Rachel Caine - Weather Warden 2a - Oasis

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OASIS ... a new Weather Warden short story by Rachel CaineOasis

a new Weather Warden short story by Rachel Caine

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This story falls between the end of Heat Stroke, the second novel of the

Warden

series, and Chill Factor, the third novel.

I know I've complained about this before, but believe me, I'm going to

complain

about it again, so get used to it: Being human sucks. Especially after you've

been a Djinn. Granted, being a supernatural creature subject to a whole

different set of physics and laws brings with it some significant downsides

and Lord knows that includes a humiliating episode with a lecherous teenage

master and a Frederick's of Hollywood maid outfit -- but it also has some

great

advantages. You don't get easily tired out, for one thing. You don't need to

sleep as much.

And you don't need to stop to pee when you're trying to prevent the latest

Apocalypse.

"I've got to stop," I sighed, and checked the sign flashing by on the

passenger

side of the car for information about what would be available at the next

exit.

The next exit, it appeared, was four miles ahead, give or take, and would

feature a Conoco station and a Dairy Queen. Probably in the same building. On

both sides of the freeway, desert blurred past in a continuous loop. I had

started feeling some days back like I'd entered a video game designed by a

lunatic with a cactus fetish, and I was nowhere near winning, or even

cracking

the first level. Hell, I was starting to wonder exactly what kind of game I

was

playing.

My whole body -- human, thanks very much, universe -- was aching with

exhaustion

and vibrating with road noise. My lovely Dodge Viper wasn't feeling the

strain

of this drive across the country (New York to Nevada) nearly as much as I was.

needed sleep. I needed food that didn't contain preservatives. I needed ...

Well, I just needed.

"There's a motel at the next exit," David said, from the passenger seat.

Speaking of need ... My Djinn lover was comfortably seated with a book in his

hands, reading as if he could do this forever. Which he probably could, being

supernatural and therefore not subject to the effects of small bladders and

large quantities of coffee. I glanced over at him. He wasn't looking at me,

was focused on the pages of the paperback he was holding -- ah, another

Robert

B. Parker, he was on a Spenser kick -- but I could sense his attention

straying

toward me. Behind the innocent round glasses, those dark-brown eyes swirled

with

random whirls of hot bronze. I found myself glancing over to admire the

elegant

planes of his cheekbones, the fullness of his lips, and it occurred to me

that

his comment hadn't been all related to an altruistic concern for my wellbeing.

I cleared my throat and reached for the cold coffee in the drink holder. Ugh.

tasted nasty, oily and old. Really, it was about the same as it had tasted

when

I'd poured it at the last 7-11 we'd visited, but at least then it had been

hot.

"I'm okay," I said. "I just need a bathroom."

"No, you need to sleep," he said, and turned the page. I didn't recognize the

title of the book, I realized. Maybe David was reading a book that hadn't

actually been published yet. I wouldn't put it past him. "You won't be any

good

if you arrive in this condition. There's a battle ahead of us when we get

there.

You need to rest."

Djinn. Always right, and always smug about it. You'd think it would get

annoying, but from David ... not so much.

I drove in silence for another four miles, which was about two minutes at the

current speed, and took the exit too fast. Mona whined in protest as I

throttled

her down. There was a gas station -- with a faded Dairy Queen sign on the

side

-- and, just beyond it, a deserted-looking place called DESERT INN.

Descriptive.

The sign also promised CABLE TV and AIR CONDITIONING. The building was laid

out

in a long L-shape, one story, with about twelve rooms. One dilapidated

1980s-era

Cadillac with dark-tinted windows lurked in the last parking space, and the

VACANCY sign flickered on and off in red letters in the grimy office window.

I'd never seen anything so beautiful in my life. I could have written poetry

it.

But we were on a timetable, and frankly, sitting in one spot and waiting for

someone -- like, say, Kevin the Teen Psycho, now armed with the power of a

VIP

among Djinn -- to notice that we were an easy target ... didn't sound like a

sleep-inducing idea.

No. I just needed food and a bathroom. I could always sleep in the car and

get

David to drive, if necessary.

David lifted his head from the book and looked at me as I slowed Mona down

even

more, preparing to turn into the DQ parking area. He didn't say anything, but

knew he was thinking about it. We had a silent argument. I won.

I drove up to the window and ordered a hamburger, fries, and a chocolate

shake.

David had the same, which made me mildly curious ... Djinn could eat, of

course,

but normally they don't bother unless they're trying to fit in. But David was

little bit odd, by Djinn standards. He tended to actually like being human,

humanoid, or however you define it.

"What?" he asked me, raising his eyebrows as I stared at him, thinking about

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