Episode Nineteen Part Two

A funeral was held at the same spot where Em had been killed. Everyone stood in a circle around a flower-decorated coffin. Ysabeau however chose to remain inside with Marthe. Thomas felt deep guilt crushing on his shoulders. Phoebe held his hand tightly. Nate held Sophie and their daughter close.

Dressed in black, Diana and Aurora individually brought flowers escorted by Sarah and Marcus. They stood in front of the coffin, placing their flowers one by one. Diana tried to look at Aurora's whose head was hooded but she couldn't look at her. Marcus gently held her. They took a step back.

The witch waved her hand and candles were lit up; she held up a black mourning ribbon. She held it in the air, "And with the path lit, and free from danger…" she paused, her heart broken with grief.

Sarah and Aurora looked at each other. The aunt stepped forward, placing her hand over the ribbon on her niece's palm. "We send you on your journey," she bid painfully. They watched as the black ribbon floated off into the air from their hands and the party felt a little breeze blowing around them. Emily's soul would pass on in peace.

Everyone individually placed a flower down to bid their goodbyes. As they all walked away one by one, Diana tried to talk to her but Aurora just turned her head away. To self-ashamed to share a glance with her. It was at that moment that Sarah detected something wrong between the two. They should be grieving together.

They watched as she walked away with Marcus. Diana felt tremendous guilt watching her sister walk away; she wished she could make it right with her. She had realised until now how much of an impact her words had on her.

Very soon after the funeral, a taxi came and the boot was packed with bags. The Wilsons were reluctant to leave right after a ceremony of saying goodbye to a dear friend.

"I'm sorry this is so soon…" Thomas apologised. "But you must keep Margeret safe,"

They nodded in agreement. "I promise you; I'll keep in touch with Agatha and ensure her safety,"

"Thank you," Nate was worried-sick, heartbroken that they couldn't keep in contact.

"Stay safe you three," begged Aurora. "I promise you I'll come and see you as soon as I can,"

"No. You just focus on keeping safe. And Rory…" Sophie clasped both her hands. "Everything will work out between you and Diana. She's just not in her right mind. She loves you. Don't ever forget that".

Pursing her lips, Aurora tearfully embraced her and then gently hugged Nate; waving her hand she made a rattle toy made of ice and gave it to her goddaughter.

"You take care of her," Nate implored Marcus.

"I will," he promised.

"Travel safely," Phoebe bid.

"There are still several knights out there. I'll ensure you both are safely transported to the airport,"

"Promise me wherever it is they're going they'll be safe," Aurora beseeched tearfully.

"They will be," said Thomas.

"Care to tell us who these friends of yours are?" requested Marcus.

"I can't. Not here," said Thomas.

Before Marcus could object, Nate quickly said, "We trust him, Marcus. Trust him too. He knows what he's doing,"

Sharing a glance, the couple nodded and bid one final goodbye to the Wilsons after Thomas and Phoebe hugged them. They entered the taxi and it pulled away into the distance through the town, the couples watched with heartfelt expressions, praying they would make it safely to wherever in the world, Thomas had sent them for sanctuary.

Aurora decided to be alone for a while in the gardens. She heard footsteps. "I want to be alone Marcus,"

She sensed a heartbeat. She smelt warm herbs; it was her aunt. She didn't turn to her.

"It wasn't your fault," said Sarah solely. "It pains me to see you and Diana so distant like this,"

"She's right. This is my fault. I never should have gone outside with Em. I just thought that by talking to mum, we could help our family. Why don't you hate me?"

Sarah sat down beside her. Knowing she would never walk away; she turned her face and Sarah's gentle hands cupped her cheeks. "Why would you ever ask that?"

"Because if it wasn't for me, Em would still be alive. It's all my fault," she started crying.

"No," Sarah shook her head. She wiped her tears away. "Don't say that" she hugged her. "Don't. She sacrificed herself for you. You didn't choose for that to happen. We all thought we were safe from Knox. He is to blame. And he will pay," as she embraced her heartbroken niece, Aurora detected an increase in her heart rate. She was full of rage and vengeance. She was going to kill Knox if she ever saw him again.

Thomas was sitting in the living room, holding the seal of the knights of Lazarus. He lamented all those knights that had been killed by the winged creature who had scarred his brother. He felt he had failed as a leader.

"It wasn't your fault," Phoebe entered the room, sitting beside him. "You're not responsible for all those deaths," her partner remained silent. "Talk to me, Thomas. Please," she reached and touched his unresponsive hand. "Tell me what happened,"

"Knox…" Thomas pursed his lips; a tear left his eye. "He wore an amulet. It was the same one,"

"What are you talking about?"

"The witch…who killed my family…was his ancestor," as he spoke, flashes of the past and the present flickered in his eyes. "I saw what he was wearing…and it made me remember that awful moment…when my life changed forever…when I lost my human life that day…" more tears fell from his face. "If I was just strong enough…Knox wouldn't have got away. I've failed this family,"

"No. Look at me," Phoebe reached up and cupped his cheek turning him slowly to his face. "You are stronger than you know. You have a strong heart. I've seen you get knocked down so many times and every single time you get up again. That's real strength. You could never ever fail anyone,"

They closed their eyes, shedding tears together, pressing foreheads together. Thomas pressed his hand over hers. He was touched by her warm presence which filled his heart with courage.

A few hours passed and the house remained as silent as ever. Marcus sat by Aurora at all times. He tried to convince her to go and talk to her sister, to make things right with her but she refused to step into Diana's presence. She remained too guilt-ridden to look at her. Even after learning she was pregnant with twins, she could not bear to face her. If she couldn't protect her aunt, how could she protect her sister's unborn children?

With only hours left until evening, they heard the loud choppers of a helicopter approaching the chateau. Baldwin was arriving. Thomas took Phoebe to their room, afraid of Baldwin's reaction. Aurora and Marcus chose to stick close by to her too. She had become family to them and they would not let the arrogant head of the de Clairmonts do away with her.

Matthew was the first person to talk to him. Marcus and Thomas overheard everything. It was outrageous that Baldwin was going to let Peter Knox run scott-free without any justice being done. His expulsion from the Congregation was not enough.

They sat in a private sitting room, Phoebe trying to distract herself.

"I can't believe Peter Know isn't being brought to justice. His punishment is not enough," Aurora was filled with rage fuelled by her guilt.

"Baldwin must know what letting him go will do," said Marcus grimly. "But we can't make an act on him now. We've got more important things to deal with,"

Instantly after he said that they heard the approaching footsteps; it wasn't Matthew. Phoebe became a little scared. They stood up, Aurora held her close whilst the brothers stood before the door as it opened. They saw Baldwin; the brother was beyond outraged at him for his betrayal. Phoebe could feel cold magic radiating from Aurora who resented Baldwin more than any vampire she had ever met.

"Tell me why this human is in our chateau?" Baldwin demanded Thomas; he knew exactly what this human was to him.

"Her name's Phoebe," defended Thomas. "I have chosen her as my partner,"

Baldwin narrowed his eyes at him. The smell of his flesh on her floated in waves up his nostrils making his body stiffen in repulse. "You wish to be mated with this?" he insulted.

"'This'?" defended Aurora. "They're happy together and you take it as an insult?" she was beyond red at Baldwin who was unafraid of her fury as her fists balled up, turning icy. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you for giving my goddaughter away,"

"You do well to know whom you're talking to," Baldwin hissed back, marching on her only for Marcus to block him.

"Don't – you – touch her," her lover warned. "And Phoebe is a member of this family too. You do well to remember my brother can kill you quicker than you can kill him. You deserve it. We trusted you. And because of you our friends will have to spend the rest of their lives in hiding Phillipe would disown you if he learnt how cruel you have been,"

Baldwin turned his Thomas, who stood protectively in front of Phoebe, growling softly. "Dinner will be served. Family only,"

"We will not be eating without our partners," Thomas defied.

"Well tough…as the head of this family…I order you both to eat at the table and for your ill-minded choice of mates to sit in the kitchen,"

"You take that back," Marcus warned.

"Guys, just do what he says," begged Phoebe. "Don't get into any trouble with him because of us. It's not worthwhile,"

Aurora wanted to disagree but they knew they couldn't spark up another conflict. That night, the boys sat with Diana, Matthew, Ysabeau and Gallowglass. The others sat down in the kitchen with Marthe.

"It seems like we've got the bitter end of the deal," Hamish said, sipping some wine.

"I know one place I'd rather be," stated Miriam.

"What a rude host he has to be at this time of grief," Jason commented bitterly.

Aurora was eating very slowly; she noticed Phoebe had hardly touched her food. "You okay, Phoebe?"

"The way that vampire looked at me…" she turned her head to meet hers. "He looked like he was going to kill me,"

Aurora reached over and clasped her hand. "That's not going to happen. He will know better than to lay a finger on you. Don't ever feel ashamed of your love for Thomas,"

The boys were not comfortable sitting without their partners at dinner. But they had to remain calm around Baldwin. Things were extremely awkward between everyone. Not a lot of food had been eaten. The head vampire broke the silence. "I'd like to think there will never be a time when we will eat together. As a family,"

"Even if that means eating without our guests?" Marcus asked.

"I will not apologise for abiding by the covenant,"

"Is that really defiant to have dinner with friends?" challenged Thomas gently. "It's not like they've ever offended you,"

Baldwin wanted to lash out at him but he held himself in place. "It has been keeping us safe for centuries,"

"Do you still believe that?" questioned Diana, in disbelief. Her heart ached that her sister wasn't with her; they still hadn't had a chance to talk and it broke her heart deeply.

Baldwin remained unchanged. "Of course,"

"Do you think this is what your father intended when he established the covenant?" Ysabeau questioned, a sense of rebellion sparking in her heart.

"Of course not. I believe that Phillipe believed in the best interest of all creatures,"

"No one questions that," said Marcus quickly. "But the world has changed Baldwin,"

"Yes indeed. There is a witch sitting at the table with my father's blood vow,"

Thomas spoke up again without thinking. "Phillipe would also see how much damage the Covenant is doing to all creatures today,"

Baldwin slammed his hand on the table. "To speak like that in the house that Phillipe built is an indiscretion,"

"You wanna know what else is an indiscretion?" challenged the eldest son of Matthew Clairmont, ignoring the warning faces Matthew and Ysabeau were sending him. "How you care more for your position on the Congregation than you do about the wellbeing of others," Baldwin glared at him. Everyone watched intently, afraid a fight was gonna break out. "Seems like you're not as controlling as you once were Baldwin,"

Down below Marthe sat down and raised a glass. "We should be dining in honour of a lost friend,"

"We are," said Sarah. She rose her glass. Everyone joined in. So did Phoebe and Aurora.

"To Em," They all toasted.

Baldwin raised a glass. "To my brother's mate. And their unborn children. Whatever they are,"

Each of the family took simple sips. Then Thomas and Marcus stood up. "You are not excused," Baldwin refused to lose his control over them.

"Well tough…" Marcus retorted back. "We've spent enough time with you Baldwin. You don't deserve any respect. Not after the danger you put our friends in. And we won't eat without our partners any longer," They left the dining room and joined everyone downstairs much to their surprise. The girls were glad they were here. They decided to take them out on a nice walk around the gardens to calm their nerves.

"You didn't have to excuse yourselves for us," said Phoebe.

"I wanted to," said Thomas. "I couldn't stand to be in his presence any longer. I still feel foolish for what happened in Venice,"

"What's done is done," said Aurora. "You haven't failed the Wilsons in any way. Have you heard anything from them?"

"They took off on their flight not too long ago. Some knights are travelling with them,"

The word 'knights' made Marcus's mind quiver seeing all those burnt bodies. "I don't think that winged creature who killed the knights and caused that fire is another enemy,"

They stopped walking. "What makes you say that?" asked Phoebe.

"Because he looked scared. He had a collar around his neck. I heard electricity shocks. Someone was compelling him to do terrible things,"

What he said really intrigued his loved ones. "How awful," said Phoebe. "It's not really his fault if he's being forced like that. He's a weapon and whoever sent him is the wielder,"

"I saw the fear in his eyes as well," said Aurora, remembering that moment. "When I looked into them, I had this warm…fuzzy feeling…like…like I was happy. I feel like what I felt back in that moment was exactly what Sophie told me," she didn't know whether she was crazy or not.

"Who would enslave such a poor creature like that?" wondered the human.

"Someone who wanted me," said Aurora bitterly. "What if it was Fergus?" For weeks they had wondered what had become of him and his family, how they had escaped and had now disappeared off the grid. They were uncertain. "Think about it. Our friends had visions of a creature with wings and it happened right before and after the knights transporting the MacDuffs were killed and they were freed. It must have been that creature,"

"It makes sense now," realised Marcus. "But how could he walk into Paris without his wings being seen?"

They could think of no answer. Just then Thomas stiffened. He heard distant voices. Matthew and Diana's. "Wait here," he walked past a wall and just on the other side of the chateau, he could hear them talking. He kept very, very silent, using the cool air as a cover for his scent.

Just then he heard Matthew mention a name. Benjamin.

Benjamin…he threatened to expose us so I sired him, turned him into a vampire so he couldn't risk exposing us without exposing himself. As Matthew spoke, Thomas felt his heart twist itself into a knot so tight he felt couldn't unravel it Then he heard Diana speaking.

Matthew, I think I met him. In Bohemia. He recognised me as Phillipe's blood-sworn daughter.

Quickly Thomas sped off back to his brother and the girls. By the look on his face, they could tell he had overheard something that made him beyond outraged.

"Who's Benjamin?" asked Marcus. "And how does he know about us?"

"In the old ages, Phillipe wanted to build a safe haven for all creatures alike. It meant exposing ourselves to our humans. Matthew and I made friends with a human called Benjamin. He and I were very close,"

"Wait if he's a human how come he's still alive? Unless…" Phoebe drifted off.

"Matthew told me he was dead," Thomas said bitterly. "When all this time, he's been alive. As a vampire. Sired by Matthew as punishment for attempting to expose us. Probably infected with blood rage. Like me. Possibly untrained. And causing trouble,"

"Why in the world would he allow a vampire with that illness to roam free like that?" Marcus wondered, losing faith in Matthew again. "Why not just keep him locked up so he wouldn't expose us?"

"How could Matthew lie about that?" Aurora didn't know what was worse. The fact that Matthew had sired a vampire and probably contaminated him with blood rage or the fact that he had liked Thomas for centuries.

"He has no idea what he's done," Thomas said gravely. "I overheard that he tried to conceive a child with a witch once. But the child and the mother were abandoned in the desert to die That was centuries ago. I don't know what else he has been up to but it can't be good if he's on the loose,"

A moment of silence passed. "What if he's the Oxford killer?" Aurora wondered. "What if he's been doing all this to get back at the de Clairmonts?"

They all scratched their thinking caps. "It makes sense," said Marcus.

"No," Thomas shook his head. "When I fought the scent of the killer as I fought him, it wasn't Benjamin".

"Are you sure?" Phoebe asked. "I mean it has been years since you last saw him. And if you saw his face, you would have known,"

'I know it wasn't him. That's not how he works. He would know that his committing these murders would make Matthew know it was him. He must have sired. With Diana pregnant and our family in danger, he means we have to take more action to keep our loved ones safe,"

"So, what do we do?" asked Aurora.

Before Thomas could answer, they heard the doors opening. He smelled his father. He and Diana entered the room. He was going to confront his father for the lies.

"We need to make our next move," Matthew announced. He noticed something was different about Thomas. "Tom…"

"I want you to look me directly in the eye and tell me why you lied to me about Benjamin for centuries," Matthew stiffened. "Don't even begin to deny it. I heard everything you said outside. I know he betrayed our family for years and that you sired him and allowed him to live,"

Matthew knew he was caught. "Thomas…"

"How could you lie to me!?"

"I was trying to protect you,"

"I don't care! I had a right to know! What were you thinking? Siring him like that and then allowing me to run free?" his questions had a deep impact on Matthew. "A traitor infected with blood rage. For all, we know perhaps he could be the one who killed all those warmbloods. Phoebe could have been killed that day. Because of you. Our family is in danger! Because of you!"

He stormed off, and Phoebe fuming at Matthew followed after him.

"I always believed you had the best intentions," Marcus said dejectedly. "But your lies have done more harm than good for this family," he took Aurora's hand and they walked off too. Aurora hid her wet face from Diana; she didn't want to see her like this.

The expecting couple lamented; their family was slowly crumbling apart when they needed each other more than ever to defeat their enemies.

They walked into the gardens again, wondering about what to do.

"We can't stay here," said Marcus, determined to keep Aurora safe from harm. "We can't risk that creature coming back,"

"He's right. I don't want Sept Tour or the village to be in danger again because of me," Aurora was wretched with guilt for all those people that could have been endangered, all those knights who were burnt to death.

"Diana should stay here, with twins on the way. It's up to us now," said Thomas.

"Well what can we do?" wondered Phoebe.

"We have to leave," said Thomas.

"And go where?" Marcus asked.

"I know someone who can help us,"

"You're not going anywhere," a voice boomed. In front of them appeared Baldwin.

"We are going," Thomas marched upon his uncle. "And there is nothing…you can do...to stop us,"

Baldwin turned red. "You're a disgrace to this family Thomas. You have always been since Matthew sired you. How I wished I could have let the MacDuffs kill you,"

Marcus and the girls were outraged. "How dare you say that!" the young brother hissed. "He is my brother and Matthew's eldest son and he will not be treated this way,"

"The only disgrace is you, Baldwin," Aurora added bitterly. "You are never interested in anyone but yourself!"

"It's no wonder you have no mate or children of your own," Phoebe clarified.

Baldwin glared at her. "You dare speak to me, puny human,"

Thomas wanted to kill him for saying that but instead, he grabbed his throat. "Don't you ever call her that. If you threaten her again, I'll rip your head off,"

"Go ahead," Baldwin challenged. "Kill me and become a killer,"

Thomas felt his blood rage overtaking him again. Phoebe noticed. "Thomas, you can resist it. You're not a monster,"

Thomas didn't look at her as she spoke. But her words flowed through him like a river of memory, reminding him of how for centuries he had controlled his blood rage, keeping it in check. He released Baldwin from his grasp. He coughed, regaining the air back in his lungs.

"As the head of this family, I hereby disown you both," he said to the boys. "You and your women will leave by tomorrow,"

"Let Diana stay here where she's safe," implored Aurora.

"As Phillipe's blood-sworn daughter, she will stay behind. No harm will come to her. I give you my word," said Baldwin. "Thomas will be coming with me to the Congregation,"

"On what charges?" Marcus demanded.

"Domenico was there in Oxford. He called me before I came here. And he told me…that he saw you, in your blood-raged form.

Thomas was stunned. Phoebe clutched his hand tightly. Marcus and Aurora were petrified. Did this mean that he was being blamed for the murders?

"Thomas didn't kill anyone," Phoebe defended. "He was fighting the killer to protect me,"

"And yet he has endangered our entire family. I need to bring him forward to the council,"

"They'll kill him without a trial," argued Marcus. "You're not doing this for our family. You're doing this to get rid of him for good,"

"You will all do what I say," Baldwin warned. "Be prepared to leave for Venice tomorrow Thomas. And don't think of leaving," he turned his back on them and walked away leaving the four in absolute terror.

What did you all think? I hope you all enjoyed it. See you all soon