For it is the drum of drums

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𝕎𝕀𝕋ℍ that, everyone split up. Annabelle clutched the syringe and her gun as she ascended the stairs where the music had been playing earlier. The room was now empty, save for a trail of blood. She walked to the record player, turned it off, and spoke into the comms, "Check in."

Sammy's voice came through first, "All's clear on the east side."

Next was Frank's, "Nothing on two... yet."

Peter's voice followed, laced with irritation, "There's no vampire here. Not that I'm actually looking." He muttered, thinking his comm was off.

Frank's exasperated voice snapped back, "Channel's still open, dick face. Put that fucking bottle down and fucking do something." Annabelle chuckled, tracing her finger along the record player. Frank's voice broke in again, "Can he turn into a rat? 'Cause I might be looking right at him. Maybe he can join the pack."

Peter's chuckle followed, "Oh, now I get it. I get the... I get the name now. I get it. The Rat Pack, right? Yeah. That's funny."

Annabelle smiled and shook her head, enjoying the brief moment of levity. She turned around, only to be startled by Gabriel standing behind her. Before she could scream, he covered her mouth with his hand and plucked the communicator from her ear, switching the channel off. Annabelle's eyes widened in fear. She tried to inject him with the syringe, but Gabriel caught her wrist and disarmed her.

Annabelle twisted out of his grip but collided with the furniture behind her, falling and cutting her hand. She held her injured hand, backing against the wall, her breath quickening with fright. Expecting pain, she closed her eyes, but instead, she felt a tight yet gentle embrace.

Gabriel held her close and kissed her neck softly. Annabelle looked at him, confused, as he took her injured hand. "You're hurt, let me see." Gabriel examined the wound, then stood and tore a strip from the curtain. He returned to her and wrapped the cloth around her hand before kissing her palm. Annabelle's mind whirled with conflicting emotions. Gabriel's tenderness was disarming. She stared at him, trying to make sense of the situation, as he looked at her with an intensity that was both frightening and captivating.

"Why?" Annabelle asked, staring at him.

"Why what?" Gabriel smiled, his eyes filled with longing, his fangs retracted.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Annabelle pressed.

Gabriel smiled and kissed her forehead. "Why shouldn't I be nice to you, to the woman I love?"

Annabelle looked at him, then down at the necklace rings. "Why... why do I keep getting visions? Why is there a picture of me in an old newspaper saying that I died? Why do I feel so comfortable around you? Why?"

Gabriel's gaze softened. He wiped away a tear Annabelle hadn't realized was there, born of confusion and frustration. "Have you ever heard of reincarnation? Apparently, when you... when you died, you came back. Your name back then was Annastasia, and you were the most beautiful ballet dancer I had ever seen." He smiled, lost in the memory, though his eyes held sadness. "I came to your shows every time and sat in the same row."

"The third row in the thirteenth seat..." Annabelle added, her voice barely a whisper.

Gabriel looked at her, stunned, then nodded and smiled. "Exactly. However, one day, when you were performing the final act of Swan Lake, some drunks thought it would be funny to start a shootout, and you... you got shot. I couldn't save you. I did get my revenge and killed all those bastards one by one, slowly." His fangs reappeared as anger flickered in his eyes. Gabriel took Annabelle's hands in his. "To answer your question about who you are to me—you are my wife."

Annabelle was taken aback, staring at him, then down at the rings. Gabriel continued, "So, I'll never hurt my wife." He smiled, kissed her neck once more, and embraced her. "I'm just happy that you came back to me."

Annabelle's mind raced, trying to process the flood of information. The memories, the feelings, the strange familiarity as old feelings started resurface. She closed her eyes, leaning into Gabriel's embrace, feeling an inexplicable sense of belonging.

Gabriel started kissing Annabelle's neck passionately, his lips trailing a line of fire along her skin. Annabelle gasped, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders as the sensation overwhelmed her. His kisses moved upward, brushing against her jaw before capturing her lips with an intensity that made her heart race.

Annabelle responded, her initial hesitation melting away as she kissed him back, her fingers tangling in his hair. Gabriel's hands roamed her back, pulling her closer, as if trying to eliminate any distance between them. The heat between them was electric, each touch igniting a deeper hunger.

Gabriel whispered against her lips, "I've missed you so much, Annabelle. Every lifetime, every moment without you, has been torture."

Annabelle's breath hitched, her eyes locking onto his with a mixture of confusion and longing. "Gabriel," she murmured, her voice trembling.  Their lips met again, this time more urgently. Annabelle pressed against him, feeling the solid warmth of his body. Gabriel's hands slipped under her shirt, his touch sending shivers down her spine. She arched into him, craving more, needing to feel every part of him.

They moved together, a dance as old as time, each kiss and caress a testament to the lifetimes of love they had shared. Gabriel's mouth left her lips, trailing down her throat and across her collarbone. Annabelle's head fell back, her eyes fluttering shut as she surrendered to the overwhelming sensations.

"Annabelle," Gabriel whispered against her skin, his voice filled with reverence and desire. "You are my everything."

Annabelle opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. The intensity in his eyes mirrored her own, a reflection of the passion and love that had transcended time. She pulled him closer, her lips finding his once more, pouring all her emotions into the kiss.

Gabriel kissed Annabelle, the passion still lingering in the air, before he pulled back slightly and whispered, "As much as I would love to continue, there are some rats that I'll have to kill."

With one final, lingering kiss, he disappeared like the wind, leaving Annabelle sitting there, her heart racing and her mind in a whirlwind. She covered her face with her hands in embarrassment, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. "What the hell just happened?" she muttered to herself, the events feeling surreal.

Taking a deep breath, she shook her head to clear her thoughts, coming back to reality. She straightened herself up, her resolve returning, and picked up the syringe that lay on the ground. With a final glance around the room, she steadied herself and left, ready to face whatever came next.

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By: SilverMist707

I hope you enjoyed it and sorry that it was a bit short <3