CRIMSON NOCTURNE

CHAPTER 5: THE RIVER AMBUSH

The sun was sinking when Chen Jing finally announced the shopping trip was over. Everyone collected their belongings from Yi Fei's arms and scattered with quick goodbyes. Chen Jing grabbed Cheng Yao's wrist and turned to Yi Fei. "You worked hard today. If you're not busy, we want to buy you dinner as thanks."

To his surprise, even reserved Cheng Yao nodded along.

Where Cheng Yao went, Yi Fei followed. The three of them ended up at N City's biggest steakhouse. After a few plates of steak disappeared, the awkwardness melted away. Even the usually shy Cheng Yao joined Chen Jing in teasing Yi Fei.

Knowing Yi Fei lived far on the outskirts, Chen Jing called it quits before eight. She pulled the reluctant Cheng Yao along to say goodbye. But Yi Fei insisted on playing the gentleman — he wouldn't go home until he'd seen both girls to their doors.

Cheng Yao lived closer, so they dropped her first. Laughter followed them the whole way. When they reached her building, Cheng Yao thanked Yi Fei, waved at Chen Jing, and disappeared upstairs.

Then something strange happened.

The walk to Chen Jing's place was only ten minutes, but neither of them said a single word. Yi Fei racked his brain trying to figure out why she'd gone so quiet. At her apartment building, he muttered goodbye and started to turn.

"Wait." Chen Jing's voice stopped him.

"Hm?" He turned back. "Something wrong?"

"Thanks for hanging out with us today." She stared at her shoes. "I was thinking of going hiking in a couple of days. Want to come?"

Yi Fei's mind jumped to Cheng Yao. Maybe she'd be there too. "Sure."

Chen Jing blinked. Was this the same Yi Fei who'd barely acknowledge her before? "Great. I'll pick a day and call you."

They said goodbye again. On the way home, Yi Fei replayed every moment with Cheng Yao in his head. He caught himself grinning like an i***t, scaring a few pedestrians.

* * *

Back home, Chen Jing called Cheng Yao and a few other classmates to set the hiking date. But in the call with her group leader — who also happened to be Yi Fei's group leader — she said something extra.

Hanging up, Cheng Yao felt like a character in a romance novel. Yang Yi, the boy she liked, already had a girlfriend. In his reply to her letter, he'd told her that Yi Fei had always liked her. She'd never thought of Yi Fei as anything more than a friend. But today, she'd started noticing how differently he acted around her. And now Chen Jing had just confessed she liked Yi Fei too.

Cheng Yao laughed bitterly at herself. She'd find a way to bring Chen Jing and Yi Fei together. As for herself? She was better off as Yi Fei's friend.

* * *

Yi Fei made it home near nine. The apartment was empty — no sign of Zeng Dan. He called her office. Her colleague said she'd left around seven thirty, saying she was heading home.

Yi Fei shot to his feet. An hour and a half. She could have walked from the TV station to their apartment four times over.

What was happening to Zeng Dan lately? He stripped his shirt as he bounded up to the roof. He felt like Superman from some old movie — always tearing his clothes off. Every damn day. Once transformed, he sniffed the air and bounded toward the station.

On the TV station rooftop, he sensed nothing. He dropped to the front gate and caught a trace of her scent. He followed it, running along the riverbank.

* * *

Zeng Dan sat in a small boat on the river, eating a late dinner with Wu Lei. "Why the sudden invitation?" Zeng Dan asked, swirling her wine glass. "Curfew's on. The cops are going to yell at us."

Wu Lei gave her an odd look. "I'm not the one who invited you."

"I am."

A girl stepped from the shadows. Her face was friendly, her smile warm. "I asked Wu Lei to bring you here."

"Sorry, do I know you?"

"You don't know me. But you know my brother." The smile stayed sweet. "The wolfman who killed him in front of you last night."

Zeng Dan's blood ran cold. That angelic face suddenly looked monstrous.

Hong Shi laughed, the sound gentle and harmless. "Don't be scared, reporter. And don't think about running. Everyone on this boat is family."

Zeng Dan's eyes slid to Wu Lei, still sitting across from her. Was she a vampire too?

As if reading her thoughts, Hong Shi walked over and patted Wu Lei's head. "You don't think your colleague is a vampire? Watch."

Hong Shi's hand tightened. Pain exploded through Wu Lei's skull. She had no choice — she drew on her vampire strength to fight back, and her fangs extended.

Zeng Dan's face went rigid with terror.

Satisfied, Hong Shi smiled. "Whether you're connected to that wolfman or not, I'll keep you until sunrise."

Zeng Dan sat frozen on a boat full of vampires, wondering what kind of bad luck had dragged her into a world of wolfmen and bloodsuckers.

* * *

Yi Fei had traced the scent to the riverbank. He'd seen everything from the shadows. Were they using Zeng Dan as bait? He didn't care. Even if it meant exposing himself, he'd tear through every vampire here and then find his parents. Killing Hong Ji had made him cocky.

He studied the boat. If this was a trap, there had to be more than just those two.

The river crashed against the shore, but his sharp ears picked out a dozen breathing sounds from the boat. Something else pressed against him too — a tangible pressure, like a force field. Heavy backup.

Hong Shi was walking toward Zeng Dan. Yi Fei clenched his jaw, pushed off the ground, and shot forward at three times the speed of sound.

A silver blur streaked toward the boat. Hong Shi's smile widened. Brother Zhang's guess was right. The wolfman was connected to the reporter. "Hong Ji's revenge, tonight."

Yi Fei landed on the deck, reaching for Zeng Dan. Then the resistance hit him. The air turned to concrete. He dropped out of hypersonic speed. If he forced it, the sonic boom would tear the boat apart — and Zeng Dan was human.

The silver wolf materialized in front of them. Hong Shi laughed. "Did you think we wouldn't prepare for your speed? How naive. Like the force field, Sir Wolf? We're far from the city. No police to bother us. Satisfied?"

She waved. A dozen figures emerged from the shadows. Yi Fei read their faces — these weren't pushovers. Without his speed, could he still save Zeng Dan?

Zeng Dan stared at the silver wolf. The same one from last night. Same pure eyes. But this time, it had come to rescue her. Was some prince charming protecting her? She had no idea how much danger Yi Fei was in.

The vampires attacked. Without his speed, Yi Fei was outmatched. He blocked and dodged, but they kept coming. Hong Shi watched, unable to contain her glee. "If superspeed is your only trick, you're finished!"

Yi Fei had no combat training. His fur absorbed most of the damage, but he'd taken too many hits. He gritted his teeth and searched for the source of the force field while trying not to die.

Zeng Dan snapped out of her daze. If the wolf lost, she'd be drained dry. She scanned the boat and noticed Wu Lei — standing rigid, her face tight with concentration, watching the fight closely.

That wolf had been fast last night. And now...

A cup smashed against Wu Lei's skull. She flinched. The pressure around Yi Fei vanished for an instant. Then it crashed back. But he'd felt it. He understood now.

Hong Shi grabbed Zeng Dan by the collar. "Do that again, and you die right now."

Zeng Dan shook her head frantically. She knew Hong Shi wouldn't kill her yet — without bait, the wolf could just run. But those fangs were too close.

Hong Shi sneered at the battered wolf. "Even if you figured out Wu Lei's trick, you're still dead."

In that moment, Yi Fei let a vampire's kick launch him sideways — straight toward Wu Lei. Hong Shi was fast, a real fighter. She threw herself between them. But Wu Lei, startled by the sudden charge, lost her focus.

Yi Fei's shoulder hit Hong Shi's chest at three times the speed of sound. Hong Shi flew backward into Wu Lei. A sick crack echoed across the river. Wu Lei collapsed, bone broken, and lay still.

Yi Fei turned on the remaining vampires. With the force field gone, he cut through them cleanly. Just as he thought it was over, Hong Shi leaped to her feet.

"If that's all you've got, you could beat the thugs — but not kill Hong Ji." Her eyes burned. "Stop holding back. I want you to know — I might be even stronger than my brother."

* * *

[END OF CHAPTER 5]