Cozumel, Mexico, 8pm
A beautiful woman enters the lobby of the Quatzequatel Tower. It is one of the newest additions to this booming vacation town that is taking the free flowing tourist dinero and using it to become more opulent and inviting for the foreigners seeking a paradise getaway. She scans the lobby accessing every detail before she starts to make her way to the penthouse elevator. She is dressed as a delivery woman carrying a small package, the fabric hugging every contour of her body and the buttons barely able to contain her ample chest. As she approaches she is stopped by two body guards in custom made suits. While their attire may have been custom, it was obvious that they were not long removed from their gang banging youth. Gang tattoos were still visible peeking out from under shirt sleeves and collars. One of the men blocks the elevator while the other one circles her with an appreciating leer until he has come to stand behind her in her blind spot looking at her perfectly shaped ass.
Henchman 1: All packages can be dropped off at the main desk up front. Just give them your thing and they will sign for it. Nobody uses this elevator.
Henchman 2: And after you do that, I have another package that you can handle.
She ignored this comment.
Sarah: Hold on there, Paco. This isn’t some stationary delivery that I can just drop off and be about my way. This is a present from Manetti for your boss, Ekchuah, and if you think you have any shot in hell of separating it from me then you need to take your boyfriend there and go fuck yourselves. I work for Manetti and he scares me a whole lot more than the little derringer your girl there uses to piss out of. Now call up whoever is in charge of your security and get the hell out of my way.
The guard blocking the elevator reached in his pocket and produced a phone; he punched a button and then turned his back on her, talking in a low voice. As he was doing this his partner started running a metal detector wand over her taking extra time around certain areas.
Henchman 2: After this I get to frisk you; for my protection of course.
Sarah: I wouldn’t touch me with anything you want back. Besides, where would I hide a weapon?
With that she smacked her ass and gave a wink. The first guy turned around and gave a nod to his partner. He dug into his other pocket and drew out a key card and inserted it into the slot under the call button of the elevator. After a few moments the doors opened and he waived her inside, part way following her in, he reached around the corner and slid the same card under these buttons as well and hit the button for twenty before retracting the card and stepping out of the lift.
Henchman 1: Someone will meet you at the top, follow them, and for your sake I hope you have better manners for the Man or your exit will be much faster and without an elevator.
The doors shut and the elevator ascended at a fast pace. The guards waited until the doors had shut and then proceeded to tell each other how they would handle her if given the chance and various other scenarios that they had dreamed up.
Meanwhile on a nearby roof top a lone figure is hunched over a computer screen and putting something together. The screen holds an image of the building across from him and a little red dot. He is keeping an eye on the screen while he inserts a stalk into the back of the body of a strange rifle and starts to affix the barrel to make it functional
INNER DIALOGUE [Rodrigo “Ekchuah” Perez, he is head of one of the violentest drug cartels in Mexico. He was born into this lifestyle and showed promise at an early age. His father, Esteban, harnessed his aptitude for violence when he was a kid by sending him down to Brazil to learn street fighting and Brazilian jiu-jitsu so that when he became a teenager he would become his enforcer. He chose his nickname because of its association with the Mayan gods; Ekchuah was the patron god of merchants and warriors sometimes called the “Black War Chief”, which would be appealing to a drug dealer. Most have god complexes, but that is a conversation for another time. Upon assuming the reigns of the cartel from his father, he cemented his violent reputation when a Mexican reporter wrote an unflattering article about his Cartel, the Ah Pukuh. He had the reporter abducted in broad daylight from his home and brought before him. When the poor sap turned up a few days later he was missing his tongue and his mouth was filled with shit.
Ekchuah built this tower as a testament to his power. He was smart about it, because for his floor there is no window that is facing an adjacent building that a sniper can use to get to him. The only windows in his penthouse are facing the ocean and are ballistic glass, plus he has bribed the government to make sure the ocean in front of him is restricted from all water craft so that there is no access that way either. He is quite confident that he is untouchable in his ivory tower with his guards everywhere, but he has crossed the wrong man and now I am here to knock him from his pedestal. ]
Darius fastens a drum to the bottom of his handiwork and then inserts something into the barrel. After the assembly is completed he does a final check of his work and then waits for his signal.
The doors of the elevator slide open to reveal an extravagant foyer flanked on all sides with security guards armed with hand guns and automatic weapons. One of them steps forward and motions to a small table off to the side.
Guard: Place your package on that table and proceed to that area over there.
Sarah: I have already gone thru a search downstairs. Man, you guys are thorough.
Guard: That was just a simple metal detector search to get on the elevator. But if you want to see Ekchuah himself then you need to be searched for bugs and explosives. He is quite cautious when it comes to strangers.
She is directed into a metallic archway and ordered to extend her arms out from her sides. With a click of a button the machine comes to life and starts to rotate around her. A fully detailed image appears in front of another guard showing her as if no clothes were present at all, after a few moments a green message pops on screen indicating she had passed. As this was going on a flat metal handheld device was passed over her cargo as well, this to apparently passed the test.
Sarah: Not sure I like being stripped searched without my consent. That is way more advanced than the scanners at most major airports. But do you trust me now?
Guard: The Boss trusts no one, not even family, but you are deemed safe to be in his presence. The scanner is the best money can buy; while the government is more worried about cost and hurting people’s feelings, we share none of those hindrances.
One of the men escorts her through a heavy oak door and into the main living quarters. It was furnished in an eclectic mix of ancient treasures and modern day hi-tech toys. Sarah took in all of her surroundings as she followed her escort, trying to get an accurate count of those around her and where her cover was in case things went south. She followed around a corner and was brought to a final doorway staffed by yet another armed guard.
Guard: Luis will take you in, do not speak until spoken to and make sure that you keep a minimum distance of 20 feet. The only time you will break this requirement is if so ordered by Ekchuah; you have been warned because Luis has been ordered to kill anyone who comes closer than that without hesitation. We have scanned you and your package and have found no listening devices or explosives. If we had found these things then you never would have made it out of that receiving area. If you want to make it home alive tonight you will heed my words and do nothing to piss him off, he has no qualms about killing and really enjoys killing Americans.
Sarah: Don’t worry, I am here on business and plan to walk out the front door.
With that Luis opens the door and takes her into Ekchuah’s office. He is sitting behind a massive desk with his back to the door and surrounded by computers and plasma TVs. This was his nerve center of his operation. He had instant access to information and could act within seconds if needed. As he heard them approach he swung around in his chair and regarded her in a cold, detached manner. He did not bother to stand or acknowledge her, believing her below his station. Luis pointed to where she was to stand in front of him. After staring at her for a few minutes Ekchuah finally broke his silence.
Ekchuah: So Manetti has sent me a pet, has he? What do I owe to the pleasure of this visit? After my last dealing with your boss I was quite certain that there would be quite a lot of blood to be spilt between us.
Sarah: Mr. Manetti would like to make amends for any misunderstandings that may have arose from the last business venture the two of you had together. He knows that you, like him, are first and foremost a businessman and that sometimes that requires expansion, like a hostile takeover of territory. While yes this could lead to a bloody war, it would adversely affect both of your bottom lines and cost considerable loss of manpower and resources. He does appreciate your tenacity and business sense, and in honor of that has sent me to offer you a peace offering and request for negotiations for an amicable split of future dividends.
Sarah produced the small box that she had been carrying with her and held it in front of her with open hands. Ekchuah looked at the small, hand carved, mahogany box and motioned to Luis. Luis stepped forward and took the box from Sarah and walked it over to Ekchuah’s desk. He set the box down on his desk in front of him and retreated. Ekchuah regarded the box curiously and looked up at Sarah, and then he opened the box to discover a Rolex Watch made of white gold and diamond encrusted.
Sarah: Mr. Manetti hopes you will take this as a sign of friendship. It is the latest design from Rolex that will not be made available to the public until next year. It is as exclusive as it is exquisite in design, and will give you bragging rights over your competition. Can I inform Mr. Manetti of your decision?
Ekchuah: Tell Manetti that I will consider his offer. I do find his gift pleasing and will contact him if I deem that a meeting would be beneficial. As of right now you are dismissed. Just remind him that he should never trifle with me in matters that I have complete control over.
With that he waved her away and pushed a button on his desk. Moments later a group of men came thru a side door carrying phones and tablet computers. This obviously was the business arm of Ekchuah’s enterprise. No one talked to each other as they were talking on their phone while pecking away at their screens getting the latest stock and commodity prices. Sarah retraced the same path that she came by and was a little relieved that nothing had happened while she was here, but she would not let herself completely relax until she was exiting the building completely. After a short ride she was back in the same lobby that she had arrived and wasted no time in exiting out the lobby door. Once she was safely outside she looked up at one of the nearby rooftops.
Sarah: It’s done. I will meet you back at the beach house and prepare our exit. Have some fun with this one; something about him and his boys rubs me the wrong way.
With that she turns and walks off into the night, the figure smiles and permits himself a slight chuckle. He turns back to the screen and keeps watching the red dot.
Inner dialogue [I am no different than those poor fools down there; I hate my job but I am stuck until I get what I have been working for. Every time I close my eyes I see myself on some beach, enjoying the sea air and lying beside my love. But down time is few and far between and seems like I am working more than there are hours in the day. Sure I get to travel, but what good is that when you cannot enjoy where you are at. I keep telling myself one more job, but that is a lie I tell myself to keep me sane and not rip off some schmucks head. It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the scum I deal with constantly. One way or another, this will end very soon.]
Ekchuah grew bored of the talk of mergers and acquisitions and the International market that was going on around him. He had gained proficiency in such matters as a way to distract him from the violence and double dealing that he is entrenched in on a daily basis, but he has found bankers and traders to be just as bad. When his side project started to turn a substantial profit he started to incorporate it more into his other venture he used the profits of one to feed the needs of the other and if the other started to thrive he would start to funnel that one back into the other. He starts to finger the watch admiring the way the light is caught and then reflected back by the watch. He himself would admit he has a weakness for the next big thing, but that is a pitfall for a man of means. If he wants it he will not deny himself, be it women or property. He admired Manetti’s style if nothing else. He took it from the box feeling its heft and admiring the craftsmanship, and then slipped it over his left wrist. It felt good and like it was a part of him. He smiled selfishly; he couldn’t wait to hand Manneti his ass as he was wearing the watch he had given him.
Inner dialogue [It never fails, you throw a beautiful woman into the equation bearing gifts and you never question it. Guys can’t help it, distract them with a pair of breast and a tight ass and they will follow it to their destruction.]
The red dot on the screen started to pulsate and beep rhythmically. It imitated the heart beat that was now connected to it. Darius tapped a few buttons and the scope on his rifle came to life. He leveled it as he faced the tower where his quarry was and sighted thru the scope taking aim. He kept searching thru the scope until the red dot that was on his screen then appeared in his view; he kept adjusting his aim until the red dot was centered in his cross hairs.
Inner dialogue [As good as I am, even I cannot see thru solid concrete. I knew that I would not be able to walk into his place, so a simple Trojan horse was easier. I had the watch fitted with a simple RFI tag that would not activate unless it came in contact with a heartbeat, which is a simple matter when it is on a wrist in the same location a doctor would check to see if you were alive. Then it was a simple matter to have a scope that connected wirelessly to a computer to track it so that as soon as it is aimed at the target it would show like a laser sight to hit the target. Now to fuck someone’s night up.]
Darius pulls the trigger and a harpoon goes flying into the night. As it closes its distance with the wall part of the tip separates from the rest shooting out faster toward the wall and imploding it. Ekchuah’s back arches away as the blast from the wall behind him hits him, but before he can react the harpoon pierces him thru the back and then he is gone instantly out though the open air behind him.
Darius holds Ekchuah over the ledge of the building he is on, dangling by the harpoon that he has sticking out of his back. He stands silently letting the situation sink in to his prey and realize where he is. Ekchuah starts screaming and cussing at Darius and trying to bargain with him to let him go. Darius in a low, gravelly voice starts to speak.
Darius: You messed with the wrong man Rodrigo; when there is a deal with two men it must be honored or the offended man will be forced to renegotiate the terms. Manneti is very disappointed in your actions and it has caused him to lose some respect in light of your distasteful behavior. Why would you go and try to take what your partner was so gracious to let you use. It was his city and to try and take his territory for your own personal playground, well, that is in bad form. Why should you be allowed to live?
Ekchuah: Hey, hey, let’s just take a minuet here! I fucked up, I can admit that. I saw an opportunity and I seized it, sorry! How about you let me down and you come work for me, whatever Manneti is paying you I will triple it. I could use someone like you that thinks outside the box.
Darius: Unfortunately for you, you have nothing that I need. Money does not have any allure to me. Manneti has the only thing I need and after tonight it will be mine and I can finally be done of this shit.
Ekchuah: Fine, tell Manneti that I want a truce and that I will stay away from his city and all of his operations, no hard feelings. If he still wants to be in business then I will be more than willing to take a smaller cut, and forget all about this. Just let me down.
Darius: The decision has already been made. Yes, he did consider letting you live, but he decided you would better serve as an example to the rest. If he can show that he can get to his enemies anywhere then that is worth a hundred deals. Plus, your business will now become his since you will no longer require them.
Darius lowered his shades to expose pale yellow eyes beneath them. He opened his mouth to expose a set of fangs; that caused his victim to let out a primal scream of fear. Darius clamped on his neck and started to feed, after he had gotten his fill he tied the harpoon to a stake he had anchored into the rooftop and left the body hanging over the side bloody and mangled. He would be found in the morning by his crew, leaving them off balance and easier for Manetti’s soldiers to handle. The transition of resources would take less than a week. Darius packed his equipment and headed to his hideout on the beach to prepare for his trip home.
The Next Night:
The sound of the ocean’s waves break the silence of the night as Sarah is typing away on her computer. She is making final preparations for the departure and is setting up the appointment for the shipping company to arrive in the morning to get the Chamber. As she was logging out she heard a mechanical hiss from behind her, and the Chamber’s lid slid to the side. Darius arose straight up and looked around. After taking in his surroundings he stretched and walked over to where Sarah was sitting and stood behind her.
Sarah: All preparations are made they will come get your home in the morning, I have ditched the weapons and will made sure this place is clean of any evidence we were here. They have found Ekchuah this morning hanging where you left him, but there is no official comment on the news channels yet, but unofficially his gang is pissing themselves and are in a more cooperative mood. Now, if there is nothing else I would like to catch some sleep, because I have an early flight and could use the rest.
Darius: You have done well, enjoy your sleep, I will keep watch tonight. When we return home we have much to discuss. This was to be my last assignment after Anton’s father gave me his word that I was to be free and the blood diamond returned to me, but since his son took over I am not confident that old family promises will be honored. Giannozzo Manneti was, despite everything else, a fair man and he realized that I had served his family long enough and had earned my rest. He was going to release me, but died suddenly before he could follow thru on his promise, but as he was taking his lasts breathes he made his son promise to honor his word so that he could go to his grave knowing he did something right. I want to have a back-up plan just in case I am betrayed again.
Sarah: Whatever you need, I owe you my life. Goodnight Darius.
She turned and went into the only bedroom in the beach house, turning out the lights as she went. Darius was left alone with the sound of the waves and the darkness of the night, alone in his thoughts. He allowed himself a few moments to think about his reward, and relishing in sweet memories. He then turned to formulating plans for what was to come, for while he allowed himself a momentary delusion that things would happen as promised he knew Manetti well enough to know that he would have to make it happen.
NEW YOK CITY 11pm
Darius walked thru the front entrance to Manetti’s house without being stopped. Manetti was too comfortable with the idea that Darius would not be able to touch him; he would have to do something about that. His house was everything you would expect from a crime lord, big and extravagant. The columns outside at the entrance of the house were meant to mirror those of the White House, so that you got the impression that you were entering a very important place. The interior was kept spotless and accentuated with touches of the old country. Both busts and paintings of Manetti’s ancestors were displayed strategically so that no matter where you went a Manetti was always staring at you, reminding the visitor that no matter where in the world you were he was watching you. He at last came into Manetti’s personal gym, where he was pumping out a set of bench presses; Darius watched as the large ring on his hand with the blood red diamond pumped up and down rhythmically. Strains of one of the metal bands that Manetti owned playing in the background.
Manetti: Ah, Darius how was the return trip not too bumpy I assume. Why don’t you let me fly you on one of my jets, I am sure the ride would be more civilized and relaxing?
Darius: I do not require comfort just isolation and a secure ride. I take it that things are now better for you since your irritation has been removed?
Manetti: Yes, yes, quite so. As soon as they found the body I made it known I was responsible thru the usual channels and they are now ready to negotiate without a fight. Of course, if people would believe me about you, then I might have been able to do this faster. Having a vampire has its advantages, people would cower just at the sight of you and I wouldn’t have to waste a bullet. It’s like having a nuclear weapon, when an opposing force knows you have it and they don’t, then you never have to use it, just threaten it.
Darius: Not anymore, Anton. It is time to honor your father’s promise and release me with the stone. I have served for almost 600 years; it is time for me to have my rest. Be the man your father wanted you to be and be a man of honor.
Manetti: You sound like a broken record. My father was soft and that is what got him killed. As soon as I give you the ring there is nothing stopping you from ripping my throat out, I am not an idiot. Just face facts I own you for eternity and there is nothing you can do about it.
Darius: Enough! If you will not give me what I want, then I will take it and my freedom!
Manetti: What are you going to do stare at me really hard? As long as I have this you can’t touch me. [Manetti holds up the ring]
Manetti pushes a button on his phone and his personal guards come rushing into the room surrounding him. They level their guns at Darius, painting him with their laser sights. Darius looks down and then back up at his new audience. He removes his shades, exposing a pair of pale yellow eyes, and stows them in the inside pocket of his jacket.
Darius: While I may not be able to hurt you at this time, that doesn’t protect them.
He moves faster than a human eye can track, the only thing seen is a few metallic glints. When he stops he is in his original spot holding a short, silver sword. The guards start to fall with their limbs and heads separating from their torsos. Manetti is left standing alone again.
Manetti: This changes nothing; all you did was kill some underlings that are easily replaced. You are still my bitch.
Darius: True I cannot hurt you but that does not apply to others.
A laser dot from a sniper rifle hovers over Manetti’s chest, followed by the crack of the shot being sent on its way. Before the bullet from Sarah’s rifle finds it’s mark it is stopped with a metallic clang as a silver ax appears suddenly. Before them stands another vampire, big and muscular with long hair.
Darius inner dialogue:[ Lazlo, Hector’s messenger. Looks like I interrupted something tonight if he is here.]
Lazlo: Darius, you lapdog, how dare you break the covenant. You are bound by that bauble to obey its master. For that insolence you must be punished.
Darius: The choice was made for me to be a slave; I owe allegiance to no one. Come taste death Viking if you have the balls.
Lazlo released a violent war cry and came rushing headlong toward Darius swinging his ax. While Lazlo was older and stronger he lacked Darius’s training and martial skills. For every clumsy strike Lazlo made Darius countered with efficient ease. When their weapons did happen to find flesh, the cut sizzled and caused extreme pain as both of their weapons were composed of silver. The battle waged back and forth with no one getting a clear advantage, when weapons would not work teeth and muscle were then employed. Darius started to finally fade and he knew that even now Lazlo was still going strong, so he had to devise an advantage. Looking around the room he spotted his opportunity, he let Lazlo think that he was gaining ground and that Darius was trying to retreat until he had reached his objective. When Lazlo reared back to take a mighty swing with his ax, Darius reached back with his free hand and grasped the fully loaded bar that Maneti had been struggling against earlier and swung it at Lazlo’s head. The force of the swing caused it to wrap around Lazlo’s head obstructing his view. Darius seized this opportunity and took his sword and cut the hamstrings of his opponent sending him to his knees and immobilizing him. He wasted no time in taking his sword and decapitating his enemy before he could recover. After he was satisfied that there would be no more interruptions he turned his attention back to Manetti.
Darius: Now where were we?
Manetti: That bitch Sarah is dead! No one tries to kill me. As for you, you are no longer welcome here. I disinvite you from my house.
Suddenly Darius is filled with excruciating pain. Since he is now trespassing he is paying the price for it, if he doesn’t leave the pain will intensify until he is too weak to defend himself. One of Manetti’s men or Manetti himself will be able to do to him what he did to Lazlo. Darius finds the closest window and hurls himself thru it disappearing into the night. Manetti catches his breath and then makes a call.
Manetti: George get over here. We have some payback to hand out.