Episode Eighteen Part 2

It was bright and early the next morning; the two couples drove through the French countryside to reach Sept-Tour. Thomas and Phoebe were in the front this time. Marcus sat texting Ysabeau that they'd be arriving soon. Aurora was sketching. She drew the face of the man she saw in Paris, an exact illustration of his face, and his eyes. She touched his face. Why did she feel so enchanted by them? Did he remind her of someone?

Marcus looked at her drawing. "Is that the man you saw Phoebe?"

Phoebe twisted her head back as Aurora held up the picture. "Yes. That was him. Who was he?"

They couldn't answer. "He's definitely no friend," said Thomas still focusing on driving. "The sooner we get to the others the better,"

Watching them from a distance, the man that Aurora and Phoebe perched on a tree, his broad wings folded behind his back. The image of Aurora haunted his head. Every time he remember her face, he remembered another face.

Diana and Anna escorted Stephen and Anna to their house. They sat down and they were given some ale to drink. Diana observed her father. "You look just the same," she said.

"You were trying a tricycle two days ago," said Stephen. "Aurora burst out laughing when you fell off,"

Diana chuckled. "What time are you from?" she asked Anna.

"I'm from the day I came to Stephen and Rebecca's looking for help. I'm over five months pregnant at that time. I was hoping my infant would be a girl. I'm so glad she's called Aurora,"

"It suits her perfectly," approved Diana.

Matthew sat down. "So you're the vampire Rebecca saw in her visions," observed Stephen. "Is this where you met?"

"No. Matthew travelled here with me,"

"You're a good time walker then," he congratulated.

"She's in progress with the ninth not," his son-in-law acknowledged.

"Goody says it can't be rushed," reminded Diana.

They heard loud footsteps and saw Jack parading down the stairs. Matthew picked up a bag of marbles from the table. "looking for these?"

"That's where I left them," Jack tried to take them but Matthew pulled them back.

"You left them on the floor. Francoise nearly slipped. You need to be more careful with them,"

"I will," the little boy promised. "They belonged to Wrolf. I miss him,"

"I do too Jack. Off you go," Matthew gave Jack back the beads and he dashed off again.

"If you both are here at this time it is no coincidence," said Anna. "The dangers you ran away from were one of the many reasons I was on the run, why I had to hide with Stephen and Rebecca,"

"What brings you two here to this time?" asked Matthew curiously.

"We're looking for an alchemical manuscript with illustrations," Anna said. "Ashmole 782,"

Diana's face brightened. "We have it,"

Her father and Anna were intrigued. She walked off and came back with a red-velvet book. Stephen and Anna felt their hearts exploding in their chests. They placed it on the table and started flipping through its pages. Three had been torn out and the words were moving everywhere on the white surface.

"It won't let me read it. Maybe because three pages have been ripped out," said Diana. "There's a strange image of the tree of life. One of two dragons spilling their blood,"

"And the page that was sent to Diana," Matthew finished.

"It was postmarked from Jerusalem," said Stephen. It appeared out of the blue. Jewish witches, we presume.

Rabbi Lou," Diana realised.

"It's possible," said Matthew. "Maybe he got the page from Kelly and sent it over,"

"I always assumed if I found the text in this time, I'd be able to read it," said Stephen "I'd be able to study it,"

Anna inspected it closely. As she did, she sensed strange powerful magic. "It's made from the skin, blood and hair of creatures,"

"The DNA it contains could hold many answers,"

"When I became pregnant I wondered if finding this book could help me figure out how my child would turn out," Anna said. "I thought I could use it to protect her,"

"Its importance goes beyond mere research," Powerful creatures are looking for it," said Matthew.

"Including a witch from the Congregation," said Diana. "Peter Knox,"

"Well. Well. Well. I hope he doesn't know there's dark magic in it. He's obsessed with the dark arts," said Stephen grimly.

The group of four were only about a mile away from their destination.

"Before we make this final stage of the journey…" Thomas spoke to Phoebe. "Are you sure you wanna do this? It's not too late to turn back,"

"Whatever's coming…I'm ready," she said bravely. "There's a whole world of hidden mysteries out there and I want to see it all," she was committed to him. She reached over and touched his hand on the wheel. "It's a privilege," they exchanged delightful glances back at one another again before Thomas focused back on the road.

Marcus and Aurora smiled at each other; proud that their love was pure and that Thomas was finally happy again. They turned a corner and over the hills, they saw the great chateau where their friends and family would be awaiting them. They pulled through town into the driveway and stepped out. Phoebe marvelled at the architecture. "It's so grand," she observed.

"Just wait till you see what's inside," said Aurora excitedly. They walked up the stairs and pushed the door open. Ysabeau awaited them. "It's so good to have you back," she said delightfully. "The chateau feels alive again. Marthe is loving every minute,"

"I hope you won't mind an extra one," Thomas shared a cheesy glance with Phoebe. "This is Phoebe Taylor…my new partner," he introduced.

"Hello," Phoebe awkwardly waved. "It's nice to meet you. Thomas has told me so much about you. It's a real honour to meet you,"

"Miss Taylor…welcome," Ysabeau greeted kindly; Phoebe was awestruck by her instant acceptance. So were the brothers and Aurora. She offered a hand and she shook it. "I hope I don't disappoint you. Come. Sit down with everyone,"

They all shared happy glances before walking into the living room where they were the daemons, vampires and the aunt witches being served drinks and wine by Marthe.

Sarah and Emily were overjoyed to see Aurora. "Told you both I'd be back with you two soon," he said hugging them. "Phoebe, these are my aunts Sarah and Emily. Sarah and Em, this is Phoebe,"

They shook hands. "Pleasure to meet you," said Em.

"How was Paris?" asked Nate.

"It was a real treat," Marcus smiled. "We enjoyed every moment of it,"

"How are you doing Tom?" asked Sophie.

"I've never felt more like myself again than in days," he smiled. He cooed at little Margeret in her arms. "I'm so glad we're all here together. This place has never felt more full of joy than in years,"

"Tell us every detail," insisted Jason. Miriam gave him a soft glare. "What?"

The four chuckled and sat down on a couch and shared their romantic adventure.

"How long have you guys been in this time?" Stephen asked seriously.

"About four months," explained Matthew.

"You've been here too long," he said, horrified. "Adopted a child and stole the book from the Hapsburg emperor,"

"I was here before," said Matthew, trying to calm them down.

"Yes. We screwed up," Diana accepted their judgment.

"If you mess with history there are terrible consequences," pointed out Anna. "We came here to this time to study it here. Not take it back with us. You need to go back as soon as you can and leave the book behind,"

"No. It's come back with us," argued Diana. "That's the main reason we came here,"

"If you take it back with you, you'll mess up history even more," Anna argued. "You'll have to find it again in your time and search for the missing pages,"

"We need to analyse it. As a biochemist…" Matthew tried to say only for Stephen to interrupt.

"We don't care if you're Darwin. You can't time walk with a powerful object you don't understand," said Stephen seriously. "The book stays,"

Diana sighed.

"Tell me of her," spoke up Anna desperately, earning Diana's attention. Diana saw her wet eyes. "Tell me of Aurora,"

Diana felt her eyes wetting and sat down in front of her, fidgeting with her fingers. "She looks a lot like you," she admired Anna's long blonde hair and her puffy cheeks. "She's brave and smart. She's kind and caring. She's never afraid to do what's right and she's the most wonderful sister in the world,"

"And she's a captivating artist who has caught the eye of my youngest son," added Matthew proudly.

"I wish now more than ever she was here with us," Diana sniffled a little. "I wanted to take her with us to keep her safe…but she chose to stay behind,"

Anna sniffled and wiped away her tear. Everything they were saying about her daughter whom she would never grow up warmed her broken heart. "Thank you for telling me. At least I know that she'll live a happy life,"

Diana wiped a tear away, devasted. She pursed her lips as she felt a hundred important questions tingling on the tip of her tongue, desperate to be asked. "Anna…when we saw a vision in the house of you and Aurora, my parents said they wanted to repay you for how you saved my life. How did you save my life?"

Anna was silent. "I can't tell you,"

"Why not?"

"Because that would mean I have to tell you what kind of creature I am,"

"Anna…Aurora is in grave danger. The witches want to examine her. And so will the Congregation as well," Matthew warned. "We need to know what kind of creature you are,"

"She can't," Stephen spoke up, sitting beside her. "The secrets of who she and Aurora are must stay hidden. Otherwise, it will endanger not only us but everyone," Matthew and Diana were confused by his words. "I know you both think knowing the truth about her will protect her, but it will only put her and all of you in grave danger. There are forces in our world far greater than what you're already facing,"

"Can you at least tell us who her birth father is?" Diana begged Anna. She licked her lips. Judging from the hurt face, she could tell that talking about the being who fathered her child would be such a crush on her shoulders. "Anna…you don't have to tell us where you come from or why you were in danger…but in order for us to protect Aurora, you have to tell us who he is. Please?" she implored desperately. "She needs to know,"

Anna still couldn't speak. The man who had conceived her child inside her was one whom she loved but resented simultaneously; how could she talk about him? Stephen agreed. "She's right Anna. Sooner or later in the future, she will find out, but if Diana tells her…it'll be less painful for her,"

Anna looked again at Diana and sighed. She had to tell her. "I'll tell you, Diana. But only if you promise you will not let him anywhere near her. He cannot be allowed to know of her existence,"

Diana nodded. "I promise. I won't let you down,"

Night had befallen upon Sept Tour and dinner had been laid out. Everyone was seated.

"Peter Knox is getting out of hand!" announced Sarah as she poured wine. "He stalked Diana, attacked Aurora, intimidated the madison coven and now he's threatening babies,"

"Can't the Congregation do something?" Em asked.

"I know how they work," said Agatha. "They'll have a debate, take his side and force segregation of the species,"

"They call themselves a council meant to safeguard the wellbeing of creatures and yet they don't even act like it," Jason criticised.

"There has to be a way to expose Knox for the monster he truly is," said Aurora. "And Gerbert too,"

"Sooner or later they're gonna come for Margaret…" said Marcus, sitting at one end of the table. "And when Matthew and Diana come back they're gonna come for them too,"

"When will they come back?" asked Phoebe.

"Who knows," said Thomas. "But they can't stay hidden in time for very long. They may have spent too much time whenever they are already,"

"The only way everyone can be safe is if we repeal this stupid covenant," announced Aurora. She noticed Ysabeau was a little shocked by her announcement. "I meant no disrespect to Phillipe at all,"

"It's obvious he created it centuries ago for a reason to protect all creatures…" Thomas was agreeing with her. "But the world has changed. Those rules that were keeping us safe…are now pulling us apart. Creatures are full of bigotry long passed that it's clouded their minds and made them all see the worst in each other. That's where all this unnecessary resentment started. If it doesn't stop, there'll be no proper peace or equality between anyone,"

"Thomas is right," Miriam agreed. "Humans are destructive. But at least they're inventive. They change their mind,"

"What does it even stand for today?" Marcus pointed out. "Segregation? Discrimination?" he shared a knowing look with Aurora. "We need to evolve if we want to survive,"

"Hasn't the change already started?" Phoebe spoke up. She was sitting between Aurora and Thomas. "I mean…look at this table. Witches. Daemons. Vampires. And humans dining together. From what Thomas has told me that's not happened very often," she felt awkward when everyone's eyes were pressed on her. "I'm sorry. I know this is all new to me but…it seems pretty obvious that the only forward…is together,"

Aurora smiled. "Perfectly put Phoebe. She's right everyone. If we come together there wouldn't be so much conflict. Phillipe was right to create it to protect creatures in the past. But if we continue to abide by it, creatures will only tear each other apart. That is not what he would have wanted," Ysabeau's face brightened in acknowledgement of her wise words.

Dinner passed and Sophie and Nate took Margaret to their room after giving her godparents a moment to hold her. Thomas decided to excuse himself for a while and walked outside to Argus's grave marker. He knelt before it, holding up a fingered ring to his lips and kissing the ring. "I've done it, Argus. I've found someone who makes me happy. Her name's Phoebe Taylor. She's kind and caring and thoughtful…I see so much of her in you,"

As he spoke, Phoebe stood behind a column, watching him, feeling a tear leaving his eye.

"I want you to know that…however much I love her, I will always love you," he sniffled. "You will always be a part of my life," he wiped a tear away. "I hope that you can rest in peace now that I've done what you've wished me to do my love," he looked at his ring, giving it one final kiss. With deep regret, he slipped off the ring and buried it in the soil, Phoebe watching tearfully still. He heard her heartbeat and turned to see her approaching him.

She knelt beside him. "I think I would have liked him if I had met him," she said. "I'm sorry that it's so hard to finally let go,"

"I need to. For both of us," he said. He laced his fingers with his. She took them and smiled.

Gazing again at the grave marker's inscriptions, she said, "I promise I will be worthy of his heart, that I will treat him with the same love you did. And I won't ever get between you two. You will be still be married, even if we are together," they knelt beside each other, her head leaning against his cold skin. They then stood up, held hands, and walked away.

Marcus, Aurora and Ysabeau watched them from the window with heartfelt expressions.

"It warms my heart to see him so full of joy again," said Ysabeau.

"Me too," said Marcus. "I wish Phillipe was here. He would have loved her,"

Aurora chuckled. "He is still here. Even if it doesn't seem like it,"

Ysabeau turned her head a little to her. "I know he would have liked you a lot, Aurora," Aurora turned her head and saw something in Ysabeau she had never seen before. "When I learnt how what you did in Oxford, how you turned those witches to our side…I was stunned. You remind me of Phillipe. He was one of the most humane men who had ever lived,"

"I don't think I could compare myself to him," said Aurora anxiously.

Thomas and Phoebe entered the room. "Might I have a word with you alone Tom?" asked Ysabeau.

He nodded. "Might I look around for a bit?" asked Phoebe.

Ysabeau smiled. "Snoop away,"

"Come. I'll show you around," Aurora took her hand and they went on a walk together, Phoebe kissing Thomas on the cheek before departing. Marcus walked off to go check on the others.

"You've made an excellent choice," Ysabeau said proudly to her eldest grandson.

"I know," he smiled.

"I'm glad you've made your peace," she said.

Thomas nodded. "I have. She's right. What we've done today is the start of something new. I just wish Phillipe was here to see it,"

Ysabeau prayed for her beloved mate. "Grief carves a place in our hearts that he stays there forever. But at the right moment, it can be used as a weapon and pain become action. We will use to that protect our family and our friends. I'm proud you were chosen to be Margaret's godfather,"

"I proud to be," he smiled. "And I'm proud that I have Phoebe for a new mate. And I will not lose her too," Thomas vowed he would put his life on the line for her just as he had done in Oxford. He would not let anything happen to her. He would not lose her too.

And that's another chapter done. One more done and then that's it...Season 2 is done and only one more season to go. I hope you all enjoyed it. What did you think of Aurora's biological mother Anna? And the scenes between Phoebe and Thomas? Please let me know what you all thought. See you all soon