Legend Of Perseus: The Missing Bolt

~Chapter 19~

As we continued driving down the bustling Las Vegas Strip, the dazzling array of themed hotels and attractions whizzed by. The Monte Carlo, the MGM Grand, and even a miniature Statue of Liberty invoked a sense of awe in me, although the latter also tugged at my homesickness. It was a reminder of how far I was from the familiar sights of New York.

However, despite the excitement of the city, the pounding in my head from Clarisse's and Annabeth's earlier punch still throbbed. I couldn't help but groan and rub my aching temple.

"Why did you guys have to hit so hard?" I grumbled, casting a somewhat annoyed glance in her direction. "I told you it was an accident!"

"Shut up, Prissy!" Clarisse retorted.

"Hey, you're in time out, Ghost-Fish," Annabeth chimed in. "So be quiet."

"Geez, fine," I muttered, settling into begrudging silence. Clearly, I wasn't winning any arguments at the moment.

It seemed like we had taken a wrong turn somewhere because, before long, we found ourselves at a dead end. Standing before us was the Lotus Hotel and Casino, a gaudy spectacle that seemed strangely out of place in the middle of the desert. The entrance was marked by a massive neon flower, its petals illuminated and blinking. Though there was no sign of anyone entering or exiting the building, the chrome doors stood invitingly open, spilling out a cool breeze scented with flowers—lotus blossoms, if I had to guess. I had never encountered one in person, but it seemed like a fitting aroma.

The doorman, wearing a warm smile, greeted us. "Hey, kids. You look tired. You want to come in and sit down?"

Great the Lotus Hotel, not like we have anything better to do, besides we have plenty of time. We can relax a bit.

Annabeth responded first. "We'd like that," she said with a nod before walking inside, and we followed suit. As I stepped into the lobby, my senses were overwhelmed.

The entire area resembled an enormous game room, but not the dated arcades of my childhood. An indoor waterslide snaked around a glass elevator that shot up at least forty floors. A climbing wall adorned one side of a building, and an indoor bungee-jumping bridge dangled overhead. Virtual-reality suits with functional laser guns were available, and there were hundreds of video games, each one the size of a widescreen TV. It was a paradise for thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies. If it was a form of entertainment, this place had it covered. I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer variety of attractions, feeling a sense of childlike wonder wash over me.

"Wow," I muttered, my gaze darting around at the spectacle. "This place is unreal."

Clarisse chimed in, "It's like a demigod's dream come true."

There were a few other kids scattered about, indulging in various games and rides, but the lack of crowds meant no waiting in line for anything. Snack bars and waitresses serving all kinds of food were conveniently located throughout the lobby.

"Hey!" a friendly bellhop approached us. He certainly looked the part with his white-and-yellow Hawaiian shirt adorned with lotus designs, shorts, and flip-flops. "Welcome to the Lotus Casino. Here's your room key. The bill's taken care of. No extra charges, no tips. Just go on up to the top floor, room 4001. If you need anything, like extra bubbles for the hot tub, or skeet targets for the shooting range, or whatever, just call the front desk. Here are your Lotus Cash cards. They work in the restaurants and on all the games and rides."

He handed each of us a green plastic credit card.

"How much is on here?" Clarisse inquired, her practical nature coming to the forefront.

The bellhop chuckled warmly. "Oh, you're making a joke. Hey, that's cool. Enjoy your stay."

With that, he left us to our own devices, and we made our way to the elevator and headed upstairs to check out our room. To say it was luxurious would be an understatement. The suite boasted three separate bedrooms, a bar stocked with candy, sodas, and chips, a hotline to room service, fluffy towels, water beds with feather pillows, and a big-screen television with satellite and high-speed Internet. The balcony even had its own hot tub, and to our surprise, a skeet-shooting machine and a shotgun were available, allowing us to launch clay pigeons over the Las Vegas skyline. Whether it was legal or not was questionable, but I had to admit, it was pretty cool. The view from the balcony, overlooking the Strip and the surrounding desert, was simply breathtaking. It felt like a room fit for royalty.