Episode 10 Part 2

Thomas was walking the daemons back. "If Fergus is here then it means they're not here on good business. Whatever trouble he may seek to cause with me and Marcus, I want you two to stay out of it,"

"We can handle ourselves," Sophie said.

"We're not going to take you for granted like that," agreed Nate. "We may be daemons but that doesn't mean we're helpless,"

"I promised you to keep you two safe. I'm sorry if you both feel held back like this but Fergus is a racialist of daemons. And I will not have either of you or Agatha harmed or the risk of you both losing your child," Thomas was committed to his heart-bound duty unconditionally.

"Okay," Nate accepted. "But don't feel like you have to risk your life,"

"I have to. If I don't take my duty seriously, I will never forgive myself. I failed it once before. If I cannot do it again or I will never forgive myself,"

The way he spoke, Nate for an uncanny reason could sense heart-breaking guilt crushing Thomas's spirit. He may seem committed and determined on the outside but on the inside, he sensed a tragic griever. They had just turned a corner when they ran into….

"Hello Phoebe," greeted Thomas.

"Hello Thomas," she greeted back. "Who are these two?"

"Oh, these are my friends Nate and Sophie," an awkward Thomas introduced.

"Hello," Sophie waved.

"Hey," Nate said.

"Phoebe Taylor," Phoebe introduced her selves.

"Are you guys friends?" Sophie asked curiously.

"We're friendly acquaintances," explained Thomas.

"I think we can call ourselves friends," corrected Phoebe gently. "We have indeed had some intriguing encounters and talks with one another,"

Thomas felt embarrassed. "I suppose we could,"

"How about we make this official by exchanging phone numbers?" offered Phoebe, her cheeks puffing out every second she was setting her eyes on Thomas.

"Okay," Thomas fished out his phone and they exchanged numbers.

"There. Now we can be more than friendly acquaintances," Phoebe's face cocked forward as her voice rose a little inefficiently.

Thomas pursed his lips much to his friends' curiosity.

"Well, I had better get to work," Phoebe said. "I'll let you guys be on your way. Goodbye Thomas," she walked off but Thomas looked out for her. She turned her head and a warm smile seemed to blossom on her face as she waved.

Thomas chuckled a little and waved back. He turned around slowly and was met by knowingly faces by the Wilsons. Their lips were forming teasing smiles. "Nothing is going on. Let's just keep going," he walked off in front. Sophie and Nate shared mischievous grins and followed him.

Phoebe just turned a corner when she nearly bumped into a tall Scottish vampire. "Oh, my. Sorry, sir I…"

"My apologies Miss," Fergus said. "I should have been a little more aware,"

"Now if you'll excuse me I have to be on my way," Phoebe attempted to circle him but he swerved slowly in front. She became nervous. "Will you not let me pass?"

"You really shouldn't be talking to Thomas Clairmont,"

"You know him?"

"He and I have a long history,"

"Were you spying on us?"

"That is none of your business. But know this, he is nothing but trouble so I insist you stay away from him unless you want to get into a situation in which you won't walk out of her,"

Phoebe frowned. "Look, Sir, I don't know who you think you are but you are gravely mistaken. Thomas is the kindest man I've ever met. And another thing you should know, I don't take advice from strangers.

Fergus was belittled by the way she spoke to him.

"Good day," she swerved past him and walked off into the crowd.

Fergus twisted his head and watched her retreating figure; he frowned.

Thomas pulled out his phone and called Ysabeau. Grand'Mere.

Thomas. Is everything alright?

Fergus is here.

Oh my god. Any idea why?

None. But it means trouble. How are Diana's aunts?

They're settling in. It is taking time to get used to them.

But I'm sure you're doing a good job. I know how difficult it is for both of us around witches, but in a way, befriending them is the same way as letting go of our grudge and moving on.

I agree with you on letting go of a grudge but moving on? Ysabeau sighed over the line. It's not that simple.

Thomas agrees on that too. What do you think Marcus and I should do?

Just keep your daemon friends near you at all times and don't take them or Aurora out at night. That's your best option without causing a fight. Don't have the knights spy on them or it will make the situation all the worse.

I feel I have to disagree.

Don't give them a reason to cause trouble.

It's them who are causing trouble for us. Thomas sighed. I'll do nothing for the time being. Grand'Mere, do you think it was a good idea for a father to pick me and Marcus as the grandmasters of the Knights of Lazarus?

He made a wise choice. I know you two can make a difference.

That means a lot coming from you. I'll call you again soon.

Bye Tom. I love you.

Love you too. Thomas blew a kiss and ended the call.

He and the daemons just arrived at his house and to their surprise, Marcus and Aurora were awaiting them with Agatha. The serious look on Marcus's face told Thomas one thing. They went inside sipping wine or tea.

"So, this family has had a grudge against the de Clairmonts for centuries because they accused Phillipe of wanting power," Aurora stated once they had told her everything. "What are they doing here in Oxford?"

"We don't quite know. We only just saw them at a restaurant talking. It sounded like it was business associated with us," Thomas said gravely. "It was too loud to precisely make out what they were planning or what they were doing here. I decided it was not safe here so we started heading straight back,"

"Then we bumped into his girlfriend on the way back," joked Sophie to Aurora.

"You have a girlfriend?" Aurora teased, grinning wide-eyed at Thomas.

"It's that Phoebe girl he talked to. We bumped into her at the airport," Marcus teased.

"She is not my girlfriend," groaned Thomas. "How many times have I got to tell you?!"

"Let's get back to the subject," said Agatha, seeing how discomforting it was to their host. "What do you plan to do about Fergus?"

"I called Ysabeau for some advice. She thinks we shouldn't spy on him or it will provoke trouble,"

"You don't suppose they work for Gerbert or Peter Knox do you?" Aurora asked.

"Absolutely not Peter Knox," disagreed Marcus. "Fergus would never work with him in a million years,"

"Gerbert on the other hand is a different story," countered Thomas. "It's possible they could have been sent to observe us and our activities,"

"So, to spy on us," clarified Aurora.

Thomas nodded. He didn't want to make it sound worse than it was but Aurora had already got the picture. "The best we can do now is do nothing but wait and see what happens. That will also mean you guys have to stay in here as much as possible,"

"You can't confine us," argued Aurora.

"We may not have a choice," said Marcus regrettably.

"He's right Rora," said Sophie. "I don't like this any more than you do, but if we don't want those vampires to find out what we're up to, it's best we lie low,"

Aurora sighed irritably. "Okay,"

Marcus rubbed her hand. "I hate to do this too. But the last we need is for someone to get hurt. We can go out on daily walks but we mustn't get up to a lot of activity,"

The daemons nodded in agreement and so did Thomas.

Marcus and Aurora headed straight back to his house. Luckily they had no encounter with Fergus or any of the MacDuffs.

Aurora pulled off her coat and hung it up. Marcus saw how depressed and self-isolated she was about the idea of home confinement. "Aurora, I don't like this any more than you do. The last thing I ever want is to make you feel like a prisoner,"

"I know Marcus. You're doing what you think is right. And as much as I don't like to be confined, I did promise Diana I wouldn't leave this house without anyone. And the last thing I want is for any of us to get into trouble. I'd whatever be necessary,"

"I promise you it won't be for long," an element of Marcus's words were deceptive. Aurora could see clearly through but she knew he was only trying to keep her motivated and less restrained.

"I'm gonna go outside for a while," she said.

"Okay," Marcus opened a kitchen door that led outside onto a large balcony with a small garden. She sat down on a large seat and stared up into the sky, her spirit somewhat strong but also conflicted. She stayed in that very spot for three long hours refusing any offers of food or drink. Marcus was becoming concerned about her state and decided it was time to speak up.

He sat down beside her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," her voice was low.

"You are not fine. Your voice is low and your heart is thumping slowly,"

"I'm fine,"

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's going on,"

"I don't wanna talk about it,"

"Aurora, there's a big difference between telling your feelings instead of burying them so deep that they change who you are," he remained stubborn and unmoveable.

Irritated with his constant bragging, Aurora stood up and walked away from him a bit.

"I'm sorry," said Marcus quickly. "I shouldn't have pushed you like that,"

"It's not you Marcus," Aurora turned around, her face a little red. "It's just…you know who you are. You always have but…" she wheezed. "I'm just so desperate for answers. I know that I'm not a witch, that the parents who loved me aren't my real ones, that my mother isn't either a human, a vampire, a witch or a daemon and I don't even know who my real father is so…what does that mean for me? What kind of being am I?" she slouched down on a lower garden ledge and stared up into the night sky again.

Marcus sympathetically sat beside and gently tugged some hair behind her hair. "What you're searching for isn't out there Aurora…it's in here," he pressed his hand against her chest. "Maybe you just don't see it yet," his words turned her to meet his eyes. "You're amazing just the way you are. Not because of what you are but how you treat others. When we met in the art store, you didn't judge me for being a vampire. You judged me for the person I was. I've seen you treat others so benevolently and how you selflessly put the needs of others before your own,"

"What are you trying to say?"

"What I'm trying to say is it doesn't matter where you come from. What matters is what you choose to be. You're smart and open-hearted and beautiful and you care about other creatures in a way I've never seen anyone do. That's what you are. And that should be enough,"

Though it wasn't exactly what she was hoping for, his words seemed to lift her spirits. The insight within them seem to cast a ray of light over her shoulders that seemed to brighten her inner spirit as if to make all the self-doubt inside her recede. Her long hair started glowing again like the Aurora.

"I don't know how to control that," she said awkwardly.

"I love it where you're like that. It makes you so beautiful,"

"This is what gave me my name,"

"Well, I love it,"

Aurora's inner conflict faded away and she felt pulled towards Marcus's lips by a force greater than lonesomeness, love. As their lips touched, Marcus held her cheek to hold her close. Their arms snaked around each other's waists and they fell back, smooching and cuddling under the bright moon.

Thomas was the only one in his house awake. The daemons had departed to bed but as a vampire, he wished to stay up late. His mind was currently a mountain of memories and every time his thoughts climbed up a level, he felt the flash of pain in the mind of his eyes. Even with his favourite wine, nothing could seem to soothe Thomas's tragic feelings which weighed upon his shoulders like heavy rock.

His fingers slowly moved to touch his phone and he scrolled down his contact list to Phoebe. His heart was pounding as she thought of her but as she thought of her, he thought back to Argus. I can't. He kept telling himself. I can't do it.

He wanted to forget Phoebe but remembering her made his mind bounce back to all the simple but sweet moments they had shared these last few weeks. Her kindness, her generosity, her comfort…to him was the greatest value of humanity within humans. The compassion they showed to others.

It wouldn't hurt.

He pressed the green button and called and waited. There was no response. Thomas quickly gave up deciding it was too late for her when her voice emitted on the line.

Hello Tom.

Hi Phoebe.

Quite a late call I should say.

Yeah sorry about that. I just…

Don't worry. I've dealt with calls this late before. So, is everything okay?

Oh yes. It is. I just…wanted to check in to see how you are.

I'm good.

How was your trip?

It was amazing. So much cool artwork. How was America?

Great. Made some new friends. It felt a little life-changing.

I'm really glad you've made things right with your family.

I really want to thank you for that.

It was nothing really.

No. It means so much.

In her room, Phoebe felt genuinely touched by the way Thomas spoke to her. Just like she had said to Fergus, Thomas was the kindest person she had ever met. That means a lot coming from you. So how was your day with your friends?

They're staying over for a while.

Wow. So have you started…. Phoebe held her tongue a bit.

I haven't started moving on but…it feels great to finally socialise with more people than just my family. I have you to thank for that. All that time we've spent together has made me realise how I shouldn't let my grief stop me from spending time with other people.

Well, it makes me happy to hear you feel that way. And you're welcome. Phoebe smiled not realising Thomas was smiling on the other side too. Thomas, there's something I need to tell you. There was a man who I encountered after I saw you again. He told me you were trouble.

As he heard her say that Thomas felt his muscles tighten. "Fergus," he breathed out. He was too loud the name was heard by Phoebe over the line.

Who? What did you just say?

Phoebe, you must stay away from that man. Please promise me. Thomas didn't want to mention his name. If Phoebe knew even the tiniest bit of information about that powerful vampire family, it would put her in grave danger.

Perplexed by his choice of words, Phoebe wondered if he was trying to hide something but felt the urge to listen. Um, okay? Just please tell me who his name is.

It's best if you don't know. Now I need to get to bed. I've got to get up early. Thomas wanted to cut the call as quickly as possible before he could accidentally reveal anything that would put her in danger.

Okay. Well, this was a lovely chat. I hope perhaps we can meet in person soon.

That would be lovely. Goodnight Phoebe.

Goodnight Thomas. Phoebe pressed the red button and sat on her bed silently.

Thomas retreated up to his bedroom and lay down on his bed staring up at the ceiling. The thought of Fergus roaming Oxford was bad enough but if he set any foot near Phoebe again, he would not think to do so again.

In a hotel room, a powerful vampire patrolled his room, waiting for a phone call from Gerbert. The phone rang. He picked it up.

Yes.

We've seen Matthew's sons in Oxford. They're with daemons and Marcus is in love with a mutant creature. She looks just like Anna.

The news from his allies was intriguing to him. That it seems she is a threat who can counter my son. Capture her. And bring her to me.

The call ended.

And that's the next half of Episode Two of Season Two done. I hope you all enjoyed it. What did you all think? Thomas and Phoebe's relationship seems to be blossoming and yet he still can't help but feel they're not meant for each other, yet his heart beats for her. Hope you all feel tense after reading that final section. I bet you all can hint who the powerful vampire was. It seems like Aurora is in great danger. But she's got Marcus to protect her. And her friends. Get ready for the next episode soon.