Episode 1 Part 3

Diana and Aurora dined at the Browns Café. Aurora brought them cakes, lemon her favourite and Diana's favourite caramel. Diana brought them tea. A good snack was what they needed after what they had been through yesterday.

"So…how's your new book coming along?' Diana asked.

"Very well. I really owe a lot of its effort to your lecture. I'll be sure to acknowledge you in it," Aurora smiled.

"Well, how very sweet on you," Diana complimented.

"I do mean it, Diana,"

"Anyways…working on any new artwork?"

"Not yet. I haven't really got any inspiration yet. I've sold all my flower and nature ones to the White Hall. but don't worry, I've left some back in Maddison with Sarah and Em,"

"Well…you never know when you might least expect it," Diana tried to lift up her spirits.

"See you two are enjoying each other's company," a sudden voice haunted them.

Aurora nearly spilt her tea and Diana nearly choked on her cake slice. They turned around to see Matthew Clairmont towering over them.

"Are you following us?" Aurora asked.

"Aurora Bishop," Matthew addressed.

"You must be Matthew Clairmont,"

"I take it your sister told me about you,"

"Yes. Now…why are you following us?"

"What makes you ask that?"

"You're towering over us and why else would you be here right near Diana when you saw her back in the Bodleian?"

"I checked in with the staff at the Bodleian. You were looking for me. Not because you enjoy my work on Robert Boyle. What do you want Professor Clairmont?" Diana asked.

"That's a fair question," Matthew sat down on a nearby chair. "You both took out a manuscript and something happened,"

"Technically it was me that took it out," Diana spoke up. "Aurora was just working near me,"

"She seemed to have a bad reaction to it. I sensed how painful she was feeling when you helped her out. Something disturbed you two. Diana, I assumed you used magic to retrieve it. Was it Ashmole 782?"

"Why do you care? Alchemy isn't your area," Diana pointed out.

"This is more than just about alchemy. Where's the manuscript?"

"Where it always is. You can't take books out of the Bodleian,"

"In that case, we'll be on our way," Aurora stood up picking her handbag. "Come on Diana,"

Diana got ready too. "It was nice to bump into you again Professor Clairmont but we have to get going,"

"Dr Bishops, please hear me out," Matthew begged Diana. "No one has seen that book for a very long. It's not just me who wants it. Word is spreading. It would be safer if everyone else knew didn't have it,"

"Are you threatening us?" Aurora challenged.

Matthew was appalled by her sudden silent outburst. "No. I'm trying to warn you two," he turned to Diana. "You need to be careful Diana. But most importantly, keep a good eye on your sister,"

"I will," Diana said. "Goodbye Professor Clairmont," she took Aurora's hand, and they went away.

As they walked through the streets, Diana noticed that Aurora was too quiet. "Are you alright?"

"Uh.. yeah! Yeah! I'm okay,"

"You look shaken,"

"I can't stop thinking about what Matthew Clairmont said. What's so important about this book? It's just an alchemical manuscript that's enchanted. And he's not even a witch,"

"Whatever power it has, it shouldn't fall into anyone's hands. It should remain hidden,"

"You don't anyone's goanna try and ask you about Ashmole 782, do you?"

"I hope not. And don't worry Aurora, whatever happens, I'll keep you safe. I promise,"

Aurora was touched. "Thanks, Diana," she squeezed her hand tight. "You're the best,"

They decided to stop by the gallery for a nice art hangout, not realising they were being watched by Thomas de Clairmont. He heard his phone ringing. "Matthew. I see your two witches inside the gallery. Did you talk to them?"

"I did,"

"Did you get the book?"

"No. I couldn't exactly use a persistent approach like I know you would have used. I've just told them to be careful and that word is spreading,"

"Well of course word is spreading. I'm worried that it could fall into the hands of witches who will want to kill us,"

"That's not gonna happen, Thomas,"

"You must get them to get that book out,"

"Be patient my son. Everything will work out. We're just gonna have to be patient," Matthew ended the call. Thomas took one last cold glance at the witches before he walked off.

The next day, Aurora accompanied Diana to the Bodleian. "Okay so at 3, I'm going to be helping out a Whitehall for the rest of the day. I'll be back before 8,"

"Good. It's so good to get an extra job whilst you're painting,"

"I'm sorry I won't be able to race with you today,"

"That's okay. I've got work to do to,"

Once they entered, to their surprise, there were a lot of creatures sitting down. Mainly witches by the feeling of the magic in their blood.

"Wow. Never seen so many," Aurora observed.

They sat down. To their surprise, Matthew Clairmont was there. Aurora was rather annoyed, but Diana stayed calm.

"I'm sorry. Am I bothering you two?"

"Why are you appearing everywhere we go?" Aurora demanded quietly.

"I've only appeared to you twice and your sister once,"

"Whatever it is that you want, stop bothering us," Aurora got back to work.

Matthew focused on Diana. "Is your sister always like this?"

"Only towards strangers who follow us around,"

"I thought you two would like some company. The library is quite full today. Quite a lot of witches

Diana turned around to see Gillian working. "So what?" she shrugged. "They work here,"

"They're here to watch you. And your sister. I warned you two to be careful,"

"They're looking at us because we're talking to you," snapped Diana, her tone beginning to rise.

"Hey. Do you mind?" A male witch complained.

Diana had enough. "Come on," she gently nudged Aurora who quickly left with her, taking their things.

They were just outside the library when they heard Gillian running up to them.

"Hey, Diana! Aurora!" She screamed earning her attention. "That was a…vampire,"

"Yes. It was," Diana answered.

"What was he doing in the library?"

"He…read my work. It's no big deal," Diana assured, not wanting her to worry.

"He's a vampire. They hate us as much as we hate them,"

"You can't assume that about all vampires," Aurora spoke up. "They're not the same as they used to be,"

"How do you know? And I heard you were quite annoyed with him,"

"I was just annoyed that he kept following us. And this is the 21st century, vampires might have evolved," Aurora's phone rung. She answered. "Oh my god,"

"What is it?" Diana asked.

"One of my paintings has just been sold!" Aurora squealed in delight. "The manager wants me to come over for the afternoon,"

"That's wonderful news!" Diana hugged her tightly. "Well, off you go then,"

"Here I go," Aurora gave a cheesy grin. "I'll see you in the evening, Diana. See you later Gillian," she sped off excitedly.

She made it to the White Hall and she couldn't believe that a huge number of customers were buying her recent artwork on flowers and nature. They also wanted her to sign their copies of her book which talked about nature, cities, and wildlife in art. She signed every copy and got to work on helping the gallery sell her paintings.

Soon it was the evening, and it would be closing soon.

She was at a desk when she saw the door open. It was a young handsome man with black bushy hair and beautiful dark eyes that seemed to put her in a state of dreaming. She got back to writing when she heard the customer's footsteps approaching her.

"Ah, sir…how can I help you?" she asked, not looking up from her writing.

"I'm interested in Aurora Bishop's artwork,"

"Well…lucky for you…you're talking to her right now," Aurora did a straight smile, looking up.

The man stared. "Good god…well Aurora…I'm Marcus Whitmore,"

"Pleased to meet you," Aurora offered hand. He shook it. The moment their skin touched; her glance seemed to harden. "You're a vampire,"

"How could you tell?"

"Cold hands," she let go.

"Sorry,"

"My hands are cold too. You need not worry,"

"I've never heard of a witch with cold hands,"

"You speak as if you knew exactly who I was,"

"Of course I do. I've seen your pictures on your books,"

Aurora gave him a playful glare. He shrugged. "Well, tell me Marcus Whitmore, which of my paintings are you interested in?"

"This one," Marcus showed a picture on his phone, his face was hung down. Aurora peered down and saw her best painting of a magical tree formed from animals of all shapes and colours. "That would be the most expensive of the bunch,"

"Well…Marcus, would you like to follow me?"

Marcus smiled. Aurora led him through the halls to her best painting on display.

"That's the one,"

"That's a large five thousand pound,"

"Well…any chance you could decrease?"

Aurora snorted. "Uh…no…I spent five long months on that artwork. Unless you'd like me to put it on hold,"

"Oh no. I definitely would like to buy it before anyone does. Out of all your nature artwork, this is the best,"

"Why…" Aurora felt flushed by his words. "Thank you. Shall we settle it then?"

They sat down.

Marcus began signing.

"Sure you're not backing out?" Aurora joked.

"Nope. This is the answer to life and death itself. You have such an amazing talent of making things form other things,"

"Why thank you. I'll take that as a compliment,"

"Are you still painting?"

"Why yes. I just haven't found any inspiration yet,"

"Well… whatever you do, don't stop," Marcus gave her a face of motivation. "There…all done,"

"Perfect. I'll be sure to have this artwork sent over as soon as possible,"

"Thank you," Marcus shook her hand again.

"Anything else I can do for you before we close,"

"Would you sign my book?" Marcus pulled out a copy of her book.

"It will be my pleasure," Aurora got out an ink pen and signed the front. "There. All done,"

"Your handwriting's such a blast,"

"Why thank you. I do art with writing then just art in paints,"

"Well…I guess I'll be on my way then,"

"Have a pleasant evening Marcus. I hope to see you around once I've published my next book,"

"What are you doing it on?"

"That's for me to know and for you to find out,"

"Come on? I can keep a secret," Marcus encouraged with a cheesy pair of eyes.

Aurora couldn't help but feel like she was a little bit lost in his cheesy grin. "Very well. Alchemy in art. That's all you're getting. Now…I've got to get this shop closed. Nice doing business with you,"

Marcus shook hands with her. "How very ionic,"

"What?"

"That a witch and vampire are on good terms,"

"Why shouldn't we? This isn't the old times. Might as well just try to get along,"

Marcus looked outside and noticed it was a little dark. "I could always walk you home,"

"Oh. No need. I live right nearby. But thank you. Wouldn't want to delay you either,"

Marcus waved and departed through the door. Aurora had never felt more surprised that a vampire adored her artwork and had just bought the most expensive of her nature collection. She closed the gallery and made her way back to her rooms. Once she was inside, she saw Diana had prepared dinner.

"Hey. How'd it go?"

"Very well. A vampire happened to pass by and buy the most expensive of the set,"

"No way,"

"Oh yes,"

"He didn't…"

"Oh no. He was rather sweet. Anyways what happened to you?" Aurora asked, taking a nibble of her past.

Diana sighed. "Matthew Clairmont stalked me all day,"

Aurora's eyes enlarged. "What?!"

Diana nodded.

"He didn't threaten you, did he?"

"Not exactly,"

"What did he want?"

"The Ashmole manuscript! What else? The strangest thing was he called it the Book of Life,"

"Why would it be called that?"

"He said something about it being the key to our survival,"

"You're saying this book talks about our race and other species?"

"He sounded like it was,"

Aurora saw Diana was hiding something. "Okay. What happened?"

"Matthew picked up my jacket. He sniffed it. Then…he looked at me…like he was a wolf,"

Aurora gulped a little. "I thought you said he didn't threaten you,"

"He looked like he was about to lose control. He told me to walk past him slowly. I did. Then when I turned around. He walked away,"

Aurora relaxed. "Just as long as he doesn't attack you. I'm really worried, Diana. What if he comes after us?"

"I don't think we're in any danger from him," Diana did her best to calm her sister. "Let's just be cautious,"

Nothing else was said after that. The sister's dined then departed to bed, wondering what would happen in events to come.


So Aurora has met Marcus Whitmore and he loves her paintings. Wonder what'll happen later. Please send ideas and let me know what you all think. I would love to hear some ideas if you have any. Wonder what'll happen when Peter Knox appears. We'll have to wait and find out.