As predicted, the production team called off the excavation due to the weather. Tara, Sam’s grad student, and Drew spent the day touring museums while Gabriel and Samantha took in the historical site … as if neither hadn’t seen them a thousand times. For Gabriel, this was simply buying him time. Eventually he would have to tell Samantha everything. Just a few more minutes, he kept telling himself. A few more minutes turned into hours. He managed to steal a few minutes away to call Dorian. He needed Terry brought up to speed and on the next flight to London. If nothing else, Samantha would need his support and protection. That evening they returned to the hotel in time for the teams’ dinner in the lounge. Gabriel checked his watch constantly and relaxed only when one of his old mates from Cambridge arrived shortly ahead of Terry.


Samantha peppered Terry with questions about his sudden appearance and he answered them with the canned responses Dorian supplied. It didn’t matter, Sam was glad to see him. Gabriel and Terry exchanged knowing glances; it was obvious she was still in the dark.


They stood around talking and laughing—Gabriel and Terry both looked for the right moment to make their exit. Gabriel’s smile instantly faded, leaving his demeanor hard and cold, when he saw Drew step through the door and approach them. He and Drew exchanged looks that could kill, literally. A bit nervous, Samantha didn’t know what to make of the swift in moods. Terry pulled at her to leave but she yanked away from him.


“Do you know each other?” she asked brightly, trying to break the anxiety hanging over them.

“Yes,” Gabriel said, his eyes fixed on Drew’s. “Our fathers were brothers. He’s my cousin.”

Sam blinked wildly and turned to Drew. “Wait, your last name is Cordell not Kelley.”

“I use my mother’s maiden name. There were too many of us Kelleys working in the same field.” Drew smirked at Gabriel. “You’re a hard man to catch up with.”

“I wasn’t hiding.”

“Of course you weren’t. You never hide from anyone.” Drew snickered. “How’s Dorian? The last time I saw him he’d injured himself.”

“Dorian is perfectly fine. I wouldn’t push him. He has our father’s temper. You remember how that turned out, don’t you?”

Samantha and Terry’s eyes danced between the two of them, absolutely confused and more than a little nervous. It was like watching two Greek Gods square off. “Wow, you Brits sure know how to kill a party.” Her attempt to lighten the mood failed fantastically. Without warning, Gabriel ushered Drew outside, ordering Terry to take Samantha upstairs.

Outside and out of plain sight, Gabriel grabbed Drew by the neck and threw him against the concrete wall, lifting him off the ground. “What are you doing here, Sin?” he growled.

“Well, right now I’m hanging from the side of a building. Do you mind putting me down? This scene is running head on into a cliché.”

Gabriel eyes burned through his. “I should rip your head off.”

“Yeah, but you won’t because you’re good cop and we’re in public. Is this really how you want to introduce humanity to the realm of the supernatural? A headless body on the sidewalk? Like I said, this is a bit of a cliché.” Gabriel dropped him. “Thank you.”

“I should’ve known you were here. The trail of dead bodies was the first hint. Talk about cliché. You stupid fuck. Have you lost your mind?”

“No, you know me, I bore easily.” Drew straightened his collar. “Besides sport killing is the one bright spot of this job. And Samantha …”

Gabriel’s eyes pierced Drew’s. “Don’t go near Samantha. She has nothing to do with this. This is between you and me.”

Drew laughed. “I don’t want Samantha! I’m batting her around until I find time to kill her—like I did Valerie, your ex. How do you think Samantha will feel once she knows you sat back and watched me gut your last girlfriend?”

“That was different. Valerie was one of us. She knew the risk. Samantha is innocent. Leave her out of this or I’ll summon our legions and take you out.”

Drew stepped toe-to-toe with Gabriel and spoke evenly. “See, cousin, you forget. I’m a Kelley just like you. I know your father’s dirty little secret—the real reason he killed my father.” He wasn’t fooled by Gabriel’s stone express; he’d struck a nerve. “You didn’t think I’d find out, did you? Your mother was human. When your father discovered that my father knew his secret, he saw his power slipping from his hands and used his army, our brethren, to slaughter him. Do you think the Deckens will swear loyalty to you once they realize you’re half human and your father used them to kill selfishly?” Drew was so close to Gabriel he could feel heat rise from him. He shook his head. “No, they won’t, you’re polluted. They’d unite behind me … I am a Kelley … the son of a butchered Decken. Your father’s line is finished.”

“That was long ago and between our fathers. It has nothing to do with us. Let it go.” Gabriel ordered.

“Not a chance. I’m taking back what’s rightfully mine.”

Gabriel nodded at a passing couple, buying time to reply. “What do you want, Sin?”

“The only thing you can give me. I want the couple.”

“No.”

“Then I’ll wage war in the name of my father, kill you, Harold, and Dorian, and steal the couple away. Without them, you’re nothing. And they won’t be pleased with the turmoil you’ve brought to their front door so early in their reign.” He sneered knowing he had Gabriel backed into a corner, crumbling under the weight of his father’s lies. He’d patiently kowtowed in Gabriel’s shadow for centuries. Now his time had come, he’d destroy him once and for all. Oh, if he could savor this moment just a little while longer! Oh, if Gabriel would give him the benefit of seeing him defeated!


No such luck. Gabriel didn’t do defeat. If he’d learned anything from his father it was unyielding resolve. Sin’s overconfidence and thirst for glory clouded his judgment and would play against him. This wasn’t about righting the past; this was his quest for fame. There’s a very fine line between clever and stupid. And at that moment, on the street, Gabriel was close enough to kill him but he had other plans for his cousin. “You and me; one-on-one until death,” Gabriel offered. “No armies, just you and me. Winner takes all. If you kill me then it’ll prove I was the weaker man. Everything is yours fair and square. One condition; you leave Samantha alone. I’m breaking up with her tonight. I don’t want her involved.”


He weighed his options. Defeating Gabriel one-on-one would deliver him God-like status and killing Sam wouldn’t be as much fun seeing that Gabriel knew it was coming. “On your honor,” he offered his hand. “It’s a deal. I’ll make no move on the couple until after I’ve killed you. But aren’t you concerned about what will happen to Dorian and your father after you’re gone?”


Gabriel’s eyes danced. “No, Dorian is more than capable of taking care of himself. And my father,” he shook his head. “… I’m not worried about him.” Gabriel shoved Drew backwards. “But if you go anywhere near Samantha the deal is off and you lose your one shot at glory. I’ll have Vanessa make the arrangements. Until then, stay out of trouble. Killing hotel guests is hardly the definition of keeping a low profile.” He turned to walk inside the hotel.


Drew frowned at Gabriel’s last statement. If he was going to be blamed for a kill, he’d at least wanted the benefit of having done it. He caught up with Gabriel. “Sorry, you’ve got the wrong man. I didn’t kill the girl.”


Gabriel stopped mid-step and looked at Drew. He didn’t need the glaring lights of the hotel lobby to confirm Drew’s sincerity—it was in his voice and Deckens, even a rogue like Drew, wouldn’t lie about a kill. He was telling the truth. It wasn’t him. “What about the others?”

“Guilty as charged,” Drew raised his hands in mock surrender. “The others were mine but the girl—no, that wasn’t me. It was definitely one of us though. Who else would’ve decapitated and spiked the head? Textbook move.” he snickered, then walked to the bay of elevators, and called back to Gabriel. “If I were you, I’d lock your door.”


Gabriel watched him leave and headed for the stairs, taking two at a time with his phone in hand. “Yeah, it’s him.” he said when Dorian answered. “I got your message. Make sure they’re in a safe location and grab Claire. Yeah, Sin went for it. We have to move fast. Father took out one of Sin’s Cisans in the hotel and I have to give it to him, spiking her head was a nice touch. Too bad Sin missed the warning—or maybe he didn’t—maybe he just doesn’t give a damn.”

“Have you spoken to father?” Dorian asked.

“No, his defenses are up. Most likely he’s blocking communication because of Sin; he doesn’t want him reading his mind. I can’t get anywhere near him. No matter, we’re leaving earlier than intended. He knows the plan.”

“Whoa! Wait,” Dorian said. “What about Samantha? How soon are we talking?”

“We’re leaving first thing in the morning. We have decoys in place,” he sighed. “I’ll handle Samantha. We don’t have much time.”


                                                           ******


What is love? Some say it’s blind while others say it opened their eyes. It binds and liberates. It’s jealous and magnanimous. It builds and destroys. It protects and sacrifices. It’s steadfast and fickle. It asks nothing and demands all. It’s humbling and empowering; old and new; light and darkness. Love is truth … and, in trying times, it’s lies. True love is marvelous but the notion that it overcomes all obstacles is bullshit. Love would have us believe that as long us we hold tight and cling to one another and trust in its brilliance that it would see us through hellfire. It’s not true.


Love should be an unstoppable, undeniable, inexpressible feeling; a raw current of emotion between people. But, truthfully, love is little more than responsibility with conjugal visits. This is what Gabriel told himself as he prepared to break Sam’s heart.



Perhaps there was movement in the street below—Sam didn’t know, she couldn’t hear anything except the fragments of her world crumbling about her. She sat on the bed as Gabriel knelt in front of her, explaining who and what he was. Wave after wave of emotion washed over her, eroding what was left of their relationship; leaving her cankered and raw. His words snatched her breaths when she needed them the most. This can’t be happening spun in her head. The legends and folklore were true. This didn’t upset her as much as him dismissing her.

“Why?” Sam asked, her brow furrowed with grief.

“You know why. Don't make me say it again.” The world stood still as he watched her disappear within herself and reemerge with fresh tears. He felt like he was breaking apart; his heart splintered and cried out for hers. But her safety meant more to him than his sorrow.

“Last night you promised you’d love me always. You promised. You swore you’d never break your promise.”

“I know, baby.” He cupped either side of her head and brought his forehead to hers. Though she was standing, he felt her go limp and his heart shattered along with hers. “I’m not breaking my promise; this doesn't mean I don’t love you anymore. It’s just ...”

The fragment of their relationship hung between them, neither wanted to fill in the blank. A deep churning started in the pit of Sam’s stomach, tears gathered in her eyes and pooled there. She couldn’t fight it, her chest heaved painfully and tears soaked her cheeks and trailed against his thumbs.

“Gabriel, what are you doing?” she asked through labored sobs. “Really? Is this how it ends? Why are you doing this? Do you have any idea what you’re doing to us?”

Gabriel bit back his words, fearing they’d do more harm than good. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I love you, Samantha.”

“I love you too. I don’t understand.” Her bloodshot eyes looked up at him expectantly. “Help me understand what this means because I don’t know. Is this really what you want? I don’t think it is …”

Her passionate words stabbed him repeatedly. She knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t say anything he didn’t mean. His honor was in question and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He stood rooted in his resolve; he’d protect her at all cost. And maybe, just maybe, on his return she’d forgive him. “Samantha,” he spoke softly. “He’ll take care of you …” he spoke over her protest. “… Listen! You’re not safe here. You have to leave.”

“Terry knows … he knows what you are?”

“Yes, Dorian explained everything. He’s come to take you away.” His last statement damn near choked him. “Whatever happens, don’t hate me. I’m doing this for your protection.”

Sam shook her head frantically. “No, I don’t have to leave. I can stay with Claire until you come back. She can protect me. Gabriel, don’t make me go.”

He would’ve given her a show of emotion but he lacked the energy to do so. “We’re all leaving, Samantha. Please, do as you’re told and don’t give Terry a hard time.”

“I’m never going to see you again, am I?”

Gabriel refused to lie. “I’ll settle matters with the production team. Pack your bags. We leave in an hour.” 


                                                        ******


If free will is the freedom to choose a course of action without the restraint of necessity or coercion, the thesis of causal determinism seemingly forbids free will. If a person's actions are all inevitable, then it seems that it is necessary for a person in a situation to make the choice that he does, and impossible for him to make any other choice. He may deliberate extensively, the deliberation itself a product of causes, but he can only deliberate in a certain predetermined way, and can only conclude by acting in a predetermined manner.


Then, if a person is inevitably directed by causes, how can he be held morally responsible for his actions? Reasonably, a person is not held morally responsible for his actions if he had no choice in his actions. For instance, a person physically forced by another person to kill is not considered responsible for the death; it wouldn’t be possible for the person being forced to do anything but follow the function forced on him. There is no choice in the matter. Similarly, how can a person be the object of resentment or commendation if it’s impossible for him to deviate from his hated or lauded course?


Alternatively, quantum theory tells us that the subatomic activities of the world are truly random, and possibly that this reality is only a single reality in the realm of infinite possible realities. If this were true, and the random events of the most basic levels may be the causes of all else, then everything, including the actions of a person, would be random. On the other hand, we can see around us that it is highly improbable or impossible for random events to manifest in the macroscopic world, apparently due to statistical smoothing. However, if a person's actions may only be saved from causal necessity by random chance, there is still no moral responsibility.


This view may appear to lead one to fatalism; the inevitability of motivations might move a person to despondency or apathy. This need not be so. Despite the impossibility of alternative action, causal necessity may still be reconciled with free will. Still, all the events of a person's life may be hypothetically predictable from beginning to end, and it would be impossible for a person to do anything other than what he does.


On the other hand, if a person is simply defined at any given moment as a culmination of the past, such a person would have a manner of deliberation and choice that is consistent with his desires. If given the choice, ungoverned by causal necessity, that "person," at a given moment defined by his experience and biology, would make the same decisions as the ones that are causally necessitated. Thus, the actions of a person are still voluntary; a person's will is just not originative or boundless. Hence, it cannot be said that a person is ever unnaturally forced by causes to contradict his wishes, only that, because his wishes are the result of causes, his wishes directly concur with what is causally necessitated.


It’s nature’s cruel joke.


For all of his failings, Sin wasn’t ignorant. On the contrary, he was extremely intelligent and brave. Some believed he was Gabriel’s equal. But Sin never felt he measured up to Gabriel. After his father’s death, he and his mother were taken in by Harold and he was raised alongside Gabriel and Dorian in the moral world, much to his mother’s distress. She wanted him with her and Harold sent him back. This was a mistake he’d come to regret. For, when he returned on frequent visits, he found Sin changed. He was no longer that happy bright-eyed attention seeking child he’d known. As Harold feared, Sin had lost his innocence and had been poisoned against him. No doubt his mother brought about the swift change, which, under the circumstances was understandable. Harold had left her a widow with a son.


Riddled with guilt, Harold took Sin away from his mother before more damage could be inflicted on the boy; he doted on him. Their bond grew stronger but it was too late. Sin never forgave Harold for killing his father. Sin acted out and Harold covered for him; he wasn’t exactly a saint himself, especially when it came to women. There were times when Sin genuinely reached out for Harold’s affection but as soon as he drew near Sin pulled away. This was the way things were with them. Both shared the same grief, the same misfortune, yet neither was able to bring the other the peace they so desired. Both seemed bound to Quinn’s grave but for different reasons; neither knew how to let go. It wasn’t his fault, Harold would say in defense of him, he was fed lies as a child and he has every right to be angry. But Sin wasn’t a child anymore. He was a Kelley, a well-equipped killing machine who could raise an army as easily as Gabriel.


Gabriel felt Sin was his father’s sole weakness. Nothing was too good for Sin. Yes, he understood his father’s reasons for keeping him alive but he couldn’t justify Sin’s evils. It was textbook causal determinism. Harold and Gabriel knew this dreadful day would come.


And they were prepared.