Feb 27, 2022
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Thursday, October 29
Final piece of the puzzle
Hamish Osborne arrives in Madison with the final object that is needed for Diana’s and Matthew’s timewalk. They’ve used the past week getting ready for it by giving Diana all the vaccinations she might need as well as having her practice timewalking. It hasn’t been easy with so many creatures in one place. “The real problem was that we were in the midst of an acute outbreak of testosterone poisoning. Nathaniel and Matthew couldn’t be in the same room without sparks flying, and in the increasingly crowded house it was hard for them to avoid each other.” and Hamish arrival doesn’t change that but it makes the conventicle complete with three witches, three daemons, and three vampires.
They all gather in the “war room” and Matthew tells the group about everything that has happened until now. After some heated discussions, Hamish makes the women leave the room, except Sarah, and negotiations begin. Miriam is able to hear them talk and tells the women they are planning war. When they are done, Hamish has a very short talk with Diana about Matthew and warns her that Matthew will not be the same where they are going. Unlike Diana, Hamish has a very good idea of when and where that is.
Thursday, October 22
Daemons bringing gift(s)
Diana’s still weak from almost dying but she won’t let that stop her from visiting the place in the woods where she killed Juliette. Not that there’s much left to see as Marcus cleaned up afterwards so when she and Matthew get there, all that remains is scorched ground and a dying oak. "Above me the branches of the tree were cracked and withered. Bare limbs forked and forked again into shapes reminiscent of a stag's horns. Brown leaves swirled at my feet. Matthew had survived because I'd pushed its vitality through my veins and into his body."
Matthew is showing a new attitude towards Diana, he’s no longer as protective as before and tells her it’s because he saw her fight. “I wasn’t sure you would be able to fight if you had to. Now all I have to do is keep you from taking unnecessary risks.”
Returning to the house, it’s time for Matthew and Diana to share their plan to hide from the Congregation back in time. They want to know if it’s even possible and Emily tells them that it is but it won’t be without problems. Sarah’s all for it, as long as Diana will be able to learn how to use her magic from someone suitable.
The house added a new room so when two daemons, Nathaniel Wilson and his wife Sophie arrive, it’s not totally unexpected. Sophie is pregnant and tells the group that she’s a daemon born to witches and that the child she’s expecting is a witch too. She’s been having dreams, but she’s not sure if the dreams are hers of those of the baby. The gift for Diana is one that has been handed down in Sophie’s family for as long as anyone can remember; a statue of the goddess Diana. Matthew recognizes it as an old chess piece he lost in a wager on All Souls’ Night centuries ago to his friend Kit.
Miriam wants to know if timetravelling would be easier to do that night. Sarah thinks the time is excellent as the distance between the living and the dead is as short as it gets then.
The house decides this is the time for a new gift. This time, an old poppet. Inside of it, Diana finds an earring. Matthew recognizes that one as well. It used to belong to Ysabeau.
Matthew gives Diana a week to get ready for the timewalk. Sophie suggests that with another daemon, they would be a shadow congregation, or a Conventicle. It’s no longer just about Diana and Matthew but the future of all creatures.
Happy Halloween!