CHAPTER XXIII

Rebersburg, Pennsylvania.

In a small town in Centre County, a black mustang parks in front of a big black gate where a camera is at the top of the fence on the left side of the gate.

Steven comes out of the car and waves at the camera but no one answers, "I'm here for Mary," he says and the gate opens.

He enters his car and drives in.

The Tremblays look like a wealthy family since their land is big compared to most of the houses in the region.

Their lawn which is hidden behind a lovely drive-in garden stretches up to 12metres of land just before the main building.

A mansion in a town like this?

Something many will find strange, how did the Tremblays make their wealth?

Even that was a mystery to those outside their circle.

Philip admires the beautiful lawn as they step out of the Mustang; he looks around as he turns 360 degrees like a child playing under the rain.

"I wonder why she left all this to live such a life," Philip says, "It doesn't matter. She was happy the way she was even if it meant losing her family's wealth," Steven says, "She must be avenged".

A chubby-looking fellow walks out of the mansion, his black suit conflates with the turquoise mansion wall like a painting as he walks with a formal presence exposing himself as a proud butler.

"May I know the reason for your visit, Steven?" he says.

Who is this fatso? Philip is curious.

Steven eyes him sternly, "I need to see the head of the family," he says, "You are not welcome here dealer, the Tremblays are attending to important guests" the butler sharply says, "Look here little shit," Steven grabs the butler by the collar, "Mary McQueen is dead, their sister is dead" he shouts into the face of the butler who is shocked by the information he receives.

His eyes widen, "Mary? That can't be" "Oh, it is. And it's a vampire that did her in" Steven let's go of the butler, he motions for them to follow him as he leads the way.

Philip observes quietly and follows them.

They enter the house into a large beautiful hallway; its white walls make it look like a heavenly hallway just before you get to the gate of heaven.

It leads to a big living room where three people sit.

"What are you doing here, Steven Gerard?", Lucas Tremblay asks. His voice is as firm as a mountain and as solid as a rock.

Lucas Tremblay's grey hair is wavy and styled, the top of his hair is long and the bottom short as it is styled into a medium length wave and his beards cover his jaw.

He leans back against the leopard-skin couch he sits on, his dark eyes observing the bald man not noticing the lean one behind.

"Mary is dead,". Steven's voice is as clear as glass and as sharp as a porcupine's spike.

The other two occupants of the room raise their heads as the news hit them differently, "Mary is dead? How did this happen?" Kate Martin-Tremblay asks.

Kate is 5'12ft tall, she is slender and beautiful. She has long brown hair mixed with a bit of grey hair tied into a long ponytail and fierce dark eyes.

She stands up and all her attention is on the man who brings this terrible news about her sister, her lovely little sister.

"How did she die?".

"Count Dracula, " Philip speaks up.

"What?" Lucas and the rest of the room chorus, "Are you kidding?" "She fought Count Dracula?" the other individual in the room speaks, Elena Martin.

Elena is a young beautiful lady in her 20s, she has long and wavy black hair, dark blue eyes like the deep blue sea and a silver necklace around her neck.

Her lips are pink and full and her eyes carry the curiosity of a child.

"Like the real Dracula," she says, "Yes" Philip answers, "Looks like aunt Mary was a badass," Elena says.

"You must be talking nonsense. You are saying that a vampire killed my sister, what is his fucking name?" Lucas asks furiously as anger caresses his heart and his swavy face turns into a frown.

"Dracula, the real Dracula not the one from the movies. He is the real deal", Philip says.

"A vampire convinced her to attack Dracula and she didn't come back," Steven says, "That's impossible, if that was really Dracula she wouldn't need convincing", Kate says.

Lucas walks closer to Steven and Philip, "Where can we find this fucking Dracula wannabe?" Lucas says with anger backing his words, "New York".

"Then we know where our next hunt is".

Clouds.

The twins, Rachael, Elma and John walk into the club; it has been a while since they've seen the beautiful tiles and soft sofas of the club.

The smoke, the music, the drinks and the entire electrifying atmosphere of the club.

They are aware that it has been spotted by Count Dracula but they know he would not make a move yet, after all, such a big move can't go unnoticed, it was one of the reasons the twins opened a club on Roosevelt.

Samuel inhales deeply, "The smell of sin," he says, "It's intoxicating".

"Is coming back here a wise decision?" Elma asks, "It is safer than you know" Gabriel says, "But we will need a witch", Rachael raises a brow.

"Miss McQueen, you will be staying with us for now. We'll keep you safe" Samuel says and Rachael looks confused.

Why the formal tone? She thought they had gone past that stage.

Gabriel notices this but ignores it, "Let me show you to your room, Rachael" he says and Rachael follows him upstairs.

Samuel watches her as she follows his brother, he eyes her hips as they sway from left to right like a pair of apples dangling from its tree before it falls into the patient hands of its owner.

"Don't stare too much lest you give yourself away," Elma says with a mischievous smile.

Samuel growls at her before making his way to the bar and the two behind him follow suit.

"Welcome back, boss. You had a visitor from the NYPD while you were away" Bryan says as he pours Samuel a glass of bourbon.

"NYPD? What the hell do they want?" "The detective that came said they have been getting reports about the club" "They must have noticed something when I killed my father's men who came here," Samuel says.

"Look like we have to be on guard," John says. "The detective that came here looks like a suspicious man," Bryan says.

Bryan stands at 6ft with his pale skin and bony cheeks, his lips look dry probably from smoking as an ashtray is on the counter.

His brown eyes concentrate on the drink he pours for John and Elma, "Hmm, he definitely is. He said there are complaints about this club.

Considering that we made sure everyone around the block has been hypnotized to never say shit about this club, he fucked up" Samuel says.

Elma giggles, "You guys hypnotized everyone?" she asks, "When you have as much blood on your ledger as ours you can't be too cautious".

Bryan provides a card and gives it to Samuel, he reads it, "Warren Peace. Bryan, I want you to find out what you can about this detective".

Gabriel takes Rachael to the top floor of the three-story club, this floor is reserved for the twins as it is their home and private space.

It is spacious and designed like a living room once you come out of the elevator, there is a hallway after the living room where there are a couple of rooms on each side of the hallway.

Gabriel leads her to one of the rooms, "You will be staying here. It is better this way" Gabriel says as he leads her into the room.

The room is themed white and almost empty, the bed is arranged like no one has been here except the cleaning staff. "Is this necessary?" she says, "Yes it is, besides you don't have to spend more coming to work" "Thanks".

"I'm sorry about all this, I am kind of at fault for a bit," Gabriel says, "If I didn't involve myself with your father none of this would have happened," he says.

"My father made his own decisions. I can't say I'm not hurt but I don't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself", Rachael says.

Gabriel stares at her and a little smile creeps onto his face like a bug and he bends his head like a shy kid, "I am relieved to hear that" "Can I keep the dagger?" Rachael suddenly asks.

"Why? Are you trying to stab my heart?", Rachael giggles, "No, I just want to, you know…practice with it" "You are serious about killing my father", Rachael pause before she answers, "Yes, I am".

"You will have to join the line, I've got dibs on him" "We'll see about that", Rachael says with a smile and Gabriel returns it.

He licks his lower lip, "Get some rest," he says and turns to leave the room. "Gabriel," Rachael calls him, "Yeah?" "Thank you," "Hey, I am here for you,Rachael", she nods and he leaves the room.

Rachael observes the room, every corner of this room is spotless like a newly opened hotel. She lays on the bed and begins to wonder, what is life going to be like from now on?

It has been almost two months since she started working for the twins and things have been crazy.

How much more are things going to change?

Gabriel comes downstairs to meet the rest of the immortals at the bar, "Bryan, pour me a drink" he orders.

"Boss," Bryan points behind them as he notices the detective walking into the club, "I'm guessing that's detective Peace," Samuel says, "What are you talking about?" Gabriel asks.

"Him,".

Warren Peace wears a perfume that attracts attention to himself but he also notices the disgust on the bartender's face and two individuals at the bar, this confirms his hypothesis about them being vampires.

The perfume he wears is specifically made to repel the undead and their reaction gives them away but the twins, his prime targets, seem unaffected by this. Could they be something else? He wonders.

"Hello, I am Detective Warren Peace from the NYPD,".