Episode Twenty-Two Part Four
Jack was in the cemetery. He and Wrolf were practising again with the latter hiding whilst he was practising relaxing and not listening to the rage in his blood. Wrolf buzzed past him. His blood levels elevated but he didn't react. They did another round. Then another. He was improving. Another whoosh came.
It was Ransome who appeared. Jack was shocked. "I'm not supposed to talk to you," he tried to turn around but the resentful vampire appeared in front of him.
"Did Matthew tell you to stay out of sight?" Jack tried to turn away again but Ransome blocked him. "What's so special about you? Why should you live while everyone he slaughtered stays dead?"
Jack tried to leave but Ransome blocked him again and Wrolf came to his aid. "Ransome! Stop it!"
"Though I might find you here,"
"Ransome, I am trying to help him and you're making it easier,"
"Why are you protecting him?"
"Because he's my friend and he needs help. My father didn't hesitate to me and the other infected,"
"But Matthew didn't," his vengeful cousin reminded bitterly. "Your father is betraying us,"
"He is not. He is trying to help us,"
"And what makes you think Matthew's scion's gonna change anything,"
"Because I talked to him. Nothing he did before can be overturned but what can be overturned is our need to remain in hiding if you would agree to this scion. Our fathers believe in it and they're doing it for us. For all of us. And I know Argus would agree to this as well for all our sakes,"
"Well, he's not here anymore," Ransome reminded. "Is he?"
"Don't talk like that!" Jack snapped at him, almost leaping on him only for Wrolf to pull him back to avoid a fight.
Ransome growled but Wrolf growled back. Thomas suddenly burst on the scene, standing between his son, Jack and Ransome. "That is enough Ransome. There is no need for violence,"
"It sickens me that you're standing up for this killer,"
"I am doing this for our family, for Phoebe. I'm doing this so we can stand up to the Congregation and come out of hiding. And I know for certain Jacqueline would agree. And everyone else as well. Killing Jack won't make you feel any better or bring her back,"
Ransome sent a cold glare into his eyes then walked off slowly. Once he was out of sight, he turned to face the boys. "Are you alright?" Jack nodded feebly, scared that he had nearly lost control again. "Let's get you back,"
When they arrived home, they had no choice but to tell Matthew and Marcus of the confrontation. "I should have stayed in London," Jack cursed himself. "I should have stayed in London,"
"Jack, it's not your fault," Wrolf tried to calm him down.
"He's never gonna join the scion,"
"Now would you care to at least say an apology to him?" Thomas demanded Matthew. "He's gonna try and kill Jack and if he does kill him, it'll be your fault for feeling remorseful,"
Before Matthew could argue, Marcus heard a ding on his phone and glimpsed slowly at the screen. "Ransome has agreed to meet you,"
Matthew was relieved. "Good,"
"We should come with you," he gestured to himself and his brother.
"Neither of you two are going. You're both staying here with Wrolf and Jack,"
"And how do we know you're not gonna cause a scene?" Thomas demanded sceptically. Matthew just marched inside to prepare for the meeting.
Diana, Aurora and Sarah had just finished cheese and ham on toast when Phoebe came into the room. She had done more studying and now she had found something. "Before it made its way to the British Library, the Book of Soygor passed through a few hands. We know about Dee and after his death, it went to a Thomas Allen,"
"The famous astronomer and mathematician," identified Aurora.
"And from his library, it went to a Kellum Digby," Phoebe opened his laptop.
"A philosopher of alchemy," Diana answered correctly. "He must have been a demon,"
Aurora went into deep thought again and clapped her hand. "Of course! Sis, when I talked to Mum back at Sept Tour. She said this: 'Find the three bequeathed the three'. The first two pages came from a witch and a vampire. It's no coincidence that the third and final page came to a daemon,"
"Clever thinking," praised Diana. "Can you identify anything else?"
Phoebe kept on searching. "The book held up in Lord Delton's estate. But then several of his items have been in various auctions. And I found this," she showed them the screen. "Not too long ago, an alchemical page with an illustrated tree was bought by a guy called T.J. Weston,"
Everyone was amazed. They had the final page within sight. "Well done Phoebe," Aurora praised. "We never could have done this without you,"
"So now all we have to do is find T.J. Weston," said Diana. "We should get some sleep. We've got a long day tomorrow,"
Matthew was busy getting ready. Thomas was outside with Wrolf. "I really don't think letting him approach Ransome alone is a good idea," the son said to his father. Thomas wouldn't respond. "What's wrong?"
"I've trusted him for centuries since he adopted me. But I've become very questionable about him these last few months. Sometimes I don't know who to trust anymore," he noticed his son was quite quiet too. "I know you don't really support my relationship with Phoebe,"
"It's not that I don't think she makes you happy. It's just…growing up…I always imagined you and Dad would live together forever. And then when he died…you were so broken you felt you would never find love again. It's just so surprising to me,"
"Wrolf…" Thomas turned his son to face him. "I will always love your father. As a matter of fact, it was his wish that I'd find love again. I would love you to get to know her at least,"
"The last thing I ever want is to lose anyone else,"
"Your sister is safe out there. And we'll see her very soon,"
The cab arrived and Matthew, well-dressed walked to the taxi. Whilst the boys walked back inside, the brothers looked into the distance as the cab pulled away.
"You really certain that Ransome will finally listen to reason?" Thomas asked sceptically.
"He has to. For the sake of all of us," Marcus responded.
"But it all counts on remorse and regret. How's Aurora doing?"
"They've got two pages now,"
"That's wonderful,"
"Now they're on the sight of page three. Let's hope they get any luck on it. I can't bear to think about what Benjamin is doing right now,"
The winged being who had attacked Sept Tour was in chains again, reflecting on everything he had done. He was consumed with guilt but not regret for what he had done to stay alive. But the only face he could see in his head was the face of Aurora. Nothing he could hear from his captors up above could distract him at all.
The door opened but he wouldn't turn to who had entered.
"It is rude to not look at me when I enter," sneered Benjamin.
"I don't obey you," croaked a rugged voice. Abruptly his abuser grabbed his throat and made him turn to him. "You don't scare me,"
"Pity," mocked the cruel vampire. "I can see the fear in your eyes. You're always so scared. But you have another purpose,"
"Why keep me alive? You've already tied the noose for the de Clairmonts,"
"You'll find out soon enough. But first, tell me. What's got your head all twisted up inside? What made you turn away from Sept Tour?"
He wouldn't answer. His mouth opened and he bit his neck.
In her bed, Aurora was whimpering, tossing and turning her head. In her head, she was seeing things.
Phillipe under brutal torture.
Argus being killed by a blood-raged being.
And her mother being dragged by Benjamin.
The screams of a baby.
Then the winged being who couldn't attack her.
Benjamin was biting him; he was screaming in agony.
Aurora gasped waking up. She froze up the room again and she couldn't stop crying.
Outside Phoebe, Sarah and Diana wrapped in dressing gowns approached her door. "It's better if I speak to her alone," her pregnant sister insisted. She managed to push the frozen door open and she saw Aurora sit back-turned. "Aurora?" Not allowing the cold to bother them at all, she came to sit beside her. "What happened?" But she couldn't speak at all. Diana pulled her into her arms and rubbed her back. "It's okay. You're gonna be okay,"
Sarah, Phoebe and the vampires who had walked up heard her cries and decided they needed to leave them be.
Matthew's arrival at the club at not been very welcoming as he expected. Ransome in particular had lashed out at him for all the pain he had caused, all the loved ones he had killed, all the losses he had brought to them. To prove his sorrow and sincerity, he had told them about every single kill he had done to their loved ones leaving Jaqueline for the last. And when he spoke, his voice was broken much to their surprise. "It's her face I see the most," he confessed. "But they all come back to me. I see what I did and I can't change it. And I am truly sorry about that, I am…truly sorry for everything. Thomas was right from the very start. None of you were any different from him or Marcus. He was right to train all of you who were infected and to keep you all hidden. And now I'm using this scion to make amends for everything I did,"
Touched by his heartfelt words, Ransome stood up and offered his hand. "We'll join your scion. We all owe Thomas and now we can repay him by helping you stand up the Congregation,"
Matthew was touched back by his first response of forgiveness. "Thank you. As long as you are part of this scion, none of you will be sacrificed or killed. I give you all my word,"
The four males still inside the house had been so quiet. Morning arrived quickly and the sounds of the cab pulled up the road. Matthew stepped out, his vampire sons were on the top of the steps whilst Wrolf and Jack were inside doing something therapeutic. And by the looks on his happy face, it had been a total success. "We have lot of a work to do,"
"We do," Marcus agreed.
Matthew realised he had more apologies to make. "I owe you both a sincere apology. I truly regret everything I did here. And for lying to you both as well. I thought I was protecting you both but it only made things worse. You're both so much wiser than me,"
"What matters now is that we take a stand. And we have to do it together," Thomas expressed with a forgiving smile.
"There are no words to express how proud I am of both of you. You both have acted very nobly with your duties and already you two have proven how much better you both have been at being grandmasters than I have,"
"We owe a lot of that to you," said Marcus. "And we give you our words that your future twins will be protected by the Knights,"
"It warms my heart to see you both so happy with two lovely girls. And I give you both my word that this scion will guarantee the four of you will have happy and joyful lives with them,"
All was forgiven between them with a big group hug. The scion was sealed and nearly every page of the Book of Life had been collected. But still, more work needed to be done if they were to win this fight together as a family.
That's the next chapter done. Only four more episodes to go and then that's it. The story is done. See you all soon