A Discovery of Witches – 2.8

By: Ellie Yates

We’re back in London and it’s now 1591. Diana (Teresa Palmer) is trying to read The Book of Life, but the words move across the pages and she hears incoherent whispers. Diana tells Matthew (Matthew Goode) the harder she tries, the stranger she feels. Matthew tells Diana she needs to stop as it’s making her ill and takes the book from her.

In the present Knox (Owen Teale) tells Gerbert (Trevor Eve) that he’s got one of Edward Kelley’s letters which reveals he gave the three pages he tore from the book to each species. Knox says this is probably why he couldn’t summon The Book of Life. Gerbert reminds him that Diana managed, so Knox suspects she has a page and will investigate. Gerbert says he will speak with Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan) to find the whereabouts of the page left to the vampires.

Miriam (Aiysha Hart) lets herself into Marcus’ (Edward Bluemel) house to try and explain that Matthew has been trying to protect him; however, Marcus says that he’s done with the Knights of Lazarus. He looks at a scarf Phoebe (Adelle Leonce) left behind and says that his human life is more important to him. Marcus heads out to meet Phoebe at the art gallery and hands her the scarf. He also gives her a necklace and explains it’s property of the Knights of Lazarus, an organization dating back to the 12^th Century. When Marcus says he is the grand master, Phoebe sarcastically tells him she’s Princess Leia.  Marcus asks her to research the Knights.

When Marcus gets home Sophie (Aisling Loftus) announces that her baby is on its way! After Sophie gives birth to a baby girl, Margaret, Miriam says that her blood is singing. This means she’s a witch. Marcus says that the congregation can’t find Margaret and Sophie and Nathaniel (Daniel Ezra) should move to Sept-Tours for a while.

In Sept-Tours Em (Valerie Pettiford) summons Rebecca (Sophia Myles). This time Rebecca manages to briefly speak to Em, but as Em tries to ask about Diana and the book Rebecca disappears. Sarah (Alex Kingston) is angry at Em for using higher magic to summon Rebecca, especially after promising not to do it. Meanwhile, Gerbert calls Ysabeau to tell her to choose her side and he will tear down the chateau brick by brick to find the page from The Book of Life. Unnerved, she tells him to remember who he’s threatening and puts the phone down. Later that night Ysabeau finds Em outside and hands her a drink. She touchingly tells Em to never sleep on an argument.

Em and Sarah later embrace as they agree to call a truce. The next morning Sarah explains that she resents higher magic because it kept her apart from Rebecca and she doesn’t want that happening to her and Em. Sarah suggests that they sneak out of the castle that night to find out more about the page of the book they have. When the couple head out Em summons Rebecca who begins to speak to Sarah. However, Sarah becomes overwhelmed and tries to hug Rebecca, causing her to disappear.

As Phoebe researches the Knights of Lazarus she comes across a drawing of Matthew, which she instantly recognizes and cross-references it with the miniature portraits that Marcus bought. She heads to the vault and is spooked when Domenico (Gregg Chillin) appears. Using his status with the police, he questions her about the paintings. Phoebe is skeptical, even more so when Domenico asks her about Marcus. As things get hostile, Wilf (Mark Holden) brings Phoebe the necklace he’s been studying for her and Domenico asks where Phoebe got it. She tells him that Marcus gave it her and he’s one of the Knights of Lazarus. Domenico thanks her for her help before leaving.

The next day Marcus heads out for a run when he is greeted by Phoebe who says she is ready for answers. Marcus takes Phoebe inside and tells her that Matthew is his “father,” as he sired him, and Diana is a witch. He reveals he was born in 1757 and when he was dying from a fever Matthew offered him survival. Marcus says Phoebe is the only human that knows he’s a vampire and they kiss. They walk to the pub as Marcus answers more of Phoebe’s questions. He tells her that humans are building too many walls and human prejudice is worse than ever. Phoebe comes to accept that Marcus is, in fact, a vampire and they end up sleeping together. Afterwards, she sends him to the shop to get ice cream, taking him only fifty-six seconds. As they share the ice cream Phoebe tells Marcus about her run in with Domenico. Marcus says that he wants to give up the Knights of Lazarus, but Phoebe tells him he can use his position to help everyone.

Marcus meets with Baldwin (Trystan Gravelle) to tell him that he’s not leaving the Knights after all and he’ll be using it to make a positive change for all creatures. Marcus explains to Baldwin he still has an important part to play though as he needs him to protect Sophie, Nathaniel and Margaret. Baldwin refuses and the pair trade insults. Gerbert notices Marcus leaving and asks Baldwin what he was doing there. Baldwin tells him about Margaret.

Knox arrives at the hospital and knocks out Nathaniel and Sophie. Knox tells Margaret that she has nothing to fear, but Agatha (Tanya Moodie) shows up just in time. Knox explains that he’s just there to confirm the baby’s existence and the “arrangements” will happen later. Agatha promises she will kill Knox if her ever goes near her grandchild again.

The episode ends in the past with Diana asleep, clutching The Book of Life. She dreams about the Rowan tree fading and hears desperate screams. She wakes in shock and Matthew asks if she’s ok. She tells him she doesn’t think so.