CHAPTER 40

Beep. Beep. The heart monitor sang as it did its work. Alexander stood by the bed looking down at Jacqueline who was covered in an oxygen mask. Catherine sat on a sofa by the bed watching as Jacqueline laid unconscious.

“How did this happen?” Alexander asked with remorse.

“I-I don’t know. I’m certain it was only a mistake. Rajesh would never mean to do it. He stopped the situation from getting worse.” Catherine said in a low tone.

“No matter how you look at it, Rajesh is at fault. His carelessness caused this.” Alexander sighed and stormed out of the room. He walked out of the healthcare building into the town. He walked into a building far from the healthcare building. It was a story building. He walked on the stairs to the top floor. He arrived at a room and barged in.

“Rajesh!” Alexander yelled.

“Keep your voice down, boy.” Rajesh ordered as he held test tubes that contained mismatched colors of liquid. “I’m working.”

“Are you more concerned about your work than you are about Jacqueline whom you almost murdered?!”

Rajesh sighed and put the test tubes in a test tube holder. He walked closer to Alexander. “Jacqueline was just unfortunate to have picked the wrong glass.”

“Why the fuck would you keep a glass that contained ounces of that killer liquid next to hers?!”

“Mind your tongue!”

Alexander pulled Rajesh by the shirt, violently. “If Jacqueline dies, I swear on the very strand of my life, I will dismember you.”

“You are too emotional, Alexander. Grow up. You are weak. You have no power over me. I RAISED AND MADE YOU!” Rajesh pushed Alexander away from him. “YOU WILL GIVE ME THE RESPECT I DESERVE!”

“You deserve the worst, Rajesh. You disgust me.”

“Stupid child you are, Alexander Robinson. I am your king. I am the ruler of this town. You are nothing. Those eyes can not give you your place—I give you your place and you are beneath my feet.”

Alexander transformed an growled at Rajesh. Rajesh transformed and growled back at Alexander.

“That’s enough! Both of you!” David entered just in time to stop things from escalating. “I heard you two shouting at each other. I’m glad I made it here just in time before someone’s head would be rolling on the floor.”

Rajesh and Alexander both transformed back to the man form. Both furious and burning with emotions. Alexander glared at David. He had many words to say to David particularly but couldn’t say them at that moment. Alexander stormed out.

“Rajesh? Are you okay?” David worriedly asked.

“I-I’m fine.” Rajesh stuttered. He placed his fingers on his temple and sighed.

“What happened?”

“Your brother had something to get off his chest.”

“Alexander being Alexander?”

Rajesh nodded.

“I’ll go talk to him.” David suggested.

“No. Leave him.” Rajesh disapproved “It won’t change how he feels. Let him be. There’ll be more reactions like this in the future. Come, David, we have work to do.”

Alexander walked to Iliana’s motel hastily but steadily. He knocked in her door and instantly had a reply. Iliana opened the door. Alexander’s eyes were welcomed by Iliana’s. He immediately let out steam and broke a smile.

“Hey.”

“Alexander, how are you?”

“I’m...fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“I can hear your heartbeat. I know you are lying. I was going to go sit on a bench at the park. Would you like to come with?”

Alexander did not know what he wanted. “Sure.”

Iliana stepped out of her room and locked the door. “Let’s go.” Iliana stretched out her hand. Alexander’s eyes lit up. He slowly fixed his hand in hers and gripped it tightly, then it transitioned to an interlocking of fingers. They both smiled at each other before walking into town.

“How’s Jacqueline?”

“She…I don’t know.” Alexander said in a wistful manner. “There are only a few people I do not want to lose in a terrible way and Jacqueline is one of them. I want her to have a peaceful death, but not like that.”

“Mm.”

“Catherine and Jacqueline have been mothers to my brothers and I. It will be painful to lose Jacqueline, especially because of one mistake.”

Iliana was quiet. “She’s still alive. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Iliana and Alexander as usual walked about the town, hand in hand. They had a laugh together and enjoyed each other’s company thoroughly.

The arrived at the motel premises. There, they spotted Erik standing outside if Iliana’s door. He also sighted them approaching.

“Well you two look happy.” Erik implied.

“Hey, Erik.” Iliana greeted.

“Erik, why have you come?”

“Rajesh is heading to the cabin all alone. Now’s the chance.”

“Okay then. Let’s go. I’ll be out of sight but watching the both of you.”

Alexander, Iliana and Erik dived into the forest without any second wasted. They moved stealthily to the cabin. There, they saw Rajesh behind the counter looking for a preferable bottle of alcohol to overdose on. Erik and Iliana saw their chance to move. They walked into the cabin.

“Erik, Rachel, I was not expecting you two.”

“Neither were we expecting you.” Erik lied.

“Well, now that you’re both here, join me enjoy this evening.”

Erik and Iliana sat on the stools by the counter. Rajesh served them drinks.

“Rachel, how have you been?” Rajesh rose a conversation.

“I’ve been well. How are you?”

“That silly mate of yours will put me to shame and lead me to a grave I do not want. Erik, your brothers a lose thread. He never agrees with reasoning—always so sentimental.”

“You should know Alexander by now. He is quite the sensitive one.” Erik said.

“Too sensitive. Can you believe he barged into one of my home labs just to give me a warning? Absurd.” Rajesh poured a shot of dry gin in his mouth.

“One of your home labs?” Iliana furrowed her brows.

“I have labs everywhere, my dear. I just wonder how he found me in this one. I am not surprised. I’m just truly disappointed. I know one-day, he will see reasons to come to terms with me.” Rajesh poured another shot into his mouth.

Iliana and Erik both tried their best to drink less but Rajesh kept giving them multiple rounds. It took much from Erik and Iliana not to get drunk. Rajesh was relentless. They wondered how much it was take from him to get that brief minute of drunkenness. Almost two hour had passed and Rajesh was still going on. It was past his seventh bottle, while Iliana’s and Erik struggled with two bottles.

It was Rajesh’s tenth bottle when he slowly dropped his cup on the countertop.

“E-Excuse…m-me.” His speech wavered. Erik and Iliana observed his mannerisms and knew it was time to take action.

Erik leaped out of the stool he sat on and went to Rajesh. He looked Rajesh straight in the eye.

“Rajesh,” Erik’s voice resonated through Rajesh’s body, mind and spirit.

“Y-Yes?”

“There is a library underneath the catacombs. Is this true?”

“Y-yes.”

“You are with the key. Where is it?”

“I-In…my…l-labora…tory.”

“What does it look like?”

“Hurry up, Erik. He’ll soon be sober.” Iliana whispered.

“Golden. Unique. Hard.”

“Is there anything else?”

“A…password.”

“What is it?”

Rajesh spoke the uncommon language. Iliana had memorized it instantly.

“That is all I can ask—”

“Erik.” Rajesh was sober.

“Rajesh.”

“Why have you stood up? You’ve barely finished your bottles.”

“We have to withdraw for the night.”

“Oh. Is that so?”

“Yes. Thank you for everything.” Iliana said as she walked out of the cabin with Erik.

They did not say a word until they were fat enough not to be heard.

“Your gift is amazing.” Iliana complimented.

“Thank you.”

“Good work, you two.” Alexander came into sight. “I saw and heard everything.”

“Erik, I am thankful to you. Rachel, are you ready?”

“I am.”

“We leave when it’s all empty and the moon’s at its peak. Erik, anything that happens– I’m going in with my phone – please, text me. If your texts don’t go through, howl to me.”

“Okay.”

“Rachel, prepare yourself.”