CHAPTER XLIII

John is astounded by what Samuel said.

Since Gabriel turned him into a vampire, he has dwelled in a world different from the one normal humans know.

And yet even he has never seen or heard about Nephilims.

Like everyone else, he is familiar with their biblical history but he has never seen that as proof of their existence.

"That means angels are real," Elma says with a serious demeanor.

"Of course, heaven, hell, God and his celestial agents are real" Samuel says.

"Humans create a religion and yet they do not believe in it.

How ironic," Marcel comments.

"Hold your emotions for later. Next week, we go to Central Park, Manhattan," Gabriel says.

"You, you and your people are going to watch Central Park.

We need to know everything that goes down there.

We have to be ahead of this situation," Samuel says to Elena.

"My name is Elena and you don't tell me what to do," she answers in anger.

"If you are not going to be of any help, then you should just leave" Rachael says.

Her eyes are filled with anger.

She doesn't understand why Elena has to be here.

It could have been anybody else, but no it had to be the girl that shot her.

Elena is angry, it feels like the whole room is against her.

She isn't surprised, after all, she is in the enemy's territory now.

"I will see what I can do," she grits her teeth.

Their time will come.

"We have a week, so everyone, get prepared" Samuel says as he walks away.

Blood and flesh soak the earth in this atrocious scene.

Darkness is the theme as the sun hides from the sky.

Dead bodies pile on top of each other, creating a circle while two huge stones are in the middle.

The stones are big and thick as they stretch 8feet long.

A wisp of smoke from the coal that burns between the stones dances through the air.

Most of the corpses are still fresh as blood drip from their wounds.

Two women in maroon red cloaks walk around the dead bodies, one of them holds a censer as she burns incense.

They speak unknown words as they walk around the corpses.

Dracula and Alex watch the satanic witches as they perform their rituals on the altar.

A phone rings and Alex pulls out a cell from her jacket.

"For you, my lord" she gives him the phone.

He listens to the voice on the other side for a brief moment and cuts the call.

"Next week, everything ends" he says.

"We should alert The Lantern, "the 6foot red head suggests.

Dracula growls and Alex grips her elbows.

Her pale skin tightens in fear.

"Don't you even think about trying to call them.

I don't want to have to talk to Azazel.

Besides, when everything is done. I will destroy them.

You will have to choose a side," he says.

"Always your side, master" Alex says; she fears the count after all.

"We shall see," he knows this vampire. He created most of her kind.

He doesn't trust her but she can do nothing to him.

He can read her like a book and he is the author.

Whether she knows it or not, she bends to his will and will always do.

His main concern now is the ritual.

He needs an eclipse and his sons.

The witches possess the devil's spell and the altar is almost ready.

Next week, they will fall into his hands and he will resurrect his love.

The eternal torture of his loveless heart.

A heart filled with hate and misery.

It will all end.

Most people would take these things for granted but for a very old immortal, it is the only reason to live.

Back at the club.

Everyone sits at the bar since the twins destroyed the living room.

Samuel and Gabriel are absent from the scene.

"This place is dull without the twins, let's lighten up the mood" Elma stands up and goes behind the counter.

She pulls out a bottle and drops glasses on the counter for everyone.

"You are joking. You want me to drink with vampires," Elena says.

"If you pulled your head out of your ass once in a while, you would see that we are not so different from you," Elma says.

"Please, we were humans before we became vampires.

The Tremblays have always known this, but sometimes you just prefer to be blockheads" John says as Elma fills his cup.

Elena is under attack from the group.

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that someone is trying to summon the devil," Rachael suddenly says.

"He does it for his wife," Marcel says.

"Wouldn't you do anything for the ones you love, madame?".

"Love? What of his children? Even if he brought her back, will she want to be with that kind of man?

What kind of woman would?" Rachael says.

"You would be shocked," he answers.

"Wait. If Dracula is a Nephilim, what are his sons?" Elena asks.

"John?" Elma looks at the blond vampire for answers.

"I don't know," he answers. Refusing to spill the beans.

"Sphinx. Children of the Nephilim," Marcel says.

And the group turns their attention to the old vampire as he sips from his glass.

"Sphinx, like in Greek mythology?" Rachael asks.

This is a chance for her to know what the twins are.

"Yes, except they are not exactly like the myths say,"

"No wings, no tail or lion body," Elma says.

"They have wings," John says as he empties his cup and asks for a refill.

"What? I have known them for years and they have never shown me their wings," Elma says.

"How come Nephilims give birth to Sphinxes?

It doesn't sound right?" Elena says.

"In some cultures, sphinx are protectors of treasures or knowledge.

Our guys don't look like protectors of any treasure to me," John says.

Marcel smiles before he sips his drink, "Oh, they have something they are protecting or someone.

They won't tell you.

After all, to them, it is their burden to bear,".

"I can't believe this. Dracula is a Nephilim.

And Nephilims give birth to Sphinxes," Elena says in awe.

"They are a strange species.

But Dracula's bloodline has a thing for destruction,"

"What are you saying?" Rachael asks.

"Mors et tempestas, death and the storm.

That was the name they called Dracula's sons.

Centuries ago, they destroyed villages and toppled civilizations.

Individually they were called Mortem and Tempestas, but together, Mors et tempestas.

When The Storm came, he brought Death with him.

If you met them back then, you would all be dead," Marcel finishes his drink.

Rachael can't believe it.

She knows that they aren't entirely good but she doesn't want to believe what Marcel says.

"You should see when they transform.

They become monsters you don't see in your nightmares," Marcel says.

"The ones you can't even imagine," he adds.

"They say God cursed the Nephilims and their offspring.

But he also blessed the sphinx," he shakes his head and his hair sway from side to side.

"You must be a very old vampire," Rachael says.

"I am. Let me tell you my adventures in the world of the undead,".

Time pass as Marcel tells them tales of his past.

In the middle of his storytelling, Elena leaves them to make arrangements with her family.

Rachael rests her head on the counter as the liquor intoxicates her.

Marcel's voice disappears as her drunken mind sinks into a world of imagination.

A place where her mind is unrestricted.

Where she can explore her deepest and darkest desires.

"You will be alright," his whistled voice dances around her ears like chirping birds.

She sees herself on the roof with Gabriel in front of her.

She stares at his chest, her gaze threatening to tear the shirt off his back.

He doesn't say a word and his face carries no expression.

He just stares into her eyes like a mirror.

He tears his shirt and she bites down on her lip as his body seduces her.

He puts an arm around her and draws her close to his body.

Rachael's heart pounds in her chest like a drum.

She can feel his hot breath against her neck.

"Rachael," she hears a familiar and alluring voice.

Rachael can hear Samuel's voice but she cannot see him.

"I want to hold your small hands and kiss them,".

She feels little kisses on her fingers.

"I want to touch you," his voice says and she closes her eyes.

Rachael feels a soft hand press hard against her nipple and she lets out a moan.

She raises her head to see Gabriel still looking at her.

He bends and kisses her neck, he nibbles her neck and traces his way to her collar bone.

Gabriel smiles as Rachael's body grows weak against his.

He says something but Rachael cannot hear his words.

His mouth moves but he has no voice.

"Rachael," Samuel's voice calls out to her, a voice without a body.

"Rachael," there is a new voice.

"Rachael," Elma shakes Rachael out of her slumber.

"You need a bed, love", she says before leaving Rachael.

Elena carries her bag and begins to check out the room.

She walks past the cracked floor.

She enters the small corridor and opens one of the room doors.

She enters the room.

It is quiet, white and clean.

The bed is well laid and the room is well arranged.

She drops her bag on the bed and looks for the bathroom.

She opens the bathroom door and goes in but she stops at the noise of the shower.

Under the shower, Samuel washes his foaming hair and Elena stares at him.

She stares at his obliques and tricep.

His back is wide and she licks her lips.

How can an abomination be so desirable?

Elena looks through the open door to be sure no one else is in the room.

A mischievous smile spreads across her face as she gently shuts the door behind her.