Episode 34: Reinvention
Written By Karl White
For all Rah’s desire to vanish from the wider world, contact with humans was a cost he couldn’t escape. The business from his plantation had to be large enough to sustain his growing family, while also providing protection with what was happening behind the fortified walls of the estate...and this, unfortunately required people.
Rah’s plantation, circa 1577 - © 2025 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC
Rah’s compassion for humans hadn’t died, but he’d seen enough cold brutality to believe the species would eventually destroy themselves in a fight over status or material things. So he drew a hard line, his Brood would not mix with humans...but he himself had to remain in the community to posture for acceptance, tolerance, and preservation. In Haiti, he held a reputation that was paradoxically simple, yes, a Vampire, but not feared as he gave generously to the commoners, providing them with jobs and charity.
He also greased the hands of French and Spanish governors, buying the promise of security so long as no human was fed upon. And it was his plantations that brought more trade to their corner of the world, leading everyone to prosper as a result. It was all a harmonious balance that worked for many decades, with absolutely no incidents to offset it.
Rah even continue to entertain accepting select humans into his Brood, those who sought an escape from their lives. His terms were simple and final -- leave your humanity behind. He preferred each new Underling to take a new name, symbol and severance, so they could become someone else entirely. By the late 1500s his ranks were strong. More than 200 Underlings, many gathered in his South American years, all sworn to the plantation’s quiet covenant and loyal to his peace.
In 1597, Juan de Anglería, an opportunistic businessman, landed in Bermuda on behalf of the Spanish crown, there to push sugar cane to Europe’s growing markets. A blacksmith’s son turned silver tongue, Juan was a ruthless negotiator who would use any tactic to secure the best deal for those he represented.
Portrait of Juan de Anglería - © 2025 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC
He begged, stole, even killed when it suited him. The profits made him rich by common standards, but business tilts—up, then down. When the British permanently settled Bermuda in 1609, Juan was forced to flee. But in Madrid, no one cared for excuses...politics and redcoats were not to interfere with commerce. But Juan had burned too many bridges, especially British ones. His name was no longer good on the island.
Haiti would be his next stop, as there was still a Spanish presence, an excellent pool of slave labor, and already favorable trade established with local plantations. It was a logical step. And although he needed to keep a low profile, Juan couldn’t help himself, immediately setting meetings with local businessmen in hopes of discussing agreements for securing more goods...at a favorable price of course.
Rivals bristled. They dispatched word to authorities on neighboring islands about Juan, in hopes the shady character was wanted by someone, removing him from the already diluted pool of exporters. Sure enough, the British sent a request to the French governor of Haiti to detain Juan de Anglería at once.
It turned out there was more to his sudden withdraw from Bermuda then met the eye, as he was a wanted man. Juan had murdered a competitor the year before and bought his way off the ledger with a heavy bribe to a Spanish magistrate who erased his name from the case.
The hunt for Juan de Anglería lit up Haiti. Authorities had to make an example -- murderers would find no haven on their island. Word reached the tavern where Juan was drinking, and he bolted. Guards were posted at his hotel quarters on the lookout. With no way off the island, he had to think fast.
Through setting up appointments, Juan received an open evening invitation to Rah’s plantation to discuss business. With the sun setting and nowhere else to go, he headed for the estate, desperate. Juan prided himself on homework; he liked to arrive with leverage. A few nights prior, over rum and rumor, he’d heard that Rah kept a very large secret.
But it was tavern-talk. A joke at Juan’s expense. Locals knew the “Vampire” planter wouldn’t scare easy, and they wanted a story they could speculate and laugh about during future drunken stupors.
For Juan, however, armed with what he thought was leverage, intended to walk out of the meeting with enough bribe money to supply his exodus from Haiti. He arrived at the plantation, having no clue what Rah was hiding, but he didn’t need to. He was confident enough in his ability to sell, that no matter the secret, he was sure to get something out of it.
As Rah came to receive him, he felt the tension of wrongness at once. And when he pressed, Juan sprung the shakedown. Rah laughed off the threat of exposure...as the "secret" Juan mentioned, was quite the opposite. Common knowledge to anyone who wanted to know.
But with Juan's shaky plan spoiled, he went to his backup, a flintlock pistol, leveled at the heart. Rah should have killed the desperate man then and there, but ever the pacifist, he didn’t. Instead he saw something in Juan, giving the human a choice...
Juan goes to Plan B - © 2025 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC
RAH: Lower that simple toy. Powder smokes the eye, but it does not trouble me.
JUAN: You think I'm bluffing? You think I won’t fire!?
RAH: I think you’re scared. You killed a man with that very pistol. Bribed a magistrate to make it go away. The name you wear is already ash.
JUAN: How could you possibly know that?
RAH: Your thoughts are loud as church bells...You came for silver. But I can offer you a door.
JUAN: A door to what?
RAH: To silence what's behind you and strengthen what lies before. Leave this house and the guard waiting for you, will take you to the gallows. Stay, and be remade.
JUAN: Remade? I don’t understand.
Rah would let his mask slip. His fangs protracting, eyes going black in the lamplight. Juan froze with terror, looking upon a Vampire.
RAH: Darkness has its own kin. I can make you of it...if you accept the price. No more human life, a new name, and obedience to my law.
JUAN: And if I refuse?
RAH: Walk out and meet the rope. I’ll not stop you.
Juan was staring at a real reprieve, but chained with heavy strings. Rah wasn’t just being compassionate, he was conducting a grand experiment. Equip a sinner with the right tools, and see if he could truly overcome his nature.
RAH: Restraint. Secrecy. Service. Take them, and the past is closed.
JUAN: Then close it. Let us open this door, and make me new.
The promise to shed the past for a new beginning was more than Juan could have asked for...He accepted rebirth. And there in the parlor of the plantation house, a new member of Rah’s Brood was birthed into the world of night.
TO BE CONTINUED…