Episode 6 Part 1

Thomas had wondered who the flying figure in the night sky was the other night. He couldn't get a good scent because of the wind. He decided to go hunting as he desired blood to calm his nerves. For the past few nights, he had been hunting, hoping it would calm his anger from all the disputes he'd been having with his family, particularly his father. He walked inside his lonely cabin and sat down in front of the fire thinking about his family. He held up a photo album and flipped through the pages which were a timeline of happy moments.

He saw his grandmother and grandfather. He saw Matthew and himself. His beloved cousin Gallowglass and his uncle Hugh. Himself and Argus. Matthew, himself, and Marcus. He, Marcus, and Miriam. Marthe and Ysabeau. As he flipped through, those happy reminders seemed to make him bounce back to those passionate moments he cherished and would forever hold on to for centuries to come. He missed and loved them all deeply. As he thought about them, he thought about Phoebe back on the ferry they shared. He heard her wise words flowing through his mind like a river of wisdom. He knew that he couldn't stay away from his family and expect their problems to dissolve. He had to return to them. But how could he? After all the arguments he's regrettably had with most of them because of two witches?

He held up the last picture he took with Argus together. He missed him deeply. He remembered the days when they fell in love by hunting together. They used to share this cabin very occasionally. And every summer it would just be the two of them together. He really wanted this to be forever. But for as long as Argus had been dead, he had always come back here, praying that one-day Argus would be here as he always should have been. But it was not to be.

He walked outside into the cold air where it was cloudy and emotionless. Like nothing was going to happen. He walked along some valley ridges, holding onto his mind on this long moment of silence and loneliness.

Just then over the forests, he saw a powerful flying figure soaring across the horizon. Narrowing his eyes, he could make out that it was carrying something. Or someone. He watched it as it disappeared into the mountains behind some valleys. He decided to investigate.

With his sonic speed, he sprinted across the isolated setting until he came to a castle in the grey fells.

La Pierre. He knew exactly what this castle was. It belonged to Gerbert. He knew him very well.

He decided to check it out. About five kilometres away, he could hear voices deep behind the jagged ruined walls. He recognised one voice. Diana's. He heard the banging and clanging of metal.

"You're a traitor and a disgrace!" Another person shouted. It was another witch. Probably the figure was flying with her, who had been carrying her away. As she spoke those words, Thomas felt his anger surging up in rage. His father had broken the covenant.

He's chosen that witch over his family. Thomas had never felt more indignant since the day he lost his biological family. Matthew had betrayed his kind for a witch. He never thought he would dare go so far, to break a covenant set by Phillipe, his father, to keep creatures safe from discovery. If Diana was going to be punished this way, he would let them. As he began to walk away, Diana and her captor's rants rung in his head. But one sentence made him stop.

"Witches murdered my parents and they covered it up! Ask Knox! Ask him!"

Thomas paused in his walking. He had just heard from Diana's shouts that her parents had been killed by her kind and they had covered it up to make it seem like it was humans. This witch was indeed in danger from her kind.

It doesn't matter. She's still a witch. He told himself. He kept walking on. Once she's done, my father can just forget about her.

Aurora slept peacefully in her bed. She dreamt about the night she and Marcus went out on a night together. But as she dreams, pictures float in her head like hummingbirds. In them, she saw two witches. One with long blonde hair. One with short dark hair. The dark-haired one was torturing the one with long blonde hair. She was carving a symbol into her skin, burning her back.

The blonde witch was screaming in pain.

Thomas had almost left sight of La Pierre when he heard screaming. It was Diana's voice. He slowly turned his head towards the source of that voice, the voice of a witch in pain.

Matthew rushes to the room of his mate's sister. But as he turns the lock and pushes it, he feels it is hard and stiff like very solid ice. As he sniffs, he detects cold air but it doesn't bother him. With dominant strength, he shoves his side right into the door. Crack! He busts open. The sight inside is befuddling. The room is icy. The air is frosty. The floor is slippery. Ahead he sees Aurora shaking under her covers. She is having a terrible dream. She is going mad. She is freezing the room.

Managing to make it across the room, Matthew stood over Aurora's shaking body as she tosses her head. He grabs her shoulders. He shouts her name. But she won't wake up. He tries again. He screams louder. "AURORA!"

Aurora wakes up panting heavily. Matthew feels the cold air recede. He twists his head and sees the ice disappearing. There are no wet marks in the room. It's like it wasn't there entirely. He turned his attention back to Aurora. Two tears were raining out of her eyes. He heard his heart beating rapidly, her blood pumping violently under her skin.

She was scared. She was afraid. She saw him. She saw how shocked he was. She realised what she had done. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

Matthew pulled her into her arms. "It's all right. It's all right," he stroked her hair protectively.

"I had a terrible dream. I saw Diana….and another witch. She was torturing her,"

Matthew pulled back. "Diana's not in our bed,"

Aurora became scared. "She's got to be around here,"

"I can't hear her anywhere around the house," Matthew said seriously. "There's a helicopter outside. I fear the Congregation have come,"

"No," Aurora became afraid. Did that what she just dreamed was coming true?

She threw herself out of bed and grabbed a robe. Before she could leave the room, Matthew blocked her.

"No Aurora. I promised to keep you safe. If the Congregation are here for me and Diana, you cannot get involved,"

"Matthew, I told you and Diana last night that I would have your back. Well, I'm going to. I will not stand back whilst you two pay for breaking a law that shouldn't even exist. This is my fight too. You understand?"

Matthew was silent. But then he nodded accepting her determination. "Stay close to me at all times,"

She nodded and promised. He escorted her towards the living room. Ysabeau was there. Along with a vampire who gave Aurora emotional shivers. The vampire had brown ruffled hair with dark piercing eyes and an arrogant face and posture.

Ysabeau turned to them. "I smelt frosty air from Marcus's room,"

"It was me Ysabeau. I'm very sorry," Aurora apologised.

"All is well mamon," Matthew assured. "She was having a terrible dream,"

"And who are you Ysabeau and Matthew to allow this creature to sleep in Marcus's room?" the vampire sinisterly questioned.

His voice made Aurora scared.

"I will have you know Baldwin that Aurora is welcomed onto our land as our guest," Ysabeau spoke softly but with a hardened voice.

"You're Matthew's brother aren't you," Aurora guessed correctly. "I've heard all about you,"

"Who are you to come here with that witch whom my brother is mated to?" Baldwin stepped towards her.

"This is between you and me Baldwin," Matthew stood by Aurora.

Baldwin glared at her. He sniffed. "You're not like any creature I've ever seen,"

"And I can you are just as arrogant as the council that you're head of," Aurora spoke back.

"Who are you to speak to me that way? You freak," Baldwin hissed. Instantly Matthew placed himself between her.

"Call her that again and it will be the last thing you do. What have the Congregation done with Diana? Where is she?"

Baldwin didn't answer. Suddenly Matthew punched him. He punched back but Matthew pinned him onto the table and bit into his neck.

Aurora almost gored at the sight. She wanted to puke but there was no bile in her throat.

"I'll kill you if you have harmed her! Where is she?!" Matthew strangled his brother with velocity.

"Where is Diana?!" Aurora demanded. She turned to Ysabeau but she sadly shook her head.

"If I knew where she was, I would have taken her back to Venice already!" Baldwin coughed out.

"She has to be outside!" Aurora wouldn't believe it. "She has to be here!"

Suddenly Marthe came bursting into the room. "I caught her scent in the garden but mixed with another,"

Instantly Matthew took off and fled into the woods.

"Someone else was here," Marthe alerted her mistress and guest. "Diana's gone,"

Aurora shook her head. "No," A tear escaped her eye. "No,"

Ysabeau came to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Don't fret. We will find her,"

Baldwin stood up. "I don't know what you are," he pointed a finger at Aurora. "But you are not welcome on my lands,"

"They are not just your lands Baldwin," Ysabeau stood her ground. "They are my lands too. And Matthew's,"

"How can you invite this freak onto our land?"

"I'm not a freak!" Aurora shouted. She wanted to freeze Baldwin in a block of ice but Ysabeau and Marthe held her back.

"You're not any creature I've ever seen. You smell wrong. Your blood is cold yet you are not a vampire. I can feel like you're enchanting me like a daemon," Baldwin wanted to come closer and inspect her. "Luckily for you, it's Matthew and your sister who are our main priority,"

"If you think you can kill them for loving one another, you're wrong," Aurora defied his words. "And you will not take my sister!"

She fled from Ysabeau and Marthe's arms and whooshed outside.

Thomas couldn't block out Diana's screams. He whooshed right up to the gates of La Pierre and he found a wench gate. He could hear three hearts pumping. One pump was coming front inside. He got a smell. It was Gerbert. Quickly he grabbed some mud and he covered his clothes to block his scent. He peered through the gaps in the gate. He saw a witch with short dark hair standing in front of an upside Diana in mid-air. She chanted a torture spell as she held her hand in front of Diana's back, branding her as red magic outlined a shape on her back.

Thomas had believed that Diana was an enemy from the very beginning. All because she was a witch. But he never thought to look past it and realised she truly was good. His father wouldn't have chosen to break the covenant to love her unless otherwise. He felt a powerful determination streaming through his body, giving him a purpose, not to fight with his father but to stand by him. He made a choice.

As he did, he saw the evil witch's fire circle fading away. He detected shortness of breath and pain in his muscles. She was weak. Now was his chance. Grabbing a bar, he flung the gate up with his strength. He sprinted in a blur and kicked the cruel witch, then she grabbed her and threw her against the wall. He was too fast, too quick to be attacked. Once she was down, Diana's body fell into his arms and he quickly carried her away.

In less than a second, he had escaped the ruins of La Pierre, taking his rescue deep into the mountains. To safety.

Aurora saw Matthew standing in the gardens on some gravel paths. Perfect for a run. She rushed over to him. He was inspecting the ground. A hand hovered over a particular spot. "This is where her scent ends," he hissed. He turned to a grief-stricken Aurora. "How can that be?"

"There's one witch who can do that," Aurora said. "A witch who can fly,"

"That would take a rare one," Ysabeau's voice spooked her. She turned around to see Matthew's mother and brother with them.

"They flew," Baldwin clarified. "No witch has ever violated the de Clairmont territory. They wouldn't dare. This will start a war between species,"

"Vampires and witches," Matthew said. "I should never have let Gillian go. She's involved in this,"

"This is not your doing Matthew," Aurora consoled. "You're not to blame. It's Peter Knox. He must have done this,"

"The creature is right. Knox was eager for the witch to be interrogated by the congregation," Baldwin said.

"Her name is Aurora," reminded Matthew repulsively infuriated with Baldwin's lack of respect.

"Knox wouldn't have taken her. He can't fly,"

"Well, then who does?" Aurora demanded.

Baldwin glared at her before he turned his back to talk on the phone. Aurora wrapped her robe around her tighter as she cried silently. Matthew came to her and stroked her back soothingly.

"We will find her Aurora. I promise. Whoever did this to Diana will pay," he vowed.

"Thank you. For sticking for me,"

"You're not a freak Aurora," Matthew comforted her. "You're a special creature. Diana's lucky to have you for a sister,"

His word had a deep impact on her. Aurora was touched. She felt vibrations ringing from her phone. She held it up and saw it was Marcus. She desperately pressed it to her ear.

"Marcus?"

"Aurora…hey! I just wanted to check in to see how you are,"

"Things are not good Marcus. Not good at all!"

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

"Aurora, you sound distressed!" It was Miriam.

"Diana's been taken,"

"What?"

"A witch captured her from the air from Sept Tour,"

"Who would do this?" Marcus asked.

"We don't know. But Peter Knox and Gillian are involved and they will pay. And Baldwin's here Marcus,"

"Oh god," Marcus cursed. "He hasn't harmed you,"

"No. He called me a freak,"

"Don't listen to what he says. He's just being a jerk. You're not a freak Aurora. You're special. Don't let him tell you otherwise,"

"Thank you. What will he do? Will he help us? Or will he choose the Congregation?"

Marcus was silent for a sec. "I think you might already know the answer. He's been the head of that council since Phillipe's death and it is extremely important,"

"More than his own family," Aurora scoffed.

"Shhhhh!" He could be hearing you right now.

"I actually can!" It was Baldwin. He had finished his call to the Congregation witches.

Aurora turned to him and saw his disgusted face. "I've gotta go, Marcus," she whispered.

"Please be careful," Marcus implored. "And Matthew will find Diana. I promise,"

The call ended.

Baldwin stepped in closer on Aurora. "If you think you can come onto my homeland and insult me all you want….then you've signed your death warrant,"

"Well, you listen here, Baldwin…" Aurora leaned in close to his face, so he could see how unafraid she was. "You can do whatever to me. You can call me a freak, insult me all you want. But what you will not do is stand between my sister and your brother. They love each other. And if you can't accept that, then screw you,"

Baldwin felt the urge to grab her neck and choke but Matthew stood close to her. He held himself back.

Another chapter is here. What did you all think? Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. I would love to hear your opinions. So Thomas has saved Diana. What an unexpected surprise. What did you all think of Aurora and how she stood up to Baldwin? And him calling her a freak. How horrible. Look forward to seeing you all soon.