Episode 20 Part 1

It was the next morning and Diana and Matthew had already woken up, the expectant mother suffering from a few morning cramps and a bit of morning sickness. Both of them had experienced such awful tensions with their loved ones since their return and it had become a grey cloud over their heads. This was not how things were supposed to happen upon their return.

"I don't know what to say to her Matthew," Diana said. "This was not supposed to happen,"

"No," he sat down next to her. "It wasn't. We've had so much drama in our family when we're supposed to be banding up together to defeat our common enemies. I was wrong to lie to Thomas. I thought I was protecting him from an awful truth. I thought it would hurt him more to know the truth. There's been enough deception. We need to leave as soon as possible," Diana nodded. "What do you think the babies will be? Witch? Vampire? Both? What if they have blood rage?"

"No matter what they are…we'll love them no matter what," his wife vowed.

Knock. Knock.

They turned their heads and they saw a frantic Marthe entering the room. Matthew heard her heart beating rigidly. "What's wrong?"

"It's Thomas, Marcus, Aurora and Phoebe…" her pale face made them sit up. "They're gone,"

Diana sat up straight up. "What?"

Matthew stood up. "Where did they go?". They didn't get an answer.

The vampires had spent all night driving through France until they reached the ferry. Phoebe and Aurora had fallen asleep in the car on the way there. The sun was just rising and the girls were waking up from the long sleep in the back of the car. Thomas had managed to book an early sail away from Calais. They were now in the long queue boarding the ferry.

"You girls okay in the back?" Marcus checked in.

"We really needed that sleep," said Aurora, yawning.

"Sometimes I really question how you two can stay up so late," said Phoebe. As she sat up, she noticed Aurora staring out of the window. "You sure you don't want us to turn around and go back?"

"No," Aurora shook her head. "It's for the best,"

"Hey…" Phoebe clapped her shoulder. "It'll be all right. Things will work out. Just give it some time," she consoled.

Aurora was touched by such warm kindness. She patted her arm. "You're a good friend Phoebe. I'm glad you've made Thomas happy again,"

Phoebe smiled back.

Marcus could tell that Thomas was quite nervous. "You know there's no going back,"

"I know. But this is something we need to do,"

"You know we'll be running like criminals,"

"We already are,"

"Whatever comes our way…I'm ready," said Phoebe. "So…where are we going?" She, Marcus, and Aurora eyed Thomas a bit intently.

"We're going to see my friend Christopher. If we're going to prevent our family from being killed for these blood-rage murders, we need an antidote to cure ourselves and to stop this killer,"

"Thomas…. we must think first," Marcus said. "It would mean exposing ourselves to more humans. That could arouse even greater anxiety,"

"Marcus…we have to make a stand," Thomas said. "If we can figure out how to save our family, that we can find out why creatures are dying then we need to take that chance,"

"It's just like you said Phoebe," Aurora eyed Phoebe. "We have to move forward together. It's time we made some more human friends. We cannot hide anymore. If we keep giving into fear, then that's failing,"

"Let's do it," said Marcus. And so, they boarded the next ferry and sailed across the sea to reach England.

"Those idiots!" Baldwin slammed his fist on the table. "Do they have any idea what they've done?"

"Don't say that," Diana said.

"I don't see any reason why Thomas has to go to the Congregation with you," said Ysabeau.

"What are you talking about?" Matthew had yet to hear of the threat Baldwin had imposed on his sons and their mates.

"Domenico saw Thomas in his blood-raged form," his news shocked the couple. "He hasn't told anyone yet but I must bring him before the council,"

"They'll kill him," said Matthew, stepping forward on him. "He's not the culprit,"

"Doesn't matter if he is or not. He has to be brought to account,"

"I can't believe you banished Aurora and Phoebe from the chateau," Ysabeau said, arguably. "And disavowing Marcus was a step too far. Phillipe wouldn't of…"

"Stop using my father as an excuse!" Baldwin exploded. "I want them found as soon as possible," he marched out of the chateau.

"They haven't left any message about where they're going," said Miriam.

"That doesn't matter," Diana shook her head. "We need to find them soon," she and Matthew eyed each other seriously. "I only hope Domenico isn't onto them,"

"What's he got to do with them?" Sarah asked.

Aurora pursed her lips and eyed Matthew worriedly; they needed to tell Sarah at least.

Domenico drove his car to the far north of Scotland. In the highest highlands, lay a grand castle. It looked weathered but it was as strong as Sept Tour. He pulled his car up towards the front gate and stepped out. A MacDuff stepped out through the door.

"I'm here to speak to the head of your family,"

"Fergus will not be seeing anyone,"

"Let's take this more lightly…I am a member of the Congregation and I have been sent by Gerbert. Would Fergus be happy to hear you sent an important messenger away?"

The frowning MacDuff just invited him inside and they entered an ancient hallway with Scottish portraits hung everywhere and staircases leading upwards and downwards. Vampires of the Scottish family peered over the railings of the top level to stare down at Domenico. They were sinister, unfriendly. Just then loud voices came from downstairs. He could hear loud bellows and roars from downstairs. A vampire closed in on him. "Care to tell me who is down there,"

"That is none of your business," the MacDuff sneered.

He was escorted into the living room where he saw portraits of each and every one of the family. He saw one portrait. A vampire with gold hair and dark attractive eyes. A certain late husband who had wed Thomas de Clairmont.

He turned his direction towards a giant green hair. A hand was reaching out for a glass of wine.

"Fergus," Domenico addressed.

"Domenico…it's been some time,"

"Fergus it will be difficult for us to talk if I can't see you," Fergus still didn't turn much to his dislike. "I know you and Gerbert are on working terms. We've been cooperating together too,"

"But he hasn't sent you. He would alert me if you were coming," Fergus rose from his chair and turned to meet the Venetian. "What do you want?"

Domenico felt the MacDuffs surrounding him. About thirty of them at least. He felt a little nervous. Gerbert didn't know he was here. They knew Gerbert didn't send him. He had come alone on his own terms. Still, he remained calm. "Let's just say I'm offering a proposition,"

"What could you possibly offer us?"

"I know you have hated Thomas Clairmont for a very long time. And I know that you blame him for Argus's death,"

Fergus flicked a bony finger at him. "Do not speak his name. Not in the house of his real family who has spent decades grieving for his death,"

"You forget whom you're talking to. Before you so rudely send me out, I have the offer to give,"

"What could you possibly give me and my family?" Fergus demanded.

"Thomas…put to death," Domenico spoke slowly.

"What on earth would he be put to death for?" Fergus crossed his arms and furrowed his eyebrows. He knew where this was going but he was going to play pretence.

"A vampire has been killing warmbloods in Oxford over the last few months as I'm sure you know. I have evidence that indicates Thomas to be that killer. He's always been in Oxford when the murders happened. And I have a recording of him in his true savage form,"

Domenico's words intrigued Fergus. "Speak,"

"There is one thing I desire above all else. Bring it to me. Bring her to me. And I'll ensure Thomas is put to death in front of the Congregation in the most brutal way imaginable,"

Fergus observed all his relative's straight faces. He saw disgust and hatred. They hated Thomas for a long time since he 'stole' Argus away from them. They despised the de Clairmont too.

"All I need is a name,"

Domenico smirked.

Sophie, Nathanial, and Margert had arrived in New Orleans. They left the airport and a taxi took them to a peaceful neighbourhood on the outskirts of the main city. The car pulled up in front of a large yellow house.

"You sure this is the place?" Sophie asked.

Nathanial checked his messages from Thomas. "Yep. This is it,"

They left the car and took out their bags. They came up to the front door. As Sophie held their infant, Nathanial was hesitant to knock on the door.

"Nate. Thomas promised us safety. We'll be safe," Sophie said. Those were the words that motivated her husband to knock. The door opened revealing a strong man with red-ginger hair, dark eyes and powerful cheeks and a young tanned American girl who looked like she was in her teens with long brown hair and dark eyes too.

"You must be Nathanial, Sophie and Margaret Wilson," the girl said.

Sophie held her child protectively.

"It's all right. Please come inside. We won't harm you," the young man promised. "Thomas de Clairmont gave you the right address did he not?"

"He did," Nate nodded nervously still feeling scared for his wife and child.

"You're Thomas's children," Sophie instinctively theorized

The two vampires nodded. "Come inside," the teenage vampire kindly welcomed them inside. The daemon family walked inside their large house, into a grand living room with rich furniture. They sat on the Chait longs.

"Please. Sit," Thomas's son patted some sofas which they sat on. You two and your daughter must be worn out from such a long journey,"

"Tell us your names," Nate requested.

"Call me Wrolf," the ginger-haired vampire said. "I'll prepare you two some tea. Would your daughter like some fruit?"

"Oh no. We've already fed her," Sophie answered.

Wrolf walked away into the kitchen.

"My name is Danielle. But those who know me well may call me Dani," Dani said as she sat opposite them.

"I hope we aren't causing you both any trouble staying here," Nate said.

"Don't worry Nathanial," Dani assured. "My brother and I have been in hiding for many, many years. We can handle hiding anyone who is a friend of our fathers',"

"What do you mean you've been in hiding for so long?" Sophie asked. "How come Thomas has never mentioned you both before?"

"There are many things our father has never told anyone. Especially our grandfather," Dani answered. The daemons detect repulse and rage in her eyes. They could tell by her grim face that she hated Matthew.

"We've been in hiding for centuries from Matthew and Phillipe de Clairmont. Our grandfather doesn't even know we exist," Wrolf spoke up, coming into the room again with a tray of tea. He poured some for their new guests and handed it to them.

"Thank you," Nate said. "This is all to do with blood rage. Isn't it?"

Wrolf nodded. "Thomas sired me in secret since Argus couldn't sire for a strange reason and they raised me. Once Matthew sired Marcus, Thomas hoped that he and Argus could introduce me … but then Matthew started killing all of Marcus's children. All for the simple crime of carrying a disease that we didn't ask for. They kept me hidden for centuries. Then when Argus died…I went into hiding here,"

"We're really sorry you had to go through that," Sophie consoled. "It must have been hard,"

Wrolf pursed his lips to hide his sob. Sophie looked at Dani. As they gazed at each other, Dani felt moon kissed like Sophie's demonic case was enchanting her. "You were a daemon once," she theorized.

"I was twenty years old when Thomas sired me. I was dying during the New York attacks in 2011 and he couldn't bear to see me suffer. He offered me a chance to live and I took it," Dani spoke her story with pride as she loved her father so much for giving her a chance to live again with a new family. "He took me into his family and Wrolf helped me adapt to my new changes. We're proud to welcome anyone who's a friend of our father's into our humble home,"

Nate was more than grateful. "Thank you. You have no idea how much this means for our daughter,"

"We'll do our best to keep you guys safe from any member of the Congregation or any ally," Wrolf promised. "And it will be really good for everyone else in our family here to have new friends,"

"There are more?" Sophie asked.

"Many of us," Wrolf said proudly. "We're not the only de Clairmonts whom our fathers have protected for centuries. You need not worry now. You will be safe here from the Congregation. I'll call our father and let him know you've arrived safely," He stood up and walked over to a corner where he rang his phone.

Father.

Are they here?

Yes. They're safe and sound. You need not worry. They'll be safe here.

Good. I'm so proud of you my son. I'm sorry to burden you with this.

Don't be father.

Tell Ransome and the others that I am bringing Marcus over.

What are you talking about?

Wrolf…I believe there is a chance for a cure for blood rage. We can be cured and so can they. Their samples and yours and Dani's can help us.

I will let them know.

The four of us will be there as soon as we can.

Four of you?

There are two people whom I would like you, Dani, and your cousins to meet.

I take it they're not vampires.

Yes. No matter how agitated you might feel…remember you all must behave and treat them with kindness.

Diana and Matthew were preparing to leave. Matthew saw how heartbroken Diana was. She began to cry. "Diana…" she fell into his warm arms.

"I said the most horrible things to her. She'll never forgive me,"

"It's gonna be all right. We're gonna find her. And we're gonna keep her safe,"

"If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself,"

Wow. So it seems Thomas has children of his own. And he's been protecting Marcus's children for years. What did you all think? Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought.