Vegas Paradise: Tasting the Forbidden

Chapter 5

 

Sam was at his wit's end. He still had no idea what the hell was going on with the Lotus casino. He flipped on the television, deciding it was time for a break. O Brother Where Art Thou was on. Sam managed to lose himself in George Clooney's charm for about an hour, when something occurred to him, the Odyssey.

 

He grabbed his laptop and went to the Guttenberg project and typed in the Odyssey. Sam scanned the poem as fast as he could. Aha! Here it was the lotophagi or lotus-eaters. When the men of Odysseus' crew ate the lotus flower they lost their motivation for the quest and forgot themselves entirely, wishing to remain with the lotus-eaters. Lotus-eaters, Lotus casino, it fit well enough.

 

Sam had no idea how you would go about fighting lotus-eaters from Greek mythology, though he felt refusing to eat the lotus might be a good start. Well there was still plenty of time to think on it before morning. He would talk to Bobby again in the morning. Who would have thought his best tip would come courtesy of the Cohen brothers. Ah well, weirder things had happened.

 

 

Sam woke up energized, he was going to get Dean back today! So he was a little fuzzy on the details, it didn't matter so long as he got his cocky big brother back. It had been so much easier to sleep the night before safe in the knowledge that at least his brother wasn't in mortal danger.

 

He got ready at lightening speed and fired a text off to Bobby letting him know what he'd found out. Sam probably should have spoke to the old hunter directly, but he felt as if his brother was calling him. He didn't have time to worry about logistics, Dean needed him.

 

 

Dean woke up in the soft king-sized bed alone. Beau was gone and there was no note to be seen. This revelation should have upset him, but he felt full of liquid of sunshine, nothing could get him down, not now not ever.

 

This time the buffet laid out was mainly cookies with a few waffles with fruit thrown in to give him the option of food guide approved food. He ignored the waffles and went straight for the flower shaped sugar cookies. It seemed like each dish he tried here tasted better than the last.

 

Dean ate his calorific breakfast slowly, savoring each bite. There was no rush. So what if what's-his-name had left him. He could find someone else if he wanted, he was sure of that. Today was going to be perfect.

 

 

Sam felt a little apprehensive standing outside the Lotus in the morning sun. People came and went from the casino's on either side of the Lotus. The Lotus itself seemed dead from the outside, though inside he could see bustling activity. He steeled himself and pushed open the doors.

 

“Don't eat the flowers,” he chanted to himself.

 

“May I help you?” asked the waitress who breezed up to Sam, she looked an awful lot like Jessica only bustier.

 

“Fine, thanks,” said Sam averting his eyes. He couldn't handle this right now. Jessica had been dead and gone for two years now.

 

“Complimentary shot?” The shots seemed to glow in low light.

 

Sam grabbed one and downed it before he had a chance to think. He needed the courage.

 

The drink hit the back of his throat just as Sam realized that the lotuses he was supposed to avoid eating could be anything, they could be shots even. Before he could berate himself, all his thoughts fled.

 

This place was great, he was going to be happy staying here, Sam thought. There was a perfect vision descending the massive staircase in front of him. A man of mid-height with chiseled golden features, his light brown hair was cropped short and his green eyes held dirty promises. Sam was most fascinated by the man's pink perfect lips, Sam wondered what those lips would like wrapped around his shaft.

 

He had started walking toward the angel on the staircase before Sam had even worked out what he was going to say. He had a feeling that everything would be fine though and that the stud would invite him upstairs.

 

“Hi,” Sam choked out still star-struck.

 

 

Dean loved this place so much. His lover who was now a distant memory had chucked him this morning and before he was already down the stairs a handsome tongue-tied stranger had come over, practically drooling to take the place of the lover he'd lost.

 

“Hi, handsome.”

 

The shaggy-haired stranger seemed dazed and he reached a hand out to touch Dean's lips, as if he couldn't help himself. Dean kissed the tips of those long fingers and the stranger shuddered.

 

Dean grabbed the man's hand before he had a chance for second thoughts and led him back upstairs to his room. The stranger followed Dean and he looked a little nervous. Dean flashed him a reassuring smile. “What's your name, stranger?”

 

“M' Sam.”

 

“How do you feel about jacuzzis, Sammy?”

Sam gulped and looked down at Dean hungrily. Dean smiled and opened the door to his room. Sam seemed very eager to come in, though still incapable of speech. Dean slipped the Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob. He didn't expect they'd be leaving the room any time soon.