CHAPTER XLI

Elena was a party lover while in college and she went to the best parties in school.

Entering the club reminds her of the good days before she went full time into the family business of hunting the supernatural.

There are a few people in the club as the DJ gradually kills the beat.

Elena sees a man asleep on a sofa holding an empty glass.

She scoffs; she notices bright eyes and shady characters in the dark corners of the club.

Vampires.

Of course, there are vampires in here.

Elena is on alert as she becomes wary of the creatures in the dark.

She carries her bag while her eyes scan the dance floor.

Bryan is happy to return to his post at the counter and Elma is happy to order a drink.

It feels deserved.

Bryan pours Elma a glass of whiskey and she gulps her drink and sighs deeply.

"I needed that drink," she says, "I am going to need one too," Samuel says as he joins Elma at the counter.

"Where will I be staying?" Elena asks as she joins them at the counter but everyone ignores her.

Gabriel and Rachael enter the elevator under Samuel's watchful eyes.

He rests his back against the counter as he watches the two of them enter the elevator.

"Hey, where am I going to stay?" Elena draws his attention like an annoying pet.

"The club is big, human, check out the place you may find somewhere to lay your pretty head," his tone is condescending and she hates him.

If not for the present situation these vampires would not have the guts to talk to her because they would already be dead.

Samuel remembers the conversation in the car; he finishes his drink and leaves the counter.

Thoughts go through his head as he replays the conversation in his mind.

Gabriel kissed Rachael, could it be that Gabriel is in love with her?

He walks to the staircase, humming a song to himself as he wonders what he feels.

On the top floor; Gabriel sits with his head relaxed against the couch.

He remembers what Cassandra said in the car about himself and Rachael dating.

When was the last time he was actually in love?

For a long time, he had buried his heart and only indulged himself in physical pleasures without any emotional attachment.

The last woman he was in love with was Gretchen, one-half of the assassin sisters, and not long ago he took her life.

His feelings for the vampire had died a long time ago when he found out that she was working for Count Dracula.

How does he feel when he is with Rachael?

His heart jumps with excitement like a little child. Why?

He can't deny it, he knows he has feelings for Rachael. But is it right?

He buries every sound around him and closes his eyes.

He empties every thought in his mind and only pictures her body.

Her oval-shaped face and her black hair.

Her tiny hips and her pink lips.

He listens to his heartbeat and hears it play a tune of love.

Its melody gets sweeter with every image of Rachael that comes to his mind.

He drifts in it until he bumps into a tidal wave.

The pressure is familiar like his own skin and it creates another rhythm.

It is familiar and yet distant, it is love and pain.

Gabriel opens his eyes and they meet the eyes of the source of this new rhythm.

Samuel looks down at his twin brother who sits on the couch.

They are silent as they look at each other.

They know what they are both feeling.

"So you kissed her," Samuel says.

"She was dying, she was slipping away" Gabriel says.

"We don't need to lock lips to heal a person.

You are in love with Rachael,".

"That's not…" "Then tell me you aren't in love with her,"

Gabriel pauses.

He can't say he is in love with Rachael and he can't say he isn't.

"Do we have an answer then?"

"What about you? You are asking me but what about you, Sammy?".

Gabriel returns the question.

"What do you think, Gabe? I feel the same way you do but I will say it.

I am in love with her," he says.

"I like her hair, her scent, the way she smiles, I like her strength and her courage.

I like everything about her.

She gives me hope and that's something I haven't had for a very long time," Samuel says.

"Then why are you hesitating? I can hear it in your voice, what have you done Sammy?" Gabriel asks.

"Hey, guys", Rachael's voice puts a halt to their conversation.

"Now that you are both here, I want to use this opportunity to say something.

Thank you. Thanks for being there for me.

It's only been three months since I started working for you guys.

Since I met you guys things haven't been the same for me.

It has been rough but you have been there.

So, thank you".

The twins stare at Rachael speechlessly; both of them feel undeserving of her thanks.

"I've wanted to ask for a while now. The day my father died, who saved me?".

Samuel's heart sinks like a broken ship.

"Samuel did," Gabriel answers.

A beautiful smile lights up Rachael's face, she always suspected it to be him and now she knows.

"It's because of you that I'm still breathing," she says.

Guilt consumes Samuel as Rachael praises and thanks him.

How can he accept her gratitude when he knows he put Frank McQueen in that situation.

He bends his head low in anger, pain and guilt as he remembers his scheme with Bryan.

He clenches his fist as his heart carries this.

"It was my fault," he suddenly says.

"What?" "Your father's death was my fault," Samuel says with a heavy heart.

"What are you talking about?" Gabriel asks.

"I set him up to draw out Dracula but things didn't go as planned,".

His eyes show his regret but they will do nothing for Rachael.

Rachael is shocked; how can her savior be the reason she almost died five years ago.

How can he be the reason her father is dead?

"You…" Gabriel stands up with rage in his voice.

He never thought that his brother would betray him.

"What did you do? How could you?" Gabriel asks Samuel.

For the last five years, he blamed himself for Frank McQueen's death and now all that guilt turns to anger.

His twin, Samuel, got Frank killed.

He used him as a pawn.

"You bastard," Gabriel jerks Samuel by the collar and his eyes change into a blue glow filled with rage.

"I beat myself for his death and you know this.

How could you?"

"I was doing it for us. I've wanted to end this cat and mouse game for ages.

I was trying to secure our future," Samuel says.

"Screw you, Samuel," he pushes Samuel backward.

"If you had listened to me back then none of this would have happened?"

"What the fuck did you say?" Gabriel clenches his fist hard as he holds back on attacking his brother.

Samuel turns to face Rachael's teary eyes.

Words are heavy on his lips as he struggles to put them together.

"Rachael…" "You only think about yourself and no one else.

You never stopped to think if he had a family," Gabriel interrupts him.

"Don't you dare say that to me," Samuel faces his irritated twin.

"We have killed fathers, mothers, brothers, the list goes on and on.

Whether they deserved it or not, we killed them.

Now, you want to go righteous on me because circumstances have changed," Samuel says.

"We are not good people brother, we are monsters".

Gabriel jerks Samuel and throws him against the counter.

Samuel slams his back against the counter and falls on his knees.

He stands up and adjusts his suit.

"Don't fucking do that again," he says.

In a blink, Gabriel appears before him and delivers a left hook to his face and sending Samuel to the floor.

Gabriel kicks his belly, "Fuck you brother," he walks away from him.

Samuel removes his jacket and throws it on the floor.

He folds his sleeves and charges at Gabriel, knocking him off his feet from behind.

He stares down at his brother, "Stand up," he says and Gabriel uses his hand to smack the back of Samuel's legs and he falls.

The immortals begin to wrestle each other switching control and momentum at every struggle.

They separate themselves and get on their feet.

The twins begin to exchange a series of blows and kicks.

Rachael is shocked and does not know what to do.

The situation is unexpected.

How can the twins be fighting each other?

She is hurt by Samuel's confession but she doesn't support this.

The sphinxes destroy the room with their brawl while Rachael freezes in confusion.

Samuel pins Gabriel against the wall and presses his elbow against his neck.

"You are too scared to do what is necessary.

Hurting Frank and Rachael was never part of the plan but at the time I had to draw father out,"

"And instead you got Frank killed," Gabriel pushes Samuel off.

He carries him and slams him against the floor.

"You are just like father. People are just pawns to you," Gabriel says.

Samuel stands up and spits out blood, "People are just people, Gabriel.

Don't be a hypocrite, you are upset about this because you have feelings for Rachael," Samuel says.

"Dear brother, if it wasn't for her you wouldn't even care about Frank's death,".

Gabriel picks up a vase and throws it at Samuel who dodges it.

"He wasn't just a human to me, he was my friend," Gabriel says.

Samuel begins to walk away from him, he stops beside Rachael and looks her in the eyes.

Her teary gaze dampens his hard heart.

"I am sorry Rachael," he walks away from them and heads towards his room.

Rachael stands in the room with a heart full of pain and disappointment.

No, I refuse to let this bring me down.

I already lost my father five years ago.

The elevator opens and Elena enters the room.

She notices the scattered living room and Rachael's shocked face while Gabriel cleans his bleeding nose.

She drags her bag and places a hand on her waist, "Did I miss something?".