Paris swung a long metal rod at my head.
I ducked under it then slid left to avoid another oncoming strike, the rod whooshing as it missed me.
“Stop moving so fast!” Paris shouted in frustration.
I leaned back to avoid a double swing she sent my way.
“Maybe swing faster shortie.” I replied, enjoying the little game we had decided to play.
“I’m not short!”
She threw the rod at me.
I caught it with one hand.
“AGGH!” She screamed, throwing herself backwards onto the bed.
Paris had been immensely bored while we waited for the day of the party. The hotel lacked any sort of TV or entertainment system. I offered her my phone, but she told me it was too old.
I took mild offense.
The ‘hit Cee with a stick’ game arose not long after her boredom reached a peak. I don’t know why she found so much joy in trying to hit me, but I found it quite fun to watch her get frustrated as I dodged or blocked all of her attacks. Some innate knowledge I held guiding my movements.
I used the same information to instruct her on the attacks, deciding to turn it into an impromptu training session. She had improved considerably since she first started, but still found herself getting frustrated quickly.
I tried to teach her how to use the handgun she had nicked from our stockpile, but it was pointless. She already knew how to shoot, a crack shot somehow.
She blasted away another can, the underground parking garage holding in the sound of gunfire.
“How are you so good at this?” I asked in surprise.
“Videogames. Hank lent me some fun ones.” she replied off-handedly.
I couldn’t decide whether to be disappointed with Hank’s choice of game to lend a little girl, or silently thank him for the lessons.
Paris shattered another glass bottle.
I think I will thank him.
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The night before the party came and it was time to prepare. I packed all our stuff up in a small cream-colored carry-bag, my old duffel bag not the most regal container. Inside it I packed some clothes and makeup, under which I hid an assortment of weaponry, including my energy rifle.
It took Paris a long time to fall to sleep, the excitement that the next day promised keeping her awake. When she did drift off I made sure to tuck her into bed.
Laying diagonally across the bed she didn’t look like someone who would be a rich heir to a baron, the drool pooling at the corner of her mouth supporting my observation.
I sat in the room’s lone chair. With a quick tug I pulled a cord free from my side and connected it to the wall socket, a quick top up.
It was a bit embarrassing that I needed to plug myself in like a toaster, but hey, it was better than running out of power.
That’s for sure.
Moring came sooner than I expected. The sun rising behind a field of towers, a soft glow lit the horizon.
I rose from my seat and shook Paris awake, ushering her off to the shower. I turned to the windowsill again, resting against it.
I gazed out.
*pop*…*pop*…*pop*pop*pop*
Fireworks started to light the sky, a never ending stream of colors that shone brighter than the rising sun. A wave of sound hit me moments later, the city coming to live with music louder than any I've ever heard before.
The glass panels across the city scape shook rhythmically, threatening to shatter at any moment. Barely holding against the musical barrage.
“We’re being attacked!” Paris screamed as she dove under the bed after exiting the shower.
I started to laugh; the small chuckle turned into a grand cackle.
“Cee! Get away from the windows!” Paris shouted from under the bed.
“Paris! It’s just fireworks, come look.” I replied having to stifle my laughter.
The girl peeked up from under the bed suspiciously. Her eyes growing wide as she glanced out the window, small explosions reflecting off them.
“Woah...” she muttered out.
She got up and walked all the way to the window, staring at the amazing display.
It really would be a big party, I thought to myself.
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We returned to the store we ordered the dress from. The salesman tried to bait me into purchasing more clothing, but I refused. My pockets were not nearly as deep as he thought they were.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Paris carried the small package in addition to a makeup kit. She told me that she would need to look her part, so I bought the cosmetics for her.
Halfway through the walk back to the hotel a group of men tried to stop us. They mentioned the dress and offered to take it off our hands, perhaps tipped off by the merchant.
I refused and they left with a few less teeth.
Paris smiled the whole way back, excited to try on her dress.
Once we reached the hotel room I had Paris get ready while I called Kassidy.
“Hey Kassidy, we are almost ready on our end. You?”
“Straight to the point, you are so much fun.”, Kassidy replied sarcastically, “But yeah, Im ready, the limo should be in front of your hotel in about half an hour to pick you up.”
“Limo?” I asked.
I didn’t remember discussing that.
“Yeah, ordered one for you. You think they would let you just walk in or something?” Kassidy replied condescendingly.
I may have thought so, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Of course not, I’m not stupid. I’m just running low on chips. How do you expect me to pay for it?” I replied, quick with my excuse.
“Don't worry, the company expects payment after the ride. I booked you a return trip, just don’t use it and dodge the bill.” She said.
My morals told me that there was something wrong here, but my wallet told me it was fine.
“Okay, well, then I guess I will talk to you later, huh?” I asked.
“Guess so gearbox,” Kassidy joked, “Call me once you’re in the hotel, use the ID and pass I sent you to get in. See ya!”
The line went dead, she had hung up.
I pulled the fake ID and Pass out of my suit’s pocket, having opted to put the garment on.
Hope was mostly all I had that we would get into the hotel unharrased. My face and Paris’s were plastered all over the city. I wasn’t sure how to hide ourselves in the most secure place in Vegas, but I had no choice but to continue with the plan.
I tried several options to conceal myself more, but the only real option I found was to put a few lines of gold engraving across my head and hands. The more extravagant look hopefully distracting some of the less than observant eyes.
Paris finished putting on her make-up and dress, the girl transforming into some kind of sinister golden cherub.
Her hair had been curled and streaked with gold. Her makeup consisted of detailed traced golden lines and patterns across her face, making her look like a like she was a painting. The dress she wore sparkled and rippled as the gold-plated threads moved in accordance to an advanced form of circuitry.
If it wasn’t for the fiendish smile that plastered across her face, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize her.
“Wow Paris, you look amazing!” I exclaimed, “Like a real spy.”
She whipped her pistol out from a hidden pocket in the dress.
“You bet I do, punk.” she replied.
I motioned to my outfit, “Guardian, actually.” Correcting her.
I was quite proud of my appearance.
“Sure thing, butler.” She shot back, my confidence crushed instantly.
This was going to be a long and interesting night.
My phone dinged; the limo was here.
I grabbed our bag and escorted Paris to the now waiting limo, opting to open the door for her and begin my act. I was her protector and servant, I had to act like it.
The limo itself was a solid dull gold, the interior a faux brown leather.
I threw the bag into the trunk and sat down in the vehicle.
“Thank you choosing Vegas Star Tours Miss Reu. Pleas sit back and enjoy the ride.” An automated voice rang out.
The limo was being driven remotely; the steering wheel moved under the manipulation of a ghost.
Paris lifted up a seat cover, a trove of sweets and liquor in an icebox. She grabbed a bottle of whiskey.
“Nope.” I snatched it form her, “Candy only, and not a lot.”
I didn’t need a drunken sugar crazed Paris causing havoc as we tried to blend in.
“You’re no fun.” She stated, opting to eat a red string candy.
“You are too much fun.” I replied sarcastically.
The ride was uneventful. The city as a whole seemed to be enjoying the festivities. Small parties and raves popped up at every street corner, liquor and other substances filled the streets.
What was this party for again? I thought.
I pulled up the info on my phone. The celebration was called the Eight Tenths festival, meant to celebrate the eighth party of the year.
The reason for the party was to celebrate a party, I thought in confusion.
I used my deep and infallible intuition to make a guess as to why Red Door allowed such a chaotic and expensive event...
Money!
The limo came to a crawl, reaching a long line of cars waiting to gain access to the strip.
At the front of the line cars were waved in or violently forced out of line, party crashers were a big no-no.
It took a few minutes, but we made it to the front of the line. A group of heavily armed security stood at the gate.
A man approached the vehicle, raising a device to scan a spot on the car.
The limo’s windows rolled down of their own accord. The man bent over to look in.
“Miss Reu, thank you for your attendance. Please enjoy the festivities.” He said with a neutral smile on his face.
He tapped the top of the car and the vehicle lurched forward. The gate slid open, and we were inside the strip. The whole ordeal was much easier than I thought it would be.
I took a mental note to thank Kassidy for her quality crafted fake identity.
The limo rolled up its windows and cruised towards our location, the path showing me my first view of the strip.
The buildings were feats of architecture, impossible designs and lavish coloration. The structures radiated an aura of wealth and revelry. The streets were lined with exotic and strange cars, the expense of which surely put our own ride to shame.
People lined the streets, their wealth apparent not only from their apparel, but from the massive entourage that followed the crowd. Performers, waiters, and other servers stood amongst the people, providing for their wants and whims. The amount of wealth being flaunted absolutely staggering.
The area seemed like it had come from another world, the sheer shift in environment from the outer city so drastic I doubted I was even here.
Paris looked just as fascinated by the strange dimension we seemed to have accidentally stepped into.
Lost in our observations, the limo stopped, parked in front of our hotel.
The Rilo.
The building towered high into the sky, the metal frame designed to produce a strange wave and shimmer. A mechanical surface making the structure seem alive.
“Welcome to The Rilo Hotel and Casino, please enjoy you stay.” The limo’s automated voice spoke out.
The doors opened for us. Several valets and a single concierge rushed up to us, their uniforms a brilliant navy blue, the concierge's own outfit lined with a light blue.
“Hello Miss Reu, we are so glad you could make it to celebrate the Eight Tenths festival this year!” The concierge said excitedly, a wide smile on her face.
“Thank you for the invitation!” Paris replied immediately in a joyful tone, her normal behavior shifted entirely, “My father was very excited when he heard I had been invited.”
“Oh Miss, your words spoil us. Please, let the valets get your bags and tend to your...machine.” The woman said back, her smile flickering momentarily as she looked at me.
“Oh, no need for any of that.” Paris replied, laughing lightly as she did so, “My father sent this machine along as my escort. My father, the watch dog he is, set the thing to follow me no matter what, he has made himself quite inseparable.”
The concierge nodded politely, “Very smart of him, ha-ha. No telling what kind of trouble you will find yourself in while enjoying the festivities.”
The woman extended her hand and helped Paris out of the Limo, Paris moved careful to not harm or dirty her dress.
I stepped out behind her, walking to the rear of the vehicle to retrieve our bag before finding myself again at Paris’s side.
“Your room is right this way Ma’am, please, allow me to guide you.” The concierge said with a slight bow.
Paris nodded slightly and we followed the woman’s path inside.
The building’s entrance was designed in such a way that it looked as if it was open to the air. The entrance’s sides held small waterfalls and fanciful designs of the ocean.
We stepped through the threshold and into the hotel, a faint ripple passing over us as we crossed.
Paris and I immediately stopped in awe of what filled the room before us.
Inside, the sky was filled with fish.