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“I don’t care if you get cold easily, Kadia, I’m turning the air conditioning down as cold as it’ll go,” snapped Roxy.
Imorean yawned and leaned on the hotel wall. The trip from Nunavut to Mexico City had taken over eleven hours with all the layovers included. They were lucky to have found a hotel close to the airport. He watched as Roxy fumbled with the key card.
“Um, Imorean,” said Baxter.
Imorean looked over his shoulder. Baxter and Ryan stood outside the door of the room next to Roxy and Kadia’s. “What’s up?”
“Can we get our key as well?” asked Ryan. “Unless you want the three of us to sleep in the hallway tonight.”
Imorean slapped his pocket and pulled the key from it. “Sorry, guys. I’m a little drained.”
“So are we,” replied Ryan, snatching the card away.
“He means, we know how you feel,” sighed Baxter.
“Hey, look!” called Roxy from her and Kadia’s room. “Our room joins yours.”
“Great,” murmured Imorean, pushing into his, Ryan’s and Baxter’s room.
“I call sleeping on my own,” said Ryan, throwing his backpack onto one of the two beds.
“All I care about is that we have a bed,” sighed Baxter, flopping onto the white duvet without taking off his shoes.
“At least get changed,” sighed Imorean. “I’d rather share a bed with you if you’re in clean clothes.”
“Are you saying I stink?” snorted Baxter.
“I think we all smell pretty gross,” said Imorean, running a hand through his hair. It was filmed with grease and dirt.
Kadia opened the door joining their rooms. “Why do you guys get two beds?”
“We’re just that cool,” said Baxter, sitting upright. “Who calls shower first?”
“Dibs,” said Ryan, moving toward the bathroom. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“How cold has Roxy set the thermostat?” asked Imorean.
“Sixty,” shuddered Kadia. “We’re going to freeze.”
Imorean laughed and kicked off his sneakers as Roxy came in.
“This place is safe, isn’t it?” she asked.
Imorean glanced at Baxter, then back to Roxy. “Yes? I – I think so. Well, what do you mean?”
“I mean, I’m not going to wake up with organs missing or something, am I?”
Imorean couldn’t hold back a laugh. “No. You’ll be fine, Roxy. You’ll wake up fully-intact, I’m sure.”
“Why do you ask?” asked Baxter, pulling one of Imorean’s pillows onto his side of the bed.
“Really?” asked Imorean, turning to Baxter.
“I like three pillows,” shrugged Baxter. “But, Roxy, what’s got you so worried?”
“Crime rates in Mexico City are higher than what we’re used to.”
Kadia laughed quietly. “Roxy, I’m pretty sure anywhere has a higher crime rate than Pangnirtung.”
“Yeah,” nodded Baxter. “Besides, I think we’re safe. I mean, we’ve got an Archangel with us.”
Imorean rolled his eyes. “I’m not fully Archangel. I think you guys could pack a good punch without me.”
“Damn right we could,” said Ryan, emerging from the bathroom.
Imorean sighed. “You say it like an insult.”
Ryan shrugged, his dark, eagle wings moving with his shoulders. “How early do we have to be up tomorrow?”
“Not super early. We just need to be up and checked out before sunrise. It’s a late start by Michael’s standards. We’re taking a research trip tomorrow to some of the nearby temples. The day after, I’m hoping we’ll have some sort of heading.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Ryan. “Radar for the supernatural energy?”
Imorean saw a hint of a smile on Ryan’s face and returned one. “I’m more like a metal detector, but, yeah.”
Ryan sobered. “Do you know what you’re looking for?”
Imorean resisted the urge to swallow as his whole squad turned to look at him. A sharp dash of pain tore up from his weak knee. It was cramping. He stood up and looked out past the curtains.
“Vaguely,” he said. “I know that’s not really reassuring.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?” asked Roxy.
Imorean looked back at her and shook himself. “I’m not sure. We’re all tired. Let’s get some showers and get to bed. Everything will be easier when we’ve had a rest.”
