Episode 13 Part 2

Argus wished he could lash out at Matthew but Phillipe's presence held him back. He felt his heart beating rapidly.

Phillipe glared darkly at his son and Diana. "Matheus, explain yourself," Matthew was quiet. "Well?"

Matthew approached him carefully. Phillipe held out his hand. "I'm here," he passed Phillipe his silver coin of command. "As commanded," he bowed his head.

Phillipe scoffed gently. "That is your explanation?" he plopped the coin on a counter table.

"I'm sure your spies have told you everything else you need to know,"

"You should have told me yourself about your witch,"

"Her name is Diana,"

"She is still a witch,"

Diana spoke up. "I'm not just a witch. I'm a Weaver,"

Argus's glare became colder. "I've heard about them very well. Your sub-species killed my parents when I was young. Few in number. And yet as powerful as they are,"

"Do you think I am impressed by that?" Phillipe questioned, uninterested in her claims. "There is nothing new under the sun," he approached her carefully. "For me. I have lived a long life. I have seen things that you have only read about in history books,"

"Really? History books – yet,

Matthew tried to shush her but she continued to speak

"Oh yes, I see," Hmm.

Hubbard told me that you are a changed man.

"So Hubbard was your spy," said Matthew.

"Yes, not that I should have to rely on messianic fanatic for news on one's own family. And yet, he only told me half the story. You seem out of place…Mattheus,"

Argus turned his head slowly, surprised by what he was saying.

"You're a time-walker and you've come to this time for a reason,"

Argus twisted his head to Matthew. Was he speaking to a future version of his father-in-law? He thought of Thomas in the future and himself, not realising that in the timeline they came from he was dead.

"We were in serious danger," Diana explained.

"Of course, you were," Argus spoke up quickly. "You both broke a rule meant to protect our family. I bet our future selves in the future are so disappointed. I bet Thomas is so betrayed,"

The way spoke made Matthew flinch. Argus smelt his heart beating rapidly. He wanted to interrogate him about the future but Phillipe spoke again to Diana. "So? You're a Weaver. You have great power,"

"That's what people keep telling me. I was spellbound as a child. I needed to find a teacher, one I couldn't find in my own time,"

"Hmm. Complication upon complication,"

"I do not disagree with you. But if I can offer any clarity, it is this. I love Matthew and he loves me,"

Philippe snickered.

"Please don't doubt my feelings for Diana," Matthew implored his father.

"Surely you are the one with doubts. If this relationship meant something…." Phillipe's voice turned seething.

"Please don't," Matthew implored.

….then you would have consummated it,"

Diana's eyes widened. She turned aghast at Matthew who closed his eyes in shame.

"I can smell her over you Matthew but I can't smell her properly. Not that we expected it," Argus spoke with an unpleasant tone. "Your scents are very distinct,"

"Your rooms will be ready. Don't expect to share a bed," said Phillipe. Diana stormed off and Matthew followed after her.

"That seemed to rile her up," Argus said.

Phillipe nodded in agreement.

"Don't suppose you know our most important secret?"

"No. And she cannot. And I'm going to keep it that way. We need to be sure of her,"

"How can we be…"

Phillipe was silent for a moment but his powerful glance held Argus's hopes high. "You'll see," he took a sip of his wine and said nothing more. "Why don't you go and check on Wrolf? Keep your mind off tonight's charade,"

Wrolf walked silently through the wooden corridors. As he did, he heard loud growling. He twisted his head towards Diana's room and he saw Matthew's snarling like a wolf, glaring right into his eyes. He remained unafraid. He kept walking towards Wrolf's door but Matthew suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Don't even start," Argus warned.

"What business have you and Phillipe prying into my relationship with Diana?"

"It is our business if it means you broke the Covenant and had no concern for how your actions affect our family," Matthew tried to speak but he heard a gentle heartbeat behind the door. "What is that?"

"That's the heartbeat of an innocent human boy. He lost his parents to those wicked beings," Argus leaned closer to his face. He wasn't afraid of his wolf eyes. "Like her,"

"Diana is not wicked," Matthew hissed sinisterly.

"If you think so, why do you hold yourself back?"

"You know very well why,"

"So, Thomas and I can do it but you can't. I'm disrespecting him right now just by talking to you. You'd better figure out what you're going to do with that witch. Or Phillipe will do something about it,"

Matthew held himself back from bursting out.

"Goodnight," Argus shoved past him, opened the door gently and shut it behind him.

Matthew stared at the blank door emotionlessly, reflecting on everything that had happened this evening. Diana was angry at him for lying and holding back. Argus slapped him and berated him for betraying Thomas's feelings. And now he had just threatened to reveal the truth to the past Ysabeau and Thomas. This couldn't happen.

He looked at his hands feeling them curl like sharp claws. There was a violent disease inside him. He was scared of it. He was scared of hurting Diana. His heart ached as he thought of his eldest son, infected with the disease he had passed on. Thomas could control it and he was able to make out physically with Argus without the fear of hurting him. But with Diana, it was a different story because she was a witch. He had to tell her the truth.

Argus sat beside Wrolf's bed stroking his head tenderly. He was dreaming peacefully. He had no fear of the dangers outside Sept Tour. He was perfectly safe here. Argus felt his heart tearing in two. He had come to love that boy like his son in the short time he had been spending with him. He didn't want to let him go. And he knew Thomas the love of his life wouldn't either. But how could they sire this dear sweet boy when he couldn't sire himself and Thomas couldn't pass it without the risk of passing on the disease? He knew that if Wrolf was infected Phillipe would want him culled to prevent their secret from spreading out, to prevent humans from discovering their existence.

Letting Wrolf go to be amongst the humans again would be so painful for them both. But he began to wonder. Could they rebel against Phillipe? The same way Matthew did by siring with a creature? No matter how much they loved Phillipe, his patriarch nature made them often question how much freedom they had. And to go against him would be an utter betrayal. Not just to him but to the family too. Being a vampire had its ups and downs. Argus wanted to follow his heart with this boy. The same way he followed his heart the day he met Thomas. Once Thomas was back with him again, they could figure it out together.

Argus didn't sleep much that night. Instead, he read a book quietly, sipping some wine and never leaving the boy's side. The morning came and the sun rose high. Argus heard the chirping of birds. He saw Wrolf waking up.

"Slept well?"

Wrolf nodded.

"Come on. Let's get you dressed," Argus found some clothes which Thomas wore when he was a kid living at Sept Tour before being sired when he came to adulthood. Wrolf fitted perfectly into them. They then left the room together and he saw a nearby servant and Diana well-dressed in a red velvet floral blouse with a black skirt.

Diana felt rather nervous. She felt Thomas's talisman around her neck. During the confrontation the other day she had forgotten to show it to them but she couldn't without revealing the future. She wanted to walk away but something in her gut told her that Argus would strike.

Argus bent down to Wrolf. "Go with that lady. She'll get you some food,"

The lady came forward and gently guided Wrolf away, leaving Diana and Argus alone.

"I don't what kind of influence you put over Matthew in the future but it won't last long. Whatever future you two think you could have, it is not inevitable,"

"I'm sorry about how you lost your family when you were young,"

"Don't…ever…speak of them to me," warned Argus. "Your kind are killers. Even in the future, there will be many witches who care only about themselves,"

"I know there are," Diana said. "I was scarred by one. And another harmed my sister,"

Argus tried to sense a rapid increase in her heart but it remained to pump at a normal pace. "Your heart rate is normal. You may not be a liar. But that doesn't make you any less dangerous. Perhaps you were spellbound because your parents knew your powers couldn't be controlled,'

"They did it to protect me!" Diana shouted back.

Argus flashed in front of her in a blur. She remained unafraid. "Listen here Diana … that human boy who I saved was killed by your kind. Stay away from him if you know what's good for you,"

Diana didn't speak back but she didn't blink. Argus stomped away to the dining room and he joined Wrolf. Once Wrolf was finished, he was going to hunt in the nearby woods. He prepared himself but not before finding some books. "Here. I'm going to go hunting for a while in the woods. I thought maybe these books might entertain you,"

"Thank you," Wrolf said.

"I'll be back soon,"

Argus left the chateau to be alone. He rode out into the forest and smelt deer. He dismounted his steed and tied it to a tree. Spotting a deer just behind a group of trees, he crouched down like a panther and sprang. In seconds the deer was killed and he drank all its blood. He later killed some more deer to bring its meat back to the chateau. When he made his way back inside, he heard voices. Diana's and Wrolf's.

Argus rushed in, fearing for Wrolf's life. But when he flashed into the dining room, he saw a sight which struck him in place. Diana with Wrolf at the table was teaching him to read some hard words which he hadn't yet heard her. His guard cooled and he saw how much Wrolf was enjoying being in her company. And she acted very motherly to him.

"Thanks, Miss…"

"Diana…" Diana answered. "My name's Diana,"

"You're very nice,"

"Thank you. You remind me of my boy Jack back home in London. I sure wish I had brought him along. I think you two would get really well together,"

Argus was stunned seeing Diana like this. Perhaps he was wrong about her after all. She wasn't like the other witches. She was being kind and gentle.

Wrolf noticed him and instantly dashed over to greet him like a son would his daddy.

"Hey Wrolf," Argus gave him a nice hug. "I see our guest Diana here's been reading with you,"

"Yes. She's very sweet," the boy complimented looking at her. Argus stared over at her and in an instant, all that cold emotion he felt since last night was beginning to melt away. "Would you give us a moment please Wrolf?"

"Sure," Wrolf walked off down the corridors to his room.

Argus stood up and approached Diana in a less sinister custom. "You may be a witch Diana, but I'm starting to think you're not like those other witches. You're very different from them for a strange reason. Perhaps it is this nature of yours that made Matthew fall for you,"

"He fell in love with me because of the person I am. He didn't care if I was a witch. The future is much different than you think,"

Argus knew she was hiding something. She wasn't lying but her heart was pounding rapidly like she was very nervous. He tried to speak again but Phillipe entered the room with a stranger. Another witch.

"I'll take my leave," Argus turned his back and walked away, unable to be in another witch's presence. He made his way back to Wrolf's room where he was sitting on his bed reading another book.

He sat beside him. "Enjoying the book?"

"It's really good. When will Sir Thomas be with us?"

"All in due time," Argus side-hugged him. "All in due time,"

"Who were those strangers that came here?"

"That was my father-in-law Matthew Clairmont,"

"And is that woman Diana his wife?"

"More like a girlfriend because they're not married yet," Argus said.

"What was that shouting for last night?"

"Just relationship issues. Nothing you need to worry about,'

"Is romance hard sometimes?"

"Oh yes, it is. Not just when you want to be with someone but when others don't approve of it," Argus's heart sank as he thought of his family. "Like my family,"

Wrolf was surprised. "They don't like you and Thomas together?"

Argus refused to answer at first. But when he saw the concerned little boy's eyes, he saw comfort and love. He shook his head. "No. They don't,"

"But that shouldn't stop you two being together,"

"You're right," Argus smiled. "It shouldn't. But it really breaks my heart knowing my loved ones don't accept Thomas. I just wish they would,"

"At least you have him. And your loving family here," Wrolf said optimistically, giving him another hug. Argus was brought to tears. Though Wrolf was ten, his heart was so pure. "Will you and Thomas be my dads?"

Argus's eyes flicked up in surprise. Wrolf had just asked him and Thomas to be his parents. "I…" He didn't know what to answer. He couldn't refuse but he was afraid of what would happen afterwards.

A loud scream echoed outside. Wrolf became scared. "What was that?" It was Diana.

"Stay here and don't open the door," Argus implored. He quickly went out and shut the door. Then he sprinted over to Diana's room and he saw the guest witch grabbing her head with his glowing hands. She screamed in pain. Phillipe nearby was doing nothing. Suddenly Matthew appeared. "Diana!"

Diana reached out her hand and in a flash, Matthew's short sword flew out of its sheath to her hand and the sound of a stabbing and groaning filled the room. The witch's grip on Diana weakened. "I said, no…" she seethed. The witch fell to the floor. Matthew's dagger was stained with blood. And Diana's face was stained in tears.

Phillipe, Matthew, and Argus stared wide-eyed at her. She had killed one of her own kind. Everything was silent.


That's the second half of episode thirteen done. What did you all think? I would love to hear your reviews. See you all soon in the next episode - the wedding one.