Episode Seven Part Four

Diana and Aurora entered the living room together and had some tea together, their mother's favourite. Emily and Sarah entered and they sat on either side of their nieces and Aurora hugged them both tightly.

The vampires then entered the room and sat opposite the witches again.

"You doing okay?" Matthew asked.

Aurora nodded.

"No matter how much it still hurts, don't deny who you are," Miriam advised. "It only prolongs the pain,"

Aurora pursed her lips and accepted the wisdom behind them. "It's time we talked about what really matters. We have a great fight ahead of us and we must decide our next move,"

Marcus agreed. "Aurora's right. We need to be prepared,"

"If there was a way we could understand the Book of Life," Diana stated. "We need to know what secrets it holds and why we must keep the Congregation from discovering them,"

Suddenly an envelope flew out of nowhere and bobbed Aurora right on the head. "Ow,"

"Are you alright?' Marcus asked.

"I'm fine," Aurora reached down to pick up the envelope on the floor. "Diana. Look,"

Diana peered closely and they saw a message. To my daughters. You will need this. Love Dad. They shared heart-struck glances before Diana slid her hand into the piece of paper wrapped and pulled out an ancient page of alchemical art and colours.

"Is that what I think it is?" Matthew wondered.

"Ashmole 782," Diana breathed.

"What's it doing here?" Aurora wondered.

"Look," Marcus pointed to a white queen in the centre of the page. "Matthew's insignia," Peering closer the sisters could see that it looked exactly like the scar that was engraved on Diana's skin.

"May I?" Miriam requested with Sarah trying to ask to look at it first.

The sisters held it closer.

"The smell is strange. I can't quite place it,"

"Me neither," Thomas said. "That king must be you, father and that queen must be you Diana,"

The couple were a little appalled by his interpretation.

"It makes sense," Aurora supported.

"We need to get this somewhere safe," Em said.

"We have a safe storage," Sarah stood up and led her away.

"There's something else," Diana reached into the envelope again and pulled out a small letter. "It's for you personally sis," she gave it to her. Aurora looked at it and saw her name etched in their father's writing. She stroked it tenderly.

Mathew could sense her hormone levels rising and the blood draining from her face. "Do you want to be alone?"

"I'm going to go outside for some air," Aurora stood up.

"Okay. We'll be inside if you need us," Diana promised, holding her hand tenderly.

Aurora nodded and left the room. Sadness overtook Diana's face again.

The younger sister went outside into the garden where their aunts grew vegetables and herbs. She sat on her favourite bench which had two names carved into the wood with a heart around it. She peeled open the letter very slowly and pulled out a long sheet of paper illustrated with elegant swirly writing. She recognised this to be her mum's. Swallowing the dark pit in her throat, Aurora traced her wet eyes over the words, line by line.

Dear Aurora,

We dreaded that one day you would find out the truth about yourself. You have no idea how much it broke our hearts to lie to you every day. We really didn't want to tell you the truth but we promised your birth mother that we would protect you and to that, it painfully meant keeping the truth from you. She loved you very much since the day you were born. She never told us who your birth father was. We believed one day you would find out this agonising secret by yourself once we were gone. We know how angry and devasted you must be but please know that what we did, we did out of love for you. We had every intention of telling you the truth when you were ready on Anna's request. It just hurts knowing we will never long enough for this to happen.

What you have found out makes you no less your daughter, no less Diana's sister. We love you both so much. You are both our brave, compassionate girls. We both know there will be troubles ahead. And you two need to look after each other no matter what comes your way. Promise us you will protect each other.

And most importantly Aurora, never doubt yourself and most importantly don't ever think you're a monster. You are a very special girl who has beautiful magic. Our beautiful second daughter Aurora.

Love Mum

The paper of love fell from Aurora's nimble figures. She couldn't bear the strength to pick it up. She was too overcome by emotional sentiment again. Her eyelids fell and a tear rained down. Aurora then felt the presence of Marcus approaching her, bending down to pick up the letter. He looked down at her with eyes of sympathy. He sat right on the spot next to her offering comfort and a warm embrace.

"Did Diana send you?"

Marcus nodded. "She thought I would be needed again,"

"You were right," Aurora sniffled again.

"Come here," Marcus pulled her into her arms. "There. There. There. I'm here. I'll always be here,"

"Thank you," she sniffled.

"It's okay. That letter shows how much your family loves you. There is no greater gift than the love we give to others,"

They stayed in that position for a long while before they were called inside for dinner. Aurora remained too quiet during the eating. No one spoke a word. They thought it was best. She had been going through so much today and although she insisted it was important to plan their next move, they knew she was going through a hard time. Probably the hardest she had ever been in her entire life.

Once dinner was over, Aurora requested that she be excused from bed. They unconditionally accepted. She bid goodnight to them and departed to be in her bed alone.

As she lay on the bed, she tried to close her eyes but they remained open. Her head was humming with too many memories in her fragile mind and her eyes were flooded with tears she had refused to shed in front of her loved ones and friends. She stood out of bed and walked to the window to stare outside.

As she stood, she saw a vision of a child running. A small version of herself. She watched the child running into a spectral garden of flowers. She saw her birth mother standing still then when she turned, she paced towards and picked up the child into her arms and spun her around. Aurora saw love and joy in Anna's face. She watched her kiss her child-self and embrace her tightly. She then watched Anna's face peer up and look directly at her from down below. She pressed her lips together and a tear escaped her eye.

As she silently cried, she saw Anna's strong firm face shedding tears back.

When she closed her eyes unable to look anymore, she heard a distant voice in her head. "There is nothing you have lost. You have love,". Her mothers. Aurora waited for her mother's voice to sing the same lullaby that had been haunting her for many hours but no angelic melody played in her head again. All was silent again. Opening her eyes, she saw the spiritual forms had disappeared. Her vision had been a message from her mother by birth that she loved her and that she was never truly alone.

Though comforted by a voice of a spirit that had been watching over her, Aurora remained plagued with questions. Departing to bed would not make that pain go away. Like Miriam said no matter how much she tried to hide it, it would hurt her forevermore like a mental scar. She retired to bed and her eyes closed from hearing the lullaby inside her head for one final time.

The next morning came and Aurora was the first one to be down. She had poured wine for the vampires and tea for the witches. She backed bacon and sausage baguettes her aunt's favourite and had chopped up fresh meat for all their guests.

"Oo la la," Thomas observed as he and his mother entered the dining room.

"Not only are you creative with art you are creative with display," Marcus complimented. "You sleep well,"

"Alright,"

"How about you two?"

"You do know we don't need to sleep," Thomas reminded.

"I know," Aurora said. "Doesn't mean you can't lie in bed,"

Marcus smirked. "She got you there Tom,"

"Haha. Is that steak and sausage on the table?"

"Yep. Thought I might prepare your favourites,"

"Thank you," Marcus took his seat right next to her. She blushed and hid her cheek's colours.

"Is that bacon and sausage I smell?" Sarah and Emily came into the room.

"Aww darling. You prepared our favourite," Emily cooed. "Come here," she kissed her cheek and sat next to her.

Miriam entered and was very impressed by Aurora's breakfast set out. "Love the wine,"

Diana and Matthew were the last to enter.

"See you set breakfast," Diana smiled.

"Yep. And I set out your favourite baguette for you sis and red deer for you Matthew right here," Aurora pointed to two chairs opposite her and Marcus.

"Thank you," Matthew said. They sat opposite them.

"How are you feeling sis?" Diana asked.

"Good. I'm still getting over it but I feel like preparing breakfast and other hobbies will keep me busy," her sister confessed, trying to keep up a positive thought.

"It's good that you're trying to get over it. But don't bury it so much," Thomas advised.

"Why don't we dig in? We can't get her brilliant breakfast preparations go to waste," Marcus insisted.

"Good idea Marcus," Aurora approved.

They all dug into their morning meals and drinks. The vampires loved how Aurora had prepared their fresh meat with herb and Aurora's family were awed by her tasty sandwiches with condiment sauces.

"Best breakfast I've had in a while," Marcus said once he finished his meat.

"Well done for remembering the wine," Miriam said proudly.

"As if I would forget. I smelt wine every day in your lab," she said.

"You didn't have to prepare this for us you know," Diana said, though she was appreciative of all the hard effort her sister had put in for their appetites.

"I felt like since we're all family now thanks to you and your new mate...might as well as eat like one. And nothing is more worth bringing three different species together than a tasty meal,"

"Don't consider yourself different from us," Matthew advised. "You're one of us whether you see it or not,"

"Matthew and I are going to be heading out to do some more training," Diana said.

"Just be cautious," Thomas advised.

"What could happen, Tom?" Matthew asked.

Thomas shrugged.

They headed outside, Diana give Aurora one final supportive loving smile before they disappeared into the woods. They decided to sit down in the sitting room to pass the time. Aurora decided she'd paint something. Marcus decided to sit with and watch her. She smiled and enjoyed his company. She decided to paint an image of all of them eating together. Marcus asked how she could make it so realistic and Aurora simply answered by saying, 'It plays out in my mind and I just use what I see,'

Marcus was amused.

Sarah eyed them every second. She was very weary. Emily though was smiling. She was proud that her eldest niece was happy with something she loved but she couldn't help but feel that her youngest niece was going down the same road with the man sitting next to her.

Miriam eyed Thomas sitting down and staring out at an open window. "I really don't get why you're so worried Thomas,"

"I don't know. Maybe the fact that my father and his new mate are wanted by the Congregation for breaking a century's old law,"

"Tom, the Congregation don't know where we are," Marcus reminded as he had overheard the conversation and wanted to quell his brother's anxiety.

"Doesn't mean they can't find us," Thomas warned. "Doesn't mean no witches around here will give them our whereabouts. No offence Emily and Sarah,"

"None taken," Sarah said.

"By witches, I mean others who live here,"

"We know exactly what you mean," she said quickly.

Thomas could tell how uncomfortable she remained with him since her arrival.

"I know what you have against witches,"

"Sarah..." Aurora warned. "Not here. I know his reasons and I respect them instead of holding criticism for them. And come on. Try to move forward,"

"With respect Sarah..." Thomas tried to say.

"I am tired of hearing that phrase 'with respect...'" Sarah retorted gently but with a flash of repulsive in her narrowed eyes.

"Sarah please..." Emily tried to say.

Suddenly Thomas shot up. He walked to the open window.

"What is it?" Aurora asked.

Thomas smelled. "Trouble. I recognise that scent,"

"I do too," Miriam came to his side and so did Marcus.

Marcus's eyes opened. "It's Juliette,"

Instantly the three shot off like bullets, leaving Aurora and the aunts alone.


And that's episode 7 done. Just episode 8 done and then that's season 1 done. Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. I would love to hear any ideas too. See you all in the final season 1 episode.