Getting home, Sonata searched online for how to get bloodstains out of clothes and cars. She discovered Pulp Fiction, which gave her a few ideas, but no real help.
She’d already dumped the two bodies in the woods. If anyone found them, she didn’t think there was anything to tie them to her. Well, except maybe the park ranger’s gun, which she had taken with her.
As night fell, her thoughts again turned back to where she could quench her thirst. Abducting Chip from the school had been dumb luck. She could maybe go trolling for targets in a bad part of town, but surely there had to be an easier way.
Somebody was still distributing phone books in this day and age. One had been dropped on their front porch a month ago and Sonata was currently using it as a doorstop. She picked it up and flipped to a page. Using the fancy internet incognito browser Chip had installed, she put in the first person’s address she saw. It was an apartment building downtown. No, too crowded.
Sonata tried another one, and then another. They were all in places that would be too easy to observe.
Her finger fell on Cinch, Abacus. “I hope this’ll be a cinch.” Sonata typed in the address. The mapping program revealed a solitary house, at the end of a driveway that put it a few hundred yards from the road.
Even better, the internet didn’t reveal any marriage records for her. And she was the principal of Crystal Prep Academy, so no one would miss her until school was back in session.
Sonata got in the car.
There was one light on in the house as she pulled into the driveway, headlights already off. Sonata got out but didn’t slam the door. Sneaking up to the front door, she peered through the window and spotted a solitary pair of low-rise heels neatly arranged near the inside of the door.
Sonata took a step back and assessed the door. Squinting in the meager light, she was just able to make out that the deadbolt was securely locked.
Circling the house, there were no obvious points of entry. Sonata hoped there wasn’t a dog or something. Nah, probably not in a house so freakishly neat. Looking through the windows, the place seemed like practically every surface had recently been washed - and waxed.
Sonata found Abacus Cinch in the living room absorbed in a hardcover book. She was older but seemed to be in excellent shape. Was she alone? Sonata hadn’t seen any evidence that pets or other people lived there.
After circling the house completely, Sonata had come up empty on a stealthy way to enter the house. Such a neat and clean place was airtight.
Sonata slapped herself on the forehead. What was the easiest way to open a door? Knock on it.
Sure enough, in response to her tapping on the front door, Cinch opened it. “What do you want?”
Sonata punched her in the gut and walked into the house as Cinch fell. Sonata paused to lock the door.
“What-” Cinch wheezed.
Sonata grabbed her slim throat and dragged her back into the living room. She pitched Cinch onto the couch where she had been.
A light classical number played from an expensive surround sound system. The book How to Win Friends and Influence People lay open on the coffee table. Beside it was half a glass of wine.
“Who are you?” Cinch demanded, though her words struggled through having the wind knocked out of her.
Sonata smiled. “I’m Sonata. I’m a siren. And I’m going to kill you.”
“Sonata...Dusk? You were one of the troublemakers kicked out of Canterlot High, as I recall.” Cinch got to her feet. “If you think I’m going to let some reject-
Sonata punched her again. Cinch fell back against the couch again, though she had at least attempted to block this time.
“That’s not how this is going to work,” said Sonata. “I’m in charge here.”
“You think-”
“Fishsticks, will you shut up!?” Not Sonata’s proudest swear, but shouting it did at least get the desired effect.
Left with a moment of silence, Sonata shook her head and tried to get the conversation back on track. Or she tried, if it weren’t for that damnable background music. She turned towards the stereo. Cinch got up again, attempting to get away.
Sonata grabbed Cinch’s arm, squeezing until the skin bulged between her fingers and her nails pressed deep. “You aren’t going anywhere.” She threw her back on the couch and again moved for the stereo, but as soon as she took a step, Cinch got up again.
There was nothing immediately apparent that could be used to tie up Cinch. So Sonata broke both her legs. A quick twist and stomping on the knee did the trick.
To Sonata’s surprise, Cinch didn’t scream. She convulsed in pain, and let out a strangled gasp, but no vocalization. Meanwhile, the smooth classical music continued to play.
Satisfied that her captive wouldn’t try to escape, Sonata walked over and ejected the CD from the stereo. She found the input port and connected her phone, hitting random. Another One Bites the Dust began to play. Not entirely what she was hoping for, but ironically appropriate.
Sonata walked back over to the couch. Cinch’s teeth were gritted, which only added to the glare she was giving Sonata. She managed to get out, “Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. I’m going to kill you.”
Cinch’s eyes went to the book on the table. Sonata slapped it closed and shoved it onto the floor.
“Could you tell me a little about what led to this?” Cinch asked.
“Wow, where to begin with that? Well, a thousand years ago my sisters and I were banished here. Last year, a bunch of girls from Canterlot High took away our singing voices and magic. Earlier this week, I discovered that drinking blood is almost as good. I picked your name at random from the phone book.” Sonata spread her hands. “Life’s shit, huh?”
Cinch was concerned, but not yet truly afraid. Was she really that resilient, even with broken bones and having already been told Sonata’s intent?
She still thinks she can get out of this. Wow, what an idiot. We should have enrolled at Crystal Prep instead.
“I understand that must have been rough for you,” said Cinch.
“Not nearly as rough as it’s about to be for you.” Sonata grabbed Cinch’s ankle and began to twist.
Cinch gasped as her broken tibia and fibula ground together. “I-I think this is unnecessary. If you want something from me, just ask.”
“I’m only going to drink your blood,” said Sonata. “And I can just take that.”
Cinch still appeared unmoved. “I should like to examine the biological process behind that. Surely my advanced laboratory at school could help you find a more convenient solution.”
What was with her? Was Cinch really so arrogant that she believed she could talk her way out of any situation? Sonata grabbed up the wine glass and broke it on the table. She swiped the jagged edge across Cinch’s cheek. The woman winced, although it probably wasn’t as painful as two broken legs.
Sonata wiped her hand across Cinch’s face. She lifted her palm, showing her the blood. She also made sure Cinch watched her lick her fingers clean.
The taste was still flat. Cinch’s concern was growing, but it was more along the lines of disgruntlement.
“Stop that! Stop that right now!” Cinch suddenly burst out. “Do you realize how demeaning this is? Do you understand just how far outside of societal norms you are? No one would ever look at you with any sort of acceptance ever again.”
“Bitch, I eat people!” Sonata had had enough. Was Cinch honestly more concerned about being unable to control the situation than about her own death? “Do you realize that I’m going to murder you in your own home? Do you understand that I’m going to consume you slowly while you’re still alive? No one is ever going to know what happened to you, or that you died alone by being fucking eaten.”
Sonata grabbed Cinch’s head and yanked her forward, putting her mouth directly on her wound. She licked up the trickling blood and then tore the cut wider with her teeth.
And suddenly, Cinch was afraid.
Sonata’s back arched in ecstasy as the fear hit her system. Whether Cinch was more afraid of dying or dying in obscurity, Sonata didn’t care. All that mattered were the results.
She picked at Cinch’s face with her fingernails. Cinch jerked and tried to pull her head away, but there was nowhere she could go. Sonata started to peel her skin. And then, finally, came the scream.
Sonata’s vision had clouded red and her entire world had narrowed down to just her and the blood. She felt like she was floating and it was impossible to say how quickly time was passing. It was all one long euphoric ride like nothing she had ever experienced before. Right up until it stopped, along with Cinch’s heart.
Sonata came out of her reverie, still feeling the aftereffects. She looked down. Everything within five feet was completely covered in spilled blood. Cinch looked like a mannequin covered in raw meat.
Well then, that was done. Sonata stood up, a carefree feeling settling over her. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so energetic.
“Good.” Sonata giggled. And it was. There really wasn’t any other word she could think of.
Good or not, however, Sonata needed to get going. She spied her phone and realized nearly half an hour had passed. She frowned, looking at the mess that had been left. That was a lot of evidence.
Sonata went into the kitchen, finding a candle and a box of matches. She turned the gas on to the stove and went back into the living room, setting the candle on the coffee table and lighting it.
She took a last look around, feeling like there was something she was missing. She had her phone. She had the house set to burn and erase the evidence. Sonata shrugged. She was sure she would remember eventually.
On her way out the door, she spied the forgotten book and on impulse decided to pick it up. Outside, she got in the car and headed down the road. A minute later, there was a fireball in the rearview mirror. Sonata smiled and turned up the music.
She was still jiving while getting out of the car at home. She danced up the sidewalk and went into the house. Adagio and Aria were watching the news. Helicopter footage showed a still-burning house.
Adagio glanced at her and did a double take so fast the bones in her neck clicked. “What’s that all over your clothes?”
Sonata knew she had forgotten something.