Episode 16 Part 4

(A day later)

Marcus and Thomas sat in their taxi boat, peering over the wheelhouse roof as they drove through an invisible barrier to a large island hidden from the Venetian human world.

"All you both have to do is name me Grandmaster and the transition of power is…"

"We can't do that," Marcus suddenly interrupted. He and his brother stopped walking and Baldwin stopped walking too. "Sorry but we're keeping it," every word is spoke made Baldwin turn around slowly with a furious face. "We're going to use the knights to make a positive change for all creatures,"

Baldwin marched on them slowly, struggling to contain his temper. "The Knights of Lazarus were formed to protect de Clairmont's interests. It's not a charity,"

"We're not giving you the Knights Baldwin," Thomas crossed his arms. "And that's finale,"

Baldwin tried to speak but he pointed a finger. "And don't think of using your patriarchal power over our family as a means to force us to," their uncle tried yet again to speak his daring eyes held him in place; he wasn't afraid of him. "Our father gave us this mantle for a reason and we will honour his wishes by following his footsteps to lead these knights to do good deeds for others like in the old days. There are many creatures out there suffering whilst we're thriving. This isn't the world that Phillipe wanted it to be,"

"You have an important part to play," Marcus spoke up again. "We need your help,"

"I don't need to answer to you two," the hot-headed cold-blood retorted.

"You are a knight and you will," Marcus said strongly. He peered around carefully for any eavesdroppers. "Not here," he walked away, Thomas behind him, and Baldwin reluctantly following into his office down the hallway. Ensuring doors were closed and no footsteps were nearby, the brothers faced their uncle. "Those daemons are Thomas's house….were there because they needed help. Their daughter was born just last week…" as he spoke, he eyed Thomas very carefully, uncertain if what they were about to reveal was the best course of action… "….as a witch,"

Baldwin became intrigued.

"The family haven't done anything wrong," said Thomas. "But they'll have to spend their entire lives hiding,"

"If this is true…" Baldwin spoke slowly, still dazed by the news. "The witches will want the child. And the Congregation will want to examine her,"

"We are not going to let that happen," Thomas vowed. "They made me their daughter's godfather and I intend to keep her and her parents. Safe,"

"Your role will be to warn us if the Congregation hears of this," Marcus commanded.

Baldwin however wasn't persuaded. "We have a blood-raged killer on our hands and you're worried about creatures who aren't like us,"

Thomas turned red. "How can you be so selfish? They're part of our family now,"

"You two have spent too much time with humans,"

"Who says you can tell us whom we can or can't hang around with?" challenged Marcus. "Maybe if you spent time around them, you'd develop a consciousness as we have,"

"You're both soft," mocked Baldwin. "And stupid. Especially you," he eyed Thomas dangerously. "I can smell that revolting human all over you,"

Thomas felt his blood-rage boiling inside. Marcus could see his eyes twitching. "Don't you dare call her that,"

"If you have told us her about us…I will hunt her down. And destroy her,"

Thomas wanted to lash out at all that anger he had been burying for years but Marcus stepped up. "He loves her," he defended. "She makes him happy. I've only met her just once but I can see very clearly that she loves him just as much as he loves her. And if you can't accept their love for each other, then screw you,"

Baldwin refused to be put in his place. "You've allowed that freak to rub off all over you. You're practically using her words. Your ideology is contaminated, Marcus. Like your blood,"

"I already know I'm a carrier," Marcus said quickly. "Thomas told me everything. He did the right thing. And Aurora is nothing compared to what you are,"

"Phillipe should have culled all of Ysabeau's bloodline. Including you two," Baldwin sinisterly said to Thomas. "Tell me…does that human know? Are you afraid she'll leave you?"

Controlling his blood rage, Thomas marched on Baldwin. "You are never interested in anyone but yourself," he had waited years to say those words to him. "In the end, you're surprised…" he showed his teeth slightly. "….that you always end up alone,"

"It all makes sense now…" Marcus marched up on Baldwin as well. "Why Phillipe was always so disappointed in you," he expressed his repulse with cold eyes and a strong face with powerful cheekbones that mimicked his refusal to be silenced by the patriarch of their vampire clan. "As the leaders of the grand knights we command you to keep this secret or you will be punished very much,"

"Do anything that endangers my goddaughter or Phoebe or Aurora…I will treat you the same way you wanted to treat me since I was sired," With the fire sparking in his facial features, Thomas knew there was nothing more important to him now than protecting the people he loved so much.

Baldwin said nothing; he didn't need to. Unafraid of his boiling red face, the brothers turned and left the office, proud they had put him on the spot for the first time in their lives. They only hoped that the secret would not be spilt.

They walked through the hallways and across the courtyards towards the boat docks, hearing and smelling traces of any Congregation members. They didn't smell Peter or Satu or any daemons. Only Gerbert.

"There's no sign of Domenico here either," said Thomas, remembering how they had braced themselves for a glimpse of the vampire who had been sniffing around to solve the mystery of the warm-blood vampire killer. "And the knights haven't sent news of him in Oxford,"

"Where else would he go?" asked Marcus.


Domenico drove into Maddison in a rented car, a determined colour painting his face. He came to the city centre and parked the car. He walked through the streets, eying a group of witches whose blood he could hear singing under their skin. He kept a far but visible distance. They turned a corner and he followed closely behind them, following their scent and sound-making trails. He came to an ancient church and entered through the open doors as crowds were just leaving a service. Staying close to the back, he saw the witches through some wooden doors. He walked through the space between the rows of wooden chairs, past the altar towards the bolted entry. He pushed it firmly through entering a giant cellar-like room of tables and powders and potions and witches. The Maddison Coven.

An elder witch in blue with a long white beard coldly approached him.

"How dare you come here," he spat distastefully.

"It's bad enough that Peter Knox of the Congregation rudely demanded information but now you..." a middle-aged witch pointed his finger. "…a vampire is too far. Leave,"

"Such unnecessary hostility," Domenico said.

"What do you want?" the leader demanded.

"I want you to tell me about this woman," he pulled out his phone and showed them a picture. "She's been missing for over thirty years. I was only ever to trace her down to here. Maddison. Any of you recognise her?"

The witches looked at his photo and then instantly pulled up faces of annoyance. "Never seen her," the leader hissed.

Domenico leaned forward. He didn't growl but his expression was cold. "You're lying. I can hear your heart beating. You've seen her. And I want you to tell me everything,"

"I don't answer to the Congregation. And neither does this coven,"

"You will. Because if you don't answer my questions, you could be brought before the Congregation for refusing to answer a member's questions. Your entire coven could be brought down and all these witches will have to vacant to new homes or worse…be spellbound,"

The witch glared harder to hide his defeated face. "Fine," he gave in without a second thought. "But once I give you the answer, you will leave this place at one,"

Domenico pulled his head back a bit. "Well?"

"She went to the house of Stephen Procton and Diana Bishop. She stayed there for a long while and then she left again,"

"Why was she there? And when did she leave?"

The witch tried to stay quiet but his prying eyes made her blabber non-stop. "She was pregnant. She had nowhere else to go. She stayed for the next six months at the house. I was ordered to bring herbs and to help look after her. Stephen and Rebecca helped her deliver the child but she left instantly after she was born. No one in town has seen her since,"

"What happened to her?"

"No one knows. Stephen and Rebecca searched for her but they found no trace,"

"And the child's father? Did he ever come?"

"She never spoke of him to the Bishop family. Rumours say she was frightened of him. Of what the people he represented would do to the child once it was born,"

Domenico found himself unable to control his breathing. "Who was this child's name?"

"Aurora," the witch finished. "Now that is all I have to say. I've done what you asked. Now leave us,"

"Thank you," Domenico was uncannily shocked much to their perplexity. In a flash, he left the building, their faces looking out at him with questionable expressions. He stammered back to his car but wouldn't enter, too overwhelmed by all that he had learnt. Pulling out his phone slowly, he gazed longingly in tears at the image of the woman whose whereabouts he would never find out. Then he slides to the next picture. Aurora wore no difference in appearance from the woman who had left her to protect her.


Aurora and Phoebe walked together, the former staying close to the latter as they made their way to the hospital. "I thought I might take you to meet my friends and my new god-daughter," Aurora walked Phoebe to the hospital.

"Thank you. If it's no trouble at all,"

"Why would it be? They're the ones who convinced Thomas to ask you out. They will love you. And Sophie is such a big fan of art like you and me. You'll love her a lot,"

"Well...I'll try to make a bad impression on them," she said awkwardly, still hesitant about meeting new people who weren't humans.

"Don't worry. They like meeting new people and whatever it is you say, they won't feel offended one bit," Her words gave Phoebe some confidence.

They entered through the front entrance and made their way down the hallways after Aurora sighed them in at the front desk.

Suddenly she heard her phone ringing. She fished it out. "Oh, dear. Just my aunts,"

"Is everything all right?" asked Phoebe worriedly.

"I need to answer this call. You go ahead. I'll be there in just a moment,"

"Okay," Phoebe walked ahead.


Agatha had brought some milk in for Margeret and some well-needed tea for her daughter-in-law. "Should be able to leave by tomorrow and we'll go to Sept Tour as soon as possible,"

Nate and Sophie exchanged worried glances. "Everything will be all right. We've got her godparents and the knights to protect us,"

Nate and Sophie knew they could rely on Aurora's abilities and Thomas's incredible speed and strength. They eyed baby Margaret sleeping peacefully in her cradle.

"I can't wait for us to meet Phoebe in person," said Sophie excitedly, remembering the phone call from Aurora an hour ago.

"Let's not tell you picked the flowers for her," Nate advised, earning a chuckle. Just after he said that they heard the opening swing of the doors. "Oh hey, Aurora…we've been waiting…"

When he turned around, he saw a tall witch wearing a smart black suit.

Agatha turned in shock after pouring some tea and saw it was Peter. "What are you doing?" quickly she dashed in front of her family.

Peter entered without permission, shutting it behind him. "Thought I pop in to see the new arrival,"

"Don't you come a step closer," Agatha warned.

"When were you going to tell us about this special child?"

"Come any closer and I'll kill you with my bare hands,"

Peter suddenly raised his special orb item and send out a sonic wave that knocked Agatha out. She fell to the floor in a lump. "Mum!" Nate cried out. He tried to grab Peter's weapon but he knocked him too and along with Sophie's whose head fell on her pillow. He stepped over their bodies towards the crib, holding his hands to summon the magic power simmering and singing in Margaret's blood.


Phoebe arrived at the hospital door and gently pushed it out. "Hi. Sorry if I…" she paused when she saw the three-knocked-out daemons and the intruder whom she had never seen before standing over the crib holding the baby.

"What do you think you're doing?!" her outbreak alarmed Peter. His heart jumped at her presence. He turned his attention off Margaret and eyed her in utter shock. He knew at first glance she was a human. "What are you doing to her?" PHoebe's courage withered when she saw the witch eying her with menace.

"Who did you think you are?" Peter questioned, demanding an answer.


Unaware yet of the confrontation, Aurora held her phone apprehensively to her ear. What do you mean a vampire from the Congregation came to Maddison asking questions about my mother?

He threatened the Madison coven to tell them what happened. Em said over the phone.

Aurora I am imploring you, please come back to Sept Tour. Sarah begged.

Who was he? Just when Aurora said that she heard something strange and distant echoing in her ears. She was hearing something. Like a vampire would. Her vampire super senses were awakening. She heard Phoebe's heartbeat increasing rapidly. Something was wrong.

"How did you discover the creature world?" There was only one person who spoke so coldly in such a cruel way. Peter Knox.

Sorry. I gotta call you back. Shutting off the phone, she dashed as fast as she could, hearing more of Peter's spiteful words to Phoebe. She heard, "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to kill you," Aurora burst through the hospital room. To her alarm, she saw Peter's raised hand with his magic weapon at a shocked Phoebe who shuddered against the wall, the daemons still knocked out. She placed her between them. "Peter," she seethed.

"Been some time," he greeted casually, putting up the feign of there is no bad blood. "How long has it been? A while?"

"Drop the play-card Peter. You made a big mistake coming here,"

"Much bigger than your mistake to reveal a secret world to a human?" Peter eyed Phoebe repulsively. She quivered but Aurora's position in front of her made her feel safe.

"She is under my protection. And so are they," she gestured to all the daemons he had taken down. "How did you get past…"

"The knights aren't as clever as you deem them to be," the ominous witch interrupted. "I'm only here to confirm the child's existence. The arrangements will follow at a further date," he proceeded to walk away but Aurora blocked him.

"What arrangements?" she demanded.

"She's a witch. So, she'll be raised by her own species," Peter said uncaringly.

"No. You have no right to take her from her parents. She belongs with them,"

"They're just daemons. Useless and mental as ever,"

"How dare you call them that. They are my family. And they are more humane than you will ever be,"

"What do you know about daemons?" Peter challenged.

"Much more than you for certain, despite your privilege which you've abused with your power. You don't even act like a Congregation member," Aurora hissed. She approached him sinisterly. "If you ever go near my god-child or threaten my friend again, I'll freeze you till you're nothing but icy dust. You won't win Peter. No matter how arrogantly powerful you think you are. Now get the hell out,"

Peter didn't frown back but his face was as stone-hearted as ever. "Make the most of your time with your vampire while you still can," he added. "I will get my hands on you and that infant, Aurora. If you give yourself up to me, I may be considerate enough to leave this child and your friend here alone. Your choice," he walked out of the room.

Aurora gasped in shock, tears falling down her cheeks. She pressed her hands over her open mouth. This was just as she feared. Phoebe clasped her shoulder in comfort. She looked at her. "He didn't harm you did he?"

"No. But I think he was about to. He was shocked when I entered. He marched at him and I felt like he was about to do some magic on me," Phoebe was pale.

"It's all right," Aurora hugged her tightly. "You're safe now," Phoebe hugged her back tightly, feeling more scared than she had felt in a while. Aurora eyed her friends, pale. "No. No. No," she knelt beside Nate. "Come on Nate. Wake up. Wake up!" she iced her hands and placed them on his cheek. He suddenly woke up, the frostbite having done the trick.

"Rora…" he breathed, not quite remembering what just happened.

"Thank goodness," she hugged him in relief.

"Are you okay?" Phoebe knelt beside him and helped him up.

"Hey. You're Phoebe right?" he remembered her from their brief meeting.

"Come on Agatha," Aurora did the safe frost-bite trick on her and she hyperventilated waking up. "It's all right. It's all right. He's gone," she woke up Sophie and the tearful daemon hugged her in relief.

"My baby!" she cried. "Where's my baby?"

"It's all right," Nate lifted Margaret from her cradle and they held her tight. "She's safe,"

"Thank goodness Phoebe arrived just in time," Aurora complimented her new friend.

The daemons stared at her, instantly curious about Thomas's new partner. "I…I saw that man…that witch I mean….holding his hand over your baby and I couldn't just stand by and…"

"Thank you. Thank you," Agatha eagerly shook her hand. "Thank you so much,"

"It's so lovely to finally meet you, Phoebe," said Nate coming over to shake her hand. "Thank you so much for saving our baby,"

"I don't really need a 'thank you'," the awkward human said nervously.

"You do. If you hadn't stepped in, Peter might have done something horrible to Margeret. Thank you so much," Sophie said in tears.

"How did he find out about her?" breathed Agatha in shock.

"I don't know but I will find out," Aurora swore. "Somehow he managed to get past the knights and we need to find out how," she pulled out her phone again.


Marcus and Thomas were in the airport again, waiting for their flight back. "I hope we didn't make a grave mistake telling Baldwin," Thomas said silently. "If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself,"

"Nothing will happen," Marcus promised. "And nothing will happen to Baldwin. How long had you been waiting to say all that to him?"

"Too long," he let out bitterly. "He's always wanted me dead. It was time he was put in his place,"

A ringing chime made Marcus reach into his pocket and pull out his phone. Hey love.

Marcus, Peter came to the hospital. He knows about Margeret. Somehow he managed to sneak past the guards.

Marcus felt his heart drop. So did Thomas who had overheard the conversation. We'll figure this all out. A loud beep made them turn their heads and they saw the queue moving to board their plane. We're boarding now. We'll see you soon, love. He shut off. They eyed each other intently. "What have we done?"

"Baldwin will pay," swore Thomas.


That's another episode done. Just two more to go and then it's the end of Season 2 and it's only Season 3 to go. I hope you're all enjoying it. Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. See you all soon