Odds and Evens

[st_clare]

The tiny white ball on the roulette wheel bounced as it spun, and the small crowd around the table held their collective breath as it gradually slowed down. Stacks of chips had been placed on green felt, waiting to either be lost to the house or scooped back into the possession of their bettors. In Las Vegas, the casino business was booming.

Julianna had been telling Devin the truth. She didn't usually gamble, and she didn't really approve of the people who frequented such establishments. But she was so frustrated after the incident with Holiday that she'd purposely bought a few hundred dollars worth of chips to spend an evening at the tables. A gimlet sat near her left hand. She was not drunk, just slightly tipsy.

"Black 24. Black 24. The house wins."

The Watcher sampled her drink, watched the croupier collect the bets that had been placed as a mutter rose above the table. She should quit while she hadn't lost much, cut her losses. Not just with money, but with people as well. If the girl was determined to destroy herself, she couldn't stop her. She had quite enough guilt on her conscience, and Gregory's memory aside she didn't owe Holiday anything.

"Place your bets, please, the next spin is coming up."

Julianna placed some chips on Red 18, looked around for a server to get a refill. There were no bloody clocks in this place, and she'd left her watch on her bedside table. Never mind the time. She could leave once she'd lost the last of her chips.

Comments

[daniel_stacy]

“Yeah, she’s got a thing about that,” Daniel said and his eyes clouded. “People telling her what they think she wants to hear. But she’s a big girl, and what’s the use keeping a promise to somebody who’s dead when she’s standing right in front of you?” He had surrendered all pretense of gambling and so he ought to relinquish his seat before the manager got testy. He got to his feet and counted out the money to cover his tab. “Ya know, I might be crazy, but… I think that’s why she likes me, Julianna. I’ve got nothin’ to hide.”

He signaled the waitress and gave her the cash. "No change."

[st_clare]

'I think that's why she likes me, Julianna. I've got nothin' to hide.'

Julianna's smile tightened down at the corners, but she planted her feet. "Yes, perhaps. And I imagine that you'd be the type to say that."

To run after Holiday or not? She'd reached out to the girl once before and gotten her hand smacked for it. Given the circumstances, a promise made was a promise kept, although if the request had come from anyone other than Edmund, she might have broken her silence. Might have.

"Do tell her that I said hello," the Watcher said. "And that I'd be delighted to hear from her. I would like to...mend fences if it's at all possible."

[daniel_stacy]

“Oh yeah, I’ll be sure to,” he said, nodding like a reasonable guy. “No reason to stay ticked off, right? Life’s too short.” Daniel cast a final look around the table and at Julianna. He needed to get out of there before she figured out he was a vampire, if she hadn’t already. Why did he touch her? He needed to stop with the social graces; sooner or later, it would bite him in the ass.

So much for keeping a low profile.

“See ya around, Jules.” He clapped a hand on her shoulder and left.

[st_clare]

Jules. She couldn't believe his cheek. His nerve almost made her laugh. God, she needed some stress relief.

Julianna gathered up her remaining chips, headed for the cashout window. She would not think about Holiday anymore tonight. The girl had the habit of souring her mood. Whatever she was doing with Daniel, it might be best to let things run their course. If she was right and he was a vampire, he might have a short attention span. The undead supposedly did.

As long as whatever happened didn't fall on her conscience, it would perhaps be best to stay out of it.