LX

Samuel and Gabriel kneel beside Rachael and check her pulse.

They hold her and close their eyes as they try to heal her but she gets a seizure.

Her body jerks and stops as her eyes go completely blank.

Samuel puts his ear to her chest and listens for a heartbeat but there is nothing.

Gabriel swallows saliva as his brother's eyes confirm his fear.

Rachael is dead.

He kneels beside her and holds her.

He feels the weight of sorrow and failure crush his heart.

He remembers Mary McQueen dying before his eyes and now Rachael as well.

All because they could not stop their father.

If he was competent enough he would have stopped him before it got to this.

Samuel holds his head as he holds back tears behind his dark eyes.

John and Rachael just got killed and they weren't strong enough to prevent it.

He grits his teeth as anger claws at his heart.

He digs through his hair as he stands up.

Dead bodies lie around the club along with destroyed properties.

Pieces of the broken tile mix with broken bottles to complement the chaotic scene.

Broken chairs and expensive bottles lie on the floor.

The counter is in shambles and the liquor wet the floor.

He looks down at Rachael's corpse and his hardened heart breaks like a fallen chandelier.

He failed her.

He couldn't protect her from his world.

If she was alive I wouldn't deserve her; he tells himself.

"The witch," Gabriel says, "What?" Samuel asks in confusion.

"The witch, she said she could bring someone back to life," Gabriel says.

"That was a joke. This isn't" Samuel says with a weak voice.

"We have to try.

We can't heal her Sammy.

If we don't do something, she is going to cross the threshold between the living and the dead.

If that happens, she will be gone for good," Gabriel says.

"I know that. Fuck it," he searches his wallet for her card and pulls it out.

"Mary Sullivan, customer care service, Peoples United Bank," he mouths as he dials her number into his phone.

"Hello," he says as she picks.

"Hello, it is 2 a.m. Who is this?"" she says, "We fought the devil together. We need your help,".

They tell her the situation and she is shocked by Rachael's demise.

"We will need a lot of power to do what you are asking. I know the perfect place,".

An hour later the twins find themselves standing in Central park at 3:35 a. m. with Rachael's corpse in Gabriel's hands.

They had to hypnotize a few cops they met on their way.

Dracula made them know fear but they are not accustomed to this kind of fear.

Fear of losing someone they love.

The twins had never experienced this since they had always been with immortals and now this mortal woman threatens to bring tears to their eyes with her passing.

They walk into the midst of the tall trees as Mary leads the way.

Mary carries a backpack filled with special materials for the spell she plans on performing.

She chants a spell and after a few minutes of walking they arrive at the altar where the twins were to be sacrificed.

Ash and corpse taint the air with its odor as Gabriel lays Rachael's body before the altar.

Mary pulls out red candles and salt.

She draws a pentagram circle with Rachael at its center.

"Stand here and you; stand over there," she directs the twins to stand at opposing ends of the circle.

"I will channel the power that still resides here but it's all from the dead. I will need living energy as well," Mary says.

"We are here," Gabriel says.

"Let me warn you, this spell could hurt you badly. And it always takes something in return," she says.

"Whatever the toll, we will take it" Gabriel says.

"It can be little or it can be dangerous," she warns, "Just bring her back to us," Samuel says.

Mary sighs and breathes in deeply.

She begins to chant a spell and her eyes turn completely white.

The twins feel a strange energy around them.

It is calm and gentle but its nature changes quickly.

They feel a surge of energy leaving their body.

The spell drains them as Mary's incantations deafen their ears.

A bolt of lightning flashes in the sky.

"…you will lose your immortality," the words ring in Samuel's ears.

A white light hits Samuel like a bolt of lightning.

A strange voice whispers to him, "What will you give me to see her again?".

"What do you want?" Samuel asks, "Give me that which makes you invulnerable. Give me your immortality," the strange voice says.

The light brightens and Samuel feels a tingling sensation beneath his fingers.

He begins to see his memories.

His past, his present and his potential future.

He remembers the hate the world gave to him when he lost his mother.

How he was hunted for being an anomaly, a creature that should not exist.

How was it his fault that he was born like this?

He embraced the monster they forced him to be and enjoyed the benefits and spat at the woes.

With time came experience and a cool temperament to display to the outside world while the monster lay underneath.

Will he choose a mortal life?

One where he will grow old and die.

Even if he remains a sphinx he will age like a human and be vulnerable to things that could never hurt him.

The monster will now be vulnerable to the world and his fears exposed.

"No, I can't" Samuel screams out loud.

"I have been a monster for so long that I am scared to be anything else,".

He wraps his hands around himself as the light increases around him.

"I cannot sacrifice my immortality," he says.

A white lightening descends on Gabriel's head before he can blink.

A strange voice whispers to him, "What will you give me to see her again?".

"Anything," Gabriel says firmly.

"Give me that which makes you invulnerable; give me your immortality,"

Gabriel feels a tingling sensation in his throat.

Gabriel's eyes begin to see through time.

Through his childhood and growth, through the person he has become and who he could potentially be.

His cruel world is what made him strong.

Hiding from heaven, his father and every other creature that hunted him for what he is.

His will and courage to stand against them.

And what a life with love will be.

One where he will cherish every minute like his last.

A life of a mortal.

One where he will be vulnerable to sickness and pain.

He fears it but it is only there he will find the love he seeks.

He will be vulnerable and almost human.

This is only another challenge, he affirms himself.

He sees Rachael's face light up before his eyes.

Nothing is assured.

Everything will be a hassle.

"Come back to me, Rachael".

Rachael opens her eyes and quickly covers them with her hands as bright light shines against her eyes.

She is standing in the middle of nowhere.

There is no sky, no clouds and no scenery.

Everything is plain white.

The bright features of this unknown place begin to take different colors and shapes as it gradually materializes into a plain field.

Butterflies flies across her face as a new fragrance gives life to the air.

"Rachael McQueen," a familiar voice calls.

Rachael turns and tears flow out of her eyes as her father stands before her.

She embraces Mr. McQueen tightly.

Mr. McQueen hugs her back and pats her softly.

"I know how you feel Rachael," they break their embrace.

"You must miss your father," Mr. McQueen says.

"Of course, I missed you. What are you saying?"

"I'm not your father, Rachael. I am a reaper. I am only taking the face of someone you find comfort in," he says.

Rachael wipes the tears from her eyes as her excitement is watered down by the reaper's words.

"A reaper, like grim reaper?" she asks, "Yes,".

"I'm I dead?" "Yes. I am here to take you to the other side," the reaper says.

"My family… are they on the other side?" Rachael asks, "All the ones you care about," the reaper says with a smile.

"My real father, where is he?" "I can't tell you that until you cross the threshold Rachael,".

"Come with me, Rachael" he says calmly as he stretches his hand out for hers.

She looks at his hand and wants to hold it.

Her father's hand but she knows this isn't him.

Is this going to be my end?

A deep roar calls her attention as she turns to its origin.

A huge beast stands in the field.

It looks like a huge lion.

Its dark eyes glare at the reaper.

Rachael can see horns sticking out of the Lion's head and wings rested at its sides.

The lion growls as it approaches them.

Its dark eyes turn into a blue glow and Rachael takes a breath in surprise.

"Look like you have unresolved matters in the land of the living," the reaper says.

"Going that way isn't the natural way of things. You are not ready for the repercussions," the reaper adds.

Rachael stares at the lion's eyes and she knows that Gabriel is with her.

The sphinx comes close to Rachael and she is dwarfed by his massive frame.

"You aren't supposed to be here," the reaper says to the creature.

The sphinx roars into the reaper's face and takes a bow for Rachael to climb its back.

The sphinx carries Rachael away on its back.

Mary falls to the ground and gasps for breath as she stops chanting her spell.

She coughs as she clears her throat.

She smiles as she sees Gabriel and Rachael in each other's arms.

His blue eyes glowing as Rachael stares into them.

The two stare at each other without words to exchange but a rhythm for their hearts to follow.

Gabriel bends low and plants a kiss on her soft lips.

"Where is Samuel?" Mary asks and they look around for the twin but he is gone.

Where is he?