Keeping Time

Chapter 15

The building glowed by shiny, iridescent chandeliers. Heavy, strong German accents flew from the building with a sprinkle of Japanese and Italian here and there. It was hard to believe in the midst of a world war that the Axis Powers would hold a party but Manevola was not just any woman. For every soldier at the ball, there was a pretty Vampire girl to dance with that matches their expectations of what a perfect woman should look like.

In the center of it all sat Adolf Hitler and Manevola Reina. Manevola looked bored at Hitler. He seemed to be trying to impress her. He looked at her with eyes of longing. She turned away.

"I suppose you know why I am here."

"Absolutely your majesty. You saw my soldiers and those of my allies, believing them to be the perfect candidate for a mix of vampire and soldier. I suppose to that you found me to be the perfect man to continue your legacy. I should tell you that Eva is not here so if you want to have some time with the Fuhrer, I will not object. I will bless you with my manliness."

"Hitler. You know you would not be in such a wonderful position without my help. The marriage is out of the question. If anything, you should be glad that your men have lovely vampires to dance with. Tell me, Adolf, have they transformed yet?"

"Can't you tell dearest? Their eyes are red right now."

Lux, Adam, Myst, Showa, Kadmon, and Maoko stood behind the building. Adam wore a Nazi uniform and Kadmon wore his soldier's uniform. Lux, Myst, Showa, and Maoko wore fine dresses.

"We need to figure out how to go about this. There is a palace full of hungry vampires. We need the most beautiful woman to come in and act like she belongs there."

Their eyes turned to Maoko and Lux had to turn away to hide the hurt in her heart.

Maoko looked determined.

"I will do it."

She walked through the front entrance. She struggled not to look at anyone. She passed by a group of vampires already walking out who talked about "drinking the blood from the ghetto." They didn't look at her.

She entered the dance hall.

The others climbed above the building. Lux lowered herself from one of the rooftop windows. She slid her knife in her pantyhose. From up above, she could see Hitler and Manevola talking. She also saw Maoko walking through the ballroom. Manevola did not notice her.

Maoko slipped behind the curtains and walked to the stairs. She noticed the four guards guarding the stairwell. They had not been turned.

"I need back up" muttered Maoko into the intercom. Meet me in the drawing room."

She held back in the shadows and then she did something she swore she would never do. She opened up her blouse to reveal the lingerie underneath. Then she swayed over to the soldiers.

"Hello, gentleman. I'm offering my services this evening."

A few of them snickered but the other guards looked grim.

"What are you doing here? You are not supposed to be here."

"My sisters and I are waiting in the other rooms. Surely the Fuhrer and her majesty will be fine right? They are in a ballroom of vampires."

They muttered among themselves.

The leader answered.

"Four of the men will go with you but me and William will stay here."

"Come on boys," said Maoko gaily.

The men followed her into a dark room.

"Where are the women?"

"Here they are."

Maoko turned on the lights. Myst and Showa smiled before slaughtering them.

They ran out into the hall. They charged at the officers, slashing their necks. Then they turned to each other.

"Showa should surely go up there. If she is found, at least she will seem of German descent."

"Maoko is correct Showa. We will be down here if you need help."

Showa crept her way up the stairs. She saw Hitler and Manevola talking on the balcony. Next to them was another balcony. Showa knelt down behind the chairs so that she wouldn't be seen and listened carefully.

"Your majesty. I do not think I will be happy if I do not get to hold you in my arms."

Manevola giggled.

Hitler overcame her and attempted to kiss her. She pushed him away. He growled. She tickled his chin. He sighed.

"Adolf, you are the most incredible man on the planet. America, Britain, and Russia do not understand your power. It's out of all of them that I chose you."

"Surely you will not leave me for Stalin shall you?"

"No Fuhrer. I will stay with you as long as you tell me what the status is on the satellite."

Hitler sighed.

"We sent a signal out," he said. "Soon aliens will come to Earth and help us right?"

"Oh, Hitler" laughed Manevola. "You ask too many questions. Soon can be anywhere from now to the next 100 years."

She went downstairs to check on the party. The guards were gone. Manevola rushed up the stairs and leaned out on the balcony. She stared greedily at the crowd below.

"I smell a rat," said Manevola.

Myst throws a smoke bomb in front of the Vampire Queen. She shrieked.

Showa cast a line onto the ceiling, and propelled herself with vertical maneuvering towards Lux, grabbing her hand.

Myst's shoes flared up, and she grabbed Maoko before she floated out of the building. On the roof were Kadmon and Adam, shooting at the vampires that struggled to climb the walls to reach them.

A mechanical spaceship, shaped like a giant bee, flashed the blue light upon them. They and the spaceship vanished from the scene, just before the Vampire Queen had arrived

"Curses! We cannot let them get away!" she cried.

The vampires entered into the Vampire Queen's spaceship and flew away with her, leaving a confused Hitler sitting alone in a chair overlooking the now-empty ballroom. Only a few advisors remained, guarding him against potential vampires.