Episode 4 Part 1

Thomas sat inside his lonely office at his home, staring into a picture of him and his entire family. He sighed. He was afraid of what his father bringing Diana to Sept Tour could do to their family. He had tried to talk Matthew out of it but he all got was an unpleasant refusal in return. How he wished he could have spoken back. But seeing Matthew talk like that to him made him feel neglected, all in favour of the safety of a witch.

He thought about his grandmother. She knew exactly how she would feel having a witch in their home. He took up his phone and called a number. He waited patiently.

"Thomas…" his grandmother addressed.

"Grand-mere…" he breathed in relief. He loved talking to her whenever he felt down and unable to talk to his father.

"How are you doing my grandson?" Ysabeau de Clairmont's kind voice spoke over to him.

"Okay. There is much to tell you that has happened in so little time,"

"What has happened?"

"You know that manuscript that father searched for since 1859…"

"Yes?"

"A witch named Diana Bishop discovered it in the Bodleian Library. It attracted him to her and her sister Aurora. He was going to get but instead, he's been infatuating himself with Diana. So has Marcus with Aurora. That's not even the worst part,"

"What is…?"

"He's taking Diana to Sept Tour,"

"What?" Ysabeau was stricken. "Why?!"

"Some witches including Peter Knox of the Congregation wanted the book for themselves. He attacked Aurora and threatened Diana so she defended herself. Now he's taking her over to you when he should be thinking about your feelings and how it could endanger us all. And Marcus has been assigned to watch over Aurora. I tried to talk Matthew out of it but he just pushed me away,"

Ysabeau didn't say anything back for a while. "I am sorry for how his engagement with this witch has made you feel,"

"I already lost one father to one. I can't afford to lose another. Let alone a brother,"

"There is nothing that can be done, Thomas,"

"I wish I could tell Baldwin but I refuse to let him allow Matthew to be put on trial,"

"Sooner or later, he will find out. You just keep an eye on your brother and his witch. I will handle Matthew and the other,"

"Whatever you do grand-mere…do not let Diana near the sacred site or inside Phillipe's office. She is forbidden to stand where she is not welcomed,"

"I won't. You take care, Thomas. I will talk to Matthew when he arrives. We must be strong for the ones we have lost,"

Thomas smiled slightly. "Thank you grand-mere," He loved his dear grandmother who had adored him since the day he was adopted into the family. Their love became stronger after he was sired by Matthew.

Diana looked out the car window sadly, thinking of her sister.

"You all right?" Matthew asked.

Diana turned to him and nodded. "Yes," she looked outside again.

Matthew tilted his vision slightly and saw her sad posture. "Aurora will be safe. You can call her as soon as she wakes up,"

"But when?"

"I don't know. What's important is she's alive. I promise you I will do everything in my power to protect you both,"

"Thank you, Matthew," Diana said gratefully. "After we left the hospital….I saw Thomas staring at us from across the road,"

Matthew stiffened. "Did he?"

"He looked at me like he was a wolf or something. He doesn't want me at your family home,"

"That's just his distaste for witches," Matthew scoffed.

Diana sighed. "You shouldn't talk about him that way. He's just looking for you and I don't blame him,"

"Doesn't mean he has to hold every witch responsible or his pain,"

"Can you blame him?"

Matthew didn't answer back. Still, he remained tough on the outside as he thought about his son back in Oxford.

"Whatever it is that's become tense between you two because of your involvement with me and my sister…don't let it ruin your relationship with him. You must make things right with him,"

Matthew didn't answer that either.

Diana just stared out the window again, hoping that her growing attraction towards this ancient vampire was tearing about the relationships he had with his family members.

Aurora's eyes flickered open. All she could see in her head was Peter's Knox's cruel smile, his dark spell echoing in her ears. She raised her aching head very slowly. She suddenly noticed that someone was by her side, holding her hand very gently. It was Marcus. He looked at her with wide eyes of relief.

She tried to sit up but Marcus pressed his hand against her shoulder. "Slowly Aurora. You're still looking rather pale and weak,"

Aurora managed to sit herself up slowly but she remained resting against a large pillow behind her back.

"Thank goodness Peter Knox's spell hadn't killed you. I brought you here to check on you,"

"Thank you, Marcus," Aurora breathed out gratefully. "How long was I out for?"

Marcus looked glum. "Three days,"

"Three days?!" Aurora almost exclaimed.

"What's important is you're alive,"

"What happened whilst I was out? Is Diana all right?"

Marcus didn't answer instantly.

"Marcus?"

"Diana blew off all the witches away with witch-wind. After she rested and I took you here, Matthew told her she had to leave Oxford for safety. He's taken her to our family home in France. And he instructed Miriam and me to keep you safe. You're going to be staying in my house until the time passes,"

"That's very kind of you Marcus but I would much rather go to my sister,"

"I told Matthew that too but he knew that it would only put you in greater danger. Diana didn't want to leave you but she was afraid Peter Knox would try to attack you again because it was her he was threatening, not you. It broke her heart to leave you but all she wanted to do was to protect you.

Aurora felt so despondent so Marcus rubbed her hand soothingly. She looked up at him again.

"Matthew has instructed us to deliver you over to Sept Tours as soon as something bad happens again. Witches won't dare trespass on vampire territory. Diana is safe. And you'll be safe too as long as you remain with us. You have my word that you will see her again. If it makes you feel any better…you can call her,"

Aurora tearfully nodded. "I would love that very much,"

Marcus expressed a sad smile back and gave him her phone. "I'm gonna go and tell the doctors that you can leave soon. Your bags are already at my house so you won't need to worry about your items,"

"Thank you, Marcus. You're so kind,"

"That's because you are kind to me first," giving her one last smile, Marcus walked out of the hospital room.

Aurora held up her phone. When she turned it on, the background image showed a picture of her and Diana when they had graduated from university together. The sight of them together made her tear up. She could bear no grudge against her sister for leaving her. She probably would have done the same thing for her too. At least both of them were now under protection from their vampire friends. She pressed the call button, then pressed the phone to her ear.

She waited for a response. There was no reply. She decided to call again later. Before she could press the red button, Diana responded.

"Aurora! Is that you?"

Aurora cried out for joy as she pressed her phone to her ear. "Yes! Yes, it's me, Diana! I'm all right!"

"I was so afraid you wouldn't wake up," Diana was sobbing on the other end of the call.

"Diana…it's only been three days,"

"I'm so sorry Aurora. You could have been killed because of me,"

"It's okay Diana. I'm all right. I'm just glad that you're safe. Marcus told me Matthew took you to his family house in France. I hope whoever else lives there is treating you kindly,"

"Marthe the housekeeper's very kind. She reminds me of you. But Ysabeau…" Diana drifted off.

"Who's Ysabeau?"

"Matthew's mother. She doesn't want me here. She hates witches,"

"She's just like Thomas,"

"I don't blame her for it. Her husband Phillipe was killed by witches during World War 2,"

"Yes. Marcus mentioned he died during World War 2,"

"Some witches worked with the Nazis. They played a part in his death,"

"I just hope Ysabeau isn't threatening you,"

"Matthew will make sure she doesn't. She knew I was coming over. Thomas called her earlier,"

Aurora clenched her fist remembering Thomas. "What's his problem? Aren't Peter's actions against us enough to prove that we're on his family's side?"

"Not entirely. There are still plenty of mean witches out there like Peter,"

"I'm going to be staying at Marcus's house,"

"Good. I hope he treats you well and that you'll be safe. I'm so sorry that I brought you into this mess,"

"No! Don't you dare say sorry Diana! None of this is your fault!"

"I didn't want to leave you…."

"Diana…it's okay. We'll see each other again soon. And I'll always give you a call until then,"

"I promise you is I will never leave you again once we're reunited. You have my word,"

Aurora sniffled, feeling Diana's wholehearted words flow into her heart. "Do Sarah and Em know?"

"Yes. They weren't happy about the news. They were very horrified when I told them what happened to you. Should we add them onto the call?"

Aurora nodded. She added their aunts to the call. The moment they heard their voices, Sarah and Em broke out gasping.

"Aurora…are you all right?" Sarah cried out.

"You're alive! Thank goodness!" Em breathed out loudly.

"It's all right Em and Sarah. I'm okay,"

"Please come home to us!" Sarah begged.

"I can't. Matthew's son Marcus is going to take care of me. And if anything else happens, I will be taken to Sept Tour to Diana,"

"No! Absolutely not! You are not staying with that vampire!"

"Sarah relax! Marcus wouldn't dare hurt me. He admires my work and he took care of me whilst I was in a coma,"

"She'll be safe," Diana supported. "Don't let ancient prejudices cloud your judgement,"

The aunts didn't say anything for a while.

"Girls…" Em started again. "Promise us that you will both call us at the same time every day at this hour,"

"Deal!" the girls said.

"Good. And Aurora…the moment something bad happens in Oxford again, go to Diana,"

"It's already arranged," Aurora promised. "We love you, aunts,"

"We love you too," Sarah send. She blew a kiss.

The call ended and Aurora saw Marcus entering.

"Did it go well?" he asked.

Aurora nodded tearfully. Marcus came over and he offered her a gentle hug. Aurora took it and he allowed her to cry softly into his shoulder.

Once she was free to go, Aurora took Marcus's offered hand and they walked out of the hospital together. They walked away from the hospitals and along the streets until they came to a giant white house.

"Wow…what a cool house," she observed.

"Wait till you see what's inside," Marcus grinned. He led her inside and what a magnificent hallway, kitchen and dining room he had with a cool outdoor yard.

"Amazing. How can you get a place like this?" Aurora asked.

"Oh just family money," Marcus shrugged. "Look up there," he pointed to the wall above some chairs in front of a fireplace.

Aurora gasped. "My painting,"

"Yeah. I had the perfect spot for it,"

"It looks beautiful,"

"That's because of your talent,"

"Oh stop it," Aurora chuckled, playfully elbowing him earning a laugh.

"Okay," Marcus cleared his throat. "Your bags should be upstairs in your room. Come on. I'll show you,"

He pulled her up by the hand. Although they were cold, Aurora quite enjoyed the cold touch. The cold never bothered here.

Her room was large with a double bed, a wardrobe, drawers, a large space for her paint stands and canvas pictures and a dressing table.

"This will be perfect," she said. "Thank you, Marcus,"

"I'm glad you like it," Marcus shared a warm smile with her. For a second, he felt lost in her beautiful dark eyes. "Well…then…I'll leave you to get settled in," he turned around and left. Aurora smiled so warmly after him.

Diana was having a walk around the gardens. She was so relieved that Aurora was feeling so much better and that she was in safe hands. Still, she missed her deeply and prayed that soon they would be reunited together.

She was enjoying the cool moist air flowing up her nostrils when she saw a gravestone marker at the far side of the gardens. She walked forward to it, wondering who it was for. There were flowers and a small picture frame of a young man in the 1990s with shaggy blonde hair and dark eyes quite similar to Thomas's. As she came closer, she saw letters inscribed in the stone.

Thomas MacDuff.

It sounded Scottish. Who was Thomas MacDuff?

"You shouldn't be here," a cold voice from behind her.

Gasping, Diana swerved around and she saw Ysabeau. She didn't look like she was threatening her but she didn't like her near the grave marker.

"I…I didn't…" she tried to say.

"That vampire was killed…by your kind," Ysabeau spoke boldly. "The grave was laid here to mark his memory. And this site is for de Clairmont's only,"

Diana quickly apologised and left. She felt Ysabeau's cold gaze behind her. She went inside the living room and sat down. Matthew came up to her with tea.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Mmm," she nodded.

"Marcus contacted me a while ago. Aurora's…"

"I know. She called me too. She's at his house now,"

Matthew could sense something wrong with her. "What is it?"

"I saw a gravestone outside in the gardens. Your mother didn't want me there. Who's Argus MacDuff?"

Matthew turned sad. He sat down beside, pressing his hands to his chin. "He was Thomas's partner. They met each other in the 14th century. Phillipe was very fond of him. As were I and Ysabeau. He and Thomas were very happy together for many centuries,"

"What happened to him?"

"He was killed. Thirty years ago,"

"By witches," Diana figured it out.

Matthew nodded sadly again. "It tore Thomas's heart apart for many years. He became a very changed man, much more changed after we lost Phillipe and Ysabeau wiped out covens,"

"I fully understand now why he doesn't like me around you. He's lost so much in his life,"

"I just wish there was something I could do to help him finally move on. But now I feel the more years that pass, the more I drift away from him. He's spent many times alone, many seasons being a recluse to both family and friends. I fear that my concern for the well-being of you and your sister has only pushed us apart more,"

"Have you tried to contact him?"

"I have. But he never answers the phone. It's my fault for the way I talked to him before,"

Diana sighed. She felt a little guilty. "He will talk to you. Just give him time. If you want to blame anyone, blame me. This tension between you two started the moment I came to talk to you for help,"

"No. I will not hold you responsible for the words I used against him. It's my problem to fix. And I must do it soon,"

Diana clasped his hand and offered a smile. He smiled back.

After a few hours of getting settled in, Marcus took Aurora back to the lab. She carried paint and canvas boards with her. Miriam waited inside. "How are you feeling?" she asked Aurora.

"I'm fine thank you,"

"Quite a long sleep you were in. I'm quite Peter Knox's spell seemed to make you blackout for so long. Usually, those kinds of spells have simple effects,"

"It didn't feel simple. When he cast that spell, I felt my entire head exploding….like a bomb was set off inside me and blowing me apart,"

"What's important is you're alive," Marcus soothed.

"Are you sure that I can paint here? I'd hate to get in the way,"

"Matthew gave us specific instructions to keep an eye on you," Miriam said. "Just as long as you don't spill any paint, you can paint in here,"

"Thank you," Aurora said. She found a space. "There…." she got to work on a painting. An hour passed when she listened to music on headphones and painted more of her artwork when Thomas appeared through the door. Marcus and Miriam noticed him.

"Ahh…. haven't seen you for the past few days," Miriam addressed. "Where have you been?"

"Just talking things over with Ysabeau. She's finding it difficult having a witch in her house,"

"That's my sister you're talking about," Aurora spoke up. She looked like she wanted to explode but she did her best to contain her temper. "Diana is a good person. And I will see you disrespect or act like she's an enemy to you and your family,"

"Guys…" Marcus tried to interject.

"See you're doing better," Thomas said sarcastically. "Remind again why our kind would attack you?"

"They did that because they were threatening us. We were going to die rather than let Peter Knox get his hands on a powerful book to destroy you and your kind. The least you can do is be grateful,"

"' Grateful?'" Thomas spat back. "Since how can you accuse me of being ungrateful when I've seen the horrors that your kind infects on other people? As a matter of fact, Aurora, when did you even begin to care about other creatures? Was it when you realised you were nothing like the other witches because you had ice powers?!"

Marcus couldn't take it anymore. "Enough Thomas! Leave her alone!"

"At least I've tried to evolve Thomas!" Aurora stood her ground from her seat. "What have you done?! Uh?! Aside from seeing the worst in people who aren't like you?!"

"Listen here Aurora…" Thomas poked her chest. "You're thirty years old. I'm over a thousand years old. I've seen the horrors that your kind brings to other people. You have no idea what it feels like to see people you love, people you care about getting taken away from you! Your kind are magical selfish killers who take the pleasure of hurting others because you all think that because you have powers you're so perfect! You're so powerful!"

"Enough Thomas!" Miriam shouted. "If you're not going to be nice to Aurora, then leave!"

"I will not leave a witch in our lab so she can spy on us and get information!"

"Get out Thomas!" Marcus snapped.

Thomas stood back, appalled by his brother's outburst. "Great," he shrugged. "So now even my brother doesn't know how I feel. I expected more from both of you,"

He turned and stomped out of the lab.

Aurora growled. "What is his problem?!" she roared. "How is it that me being attacked and Diana being threatened isn't enough to make him see that we're not his enemies! Why does he have to be antagonising to us for no reason?! What does he even know about witches? Is he always so cold?"

Marcus had cooled down. His face had turned from anger to pity. He pulled out a seat and sat down, pouring himself a goblet of wine. "Look I know Thomas can seem cold and unfriendly. But deep down…"

"He is cold and unfriendly," Miriam interrupted, earning a frown from Marcus.

"What happened to him?" Aurora asked, not caring if she was being nosy.

Marcus hung his head down. "He lost his entire human family to witches when he was a boy. He was born during the reign of William the Conqueror. He's spent over a thousand years remembering that grave day. In the 20th' century, he wanted to be open-minded about other creatures. He was just like you and Diana once. But his hatred for witches became worse when we lost Phillipe in the 1940s and he lost his partner Argus MacDuff thirty years ago," he paused, unable to speak a bit.

Aurora figured it all out. "Witches were responsible for their deaths,"

Marcus nodded grimily. Aurora knew that he held no anger towards her but still she knew by looking into his eyes that he despised the witches responsible for killing Phillipe and Argus.

Miriam continued for him. "They've been the author of his pain through his entire existence. And he's afraid that Matthew consorting with your sister will lead to him losing another father,"

"And he' doesn't want to lose me either," Marcus confessed wholeheartedly. "He had a little sister named Isabella. When I was sired, he told me his sad story and he vowed he would never lose any of his loved ones ever again. He's just lost too many people,"

It was at that moment that Aurora felt deep remorse for Thomas. No matter how much she hated him for his attitude towards her and her sister, she had finally begun to understand the power that his pain had inflicted on his conscience.

Another chapter is done. Please tell me what you all thought. What did you all think of my description for Argus MacDuff? I hope you have all enjoyed it. Thank you so much everyone for your support.