Episode 14 Part 1

Thomas and Matthew stood outside in the night having some wine.

"Do you both know where you going to jump in time?" he asked.

"Not quite yet. But once I receive what Marthe has sent, I will know,"

Thomas turned unusually quiet for a moment. Matthew knew his son was thinking of something. "What?"

"I think it's time to tell Marcus the truth,"

"No Tom," Matthew snapped gently. "You know why we can't,"

"I can't do this anymore. You saw how upset Diana and Aurora were when they learnt all the secrets were kept from them. They were so angry. I can't bear it if Marcus goes through the same stage if he found out himself,"

"How would he? Blood rage was eliminated a long time ago. He wouldn't find out,"

The response was a sigh. "If you won't tell him, then at least tell Diana," Thomas turned to him with a serious expression plastered on his face. "If you two are to have a future together it means you have to tell her everything about yourself. If you both wish to be truly mated, you must tell why at times you may hold yourself back,"

Matthew didn't respond. But he could clearly see the truth in his son's eyes.

Thomas sat at his bedroom window heartbroken, emotionless. He had arrived back in Oxford yesterday and hadn't said much. Miriam was frustrated to learn that he had Marcus the truth and broke the promise he made to Matthew but Thomas argued that he had a right to know why their family was endangered. Whilst Jason agreed, Miriam remained unmoved. He tried to pay a visit to Marcus, beg him to go back to Sept-Tour and be with Aurora but he refused to open the door. Choosing to be distant from his guests as he lamented his mistakes, Jason decided to step in and take care of them until he was mentally well again.

"What should I do Argus?" he prayed. "What should I do?"

Diana stood still, tear-stricken, still holding the blade with her victim's blood spilling off the tip.

"Diana?" Matthew touched her shoulders.

"I'm okay," she answered.

Matthew's hand grazed the handle of his sword and pulled it away from her. He turned and glared at Phillipe and his son-in-law. "Have you both no words to say?"

"I did not summon the witch," Phillipe denied.

"Don't give me that glare. You should have expected something like this to happen given your choice of mate," warned Argus.

"You allowed him into Sept-Tours. You risked Diana's life. Why?"

Diana moved over to a bowl of water to wash her blood-stained hand.

"I needed to be sure of her," Phillipe glanced at her warily. "She knows too many of our secrets. And I do not take risks with my family,"

"And would you have stopped him from ripping out her memories?" Matthew pointed his blade at him.

"She saved herself," Argus defended Phillipe.

"And now she'll have to live with the consequences…won't she?"

"Lives will be lost because of your union," warned his father sinisterly. He eyed the dead witch in the small pool of blood on the wooden floor. "And I do not expect him to be the last,"

"This is why you don't mate with different creatures," Argus clarified boldly. "If this is happening in your time, it means you have put everyone who should have been important to you in danger. You abandoned us in the future to fight your battles while you two cower in this time,"

Matthew wanted to retort back but Argus's disheartened face made him remember everyone he and Diana had left behind. His sons. Ysabeau. Aurora. The aunts. Miriam.

Two men came into the room to pull the dead with away. "Dispose of it," ordered their master.

"I don't care who you are," Diana spoke up repulsively. She marched on him, angry but still disheartened from having to kill her torturer in self-defence.

Phillipe suddenly pulled her clenched hand to meet his eyes. He stared at a golden ring with an encrusted ruby. "Where did you get this ring?"

Argus stared at her with furrowed eyebrows. Matthew closed his eyes, knowing where this was gonna lead.

"It was a gift from Ysabeau," Diana pulled her hand free.

"She would never bequeath that to anyone. Let alone a witch. Not…" he drifted off. His face turned pale and his pupils dilated. "Not as long as I…lived,"

Argus turned to him in shock. "No," he shook his head.

The two vampires were grief-stricken.

"No one is truly immortal father," said Matthew in sympathy. "Not even you,"

Phillipe turned and left the room. Argus glanced out to him, tears in his eyes. He turned to Matthew and Diana, unable to think or say anything. He left the room and headed right back to Wrolf's room. He entered inside and saw Wrolf waiting for him.

"Is everything all right?" the boy asked.

Argus wiped his tears away. "It's all right. Just a crazy man but he's been dealt with,

"Why are you sad?" Wrolf asked. He saw the tear stains on his eyes.

"It's nothing,"

"You can always tell me anything. You've looked after me. And I wanna look after you,"

Argus sniffled. "You're such a sweet boy," he sat beside him again and hugged him dearly, finding comfort.

Marcus sat on his bed, heartbroken, and frustrated. He couldn't believe his father, brother and family had lied to him for centuries. He pulled out his phone and pulled up a picture of himself and Aurora. A tear fell on the screen.

Aurora held up the same picture on her phone. She was heartbroken that Marcus had ended their relationship because he felt they couldn't have a future together. She heard footsteps but didn't address the one who approached her with a sorrowful expression.

"You feeling all right?" Em asked.

Aurora said no words; all she did was nod.

"Here," Em passed her some tea and she took a slow sip. "I'm so sorry honey,"

"Why did he have to leave me behind?"

"Honey…he just needs time to think. It was an awful blow for him to learn that secret,"

"He'll never want to mate with me. He may be a carrier but it makes him a danger to the Congregation,"

"He's just trying to protect you," Em pushed a strand behind her ear but Aurora's heart was cracked forming hollowness which couldn't be healed. Em closed her eyes and left her niece alone.

Aurora remained where she was for hours. Ice spread slowly over the room's ceiling and walls. It was not strong. It was breakable, cracked, fragile as glass. Her grief was trying to engage her in a feeble cage. She left the room and walked numbly over to the living room where only Ysabeau sat. She saw the broken-hearted woman approach. She sat down opposite her, not making eye contact with her. Behind her grief, she buried anger at the de Clairmonts for lying to Marcus. She blamed them for their breakup.

"Why did you guys keep it a secret from him?" she asked despondently.

Ysabeau sighed and hung her head down. "We thought we were protecting him. Phillipe wanted blood rage irradicated to protect my secret. He made Matthew his assassin to wipe out the disease,"

"Why didn't he kill his sons?"

"He loved Thomas too much to kill him. And Marcus was only a carrier and he loved him too,"

"He had a right to know. Keeping secrets does more harm than good. At least Thomas knew that now was a good time to tell him,"

Ysabeau was thunderstruck by the way Aurora talked. Her words made her feel guilty for lying to her youngest grandson. She was about to speak again when Marthe entered the room. "There's something wrong with the witches,"

The two vampires and Aurora approached Phillipe's office and the historical artefact room where they saw Sarah and Em slowly steeping around the room, inspecting its facets with their magical fingertips.

"This room is off limits," Ysabeau reminded them a little sternly.

"I know. I'm sorry. But something strange is happening," said Sarah, glued in her position.

"Strange how?" Ysabeau demanded.

"Just a faint vibration," said Em.

Strange premonitions began to course through Aurora's veins up to her brain. She took a step forward. "I can feel it too," she spoke uncannily. "My daemon instincts are telling me something," she took another step forward, tilting her narrowed eyes to the bookshelves. There's something happening in the past and it's trying to link to something here,"

"Whatever it is, it's focused in this room," said Sarah, hovering her fingers over the books.

Ysabeau glanced at the shelves. "These books were one of Phillipe's favourite hiding places,"

"For what?" Aurora asked.

"Messages," she breathed out hoarsely.

"I think your husband is trying to leave a message in the past for you to read now," said Aurora. "Matthew and Aurora must be at Sept-Tours in the past and he knows they're from this time,"

Ysabeau was bewildered. Instantly the five-woman pulled out books from the shelves and started flicking through the pages and looking down the hardcover spines for any piece of parchment.

Argus walked into the room slowly. He saw Phillipe, red-faced and breathing cripplingly. He threw a piece of paper into the lit fire "I can't find the right words to write," he cursed.

"I can't bear to think of how much our family is suffering in the future," Argus lamented. "Especially Ysabeau. Why would she bequeath that ring you gave her to that witch?"

Phillipe didn't answer. Instead, he stood up and pulled two short swords out of ancient artefact decoration. "Phillipe, this is not a good idea," Argus said seriously. "You're gonna scare Wrolf and Matthew could go savage,"

"If he and Diana are to have a future together, she has accepted him for who he truly is. And I want to know how long I've been dead in his time,"

He stormed off before his grandson-in-law could stop him. Argus realised he had to get Wrolf away before Phillipe unleashed the savageness within his father-in-law. Quickly he rushed to the room and gently guided him away, pulling a cloak over him. He held Wrolf by the hand in the back gardens a good distance away from Matthew and Phillipe. He heard them arguing about Ysabeau being abandoned in the future. A man with a horse arrived.

"Take Wrolf to the nearby hill," he ordered. "I'll be back in a bit,"

"Why am I leaving?" the boy asked.

"It's just for a bit. I thought you might like to go to the woods for a bit,'

"Thanks," the boy said. "Are you coming?"

"I will be there in a bit," Argus promised. The servant mounted the horse and Argus lifted the young adolescent to him. He then watched as the horse galloped away from the danger he could already hear spurring outside. He heard clanging and banging. Shouts between Phillipe and Matthew refused to tell his father how long he had been dead in the future and how he would die. He heard no noise from Diana still hidden within the walls of the chateau. He marched inside to track her, to make sure she wasn't up to any mischief. He arrived near the office. Through a barred door, he saw Diana messing with some of Ysabeau's maps. "What do you think you're doing?" his sudden demand made Diana jump. She didn't answer him as he entered the room, glaring at her sinisterly. "Answer the question witch," But Diana remained stubborn.

Argus approached her with cautious but despicability. "If Ysabeau had bequeathed her ring to you, does that mean the rest of us to accept you and Matthew together?"

"Much of your family accepts us," Diana answered. "

"Does Thomas?" Argus challenged. "Do I accept you as well?"

Diana didn't answer that.

Just then Argus noticed the talisman around Diana's neck. Instantly he grabbed the talisman and pulled it off her neck. "Where did you get this?" he demanded.

Diana stood her ground, a little anxious of he would explode upon her reaction. "Thomas gave it to me,"

"You're lying," Argus's blood boiled. "If you have harmed him…"

"I have never harmed him. Not in the future. Not ever,"

"Why in the world would he give this to you?"

Diana steadied herself. Then she spoke out with true sincerity. "Because he saved my life,"

Argus stared at her. His eyebrows flattened and his grip on her throat loosened.

"Why would he save the life of a witch like you?"

"Because he accepts our love. When the witch Satu tortured and branded me, he heard everything. He could have left me to suffer. But he saved my life. He told me how sorry he was for how prejudiced he was against me when I met his father. He accepted our love and gave this to me to all vampires in this time would know I'm a friend,"

"This was my gift to him when he fell in love. He would never bequeath this to you not unless…"

Diana held her breath. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Tears fell down his face. "It can't be," he stumbled back in shock against the wall. "No. I can't be…I can't be dead in your time,"

A tear fell down Diana's face. "I'm sorry,"

Argus couldn't take it anymore. Phillipe would die and Ysabeau would suffer. He would die in the future too and Thomas would suffer. What would happen to him? His pain turned to heartbreak. But heartbreak turned to rage. He swallowed his pain and held his torrid tear-stricken face up at Diana again. She became a little scared.

"How do I die? When do I die?!" he marched upon her.

Diana was pressed against the wall. "I don't know," she answered.

"Don't lie to me!" Argus slammed her against the wall. "Don't lie to me!"

"I can't tell you," Diana shook her head in tears. "And neither can Matthew," She waited for another outbreak by Argus but he turned and stalked in angry tears out of the room. She breathed heavily, thinking of how much trauma he experience for the rest of his life. Would he tell Thomas in the present? Would the future still be changed?

Argus retired to his room. His tearful head fell into his face as he thought of his beloved Thomas, how much suffering he was feeling in the future, all alone without him. His mourning was disturbed by wolf-like growls coming from outside. He peered out his window and he saw Phillipe forcing Matthew towards the storehouse. Matthew was losing the battle but he was revealing his hidden secret. Argus spotted Diana rushing to stop them. Quickly he flashed out of the chateau and bounded towards the storehouse.

There he and Diana saw Phillipe pinning Matthew to the floor, a knife pointed against his throat. He was growling like a savage animal.

"Matthew!" Diana tried to rush forward but Argus grabbed her, restraining her. "What have you done to him?"

"This is what we call a blood rage. It is an infliction, a sickness of the vampire blood. He is now pure predator," seethed Phillipe. Diana was paralysed by the scene. "Tell me how I die!" he shouted at his son.

Through his infectious state, Matthew screamed out in a growling tenor. "I cannot tell you!" he took a deep breath, trying to control himself. "I cannot," he inhaled deeper and his voice turned low and rasping. "I cannot…tell you," he was close to tears. Phillipe knew he would not give in. He let go of his son's head, sheathed his sword and walked away.

Diana and Argus remained standing where they are.

"This is why he held back," Argus said grimly. "This secret is what will tear our family apart. If you truly love him, then you cannot be with him. This is what will put everyone in our family will be to die for it if it got out because of your union," he seethed at Diana. "Do not assume you can easily have a future together," he turned and walked away, leaving the tear-stricken witch alone with Matthew.

"So you're going to keep this secret knowing how much he will suffer?"

"I don't have a choice!" Matthew argued.

"Everything is a choice! You're just too much of a coward to make the right one!"

Argus returned to his room, mourning again. He held on to the talisman, his gift to Thomas. He missed him more and more every house. He wished his present self was here now so he could hold onto him for as long as he had left in his life before his future fatality. He heard slow-creaking footsteps approaching from outside. But he didn't turn.

Matthew calmed down and under control of himself entered the room. After confessing to Diana why he held back from mating, she declared to him with all her love that she would never walk away from him at all. Sadly, she also told him that Argus had discovered Thomas's gift to her around her neck and had suddenly realised that like Phillipe he would die in the future, leaving Thomas all alone. Matthew had dreaded this would happen. And it tore his heart as he wished his son was here instead of in the present suffering every day from heartbreak and loss.

"Argus…" he spoke up. He was desperate to talk to Argus like a father-in-law to a son-in-law.

"How do I die?" Argus questioned. "How long as Thomas suffered without me? All alone? Whilst he faces my brother and relatives?"

"I cannot answer that," Matthew answered back.

"A real father would do anything to keep his son happy. You made it your mission to help us have a life together when my brother threatened us," Argus turned to him with wet eyes. "You can do it again,"

"I cannot do that," Matthew said sorrowfully. "We cannot change what will pass. It could have drastic consequences on future events, future lives…even Thomas in the future understands it,"

"Why does he support your relationship with this witch?"

Matthew pulled a chair and sat in front of him. "Because he saved her life,"

"I know that. Why?"

"When she first met Thomas…he hated her because she was a witch. And he was scared of what would happen to me,"

"As he should be. Do you have any idea how loving this witch puts you and him in danger? Did you not think about the consequences it has for other people?"

"Diana has no intention of stealing me away from our family. We love each other. And everyone loyal to us is willing to stand by our side. Including Thomas. He told me so himself before we left the present that Diana had to accept every part of me. Now that she knows, our love has only grown stronger,"

Argus was slightly moved by his words. "How did Thomas save her in the future?"

"A witch captured her and took her to a fortress. She tortured her but Thomas heard what she was doing to her and he saved her. And he brought her back to me. He gave her that talisman to keep her safe. But she intends to return it to him once we come back to the present. We all miss you and Phillipe greatly. And if I had the choice, I would have brought Thomas with me to this time just to see you both together. In a way, our union had begun to heal his heart,"

"Does he have a new mate?"

Matthew could answer that. "No. You were the only one for him,"

Argus's eyes dropped to the talisman. "He shouldn't have to suffer like that. He deserves happiness. What do you think he is doing right now?"

"He is protecting friends and our family. But not a day has gone by since your passing that he has not thought of you. And neither of us have to,"

Argus and Matthew shared love-felt expressions. Argus could see how much it tortured Matthew to see him when Thomas couldn't. And on the surface of his wet eyes, Argus saw a glimpse of hope. If in the future, Matthew was mated to this witch who was kind and good and nothing like the witches in this time, it truly meant that the world was changing in the future and the era of hatred and bigotry was ending. Because of their union, a new world would be born in which creatures could live together in peace and harmony. Their union would not destroy creatures. It would bond them in prosperity and brotherhood.

So Argus knows he will die too. That's so sad. But still, he is transformed by how Thomas saved Diana's life and that her union with Matthew will usher new dawn of peace between creatures. See you, readers, in the next half.