The witches

Oxford

It was once so that witches, vampires and demons lurked the world freely was until humans took over they were cast into hiding. Well that's what they said anyway whether it's true is a whole other story.

"Took you long enough" Katherine said with a slight laugh as she saw her sister rowing toward the dock she was standing on.
"Sorry just needed a minute" Diana replied
"Race you back?"
"Your on" Diana replied as she took off running. Unfortunately for her Katherine lost.
"Good morning" Diana says to one of the fellow teachers at Oxford
"Morning" she replies while Katherine offers a nod.

After the run both sisters shower in their rooms and get ready for the day.
"Toasts done. Can you grab the butter Di?"
"Already done" she points by the toaster
"Oh. I really need glasses"
"Yep." The sisters both pack up papers for the day. As Katherine puts files in her folder a picture of the girls parents falls out. She picks it up and looks at it.
"What's that?" Diana asks
"Nothing" Katherine replies shoving it into her briefcase.

They both get to the library and chain up their bikes. Katherine accidentally knocks over Diana's papers when her hands glow and the papers fly into her hands. Katherine watches wide eyed "what the hell?"
"I don't know what that was I've... I've never done that before and you know it" Diana replied slightly shook.

"Please join me in welcoming back to Oxford this years visiting research fellows. As many of you know these sisters took their DPhil in the history of science here after joint writing and publishing two prize winning books they were both awarded tenure at Yale. Two of the youngest ever to have been awarded for that distinction and the first two people to get tenure at the same time. We are delighted to have them both back among us. Dr Diana Bishop and dr Katherine Bishop." The sisters are then introduced. There's a round of applause.
"Thank you... Alchemy... in the 17th century, alchemy was at the very heart of the study of nature and a precursor to modern chemistry." Katherine starts
"All parts of the natural world, be they animate or inanimate, were beloved to experience these stages." Diana continues. Eventually we finish our talk.

The woman who introduced us then says "there's three openings coming up soon in the faculty... I'm drawing up a short list of candidates would one of those places interest either of you?"
"Uh.. yes" Diana replies
"Absolutely" Katherine says
"We'll need to evaluate all your work. The talk you both just gave today I assume it's ready to be published?"
"It is.. it is" Diana says hesitantly causing Katherine to look at her peculiarly.
"It's almost finished" Katherine says
"I'll need it by late October."
"That we can do... absolutely. Thank you" Katherine replies
"Well I look forward to reading it."

Our friend Gillian walks over but I decide to go back to my rooms instead of going out as I was tired. I decide to call up my aunts Sarah and Emily who preferred Em. "Hey guys."
"Katherine my love how are you?" Em says
Katherine laughs a bit "yes all good as is Diana. Umm she did however use magic-"
"She what? How is that.. that shouldn't be possible." Sarah replied
"Why not?" Katherine asks
"It's unimportant" Sarah says
"How did the talk go?" Em asks
"It was fine oh hold on Diana sent a text" Katherine looks at the message which is Diana asking her to meet her at the library "speak of the devil. Diana wants me to meet her at the library I'll call you tomorrow. Bye." She hangs up to meet Diana.

As she walks to the library it feels as though all eyes are on her. When she finds Diana she looks a little freaked out. "Di are you ok you look like you've seen a ghost." Katherine asks
"The book ashmole 782... it was like it was alive... look at my hand" she holds up her hand where there's a scar "Jesus Diana what the hell happened where's the book?"
"I returned it."
"Good come on let's go home" as they walk Katherine bumps into someone who looks like her father but when she turns back he's gone.
"Ashmole did something odd I don't think the humans felt it" Gillian said
"Diana we're going." We walk back to our rooms.

Next day both Diana and Katherine call the aunts.
"Hello?" Sarah says in a tired voice
"Hey it's me.." Diana says
"And me aka your favourite" Katherine jokes
"Are you alright it's five in the morning." Sarah says
"I know.. I know I'm sorry. Somethings happened"
"Ever heard of ashmole 782?" Katherine chimes in

After arguing and us saying how I saw dad and Diana saying the book came alive and both of us saying how weird everything felt after. We then hang up the phone. "Well that's didn't go well" Katherine says.

Diana goes back to the library but I stay in the rooms creeped out by what she told me. Plus I still had a headache from whatever happened when she opened the book. Later on she gets bored and decides to go to the local bar. She orders a whiskey and across the bar she sees this guy. Probably around 5'9 give or take, brunette, curly hair, sharp jaw and an earring. She catches him staring. "Can I help you?" She asks
"Oh American not what i expected" he replies
"Is that alright with you?"
"No" he jokes
"Ah a wine drinker"
"Is that alright?"
"No" she says with a laugh
"I'm Marcus"
"Katherine"
"Nice to meet you... wait your Katherine bishop right? One of those alchemy doctors?"
"Yeah how did you-"
"I'm a doctor"
"Ah makes sense.. so you've read mine and my sisters books then?"
"Once or twice." He says which causes Katherine to smile a bit. He smiles back. They both stare at each other for a moment.

The next day Katherine goes with Diana to the library as she was worried as Diana told her she met a vampire in there yesterday. Diana freezes when she sees someone who was called 'professor Claremont' by the librarian. I recognise him as the guy we walked past the day Diana opened ashmole.
"That's the vampire isn't it?" Kathrine whispers
"Yes" Diana whispers back. We sit opposite him
"Good morning" he says without even looking up
"Professor Claremont" Diana says. Katherine try's not to laugh at her sarcastic tone.
"I'm sorry am I bothering you?" He asks her
"No" Diana replies. Katherine flicks through a book trying to keep a straight face. "Just surprised you find a southern exposure comfortable" Diana adds
"You don't believe everything you read so you?" He asks her. Diana doesn't reply. "Alright then.. I thought you might like some company."
"What am I a wall?" Katherine asks
"Didn't know you'd be here. Library's busy today.. quite a few witches here."
He replies. Diana and Katherine turn to see Gillian. "So what? They often work in here." Katherine says
"No they're here to watch you both. Diana I did warn you other creatures would take an interest in you and your sister." He answers
"They're looking cause we're talking to you." Diana replies.
"They aren't the ones with the power" she adds
"Do you mind?" Someone asks as we were being loud. Diana and I pack up to leave.
"Leaving so soon?" He asks
"Yeah" Diana replies
Both sisters leave the library. Gillian follows. Katherine walks away as she finds Gillian frustrating and annoying. She moves to the centre and Diana meets her. She then looks and sees the man again. When she looks up he's gone. Diana goes on her daily run and canoe while Katherine stays back. While she's asleep she hears rustling. She gets up and sees the vampire.
"Excuse me?"
"Looking for ashmole 782" he says simply
"Diana returned it. Now kindly get the fuck out mine and my sisters rooms... what's your name?"
"Matthew."
"Matthew. Get out."
"Leaving."
He leaves and she stays in the rooms. When nightfalls Diana gets back saying that, that Matthew guy found her again and was interrogating her about the book. "What a creep... but do you think we can trust him?"
"He's a vampire Kath... no."
"Good. I don't trust vampires"

*PLOT TWIST KATHERINE HAS ALREADY MET A VAMPIRE BEFORE MATTHEW. BUT WHAT WILL HAIR WHEN SHE FINDS OUT? STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER.*