-1-
isadora vega. she had carefully done her makeup, wearing high heels that made her already tall frame even taller. with her black fur coat that reached the floor, she seemed to grow like a shadow in the dimly lit room. she had just turned 40; the lines that makeup couldn’t hide and her tired skin lingered before her eyes like ghosts of her youth. she knew she wasn’t a beautiful woman. her sharp chin and stern facial features seemed to challenge femininity itself. but isadora had another kind of power: neither a man nor a woman, she was an outcast of the world, someone others looked down on with disdain. she knew this and didn’t deny it. but she had learned that the only way to survive in this world was to defy it. in the male-dominated stage she walked on, her presence screamed, “i’m here, so what? my balls are heavier than yours.” everything about her said, “i’ll break your rules and spit on your so-called codes.” in the eyes of others, she was an excess, a mistake. but no one knew what to do with this mistake.
she looked at her reflection. her body, worn by waxing, marked by years and sorrows, still felt like a stranger to her. she took a deep breath; her black lipstick left a harsh line on her lips. “tonight, isadora vega,” she told herself, “they will either accept you or perish.”
she got up hurriedly to meet dante. as her footsteps echoed in the corridor, the air in the room shifted. in isadora’s stride, there was not just the determination of a woman but of a leader.
-2-
dante, as always, was sunken deep into his chair. he never left that chair. it was so wide that it seemed to swallow dante’s large frame, but when he stood up, there was nothing left to hide. maybe that’s why he never stood up. with a tall wine glass in hand, he gently swirled the liquid that danced under the dim light. dante was one of isadora’s oldest friends, and also the loyal partner who managed her “shadowy affairs” in the underworld. yet, their relationship was never entirely equal. dante worked under isadora, but he seemed content with this arrangement.
when isadora entered the room, dante spoke without looking up.
“as always, making an entrance like a queen.”
a faint smile spread across isadora’s face. “la reina,” she said, her voice heavy and commanding. “oh dante, my love, you’re a sweet man, but i bet the whores spend quite some time just to reach what’s buried under that cute belly of yours.”
a sly grin appeared on dante’s face. “well, my queen, let’s leave that to the whores to worry about. does yours still work?”
without even turning her head, vega replied, “still magnificent, dante.”
dante grinned with a smirk unbefitting his ugly face. “i have no doubt. are you ready for tonight’s meeting? barrera’s men don’t seem to take you seriously. then again… who would?”
isadora ignored dante’s sarcastic tone. letting her fur slip off her shoulders, she sat on the couch. “those who don’t take me seriously usually aren’t fond of living either, dante. tonight, barrera and his pawns will realize what they’ve gotten themselves into.”
dante’s mocking grin remained fixed as he sipped his wine. “whether barrera’s pawns understand or not, la reina has a message tonight. it’s up to you to decide if that message is delivered in blood or words.”
leaning closer, isadora lowered her voice to a sharper tone. “blood, dante, always leaves a more lasting impression. but tonight, i’ll settle for fear. for now.” she emphasized the last words, her eyes narrowing as if envisioning the noose tightening around barrera’s neck.
dante smiled, this time with a hint of genuine fear trembling in his expression. “fine, reina. but be careful. barrera is different from the others. even if he doesn’t take you seriously, he’s not stupid. he has a game of his own.”
isadora leaned back with a graceful but lethal ease. “as for barrera’s game…” she adjusted her fur on her shoulders, picked up the wine glass, and took a sip. “i’m the queen of games, dante. it’s only a matter of time before he realizes he’ll lose on his own turf.”
the door suddenly opened, and the heavy atmosphere of the room shifted. one of barrera’s men slipped inside—short, frail, and visibly nervous. he avoided isadora’s gaze, but the weight of her presence was crushing him.
“señora vega,” he said, his voice shaky with forced courage. “barrera is ready to see you.”
placing her glass on the table, isadora rose. the clicking of her heels echoed in the room as she leaned slightly toward barrera’s man. “ready to see me, or ready to kneel and beg for mercy?”
the man couldn’t respond, only lowering his head. isadora smiled and turned to dante, speaking softly: “tonight’s going to be a show worth watching, dante. are you ready?”
dante raised his glass, nodding with amusement. “always, reina. always.”
as isadora headed to the door, she slowed her steps and turned back to dante with a faint smile. “come on, love, follow me. if you’re going to waste that fine ass of yours on that chair, you might as well learn something.” her tone, as always, was both sweet and defiant.
with a sigh, dante placed his wine glass on the table. “most who follow you either fall in love or are ruined, isadora. but i suppose i’m used to it. let’s see your game, then.”
isadora took dante’s arm, leaning her head slightly toward his shoulder. “oh, dante, you’re always so dramatic. but remember, those who follow me at least get an unforgettable story. maybe it’ll be your turn this time. who knows?”
as they moved through the corridor, isadora turned to barrera’s man. her voice was a sweet melody, yet each word carried a faint threat. “sweetheart, what was your name again? or is it one i should forget?”
hesitantly, the man looked at her and replied, “raul.”
a broad smile spread across isadora’s face. “raul… a lovely name. i hope you’re lucky enough to save barrera tonight, raul. because, you know, i’m not very fond of messengers bearing bad news.” the sincere tone in her voice nearly masked the threat beneath her words.
raul stammered, “señora vega, i’m just—”
isadora gently brushed his cheek as if caressing him, but her fingertips hovered a little too close to his neck. “sweetheart, don’t be so tense when you speak. the more men tense up, the quicker they break. relax,” she said, winking.
dante watched the scene from behind, shaking his head slightly. “isadora, you’re an artist. you’re like picasso in taking people down, but you work a little faster.”
without looking back, isadora turned her head slightly. “oh, dante, you have talents too. like sitting somewhere and perfectly not moving. that’s a skill, isn’t it?” her laugh echoed down the corridor.
as they approached the room, isadora paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and adjusted her fur. “all right, sweetheart. time to ask barrera for a dance.”
-3-
the night unfolded in one of the city’s most hidden venues, an old warehouse transformed into an exclusive meeting spot. naked light bulbs dangled from the ceiling, casting shaky shadows on the expansive concrete walls. the air was heavy with the sharp scent of expensive cigars, blending with the deep presence of old wooden tables and leather chairs. in the background, a smooth jazz tune attempted to ease the tension, though it failed miserably.
this was la sombra—a place where the powerful and the shadowed met, where deals were signed, and sometimes, blood was spilled. when isadora vega stepped into the room, the atmosphere shifted abruptly. her long black fur coat, reaching the floor, her commanding stride, and her imposing aura silenced the other occupants. the rhythmic clatter of her heels drowned out even the jazz.
at a round table in the corner sat barrera, taking a sip of his wine. he gave a subtle nod in isadora’s direction, his hulking bodyguards standing ominously behind him, their eyes fixed on her every move. isadora, however, paid them no mind—her focus was solely on barrera.
as she approached the table, she gracefully let her fur slide off her shoulders onto the back of her chair. her signature faint smile played across her lips as she looked at barrera. “darling,” she said, her voice sweet yet laced with venom, “i wish you hadn’t made me come all the way here. but of course, speaking to you face-to-face is always a privilege.”
barrera extinguished his cigar with a grin. “señora vega, you never fail to make a dramatic entrance. we wouldn’t recognize you otherwise.”
isadora chuckled softly, sitting down and tossing her fur back. “ah, but darling, without drama, life would be so dreadfully boring. now,” she gestured toward the empty wine glass on the table, “may i have a drink? since you’ve kept me waiting this long, it had better be something good.”
barrera motioned to a waiter, who quickly poured her a glass. when the wine was set before her, isadora took a sip, then placed the glass back down and fixed her gaze on barrera. “well, darling, let’s get to the point. why am i here? i’m listening.”
barrera leaned back, pulling out a heavy black leather file. he slid it across the table toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. “this contains some… intriguing details about your past,” he said, a smug smile creeping across his face.
isadora glanced at the file but didn’t touch it. instead, she set her wine glass down and leaned slightly toward barrera. “oh, darling, is that supposed to be a threat? isn’t this game a little too complex for you?”
barrera tilted his head, his smirk widening. “open it and see, vega. then you’ll understand who’s really winning this game.”
without breaking her icy composure, isadora stared into barrera’s eyes. “darling, toppling queens isn’t as easy as you think.” but even as she said this, a flicker of unease stirred within her.
before she could open the file, dante interjected with an unexpectedly firm tone. “maybe this time, you’re wrong, isadora.”
her expression froze. “what do you mean, dante?”
barrera, grinning slyly, stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray. “oh, dante has a surprise for you. would you like to know how closely we’ve been watching you?”
dante lowered his gaze, remaining silent. barrera continued, “he’s always been my man, vega. every move you’ve made, every plan you’ve hatched—he’s brought it to me. and now, here we are.”
isadora paused for a moment, then spoke in a measured, cold tone. “dante, is this true?”
dante, still not meeting her eyes, whispered, “yes, vega. i didn’t want to tell you, but barrera is right.”
the words struck isadora like a dagger to the chest, but she masked her pain with a calm, artificial smile. she stood, leaning slightly over the table as she addressed dante.
“darling, you’re not the first to stab me in the back, but being a pawn to someone as cheap as barrera truly disappoints me,” she said, her voice as cold as ice.
finally, she reached for the file. her fingers ran lightly over the cover before she opened it. her eyes scanned the pages, but her stoic expression didn’t waver. the first page displayed an old newspaper clipping: “the city’s largest heist!” though isadora’s name wasn’t mentioned, it detailed a job she had masterminded and profited from.
the subsequent pages revealed more damning evidence: secret deals she had orchestrated, blackmail she had used to bring down rivals, and most damningly, bribes she had paid to silence law enforcement.
a later page contained evidence of an old murder—a businessman’s death, linked to forged documents that pointed squarely at isadora.
barrera tapped the file with satisfaction. “everyone knows how dirty this city is, but no one could pin it on you until now.”
isadora closed the file with a deliberate motion, exhaling deeply as she locked eyes with barrera. “i enjoy these conversations, darling. but you’ll need much more than this to bring down a queen.”
barrera leaned back, smirking. “oh, sweetheart, this is just the beginning. doesn’t the thought of this file hitting the press tomorrow morning make you a little nervous?”
the room’s tension became almost palpable. isadora remained silent for a moment, then adjusted her fur and smiled faintly. “if you want to win the game, barrera, you’ll have to learn how to play it. but darling, if you think this little folder can unseat a queen, you’re gravely mistaken.”
barrera stood, leaning over the table with a cruel grin. “darling, by the end of this, everyone will know the queen doesn’t have a kingdom.”
at that moment, barrera’s bodyguards filled the room. dante retreated to the sidelines as isadora remained seated, her gaze sharp as a blade. “queens may fall, barrera,” she said, her voice icy, “but remember, toppling the throne doesn’t always mean you’ve won. by sunrise tomorrow, we’ll see who walks away from this table alive.”
as the guards led her out, isadora locked eyes with dante one last time. her voice was a venomous whisper: “i gave you everything, dante. and you’ll pay for this.”
the scene ended with the echo of isadora’s heels fading into the distance, and barrera’s triumphant, unrelenting grin lighting up the room.
to be continued
