A Discovery of Witches – 2.4

By: Ellie Yates

There’s been another vicious murder in present-day Oxford. This time it is in broad daylight. Domenico (Gregg Chillin) receives a call telling him “it’s happened again.”

Marcus (Edward Bluemel) meets with Phoebe (Adelle Leonce), who catalogues art and is speaking to one of her colleagues about the murder. When Phoebe shakes Marcus’ hand she notices how cold it is, what with him being a vampire and all. Marcus says he’s interested in buying Lot 42. Phoebe says it’s not available for advance purchase, so Marcus offers her £200,000. He tells her that his grandma has really set her heart on it. After a bit of flirting, Phoebe offers to show him the art. It soon becomes clear why Marcus is so interested when Phoebe opens a box to reveal the miniature portraits of Diana and Matthew that were given to Jack towards the end of the last episode. Marcus ends up winning the auction and asks if he can take the portraits home that night, but Phoebe tells him that’s not possible. In France, Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan) shows Em (Valerie Pettiford) and Sarah (Alex Kingston) the portraits on the internet and tells them they were painted in the late 16^th Century. Em is relieved to know that Diana and Matthew made it to the past.

Meanwhile, Knox (Owen Teale) meets with Gerbert (Trevor Eve) in Venice and tells him that there were daemons, vampires and witches all together at the Bishop house. Knox says Matthew formed his own “cabal” to find the Book of Life and they need to pool their own resources if they are to stop him.

Marcus promises to protect Sophie’s (Aisling Loftus) baby from the congregation. After analyzing tests results, Marcus says that the baby’s heartbeat is too slow and Sophie will need to have a hospital birth. This worries Sophie as she says the congregation has spies everywhere. Marcus tells her it’s a risk worth taking and he’ll make sure that he gets the best people he knows.

That night Domenico inspects the body of the murder victim and calls Gerbert to tell him that there’s nothing to implicate the de Clermonts yet and he doesn’t recognize the scent. However, the wounds tell him that “blood-rage” is back. Gerbert tells Domenico to track he scent and find the killer as there has to be a link. As Domenico roams the streets, he stands outside the art house and hears security attempting to stop a break-in. The sound of another vicious attack follows.

Of course, the only thing that was stolen was Lot 42. Phoebe explains to Marcus that the vault door had been ripped open and the security guard has vanished. Marcus says he should call his grandmother and, in France, the witches say that it must be Knox. Sarah says it would be much easier for them to be in Oxford, but Ysabeau tells them that she promised to protect them and they can’t leave the chateau. Ysabeau receives a text from Gerbert who wants to meet and she tells Sarah and Em that he probably has eyes on the chateau already so they need to stay inside.

Em suggests to Sarah that they make themselves useful and find what connects Diana to The Book of Life. Sarah wonders how they’re supposed to do that with one page, but soon realizes that Em has been trying to use higher magic to summon Rebecca (Sophia Myles) from the dead for help. Sarah is worried and makes Em swear that she won’t do it again as Diana will be able to summon the book herself when she’s back. Em later breaks her promise and summons Rebecca, but her presence is only brief.

That night Marcus invites Phoebe out to dinner and all is going well until Domenico appears. Marcus excuses himself and meets Domenico on the roof. Domenico asks Marcus what he was doing at the auction and Marcus says he could ask the same. Domenico sniffs Marcus and tells him about the murders and the scent from the first murder led him to the art house. He states that whoever is carrying out the murders is infected with “blood-rage,” which Marcus thought his grandfather had eliminated centuries ago. Domenico tells Marcus if the murders keep happening, they’ll be exposed to humans and if Marcus sees or hears anything, he must tell him.

When Marcus returns to Phoebe he avoids her questions and theories about the break-in. Despite things getting a little tense and awkward, the date ends with a kiss. Later that night Phoebe calls Marcus to tell him that he’s a mystery and she likes mysteries. When she arrives at Marcus’ house she admits to looking him up online, but couldn’t find anything about him. Phoebe asks a few questions about Marcus’s job and how he has so much money, but he brushes it off as “family money” before kissing Phoebe. They end up sleeping together, but when Phoebe heads downstairs to get a drink she finds a blood pouch in the fridge. After a bit of snooping, she also finds a box of photos of Marcus dating back to the 1800’s. Phoebe questions Marcus about the photos and he eventually admits that he’s a vampire and explains about witches and daemons. However, Phoebe doesn’t believe him and tells him he needs help before leaving.

Ysabeau meets with Gerbert outside and he says he’s heard whispers that she is protecting the witches, which he “assumes” is lies. Ysabeau lies and says she’s never met them. Gerbert says he knows Matthew and Diana are hiding in the past and wants to know what they are planning. Ysabeau tells him this could have just been an email. Gerbert tells her that humans are being murdered in Oxford by a vampire infected with blood-rage. Ysabeau asks him what he expects her to do about it and he tells her that if she sides with him, he’ll steer away any investigation into the de Clermonts. She tells him they have nothing to do with it and walks away. Gerbert tells her time will tell.

The next day Baldwin (Trystan Gravelle) arrives at Marcus’ house and tells him the murders are all over the internet. He shows him the front page of a newspaper with the headline “Drac the Ripper.” He tells Marcus that Ysabeau wants to see him. Baldwin tells Marcus that Matthew never should have made him “grand-master” of the Knights and tries to convince him to hand the title to him. Baldwin tells Marcus to step out of Matthew’s shadow as he doesn’t deserve his loyalty.

In France Ysabeau tells Marcus that he will have to kill Phoebe now he’s told her he’s a vampire. Marcus says that she didn’t believe him anyway, but Ysabeau says as grand-master he can’t be reckless and he needs to understand his responsibilities. She shows him a room in the chateau with artefacts and papers dating back 900 years ago, when the Knights were formed. Marcus asks what the Knights are doing now and how they are relevant. Ysabeau says that’s now up to him. Marcus states they need to look forward rather than backwards.  Marcus asks Ysabeau why she sent Baldwin to Oxford and she explains it’s because of the murders. Ysabeau reveals that the disease of blood-rage is in her blood and Matthew is fully afflicted. Ysabeau explains that Marcus’ children were culled to prevent the disease spreading. They need to protect themselves from the congregation.