Page 1 of Of Serpents and Ruins
STELLA
There had never been a point in my life when things felt…right.
Now here I was in Vegas, with bright lights, chaotic chatter, and a horrible pit in my stomach.
Something bad was going to happen.
Oh, enough of that.
I massaged my temples with the tips of my fingers. Nothing bad was going to happen. Evera, one of my few friends who kept in touch from time to time, had called to say she was in Vegas and had a hunch I might be there too since I often headed west in the autumn. Sure enough, she'd been right, so we’d agreed to get drinks at a party in a bar called The Portal.
Nothing bad was going to happen.
Not even if this hotel lobby threatened to overwhelm my senses.
Was I even in the right place?
Intricate mosaic tiles adorned the floor, and warm light flowed from the glittering crystal chandeliers. A pianist in a suit sat on a red velvet bench, swaying in time to the music as his fingers danced across the keys in a soothing yet sophisticatedsong that was sharply at odds with the hustling hum of guests and ringing bells of gambling games farther away.
Taking a deep breath, I noted so many scents: polished leather, magnolias and rum, woodsy cigars, lily of the valley and freesia, rosemary and cucumber water, fresh bread, rich dark wines, and amber whiskeys. So much, all clawing for my attention.
And, of course, I’d chosen to walk through a super-fancy hotel casino—in my fuzzy, soft triceratops hoodie and Starry Night leggings and sneakers.
Still, it was Vegas on Halloween, so most folks didn't pay me much mind.
So many costumes, though. Mostly elegant with long lines and crisp colors. There might have been a formal gala tonight by the looks of some of the dresses.
I neared the large marble sculpture of a waltzing couple. Evera was supposed to meet me here. Wow—there were so many more people here than I’d expected. Guess I should have thought more about what Halloween in Vegas was like.
Last year, Evera and I had both wound up as waitresses in a themed diner. Making friends wasn’t usually something I did, not because I didn’t like people but because eventually I just bled awkwardness and sadness. That never bothered Evera. She was as kind as she was beautiful, and she could convince me to do almost anything. That included coming out for a party at this bar.
"Stella!" Evera’s cheerful voice cut through the smoky haze of strangers milling about. She wore a Red Riding Hood costume that set off her golden skin and dark hair to full advantage, her emerald-green eyes sparkling.
I bounced forward and hugged her, her arms already circling me. "Hey! You didn’t mention how huge this party would be. I mean seriously, it's likeeveryoneis here!"
"They probably dropped a flier under every possible door." She chuckled with a shrug. "I’m surprised you didn’t get one."
I hesitated, wondering if I’d just missed it. I’d been feeling so off lately. Even when I sketched to relax, it felt like something was just not right. Who knew what else I’d missed? And she was looking at me like she was worried. Of course she was, but I didn’t want her to be. "Maybe they weren’t doing the motels? It might just be the hotels on the strip."
Her gaze flicked over my face once more as if weighing my words. Then she seized my hand. "Come on. Let's grab a drink. I need one after this week."
I nodded in agreement as we made our way toward the bar. We’d barely squeezed into two black and gold seats before a bartender appeared before us. With a bright smile and a flourish, he looked at us both. "How can I help you, ladies?"
His name tag read Carlos, and Evera offered him a bright smile as she relaxed against the high-backed chair.
"My friend and I will both take a glass of champagne. We’re celebrating."
"We are?" My eyebrow lifted as I looked at her, surprised at this. Good as it was to see Evera again, I had no idea what we were celebrating. I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my mouth. She had always been such a bright spot. She never felt like she fit anywhere exactly right either, but that didn’t stop her from being this positive force of nature no matter what she was doing.
Carlos snatched up a green bottle with gold foil, giving it a small flourish as he looked us over. It had a pretty label, and, if I remembered correctly from the restaurant I worked at a few months ago, it was an inexpensive brand with sparkly floral notes. Good for get-togethers where you just wanted to sip something without shattering the bank roll. "Anything important? Or just life?"
Evera twitched her shoulders, her dark hair standing out against her red hood. "Just having a night off from work and being with friends."
"Well, that deserves several drinks on the house." He slid two glasses across the sleek black surface and then put the bottle into an ice bucket in front of us. "Cheers, ladies."
Smiling a little, I picked up the flute of champagne and studied the pale bubbles as they rose and burst at the surface. "Do you know him?" I looked at her curiously.
The way she picked up her own glass and grinned warmed my heart. "Nope, but he could probably tell we needed a drink."
