Retrospective: A Reunion on Bloody Island

One year ago today, my first short story was published in the Weird Western Anthology A Fistful of Demons. The anthology takes place some time after the events of the novel The Widow’s Son by Ryan Williamson. You can read my review of The Widow’s Son on Upstream Reviews. It’s a helluva fun story, featuring monsters and mythical creatures of all types, magic, and steampunk technology, and it depicts violent decolonization before we had it confirmed that, yes, that was actually and literally what they meant by decolonization.

I thought I’d take some time go over some of the ideas and inspiration behind my story, A Reunion on Bloody Island. In the alternate history wild west of The Widow’s Son, a vast horde of Undead summoned by a Navajo witch pours across the Rio Grande to take the land back for the Indian tribes who had been pushed from their homes and occupied. By the end of the novel, the U.S. government loses control of all the land West of the Mississippi River, with most of those of European descent being forced across as well, becoming refugees.

If you want to read the story before continuing, pick up a copy here. Otherwise…

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

A Reunion on Bloody Island focuses on a young white woman stuck in a refugee camp on the banks of the Mississippi River. Separated from her Lakota husband and adopted family, Penny hires a former Missouri bushwhacker to help her escape and guide her across the river and back into Indian Country. What she doesn’t know is that The Bushwhacker does not work for her, but a wealthy vampire named Larue.

Instead of smuggling refugees over the river, The Bushwhacker diverts them to Larue’s compound on Bloody Island. This island was a real place between Illinois and Missouri, and in the early 19th Century because of its location outside of the jurisdiction of either state, it was a popular destination to hold duels that would otherwise have been illegal.

The Bushwhacker’s main distinguishing feature is his silver pocket-watch, whose outer case is shaped in the form of a human skull, which he checks compulsively. I don’t state it explicitly in the story, but this is because the watch tracks how much time he has left to live. As his time gets closer and closer, the Bushwhacker’s many sins begin to weigh on him.

I conceived of the vampire Larue as someone who sees himself as the epitome of Southern gentleman, strictly adhering to the highest standards of etiquette and hospitality. He is creature of comfort and prefers a life of solitary leisure. He was happy to live alone on his plantation and feed off his slaves until the War forced him to pick up and leave.

At the time of the story, Larue has rebuilt himself a lair on Bloody Island outside of the reach of the U.S. Government or the Indian tribes. His slaves have been replaced with wayward refugees brought by The Bushwhacker - this time, Penny. Larue offers Penny a bargain - she becomes one of his permanent blood suppliers in exchange for a life of confined but opulent luxury.

More and more, I wonder if people in the modern world might be tempted by Larue’s offer of material comfort in exchange for a life of captivity. Penny rejects this offer, however, and negotiates a bargain of her own. And with the island’s history, I could not resist ending the story with a proper duel.

For the outcome of that contest, you’ll just have to pick up the book.