Betrayal
She had thought that Gillian was a friend. Not a close friend, but still a friend. Sure, it was annoying that she kept trying to get Diana to go along to meetings and events held by the coven. That she kept trying to get Diana to embrace her magic when her magical skills were limited and had never really shown through. Still, she thought Gillian understood that magic was something she wasn't comfortable with especially after her Parents had been killed for being witches. And yet she had lied straight to her face. Their friendship had been a complete and utter lie.
There was no one she could trust. She had never had a large group of friends, preferring to keep mostly to herself. Gillian was clearly doing Peter Knox's bidding. Peter Knox wanted Ashmole 782 to destroy other species. Her Aunts would just lecture her, particularly Sarah. She was all alone in this. Whatever this was.
Matthew Claremont had warned her that other creatures would try to use her to get the book. That she should make sure they knew she didn't still have the book in her pocession. She just hadn't thought it would be Witches yet alone the ones so close to her. He was the only one who seemed to want Ashmole 782 to help others not destroy them. Perhaps he could help her. But would he want to?
It seemed as though her feet led her to his rooms of their own accord. But the disappointment and despair she felt at him not being at home affected her greater than she had anticipated. It almost brought her to her knees with its force. Which was probably why when she turned back to the stairs to leave, that the relief upon seeing him almost knocked her over. Why was she feeling such strong emotions towards someone she had only met a couple of days ago.
He seemed stunned to see her which was hardly surprising considering when she had told him she never wanted to see him again. And yet he listened to her, thanked her when she calmed down when he asked her to. Explained why he wanted the book and it wasn't for selfish or bigoted reasons. Hell he had even met Charles Darwin.
Honesty and compassion for others was all that she saw when she looked at him. He didn't dismiss her but seemed surprised that she couldn't speak to her friends as there was no one she could trust. Perhaps based on that, he offered to show her his lab so that she could see for herself what he was planning to do with Ashmole 782. And it wasn't to destroy another species.
It was fascinating what Matthew was attempting to do and he had so much passion for his work. He was inspiring. His team seemed wary of her but just as determined to find the answers to the declining species as Matthew. So much for Knox's claim that the Vampires would destroy Witches as the first chance if the Witches didn't unmake the Vampires first.
As he walked her back to her rooms she made the decision to tell him what she had seen in the book. Nothing he had told her today had told her it would be better to keep quiet. Unlike with Knox. It wasn't much but she trusted him to use the information to help instead of destroy. Even though he had been nothing but a gentleman it still surprised her when he kissed the pulse at her wrist. Judging by the expression on Matthew's face, so was he. It was such an old fashioned gesture.
Watching him walk away, she tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. What was it about him that made her want to see him again instead of run screaming in the opposite direction? One thing was certain, she trusted someone who was supposed to be her enemy more than she trusted her so called friends. This would either come back to haunt her or be the best decision she had made.