Episode Eleven Part One
Fergus and his vampires stood on top of the street houses. He peered down and he saw Marcus's house. He knew this was where he and his true love resided.
"Keep an eye on this house at all times," he ordered his family. "But make sure you keep your scent hidden. One sniff and our goose is cooked,"
His eldest vampire son Malcolm nodded. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to spy on Thomas," Fergus sprinted along the roofs of the houses paved along the streets until he came to the building opposite his brother-in-law. He narrowed his eyes and he saw Sophie and Nate in their room together. Sophie was reading a book about pregnancy whilst Nate was typing on his laptop. He didn't sniff anything else.
Thomas and Agatha were in the kitchen together preparing some tea and fruit.
"I'm going to go and head out shopping. Do not let anyone in unless it is my brother," he said.
Agatha nodded. "Be careful out there Thomas,"
"Don't worry about me. I've dealt with Fergus and his family for centuries. Why should today be any different?"
"It wasn't right for him to hold you responsible for…"
"Please don't say it," implored Thomas. "I don't like talking about it. What's done is done and I have to focus on what's happening. I'll be back soon,"
Just then he saw the door open, he stood back a bit. Peering a little of a rooftop, he saw Thomas walking out of the front door. He observed him walking down the streets in the cool air.
Thomas was listening to music on his phone when he sense a familiar cologne drift up his nostrils. He stopped. He peered behind him, then he raised his head to the rooftops. He saw nothing. He frowned his eyes but he steered his head forward again and continued.
Fergus peered over from his hiding spot and watched him disappear.
Thomas made it to the nearest supermarket and he brought tons of food for his friends. He knew how much a diet Sophie needed with only a few months left of her pregnancy. He brought cold meat for himself and some bottles of wine too. He had just left the supermarket when he heard a sudden shrill.
Get your hands off my purse. He recognised that voice. It was Phoebe.
Give us your money! It was a different voice, an aggressor.
Instantly Thomas shot off, keeping invisible in the open air from the trifling number of people in the streets. He came to a street close to his favourite book shop Blackwell's just opposite the Bodleian Library and that's where he saw Phoebe being manhandled by some aggressive men.
"Hey!" he shouted.
The two men turned and in less than a second, his fists were flying into their faces. They tried to fight back but he kicked one in the stomach and between the legs and they were knocked out. He huffed in and out, managing to control his rage. He hoped the manner he had fought hadn't scared Phoebe. He turned his head and saw her staring at him, hyperventilating at the same time too.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Phoebe nodded. "Thank you,"
"What happened?"
"I was just walking and then those crazy thieves came out of nowhere and attacked me,"
"I'll take care of them," Thomas pulled out his phone and in less than two minutes, the police arrived and the attackers were handcuffed and apprehended. The police asked Phoebe if she needed to be taken to a hospital but she assured them she was fine. Thomas supported her and the policemen left them behind. He glanced again at the woman he had just saved. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Phoebe panted. "I need to get to work,"
"Let me walk with you," Thomas picked up his bags. "Just for safety precautions," Phoebe wasn't exactly sure. "You never when you might run into trouble again,"
"Thank you," she answered gratefully. They began their walk toward the Auction House. "So…how was your night?"
"Very good. How was your beauty sleep?"
"Very pleasant. Thank you. Can I ask you something Thomas?"
"Sure,"
"Who was the name of that guy you said I should say away from?" she questioned carefully.
Thomas stared intently at her.
"I know you mentioned it and you didn't wanna tell me. I can smell a mystery when I see one," she smirked a little cockily.
Thomas unexpectantly found her intelligent nature appealing. He gave in. "Fergus. And he's my brother-in-law,"
"Why would your brother-in-law be trouble?" she inquired. Thomas didn't want to answer but her inquiring persona was too hard to oppose.
"Because he hates me and he blames me for my late husband's death. I don't want to speak about this anymore," he said.
"Okay," Phoebe accepted. "I don't why I suddenly turned nosy all of a sudden. I just got the impression that you were hiding something,"
"Sometimes you have to hide things to keep others safe," Thomas said. "But there are times when…" as he reflected on the concept of secrets and the good they did for others, he felt his heart twisting itself into a knot.
"You really want to keep me safe?" Phoebe never knew how it was her safety that was his priority.
"Of course, I do. I care for you. And I would hate it if my problems become yours as well," Thomas's dark eyes staring into her made Phoebe stop walking and look into them. As she was entranced by his protective guise, she felt her heartbeat increase. She didn't know why but it was a reaction she had been feeling in the presence of this strange yet good-hearted man since they met.
Feeling the flush of her cheeks blossom on her face, she turned her head and saw they were at the entrance to the Auction House. "Well, this is where we part again. I see you've done a lot of shopping…for your friends,"
"That would be correct,"
"Bye," Phoebe went to walk inside but Thomas spoke up again.
"Hey, Phoebe…"
She swerved around. "Yes?"
"If you ah…don't feel like getting back to your house alone tonight, you can always call me and I can watch over you,"
"I'll be fine," Phoebe assured. "But thanks," she gave Thomas one last peachy smile before disappearing up the stairs and through the door. Thomas smiled, feeling his cheeks flushing. He picked up his bags again but just when he turned he found himself face to face with his brother-in-law.
"What do you want Fergus?" he demanded.
"I'd like to know why you're hanging around that human. Don't think I don't hear your heart beating so thoroughly,"
"This is a warning Fergus," Thomas drew his face closer to meet his. "Stay away from Phoebe. Whatever you have against me, leave her out of it,"
Fergus neither answered back nor change his facial expression.
Thomas drew back. "Why can't you just move forward? Why can we not just love one another as a family should?"
"You think I can ever forget what your love for my Argus cost him?"
"I miss Argus as much as you do, but this is not the way to honour his memory. Honour him by making peace with my family," Thomas was no longer angry. He was imploring Fergus to put the past behind them and move forward but the cold-hearted vampire remained venomous as the long centuries that had passed between their families.
"That will never happen," he swore. "Whatever hate we will act on against you and your family will come to your friends as well,"
Thomas frowned. "You leave our friends and the woman my brother loves out of this. Do you want to do this? In a city of humans? We'll be exposed and it will be because you couldn't let go of a pointless grudge,"
Fergus did nothing but glare back with a final warning and shove him aside with his stone shoulders and walked off. Thomas watched him disappear. He turned forward again and headed for home.
Aurora was enjoying painting in the dining room. Marcus was busy doing a bit of work. He observed her. "What you painting?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out," he simply answered.
"Come on," he teasingly begged.
"You'll have to wait and see," she said.
Marcus rolled his eyes playfully.
"What you working on?" she asked.
"Just some appointments for work. And I'm arranging a dinner for us tonight,"
Aurora stared at him in surprise. "No, you did not,"
"Oh yes I did," he smirked. "At the Gees Restaurant,"
"I've always wanted to eat there,"
"You've never been there?"
"Nope. You have just surprised me. I cannot wait for tonight. Is it just gonna be us two?"
"Yep,"
"Well then I'll have to dress up nicely," she smiled.
He smiled back. The romance was blossoming between them again.
Outside above the rooftops, the vampires remained spying down on them. Still, not even one of them left the house. This was getting irritating for them. Though they could live forever, they had little patience.
Thomas arrived back and he saw the daemon family sitting down in the dining room.
"You took your time," Agatha clarified.
"Apologises. I had to help a friend out," Thomas plopped the bags on the table. Then in a blur, he unpacked everything. "There. All done. I hope you guys have enjoyed yourselves,"
"We have," Sophie said.
"I bought everything on your list,"
"Thanks, Tom. Have you seen Marcus and Aurora anywhere?"
"Nope. But Aurora is safe and sound,"
"I've feeling strange premonitions. Like danger or something,"
"I can vouch for that. I had a not-nice encounter with Fergus. I know he's up to something. I just couldn't make a scene,"
"You and Marcus are the Grandmasters of the Knights of Lazarus. Force him out," Nate insisted.
"If we do that, other creatures will become discontent and we could end up exposing ourselves to the community. We can't make a drama in a city of humans. We'll only do it if they cause the slightest bit of trouble for us,"
The daemons nodded, seeing how unwise it would be to act against them in this manner.
"But I'll notify the Knights to be aware," Thomas pulled out his phone and rung.
Marcus was busy making lunch for them both. Aurora was finishing off her painting. She lifted the pane and she sprinkled snow glitter over the artwork of herself and Marcus. After their romantic dinner, she would give it to them. It would a gift to express how much their relationship meant to her. She wrapped it up in some paper and blacked it into a box she formed with her ice magic. On the top, she carved in a message: 'To my dear love,'
She added a heart at the bottom with their initials carved in.
Her phone rang. She lifted it out of her pocket. Hey Em.
Hey honey.
How are you?
Great. Marcus and I are going out for a dinner tonight.
That's wonderful darling. I hope you two will be all right.
We'll be fine.
Aurora… Sarah's voice rose. Ysabeau mentioned Scottish vampires patrolling Oxford.
So she told you two about Fergus?
Yes. I strongly oppose this evening out.
Aurora huffed. Sarah, do you really think those vampires will want to cause a scandal and expose us to humans?
That doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful.
We'll be fine. We can protect ourselves and I'm sure Marcus and Thomas have instructed the Knights to keep an eye out for them. Have some faith in them.
I'm sorry I'm being so paranoid honey. It's just…we love you so much.
I know and I love you guys so much too. But you both don't always have to be worried for me.
Emily took over again. We do. It's our job.
How about in a week I come and visit you two?
That would be perfect. Sarah approved.
Let's leave you to prepare for your romantic evening. Said Em.
Thanks. I'll call you two tomorrow.
Why so you and Marcus and…
Aurora rolled her eyes. Oh, don't you start Sarah. Ring you two soon. She switched off her phone. She relaxed in her chair and she closed her eyes, imagining herself being physically closer to the man she loved.
Another chapter is done. Get ready for Marcus and Aurora's romantic evening. And the skirmish that's gonna come too when Fergus and his family cause trouble. Will they capture her? We'll have to wait and find out. See you all soon.
