Episode 3 Part 2
And so Diana and Aurora got to work. Aurora began searching on a website talking about the meat that carnivores eat. Diana began searching for something to wear. Aurora was writing a list when her phone rang.
"It's Sarah and Em!" she alerted Diana. She turned on the speaker. "Hey, Sarah!"
What are you two doing hanging out with vampires? Sarah shouted worriedly.
Diana huffed. "Has Em been spying on us?"
"Yes. We have made it our priority to keep an eye on you two. And what do we find out?!"
"Sarah would you calm down?!" Aurora snapped. "Everything we've been told about vampires is wrong!"
"They could have fed off you two! Taken your memories!"
"That is not true!" Diana argued.
"That's what they do girls!"
"We're not in any danger with anyone! The vampires who we have been talking to are sweet and friendly,"
"Diana, do you remember those stories that mum told you when you were little? The ones you told Aurora about? The shadow prince that walked between sunset and moonrise,"
"I remember those," Aurora said. She looked at Diana. "You used to tell them when I was little and I couldn't sleep,"
"Yeah," Diana imagined herself being ten years older, comforting her seven-year-old sister. "I loved those stories,"
"What if it's the vampire that you're hanging out with Diana?" Em asked.
"We are putting two and two together and making five. We have no idea who these vampires are what they want,"
"Well, one of them Matthew Clairmont is coming to dinner tonight," Diana said. "I can just ask him,"
"You're having dinner with a vampire?!" Sarah was losing it.
"Sarah, just calm down," Aurora tried to speak gently. "He's been very nice. And he, his son Marcus and their friend Miriam haven't threatened us in any way. Don't judge them like that before you even know them,"
"Diana…you've got to convince your sister not to be so open-minded," Sarah said.
Aurora growled in annoyance.
"Sarah…Aurora is more than capable of looking after herself and it's right for her to be open to other creatures. Even I've begun to be a little less judgemental," Diana said. "Now…if you will excuse us…we have to get the dinner ready," She hung up the phone.
Aurora sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Honestly? What is Sarah's problem? I wish she would stop treating me like I'm incapable of looking after myself. And why is she acting just like Knox?!"
"That's just our aunt being overprotective," Diana said. "Don't let her complaints get you down. Be open-minded all you like,"
"Well then…how would you like me to go and get some meat for Matthew? I've found some perfect meat for predators online,"
"If you could that would be most helpful. But please…leave the rest to me,"
"Of course. I'll see you later," Aurora left through the door. To her surprise, Marcus was there. "Ahh, Marcus…what a coincidence. What brings you out here?"
"Matthew is at a conference for Molecular Biology techniques with Thomas. He asked me to keep an eye on you and your sister,"
"How very generous of him,"
"Where are you heading?"
"To the market. I'm buying some meat for Matthew. Diana invited him to dinner. Don't suppose you could help me select the best meat?"
"Sure. Lead the way madam,"
Aurora chuckled at his pleasant manners. They went to the market and Marcus helped her pick out the best red deer. "Perfect," she turned to Marcus who was giving her one of those goofy grins. "Why are you doing that?"
"Doing what?" he feigned innocence.
"That. Whenever you look at me like that, it means you're up to something,"
"I would like you to give me some of your blood,"
"I thought we discussed this,"
"Come on! Don't you and your sister want to know more about the Bishop bloodline? Don't you wanna know answers about why you're different?"
As he spoke, his words seemed to settle in Aurora's mind like jigsaw pieces muddled and puzzled with no fixed image.
"When you put it that way Marcus, I do. But nothing I do is done without my sister's permission. I'll talk about this with her and then I'll send you my answer. Your telephone number is on that card you gave me at the White Halls right?"
"Yep," Marcus's tone rose on the ending letter.
"Well then…I'll call you as soon as I can give you my answer. Thanks again. Bye Marcus," she turned and walked away from the market.
Thomas was walking away from the conference which he and Matthew had just attended together. As they walked away, he noticed his adoptive father was in a strange mood. "Your heart is thumping rapidly,"
"Diana has invited me to dinner,"
Thomas was appalled. "You said no I take it,"
"No. I said yes,"
"Matthew…why is it that your plan from getting that book has suddenly changed to hanging out with that witch?"
"Things are changing Thomas. Please don't question my intentions," Matthew didn't turn to him. Thomas just stopped and allowed Matthew to continue walking on. He sighed deeply.
If he only cared about the manuscript, he would have done that by now.
Aurora had told Diana what Marcus has requested.
"That's not a good idea is. Our aunts would kill us if we gave some of our blood to vampires,"
"Come on Diana! Haven't you ever wanted to find out about our heritage? About the Bishop bloodline or even dad's bloodline? And this is my chance to finally know why I'm different from the other witches? What's been happening to me since that book opened?"
Diana wished she could refuse but in a way, she could understand why her sister was so desperate to fully understand her genes and why she was not like anyone else. "All right," she accepted. "But we keep this to ourselves. Deal?"
Aurora smiled. "Deal," they did a special handshake that involved high-fiving straight, then side-ways then wiggling their index fingers away from one another. She fished out the card with Marcus's number and called.
"Hello?" He called back.
"Hi, Marcus. We're up for it,"
The next day, Diana, and Aurora headed straight to the lab. Marcus was expecting them along with Miriam. They sat down. Miriam told them to roll up their sleeves whilst she fished out some blood vials. She gently prepared them for blood injection.
"Have you two always wondered about the Bishop blood?" she asked curiously.
"We have," Aurora said. Miriam sent her a frosty look. She was nervous. It wasn't entirely true.
"This will sting," Miriam warned.
"I can handle a little sting," Aurora was unafraid. She grunted a bit as the needle poked through her skin, injected a full vial of blood.
"There. All done," Miriam said. She pulled the tape off. A speck of blood leaked out. She gave Diana a plaster and Diana stuck to her sister. It was her go now.
"What will this tell us?" she asked curiously.
"Your genes, your inherited traits, where you girls come from…" Marcus answered. "It can even tell us why Aurora is different from the other witches,"
Before the girls could say anything, Thomas came marching into the room. "What are they doing here?" he demanded his brother to answer.
"We're giving up some of our blood," Aurora answered politely.
"We did not ask you or Aurora to come here. You're to leave now,"
"Thomas," Marcus hissed. "I requested it to them and they've chosen to give it. It could help us,"
Before Thomas could talk back, Matthew swarmed in through the door. "What are you doing?" he demanded, stalking over to the girls. "If any vampire is going to take Diana's blood, it's going to be me,"
Miriam gave Matthew the blood vial and he collected Diana's blood. Aurora plastered it.
"There. All done," he said. "We'll let you both know as soon as possible what
"Oh no! We don't need to tell them anything but what we are doing is none of their business," Thomas turned to the sisters. "Get out of our lab now,"
"Thomas!" Matthew hissed, disappointed in his son's behaviour.
"It's okay Matthew," Diana assured. "We were just leaving," she took her sister's things. "We've got things to do anything,"
"Bye guys," Aurora followed Diana out of the lab. They began walking back to their accommodations. "Who does Thomas think he is?"
"I can't stand him anymore," Diana confessed. They turned a corner when they saw Thomas right in front of them. They stopped.
"How did you get here so fast?" Aurora demanded.
"I'm a vampire," he answered. "I run ten times faster than a human being. This is a warning. Stay away from my father and my brother. You stay away from all of us. And we won't have a problem,"
"You don't get to tell us what to do," Aurora threatened. "And threaten us like and they will never talk to them again,"
"It is their safety I care about and I indeed to keep it that way,"
"Thomas…we're not like those other witches," Diana tried to say. "And for the record, Matthew is coming to dinner tonight,"
"Yes. I know,"
"I'm not gonna poison him,"
"Like you would succeed if you tried," he scoffed.
"Okay look. Either get out of our way now, or you risk getting into trouble," Aurora warned again.
Thomas gave them one last cold glare and stalked away out of sight. He walked into town. He saw Matthew had picked up a bottle of wine. He saw him insight and walked towards him.
"You're craving Diana aren't you?" Thomas asked. "I thought you said you were in control of yourself,"
"I am. And Thomas…you will do well to remember how you treat them in the future,"
"Father…Diana is a witch. You're a vampire," Thomas said carefully. "You know the rules. It's forbidden by the terms of the covenant,"
"The Congregation won't enforce a thousand-year-old rule,"
"Do Diana and her sister even know about it? Because I don't seem to think they do,"
Matthew wasn't the slightest bit swayed by his son's concerns. "I'll see you later Tom," he tried to walk away but Thomas swerved in front of him. "Matthew…think about the consequences this could bring to our family and all creatures. You will start a war that will expose us to humans. Do you want that to be on your conscious?"
Matthew did nothing but just stare back at him. "Will you get out of my way please?"
Thomas sighed. Then he wandered off in vexation, not realising his father was eying him with despondency. Matthew had always understood his eldest son's fear and hatred towards witches. There was a time when he too despised witches so much for how they destroyed villages and killed many human families much like Thomas's human family when he was a boy. But over the centuries he was trying to see witches in a new light, that perhaps they had changed their ways and they were no longer the same brutal killers they once were.
Thomas walked back to his apartment, slamming the door shut. The moment he walked down the hallway; the doorbell rang. Huffing, he swerved behind and reached to pull it open. He hoped it was Matthew. But it wasn't. It was Miriam.
"I saw you stalking in a grotty manner," she said in a straight voice, inviting herself inside. They sat down in the living room. "I heard what you and Matthew were saying to each other,"
"I tried to tell him that he would be breaking the Covenant but he didn't listen to me," Thomas huffed. "I feel like ever since those witches discovered that manuscript, he has ignored and slighted every warning I give him,"
"Don't say that Tom," Miriam said. "He loves you,"
"I find that hard to believe with his constant neglection now,"
"Tom…it's probably just a friendly dinner. You know he wouldn't dare break the Covenant or put you and your family in danger,"
Thomas was silent. He looked up at a picture of Argus again, stroking his face. "I lost my love, my grandfather and my human family to those vile beings. I cannot lose another father to one, let alone perhaps a brother to another,"
"Don't even think about bringing Marcus into this," Miriam snapped gently.
"He hung out with Aurora today in broad daylight. Think about what could have happened,"
"Don't tell me you snapped her neck,"
"I didn't,"
"Thomas…this insanity must stop. We all care for you. And we all deeply sympathise with you for your pain. Don't ever downplay our regard for you,"
Thomas was silent but remained unmoved. He wanted to speak again but once again the doorbell rang. With super speed, he touched the handle in less than a second and opened it revealing Marcus. He allowed him inside.
Marcus slouched down. "I thought you behaved quite impolitely to Aurora and Diana in the lab today. And I know you intercepted them on their way back,"
"You shouldn't have invited them inside,"
"They were giving us blood. Don't you think that was good for our research?"
"The more time they spend there, the more they learn about our secrets. We cannot keep consorting with them. And you Marcus have got to stop hanging out around Aurora in public. Imagine what all the other creatures in plain sight would think,"
"What I feel with Aurora has nothing to do with you,"
"Don't you dare think of breaking the Covenant like our father is intending,"
"We're just friends. And I admire her artwork so much. I'm just complimenting her,"
"Think of what could have happened in public,"
"Thomas…I've had enough of your pessimistic attitude,"
"Marcus…our grandfather created that covenant to protect us!"
"Doesn't mean we shouldn't socialise!" Marcus stood up from his seat.
"You are forbidden to socialise with her,"
"Says who?"
"Says your brother who is only trying to protect you!"
"Stop telling me what to do! And stop using Argus's death as an excuse to hate witches!"
Thomas was about to lash out with wet eyes but Miriam stood between them, pushing them apart with her brutal strength. "That is enough you two!" she berated like an angry mother with two bickering boys. "Thomas, you've got to stop this! And Marcus, don't ever mention Argus's death in that way again,"
Thomas took one last hurtful angry look at his brother before turning his back. He marched upstairs to be alone in his room.
Marcus watched him through the windows. It was at that moment that he deeply regretted his choice of words.
"Go Marcus," Miriam advised. "Give him a chance to cool down,"
Marcus left, unable to say anything or even pluck up the courage to give his brother a call or even send a text.
It was a dark evening and Aurora was finishing off the final touches. "Stop moving!" she snapped at Diana as she did her hair in a bun with bangs framing her cheeks. "There," she clicked her tongue. "All done. You look beautiful,"
Diana looked at herself in the mirror. "I love it. Thanks,"
"Matthew is going to love seeing you like this. And now for the final touch," raising her fingertips over Diana's hair, she waved them over her hair and tiny snowflakes floated down and glittered her hair.
"I love it," Diana awed seeing what her sister had done. "Thank you," she hugged her again.
"Well…I had better get going before Matthew comes. I hope you guys enjoy yourselves. Please tell me what happens when I get back," she grabbed her bag and went to the door. The moment she opened it; she froze. It was Peter Knox.
"Expecting someone?" he greeted indifferently. Aurora tried to close the door but he stepped in first.
"Get out of our rooms!" Diana ordered but Peter Knox marched around. "You can't come in here!"
Peter Knox saw the dinner on the table. "You're feeding him?" he was repulsed. "You two shy away from us and now you Diana choose to have dinner with a vampire?!"
"We're not bigots like you," Diana said bravely.
"You both are just like your father. So open-minded that he put himself and your mother in mortal danger,"
"You talk about our father that way again, I'll freeze you in a block of ice," Aurora pointed a finger at him.
"Threaten me again Aurora and I will bring you in front of the Congregation,"
"I don't care if you're a Congregation member," Aurora was not afraid, stepping towards him with her sister looking at her worriedly. "You don't have the right to be so narrow-minded towards people who are different from you. And you especially have no right to insult our father that way,"
Peter suddenly grabbed her head with his fingers.
"Peter stop!" Diana shouted.
Aurora was beginning to scream in pain.
"Diana…I suggest you reconsider your decision," Peter threatened. Before he could stay anything else, Matthew came flying in through the open door.
Shocked, Peter's grip on Aurora's head loosened. She stumbled back, right into Diana's arms.
"Don't ever touch her like that again," Diana spat.
"You should get out Peter," Matthew warned. "To threaten one of your kind leads to an expulsion from the Congregation,"
With one last cold glance, Peter departed through the door. Matthew turned to Aurora. "Are you all right?"
Aurora nodded. "Thanks for arriving Matthew," she saw the concerned look on Diana's face. "I'm okay," she straightened herself up. "I should get going now. Have fun you two,"
"No Aurora!" Diana grabbed her hand. "You can't go out there,"
"I can't stay here. I'd be like a third wheel in your dinner guys and I don't want to ruin anything,"
"Diana is right. Peter could have done you more harm had I not arrived quickly," Matthew agreed.
"I will be fine. I know somewhere I can go," Aurora assured. Diana still wouldn't let her go. "I will be fine. I promise,"
Diana remained scared but trusted her sister's decision. She hugged her tightly before letting her go to walk through the front door. She looked outside the window, seeing her disappear out under the archway. She prayed Peter Knox wouldn't attack her.
Aurora looked at the card that Marcus had given her. She typed in the address on her map app on her phone. To be extra safe, she took a taxi right to the hospital and she entered. She wondered where Marcus would be.
"Excuse me, mam," a man at the desk greeted, influencing Aurora to come over. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Uh, no. I'm here to see Doctor Marcus Whitmore,"
"Doctor Marcus Whitmore is behind you," Marcus's optimistic voice echoed in her ears.
Aurora turned around and saw him and his goofy grin.
"Would you like to follow me please?"
With a simple smile, Aurora followed Marcus to his office. He offered a seat and some coffee. She accepted.
"What brings you here?" he asked.
"I thought I might just come here for a while…whilst my sister is having dinner with Matthew,"
"Why here?"
Aurora sighed. "Peter Knox from the Congregation came to our rooms. He was repulsed with what we had set up for the dinner. When I threatened him again, he touched my head and he could have harmed me had your father not walked in on time,"
"Did you have to threaten him like that?" Marcus asked. He admired Aurora's bravery but her recklessness was something else entirely.
"He insulted my father. It was so cruel of him to do that. Would you have stood up to a Congregation member just to defend a loved one if they insulted them?"
"I suppose so," Marcus agreed. "But sometimes you need to think first. Sometimes when you try to defend your loved ones, you end up making things worse or putting yourself in danger," He didn't want to insult Aurora but she could see in his eyes that he was right.
"I suppose you're right Marcus. You sound like a very wise vampire,"
"I'm not as wise as Matthew or Thomas,"
"Still, you three seem to care about each other very much. Is it hard being a vampire sometimes? Like moving around. Living new lives,"
"That depends," Marcus shrugged. "I've lost many human friends over the centuries. Still, I've made it my profession to be a doctor and help as many people as I can. It's been my career since I was human,"
"When you born?"
"1757. But Matthew sired me in 1781,"
"How did it happen?"
"I was a surgeon's assistant in the consensual army dying of fever. Matthew offered me survival and I took it,"
"Did your human family ever learn what became of you?"
"No. The last time I ever saw them was before I went to war,"
"That's so sad,"
"I have a vampire family. And I love them just as much,"
"Good for you. You're lucky that you don't have to lose loved ones,"
"It's not that simple as you believe. You can be killed,"
Aurora gulped. "I'm sorry I said that"
"My grandfather Phillipe died during World War 2,"
"I'm so sorry,"
"His death took a toll on all of us. Particularly my grandmother. And Matthew,"
"And Thomas?"
"He still thinks highly of him and…" Marcus paused.
"And who else?"
"I can't say it. It would feel very wrong,"
"Of course. No matter how much he seems cold to me and Diana, stay faithful to him. It's his choice whether he accepts us or not,"
"Doesn't mean he has to be so awful. I know that he intercepted you and Diana on the way back and warned you to stay away,"
"What's his problem anyway?"
"That's another question I can't answer,"
"I understand you want to respect your brother's feelings. That's so right of you," Aurora frowned when he saw a hurt expression on Marcus's face. "Is something wrong?"
"We had a big fight about me hanging out with you. He found out. I said…something hurtful and he walked away. I've tried to apologise to him but he doesn't want to talk,"
"Just give him time. If you wanna blame someone, blame me,"
"Why should I blame you? You haven't threatened me,"
"But I have unintentionally formed a wedge between you and your brother,"
"It's his pessimistic attitude that's to blame. I can't stand the way he treats you,"
"Just give him a chance to cool down. Siblings fight Marcus. It's part of life. I fight with my sister sometimes…but we always fix things between us. You and Tom will fix things up. Just it some time,"
Marcus was consoled. Nevertheless, he decided to change the topic. "So, tell me, what made you want to become an artist?"
"Basically everything. What I admire about art is how it represents so many things. Nature, people, religion, alchemy…it's like you're telling a story with colours instead of words. What do you love about being a doctor?"
"Saving lives. Because why should vampires be able to live forever and heal quickly when there are millions of people out there who get sick, injured or die so easily? It's the humans I love living amongst,"
"Do you interact much with vampires other than your family?"
"Not particularly,"
"That's me with witches. All my life I was ostracized by many witches, but Diana, stood by me. And for that, I would threaten anyone including a Congregation member to protect her,"
"Sounds just like my brother. When I was sired and I found it difficult to let go of my human life and move on, it was Thomas who pulled me through. He taught me how to hunt, how to hide my identity from humans,"
"That sounds just like my life growing up. I don't know why I'm so curious about him, or about you and your family. I'm sorry that I'm being nosy,"
"You're not being nosy at all. This is about we get to know each other,"
"I wish I could say the same about witches are so unjust for no reason," For some strange reason, Aurora was beginning to think that in reality, different creatures were more similar than they thought. She wished in her heart that her kind would try to see other creatures the same way she does. She was secretly friends with daemons and was now get genuinely acquainted with a vampire who was kind and caring towards any creature from humans to witches.
After two long sweet hours, Marcus walked Aurora back to her accommodations. They arrived over safely. "Thank you Marcus for walking me back,"
"No problem. I enjoyed talking to you again,"
"You sure your brother isn't gonna find out again,"
"He already will. But I don't listen to everything he says. If he comes up to you and says, 'Stay away from my brother', you just tell me and I'll handle him,"
"Thanks, Marcus. Well…I look forward to seeing you once my new book is complete. Good night," Aurora turned and walked away, feeling Marcus's cold but warm-hearted eyes glued to her back. She entered, taking one last look back and waving to him. She entered through the door and found Diana sitting on her stool. Matthew had already left.
Another chapter is done. I really hope you all enjoyed it. What did you all think of the tension in this scences and Aurora and Thomas's interactions with everyone? Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. Get ready for the final part of Episode 3.
