#adow asks

Marcus had an abusive father, who he murdered. He lost his adoptive father and mentor Obidiah. Even with Matthew, who had the best intentions, had an emotional and physical distance that did not help and his only instinct is to rebel.

1350

"Where are you going?"

Jason silently cursed himself as the voice of his mother rang out, seemingly from nowhere. He had wanted to join some of the crusaders, trying to assert dominance in France against a religious minority questioning the Pope's supremacy.

Like his father had done.

"Your father wouldn't want you going out to kill a few protestants and madmen. Even if some of them are daemons."

Jason blinked, confused. How could she possibly know what he was going to do? He hadn't said anything, to anyone.

"And if you are going to sneak around, please, at least go through the front. Everybody goes through the back."

Jason's face fell even further. Could she read minds?

Miriam finally appeared in front of him, looking slightly disappointed.

"Yes, mother. Apologies mother." She kissed him on the cheek before turning to return to her bedroom to read.

"Father," Miriam stopped to look at him, "He said his love for you was more devotion than anything."

Miriam smiled wistfully, "It was."

"He also said once he met you, he didn't have to believe in God anymore."

"What would you like to ask?"

Jason struggled, before asking "Which deity are you?"

Miriam smiled at him, "The one that will teach you how to sneak out of my house effectively. Next month. Go to your room."

1800

Marcus was convinced Miriam didn't like him. Despite her letting him stay with her in Florence whilst he studied, he believed it was a favour to Matthew.

It was when he came home one afternoon after an unexpected assassination attempt did he realize he may have been wrong.

"What on earth happened to you?" She grabbed his face, examining the healing cut on his forehead.

Marcus tried to get out of it "I'm fine. I promise. Don't tell my father."

"I won't." She promised.

A few days later, Marcus was called down from his room to the courtyard, where Miriam stood in front of three kneeling vampires.

The three that had tried to kill him.

"Are these the children that harmed you?" Miriam asked.

"...Yes" Marcus was confused. He hadn't said anything. She didn't have any spies, preferring to keep out of politics when she could.

"Please, Signorina-" The man in the middle's head was snapped clean off his head before he could plead any further.

"You believed you could kill a de Clermont. A de Clermont on my property." Miriam tutted, still holding a head in her hand. She then dropped it and leaned down to the two men who were whimpering like babies.

"If I ever get a whiff of your pathetic scent around my brother again, I will kill you. Do you understand?" She then asked if they would be escorted out as if they had come over for lunch.

Marcus didn't know what else to do but hug her. She lightly patted his back, before pulling away.

"Come on, we have dinner tonight." She walked back inside to get cleaned up. Vengeance was a messy and bloody business, but someone had to do it. Nobody was allowed to harm Marcus, not unless he deserved it.

"Miriam?"

"Yes?"

"Who are you?" She simply gave him a small smile.

2018

Miriam needed a rabbit. Not to eat but for some tests, she needed to run. There was a fluffy, healthy one resting on a tree trunk.

The problem was Diana was practising a cloaking spell and Miriam was trying to be nice and pretend she couldn't see or sense her.

But that lasted all of five seconds.

"Oh, for the love of.." The vampire muttered angrily. She moved Diana out of the way to grab the rabbit. She had tests to run. She didn't have time to wait for Diana to practice her little spells.

"How?..." Diana began, confused and a little disappointed in herself.

But Miriam simply walked away, as if she hadn't just seen through a witch's cloaking spell. A very powerful spell, designed specifically to work against vampires.

And Miriam saw her. Smelt her. Knew she was there.

Matthew still hadn't seen her, so she undid the spell.

"You couldn't see me?"

Matthew shook his head, confused. He'd thought she'd be happy, the spell worked.

"Miriam saw me. Like, she just saw me."

Mathew smirked, "Did you not know? She's a goddess."

"Haha, very funny." Diana deadpanned, but Matthew looked at her seriously.

"Really?"

Matthew nodded, "She's always had that effect on people and creatures. She sees what some of us can't, knows what we don't. She saw bacteria with her own eyes before the microscope, you know? Even her son can't explain it."

Diana thought for a moment. A goddess? It would make sense, "You said that she's old? How old?"

Matthew shrugged, "Old enough that even my father feared her at times. Just by being in the same room as him."

Meanwhile, Miriam smirked to herself and shook her head as she heard Diana excitedly ask questions that not even Matthew would be able to answer.