At a high rise meeting room, we find eight men and women sitting in a room facing a computer screen at the head of the table. The screen is turned on and the visage of Isabella von Krauss comes on the screen in a head and shoulders shot. She smiles greedily at the eight sitting in the room.
Isabella von Krauss: It is my unfortunate role here to tell you that Alexis Logan has passed away, destroyed by Esmeralda von Krauss.
There is murmuring amongst the eight and it sort of blends between some anguish at the loss and some excitement for what could be to come. Isabella clears her throat and draws all eyes to her once again.
Isabella von Krauss: Before I get into her final words to me, I would like to know whom I am dealing with here. Could you go around the room and announce your name and maybe what you are? So I know who and what I am addressing when discussing the last will and testament of Alexis Logan.
Again, there is murmuring amongst the eight and the general premise is that it was not known that Alexis had the foresight to have a last will and testament and that she would promise it to a spoiled mortal woman. Again, Isabella clears her throat and silences the room. Eventually, the woman to the left of Isabella speaks.
“I am Valencia Alexandria Akbar Arcilla and I am a Penanggalen.”
Isabella von Krauss: That’s a mouthful of names, ok. Next?
Next to her, a well dressed (for the Victorian age) gentleman speaks.
“I am Lucas Picard and I am a vampire.”
Next to him what looks like a man, but with jet-black skin, wicked, sharp horns, and a dastardly grin speaks.
“Call me Modares and I would be what mortals call a spring-heeled jack.”
Next to him at the end of the row is a woman in a stunning black dress and alabaster white skin. She holds a scepter in one hand with a midnight blue gemstone at the top of it.
“I am Josian Gyll and I am a Necromancer.”
Isabella von Krauss: Always good to have one of those around.
Josian Gyll: Indeed.
Across from the Necromancer sits another woman who looks beautiful in a red gown. She smiles at Isabella.
“I am Mary Walton and I am a sayona.”
Isabella von Krauss: A what?
Mary Walton: I get confused with a vampire a lot, but I absorb blood through the skin. It’s how I maintain my beauty.
Isabella von Krauss: Of course you do. Makes perfect sense to me.
Next to her is a wicked looking man in a colorful top hat and coat. He has a mouthful of razor sharp teeth when he opens his mouth to speak.
“The name’s Kobi Murray and I’m a bogeyman.”
Isabella takes a moment to look impressed as she regards the man.
Isabella von Krauss: Oh my. I’m sure if I were there that I would be suitably frightened.”
Kobi Murray: As would only be right, lass.
The bogeyman chuckles and looks at the woman next to him. She is dressed in a kimono and seems to be coated in heavy makeup. As much as she looks made up to be something of Asian descent, her facial features betray her European heritage.
“I am Anayah Duncan and I am a Rokurokubi.”
Isabella blinks in confusion.
Isabella von Krauss: A what?
Anayah Duncan: Best leave it to “not human”.
Isabella von Krauss: Well? I can live with that.
And now Isabella looks at the last woman in the group of eight. The woman sneers at Isabella.
“Call me Celine Medina, but you don’t need to know what I am seeing as how you will NOT be leading the Red Thirst. That will be up to me to do.”
Isabella nods, mostly to herself.
Isabella von Krauss: And if I am to say that Alexis Logan left the leadership of the Red Thirst to me?
Celine Medina: I would say that you are a liar and maybe even a murderer.
Isabella brings her hand to her mouth in mock shock.
Isabella von Krauss: Oh my goodness. Those are strong allegations. I do not know what my mother is, but I know she is a powerful monster of some sort. I tell you what. In this room are the main eight leaders that I would need to convince that I am a better leader than Celine here. Can we agree upon that?
There is nodding and murmurs of agreement through the room.
Isabella von Krauss: I would ask that any who think that I should lead the Red Thirst, as Alexis wanted, to leave now. It is the others that I need to convince that I am of leadership material.
Literally no one leaves the room. Everyone in the room remains sitting and stares at the screen. Isabella looks around the room, her expression changing to one of contempt.
Isabella von Krauss: Really? Not a fucking one of you think I should be in charge even though Alexis Logan herself told me to take charge.
Celine Medina: Not one of us believes that you were chosen by Alexis. Show us proof that you were selected.
Isabella begins to laugh with her hand on the side of her head.
Isabella von Krauss: You want “proof” of a verbal agreement? Let me show you the proof I have on my cell phone here.
Isabella gets out her smartphone and hits some buttons before showing the screen to the people in the room.
The screen says “Fuck you”.
Celine Medina: How dar-
From the center of the room there is a flash of light and we pan to the outside of Willis Tower where an explosion rips through to the outside.
We switch to a computer screen that says “Lost Signal” and Isabella von Krauss smiling at the screen before closing the laptop. She spins in her chair and looks at the camera.
Isabella von Krauss: Jackalope. The time has come for us to fight in the ring. You might think that we’re going to have a wrestling match, but I don’t wrestle. I fight. I fight for what is mine and what is mine is getting my hand raised in victory over you.
I wanted to become rich and away from my boring parents. I fought and they died in an accident to leave me their company so that I could sell it. I wanted the von Krauss name and I fought until I earned it. I want to defeat you so I will fight until I get exactly what I want.
Now, I understand that you are full of high flying action and no fear. I say bullshit. You’re afraid of failure. Afraid that you’re going to bomb out of this tournament and find yourself in the fucking gutter. You claimed the name of some legendary critter and fucking think that is’s going to help propel you to great heights. I get it. Names bear some strength. This is why I wanted the von Krauss name.
I will defeat you and enter this tournament. I will win this tournament. These are things that I want and what I want, I get. You’ve seen this already. You already know what I can do. Fight me, don’t fight me. It just doesn’t matter since I will win the day.
Isabella gets up from the table where she has the laptop and walks over to the window where aerial firefighter pilots are already fighting the high rise fire at Willis Tower.
