by R. M. Garcia
“This is private property,” the large German said, holding up a hand. Where do they keep finding these brutes? Donnie thought to himself. “You must get off the property.” Donnie performed a spinning back kick and took off his head in a single swift deadly motion; he barely broke his stride. Gerald walked out of one of the buildings just in time to witness the horrific act of violence. He took one look at Donnie and began screaming.
“It’s him! It’s him!” Gerald screamed out.
“It’s me! It’s me!” Donnie yelled back. “I told you I would have questions for you, Gerald, time for answers!”
“I don’t know anything, why me?” Gerald asked in near panic.
“I disagree. You know plenty,” he replied. The other two Reich members moved to intercept Donnie from reaching Gerald.
“Wait,” one of the Germans said. “I have a message for you.”
“OK, Hansel and Gretel,” Donnie looked over the male and female Reich vampires before him. “Speak.”
“The Führer wants to meet with you, to discuss your grievance,” the male German informed. Donnie couldn’t believe this. Was Gestapo trying to lawyer him?
“My grievance, of course,” he replied, “when and where?”
“Gerald will get you the details,” the female German replied.
“Can he also send him a message for me?” Donnie asked.
“Yes,” the male German replied.
“Good, then you are of no further use to me,” Donnie said and suddenly ripped off the male German’s head. Gerald screamed and ran back into the house. The other German lunged at Donnie. Donnie evaded her attacks easily and then sank his teeth into her. She gasped in pain, and her eyes went wide with fear. Once he was full, and she was sand, he calmly walked up to the door that Gerald had retreated through and knocked.
“You cannot come in!” Gerald said. “This is my home, you’re not welcome.” Donnie ripped the door off its hinges and walked in.
“That doesn’t work on me,” Donnie said as he walked in. In truth, he was not sure why he was able to walk in, but he figured since holy ground and crosses didn’t affect him, why should a doorway!
“What do you want?” Gerald asked, terrified.
“Let’s start with the date and time for the meet with the Führer,” he replied. “After that, you are going to tell me what’s in the boxes that were delivered.” Gerald nervously opened his desk drawer and produced an envelope and handed it to Donnie. Donnie ripped the envelope open and read the letter inside.
I see that our old adversary has risen once again from the ashes. Like a phoenix. There is no need for us to be enemies, but if you insist on escalating your aggressions against the Reich, I will gladly face you one-on-one. You may find me in New Orleans. Let us open a dialogue and settle this dispute once and for all.
701 Poydras Street.
Donnie dropped the envelope on the floor after reading it and looked at Gerald. “Well?”
“Well, what?” Gerald replied unsure.
“Boxes,” Donnie said. “What’s in them?”
“Pure cocaine,” Gerald replied, “two thousand kilos.” Donnie whistled.
“Is that a lot?” he asked.
“Yes,” Gerald replied, “it’s worth over thirty million dollars.” Donnie whistled again.
“That’s a lot of cash.”
“Please don’t kill me. There is almost seventy million dollars in the safe. You can have it, just don’t kill me.”
“Don’t worry, Gerald, I need you alive. You have to deliver my reply.”
“Yes, I can do this for you.” After he was done at the New Berlin, Donnie drove off and began looking for Los Nomados. After about two hours, he got a bead on one. Once he spotted Miguel, he knew he was on the right track. He pulled up near him and honked his horn.
“Miguel!” Donnie called out. Miguel looked back quickly and was ready to start running until he saw who was calling his name. He cautiously walked over to Donnie.
“Hey, Donnie,” Miguel said. “Nice ride.”
“Get in,” Donnie said. Miguel looked around suspiciously and then nodded and got into the car.
“So what’s up, Donnie?” Miguel asked nervously.
“You’re fine, Miguel. I’m not going to hurt you. I just need you to deliver a message to Espee for me. She’s not answering the phone I gave her. I tried to reach her all day yesterday.”
“Yeah, she keeps all her phones off, until she’s ready to use them. Something about being able to be tracked when it’s on.”
“That figures, can you just tell her to meet me at my place tonight.”
“Sure, Donnie, but what do you mean your place?”
“Also can you give her this bag?”
“Sure, can I ask what is in it?”
“Money, a lot of money. It’s for Los Nomados. To get you guys some new clothes and supplies.”
“We’re supposed to go shopping, just like that?” Miguel thought that Donnie was crazy. “What about the Reich?”
“There’s not a single Reich for thirty miles,” Donnie replied. “I killed them all. Make sure you tell everyone that.”
“How did you do that?”
“Don’t worry about that; just know that it’s done.”
“Where is Lily?”
“She’s in a safe house,” he replied and smiled. “She’s being well taken care of.”
“So where are you staying?”
“South Beach,” Donnie replied. “I’m buying a house there, later tonight.”
“SoBe, you’re buying a house in SoBe? Get the fuck out of here! Those houses go for like millions.”
“I came into a large sum of cash recently,” Donnie said smiling. “You guys are welcome to stay in it. It has something like twelve rooms.”
“Dude, that’s a mansion.”
“Just come and bring everyone that wants to come and don’t worry. Miami belongs to us now.”
Donnie drove to the house to see it for the first time to close the deal. Donnie found it odd that neither attorney nor the realtors flinched when he paid for the house in cash. They had even brought a money-counting machine. The sale was completed within an hour. The house was fully furnished. Donnie didn’t share his mother’s taste for decorating, so the decor looked just fine to him. Donnie changed into a pair of swimming trunks and went for a swim in the olympic sized pool. He was on his fifth lap when he heard a familiar voice.
“You are one vato loco,” Miguel said. Donnie looked up and could see all of Los Nomados staring at him. He smiled when he saw they were all wearing new clothes.
“Looking good ladies and gents,” Donnie complimented. “Make yourselves at home.”
“Horale!” Miguel said and jogged inside. Several of the others followed him. A few undressed and dove into the pool.
“They are going to find us here,” Espee said. “You’re just asking for it.”
“Yeah, I know,” Donnie replied as he climbed out of the pool. “I have enough money to send everyone to Alaska.”
“What have you done?” Espee asked. “And where did you get all of this money?”
“I took it from the Reich.” Donnie watched the color fade from Espee’s face.
“How much money, Donnie, how much did you take?” Espee asked apprehensively.
“Enough to buy three houses like this,” Donnie started to dry himself.
“What are we supposed to do now? They will stop at nothing now. I will need to get everyone out of Miami.”
“I actually already have plans in place for that too.”
“Well, I’m glad you are thinking ahead. I was under the impression you went completely crazy!”
“I also acquired all of the Reich’s infrastructure information about Miami.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I have access to all of their resources. I have blood donors coming over as we speak.”
“You are insane!” Espee screamed. “The Reich will only have to
question any of these people, and it will lead them right to this house.”
“Yes, it will,” he said, “but not tonight. Tonight we’ll have a party and live like normal people. Well, as normal as a vampire can live. We’ll celebrate this victory, however short-lived it may be.”
“Did I hear you say something about a party?” Miguel asked as he rejoined Espee, Nox, and Donnie.
“Yeah,” Donnie said. “DJ DaringD is on his way over.”
“Serious?” Miguel asked. “He’s famous.”
“Tell the rest to expect company,” Donnie said. “Tonight we party.” Miguel ran back inside and began spreading the word.
“Donnie, what are you doing?” Nox said. “I mean why you doing all of this?”
“I’m going after Gestapo tomorrow,” Donnie said. “I don’t know if we can beat him, or even if I will survive. So tonight, I live a little.”
“Donnie, no . . . ” Espee said softly. “You will be killed for sure.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Donnie said softly. “Abbie’s soul is at stake.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“I recently found out that the head of the Reich, this Gestapo prick, has control of her soul, and soon he will send it to hell.”
“Oh no,” Nox said. “Are you certain of this?”
“I’m completely sure,” Donnie replied. “Russ has confirmed it for me.”
“The priest?” Espee asked. “How can you be so sure? How can you trust him?”
“He’s much older than you think, Espee,” Donnie said. “Much older than you even, and he is like me, or I’m like him.”
“He’s a vampire?” Espee was shocked.
“He’s twice as old as you, Espee.”
“What’s the next move, Donnie?” Nox asked.
“I’m heading to New Orleans.”
“You realize that’s Reich central,” Espee said. “That was their first territory, they have complete control there.”
“Yes,” Donnie replied. “But I’m not going alone.”
“Russ is helping you?” Nox asked.
“Yeah,” Donnie said. “We’re going to take on the Reich together.”
“Then I’m coming with you,” Nox said.
“You are not!” Espee yelled. “I need you here.”
“Yeu dau, I love you, but I grow tired. Thirty years of running and hiding, I have had enough,” Nox replied. Donnie was surprised. Espee’s normally rigid and fierce demeanor turned soft, and she looked soft, vulnerable, and very concerned. No, she was afraid.
“Can I talk to you privately?” Nox and Espee walked to the other side of the pool.
“Looks like the lovebirds are having a fight,” Miguel said.
“Those two, I never picked up on it,” Donnie said.
“Si mi amigo,” Miguel replied. “Though they try to hide it.” Donnie wondered how long they had been a couple and watched as they had a heated conversation.
“What language are they speaking in?” Donnie asked.
“Vietnamese I think,” Miguel replied. There was a knock at the front door that was followed by the doorbell ringing.
“Can you go show our guests in?” Donnie asked. Miguel nodded and headed for the door.
“You can’t leave me,” Espee pleaded on the verge of crying. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”
“I came here from Vietnam and within weeks I was killed. I survived a war only to end up like this? If it means my death, then I’m ready,” Nox said. “Donnie’s right. We need to make a stand.”
“Why now?” Espee asked. “Why are you choosing certain death?”
“It’s not the hiding or running that kills us,” Nox replied. “It’s when they break us, not physically but mentally.”
“Trust me, this is the only way,” Espee said. “He told me so.”
“No, he was wrong, I have seen another way,” Nox said. “I witnessed it for myself. Oh, if only you had been there.”
“Tranquility,” Espee said. “They took that place from us, just like every other place.”
“I learned something that day.” Nox said. “Living means nothing, if you have nothing to live for.”
“If you truly love me, you won’t go.” Espee took Nox’s hands into hers and looked deeply in his eyes. She knew right away what his answer would be.
“It’s because I love you that I must go,” he said. “They were after you when they took Abbie. I have never lost anyone I loved, but seeing Donnie’s pain and watching his suffering, I just can’t stand by anymore. I have to help. I can’t let them kill you too.”
“Well, I have, I have lost countless lovers and loved ones,” she said. “So I closed myself off. I stopped allowing myself to care for anyone. Then I found you.” Espee looked away and turned her back on Nox. “I should have never let you into my heart. I should have listened to him.”
“You’re wrong, Yeu dau,” Nox said. “You never stopped. You take care of us. If you didn’t care, you would just be looking out for yourself. You give us everything we need to survive, except a reason to.”
“Nox, I’m tired too. I’m tired of this task that I was given,” Espee said. “So tired of running that sometimes I feel like I should just give up. Donnie was right. How can I give anyone hope, when I don’t have any myself?”
“While there is life, there is hope. You have seen others just give up, so have I. We need to start living.”
“To have hope.”
“Yes,” Nox pulled her close and embraced her.
“How do I give anyone hope?”
“Come inside and dance with us,” Nox said. “Show them that we can be happy that there’s more to life than hiding in sewers and scraping for food. Just enjoy yourself.”
“What if they come?”
“They won’t,” Nox said. “Not tonight. Tonight, we party and forget all of our troubles.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow we fight.” Nox placed his arm around Espee and walked back toward Donnie. He looked at them and smiled.
“Good for you,” Donnie said. “You’re staying or going, Nox?”
“I go with you,” Nox said.
“Then I’ll go too,” Espee declared. Nox looked at her and nodded as he smiled.
“What about Los Nomados?” Donnie asked.
“You said you had a plan,” Espee said.
“Yeah, but how will they get to Tranquility without you?” Donnie said.
“Miguel knows where it is,” Espee said. “He can get everyone there, once they’re in Alaska.”
“My ears are burning,” Miguel said as he rejoined them.
“I’ll need you to take everyone to New Tranquility,” Espee said. “Make sure they get there.”
“I can handle that Jefa,” Miguel assured.
“Are you sure, Miguel?” she asked.
“Si, I can handle it, besides Donnie said he has a plan, right?” Miguel said. “How hard will it be to follow?”
“Great, then you’ll leave tomorrow night,” Donnie said. “Tonight just have some fun and relax a bit.”
The party was a success. Every human guest that had been invited was what Gerald had referred to as Pire friendly. For a small fee, they would allow any vampire who needed to, feed upon them. Donnie really appreciated Miami, only a few calls and bartenders and caterers were on staff. For the humans, all manner of fruity drink and beverage were served all night, and small delectable food was readily available. The DJ was once again amazing and played until dawn. A party similar to this one, years ago, had marked the beginning of Donnie’s new life. Now this party could very well signify the end of it.
As Donnie went over the details with Miguel by the pool, he watched as Espee and Nox danced together. It was the first time he could remember seeing her laugh. She was so happy so full of life, he was suddenly reminded of Abbie.
“You, OK, Jefe?” Miguel asked.
“Yeah, you’re going to love it i
n Tranquility,” Donnie said.
“I hope so,” Miguel said. “For what it’s worth, thanks for tonight.”
“You’re welcome,” Donnie said and smiled.
“No, seriously.” Miguel looked at Donnie and smiled. “We really needed a night like this.”
“Well,” Donnie said, “if everything goes according to plan tomorrow, there will be many more like this.”
“You said it jefe,” Miguel said, “if.”
***
Across the Gulf of Mexico a letter was being read aloud. “Could you repeat that, please?” Gestapo asked. “I am not sure I heard you correctly.”
“Certainly, my Führer,” Anna said nervously. She was frightened now. He was displeased, and his tones of anger were well known to her. “The note reads as follows: I will be glad to meet with you face-to-face das scumbag, and yes, I have been severely grieved. Since my loss is priceless, it far outweighs what I took from you. Thirty million dollars worth of your poison, along with seventy million in cash will start to bring us even, just barely though. To bring the debt closer to even, I am taking the Miami/Dade County, all of it! Your Reich scum is never to set foot in it ever again. Any and all drugs, which enter into my domain, will be destroyed, just like the last shipment I intercepted. This is your one and only warning. See you in two days. It is signed Lazarus of Bethany. Postscript, Miami is mine.”
“He mocks and insults me all at once!” Gestapo said furiously. “All of Florida belongs to me! I want three hundred soldiers sent to Miami at once!”
“Pardon my forwardness my love,” Anna said, “but what if that is exactly what he wants you to do?”
“Explain.”
“You divide your forces, and he can get to you easier,” she said. Gestapo stood up from throne and walked up to Anna and backhanded her, knocking her to the ground.