The Hostess

The soldier spoke up.”Ma’am, I have a telegram from the War Department. You are listed as a Mr. Jack Smith’s next- of -kin. No one else was listed. May I give it to you?” I took the telegram from the soldier and slowly opened it. I had heard about women receiving telegrams from the War Department. It was always bad news, usually death. I knew Jack was a vampire and couldn’t die so I couldn’t think what it could possibly say. As I began to read it, I could feel the tears beginning to form. I couldn’t let them spill over and fall because they would have been bloody. As I read the letter, I let it flutter to the floor. Maria picked it up and read it. I was frozen from shock. “Oh my God! Ma’am? How could this happen?” The soldier interrupted. I felt his hand grab mine, steering me to a chair before I fainted. “I hear he died a hero. They were in a minefield in Germany and he stepped on one. I don’t think he suffered. He died immediately.” I looked up at the soldier, not believing what he had just said. I took the telegram from Maria and read it again. Dear Miss Santa Maria, This telegram is to inform you that Mr. Jack Smith was reported “killed in action”. He was reported to have died a hero saving his platoon. He will be awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery. His body will be shipped home to have a military burial. Please accept our sorrow at your time of loss. Sincerely, The War Department “Thank you.” I whispered as I stood and closed the door, pushing the soldier out. I could hear the muffled sounds of the soldier’s feet as he walked away from my door. I broke down into big heaving sobs. “Maria, he was a vampire. He wasn’t supposed to die. The only way he could have died was to be decapitated or severely dismembered. I can’t believe he was killed.” “Nicci, I’ve never lost anyone special so I don’t really know what to say. I know your sad and heartbroken but pull yourself together. I don’t like to see you so sad. Hold onto your good memories. You have to figure out what to do about the Savoy.” After a few minutes of sniffing, I said. “Oh my gosh, you’re right. Call Samuel! I’ve got to get to the Savoy and break it to the staff that Jack won’t be back. We have to make plans and business decisions. There’s so much to think about. I guess this means I’ll officially take over the Savoy.” I went back into the bedroom to finish getting dressed for the evening. I had never mourned for anyone before because basically vampires don’t die. What to wear! I don’t own anything black but navy blue was close enough. I needed to look both sad and businesslike. I wanted the staff to take me seriously if I was going to take over the Savoy. Jack had left me in charge when he left for the war. I had been running it with assistance from Harry and Ricardo since Michael was dead. They were the male dancers. We still hadn’t replaced him since his death last year from a freak accident. (I had killed him because he knew I was a mulatto and had nerve to try and blackmail me. (For those who don’t know me, my name is Dominique Santa Maria. My friends call me Nicci. I was turned in 1818 by Jack’s competitor, my first love, Heinrich. My darkest secret is that I’m a mulatto. In America, mulattoes are considered Negroes and have very little power in 1918. They definitely couldn’t mix with whites in clubs unless they were performers. I am Italian with a thick accent, so no one ever questions my color. I’m considered exotic. To bring you up to date, I came to America and met Jack Smith. He was the host of the Savoy. It turned out he also owned half of it. Jack and I fell in love but Heinrich, my maker, reappeared after nearly 100 years, to try and rekindle our relationship. Jack didn’t agree or appreciate Heinrich’s advances but WWI started. Heinrich naturally returned to Austria, where he joined the Austrian Army. Jack joined the American Army when the USA joined the war. Heinrich hasn’t returned yet and now Jack is dead. I killed Michael because he was going to expose me as a mulatto. That would have destroyed my life.)