they say about it, it’ll be the wrong thing. It’s a talent my parents have.” Tasha suddenly felt like she was talking about herself too much.
“Do you talk to your family often? Being separated by a continent and all.”
The streetlights illuminated the Addition and Montana crossroad, the dark outline of the large tree in the front yard of the property on the far corner concealing most of the house behind it.
"Yeah, my sister Ana and I message regularly, and we all know when someone comes across information."
Gabe fished his keys out of his pocket and the quiet hum of an electric roller door on the far garage door could be faintly heard as the pale shutter retracted to reveal a dark interior. The flicker of a neon light stuttered and sputtered to life, reflecting off the clean curves of the metallic blue finish of the motor vehicle sitting beneath it.
"And this is Amphitrite," Gabe said as they turned into the dusty yard and approached the lit entrance.
“It’s very blue,” she told him. “And nice. Nicer than my car.” Tasha didn’t know a lot about automobiles. She knew when her’s worked and when it didn’t. That was the extent of it.
“I promise I won’t judge your driving,” the hunter added, teasingly. “And I definitely won’t compare it to taking a portal. Whatever that feels like.”
Gabe gave her a lopsided grin and made his way to the driver's door, the vehicle unlocking, and demobilisers disengaging. “It’s OK, I like driving, and having a nice car makes it even better!” he replied. “I’ll back it out,” he added, sliding into the driver’s seat and giving Bilson time to relocate while he started the motor. It purred to life at the touch of the ignition, the sound always a song to Gabe’s ears. Slipping it into reverse he eased out the clutch and the car gently rolled back out of the garage. Leaning over he opened the door. “Hop in,” he said, the grey inserts contrasting with the black leather cushions of the vehicle’s seat.
Tasha slid into the passenger’s seat. “Fancy,” she remarked with a smile, before giving Gabe her address. “I appreciate this,” she told him again. “It’s nice of you to go out of your way for someone you just met.” He’d be facing almost a two hour round trip drive for her. Well, faster if he gunned it.
“Let me know if there’s ever anything you need. I don’t like leaving favors unreturned.” The hunter buckled her seatbelt.
Gabe smiled, and eased the car out of the drive and was soon on 95 heading up to the city. “It’s not that far out, I’ve been using a private hotel in Henderson as my base up here,” he said as he accelerated smoothly once outside the town limits. The vehicle’s speed was almost indiscernible inside the sealed cabin, only the road ahead illuminated by the headlights streaming beneath them indicated how fast the car was moving. That and the speedo, if glanced at, which showed 120mph. “Do you recall the young woman, Brianna, who thought the invitation was for her sister who is a hunter? She manages a business that has a brasserie, and a cafe bar, plus a pretty decent microbrewery, and the hotel.”
“I recall,” Tasha answered. “It’d be interesting to see this hunter sister, if she’s around.” She looked out of the window, watching the road and scenery flash past. It was definitely a smooth ride. Her own car shook if she tried to take it past 80, but that might have been a different kind of problem.
“So, you bounce between a trailer in Searchlight and a nice hotel. You live an interesting life, don’t you, Gabe?”
The wizard smiled. “Keeps me on my toes,” he replied, eyes darting to both the rear and outside mirrors every so often out of habit. The moon was up, on the wane again as the ‘blue moon’ approached, at the end of the month. “I’m used to living out of a duffle, and lucky enough to have a family home to return to,” he mused, then grinned, “and really lucky that it’s big enough that anything I find that I’d like to keep I can leave it there!” He knew from Cian that that was something he’d taken for granted until the were had talked about not keeping mementos from their time down in the Caribbean. Gabe had been gifted a mask from a tribal shaman which he’d accepted, and then transported home afterwards, when Cian asked him where he was going to stash it.
“I’m happy anywhere, the hotel is mainly for when my sister visits, which she is possibly going to do in a few weeks.”
She listened to him even as she stared out the window, turning to look at him when he mentioned his sibling. “The very exacting sister? Must be some hotel if it’s suitable enough for her,” Tasha grinned. She tucked a few braids behind her ear, eyes moving to the road ahead. There was something nice about sailing through the empty desert at night.
“Yes,” he grinned at Tasha’s description of Ana. “I love her, and we’re really close, but I’d rather live with her in a private hotel like le Breeze than in the place I nearly got. And it helps having Brianna there, as I think my sister will find her ‘acceptable’, shall we say, as a proprietress?” He had no doubt Brianna would be well able to deal with Ana and her expectations, Gabe having already given her a full rundown on the types of things that might be requested. And now Brianna was even more aware of her abilities and feeling more comfortable to use them, it would definitely give her an advantage when it came to managing his sister.
“To each their own. If it has a bed and roof, I’m happy. Actually, the bed has been optional in some of the places I’ve stayed,” Tasha remarked with a casual shrug. “But I’m glad this works out for you, and Ana. Let’s just hope she doesn’t run poor Brianna ragged.” She was glad she lived in a studio, it was an excuse not to play host to any of her family if they ever decided to swing by Vegas.
Gabe chuckled and nodded. “Hammocks are good. The old seafarers had the right idea there, and sand can be OK as long as it doesn’t get where it shouldn’t!” he added with a laugh. “Because that? Really sucks!”
“Is that something that happens to you often?” she asked, laughing. “Are you having a lot of ’From Here to Eternity’ moments on the beach? Because I can tell you from experience, that’s not as romantic as it looks.” Tasha grinned.
"It sure isn't," he agreed, laughing as he briefly looked across at her. "And no, not recently," he added, returning the grin before returning his attention to the road. "Though some beaches are worse than others, don't you find?" he added with a teasing smirk.
“You mean those beaches that are all rocky? Yeah, definitely not the best choice,” she countered, watching Gabe’s profile. Tasha liked that he could keep up with her conversationally. He was a sly one, she would give him that. She hadn’t expected that out of him.
“Did you want to come up for a bit? My apartment, I mean. If you don’t want to turn straight around and do another long drive.”
Gabe looked back at her, the lights of the city now in sight. “You know I won’t be driving back to Searchlight?” he said, a crease in his brow indicating his question, “I’m going to le Breeze.”
“Right,” Tasha nodded, then shrugged. “I forget how close Henderson is, I don’t go there a lot.” She could see the lights ahead, twinkling in the distance like welcoming beacons.
Gabe's eyes traveled between the mirrors and windscreen then scanned the instrument panel briefly before they darted across the dash. “It’s more the ‘family’ kinda suburbia, from what I’ve seen and heard,” he replied as the miles streamed beneath the wheels of the car. “Definitely not the place for the tourists and those needing the night life. Though they do have live music every night,” he said, recalling something someone said. “You’re a musician, right? What do you play?”
“I mostly get hired to do covers or stuff like that. I play some original songs, but less and less often these days,” Tasha explained. “Getting hired to play at functions is how I make most of my money.”
It wasn’t glamorous but she enjoyed playing music for the sake of it. Any dreams of fame and stardom seemed naive and for a past version of Tasha that didn’t seem to entirely exist. As they crossed into Las Vegas, she gave him directions to her apartment.
“Do you play any instruments, Gabe?”
Gabe huffed a laugh and shook his head. “The saucepan or triangle was about my level when at school,” he admitted. “I didn’t inherit my mother’s ability in that department, she actually plays the harp. Not a common instrument but it was pretty soothing when things were hectic at home,... or at sea.” More than once he’d been the beneficiary of his mother’s music when the weather had turned bad at sea and it was impossible to know which way was up, let alone the direction home.
“Do you have any tapes? Or any gigs coming up? I’d like to hear you play.”
Tasha smiled. “I do, actually. I’ll text you the details. I can get them to put you on the super VIP list.” She paused for a beat before whispering conspiratorially. “There is no super VIP list. But if there were, you’d definitely be on it.” She looked out the window as they navigated onto familiar streets, getting closer to her home and thankfully, her bed.
“That would be cool, I’ve never been on anyone’s super VIP list before!” he joked, the car now slowing to the posted speed limits. He didn’t need any tickets.
Being Vegas there were always taxis and hire cars, especially limousines, plus the rentals often driven by intoxicated youths who were of course indestructible with a few hits of whatever their preference was. Gabe’s attention was on keeping a good look out for any of those who didn’t of course give much heed to traffic signals. Or even notice there were traffic signals in operation. He glanced to the right as they approached one of those intersections and slowed, despite the green light, as a Hummer, streaming various pieces of clothing and with a few limbs protruding from the sunroof, cut an almost diagonal line across the intersection having seen the Porsche on their left a little too late to have missed it if it hadn’t slowed. The vehicle swerved back again, straightening and slowing a little as Gabe imagined the heart rate of the driver was somewhere in the high 100s. He shook his head as he eased the car through the night time traffic. “Someone won’t be making anyone’s list but the coroners if they’re not careful.” Just at that moment a police siren shattered the night and the patrol car appeared in the intersection in Gabe’s rear vision mirror, doing a U-turn to take chase of the Hummer. “That’s good,” he murmured, relieved the police were going to maybe save some lives.
“So… we turn left at the next set of lights?” he checked, eyes darting to the screen of the GPS.
“You got it,” Tasha answered, turning her neck to watch the police lights fading away. “So, you are a good driver. I’ll file that away the next time I need a chauffeur.” The hunter grinned.
“My building’s on the middle of the block,” she added.
"Got it," Gabe replied, taking the corner and starting to look at street numbers, and looking for a space at the kerb as they approached the middle of the block.
As they pulled up, Tasha turned toward Gabe. “Thanks again for the ride,” she told him. “And the drinks and company. We should do it again, sometime.” She had already gone into her phone and texted him the details of her next gig while he had been driving.
The message pinged on the car's screen, his phone automatically having paired when they'd first entered the car. "Yeah, I'd like that," he replied. "It's been nice getting to know you," he added, then indicated the waiting message, "and I look forward to seeing, and hearing you again very soon!"