Chapter 11
Wearing a long trenchcoat and a hat pulled low over her eyes, Sonya sat in the corner of the bar, watching everyone’s movements. Three men sat at a table talking quietly over their beers, two younger men were at another table talking more loudly, and two women sat at the bar nursing their cocktails.
Wearing a daring red dress, Yolanda arrived as planned and as she waited for Zwick, she had time to drink three cocktails and had just ordered her fourth. Watching her giggle as she spun around on her barstool, Sonya feared Yolanda might overdo it.
“Oh, Zwick!”Yolanda let out with a loud hoot when the man arrived. “You’re such a nasty boy.”
She was drawing a little too much attention from the men in the bar. She giggled and flirted and displayed just how drunk she was.
Tone it down, Sonya wanted to say.
Yolanda quieted down and finally told Zwick she wanted to end it with him. His reaction was immediate and easy to see, even from a distance. He downed his drink, slammed the empty glass on the bar top and stormed out. Moments later, teetering on her heels, Yolanda prepared to leave the bar. She struggled to get her purse strap on her shoulder and giggled when she finally decided to simply hold the bag in her hand.
The men ogled her, some openly contemplating following her out. She was easy prey, whether for a vampire or any man who tried to get close.
Sonya hurried out behind her and went to stand in the shadows across the street from the bar. Seconds later, the young woman came out and swayed from side to side as she crossed the street and headed to the studio lot.
Following her, Sonya kept her eyes open, looking for any movement nearby. Despite the men’s interest in Yolanda while in the bar, none of them had ventured out.
Then, from the depth of the shadows, she saw it; a large, dark figure that crept up behind Yolanda. It followed her, silent and difficult to see. It got closer, the young woman oblivious to the impending danger.
Sonya couldn’t wait anymore. She stepped out of the shadows to rush to Yolanda, but she was quickly held back.
“What are you...?” She looked to the man on her right, holding her arm with both hands. To her left was another man, also holding her arm tight.
“Come with us,” one of them said.
“That young woman is about to be...”
“This way, Miss,” the other man insisted.
“I don’t think so.” Despite their firm hold on her, she reached up to grab both of them by the collar and brought them to collide against one another in front of her. “You boys picked the wrong girl to mess with.”
Both of the beefy men looked at her with open bafflement. When one of them tried to reach out to choke her, she roared, her fangs ready to sink into his flesh.
Whether brought on by hunger or by anger, she couldn’t tell, but she dug in and drank of his blood, then tasted the other man’s flesh as well. Sated, she tossed them aside like discarded ragdolls.
The men had barely touched the ground when a blinding light obscured Sonya’s vision as she tried to locate Yolanda.
“Well, look at that.”
Though she couldn’t see anything beyond the light in her eyes, she recognized the voice. “Yolanda?”
“Sonya Song. I discover the truth at last.From the very first time we met, I knew there was something special about you. So small and fragile, yet so powerful. I would not have expected more from China’s Empress.”
Sonya wiped the blood from her mouth then swiped the flashlight out of Yolanda’s hand.
“Tsk,” Yolanda groaned. “Have I upset you, Empress?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really. Don’t think me so stupid, Miss Song. I’ve seen pictures.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a small black and white photo. “Look at that. It doesn’t just look a bit like you. Itisyou. Yes, you’re a little paler now, your hair a little simpler, but youarethe Empress.”
Sonya stared at her. No words came.
