Vegas was packed. The lights filled Ebonies head with confusion and a heady buoyant excitement. It was thrilling, the people crowding, the lights flashing and even the giant cowboy and the huge sphinx she saw made her feel dizzy.
It was possibly the most surreal place she had ever been. People were rushing about in trances, she doubted they would even try to help her if Darius attacked. The place felt greedy, sleazy and dirty. Nevertheless she kept walking until she came to the mansion Ash had directed her to. The palm-lined drive was very long, and the house was unbelievable. Ebony knocked on the door. When it opened an impressive man stood before her. CIA? Ebony thought.
"Um….hullo?" Ebony spoke unsurely. "Ehem, is Lord Ash of the…" She lowered her voice. "Night World here??" The man looked unimpressed.
"Come back tomorrow." He said unemotionally.
"Well….is he here?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
"That means yes…um, lets think…can you give him a message?"
"No." He looked straight ahead as if she wasn't standing there. A teenage girl with heavy bruising and silvery brown hair stepped up.
"Sorry 'bout him, he's always like that! Can we help ya?" Ebony snorted in laughter. She liked this girl already.
"Well, I was looking for Lord Ash…he said he'd be here. This is Daybreak, right?" Lupe let her in.
"Yup, you mustn't go round saying that to everyone though. You're on our side…I can tell." She pointed at her head. "Night people developing new powers…I'm a telepathic wolf.
"Oh…!" Ebony really didn't understand.
"I'll get Ash, but…I think he's been playing some tricks on ya. Thierry's the only Lord of the night round these parts!" Lupe dashed up the stairs, leaving Ebony befuddled. About two minutes later a familiar figure came strutting down the stairs followed by a bossy-looking human girl. Ebony could hardly hide her excitement.
"Ash! It's so good to see you again! - how've you been?" Ebony watched and listened eagerly as Ash began to speak.
"Oh, I've been fine…ow!" The girl elbowed him. "…and this is my soulmate, Mary-Lynette." Ebony watched in amusement as the human girl proceeded to show power over the ferocious and mighty Ash.
"Hi," She exclaimed brightly. "I'm Mary - Lynette." She smiled sweetly "And you are…"
"Ebony. Ebony Michette." Ebony glanced in Ash's direction, her gaze questioning. She didn't dare speak. Why was he hanging around with a human? And what was a soulmate? Ash caught her gaze and Ebony suddenly remembered he could read her thoughts.
'A human?'
'Yup…don't look so surprised'
'What's a soulmate?'
'Kinda like a true love thing. Don't worry 'bout that though. I'll explain later'
'Okay,' she then caught one of Ash's drifting thoughts
'god my leg hurts!' Ebony giggled, trying to stifle her laugh. She didn't know why but she found Ash being bossed about hilarious.
"Hey, what's so funny…?" Mary Lwhatshername was smiling sweetly but looked suspicious. She had her head tilted at an angle as if trying to catch fragments of an unheard conversation…which Ebony found extremely ironic. Mary looked puzzled then sighed.
"Oh, vampire speak. You know, I wish I could be telepathic like you, and I'd love to see great like you do,,, outer space fascinates me…" Mary-Lynette trailed off as she saw the shocked look on the vampire girls face.
"She…she knows?" Ash couldn't help but laughed at Ebony's reaction. He reached for her elbow and lead her into the direction of the den.
"C'mon, there's a lot you need to know…" He left his soulmate in the hallway, puzzling over what had just happened.
