She shrugged. Perhaps he did have a lovely wife waiting at home for him, and this was just his honey on the side.
Hollywood, she thought, rolling her eyes to the clear blue sky. The sun was edging its way down, but the air still retained all the warmth of the day.
Just as she neared her new home, her stomach reminded her of how little she’d eaten that day. A grapefruit for breakfast, a few bites of a sandwich for lunch and a nibble of an energy bar Yolanda insisted she try.
Famished, she turned away from her little bungalow and headed off the studio lot. Just across the street was a bar that also served peanuts, pickled eggs and pretzels.
“What’ll you have?”the young man behind the bar said.
“Um. I don’t know. What ladies drink out here in California?”
He smiled. “If you like it sweet, I could make a grasshopper for you.”
“Sounds intriguing. I’ll try it.”
As he prepared her drink she glanced around. The place was quiet despite the good number of patrons. People chatted as they sipped their drinks and nibbled on peanuts.
“Don’t worry about it,” a nearby woman told her male friend at the dark corner table. “I have everything under control.”
Sonya strained her ear to better eavesdrop.
“And when will this thing wind up?”
“I don’t want to rush it. I’m taking it slow. Safe and slow. I already made it into this production. Now that I’m in, the rest will be easy. I’ll slowly set the trap, then...” She clapped her hands loudly.
“Here you go,” the bartender said as he set the drink down in front of her.
“And could I have a pretzel with that?”
“Sure thing.”
Sonya brought her attention back to the nearby couple.
“Nothing is ever as easy as it seems.”
“Ha!”the woman let out, clearly amused by his skepticism. “Look at me, buddy. Take a good look at me. I always get my man. He’ll take one look at me, get a load of these melons and he’ll be putty in my hands. I guarantee it.”
“Okay. Yeah. You’re right,” the man said with a laugh. “I know this man likes them ripe and young.”
“And easy,” the woman added with a laugh.
“You said it. I didn’t.” With that, he stood and walked out.
Sonya nibbled on her pretzel while the woman stared into her nearly empty drink.
“Thanks, Tom,” she said as she gulped down the remains, then swung around on her stool and headed out.
Curious about this woman’s plan, Sonya left her drink behind and followed her out. Her face still hidden by a hat and wearing a trench coat, the woman’s pace was brisk, with purpose, as if she had a rendezvous with someone.
Sonya kept a safe distance, but when the woman turned a corner, she quickened the pace to find the woman in a man’s arms. Tall and cloaked in dark wool, he enveloped her in a way that wasn’t quite human.
His head was bowed low over her and other than a few quiet yelps, the woman was silent. The more Sonya focused on him the less human he seemed. A car passed by lighting him temporarily. Now it was clear. It wasn’t a cloak at all. The beast enveloped the young woman with large black leathery wings.
Sensing her presence, he looked up, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. He opened his mouth, letting out an odd growl while blood dripped off his fangs.
Sonya froze for a second, then the beast smiled, a strange and menacing smile. The smile snapped her out of her stupor, and she ran toward him. Just as she reached him, he flew straight up, cackling as he disappeared into the night.
The woman, limp and drained of blood, crumpled to the ground.
