[Book of Eros] Chapter 61 - A trip back to America. (Patreon)

There was no time to waste. After finishing her business in Spain, Delilah took the first plane she could to America. These trips would be much more difficult if not for the first-class seats. Sometimes she wished she had Leonardo’s Gift instead, but that train of thought lead nowhere productive. Instead she chose to sleep during her flight, something that was becoming easier to do on command every year.

The place she arrived at was one that was known to all, whether they’d ever been there or not. The dazzling lights, the intoxicating atmosphere and the feeling of debauchery everywhere you looked. It was Vegas, baby.

Not wanting to spend more time here than she needed to, lest someone notice her talents and make a spectacle of her, Delilah took a cab directly to her destination. She entered the ostentatious casino, bought some chips and made her way to the poker tables, just in time to hear the loud groaning and complaining of several patrons before they escaped their table, leaving only the croupier and a single woman with a mountain of chips in front of her.

Delilah took a seat at that table, something that surprised the young croupier but not the woman. She was exactly 30 years old. She had sharp features, blue eyes and long blonde hair that reached down to her waist. Her appearance was the very picture of what people imagined when they though ‘High Class’, wearing a tasteful and elegant shiny blue dress that hugged her curvy figure.

“You’re looking well,” Delilah said, speaking in Italian.

“I feel well. How about you?” the woman answered, speaking in French.

When was it that she became like that? It was a move solely made to annoy her, since if Delilah had spoken in French first, the woman would’ve answered in Italian. She sighed, undisturbed by petty provocations and choosing to focus on the woman’s reactions while the croupier started dealing cards.

“I’ve been making some small progress towards my goals. Have you?” she asked, looking at her own hand. A four and a five of clubs.

“But of course,” the woman smiled with a chuckle as she slowly gestured to the pile of chips on the table. “Can’t you see?”

Delilah shook her head, disappointed. “You’re coming with me back to the island. No buts.”

“Is this related to your progress?” the woman asked casually, unconcerned as she also looked at her hand. Barely any expressions showed on her face.

“It is,” Delilah confirmed. “But we’ve run into urgent issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible. You’ll help us.”

“You know, that sounds very tempting,” the woman sighed, eyes on the cards on the table. An ace of hearts, and ace of diamonds and an eight of clubs. “But I’m having a good time here. I have great food, great entertainment, and all of Vegas is my personal wallet.”

The next card dealt was a six of clubs.

“Is that what you’ve been doing these past years? Choosing to take the easy way out?” Delilah asked.

“Why not? If I’m forcefully given this Gift in exchange for my sensations, I might as well enjoy what I can. I don’t want to slave myself to some unattainable goal when I can enjoy what I already have.” The next card was a seven of clubs. The woman smiled smugly and showed her hand. She had four aces. “So yeah, I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re still such a child. You have yet so much to learn.” Delilah sighed and showed her own hand. She had a straight flush. The woman’s eyes widened, and she looked from the cards at the table to Delilah like they were an unsolvable puzzle. “You think your Gift lets you understand people so easily, but humans are infinitely more complex than you think. Has Vegas rotted your mind or have you been this way for longer than that? I suppose some of that is my fault. I won’t escape from my responsibility to you.” Delilah stood up from the table. “The Book is working. It’s only a matter of time before its main features are activated. You’re coming back to the island with me, Lucia.”

Lucia’s mouth hung open at the revelation, and soon a smile crept up to her lips as she licked them in anticipation.

“Well, you should’ve started with that, mother.”