Bar hoppers, prostitutes and tourists. Neon signs flashed their welcome on nearly every corner. Jazz music wafted from inside various bars along the street. The sweet scent of blood pulsed through the veins of the innocents that surrounded him. Laughter and excitement exuded from their very souls. He thirsted for their vibrant lifelines, thirsted for their carefree lifestyle. Two young women chatted in a nearby alley. Alexandru’s mouth watered. It had been a long time since he had fed the old-fashioned way. A very long time indeed. He entered the alley. The women stopped their conversation and stared in horror at the dark, looming figure blocking the entrance. One of them screamed and ran the other way. The other — a petite blonde with heavy makeup and a tight honey-colored mini-skirt — stood transfixed, unable to move. With hypnotic eyes, Alexandru beckoned the woman to him. She came. With careful control, he planted submissive thoughts in her mind until she tilted her head and allowed him full access to her lifeline.
