Ashmole 782?

Diana pulled Aurora outside the library. Aurora looked like she was drifting in and out of her head.

"Aurora! Aurora!" Diana tried to shake her. "Aurora!"

Aurora almost screamed but instead, she gasped.

"Aurora, are you alright?" Diana asked.

"I'm fine. Ugh…my head," Aurora clasped her head.

Diana held her as she was struggling to move. "I'll take you back. Let's get you to bed. I think I could do with some sleep too. Come on,"

She carefully helped her sister get stable. They started walking across the courtyard. Just then they bumped into a man with shaved orange hair and dark eyes behind big round glasses.

Diana stopped whilst Aurora remained too stiff from her headache. "Dad?"

"Diana…" Aurora stuttered.

Diana twisted around but their dad had disappeared like magic.

"Diana…" Aurora began again.

Just then Gillian came bursting out. "Diana! What's happened? It was that Ashmole manuscript. There was something about it. Is your sister okay?"

"Yeah…she's…she's just got a very terrible headache. I need to get her back to our rooms," Diana said.

"Okay. I hope you get better Aurora," Gillian bid farewell and Diana gently escorted her sister away.

Once again they nearly bumped into someone. He was tall with black shaved hair and ice blue eyes like Diana's. Luckily Diana managed to pull her sister out of the way. They made their way away from the scene, shaken by what they had just experienced.

Matthew stared out towards the two sisters I wonder. He thought. He made his way back towards his son who was stable again.

"Matthew…what happened?" he asked.

"I think I have just found what I've been looking for centuries,"

"You mean that Ashmole manuscript?" Thomas blabbered. "How is that even possible?"

"We best get back to Miriam, then we go find your brother," Matthew escorted Thomas away to their car. They drove to their laboratory where their dear friend Miriam Shepard awaited them. "See you two are back. Did you find out what was causing our blood to react so violently?"

Matthew poured three goblets of wine. "I saw two witches exit the Bodleian just as I was leaving. They must be powerful if their family is any indication,"

"Who are they?" Miriam questioned.

Matthew turned on a computer. He began scrolling through pictures of famous authors from books on alchemy and ancient arts. "Diana and Aurora Bishop. They are direct descendants of Bridget Bishop, the first woman to be executed at the Salem Witch trials,"

"You think that what happened was witchcraft?" Thomas asked.

"Diana was the one who took an Ashmole manuscript,"

"If you think it's Ashmole 782, that's not possible,"

"Why?!"

"Because you've been looking for that for over 100 years,"

"Longer. Ever since I began to believe that it could help us understand our origins,"

"It's missing. It's always been missing. How could these witches have found it?" Miriam pointed out.

"Maybe…it wasn't missing," Matthew looked back again at the pictures. "Perhaps it was waiting,"

"You're saying that these witches are the reason this book has decided to show itself?" questioned Thomas.

"It must be," Matthew's eyes shifted to Aurora. "There's something strange about the younger one,"

"What do you mean strange?" Miriam asked.

"Her blood…it didn't smell exactly like Diana's. There is something very different between the two of them,"

Thomas wasn't exactly amused. "Well….I'm going to pick up Marcus. He'll want to know about this," He departed the lab then entered his car. He drove over to the hospital where his younger brother Marcus de Clairmont, commonly known as Marcus Whitmore worked. He arrived at the front desk.

"I'm looking for my brother Marcus Whitmore," he requested.

"I'm afraid he's at the police station," the man at the front desk said.

"What?!"

"There was a road calamity with James. He was killed and Marcus is being interrogated,"

Instantly Thomas shot off. He arrived at the police station. He requested permission to see his brother, but he was told to sit and wait until it was done, much to his irritation.

Fifteen minutes past and Marcus came towards the door, surprised to see his older brother there.

"Come on Marcus," Thomas said strictly. They went outside and he smelled him. "What did you do Marcus? I can smell James blood over you. The scent of his blood is your teeth,"

Marcus didn't answer.

"Marcus…would you rather just tell me now…or face Matthew?"

Marcus huffed. "I tried to sire James after he was run over,"

Thomas went into a rage. "You idiot! Think of the risks you took! You could have been seen!"

"James was my friend!"

"That's no excuse Marcus! You could have been seen!"

Nothing more was said between them after that. They arrived at the lab. The moment the brothers entered the room, Matthew was glancing across them with a questionable look.

"Another failed sire," Thomas informed.

Matthew didn't take the news well. "Take his blood and do a cheek swap," he ordered Miriam.

Miriam took Marcus's blood despite his objections. Matthew was not happy with his youngest vampire son when Thomas told him what had happened. To handle the dispute, Miriam took the three to a nearby pub for wine.

Marcus was looking at his father very angrily. "Why did you tell me that there had been other failed sirings?"

"You're not gonna be siring anyone," Matthew hissed.

"Guys…please…" Thomas begged. "Not here," He hated bad blood between his loved ones.

"Tom is right. Are we going to finish our wine, or do we have to drag you two out?" Miriam asked.

"If there had been more time, I would have asked permission. If I knew there would have been a risk of failure, I wouldn't have attempted. James's last moments were ugly…and I took his death away from him for nothing," Marcus sounded very despondent.

Thomas comforted him. "I'm sorry about James Marcus," He knew exactly how much Marcus's human friends meant to him.

"The reason I didn't tell you before Marcus was because we're all in the dark," Matthew explained. "That's why we need the book,"

"You mean that Ashmole one? Thomas told me everything," Marcus said. "Even I felt my blood and heart reacting to it too,"

"Matthew believes it covers early creature history," Miriam explained. "I could help us understand our evolution,"

"How did you find it?" Marcus asked.

"It wasn't me," Matthew reached into his coat pocket, fishing out two photos. "It was one or both of these witches,"

"Is that Aurora Bishop?" Marcus pointed to the picture of the younger witch.

"You mean your favourite author of your favourite art book?" Thomas asked, a little uncomfortably. "Well, you're not going to be socialising with her anytime soon,"

"Tom…" Marcus scoffed.

"The witches cannot be allowed to have that information," Matthew continued the conversation before an argument could spark up.

"So what do we do?" Miriam asked.

"I will talk to them alone and try and see if I can get it,"

"Force it out of them if you have to," Thomas said.

"Thomas…" Matthew warned gently.

"What?! They're witches! If they so much as give it to their kind just so they can kill more of us…. it'll be their downfall," his words were in a dark place.

"Thomas…" Miriam's voice turned serious. "This isn't the old century anymore. Don't let your anger get the better of you,"

Her words did little to soothe Thomas's cold temper.

"I will talk to one or both of them tomorrow," Matthew said.

"Do it quick. There'll be other creatures looking for it too," Thomas warned.

Aurora couldn't sleep very well last night. Her head was spinning in circles. She felt like she was going mad or insane. For a moment she thought she could see strange visions in her head. Visions of that black-haired man whom she and Diana bumped into on the way out. It felt so real as if it was going to happen.

Aurora woke up, breathing hard. She pulled out an ice pack from the fridge to tranquillize the pain in her forehead. She heard hyperventilating and turned to see her sister tossing and turning in her bed. Quickly she ran over, pulling a seat beside her bed.

"Diana! Wake up, Diana!" she shook her shoulders. "Diana! Wake up!"

Diana shot up but she banged her head into Aurora's.

"Oww!" she screamed.

"Sorry Aurora," Diana rubbed her head. "I was having an awful dream. Did you have one too?"

"No. My head was just aching all night but it's a little better. What was the dream about?"

"I dream about dad. And spiders on that page that burnt my hand,"

"How's your hand doing?"

"Okay,"

"I think we should call Aunt Em and Sarah,"

Diana nodded and picked up her phone. They rang their aunts who were in Maddison, New York.

Hello? Sarah answered.

Hey, it's us, Aunt Sarah! Diana pressed the audio button so she could hear both of them.

Sorry that we've woken you both up but we need to ask you two for help. Aurora said.

What's happened? Sarah asked.

We were in the Bodleian studying. I read a manuscript, but it was bewitched or something. Diana explained.

Was it a grimoire?

No, it was an Ashmole manuscript. It had alchemical illustrations.

What else?

There were words moving under the page. We couldn't read it.

It definitely sounds like it was bewitched. How did you unravel the spell? Did you say any words?

Honestly Sarah. Aurora berated. Do you honestly think that Diana would do that in a public library with humans?

And you know perfectly why I refuse to get myself involved in witchcraft. Diana stated. The moment I opened it, Aurora started getting a very terrible headache. I returned it.

What?! Guys, we've always told you if you ever come across something magical you should always try to understand it. Their aunt berated.

That's not even why we called. Diana called. It's what happened afterwards. I think I saw dad.

What?

What does it mean? Aurora asked.

Well, we're not going to know now. Diana, you never should have returned the book. It's time you faced what you are a witch.

Sarah, please?! Aurora argued. Diana can be whatever she wants to be. Oxford's offered her a professorship.

Congratulations Diana. It was Sarah's voice. It was Em's voice.

I need to get a paper in first. Diana said.

Wait! You get just hide in your work. And neither can you Aurora. You saw your father. This is important. You have to take the book out again.

That may be what you would do Sarah. But we're not you. We called for your advice, not another lecture. Diana hung up much to her sister's irritation.

"Did you have to hang up like that?" Aurora asked.

"You know the argument would have gone if we continued," Diana explained.

Aurora sighed. "I think we should just forget yesterday and move on. You be whatever you want to be and get that professorship,"

"You're right. I think you should rest in today. You still look rather tired,"

Aurora nodded.

Whilst Diana went to work, Aurora spent a majority of the day resting, hoping her awful headache would go away and that her ice powers would calm down. Luckily she hadn't made the entire room freeze. When it came to 1'o clock, she decided to go outside for some fresh air. Standing up again, she brushed her hair typing it up in a pony tail and dressing in warm comfy blue clothing with a long white coat. Going to a nearby Oxford park, she began working on her latest art book which was about alchemical artwork and illustrations and how they represent the themes. Luckily Diana's lecture from yesterday had given her great inspiration.

She had finished another chapter when she heard her phone ringing. It was Sophie again.

"Hello Sophie…"

"Aurora…did you feel anything strange yesterday?"

"Yes. I did. I think all creatures felt it. It gave me an awful headache and I felt like I nearly lost control of my ice powers,"

"Do you have any idea what it was?"

Aurora was a little reluctant. She wasn't sure she should tell her daemon friend but if Diana trusted Gillian with what they found, maybe she could trust Sophie Norman too even though she was a daemon. "I do. You must promise not to tell anyone about it,"

"You have my word,"

"My sister opened this Ashmole manuscript. There were strange alchemical illustrations and moving words,"

"That was what happened yesterday?"

"Yes. Whatever it was, it was powerful, and it seemed to make all creatures have a strange reaction to it. I think it would be best if it stayed hidden,"

"I think you're right. Any chance these alchemical illustrations might have involved a white queen or a huntress with a bow?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"It's related to a statue given to me by my family which relates to alchemy,"

"The only illustration we saw was an alchemical child. Nothing more,"

"Okay. Thanks for trusting me with this,"

"Of course, I trust you Soph. You're a very wonderful friend and I feel like anything related to all creatures should be shared instead of one knowing while the other is kept in the dark,"

"Well, I need to get going to an ultrasound operation,"

"Good luck. Thank you for calling me. I needed that," Aurora finished her chapter and she walked back to her accommodations just as Diana had.

"See you're up and out of bed," Diana remarked.

"Yep. Just some fresh air was all I needed," Aurora noticed that she was feeling a little uncomfortable. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay,"

"Diana, whatever it is you can tell me,"

"A vampire came to see me at the library,"

Aurora was surprised. "He didn't try to…"

"Oh no,"

"Okay," Aurora was relieved. "What was he doing there?"

"I don't know,"

"What was his name?"

"Professor Matthew Clairmont of Biochemistry,"

"If he's into biochemistry, what's he doing in a library for historians,"

"I don't know. He recognised me from my work and complimented it,"

"Well, that's very sweet of him…even if he is a vampire. Diana…my daemon friend called me today. She experienced what everyone else felt yesterday when you opened that manuscript,"

"You didn't tell her did you?"

Aurora couldn't lie. "I did. But you can trust her. If you trusted Gillian, I knew I could trust Sophie as well,"

"I trust your judgement Aurora," Diana said.

"I haven't told anyone else,"

"Thank you. I just…I don't want this to get out so much. That book was powerful and I'm afraid it might cause more harm if it were to be opened again,"

"Why don't we go to a café for some tea and cakes? That'll lift our mind off things," Together they walked off into Oxford…not realising that a certain vampire was watching them.

Another chapter is done. I hope you all enjoyed it. What do you all think of my OC's so far and their relationships with other characters? Please will you send reviews and let me know what you all thought. I would also really love to hear some ideas if you have any. I hope you've all enjoyed New Year's Day.