Samuel toggles at the hilt of his sleeves as Bryan parks in front of Elma's apartment, in Astoria Heights.
Elma leads the way on little stairs on route to her apartment door, she opens the door for them and steps aside, "Can I get a change of clothes?" Amanda request before she strolls into the living room.
"I'm taking a cigarette," Bryan says as he enters, Rachael stops as she turns to look at Samuel who is still at the car, she watches him open the trunk and he takes a quick side glance to catch her gaze. "See you guys inside," Elma says before shutting the door behind her.
He looks like he bathed in blood, drenched in his victims life force. He pulls out a suit and drops it on the hood of the car before slamming the trunk shut.
"Where have you been, Samuel?" Rachael asks and he raises his head to look at her, "I went away to clear my head," "Clear your head? You didn't even call, like what the fuck?", "It's been almost three weeks; did you and Gabriel have a fight? Did I offend you? Tell me," her voice crackles.
"No, it's nothing like that," he walks to her, he looks at her face, her teary looking eyes and the furrows on her forehead.
What is she so mad about?
She looks into his dark eyes; they have nothing good in them. No sympathy, just anger. They are silent as they hold each other's gaze. Her face squeezes harder while her jaw stiffens; she turns her head away, "I'm going inside," she says as she walks away.
Samuel frowns as she leaves him standing at the doorstep; he runs his hand through his hair and sighs.
Samuel enters the house and walks past the living room to the bedroom, he finds a bottle of Belvedere in Elma's drawer and takes it. He places it on a small table in the room and takes off his clothes.
He eyes the painting above her bed for a minute as his eyes lazily scan the room and its dark colors, it is clear that she has a taste for dark colors.
Amanda lies in the bathtub with water at its brim when Samuel walks into the bathroom.
He joins her in the wide bathtub sitting opposite her; he finds the bath tub wider than he expected but still allows himself to enjoy its welcoming waters. The water is warm against his skin as he tries to relax before popping the cork of the bottle in his hand.
"You two talk yet?" Amanda asks as she notices a sulky look on his face, "Not really. Just a little chitchat" "She seems to know who killed Gabriel, so they were probably together when he died," she says.
"Does that bother you?" Amanda asks and stretches her hand out to collect the bottle of Belvedere.
"No, but it makes me want to kill Gabriel's killer even more. To see Gabriel die must have hurt. Not too long ago she lost her mother, Gabriel and I promised to keep her safe," Samuel says.
Amanda drinks from the bottle and passes it back to Samuel, "I have to get this guy. Whoever or whatever he fucking is, he will pay," he drinks from the bottle. He raises one leg and hangs it on the edge of the bathtub.
"How does it feel to see her again?" Amanda tries to reach his deeper thoughts and he hisses like a snake preparing to bite the feet of another beast. "We have to think of a way to track the killer" he says, "Let's see what they know first" she says.
Elma relaxes into the black seat as she taints the living room's air with a cigarette, Bryan collects a lighter from her and lights up the cigarette in his mouth, held by his lips while his tongue tastes the nicotine from the bottom.
"Are they taking a bath together?" Rachael asks Elma, "They probably are," she says and puffs. Her black jean is tight against her legs and her Dr. Martens black boots match perfectly; "Who is she?" Rachael paces around.
"Amanda, she is one of Ra's bastards," Elma says, "What? Ra? Who is Ra?" Rachael raises her hand and opens her palms.
"Come on, everybody knows Ra, the Egyptian god." Bryan says, "That sun guy?" "Come on love, don't be disrespectful. They do exist, you know" Elma says, "Is there anything that isn't real at this point?" "Saint Claus and Krampas are the same person," Bryan chips in, "Unicorns aren't real," he adds.
"So, what is she to Samuel?" she asks as she ignores Bryan's words, "They are best friends," "I thought you were his best friend," Rachael says.
"Those proud species will never be real friends to vampires," she sighs.
"She's a sphinx? Like the twins?" "Yes love, she is" she taps the cigarette against an ashtray, "But isn't Ra like a god or something?" "He is but only they can explain how that shit works," Elma says.
c
Samuel and Amanda walk into the living room and Rachael flutters her eyes as she stares at how they look together, Samuel and Amanda sit on a couch as Rachael finds the single chair.
"Bryan Speak," Samuel orders.
"A sphinx killed Gabriel. He tracked them by compelling me. I've never seen him before. He isn't one of your old enemies," Bryan says. "Cops ambushed us at the hotel where Gabriel and I stayed. The man stabbed Gabriel with a sword, he had this long blond hair. Samuel, he took Gabriel's body" her voice drops as she sniffles.
Samuel rubs his jaw while he goes through a stream of thoughts, "Let's hope he hasn't crossed the threshold between the living and the dead. I can try to reach his soul but it won't be easy since he is human now."
"Shouldn't that have been the first thing you did?" Amanda asks, "I've never had to stress to find Gabriel. I could always feel him but since he lost his powers his presence grew weak.
But when he died it was like, I turned back and I could not see him again. It was like that space that we always shared had shrunk like nothing was ever there," Samuel says.
"Finding him now is like creating that connection from scratch. It won't be easy but I will give it a shot" he says. "In the mean time we will need somewhere to look for information," "I will ask some of my buddies if they have seen or heard anything," Bryan says.
Bryan stands up from his seat, "Man I need some nutrition. I will call you when I find something" his feet are light against the ceramic floor as he heads to the door.
He stops as he opens the door, "One more thing, he called you and Gabriel his brothers. Does that mean anything to you, boss?" he asks.
"No, the only brother I have is Gabriel," "Okay," Bryan nod and leaves.
"I will make some calls," Amanda says, "I will get some supplies in case we need weapons or blood," Elma says and they all stare at her, "What? I'm a vampire," she shrugs her shoulders.
"I've got some supplies. Amanda, come with me to the club so we can get some," Samuel says, "No. I will stay here with Rachael," she smiles as she eyes Rachael who folds herself on the single chair.
"I'll go with you," Elma says as she tosses the butt of her cigarette into the ashtray.
"Alright, you girls play nice," Elma says as she and Samuel leave them to their own company.
Samuel and Elma leave the house and get the Audi on the road.
Amanda searches for some glasses and gets a drink from Elma's kitchen, she hands Rachael a glass and pours her a drink.
"So, you are Gabriel's girl I hear," Amanda says, she moves to the couch and sits before filling her glass.
"Something… like that," Rachael stutters, "Something like that? That sounds undecided. You either are or you aren't" Amanda says, she sips from her glass while she sizes up Rachael.
Rachael can feel Amanda's gaze on her like a predator waiting for the prey to make the wrong move.
Rachael wonders what might be going through her head as she drops her hand down after her long sip.
"Gabriel and I are seeing each other," Rachael stares into her eyes, "You mean were. You must have got it hard, this whole supernatural thing" Amanda says.
"Yes I did. I lost the people I loved the most and now it wants to take Gabriel away from me," she rubs her elbows, "You are wondering why I wanted to stay with you, aren't you?" Amanda sips from her glass while holding Rachael's gaze.
"I almost forgot, you can read minds," she say, Amanda laughs briefly, "Only what's at the top. What do you think about Samuel? He is quite the catch isn't he?" she says.
Rachael grimaces, "What are you trying to say?" "Straight to the point, I see. Don't you really want to have them both?" Amanda asks.
Rachael's eyes widen staring at the immortal across her. Her face carries a grin while her eyes reflect the room's source of illumination.
What is this woman saying?