Hello. I am new to the ADOW and All Souls fandom. I started watching the show the beginning of May and became obsessed. Matthew Clairmont stole my heart and then some. I have all three books and can say I've never enjoyed a show or book series like this.
Because Bishmont took over my mind, I gave in and wrote my first fanfic with Matthew and Diana. I have never written anything like this before. It's Alternate Reality. Time travel is also in this story. There's been talk of past Matthew remembering Diana's scent, never forgetting it subconsciously because she's his soul mate.
Here is my idea coming from that theme…
I hope I cast a spell on you enough for you to drop a spell (review) on me in return. If there is enough interest, I'll add another chapter. Thank you reading.
Lady Lazarus…
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"It begins with a scent of you. It begins with ancient smells never forgotten, remembered and hidden bringing the past, present and future together. It begins with The Essence Of You." – Lady Lazarus DeClermont
The Essence Of You…
"Willow-sap. Chamomile. Honey. Frankincense. Lady's Mantel. Ancient things I thought I'd forgotten." - Matthew Clairmont: ADOW Episode 3
October 25, 2018 (Week before Halloween)
Sister From Another Creature…
"Sit tight. I have to unlock the gate," Diana's best friend explains as she stops her mini-cooper at a wooden gate.
"Are you sure it's all right for us to be here," Diana wonders. Her mind is filled with questions as to why she was brought to this place. The property through the gate appears to be vast as is the land it occupies.
"Yes. My boss said it was fine. He did give me the keys for us enter the house," her friend grins. Diana has known her best friend since she was fifteen. They met in New York City, at the Top of the Rock. Her parents were dragging her around in the heat of the summer the week of her birthday – August 13th, just before she turned 16.
Diana originally didn't want to go, fearing she'd accidently release a spell on one of the massive buildings making its lights flicker or worse. She attended regular school, but had "magic" lessons with witches from her coven three times a week. She had little time for extracurricular school activities accept one. She begged her parents and gratefully they agreed.
As she watches her best friend who's she known for more than half her life, a vampire, she recalls at how lucky she was to have met her. Diana had grown tired of her parents taking pictures of every landmark, and historical artifacts. She just wanted tour Rockefeller Center, then sit and enjoy the view watching New York City come alive at night.
She pestered her parents to head up to the top floors to watch the sunset. Instead they were busy in the walking the mall, enjoying tea, watches skaters on the ice rink, absorbing has much history of the landmark as possible.
"Can I go up to the top on my own," Diana asked her parents.
Rebecca and Stephen glanced at one another. "Can you control it," they whispered. Diana glared at them. "We know what happens when you get excited. And you could accidently release…"
"I'll be fine Mom." She gave her father a pleading look. "Nothing has happened in a while."
"Let her go Rebecca. She's proved herself capable." Her father spoke to her mother. Diana smiled. "Remember to be careful and be mindful of…,"
"Others like me and humans. Dad I know. Can I go now," she pleaded. They nodded agreeing they'd meet her up on the top floor in thirty minutes. She walked up the winding staircase, headed for the elevator after clearing security. Bypassing the lower levels to view the city, Diana meandered to the upper level. "Wow," she gasped taking it all in.
"It is rather beautiful I must admit," a female English voice uttered behind her. It's a vampire. She did not have to turn around. Her bare skin prickled under their gaze making her hairs stand erect. The tone sent shivers down her spine along with her skin prickling under her watchful eyes. She felt cool not cold.
The vampire stood next to her. "It is." Diana still did not meet her gaze. "First time in New York," Diana inquires being polite.
"No," the vampire answered shocked this young witch was speaking to her. Even with the fraternization rules lifted, she knew some witches from certain areas around the World still kept to themselves especially around Vampires because their blood sang to them. "You," the vampire inquired.
"Coming up to the Top of the Rock yes. The city no," Diana explained. If she wanted to harm her, she would have. Vampires are not known to make small talk. If they want your blood, their lightning flash reflexes will slice you open, take what they want, before you realize what's happening.
"Sunset or sunrise is the best time to see the city. It's when everything is quite…,"
"Like the city is thinking," Diana utters sighing as they sun falls behind buildings. The lights are just beginning to illuminate, giving the city an iridescent glow. "Unsure if it's ready to greet a new day or say goodbye to this one. I know the feeling."
The vampire chuckles sticking out her hand to greet her properly. "I'm…,"
Diana faces her. She's taller. Long brown straight hair in a high ponytail. Piercing brown eyes. Perfect soft skin. She's wearing red tank top, leather pants, and shoes.
"You're a vampire," Diana whispers ensuring know one hears. She connects their hands. The vampire eyes widen feeling her power, then calms quickly.
"You're a witch," the vampire counters side-eyeing her. A grin grows on her face. "And not afraid of me at all."
"No. Should I be," Diana smirks. Her voice is even, no trace of fear. Luckily she was taught to monitor her heart rate and blood pressure to not attract unwanted vampire attention. An elevated pulse, and adrenaline can make one hunt down and kill an unsuspecting creature.
"You're young I gather." Diana doesn't answer. "Where are your parents?"
"Coming I'm sure," Diana responds not scanning the area. "I'm old enough to know better. But young enough to get into trouble and make my parents hair turn grey." The vampire chuckles finally gives the bright witch her name. Her scent is most unusual. Unlike anything she's smelt, reminding her of the approaching autumnal equinox.
Diana hears her breath deeply. "I'm sorry. Around my birthday, I begin to smell different. I can't control it. The closer it gets to Halloween, the more I smell like pumpkin spice and those other fall –winter spices."
The vampire snorts. "Well it's good I don't mind then. The fall spices are my favorite." She picks up hints of bee nectar, frankincense, mayweed, and weeping willow. Weeping willow is odd, an aroma given off by witches who are sad or alone. This one doesn't appear to be, or is she?
"It's a pleasure. I'm Diana," she utters finally introducing herself.
Diana and her new friend chat taking in the spectacular view of the city as the sun sets in the horizon. She shows her photos. Her new friend tells her where she's from. Diana's eyes light up wishing she could go there.
Stephen and Rebecca arrive nearly have a fit seeing their daughter on a bench chatting it up with a vampire. They look extremely comfortable with one another. "She's not in any harm's way Rebecca."
"How can you be sure," her mother questions watching them closely. "You know how her scent changes around her birthday."
"If she wanted to harm Diana, she would have done it," Stephen explained noting the vampire's posture. She's facing their daughter, relaxed intently listening. Both laughing, giggling like sisters snickering at fashion mistakes meandering pass. There are too many humans and other creatures around, never mind the security cameras. "Diana seems to have that calming effect on everyone she meets. It obviously includes vampires. Look at how they are laughing."
Rebecca was skeptical but with her husband's assistance they met their daughter's new friend. When they parted ways that evening, they exchanged numbers. As she grew older, they became best friends. Her parents, Aunt Sarah, her mother's sister and her wife Emily thought it was an odd pairing but found the vampire pleasing and a welcome addition to the Bishop household.
"Mir," is considered Diana's sister from another creature. She lived in the United Kingdom, Oxford not far from the Bodleian Library. Two years later when Diana turned eighteen, graduated high school, her parents presented her with her passport and a plane ticket to go to Europe to spend time with Mir.
Mir took time off from work, spent the summer with Diana running around England, Scotland, Ireland, and as many as the major cities in Europe. It was the best summer Diana had before going off to college.
When Diana turned twenty, Mir introduced her to a doctor friend, another vampire she was close to and trusted. This vampire, a male, was immediately taken by Diana but only felt friendship. He too noticed her odd smell, but found it pleasant. Both he and Mir grew protective as she grew older especially when she hit her twenty-first birthday.
Diana dragged them both to New York City to celebrate. He was her wing-man, fighting off possible suitors. He kept everyone at an arm's length. The three had been thick as thieves since. Her parents, Aunts ended up nicknaming them the "Three Amigos" depending on who caused the most trouble. Both vampires, became her closest friends loved Diana and doing anything for her.
This interspecies mingling would not have been allowed if the Covenant was not repelled. Vampires, witches and daemons could now socialize, talk, date and even marry when the Congregation threw out the Convent in 1900. It was decided, voted upon by all members to allow interspecies friendships and marriages.
Because of the changing of the rules, she was friends with creatures in every species. She interacted with other vampires but they still kept much to themselves.
"Diana," Mir speaks tapping on her hand getting her attention. "A pence for your thoughts," she teases bringing her back to the present sitting in the car driving it through the gate. Eight years later it still boggles Mir's mind how Diana can get lost in her mind.
They pass a plague engraved with, "Old Lodge – Klairemont."
"Klairemont," Diana reads. She glances at Mir as they pass through the gates. "Is that any relation to your boss?"
"It is in fact," Mir explains stopping the car in front of the house. "Different spelling."
"Ah." Diana knows little of Mir's boss. She's worked with him for centuries. He's a vampire. Kept mostly to himself, focusing on his work – a geneticist. Loyal to his friends. Protective of his close nit family. He attends and gives seminars at Oxford. Catholic.
Mir has wanted to introduce him to Diana but always had an excuse not to. Diana is no child. She turned twenty-nine over the summer. He did not "date," was married when he was human, and closed himself up to the possibility of relationship with anyone, especially a warmblood. He was uptight and needed to relax. Mir's friendship with Diana had changed her, she knew it would be the same for him.
"I'm not interested," Matthew warns Mir. "She's a witch. Your sister from another species. You talk at least once a week, and text nearly every day. I know enough about her from you. I don't need to meet her. I feel like I know her already. I still don't get…"
"How I can be best friends with a witch." Matthew reclines backwards in his chair huffing in annoyance. "She's different that's why. You see it to if you met her. She's fun. Feisty. Alive. Vibrant. An astonishingly powerful if she only believed in her capabilities a little more. I thought you approve of us mixing with other species," Mir counters.
"I do," Matthew grouses. "But I choose to not expose myself to temptation. It's best. I commend you for this friendship. You've changed a lot because of her. Witches blood sings to us all and if what you tell is true, she'll sound like the London Symphony Orchestra. I still don't get how you two," he refers to his son, "can be so close to her and not be affected."
"We are but she calms us both. There's something about her Matthew. You'd really like her if you gave her a chance and met her. She's one in a million," Mir explains hoping Matthew will finally acquiesce. "You work all the time. Hardly sleep. Some spice in your life would do you good. I am not trying to fix you up. I am not that crazy."
"I don't need any spice or anyone Miriam. I swear the older the Dee gets, you keep trying to get us to meet. I rather not. Nothing against her. One day I'm sure our paths will cross one day." Matthew presses hoping she'll drop it.
"Suit yourself. I swear she changed my life for the better. I know she can do the same for you," she exasperates walking away. Miriam only stopped pestering him to meet her when he agreed to help Dee out of a problem she found herself in.
"Go and tell Dee it's no problem her using the Lodge." Matthew replies staring at the computer screen. Miriam vented to Dee she lost her venue for a Costume Party she was planning for the teachers and kids at the school she taught at. The place backed out at the last minute. She mentioned it to Matthew and he agreed to let her use his house. He rarely goes there anyway, which is where she has taken her.
"Wow," Diana utters as they stop in front of the house. "I don't understand…."
"I told my boss about your Halloween party problem. He said you could use his house." Her eyes widen grabbing her best friend's arms. "As long as you don't make a mess. Only use certain rooms and keep the kids in the room where it's going to be held."
"Seriously," she squeals jumping up and down. She leaps into Miriam's arms.
"Yes," she walks her up the stairs inside. Once in the living room, all the air leaves her body. "Wow. It's like I'm in a time capsule. Please tell me he'll come. I have to thank him personally."
"I doubt it but I'll ask," Miriam chuckles.
Now a week later, Halloween Day October 31st she's returned to make final preparations. The kids and parents will be arriving after school. Diana has been at the house setting things up with Miriam, and teachers from the school. Right now it's just her and Miriam.
"Mir please tell me you left my gift there for your boss and didn't let Marcus eat them all. You know how hard I worked at that recipe so vampires could eat it," Diana chastises as they put the finishing touches on decorations.
"I was told by you I couldn't have any," she seethes playfully. "I used to your taste tester until Marcus took the job." Diana rolls her eyes. She pesters Miriam to call her boss to thank him. "He's busy Dee." She pouts. "Fine."
Miriam dials Matthew's number.
"Please tell me the kids haven't ruined my house," he grumbles knowing the Halloween party is today. He had misgivings about doing this but something told him it was the right thing to do to help this witch out.
"No," Miriam huffs rolling her eyes. "Did you find the gift?"
Matthew glances around the lab after just walking through the doors. Instantly he's met with an unusual scent of not only pumpkin spice. His heart flutters, two quick hard beats against his breast bone - Willow sap. Chamomile. Honey. Frankincense. Lady's Mantle. Smells from a different time, place he buried deep in his heart. Scents calling him home – make him want to be alive, burry himself in it and never come up for air.
His hand covers his heart squeezing his shirt into a tight ball. His chest aches from the pressure. In over 1500 years, he's never reacted to a scent like this. He exhales and inhales deeply willing his body to relax. It does nothing. His nose picks up more of her scent. His eyes spot an orange box with a black bow.
"It's from her," Matthew inhales and exhales as his hand ghosts over it picking aroma's from the owner. Her scent is on the entire package signaling how much care she placed with assembly his gift. His eyes locate the tag and widen seeing it written in French.
"Merci pour l'ulilisation de votre maison Matthew. (Thank you for the use of your house Matthew.) Cela signifie plus pour moi que vous pourriez savoir. (It means more to me than you could know.) J'espere vous rencontrer beintot. (I hope to meet you soon.)"
Her penmanship is exquisite as is her French. "Merde," he grouses into the line. Miriam never told him she could write in French.
"MATTHEW," Miriam hisses. "Is it there or did your son eat them all ready?"
"No it's here," Matthew voice cracks. Miriam stares at the phone unprepared for his voice change. He slowly unties the ribbon. The smell of pumpkin spice, cloves and nutmeg flood his nostrils. The smell is overpowering. He lifts the lid seeing cookies. "Cookies? Miriam I can't eat these."
"Oh yes you can," she warns. "Dee designed the recipe for us."
"Us as in," his fingers grace the cookies.
"Vampires," she grumbles feeling her frustration with Matthew growing. "But mainly for you." Matthew swallows hard. "Marcus loves them. I don't know how she did it. Her aunts helped. She perfected the recipe using your favorite wine, berries and nuts. She won't tell me anything else." Matthew didn't need to be told, he smells the ingredients. "Try them. She'll be crushed if you don't."
Matthew sniffs. His stomach growls. He smirks. That's a first. He lifts a cookie to his mouth and bites into the airy dough. He braces himself on the table then sits unprepared for the first flavor. Highland Stag. "How in the hell could she have," he wonders to himself. The cookie's taste warms his cold body as he chews slowly. He tastes every nut, berry, his favorite wine, flavors he adores.
"How can this be," his mutters. His heart pounds within his chest with every bite. With each bite the flavors break free into his mouth enticing him to yearn for more. He craves to be this witch's presence. To get lost in the eyes of the woman – who created this cookie - for him. His heart pounds harder. He hasn't even met her He closes the lid quickly eyeing the door for Marcus unwilling to share.
"I told you they were good," Miriam snickers. His silence is deafening.
Diana enters the room. Miriam gives her the thumbs up. "He loves them."
"Yay," she smiles. She calls out. "MATTHEW THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR HOUSE."
Matthew drops the phone on the counter hearing her voice. It sings to him like a favorite piece of classical music, each note, chord, melody causing his ears to ring. His ears ring.
Miriam glances at the phone. "Matthew?"
"Sorry." He quickly explains. His pulse quickens, increasing his breathing listening intently to Dee speak to Miriam about a costume for tonight. "Tell her to look upstairs. Master bedroom. There's probably a dress she can use if she wants."
"THANK YOU," Diana heard him stopping what she was doing hearing his voice. "He is a Sweetheart," she blushes.
"Her name Miriam. I know it's not Dee," Matthew questions with his blood pumping faster through his body.
Diana hears his question. "Diana. Bishop," she coos feeling a smile form on her face. Before Matthew can ask anything else, she scurries up the steps.
"Diana," he whispers finding increasing difficult to catch his breath. Her name does ignites his blood. The warm it creates courses through is cold body.
"You made her day Matthew," Miriam teases after fifteen minutes hearing notices upstairs. "Look I better go help her."
"She'll be there tonight right?"
"Yes. Why?" Miriam pauses. It hits her. She cannot recall the last time she heard him react to anything like this. "You're going to come to meet her. Aren't you?"
He's already grabbing his keys, the cookies unwilling to share any piece of her with Marcus or anyone else. He refuses. He's never felt THIS before and he'll be damned if anything keeps him from meeting her. Miriam hears him punch the code to lock the lab.
"She's going to flip," Miriam grins.
"DO NOT TELL HER," he seethes. "I'm on my way."
Miriam eyes widen as the phone abruptly disconnects. "Men," she pauses. "Correction. Matthew," she bolts up the steps to find Diana in the master bedroom. She stifles a laugh glancing at Diana's attempt to get into a black and white dress from the late 1500's.
"He said I could wear this," Diana hisses. "Wipe that smirk off your face and help me please." Miriam chuckles recognizing Ysabeau's dress – Matthew's mother. Once she's laced into it Diana faces the mirror. "Not bad," she smooths her hand down the fabric. She locates a pair of pearl-drop earrings. "Well?"
"Try them," her friends insists. "They suit you. Matthew said you could."
Diana eagerly places the earrings in her ears. "You look good." Miriam receives a text from Matthew. "I have to check on something downstairs. I'll be back. Stay put until I call for you."
Diana nods walking around the room taking in her surroundings. The queen size bed has a canopy for privacy in in heavy dark green velvet fabric. On the mantle just over the fireplace, she spots a silver chest piece of the Goddess Diana. When her eyes focus on it, it begins to glow and she hears a buzzing sound.
"What in the world," she utters tip-toeing slowly across the room. The closer she becomes the brighter it glows. The "buzzing" sound grows louder. "Hmmm," she places her hand over stopping at the mantle. She picks it up. The sound stops and it dims slightly.
"Odd," she shrugs. She walks to the mirror in her hand stopping in front of it. "What era are you from," she wonders flipping it over. When she flips she hears Miriam coming up the stairs.
"Diana there is someone hear to finally meet you," Miriam announces stepping inside with Matthew behind her.
Diana turns the statue over noting the date. "1590." She thinks to herself what it would like to live back then. "What would it be like to live in 1590," her eyes close.
"Matthew this is my friend Diana Bishop. Diana – Matthew Clairmont."
Diana spins around one foot, meets Matthew's gaze. His piercing green – blue eyes sweep over her in the gown, leaving fractals of frozen crystals sweeping over her bare skin. "Oh Christ Miriam," he gasps seeing Diana for the first time in his mother's dress and earrings. One hand flies to the wall to brace himself while the other over his heart.
Her breath catches. Her foot drops. She disappears before their eyes in a flash of orange light.
"DIANA," Matthew and Miriam call out wondering where she could have gone….
/
TBC…
#WhereDidDianaGo?
Guesses? (I'm thinking you have a "goode" idea but I'll let you tell me….)
To all of you who supported me in putting myself out here and posting this first chapter I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means I great deal you had faith in me even though you had no idea who I was or my writing capabilities. I am so appreciative and hope you leave a review if you are interested in this version of Bishmont.
Thank you for reading and I hope to hear back from you all…
Take care…
Lady Lazarus