Myka continues to search and Pete finds something

Myka was already two aisles over, her blonde ponytail whipping back and forth as she scanned shelves crammed with action figures and vintage comic books like a hawk on the hunt for a particularly rare beetle.

“Anything interesting yet?” I called out, my voice swallowed by the cacophony of excited chatter and booming superhero theme music blasting from some nearby booth.

"Just your standard issue radioactive spider-man," she yelled back, her tone laced with amusement. "You know, the kind that bites you and gives you super strength?"

I chuckled, pushing through a throng of cosplayers dressed as everything from Stormtroopers to Power Rangers. My eyes snagged back on the seductive woman form earlier – her booth draped in crimson velvet, lit by flickering candles that cast long shadows over rows of gleaming artifacts. She appeared as a sexual goddess behind her booth, my vibes sending good messages, her back straight and elegant like a black swan poised for flight. She wore a latex corset layered under a sheer button-down shirt left open over tailored trousers, showcasing legs that went on forever. It was the kind of outfit that screamed “I know exactly what I’m doing” in a way that made my pulse quicken faster than a rogue artifact could turn your hair into snakes.

“You find anything yet?” Myka asked again, her voice closer now.

"Nope" I said, winking towards the woman. "Definitely nothing interesting." I was pretty sure she wasn't an artifact, but damn if she didn’t look like one of those gothic siren statues from Greek mythology – beautiful enough to lure sailors straight onto jagged rocks. Her hair was a cascade of raven black waves that fell past her waist, framing eyes the color of polished obsidian. She had high cheekbones and full lips painted a deep crimson, making them appear even more inviting.

"Seraphine," she said, catching my gaze with those dark eyes. "Can I help you?" Her voice was husky, like velvet rubbed against silk. It sent shivers down my spine that had nothing to do with the Vegas heat.

“Just admiring your… collection,” I managed, trying to sound casual as hell while feeling anything but. My hand instinctively went to the gun tucked under my jacket.

She smiled then, a slow curve of her lips that made something deep inside me clench tight. "It's quite extensive," she agreed, gesturing towards the glittering array behind her. "And very old." She moved closer, brushing past me with an almost imperceptible touch that sent sparks dancing across my skin. The scent of sandalwood and blood hit me then – a heady mix that was both intoxicating and unsettling.

Myka finally caught up, her brow furrowed in suspicion as she took in the scene. "You sure you don't need any help there, Pete?"

"Just browsing," I said, my voice coming out rougher than intended. "keep searching Myka and I will catch up."