Episode Eight Part One

Aurora and the aunts were thunderstruck by the sudden blurs of movement.

"What the..." Emily's words floated off.

"Who's Juliette?" Sarah asked.

"She's Matthew's former lover. If she's here it can't be good," Aurora tried to run off but Emily grabbed her arm.

"Darling no! Please"

"They need our help. If she's here, the Congregation could be too. I am not hiding," Aurora pulled her arm free and she fled the house before her aunts could stop her.

In the forest, the three vampires were shooting under the trees as fast as lightning.

"I can't smell anyone else!" Miriam alerted.

"I smell something hot!" shouted Marcus over the wind.

The smell of hot air burning his nostrils made Thomas accelerate. "Hurry!"

In about one minute, they reached the bank of an aged, creaked barn of redwood. They saw the corpse of a vampire with fuzzy hair and lifeless eyes spread on the ground, smoke emitting from her burnt chest, Juliette.

"Oh my god," Thomas breathed.

"Matthew!" Marcus rushed inside his brother and Miriam behind him. The moment they enter the shaggy barn, to their shock they saw Matthew bleeding on the chest and the neck, dying. Diana was next to him, cutting her into her wrist.

"I know what she's gonna do," Thomas quickly spoke. "Diana stop!" he flashed over.

"Let us help him!" Marcus implored.

But Diana shouted, "Get away from him at them!" In an instant, a barrier formed around her and Matthew.

"Diana think before you do this!" Thomas banged helpless against the defensive energy.

"You don't know what you're doing. Let us help him!" Marcus implored.

Diana ignored them. She cradled the cut she had carved into her skin.

Suddenly Aurora arrived on the scene. She gasped when she saw Diana placing her bleeding wrist against Matthew's lips. "Diana stop!"

The others could do nothing but watch as Matthew sucked blood from her wrist. He then passed out. Nothing had happened.

"Diana please just let us help!" Marcus implored.

"Whatever it is that you tried to do, it won't work," begged Thomas.

Diana blocked out their shouts and leaned over Matthew's body.

"Don't!" Aurora begged. "You don't what he'll do!"

Suddenly Matthew bit into Diana's neck sucking up ounces of red. Aurora felt sick to the core. She closed her eyes and turned away, scared of the vulgar sight. Matthew's teeth clung to Diana's skin for several seconds until he let go and she collapsed on her sight, bleeding heavily. The barrier separating them from their loved ones broke apart and they all stumbled forward.

"Father..." Thomas breathed.

Matthew was breathing again; his life had been saved. "I'm all right. I'm all right,"

"Thank goodness," Thomas was so overjoyed he hadn't lost another father.

"Diana!" Aurora cradled her sister's body. She was still alive. She didn't receive any mortal wounds but she was bleeding like a hunted animal.

Marcus looked at her. "We need to get her back to the house so I can work on her,"

Aurora was crying. Matthew sat up and his heart clenched seeing his mate being cradled by her sister. He began to feel guilty seeing her like this. "I'm sorry you had to see that,"

Aurora couldn't speak to him. She was too scared.

"Let me carry Diana back," Marcus instead to his father. "I think it would best for you and Aurora,"

Matthew nodded in agreement. He could hear the scared gasps from Aurora and though he couldn't read minds, he knew by her reactions that she was scared of him being near Diana again.

"We need to get you cleaned up too," Thomas added in. "Come on. We've gotta be quick,"

Together they lifted Diana off the floor and they carried her back through the forest. Matthew took one last glance back at the corpse of his former lover.

"I'll take care of the body later," Thomas promised.

"How did she beat him?" Marcus asked.

"Witch fire," Matthew said. "It was remarkable,"

Once they got back to the Bishop's house where Em and Sarah awaited them, they were mortified to see Diana bleeding all over. Instantly Sarah flew into a tantrum. "What did you do to her Matthew?!"

Before either Thomas or Marcus could defend him, Aurora stood up. "It wasn't his fault Sarah! Juliette nearly killed him! And Diana gave him her blood to save him! Now we gotta get her inside quick!"

Sarah wanted to argue but there was no time. Quickly Diana was taken right up the stairs to the big bed and laid down.

"I've gotta get a blood bag," Marcus said. "I'll be back," he shot off in a blur.

"We'd better clean her wounds before she loses any more blood," Thomas notified.

"Already on it," Miriam shot off too.

Em and Sarah decided to find some clean clothes leaving Matthew, Aurora and Thomas alone in the room.

Aurora sat by her side, cradling her sister's hand.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that," Matthew apologised to her. She turned to him. "It was very frightening for you and I apologise sincerely,"

"It doesn't matter, the important thing is you're alive," Aurora assured. "You could have died,"

The aunts and Miriam came back and Thomas helped her clean the words. Then Marcus appeared, carrying a bit first aid kit.

"Use the left arm, it's already open," Matthew instructed.

"It's useless. Her tissue's full of your saliva and she won't absorb anything," Marcus remarked with his scientific knowledge. He hung the blood bag up above the bed and pulled Diana's sleeve up. "You're gonna feel a slight prick," He inserted the needle into her arm and he got to work with fixing her.

Once she was clean, all that needed to be done was to leave her to rest and recover slowly.

"We'd best give her some space," Thomas said. "We'll leave you alone with her father,"

Matthew smiled in appreciation.

Aurora wasn't comfortable with the other idea.

"You can stay if you want," he offered.

"No that's okay," Aurora answered back. Most of the group left the couple with Miriam and went to their rooms. Aurora sat on her bed, twiddling her fingers. She heard footsteps and turned to see Marcus approaching her. "You okay?" he asked sympathetically.

Aurora pursed her lips and nodded but Marcus knew better. "Don't worry Aurora. She's gonna be all right," he promised.

"But Matthew..."

"Was out of control. Diana knew what would happen but she took it. And they're both alive. That's what matters,"

"Thank you for saving her,"

"I'm a doctor. It's what I do,"

"You're a really good doctor,'

Marcus smiled, appreciating the compliments.

Aurora's appreciation turned to fear. "I thought we were safe here. Turns out we're not. Juliette coming here means that the Congregation will too. When will this stop?"

Marcus noticed ice spreading under their feet. He came over and sat down next to her. "It's all right. Look at me," he gently cupped her face and raised her chin to meet his. "It's all right. Everything's okay. You've nothing to fear. Just deep breaths. Deep breaths,"

Aurora took slow inhales and exhales and relaxed. "I can't believe I'm losing control again. Sometimes I feel like I'm a walking disaster. Maybe creatures like me aren't meant to exist. We're just too unpredictable,"

"Don't say that please," Marcus begged. "I like you just the way you are Aurora. I don't want you to change who you are. There are worse things than being so emotional. And it's a good thing you are. Otherwise, you wouldn't have a heart. Like so many bad people in this world,"

Aurora was relaxed but remained frightened.

"I know what'll make you feel better. Come with me," Marcus guided Aurora outside towards the back door. When he went out, she didn't follow.

"You sure it's safe to be out here?" she was scared again.

"We'll be fine. Juliette didn't arrive with anyone else. And I'll know if danger is approaching. Trust me. Nothing will happen I promise," Marcus was brave and he wasn't not going to see Aurora look so scared. She nodded and grasped his hand tightly. She allowed him to pull her out into the gardens. They lay down close to each other on a plain of soft grass and stared up at the sky. They saw bright gleaming stars.

"It's beautiful," Aurora said. "I haven't seen stars like this in a very long time,"

"I can never stop awing at them since I've seen every constellation that's ever existed,"

"You see that one up there?" Aurora pointed to a set of stars at diverse angles. "There's Orion the Hunter,"

"And there's Pegasus," Marcus pointed at another set.

"You know constellations very well,"

"Yes. I love to study them aside from being a doctor,"

"I used to do this all the time with her when we were kids,"

"Me you. When I was human and I had a human sister," Marcus said.

Aurora turned her head. "What was her name?"

Marcus smiled sadly. "Eloise,"

"She must have been really lucky to have you as her brother,"

Marcus smiled a little more then turned his head back up to the sky.

Aurora did too. "Sometimes I often wonder if those we love watch down on us from those stars. It was something I used to believe as a kid. I always thought my parents were up there watching over me and Diana as we grew up,"

"When I was a soldier and I was patrolling at night, I always looked up and in a way...I felt my human family's presence. I still miss them. No matter how much I love Matthew and Thomas and Ysabeau and everyone else..."

"They can never really replace them in your heart," Aurora finished. "It's weird but...I miss my birth mother even if I never met her. Is that strange?"

"It's not. It's right. She loved you so much," Marcus comforted.

"I loved my adoptive parents so much too. My adoptive mother can never replace my birth mother. And whomever my real father is, he will never replace my dad. Do you love having such a large family?"

Marcus nodded. "I do. Even if it hurts every time we lose someone, they're always with us. Even when it doesn't seem like it,"

"Does Thomas feel the same way? About Argus? Or Ysabeau with Phillipe?" Aurora asked.

"It's hard to talk to them nowadays about those we lost," Marcus confessed. "Phillipe was the oldest vampire I ever knew. And Argus helped me when I had trouble struggling to be a vampire. But even if they're gone...they're never forgotten,"

"I think they would love seeing my sister and your father together. I bet they would have changed and looked past old grudges just like your grandmother and brother did,"

Marcus smiled. "I think you're right,". They lay down on their sides, looking into each other's eyes.

"I'm really proud you supported Matthew on this,"

"He's my father. He's done so much for me and I want him to be happy. I owe that to him,"

"And I my sister. You're a very good man Marcus. I bet your human family would be so proud of the person you became. You help people and you're generous towards anyone no matter who they are,"

"And I think your mother would be really proud of you too. The way you protect those you love and how you stand for what's right...that would have made her proudest mother in the world,"

The more they talked, the more they were drawn to one another. It was strange how such a short time they became so close because they judged each other not for their race but for their personalities. But right now, they realised that something very powerful was brewing between them and it had been since the day Aurora pecked Marcus on the cheeks in the city where they met. Their lips touched. They kissed, for the first time. Then pulled back. As Aurora opened her eyes, Marcus saw they were shimmering in sparks of blues and greens and violets. "Your eyes," he breathed in wonder.

Aurora was shaken by his words. "Oh my," she began to panic. "I'm sorry," she covered them feeling scared of his reaction.

"Don't be," Marcus gently cupped her cheek. "They're beautiful,"

His words made Aurora blush. "This has never happened to me before. Not around anyone," she would have felt scared but when the vampire she kissed gazed at her with amazement, it made her think her true self was dazzling him with every passing moment. As she spoke, her hair began to glow in rays of watercolours.

"Your hair is glowing," Marcus was falling more in love with the woman whose hair radiated glowing like the Northern Lights in front of him.

"Like the Aurora," Aurora pictured the vision of her as a baby in her birth mother's arms. "This is what gave me my name,"

"You're so beautiful. You're the most passionate creature I've ever met. That's what I love about you,"

Aurora pressed her lips into a big smile. "You're so passionate and kind-hearted too Marcus. You help people no matter what they are. That's what I love about you,"

Marcus smiled back. They leaned forward together and shared another passionate kiss. As their lips touched, the lights emitting out of Aurora's hair floated above their heads and formed shapes of hearts.

In the woods, Thomas was disposing of Juliette's scorched body. After draining it of all its blood, he dumped the corpse into a hole and covered it in soil.

Miriam appeared.

"How's Diana?"

"Very well. She's the most powerful witch we've ever encountered. Witchfire wasn't in her DNA markers,"

"She is full of surprises," Thomas said admirably. He was digging but Miriam was staring at him strangely. "What?"

"Your heartbeat and blood pressure have accelerated. What is it that you're thinking of?"

Thomas sighed and turned away. His close friend knew him too much. "I can't believe how close Matthew was to dying. I could never have handled losing another father again,"

"He's alive. Thanks to Diana,"

"This fight is so much more of a struggle than I thought. I love our family Miriam...but if any of us die..."

"Then they die with honour," Miriam spoke up, filled with hope. "Lives are always lost in a fight Thomas. We can't decide who. But we can decide how we honour them,"

"How are you so full of hope still?"

"Because you inspired me. Not just your father or Diana. You joined this fight even though it was against your regular beliefs. You're a fighter, Thomas. You've always been a fighter. Don't ever let that inner warrior inside you die,"

Her words were encouraging. A warm Thomas gave her a gentle brotherly hug which she return. They then returned to the house.

That's part one of episode eight done. And Marcus and Aurora have confessed their feelings for each other. What did you all think? Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. I would love to hear them. Also, I would love to hear any ideas about how I'll develop their relationship; I am very open to suggestions. See you all soon.