Episode Twenty-Three Part One

Diana was weaving new spells using notes she had remembered from Goody Alsop. Aurora entered the room carrying hot chocolate and cookies. "Your favourite morning treat," she sang.

"You shouldn't have," teased Diana. Her sister chuckled.

"A toasted to the babies," she cheered. "Lumpy,"

Diana giggled and snickered that she nearly choked on her hot drink. "You better stop calling me that after the babies are born,"

"Can you believe it, sis? After everything we've been through since discovering that book...and now we're hearing and you're expecting?"

"I never imagined falling in love with Matthew would lead to all of this," said Diana, patting her belly bump. "I'm afraid sis. For the children,"

Aurora placed her hand over hers. "We will protect your twins. No matter what. No harm will come to them as long as I stand,"

"I want you to know something, Rora. They will never take your place in my heart. Even if so much has changed, we'll always be sisters,"

"I know. And I know you're going to be such a wonderful mother,"

"And I can't wait to see you become an auntie," Diana chuckled and pulled her into a warm hug which she tearfully returned. "You sleep alright this time?"

"A bit," she patted her back. "I thought they would pass but no matter what I try I wake up with circles under my eyes. I don't know what to do,"

Diana escorted her downstairs, passing by Fernando who offered her tea which she gladly accepted. "Any luck tracing T.J. Weston?" asked Aurora to Phoebe and Sarah on laptops.

"This T.J. Weston is starting to piss me off," complained Sarah throwing a ball of crumbled-up paper across the room.

"I don't understand how someone could just disappear off the grid," said Phoebe, exhausted from work.

"He sounds like he doesn't want to be found," remarked Diana.

"Two words. Needle. Haystack," Aurora rolled her eyes. "How many T.J. Westons have you two searched through?"

"Ten. Only three hundred and four to go," said Phoebe, tapping on the screen for another one.

"We're never gonna find him like this. And at this rate, Knox could find him before we do and it would be a disaster,"

"It's a good thing that I've been working on a locator spell," said Diana crossing her fingers.

"To cast a locator spell would require a witch for each element," pointed out Sarah.

Aurora became shocked. "Hold on. You're not thinking what I think you're thinking are you?"

"Sis, you said yourself we need to find Weston before Knox does,"

"But that could put you in grave danger," Phoebe agreed.

"We're running out of options. I need to find a hidden coven here in London," Diana was determined more than ever. "We've come too far to give up now,"

"It's still not a good idea," Gallowglass walked in with a serious expression. "But if you're certain Diana, then we will do it,"

"I'll get your coat," Aurora was about to leave when Diana was giving her a concerned look. "What?"

"I want you to stay here with Phoebe and Fernando,"

"What? No? I'm not letting you go without me,"

"Sis, look at you. You're tired and worn out. And every day, you get worse and worse. I'd rather you stay here where it's safe. I'll be with Sarah and Gallowglass the whole time,"

"Diana's right Aurora," agreed Gallowglass. "You should rest for a while. The house has been colder with your state of anxiety every week. You should stay here and recover,"

Aurora sighed. "If you guys want me to stay here and relax, I'll do that. But please if you need me, try and call me," she implored her sister.

"We'll be back soon," her sister promised, giving her a warm hug.

Thomas was sitting peacefully in the gardens thinking about things. His eyes were closed.

"No! No! Snap out of it!" Marcus shouted. "You can resist it! You can fight it! You've done it for centuries!

Thomas's eyes flickered. He didn't shudder but his heartbeat accelerated.

"Thomas," Matthew's peaceful voice spoke. He turned his head and saw his concerned father. He marched down to sit beside him. "What is wrong?"

"I can't stop thinking about that day...that Jack and I fought...and Phoebe saw me so savage. I was a monster. I hated how she saw me in that form,"

"That wasn't your fault,"

"Phoebe wants to be a vampire. I want to have a life with her...but what if I put her in danger? What if I hurt her?"

"You won't,"

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I know you. You're stronger than you know. And with all the blood samples we've sent to Miriam and Chris, we'll be able to make a cure,"

"I only hope it was all worth it,"

Aurora, Phoebe and Fernando sat silently in the living room. Aurora was the only one who was very quiet. "You really should drink something," Phoebe offered a cup; she could take it.

"Aurora...what's wrong?" Fernando asked.

"These visions that I'm seeing every night..."

"Try not to think about them," encouraged Phoebe.

Aurora huffed and slapped her knees. "I can't stop thinking about them," she walked to the fireplace and leaned against the wall. "I'm seeing them for a reason...I just...I need to find a way to get a clear answer,"

"Shouldn't you just talk to Diana about this?" Fernando asked. "She could help,"

"No. She's tried but nothing has worked. And she's already got enough on her plate. I need to figure this out on my own,"

"You don't have to do this alone," comforted Phoebe. "We're here for you,"

"I know and I appreciate that. Maybe if I tried something like meditating I might be able to focus on what my head's trying to tell me,"

"No. I strongly insist you wait till your sis gets back," Fernando insisted.

"I can't keep waiting like this. At least let me try,"

Fernando pursed his lips. "I think we should," encouraged Phoebe. "It might do her some good,"

"Okay. But only once," Fernando said seriously. "And then we tell Diana. Deal?" She nodded at his response. They laid out a yoga mat and she carefully sat down.

"Are you sure about this?" Phoebe asked, concerned for her well-being.

"If I can be honest..." she said feebly. "Not really. But if I'm seeing these visions for a reason, I have to know what they mean. For all our sakes. If something happens...if I freeze up the room or something...you wake me up,"

Fernando and Phoebe watched intently as she closed her eyes focused her mind and pressed her fists against one another. They said nothing; they watched anxiously as Aurora drifted out of the world of reality into the inner world of visions.

Aurora's eyes flashed open. She wasn't in the room or even in London anymore. She was standing in a quiet canal city by a street. Venice. She stared around, wondering why she was mentally here. Suddenly she heard loud steps like someone was running. She turned around and saw a woman of her likeness rushing through the streets. "Mum?" she sprinted after her through the dark streets into a square. "Mum! It's me, Aurora!" But Anna would not respond to her. She was a ghost to her. She approached her and tried touching her but her hand phased through. It was all a vision.

More footsteps came. Aurora turned her head and saw a Venetian vampire appear in view. Domenico. He couldn't see her. She stumbled back slowly watching her birth father approach her birth mother whose hand boiled up with bright light energy.

"Wait," Domenico raised his hands, approaching her slowly. "I'm not here to hurt you,"

"Why were you following me then?"

"I had to be sure,"

"Be sure what?"

"That you weren't...a threat to the city,"

"What do you think I am? Some daemon?"

Domenico inhaled deeply. "You're not like any creature I've ever seen. What are you?"

"That is my secret and mine alone. And I know what you are, vampire. You're a member of the Congregation who will gladly kill me if they know of my existence. Now if you'll be so kind as to let me be on my way. I'm on the run,"

"Run from who if I may ask?"

"None of your business," Anna suddenly collapsed. Domenico smelt blood. "You're hurt,"

Aurora peered closely and saw her mother's side was bleeding. She had been attacked by someone. Domenico approached her again. She tried to hold her light at him again but cringed. The vampire knelt beside her. "You need help,"

"I don't want your help,"

"You won't survive here by yourself. Let me help you. I won't harm you. You have my word," he offered his arms. Aurora watched as Anna accepted his help and was taken away, dozing away in his arms.

Phoebe and Fernando watched her silent physical state with worry. "You think she's okay?" Phoebe asked.

"She seems...calm," Fernando said. "She might be seeing something peaceful,"

"But the moment she becomes scared or something we wake her up,"

Ransome and Geraldine had come to visit the house and now the pair of them with Thomas, Marcus and Matthew were crafting some wooden cribs for the twins. Wrolf passed the time playing the bagpipes and they enjoyed hearing the beautiful Scottish melodies which Argus used to play for all of them. Thomas bobbed his head to the music and it made Wrolf so happy too.

"You should do this for a living," encouraged Jack.

"Can't picture me doing it," Wrolf said.

"Well, what do you do for a living?"

"I work in cars. But I do write music in my spare time. I've just never found the motivation to share it. Not since..." He didn't finish let alone upset his dad any further.

"Come on Wrolf. You've got to share your music," encouraged Marcus. "Ysabeau would kill to hear your playing,"

"You could play for something very special I've been planning," his father added.

"What's this special something?" Matthew asked, becoming curious.

"You'll find out soon,"

"You know you've been quite secretive these last few weeks Thomas," said Ransome becoming quite nosey as well.

"When the time is right, I'll tell you guys," promised Thomas. He heard a ding-ding on his phone.

"What is it?" asked Geraldine.

"It's Miriam. She and Jason want to talk on the laptop. Alone," he walked inside opening his laptop. And the faces of his close friends appeared. "Hey, guys..."

"How's New Orleans?" asked Jason.

"The scion has been developing and now we're building cribs for the twins..." he noticed an uncertain look on their faces. "What is it?"

"Thomas...I'm afraid you will not like what we've discovered, " Miriam said sadly. Thomas felt tense. He leaned closer to the screen. "The samples you, Marcus and Matthew sent...they support Chris's theory,"

"Which is?"

"Blood rage is a developmental anomaly. There's a genetic component but the Blood range is activated in the human DNA,"

"So, Matthew and I inherited what the blood rage needed to express itself,"

"We believe it manifested when you both were sired. There may not be a cure at all. It's our human genes that hold the key,"

The news distressed Thomas. Jason's eyes closed on the screen. "Tom..."

Tom shut the laptop and stormed out of the house with remorse. He went into the garden and leaned against a tree with scrunched eyes.

"Tom?" his father approached him from behind. Marcus was with him too.

"I'm afraid I owe you all a sincere and abject apology," his voice was broken.

"We heard what Miriam said," said Matthew.

Thomas went to a bench and slumped on the wooden surface. "I'm so sorry everyone. I gave you all false hope,"

"That's not true," said Marcus.

"I hope you can all forgive me for letting you down,"

"Tom..." Matthew sat beside him. "You could never let us down,"

"I thought...I could help our family, that I could help my children, Marcus's children, the twins...Jack...but now..." Thomas sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I feel like I've let you all down,"

"There's still hope for a cure," Marcus tried to keep his hopes. "All that research they've done wasn't for nothing,"

"There's still the Book of Life," Matthew reminded. "Once we complete it...perhaps we'll find a cure for that as well. What that research you triggered shows that we're all connected,"

Jack and Wrolf were heartbroken. "How am I supposed to tell Dani?" Wrolf asked.

"No one said finding a cure was gonna be easy," Jack said. "I wasn't even expecting one to be made so soon,"

"My father hoped that I could come out of hiding one day and that I would no longer have to spend my entire life in hiding since being sired,"

"That doesn't mean you must live in hiding forever," said Jack. "It's time you got out there. Come with us back to London,"

"I'm not sure I can do that," said Wrolf.

"It's time for you to get out there," he encouraged. "And even if there might not be a cure, we can still control it. Just like our dads did and taught us to. Like you taught me to,"

Benjamin opened the cell and within it the chained creature was blooded, tears fell down his face. He mocked his wet eyes and tittered with his tongue. "So sad. I haven't seen you cry in years..." he knelt before him again. "Not since...dear mother died,". The creature roared and tried to bite at him with his sharp fangs but the chains held him back. "I have another mission for you. And you had better not fail me this time," he opened a box and pulled out the collar. "I've made it extra controlling. You'll know what happens if you fail me again. Matthew and his sons will be returning. You will kill them. But you will leave Matthew to me. He's mine. And mine alone,"

"And what will you do with me afterwards?" spoke a feeble voice.

"I won't free you if that's what you're intending,"

"He's right," Another person entered the room. Gerbert. "You will serve more purpose for us later on. When the Congregation rests in my favour with vampires in the ascendent, you'll be our weapon to make sure no one will ever undermine us again,"

They left the cell and Gerbert and Benjamin began discussing. "We still need to get our hands on that other creature like him," said Benjamin. "And who conceived her with that whelp who conceived my weapon,"

"I think I have a pretty good idea who it was," said Gerbert sinisterly. "And I intend to question him,"

"I know who exactly you are talking about. He offered the MacDuffs the chance to put Thomas as the culprit of the murders before the council. He could try and take our prize so we should take him,"

"No. We must keep him under control. We need him in the congregation. Then once Matthew and Diana are done for, we can get rid of them for good. We still need Fergus though. The other MacDuffs can spend the rest of their time in cells,"

Aurora's vision took her to Domenico's home in Venice where she watched him feed her mother and nurse her back to help. They were taking a walk through his gardens together. "You're on the run from someone," he acknowledged.

"That I am. From my people,"

"Who are your 'own people'?"

"I can't tell you. For their own sake. And the sake of every creature,"

"You still care about them? Even though they're hunting you?"

"Only the bad ones, driven by hatred for humans and all creatures alike. Many are my friends but who I cannot put in danger,"

"Why exactly are you being hunted?"

"I broke our laws. To save an innocent child from death," Anna's words made Aurora feel tense. She remembered the vision she had seen back at the Bishop household, remembering how Em and Sarah had told her and Diana that Anna had saved Diana's life as an infant leading to her friendship with Stephen and Rebecca. "I couldn't allow her parents to lose a child like that,"

"And you thought it was a risk worth taking,"

"Yes. The child's parents are my friends but I can't risk their lives either,"

"What else can you do?"

"I can survive for days without food like your kind. And I can live a thousand times longer than any human,". Aurora felt heartened by the thought of living an eternal life with Marcus. "And I can sense things like a daemon. Speaking of which I have noticed how much daemons are treated like lower-class citizens. And I have heard how it stems from your Congregation and your Covenant,"

"The Covenant is meant to protect all creatures and keep the peace,"

"Sounds to me like it's sparking hatred,"

"Better to abide by it than allow creatures to socialise together and risk exposure to humans,"

"You can't assume all humans are full of prejudice. Times have been changing. I've seen it. But a man I once called a reason refused to see it and now I am running from him. The world is changing and you must all try to change with it,"

Domenico chuckled. "For someone who's on the one you're so into opposing politics,"

"Says the one who is harbouring a fugitive in the city where the Congregation is located,"

"You don't have to worry. No one else apart from Gerbert the Head of Venice is here,"

"Why are you helping me?"

Domenico paused. "You remind me of someone I loved...before I became a vampire. She was lost and alone...like you so I thought if I couldn't help her, I could at least help you,"

"You put yourself at risk hiding me,"

Domenico looked at her fondly. "It is a risk worth taking,". Aurora couldn't believe she was seeing a whole new side of him that she had never seen before. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you need. But you won't be able to stay long,"

"I'll take my chances. Thank you...for this. I always thought vampires were arrogant immortals observed with keeping themselves in the ascendant...but it appears I was mistaken,"

"Come and rest now," he offered an arm and she took it with a thankful smile before being escorted back inside. Aurora felt her heart lift with every moment. If this was the closest she was gonna get to knowing her birth parents then she needed it for closure.

Phoebe and Fernando watched intently at Aurora's physical body still in its meditating position. "She looks...fine," said Phoebe.

"Don't be so sure," said Fernando.

"She's been like for an hour,"

"Whatever she's seeing, she's seeing it for a reason,"

"I think we should call Diana,"

"I'll give it a try," said Fernando picking up his phone.

That's another chapter done. What do you all think of Aurora seeing her birth parents like this? I hope you're all enjoying it. Regarding Encanto 2, I'll update one or two chapters this week. See you all soon. Please send reviews and thank you for your support