Episode 11 Part Two

Before you read this, let me warn you there is a love scene. I have changed the ratings on the settings to be extra cautious. Just to let you know. I will write down (warning love-making scene) in brackets to let you know when you come to that section. Enjoy!


Marcus had dressed himself up in a smart black suit. He was having trouble though keeping his hair well tidied. He finally managed to brush it back neatly. He looked at himself in the mirror and he saw a striking young man. He hoped it was handsome enough for tonight with the woman he loved.

He walked out into the hallway and he waited patiently for Aurora to appear. He had his back turned to the door then he heard footsteps approaching from behind the wood. He heard the doorknob being turned and then the ringing of Aurora's voice telling him to turn around.

He gracefully rotated round and the moment he laid his eyes on Aurora, he felt as if his entire world had become so magical. In front of him was a beautiful woman with wavy hair that sparkled like snow. She was shrouded in a dress of ice blue with a veil layer over the main skirt and shiny sequins sewn on the off-shoulder straps and her heels were made of actual ice. Around her neck was Diana's necklace.

Marcus was speechless. Though it seemed so silent, he felt the entire world in his mind exploding like a box of fireworks.

"Marcus...?" Aurora asked. "Are you all right?"

"You just look…so beautiful," he awkwardly answered.

Aurora smiled. "Thank you," It means so much to her hearing him talking like that around her. "You look so good-looking too,"

Marcus chuckled gawkily. His cheeks were flushed with embarrassed passion.

"Let me add some final touches," Aurora approached him and she waved her hands. Tiny but shiny snowflakes fell onto his hair and a flower made entirely of ice appeared, tucked in his lapel. "Now you look so perfect,"

"Are you ready?" Marcus offered an arm. She romantically took it and he led her downstairs and outside where a taxi awaiting them. He let her inside first and they sat together in the back, romantic smiles remaining glued on their faces.

Fergus and the vampires watched the taxi with the passengers, one of them their target pull away.

"Follow it," he ordered.

Marcus and Aurora arrived at the restaurant Marcus had booked. They were kindly escorted inside the building of polished glass panels and velvet seating. They got a perfect view where they could see the night sky with its sparkling stars and the bright moon shining in the sky. They ordered wine and they shared a toast, unable to keep their eyes off one another. They ordered food and they chattered to pass the time.

"And you say vampires don't eat much," Aurora complimented. She was surprised how Marcus had ordered a splendid dish.

Marcus shrugged "Well, I've got to blend in,"

"And I must say, you are doing an exceptional job," Aurora praised again.

"Not as exceptional as you doing this," Marcus pointed at the ice rose tucked in his lapel. "How did you learn to do all that cool stuff with ice?"

"I can tell you it wasn't easy," she took a sip of her white wine. "I was a disaster when I was a kid. I often made blizzards in my room and then my own house. Dad had to use his magic to clear away all the snow every single time,"

Marcus was amazed.

"But as I grew older, I began to become consciously away of how my emotions affect my magic. After my parents' deaths, I was so heartbroken that I still couldn't control my magic. I was also always scared of hurting someone. Em and Sarah sheltered me away all the time. I was home-schooled but being with Diana and my aunts, surrounded by their love…l finally happened to control my ice powers. Eventually, my imagination became another key quality and I just started imagining what I want them to do. And so, I was able to do more with my ice magic,"

"You ever thought of using it in your art?"

"All the time. But it's not easy to cover up your story of using ice in your art. Especially because people would become suspicious of the ice not melting,"

"Well, I would love to see you do something really cool with your ice art. You did this amazing rose after all," Marcus showed his lapel.

"Yeah. I did," Aurora chuckled and he chuckled back.


Fergus and two vampires observed them through the glass panels from a distance. Fergus felt his lunch rising in his throat. "It sickens me to see a vampire in love with such a freakish creature,"

"All long do we have to wait?" one complained. "I just want to get out of here as soon as possible,"

"We'll make a move when they're alone,"

The other grasped Fergus's shoulder tightly. "Taking Marcus will make Thomas suspicious. You don't think he'll know we've got him the moment we leave town?"

"We've waited centuries for this. There's no turning back now,"


Unknown to them, a tall powerful vampire observed from a rooftop balcony. He pulled out his phone.


Thomas was sharing wine with Nate whilst Agatha and Sophie together were cooking stew in his kitchen.

"Thank you for letting us use your kitchen," Agatha said gratefully.

"It's nothing. And I'm quite looking forward to tasting daemon beverages,"

Sophie and Agatha smiled at his compliment.

"I hope Marcus and Aurora are having a fun time," Sophie said.

"Don't you worry. I've got the Knights of Lazarus stationed around Oxford," promised Thomas. "Now Miriam should be here soon. It would be lovely to have her over," the doorbell rang. "Ha! Jinxed it!"

He walked to the door and he opened it revealing Miriam, long hair down and nicely dressed, her son Jason was with her.

"Good to meet you, Jason,"

Jason moved in to give Thomas a warm hug. "Good to see you, Thomas,"

"Just on time for dinner," he said. He led them inside and introduced his surrogate nephew to the daemons.

"Such a pleasure to meet you guys," he greeted. "Miriam's told me so much about you,"

"And you must be Agatha," Miriam shook her hand. "Such a pleasure,"

"I see Marcus and his pretty lady friend aren't here," lamented Jason.

"I'm afraid so. They're enjoying a satisfying evening together and so we must let them be," Thomas led them to the seats and Sophie brought the pan of stew to the table. The moment she lifted the lid, its appetising aroma drifted up the vampires' noses like aerial streams.

"Delicious," Jason complimented. "I've always heard daemons were such amazing cooks,"

"Thank you," said Sophie.

"So how far along are you?"

"About six months," she said. "Won't be too long now,"

"And you don't need to worry about a single thing," Miriam assured.

They dined on the delightful concoction of potatoes and leaks and onions with bread. The vampires were satisfied and the daemons were appreciative of the compliments. Thomas had just finished his bowl when he heard his phone ringing. "Excuse me,"

He stepped out of his chair and walked into the front room so to avoid disturbance. Miriam and Jason watched him leave with narrowed eyes.; it sounded serious.

"Is everything all right?" Agatha asked noticing their overwrought poise.

"Is it Aurora?" Nate asked, suddenly becoming mad with frenzy. Sophie reached over to rub his hand to soothe him.

"I'm sure everything's okay," Jason said.

"Marcus will take good care of her. He loves her too much," reminded Miriam.

In the living room, Thomas replied on the phone. Are you sure you saw them outside the restaurant?

Yes. I heard them saying they will try and kidnap them when the time is right. It's really Aurora they want.

Why?

I don't know but Fergus mentioned something about waiting a long time for this. I didn't hear anything else.

Thomas narrowed his eyes. You need to get them away from Marcus and Aurora and force him and every other MacDuff to leave the city. I'll join you as soon as I can.

No. Don't.

Why?

There are MacDuff's watching your house. Joe and Christopher saw them earlier.

Thomas wanted to explode out his rage but he feared scaring all his friends next door.

Stay where you are. Let me and the others deal with Fergus.

Okay. Make sure Marcus and Aurora get home safely. Don't alert them of your presence. I don't want their evening to be ruined.

You got it, Thomas.

Thomas switched off and walked back inside, all eyes laid on him. "It's all right now. Just a Knight saying everything is under control," He saw Miriam and Jason pressing their lips together to be silent but Nate, Agatha and Sophie were eying him a little worriedly. He wanted to speak but he didn't want to worry them.

"Now how about some of your nice moose left over from yesterday Sophie?"


Marcus and Aurora were munching on their meals. Marcus on fish. Aurora on chicken. They continued to talk and chat about what their lives were like before the discovery of the Book of Life. Aurora found Marcus's tale very interesting. His human life. How he met Matthew before he sired him and made him a vampire forever. Learning to hunt from Thomas.

"Do you have any vampire children of your own?" she asked curiously.

Marcus shook his head. "No. They were all culled,"

"Why?"

"Matthew said I was siring irresponsibly. That I was doing it without thinking,"

"And you never thought to sire again?"

"I later learnt my interests lied in being a doctor and so…I just wanted to focus on having a normal life here in Oxford,"

"Shame," she said sadly. "You'd have made a good father,"

"Another life perhaps," he said. With you.

They finished their meals and right when they were about to order dessert, the restaurant became a party room of jazz players and dancers. They saw happy pairs dancing around, twirling, and accidentally stepping on each other's feet. The pounding of the drums and the blowing of the trumpets made Aurora bop her head around.

"You like Jazz?" Marcus asked.

Aurora nodded. "I just love it. I listen to it all the time. Makes me think of freedom,"

Marcus stood up and offered her hand. "May I have this dance?" he requested.

"You may," Aurora took his hand and they linked. She stood up and they walked over to the dancing floor. They faced one another. Marcus set his hand on her waist and Aurora rested her free hand on his shoulder. Their other hands stayed linked. Looking only at one another, they became entangled in a waltz of love and passion. They stepped and twirled and gracefully danced in circles in the centre of the dancing floor. Everyone noticed and they became enamoured by their elegant performance. They stopped dancing so they could stand and watch.

Ignorant of what was going on around them, Marcus lifted Aurora into the air and as he spun her around, she waved her arms in the air, her eyes shut, her heart pounding. She could feel herself glowing like the aurora borealis. But she held back her true colours to avoid revealing her powers. Marcus set her down and they finished off with a final spin and curtsy. The crowd clapped around them. They became surprised that for the next half of the waltz, they had gained an audience. Some whistled. Some clapped. Some threw flowers at their feet. They held hands and they genuflected earning another charade of happy praises.

They all sat down again.

"You were magnificent," Aurora praised.

"No. You were magnificent," praised Marcus back.

"It was both of us together. In perfect harmony," she said.

As a commendation for their amazing performance, they were given large bowls of ice cream and cream from the owners for free. They dined on them and it was soon time to go home. Holding hands, they stepped out of the restaurant together receiving final praises from other leavers. They smiled and waved before setting for a home.


The MacDuffs stepped out of the shadows. It was time.

They kept a very far distance from the couple. With the cold air adrift, it would be a little difficult for Marcus to catch their scent. Still, they had camouflaged their scents using special musk; they were as invisible as ninjas. Fergus pulled out a sack.

"Three. Two," he mouthed. "One….now!"

Suddenly before they could whizz and capture them, they were suddenly pinned by four powerful vampires. They were pulled into a side street. Four more arrived and they were surrounded. They tried to fight back but the vampires were training in combat. They had been built for it from training and battling for centuries.

"Who are you to stop us?" Fergus demanded.

The vampire who led this group approached him. His name was Joseph. He was strongly built with dark hair and golden eyes.

"We are the Knights of Lazarus, called by its grandmaster to stop you. Tell us why you tried to kidnap Aurora Bishop?"

"That is none of your business," Fergus spat back.

"Don't think we won't try to force it out of you," another seethed.

"Don't you try and underestimate us," Fergus punched and kicked Joseph. His family fought back. The vampires clashed with bites and punches. Fergus escaped from the street and proceeded to catch up with Marcus and Aurora. Joseph saw him and sped off attempting to capture him.


Marcus and Aurora finally reached the house. Marcus twirled Aurora around.

"This night has been so magical," she breathed out. "I don't know how this could get any better,"

"Maybe this," Marcus reached in and kissed her passionately. She kissed back. They pulled apart. "Let's go inside,"

He opened the door and stepped inside. Aurora proceeded to step inside but she stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"I've felt something. I feel…danger from…so nearby!" Aurora twisted her head and she saw a blur coming right towards them. Marcus saw it too. Quickly he pulled her inside and he shut the door in front of him.

"Marcus!" Aurora banged on the door from inside. "What are you doing?"

Marcus shot off and he collided with the blur. They crashed into the street and they rolled about on the road. He instantly stood up and he saw Fergus. He growled when he saw the sack. He knew exactly why he was here.

"What do you want with her?" he demanded.

"The boss wants her apprehended,"

"Do you work for the Congregation?" he challenged.

"No. Our boss is like no creature you have ever seen. Give me Aurora and I'll leave you and your brother in peace,"

Marcus seethed. "Never,"

"Then you leave me no choice,"

"You really wanna do this here? In a street of humans?"

Fergus charged and they fought. He threw Marcus against a car. Marcus threw him against the fence. "Don't expose our kind," he implored angrily.

But Fergus wouldn't give up. He clasped his neck and he threw him against the ground. Marcus didn't feel pain but Fergus's firm fingers around his neck made him sore that he felt like he was being hung around a piece of rope.

Aurora shot a needle of eyes from her palm and she jammed the lock of the front door. She marched out and she gasped to see Fergus strangling Marcus. She slammed her foot on the ground and a trail of ice snaked towards Fergus and in an instant, he was frozen stiff. Marcus released himself from his frozen fingers and stood up.

"Marcus!" she rushed over and she threw her arms around him. They stared at the frozen statue of ice. Aurora waved her hands and the ice around Fergus's head melted. He glared coldly at her. He tried to break free but Aurora's ice was thick as five inches. He couldn't break free.

"Why did you try to kidnap me?" She heard everything from outside.

Fergus kept his lips frozen shut.

"Grandmaster Marcus, Aurora!" a voice panted. The two turned to see the knight Joseph catch up to them. "Thank goodness you both are all right,"

"Joseph, take Fergus to the prison fort," Marcus ordered.

"It'll be my pleasure," he promised. "Knights,"

The other knights appeared. "We apprehended the others," one said.

"Good. Now to take this one,"

"I've known you to hate our family Fergus…" Marcus said. "But I never you would go so far to kidnap an innocent woman who's never done anything to you. Argus would be so ashamed of you,"

"Don't you speak of my brother," he spat out.

The knights took Fergus away and Aurora and Marcus made sure to quickly clean up the mess so no human would see it in broad daylight.

They went inside.

"Are you hurt?" Aurora asked Marcus.

"No. I'm okay. I'm sorry I locked you inside. I just couldn't bear to lose you,"

"I couldn't bear to lose you," she hugged him tightly.

"Why did you go out? You could have been kidnapped?"

"I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. We protect each other Marcus," she said.

"I have to take you back to Sept Tour," he said.

"What?" Aurora pulled back. "No. Fergus and his family have been detained. There's no need,"

"Aurora, they were sent by someone to kidnap you. For all, we know it could have been someone working for the Congregation,"

"Then I'm gonna stay here with you…to protect you,"

Marcus was crying a bit. "I failed you. I couldn't protect you,"

"You don't know that"

"Fergus was a well-trained vampire fighter. He nearly strangled me to death. I can't fulfil my promise,"

Aurora knelt in front of him and cupped his cheeks. "You're stronger than you know. And if you wanna fulfil your promise, let me fight with you. Only together can we take care of each other. And I wouldn't walk away from you. Not in a million years," she gently wiped away Marcus's tears and he looked into hers. He pulled her cheeks forward and they kissed.


(warning love-making scene)

They wanted to make love for the first time. Aurora pulled Marcus up the stairs and the moment they were in front of the door to his room, he smacked her lips against hers. As they snogged, she pushed his jacket off his shoulders. He reached behind and unzipped her dress and it fell gracefully from her shoulders to her feet. She pushed him towards his bed, unbuttoning his shirt in the process before he pulled it off and chucked it to the floor. He then reached behind and undid her corset. They fell onto the bed and after a moment of slow breathing, they kissed and became bundled up together physically, for the first time.

(end of scene)


The daemons had retired to bed and Thomas was escorting Miriam and Jason out.

"Thank you guys for coming," he said.

"Tom…" Miriam spoke up seriously.

"Miriam…I didn't want to frighten them,"

"Did you call Marcus?"

"I texted him. But I'm not sure if he saw it,"

"You didn't try to call him?" Miriam asked.

"I didn't want to ruin his evening out with Aurora," Thomas argued back. He heard his phone ring and pulled it out. He pressed it to his ear.

Well?

They've been apprehended.

Good. Take them to the fort and interrogate them. He switched it off. "They've been apprehended,"

"Good," Miriam said. "Tomorrow I'll be coming back. We should consider moving Aurora to Sept Tour,"

"I doubt she'll be easily persuaded with the danger gone,"

"Nevertheless, my mother is right," Jason approved. "I'll be heading home tomorrow. I'll pop by to visit soon,"

"It makes me happy to hear that," Miriam kissed his cheek.

They left through the front door and Thomas cleaned up the dining room and then retreated to his room. He prayed that Marcus and Aurora still had an amazing evening despite the awful capture attempt. He knew his brother would be mad at him for not calling him. To ease his mind, he pulled out his laptop and started on historical artefact websites. If this was any chance of his father and new-step mother reaching the past, then there had to be some historical writing or object about them.

His phone rang again. He saw it was Phoebe. He smiled. He pressed the green button. Phoebe. How are you?

Great. I got back home safely

Good.

How was your day?

Eventful. But I just want to forget like today ever happened because there was a lot of tension.

Did that Fergus chap show up again?

Yep but don't worry. He's left the city.

That's a relief at least. Tell me, Thomas, are you a fan of history?

Oh, I love history. I may be a biologist and biochemist but I do love history. Especially when it's expressed in artwork.

Well, you'll be happy to know there is an auction even tomorrow.

Ooo that's amazing.

So many artefacts. Especially from the 15th to 16th centuries in Elizabethan London. Phoebe unknowingly sparked Thomas's interest. Well, why don't you pop over?

Sounds exciting.

Now I'd best get to bed. I've got a busy day tomorrow.

And you need your beauty sleep. You know you can always call me if you feel like you might… Thomas didn't want to deem her helpless.

Oh, don't you worry about me. I hope to see you tomorrow.

Well, I look forward to it. Bye.

Ba-bye.

Phoebe's news made Thomas ecstatic. Quickly he started searching on the Oxford Auction Event for tomorrow and instantly when he transferred to the webpage which would show all the artefacts would be for sale, he saw two round Elizabethan pocket portraits. One of Matthew. And one of Diana.

"There you two are,"


Another episode is done and soon we're finally going to see more passionate chemistry between Thomas and Phoebe. Hope you all are excited. See you all soon.