Chapter 8

We were in my room shortly after dinner talking about names. I had spoken to James before he left. He wanted to head for New Orleans right away, so we told him he could offer his thoughts on names via text. I really wanted his opinion to be included.

I had pulled out my laptop and we were gathered around my desk. I was doing searches on every name we thought of. We wanted it to be as unique as the students and it seemed most of the ones we had come up with are already in use somewhere, several as parts of Oxford or Cambridge.

"What about Pembroke? Mum was friends with Mary Pembroke in 1591." Beck said.

"Cambridge" I answered.

"Blackfriars?"

"Oxford"

"Hogwarts?"

"Seriously Len?"

"No, but it fits" he laughed.

"The School of Night" Tav threw in.

"Not bad. Dad was actually part of it, but it sounds so dark"

"Marlowe Academy"

"Let's write that one down. It was used until 2015 by an online school but it looks defunct. Good one Len."

"The old lodge is in Woodstock, what about Woodstock Academy?"

"Established in Connecticut in 1801"

"Well the name doesn't have to be totally unique, just not super common or well known, right? I mean if you say 'Winchester' in London, everyone knows what you mean, but in the States it's not commonly known. There's no 'Woodstock' here so we could do that, right?" Beck said.

"That's fair, add that one."

We went on like this for several hours until Jack came in to say "It's after midnight guys, get some sleep. Dad wants you all at breakfast at 8."

"OK Dad, what are you and Mom doing tomorrow?"

Jack smiled big when Tav said that. "We're going to talk to Father H in the morning about doing a wedding for us. Then we're off to Woodstock with Dad. You boys be alright here for a day or two?"

"Sure Dad. Tav and I will be busy working on names and uniforms."

"OK boys, off to your room."

"Jack? If Stevie and Chris are coming here, where will your boys sleep?"

"I don't think they're coming yet Pip. Still too many plans to make for that, leave them with Sarah and their tutors for now."

I nodded and gave Tav a kiss on the cheek then he followed Jack and Len to their room. Beck followed.

The next morning, I was up early, showered, and down to breakfast before anyone. I had my plate and was sitting when Dad walked in.

"Dad? Liza said something yesterday about 'vampire mating' being quick. What did she mean?"

"Your mother and I were married a few times, but we knew we were mated after only a few weeks. I knew she was the one after only one day."

"Yeah, but how?

"It's hard to explain Pip. Something inside clicked and from that moment on, I knew I had to protect her from any harm, and to share my life with her. She was a part of me I never knew I was missing but once she was there, I was complete. Not that I wasn't complete and comfortable as I was all my life, but finding her just added so much to my life."

"Not to be silly but you mean like apple pie is complete on its own but adding ice cream completes the dessert?"

"A very good analogy. Either one is complete alone, and needs nothing to be a good thing, but put together, they're better than the sum of their parts."

"And how did you know Mum was the one? Surely in 1500 years you'd met other women?"

"Well, yes, I spent time with many women over the centuries, and I loved several of them. I just never felt the pull like I did with your mother. Is there a reason you're asking?"

"Well I'm trying to figure out Tav. I mean we just met two days ago and I know there are many different kinds of love. I've read about teenage crushes. I've never had a good friend really. Beck's my best friend but she's my sister, and twin, so that's different. I'm just trying to sort it all out. With what Liza said I wanted to know if you had seen something, or if there was some magic signal I've missed or something."

Dad laughed as Mum came in and asked "Magic signal about what Pip?"

I started to answer but Tav, Len and Beck came in just then so Dad covered for me. "About a perfect name for our new school." He said, giving Mum a wink.

"Well, have you come up with any ideas yet?"

"Len thinks we should go with Hogwarts Mum." Beck said.

That got a round of laughs and eye rolls.

"You knew Christopher Marlowe Dad, what about 'Marlowe Academy'?"

"Kit didn't get along well with your mother Pip, I don't know. Diana?"

"I think it would be wonderful Matthew. You loved Kit and he was a daemon, so it's fitting. Any others?"

"We thought 'Pembroke' for Mary Pembroke, but that's already at Cambridge. Oxford has 'Blackfriars', and there's a 'Woodstock Academy' in Connecticut."

"There's nothing wrong with using a name that's already in use. There are thousands of schools in the US named after George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the like. But it's nice you're trying to tie it to us. Maybe something less personally tied to Matthew and I though. Like he said last night, we want this to be for all creatures, not just our family and if the name has a personal connection, we might upset some."

"Well yeah, they're personal, but they're also historical references."

"That's true. Keep working tho, we don't need an answer today."

Just then Jack and Liza came in. "We're off to breakfast with Father H. We'll be back before noon Dad."

"OK, I want to leave by 1. We'll stay tonight and return tomorrow evening."

"Father H has Richard covering for Leonard. James and him left for New Orleans last night after dinner."

"That reminds me, I need to call Ransom. Thanks Jack, see you later."

After they left, Mum turned back to us and asked "And did you discuss uniforms?"

"No Mum, but it's easy. Navy blazer, navy slacks or skirts/kilts, white dress shirt, burgundy necktie with a crest in gold. No hats."

"That sounds like a declaration Becca, was this discussed?"

"No Mum, everyone knows you leave the fashion to the girls"

"Hey! What about the gay men and our fashion sense?"

"I've seen how you dress Tav, no, just no."

"And now you see why I never argue with my wife Tavish. Bishop women are stubborn."

Mum said "It seems to me that my mother-in-law is a rather formidable force as well."

"Gentlemen, it is time to quit the field of battle."

"Hold on Matthew. All kidding aside, Becca can't just dictate. What do you boys think?"

"I think it's great Mrs. Bishop-Clairmont. It'll look classy and modern."

"Thank you Lennox, but please, call me Dianna."

"Yes ma'am. Like I said, it'll look good. As long as we are clear that slacks or a skirt is for everyone. I don't want any difference between males or females in a dress code. That should apply to jewelry, hair, everything."

"Yeah Mum, if we're making a modern school, we need to be modern in our views too. And about hair, a lot of these schools ban 'unnatural hair colors'. I don't want to do that. We're gonna have daemons, and you know how they like to have a certain flair."

"Looks like we're in good hands with things Matthew." then turning to us, "I'm having lunch with Linda, Liza, and Phoebe so we'll be out until dinner time. Your Dad and Jack are leaving at lunch, what are your plans today?"

"We can just hang out here all afternoon Mum, we've got things we can do. Dad, you'll still be here for lunch?"

"Most likely, yes. Jack will probably be here then too. I'll tell Father H to have a car free in case you decide to roam a bit, but let one of us know if you go out, please?"

"Sure Dad."

With breakfast done, we headed up the stairs when Mum called, "Pip, can I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure Mum."

"We'll be in my room Pip."

I turned back down and followed Mum into her study, grabbed a chair and sat.

"What did I interrupt before breakfast? Or is it personal?"

"It's personal Mum but I wanted to ask you too so it's fine. Liza said vampires mate fast, how did you know Dad was the one? And when?"

"Don't beat around the bush Philip, get to the point."

"Funny Mum, but I'm serious. At what point were you sure you wanted to be with Dad the rest of your life?"

She looked lost in thought for a minute then said "My mind didn't know it for a few weeks, but, and understand, I've not told this to anyone but him, there was a chain connected to my heart that I could feel starting to connect us from the first time I saw him. At first I couldn't hear it, but later I could almost hear it rattling at times. Now I can just pull at it and feel him, no matter where he is. At times, when I'm looking at the threads around us, the thread between us looks like that chain."

"Do you see threads like that between others?"

"I've seen the thread between Marcus and Phoebe before, yes."

"Do you see any of those around me or Beck?" I almost whispered.

"Pip, honey, I think you and Beck should explore those things without me influencing it with anything I might see, at least for now. Are you getting feelings for Tav already?"

"Mum, the first time I looked into his eyes my heart stopped. I couldn't breathe for like a minute. When we came home from the movie I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about him and I was feeling totally empty. I've never felt like that. I've been away from family before and missed them but I've never felt empty like that. And I've read about teen crushes and everything and I don't know the difference."

"I think it's wonderful you're connecting with him honey, and I think it's mature of you to be asking all these questions. The only answer I can give you is that I can't answer it for you. Only the two of you will know what's right, when it's right."

I got up, put my arms around my mother and just held her. "Thanks Mum."

As I was walking out the phone rang. I heard her talking a second then she called to me "It's Linda, she wants to know if you'd like to meet two prospective students this afternoon?"

"I'd like to but it'll only be the four of us here. Is that OK?"

"It'll be fine. She'll drop them off when we go to lunch and we'll sort it out about getting them home later."

"OK. I'll tell everyone."

I ran up to Beck's room and they were all on her laptop looking at pictures of the uniforms she had in mind. Tav ran over and hugged me.

"Missed you Mo Gradh."

"Missed you Mo Leannan."

"Will you two get a room?" Len said.

"It's across the hall." I said, "Why? Wanting some privacy?"

Beck turned beet red and I knew I was right. I'm sneaky.

"What I want, is for my brother to help us figure out a crest for the school."

"A crest? Dad said a name and a uniform. I don't remember him saying a crest?"

"A crest is part of a uniform, so he said it without saying it."

"And a crest should show a mascot, so we've got to figure that out too."

"Tav, you're adding to our workload too? Leave it to you three, we'll be sorting out house assignments too."

"Nah, leave that to the hat."

We all pounced on Len for that one. It seemed he's a rather huge fan of a certain wizard.

We looked at hundreds of pictures of different styles and colors but what Beck had said at breakfast was honestly perfect. We all agreed the navy, white, and burgundy looked good.

"I don't want to use the terms skirt and kilt as they are male and female."

"No Len, a kilt is only pleated in the back, a skirt can have pleats anywhere, or nowhere."

"Hmm, still, I want a boy to feel comfortable saying his is a skirt if he wants."

"I don't think anyone should care. I agree, we want people to feel safe and accepted."

"Linda will be here in ten minutes!" we heard from the hall.

"OK Mum, we'll come down now. Sorry, I forgot to tell you guys. Linda's bringing two prospective students."

"Already? We just talked about this last night!"

As I headed for the hall I saw Len helping Beck up off the floor and then he gave her a kiss on the cheek. I gave him a little smile and a nod, giving my unspoken approval.

"Maybe it's a sign?" I said.

When we got to the foyer, Linda introduced us to the two young men she had brought to visit. "Philip and Rebecca Bishop-Clairmont, and Tavish and Lennox Sampson, may I present James and Xan Windsor,

We all stood straighter and bowed from the neck.

"Your Lordships" we said as one.

"Alright, fine, that's out of the way, I'm James and he's Xan. Bow to us again and you'll be in the tower."

"Well, my house in France has 4 towers, so I'd feel right at home."

"OK boys, you can discuss whose is bigger later, we have to be going."

"Mother! Such innuendo, in front of royalty too! I'm ashamed!"

"Nothing to be ashamed of Philip, I'm sure it'll grow."

"Thanks Xan... thanks a lot."

"James is the newest member of the coven Pip, I bet he'd love to meet Apollo."

"OK Mum, enjoy your lunch." nodding to acknowledge Mum's tacit approval to let James and Xan know our true nature. She really didn't need to do that though, because as we were going up the steps,

"Wow you four really shine don't you? How do the humans not notice?"

"We'll explain upstairs. You guys are 13 now right?"

"I am. James will be in December. And yourselves?"

"Actually today's my 8th birthday. Len's was yesterday."

Xan and James stopped walking and stared at Tav, mouths hanging open.

"There's more, let's go to my room."

They followed in total silence. I just hoped they didn't run when they saw the zoo. Thank the Gods 'Pollo and Lucy were asleep. Tarroo was perched on the foot of my bed and Peanut was grooming him. Once again, the Windsors froze, staring.

"OK gentlemen, come in and relax, we have some secrets to share." I said, tossing some pillows on the floor so we could all relax.

"Pip, er, Philip and I are also 8. We'll be 9 in November."

"But you look our age, what's with that? Hormones in the food or something?"

"No Xan, it's magic."

"Magic? Like your mom put an aging spell on you or something?"

"Really James? It didn't work for the Weasley twins, it won't work for us." I said, laughing. "We're not witches. You know who our Dad is, right?"

"Yeah, he's Matthew De Clermont, or Bishop-Clairmont, or Roydon as Elizabeth I knew him. Gran is always talking about him."

"You know that it's recent news that some witches can have kids with vampires, right? Well, the kids aren't vampires and we aren't witches. They call us bright born, and that's what the four of us are."

"OK, and that means?"

"Short version, we have magic, and we age fast at first, then slow to almost no aging, we eat human food or drink blood, but the coolest thing is we have familiars." I said as I mentally poked 'Pollo and told him to walk slowly over.

"And here is Pip's now" Tav pointed at Apollo.

Both boys gasp as the 5' tall griffin slowly came over and laid his head in my lap.

"Well if we're sharing secrets, maybe it's time Cousin James knew the truth."

James' head snapped around to stare at Xan. "What? Don't tell me you're like them?"

"Not exactly, but I think I know why their mum could have a vampire's child. Bright born aren't the only ones with familiars."

"You're a weaver?" Beck asked.

"Yup. Cousin Liz is glad I'm not in the line, keeps the focus off of me. That Great Dane you always see me with? She's actually a unicorn."

"A unicorn!?"

"Well, I am Scottish, and a Windsor, so what else would she be?"

"Oh now I know you've gone off the trolley. And what exactly is a weaver dear cousin of mine?"

"It's complicated, but the easy answer is we don't use spells, we weave magic. It's why I never cared to learn your mum's family's spell for keeping my saddle safe on my horse. I can't cast spells, I have to weave them."

"Am I gonna learn about it in this new school Linda's been goin on about?"

"Yes James, you will most likely."

"That's all I need to hear, so enough magic, unless you have any other surprises?"

"Well, I broke up with Jacob last week. Is that a surprise?"

"Oh hell no, I saw that coming. You've been chasing Ariane since boxing day!"

"Who's Ariane?"

"Princess Ariane, my dear Becca, is the youngest daughter of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands."

"What about you James? Do you have someone special?"

"No Tav, I have to have anyone I want to date approved by Gran and she says I'm too young anyway. How about yourselves?"

"Lennox is my boyfriend."

The only one of us four that didn't seem shocked by that was Beck. Tav and I looked at each other and grinned, Len looked like he wanted to both crawl under a rock to die and shout from the ramparts for joy.

"Sorry sis, maybe you should've asked him first huh?"

"OH it's fine with him. I had a dream last night, you know, a dream?"

"Well, what else happened in this dream?"

"I'll just say that it'll be a double wedding."

Peanut, 'Pollo and Tarroo all three screamed. That happens to your familiar sometimes when you're overloaded with emotions so it didn't surprise me, but it scared poor James so bad he jumped and ran for the bathroom.

Suddenly Beck jumped up and yelled "Pip, we've gotta get to the Greyfriars, NOW!"

"What? Why?"

"I'll explain on the way, just MOVE! Call Father H and get a car here quick."

"Never mind, our car's waiting, JAMES, get a move on, we have to be off!"

"Thanks Xan, I don't know why we're going, but when Beck says she knows something, just trust her."

We ran down the stairs two at a time and rushed out the door. Xan's Bentley was sitting there and before his driver could get out, the six of us had bolted in the back with Xan shouting "Greyfriars, now!"

"But M'lord?"

"But nothing, just go."

"Yes sir."

As we were rushing through the London midday traffic, Beck had Mum on her mobile "Mum? Something's happened at the coven... No, I don't know what but I felt a pull and then a saw a little girl, she's hurt... We're on our way there now but maybe you're closer?...Yeah, Xan's car was at the house so we got right out...Yes, we'll be careful, just hurry, please?"

"No need to tell us more, we all heard it." Len said as he held Beck close.

"Any idea who it is or what's happened?"

"No Tav, I've never seen her before. It looks like she fell." Beck said as she started to sob.

"Hey sis, hang in there, we'll get there soon." as I squeeze her hand.

"I know Pip, it's just that last week I was complaining about my visions not being accurate and now I'm having dreams about my wedding and seeing strangers getting hurt. What's happening to me?"

"Hey baby, it'll be OK. I'm here with you, and if your mom can't figure it out, I bet Mom can. She's always been a powerful seer. She can help you learn to control it. Just lay back and let me hold you until we get there. We can't do any good by worrying."

I was surprised by how Len was talking to Beck but it was definitely helping. I could see her breathing coming back to normal and I could feel the tension flowing away from her body into his, like he was absorbing her stress and calming her. I looked at Tav and he gave me a little smile and squeezed my hand.

Xan was cool as a cucumber. Sitting back, watching London go by like we were on a day trip to visit Parliament. James was looking at the four of us, seemingly unconcerned with all the strange things happening but I could see in his face he was concerned about us.

My mobile rang, it was Marcus. "Diana called, said you're headed to the coven and someone's hurt?"

"Yeah, Beck had a vision. I don't know anything other than she said we need to go now, so we did. We'll be there in a minute or two. Can you come? Just in case?"

"I'm on my way already Pip, slow down and breathe. All of you be careful, don't take any risks. I'll be there in ten minutes. Call me back once you see what's going on." and the line went dead.

"Marcus is on his way. He says ten minutes."

"We don't have ten minutes Philip. I got a glimpse of what Becca saw, it's about to happen, and we have roughly 4 minutes or that girl is dead."

I looked at Xan stunned. How did he see Beck's vision? Xan could see the doubt on my face but he just looked me in the eye and nodded, like there was no doubt about what he was saying. As we pulled up in front of Greyfriars. he grabbed my mobile and tossed it to his driver. "Redial and tell Marcus to hurry, we have no time. James, wait here and tell him where we are."

As we climbed out of the Bentley we heard it. A rumble under our feet, it wasn't a train in the tube, this was inside the church. This was in the coven. I muttered some words as we rushed to the door and didn't hesitate, it was unlocked. Down the old stone stairs we ran, through the dust. Tav was muttering something and all the dust cleared, then we saw it, and it was bad.