CHAPTER XXXV
Kate Martin-Tremblay's jaw drops as she hears her name, Rachael McQueen, she looks like Mary.
Kate sees Mary's reflection in Rachael's face and her hands shake with happiness.
"Leave her," Kate says.
She walks to the group with flair and hugs Rachael tightly.
Rachael is confused, "Um… who are you?" "I am your aunt, Kate Martin-Tremblay.
It is nice to meet you,".
Rachael smells the cigarette on Kate's lips, "My aunt?" "Yes. I'm sure your mother did not tell you much about her side of the family.
Follow me, but they stay behind" Kate refers to the supernatural creatures with her.
"They are my friends, we came here together" Rachael says, "Don't let them deceive you.
They are creatures of evil and darkness," Kate says.
Bryan rolls his eyes.
"They are probably here to save one of theirs.
A foolish step that they will now regret," "We came here to save the same person, John".
Kate stares at Rachael and chuckles.
She has the same fire her sister had when they were younger.
Kate can't help but laugh.
"You are your mother's daughter but their lives aren't in your hands now or theirs for that matter.
Now, come with me".
Rachael takes a look at her rushed band of friends as armed men surround them, "Don't worry.
They won't be killed," Kate says as she walks.
Rachael feels the dagger behind her shirt tugged against her trouser.
Rachael sees a group of men in front of a cabin close to a fire.
Marcus's eyes recognize Rachael the moment he sees her, he leaves the group and begins to walk towards them.
"Brother, this is…", "Rachael," Marcus completes Kate's sentence.
Rachael's eyes flutter with confusion, "What is going on?" Rachael asks, "I wish this meeting came at a better time my child," Marcus says.
"Who are you?", "I am your uncle, Marcus Tremblay.
I know why you came, Rachael".
Kate glances at Rachael, "You have come for John. I didn't expect you to come here.
How did you find this place?" Marcus asks.
"A friend of mine led us here. A werewolf" she struggles to say, "A werewolf?" Marcus raises a brow.
"Here?" Marcus asks, "I want to see this creature,".
Kate orders some men to bring Rachael's group.
Marcus's face turns to a face of disgust as he looks at them, "Two vampires and a werewolf.
Normally you would be dead already".
"What a handsome young man," Elma says and Marcus's disgust grows.
"Don't annoy him, Elma" Bryan says.
"John," Cassandra calls out as his scent grows stronger.
"Shut up," Kate hisses at her and Cassandra growls, "Where is he? You have him in that building, don't you?" Cassandra snarls.
"Fascinating. A werewolf who marked a vampire".
"You talk like I am beneath you," "You are," Marcus says.
Rachael stays in the background as she assesses the situation.
The hunters that took John turns out to be her mother's family.
Even now, there are things she doesn't know about her mother.
What is going to happen now?
"Bring him to me," "Tase them," Marcus orders and the guards begin to shoot at them with tasers till they pass out.
Rachael shouts as Kate holds her back, "Calm down child" Kate says, "What are you guys doing?".
"John is fine, Rachael. We want to find your mother's killer" Marcus says. Rachael stops her movement.
"Dracula. You want to find Dracula?", Marcus and Kate share a glance.
"You know about vampires?" Marcus asks, "Yes. My life changed a couple of weeks ago and I have learned a lot of things.
I never knew anything about you guys" Rachael says, "Your mother never wanted you to be exposed to the world of the supernatural.
She wanted a normal life for you," Kate says, "But fate has other plans," Marcus says.
"You said Dracula. Have you met this Dracula before?" Marcus asks as his men drag Rachael's friends.
"Yes. He almost killed me" "Almost? How did you escape?" Marcus asks but Rachael does not answer.
How can she?
She has just witnessed firsthand what happens when a supernatural meets her mother's family.
They are hunted.
How can she tell them that Samuel, a supernatural, saved her?
She doesn't have many people that matter to her right now but the twins are one of them and getting them involved right now can be a problem.
What did she expect?
She never knew the hunters would be related to her.
She never thought hunters are this armed and ready to kill at any moment.
Marcus notices her hesitation and he quickly finds this suspicious.
Kate quickly covers Rachael's nose with a damp napkin, holding it tightly against the young woman as she struggles to free herself.
Kate lets go of Rachael, "What is wrong with you?", Rachael complains.
Rachael's head begins to spin.
"What did you do to me?" Rachael asks, "Don't worry, it's a little something to clear hypnosis" Kate says, "I don't think she is under hypnosis, Kate" Marcus says as he watches Rachael wobble.
The wonky feeling is brief and Rachael gradually regains her strength.
"Rachael, dear, do you know where you are?" Kate asks, hoping that the substance worked.
"I came for John," Rachael says and the Tremblay siblings look at each other.
"She's not being controlled," Kate says, "Which makes things more complicated.
I pray she isn't a vampire wannabe, that would be a disappointment" Marcus says.
"Come," Marcus calls after her as he begins to walk towards the large cabin.
They enter and the people in the room begin to adjust themselves at the sight of Marcus Tremblay.
His black rosary wrapped around his hand like a bracelet.
They walk past them and he leads her to a door.
He opens it and Rachael is shocked.
John is hanging from a chain around his arms as it holds him above the ground.
His body is bruised and she can see the blood on his face, "He won't rat them out.
I suggest we kill him," a tall man in the room says as he cleans his hands.
Rachael immediately knows he is the one that has tortured John.
John perceives Rachael's scent, "Rachael," he mutters.
"Who is she?" Lucas asks his brother, "She is Rachael McQueen, our niece" he says, "Rachael come," Marcus takes her back to the previous room and sits her down.
Rachael's heart beats fast as she realizes how seriously her mother's family takes their job as hunters.
She begins to question her decision to come here.
How is she going to save John?
"Rachael, if you want to see John alive you will tell me everything you know about Count Dracula and the two vampires that John works for," Marcus says with a stern voice and Rachael slowly nods her head.
She doesn't mind giving them information about Dracula but telling them about Gabriel and Samuel is a different story.
"And don't lie to me, I will be able to tell if you do" Marcus cautions her.
What will Rachael do?