Immortalis Carpe Noctem by Salidas Katie

Author:Salidas, Katie [Salidas, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC
Published: 2010-03-02T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

* * * * *

I spent a few nights in solitude, mourning the death of Erick, before Crystal managed to convince me to go out again.

Avid travelers, the Peregrinus never stayed in one place for very long. They took advantage of the time they did have by enjoying all the amenities each city had to offer.

All of us—everyone except Jessie, who had left early that night—decided to explore the Strip. The boys wanted to try their hand at gambling and the girls wanted to see the changes to the Strip since their last visit. Since I was a native, I offered to act as their tour guide.

I’d done this plenty of times before, playing tour guide, when members of my family or old friends came to visit. It’s a tradition for Las Vegas locals and usually the only time we make it to the Strip ourselves.

All eyes were wide, mouths hung open, and mumbles of “wow,” came from the clan as we drove down Las Vegas Boulevard.

“The Peregrinus have not been to Vegas in well over thirty years,” said Rozaline as she eyed the large buildings we passed.

“The city has changed quite a bit in the last few years. I doubt you will even recognize the Strip anymore,” I said, trying to sound knowledgeable.

It was true. In the last thirty years the Strip had grown and reinvented itself more than once. Many of the old casinos that lined Las Vegas Boulevard had been imploded and rebuilt.

Towering structures and neon lined the famous boulevard; multicolored replicas of the New York skyline, a Camelot castle, a great black pyramid, exploding volcanoes, and pirate ships amazed the clan as we took our slow drive down the Strip.

Drew and Crystal were delighted by the whimsical Camelot castle, as well as the golden lion on the great pedestal at another casino. Each hotel we passed was a treat to their eyes.

“Ah, this is wonderful,” exclaimed Crystal, watching a rollercoaster zooming around the front of another casino. “Things have certainly changed.”

“Yes. This was all probably a dirt lot the last time you were here,” I responded, still trying to show off my knowledge.

As is the custom in Vegas, the Strip was always expanding. New casinos popped up every few years, each one bigger and flashier than the ones prior.

“Amazing,” Rozaline said, as a small replica of a volcano began its explosive show. It sent watery blasts, colored with orange lights, shooting up to the sky. The effect resembled boiling lava.

“If you think that’s cool, you should check out the pirate ship battle next door.” I chuckled at their astonishment. Just like any other tourist, they pointed while they oooh-ed and ahhh-ed at each casino. It was a refreshing sight to see, and a reminder that even though I was a vampire now, I could still enjoy some of the simple pleasures of being alive. Monster or not, everyone loves to be entertained—and Vegas was never short on that. I made a mental note to come back to the Strip more often and really allow myself to take it all in with my fresh, new eyes.

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