"A lot of deadly things are beautiful, like snakes, and sharks, and foolish humans admire them rather than fear them," Ramona Moulin said, shaking her head. Five feet ten inches tall in her bare feet, the statuesque Undead traveler stood on the loft's balcony, looking at the City of Ottawa. The Canadian Capital, long rumored to be one of the most boring places in the universe, was growing rather fast. In the sixteen years since Ramona moved there from the island of Haiti, the place had changed a lot.
With a Vampire's keen vision, Ramona could see well into the night, even without the light from the glittering nearby buildings. From Booth Street to Lebreton Flats and downtown Ottawa proper, the city looked peaceful. After seven o'clock, Ottawa was usually dead as a doornail on a weeknight. Still, Ramona could sense something in the air, something which stirred dark musings in her non-beating heart...
Born in the environs of Cap-Haitien, northern Haiti, to a Colombian expatriate, Vera Martinez, and a Haitian farmer, Jacques Moulin, Ramona has had a harsh life from the beginning. During the uprising against President Duvalier, Ramona's parents apparently supported the wrong parties and were killed. For a time, Ramona stayed in the Dominican Republic with her mother's distant cousin, a cruel lady named Leona Martinez.
Leona Martinez, like many people in the DR, staunchly disapproved of interracial relationships, especially the ones involving black men and Latin women. As a wealthy businesswoman in the City of Santo Domingo, Leona commanded a lot of respect and had politicians, businesspeople and commoners at her beck and call. To much of Dominican society, Leona represented affluence and female power. Behind closed doors, this much-admired lady was something else altogether.
Leona Martinez had a lot of darkness in her heart, and her ward Ramona bore the brunt of it. To her, Ramona was something akin to an abomination. She viewed the eighteen-year-old biracial orphan as a burden. Ramona grew to hate her racist and abusive aunt and one day, she murdered the cruel woman in her sleep. After running away, Ramona was relentlessly pursued by the authorities, and for a time, she found refuge with a wealthy Afro-Dominican man named Arturo El Criollo in the environs of Dajabon.
What Ramona didn't know is that the tall, handsome and reclusive Arturo was much more than he seemed. The man lived in a vast villa with servants, and he evidently was wealthy and powerful. In the Dominican Republic, where darker skinned people are often disrespected, Arturo was a formidable brother who tolerated no foolishness. Of mixed ancestry, Arturo had brown skin and a stylish Afro, and collected African artworks and Black literature from around the world. The man was something else.
Arturo hired Ramona to tend to his garden, and in time, they became lovers. Ramona found it strange that Arturo was always gone during the day, returning to his mansion at night, and he had strange dealings with even stranger people. Politicians, businesspeople, artists, everyone seemed to want something from Arturo, and he received these eager men and women in his mansion like a king holding court. Ramona was impressed, and a bit disturbed by all of this.
"Why do you keep secrets from me, my love?" Ramona asked Arturo as they lay in bed. Arturo smiled at Ramona, whose curvy body rested against his. Not for the first time, Ramona noticed that Arturo's light chocolate skin felt cold to the touch, and she could not feel his heart beat when she rested her head against his chest. She knew the handsome Afro-Dominican businessman was mysterious, but there were many unsettling things about him...
"Some secrets are best kept to one self, mi amor," Arturo replied, and Ramona frowned, less than pleased by his answer. Ramona cared deeply for Arturo and the man was respectful and generous toward her. Arturo made Ramona the keeper of his affairs during the daytime, and his numerous servants answered to her. Ramona learned to read and write in several languages in order to better manage Arturo's affairs. The gift of a good education is something she would always treasure.
Five years passed in such a fashion, and Ramona and Arturo might have gone on like this for a lot longer, if not for the inevitable arrival of his enemies. One night, a man named Cortes arrived at the villa. He was tall, bronze-skinned, dark-haired and handsome, dressed like a gentleman of means. Accompanying the mysterious Cortes was a tall, alluring black woman named Majandra, and a slim young Asian man named Chan. What Ramona didn't know is that all three were Vampires, just like her lover Arturo.
"Been a while, Arturo," Cortes said as he sat in the villa's living room, looking coldly at Arturo and Ramona, his hosts. Ramona found Cortes tone mocking and disrespectful, and was even more stunned by Arturo lack of reaction to it. Arturo always spoke with authority whether he was dealing with police officers, politicians or businesspeople. In the environs of Dajabon, Arturo commanded respect. He was the prince of the city. Who were these foolish newcomers who dared disrespect him?
"Cortes, I told you and your wife and your lackey here that you should not trespass in my territory," Arturo said evenly, and Cortes shrugged while Majandra laughed. Ramona looked at Majandra, wondering if the tall, dark-skinned woman was Haitian, Afro-Dominican or from one of the nearby islands. Majandra did not resemble the people of the various islands. Oh, she was black, but there was something exotic about her...
"Arturo, the days of you lording over us are over," Majandra said haughtily, and Cortes grinned at his wife. For a moment, Ramona was taken aback by how sharp and how unnaturally white their teeth were. Arturo shook his head, and gently squeezed Ramona's hand as though to reassure her. Ramona looked at her lover, wondering why he didn't throw these fools out of his home as he'd done with overly ambitious political types who didn't care to play by his rules. What was he waiting for?
"Cortes, Majandra, let us be civilized, I give you three days to leave town, lest there be some unpleasantness," Arturo replied, and he locked eyes with them as he spoke. Cortes, Majandra and their henchman Chan exchanged wicked grins, and then rose. They let themselves out as Arturo stood there, cool and collected, while Ramona exhaled in relief. As soon as they were gone, Ramona looked at Arturo, eager to demand answers.
"My love, who are these people?" Ramona asked, and Arturo sighed, and then took her hand. He kissed her hand, and then the two of them sat down. That's when Arturo revealed to his beloved lady the many truths that she'd come to suspect, and a few things about himself and his way of life that he'd yet to reveal to her. When Ramona learned the truth, she didn't feel scared, or sad, for she was made of sterner stuff. Still, it was a lot to take in...
