ALERT! ALERT! IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE AT END OF CHAPTER! 

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Chapter 22:

Augusta's POV

I wasn't able to leave the TARDIS for several days because of the Doctor.

He was really worried about how I... Felt. It was almost weird. At first, I couldn't use my abilities without accidentally setting a entire room on fire, but now it's more under control, so I should be as fine as I was before, which wasn't very much, honestly.

Anyways, the Doctor has been doing these 'mental exercises' with me because my mental boundaries was the main reason why he wouldn't let me go anywhere.

As for my physical health, has been... Okay.

No, that was a lie. I haven't been able to sleep in the last few days, which causes my powers to fluctuate and sometimes even die out. And, I don't trust myself to eat but the Doctor has noticed this, and sometimes refused to let me leave until I ate everything. Like now, actually.

"Just eat it," he ordered, but my arms were stubborn crossed over my chest and my head turned to the other side. "It's not poisoned, Auggie."

I sighed at the mention of 'Auggie'. It wasn't my name, but he refused to call me anything other than that, so I just decided to ignore it for now. "No."

"Auggie, you're skin and bones, you need some nutrients."

"I'm not going to eat it."

"Fine. What if I eat a bit of it?"

"The poison doesn't affect you Doctor," I suppressed an eye roll. "It'll just taste like normal food."

"And what would it do to you?"

"... It'll take my abilities away."

Another sigh of exasperation left his mouth, "Auggie, how many times do I have to--"

"Don't," I frowned at him, "I don't want to hear it again. I'm not going to eat it." Before he could protest, I whipped off my glove and turned the entire plate to a frozen ice block with several small spikes of ice sticking out.

The Doctor glared at me, "Augusta unfreeze the plate," he scolded in an odd tone I didn't recognize.

"No." Just as I said that, Rose waltzed in the room.

"What's goin' on?" She asked, her colored lips turning into a frown when she saw me, the Doctor, and a frozen block of food on the table.

"She's not eating," the Doctor summarized, turning back to me. "Auggie, c'mon, just eat it."

I didn't saw anything, I didn't want to argue anymore. I was done.

I got up from my seat and went for the door silently, "Where do you think you're going!?" The Doctor shouted behind me, but I didn't answer as I went down the hall.

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

I sat in my room, staring silently at the ceiling, rocking back and forth on my hammock bed. A small ice ball dropped up and down beside me as I lazily commanded it to my will.

There was a short rapping at my door, "Auggie?" Rose's voice from behind it called, "Can we talk?"

When she didn't hear a reply, she came in anyway. She wore a short-sleeved pink shirt and suspenders that had shorts at the bottom, black see-through leggings and black boots.

I noticed that she cut her hair short to her shoulders and her eyes hold a kind patience to it. I did not stop messing with my ice ball and staring at the ceiling. She pulled up a chair and sat beside me.

A tense silence falls between us. Finally, she spoke up, "Auggie, the Doctor only wants to help. He's worried about you," she said, earning no reply. "We want to make sure you're okay and that you're taking care of yourself... We don't want you to--"

"Hurt myself?" I finished, bitterness etching my tone. "Don't worry. I promised I wouldn't. I don't break promises."

"Yeah, well, you're not eating and that counts as hurting yourself," she chided. I turned my back on the woman, the hammock swinging slightly in my movement. The ball of ice moves up and down more sharply as I stare at it in boredom.

"Auggie..." she sighed. "Look. We're gonna go out soon, okay? The Doctor said that if you wanted to come, you can." A barely noticeable nod was my response, so Rose got up, I saw her twist her fingers nervously. "Augg-- Augusta, I'm worried, okay? I don't want to lose you, not again. I know you're scared, but... The Doctor and I won't let anything hurt you, I swear."

No response. She sighed again, patting me softly on the shoulder and left the room. Her boots clanking softly on the metal flooring as the door closed shut in her wake.

The ice ball beside me crashed into a heap of shattered, delicate ice as I broke concentration. A heavy sigh escaped me, as I stood up and going for the closet door.

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

As I walked silently down the hall, I heard loud odd noises being played in the console room, along with the upbeat sound of laughter and cheeriness. I entered the room and the Doctor and Rose are dancing around the console, before stopping, the Doctor staring directly at her, a look of playfulness on his features. "I can take you to the Battle of Trafalgar..." He tells, her, apparently not noticing me yet, "The first anti-gravity Olympics... Caesar crossing the Rubicon... or... Ian Dury at the Top Rank, Sheffield, England, Earth, 21st November, 1979. What do you think?"

"Sheffield it is!" Rose laughed.

"Hold on tight," he grinned as he pulled the lever. Rose hanging onto the console, I holding onto the wall.

The TARDIS shudders and jerks, so the Doctor hits the console with a hammer, "Stop!" Rose called, laughing, and the movement stops.

They fall on their backs, laughing and giggling. I stay by the door, waiting until they finish. Finally the Doctor stands, "1979. Hell of a year!" He turned, catching glimpse of my person, still waiting by the hall, "Hello, Auggie," he greeted, the smile not having yet leaving his face and exposing his pearly white teeth. "You coming?"

I nodded, "I wanna go out too," I reply, walking over to the older adults. I wear a navy blue jacket and black jeans with a deep blue shirt underneath and my elbow length gloves on my arms. I tied my hair back in a ponytail, making it go a while bush near the back and slicked straight in the front.

The Doctor smiled as we bounded for the door, he snatched his jacket off one of the Y-like structures that stand beside it. "China invades Vietnam..." He continued, still full of glee. "The Muppet Movie! Love that film. Margaret Thatcher... urgh... Skylab falls to Earth... with a little help from me... nearly took off my thumb..." He opened the door, revealing a wide field. I tense at our surroundings, "I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I'm very attached to..." He falters, noticing it too.

In front of us stand a dozen men, dressed in silvery armor, that I can immediately deduce to one thing: They're soldiers. For who, is beyond me.

They point their metal and wooden weapons at us, and the Doctor raises his hands, Rose following his example. I, simply cross my arms over my chest, "... My thumb," the Doctor finished, with a small sigh. The guns click, ominously. The soldiers are armed and ready, "1879. Same difference," he shrugged, like it was nothing.

A man steps forward. He wears more multicolored clothing as has small, metal rectangles on his clothes. I assume he is their leader, "You will explain your presence. And the nakedness of this girl," he ordered, his voice firm, like a leader's should be. By his body, he is also intimidating.

His shoulders are square, his gun still pointed at us, and his legs slightly apart. His arms are rippled with muscle, and I assume his chest is as well. His voice stern, and his hair slicked back. His chin is held high, showing even stronger features, but they all give off a intimidating and authorial vibe.

I easily took note of how his voice is far different than the Doctor's. It is thicker, almost. Like how my voice doesn't quite match the Doctor's or Rose's, most of the time. I could change it if I wanted to though. "Are we in Scotland?" The Doctor asked, feigning dumbness. He now sounds like the soldier, his voice thicker than it was.

"How can you be ignorant of that?" The soldier scoffed, even he seems to know that someone can't be that dumb.

"Oh, I'm-- I'm dazed and confused," he answered. "I've been chasing this... this wee naked child over hill and over dale. In't that right, ya... timorous beastie?" He quirks an eyebrow to Rose, silently signaling for her to catch on.

"Ooch, aye! I've been oot and aboot," Rose replied. The fakeness in her voice makes me cringe, my nose crinkling. She sounds nothing like the soldier or the Doctor.

"No, don't do that," The Doctor frowned disapprovingly.

"Hoots mon!" She tried again, sounding more ridiculous than the last.

"No, really don't. Really..."

"Will you identify yourself, sir?" The soldier interrupted, having been annoyed by Rose's horrible accent.

"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon. From the... Township of Balamory," the Doctor lied. "Eh... I have my credentials, if I may..." The soldier signals for him to continue, and he rummaged through his coat, pulling out his physic paper, that displayed nothing, but somehow seemed to fool them. "As you can see," he continued, "A Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Doctor Bell himself." False pride shown in his voice, to help them buy the fact that he's never been to college.

"Let them approach," a old voice I didn't recognize in the carriage behind them spoke up, but the soldier was still very suspicious.

"I don't think that's wise, ma'am," he suggested, bur the woman repeated her words from seconds ago.

"Let them approach."

The Doctor gestured towards the carriage, and the soldier has no choice but to begrudgingly let us approach. "You will approach the carriage. And show all due deference," he said in a monotone, irritated voice.

There was a short man, who opened the door, revealing a woman wearing a white elegant gown and a sparkling crown on top of her head, filled with shiny rocks that reflected the sunlight in all different directions. "Rose, Auggie -- might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith," the Doctor beamed.

Rose moved in some sort of bowing motion, crossing her legs, oddly. "Rose Tyler, Ma'am," she greeted awkwardly. "And my apologies... For being so naked."

"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me," she replied like it was nothing. "But you, Doctor... show me these credentials," the Doctor handed the woman the psychic paper, and she looked it over, her eyes trailing to me. "And who might you be, child?"

"This is Augusta," the Doctor answered for me. "Don't be shy, child, say hello."

"Hello," I said, with a small wave.

The woman nodded, acknowledging my presence, and looked back at the psychic paper, "Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector."

"Does it?" The Doctor asked, for some reason sounding shocked. "Yes, it does! Good! Good! Um.. then let me ask -- why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?"

"A tree on the line," the woman answered smoothly.

"An accident?"

"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland," she answered coolly, sticking her head higher. "Everything around me tends to be planned."

Somehow, her words seemed to surprise the Doctor, "An assassination attempt?"

"What, seriously?" Rose asked, apparently just as surprised. "There's people out to kill ya?"

"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun," she replied.

"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence," the soldier from earlier announced. Now he was sitting on top of... I actually have no clue what that is... "We'll send word ahead, he'll shelter us for tonight, then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow."

"This Doctor, the child, and his... timorous beastie will come with us," she ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am," the Soldier nodded, "We'd better get moving -- it's almost nightfall."

"Indeed," she agreed. "And there are stories of wolves in these parts. Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think," a hint of a smirk crept on her face, before disappearing. "Drive on!"

As the carriage carried on, the Doctor, Rose, and I are sent behind to walk as it drives forward. "It's funny though, 'cos you say 'assassination' and you just think of Kennedy and stuff," Rose said. "Not her."

"1879 -- she's had... Ooo... Six attempts on her life?" He shrugged, but a grin spread on his face. "And I'll tell you something else: we just met Queen Victoria!"

"I know!" Rose answered, very excited.

"What a laugh!"

"She was just sitting there!"

"Like a stamp!"

"I want her to say 'we are not amused'," she said with a very high voice before going back to her normal one. "I bet you five quid I can make her say it."

"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of traveler in time," he said with a slight huff.

"... Ten quid?"

"Done."

They laughed and began to talk again. I stared ahead, watching the... Things that the soldiers was walking on top of with curiosity. Some of them were brown, others white or black, but they all looked the same and was covered in shiny metal with ropes around their necks and inside what looked like their mouths.

"They're called horses," The Doctor said, snapping me away from me thoughts. I looked up at him as he continued. "They're animals. Most humans use them for transportation."

"Why are they sitting on them?" I asked, mildly concerned for the animals.

He pressed his lips together, "That's just how humans use them."

"Why?"

"They... Just do..." A slight frown crossed his face. "So, meeting Queen Victoria? How do you feel?"

"Should I feel different?"

He scratched his cheek, "Probably, I mean, she is the queen."

"What do you mean by that?"

His mouth made a small 'o'. "Oh... You don't-- she's basically the leader of England and Ireland. They're countries."

I nodded, even though I didn't quite understand. "How are you feeling, Auggie?" The Doctor asked, now sounding very serious.

"I'm fine," I answered automatically. "Why?"

He gave me a short look, but didn't say anything. "We have arrived," one of the soldiers announce as we enter the large gates of a old stone building. I spot a man looking out of the windows of the house before turning away.

Once everyone stops, one to the men go to the queens door, and helps her out of the carriage. The Doctor, Rose, and I stand behind them, as a tall man approaches the woman and does a bowing motion, the same one Rose did when she saw the queen. "Your majesty," he greeted warmly.

"Sir Robert," the queen replied. "My apologies for the emergency. And how is Lady Isobel?"

"She's... indisposed, I'm afraid -- she's gone to Edinburgh for the season," the man, or Sir Robert, as the queen greeted him. "And she's taken the cook with her -- the kitchens are barely stocked... I wouldn't blame Your Majesty if you wanted to ride on."

"Oh, not at all!" The queen replies, rather cheerfully. "I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is... charming. If rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate. Now, shall we go inside?" Sir Robert looks nervous and he shuffles his feet a bit and I narrowed my eyes. "And please excuse the naked girl," the queen added.

"Sorry," Rose apologized -- again.

"She's a feral child," the Doctor said, using his weird voice again. "I bought her for sixpence in old London Town. It was her or the Elephant Man, so..."

Rose glared at him and he smirked, "Thinks he's funny but I'm so not amused." She said, pointedly looking at the queen. "What do you think, Ma'am?"

"It hardly matters," she said, dismissing it. "Shall we proceed?"

We then begin to walk inside, Rose turned to the Doctor. "So close!"

"Not really," I frowned and she laughed.

"Makerson and Ramsey, you will escort the Property," the soldier from earlier announced as we walked. "Hurry up."

"Yes, sir!" They both answered, going to the carriage to pull out a small wooden box.

This caught the Doctor's eye, as well as mine's. "What's in there, then?" He asked curiously.

"Property of the Crown," he answered, a certainty for coldness in his voice. "You will dismiss any further thoughts, sir." The Doctor made a small pout to Rose as the man continued, "The rest of you go to the rear of the house. Assume your designated positions."

"You heard the orders. Positions, sir," another soldier relayed as we entered the house.

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

Sir Roberts let us into a large room with a glass ceiling and a enormous metal device in the center. "This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour," Queen Victoria asked, eyeing the large device.

"All my father's work," Sir Robert said admirably. "Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession -- he spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself."

The Doctor smiled at him, "I wish I'd met him, I like him. That thing's beautiful -- can I um...?"

Sir Roberts smiled, "Help yourself." As soon as he said this, the Doctor strode over, with us not far behind.

"What did he model it on?" He asked, examining the device and the wheel beside it.

"I know nothing about it," Sir Roberts admitted. "To be honest, most of us thought him a little... shall we say, eccentric." The Doctor laughed as he continues, "I wish now I'd spent more time with him. And listened to his stories."

"It's a bit rubbish," the Doctor stated bluntly. "How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top, that's stupid kind of a—" he cut himself off when he saw the odd looks everyone was giving him. He bent over to whisper to Rose and I. "Am I being rude again?"

"I think so," I said, and Rose nodded replying: "Yep."

"But it's pretty!" The Doctor said loudly, trying to cover up his words earlier. "It's very... pretty."

Rose patted him on his arm for his hopeless effort. "And the imagination of it should be applauded," The queen stated.

"Mm! Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty," Rose agreed. "Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful?" The queen just stared at her as she continued. "You could easily... not be amused, or something...? No?"

"This device surveys the infinite work of God," the Queen replied, making the Doctor chuckle, shaking his head and smiling. "What could be finer? Sir Robert's father was an example to us all. A polymath. Steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairytales."

"Stars and magic," the Doctor awed, his grin stretching. "I like him more and more." He continues to examine the device.

"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company," the Queen turned to Rose. "Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg."

The Doctor whispered something in Rose's ear that I didn't hear as the Queen continued, "When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported."

This caught onto the Doctor's interests, "So, what's this wolf, then?"

"It's just a story," Sir Robert said, apparently uncomfortable with the topic.

"Then tell it," the Doctor said, but a frown deepened on Sir Robert's face. He glanced around, looking at man in the corner of the room, who was staring at him, tight lipped frown.

"It's said that--" he said in a haunting tone, but the man stepped in before he could finish.

"Excuse me, sir," he interrupted. "Perhaps her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark."

Sir Robert nodded, more than eager to get out of the room, "Of course. Yes, of course."

"And then supper. And..." She turned to Rose with a sigh. "Could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler? I'm tired of nakedness."

Rose gave her a pointed look, "It's not amusing, is it?" The Queen looked at her strangely, but decided to ignore her comment.

"Sir Robert, your wife must've left some clothes," she continues. "See to it. We shall dine at seven. And talk some more of this wolf. After all... there is a full moon tonight." The Queen smirked teasingly but something about that seemed to bother the man because he stiffened.

"So there is, Ma'am," he gave a quick bow and exited the room with the queen. A maid pulled Rose away, going down a separate hallway, while the Doctor followed the Queen eagerly.

I didn't follow them out, "You coming, Auggie?" The Doctor asked, his head poking over the door. "We can have dinner with the queen! That sounds fun, huh?"

When I didn't answer immediately, the Doctor came over, "Are you feeling alright, Auggie?"

"I'm fine..." I mumbled, turning to him, "I just wanted to look at that..."

He gave me a small frown, "Are you sure? You look a little--"

"I'm fine, Doctor," I interrupt harshly. "I am."

He sighed softly, "Auggie, I know you've been through a lot, but this, it's got to stop. You need to take better care of yourself."

"I'm fine, Doctor," I repeated coldly, my fists clenching into balls.

"You're not fine, Auggie. You need help, and I'm right here to--"

"No!" I shout, waving a hand at him. Piercing ice shot out from my hand, making sharp, lethal spikes in the ground, separating me from him. The Doctor stared at me in shock, but something else shined in his eyes as well. Fear.

I turned away, squeezing my eyes shut so the tears that grew in the corners of my eyes wouldn't fall. My hands shook and I kept them tight to my chest, in a feeble attempt to protect him from me.

"Auggie--" he began to say, but I shook my head.

"Just... Go away," I muttered, still loud enough for him to hear. "Please." Now I was begging. I didn't want him here anymore, I didn't want to be here anymore. I want to be alone, so I couldn't hurt anyone.

He didn't say anything. He just turned and left the room, closing the wooden door behind him. Once the door shut, my knees felt like jelly and I crashed to the ground. Soft sobs escaping my mouth in desperate gasps, I don't want to be here. I don't want to hurt him, I don't want the Director to get me, I don't want to do anything.

I don't know how long I sat there on the ground, trying to catch my breath. The sun had set, making the sky turn a purplish-orange.

After what seemed like forever, I glanced over to the ice spikes, that were cracking and shattering on the dark wood flooring. I moved over, tapping the spikes. I was barely able to create enough heat to evaporate it. I sighed, rubbing my eyes that I knew were a sore red and stood up.

My legs felt weird for sitting for so long, but I quickly grew adjusted and went to the door, where I found a man standing by the door. When I opened it, he turned to me.

"Uh," I began to say be he cut me off with his hand.

"Sir Doctor has ordered me to watch over you," he explained in a hard tone. I froze for a second, did he see my abilities?

"Uhm, thank you," I said gratefully, "Did you see--"

"I was given orders to not enter the room under any circumstances," he continued, and I exhaled in relief. "Shall I lead you back to the other, miss?"

"Yes, please," I nodded, rather awkwardly. A soft smile found his lips, as he walked down the hall. We didn't even make it to the end before someone came behind him, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Would you like a beverage provided by the kitchen?" A man asked, his face cloaked with a dark hoodie, only leaving his nose visible.

"No thank you," he politely declined, but the man grabbed his shoulder.

"I insist," he continued, somewhat darkly. "It is made from the finest spices in the kitchen for gratitude for coming to our humble home."

The man shrugged, "If you insist," he took the glass cup from the cloaked man, downing it in mere seconds. Almost immediately, his eyes widened and the glass fell from his hands, only to be caught by the cloaked man.

The soldier fell to his knees, "Hey!" I exclaimed, bending down next to him, trying as hard as I could to catch him, but with the extra metal armor and his size alone, it was nearly impossible, causing me to topple over with him.

I glared up at the cloaked man, who had a smile stretched across his lips. He bent down to me, pulling a rag out of his cloak. Before I could protest, he shoved it against my mouth and nose. I tried as hard as I could to fight against him, trying as hard as I could to not breathe in whatever was laced into the rag whilst doing so.

The man pushed my head into the rag and my vision flashed red from lack of oxygen until I couldn't take it anymore. I parted my lips, ingesting the substance, and seconds later, my vision faded to black.

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

"Auggie! Auggie, get up!" Rose's frantic voice said, making my eyes snap open. My head throbbing, but I looked at Rose, who was looking at me, her eyes wide with fear. "Listen to me, you gotta get up."

I frowned, looking around, we were in a cellar with several other woman. Metal chains hung off our wrists with a strange man in a cage, who was grinning wildly. "Auggie, get up! Now!"

The moonlight seemed to shine on the man and he roared, "Auggie! Get up!" Rose screamed, snapping me away from my thoughts.

I turned to the walling where the metal was latched unto. I rose a hand, forcing my body to control the small grains of earth inside. The other woman pulled as hard as they could as the metal began to slowly bend and crumble, but not quick enough because the bars on the man began to shift and change into some kind of animal. As the women pulled, I focused my attention on the cage, holding my arms out to keep the metal in place.

My nose began to bleed and my arms began to shake, and the bars rattle as well. "One, two, three, pull!" Rose shouted, and finally, the chain comes free, just as a door is forcibly opened.

"Where the hell have you been?" Rose hissed in a sharp tone, I didn't care to look over at who it was, I kept my attention on the animal in the cage, who had apparently finished changing and was now grabbing the bars with strong hands. I gasped in pain, trying desperately to keep the metal together.

"Oh, that's beautiful!" The Doctor gasped, in somewhat fascination. The animal inside stretching the bars across, fighting is empowering strength against my own.

"Get out!" A man yelled and I gritted my teeth, my eyes slowly turning a burning red. The animal head butted the cage, causing me to stumble back. My chest heaved and my eyes narrowed. The animal bared it's lethally sharp teeth at me and growled.

Then, much to my surprise, someone grabbed me by the waist, "Out!" The Doctor screamed, pulling me away and out of the cellar. Simultaneously, the animal ripped the cage open. "Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!" They dragged me out of the room, slamming the cellar door shut.

I gasped as the Doctor set me down on the ground, away from the door where the animal pounded on. I writhed in pain, squeezing my eyes shut and I coughed, blood splattering my hand.

"Auggie, are you okay?" He asked me, but I didn't even try to answer him. My heart was racing, sweat dripping off my brow, my sight began to blur in and out of vision. I began to fall into another fit of coughs, "Auggie!" He turned away, looking at someone else, "Get her somewhere safe, hurry!"

Then I was being picked up again, and brought into another room. The sharp scent of unfamiliar spices filled my nostrils. I grimaced, trying to move away, "You mustn't move, miss," the man's thick voice warned, but I still struggled to get away.

I cranked my neck to look behind the man. The Doctor was pacing across the hall, muttering words to Rose that I couldn't quite hear. The man set me down on a chair before promptly leaving once again.

One of the women came over and gasped, "Oh dear!" She exclaimed, pulling out what looked like a white rag, and wiped at my nose, which was still bleeding, but not as excessively as before. "What in heavens name-- are you okay? Are you hurting anywhere else?"

I failed to answer again, I only moaned slightly, placing my head down on the table. "What is it? Are you bruised? Wounded? Please, tell me where, I can help."

"... I'm... Fine," I murmured, slightly delirious.

"Fine? You are a far cry from fine, child! Now, tell me where you hurt. I'm sure there are some healing herbs in the cabinets somewhere."

"Doctor..." I muttered, moving to get up, but I felt like my arms were complete jelly. "I... I need--"

"You need to sit here and rest, child!" The woman snapped in a tone I did not understand. "You are in no condition to do anything right now!"

I gave her a silent, odd look and suddenly there was a loud crash down the hall followed by several gun shots. One of the women gasp in shock while someone else we to check another door. "It won't open," she declared. "They've sealed us in!"

"Oh, my Lady -- look!" They move to the window, looking at something I didn't care to see, "They'll never let us out. They mean for us to die!" The woman continued, now in full hysterics.

"Don't say that, Flora!" The woman scolded harshly.

I gritted my teeth, forcing my body to move. I slowly pushed off the table to stand up. My knees shook, and I had to grip onto the ends of the table for support. I was able to stand up completely before a sharp pain racked through my body, I stumbled, falling back down. My hand hit a glass plate that teetered over the edge, before shattering on the ground beside me.

I tried to get back up, only to cut my hand on a sharp piece of glass. I hissed in pain, bringing my bleeding hand to my chest. "Oh my!" A woman said, helping me up gingerly. "Are you alright?" She looked at my hand, that was still held to my chest. "Let me see," she said, taking my hand.

The wound didn't look too deep, "Child, you must stop, please," the woman sighed, as she tended to my hand. "I know you are scared but--"

"The Doctor, he... He needs me," I mumbled, "I can help, just let me--"

An angry scowl found it's way on the woman's face, "He does not need your assistance at this time, child. You need to worry for yourself and not for him!"

"Please, if I can go, I can help and maybe even--" a burning sensation covered filled my cheek when the woman struck me across the face, her eyes set into an angry glare.

"What did I just say!?" She nearly shouted, "You need to worry for yourself right now, not for him. We are all in danger from that-that thing, but being completely reckless will get us nowhere!" Her glare softened as she continued, "You did your part child, but for now you must rest. You do not have to fix everything. The burden of the others does not have to rest upon your shoulders."

I stared at the woman, wide-eyed, shocked, and gaping. "Do you understand?" I numbly nodded, and she got up, smiling a bit, "Good."

Suddenly, all the shooting and commotion stops, and everyone notices, "Did they kill it?" One of the maids ask, the same one that was freaking out earlier.

The hall are is deathly silently, far too silent for any of our liking's. Then, the woman motions for us all to come to the corner of the room, in a meek and feeble attempt to hide.

We all comply, hiding away, seeing as we might as well prolong our deaths. A few of the woman whispers to themselves while others try to hide their sobs in fear and screws their eyes shut.

Then, pounding can be heard down the hall, someone-- no, something is walking down the hall. By the heavy footsteps and slight panting noises, we can all assume that it is the werewolf.

Then, the werewolf carries on, not bothering to enter the kitchen at all. Once the werewolf has left the hall, I release the breath that I had been holding, along with pretty much everyone else.

I shakily get up, looking around. I can't hear the werewolf anywhere near here, so it's not just waiting to jump us, "It's gone," I announced.

"How do you know?" One of the woman demanded, her hands still shaking.

"I can't hear it anymore," I answered moving to sit back down. Why didn't it come in here? Was something in particular keeping it from entering the room? Like, a barrier, or something?

"How do you know it's not just standing outside waiting!?" The same woman, I think the other lady called her Flora earlier, asked.

I sighed, rubbing my cheek, "I just do."

"That's not good enough answer!"

"That's enough, Flora," The woman said, quieting Flora. "We need to find out why it did not come in here."

"Y-Yes, Lady Isobel," Flora stuttered, looking away.

"Maybe it didn't think we were here?" Someone suggested.

"No, it is too intelligent than that, it would have heard us," Lady Isobel paced the room.

"Maybe something warded it away?" Someone else said.

When she shook her head, everyone sighed. We continued to brainstorm what could possibly keep the beast away for several minutes. Lady Isobel got up to glance out the window, and then she gasped. "Mistletoe..." She realized. "They're all garlanded in mistletoe and the wolf doesn't attack them. Who brought this into the kitchen?"

"It must've been the Brethren," Flora assumed.

"Gather it up," Lady Isobel ordered, "Quickly. Every last scrap!" Then, the women begin to search frantically through the cabinets for mistletoe, whatever that is, and dumping their findings on the table. "Quick, now!"

As the women dumped the leaves on the table, Lady Isobel handed me a knife, "Could you begin chopping up the leaves, child?"

"Y-Yeah," I nodded, taking the silverware from her and cutting the big leaves into smaller pieces. Another woman sat across from me, who was also helping to chop up the sharply scented leaves that me crinkle my nose, and even sneeze a few times.

Flora came over, dumping the minced up leaves into a large pot that sat over a fire on the stove, stirring it around. "No sound of the wolf, my Lady," she announced as she worked. "Perhaps it really is gone."

"Perhaps it's toying with us," she said, but continued to work anyway. "But my husband's up there. And if there's any chance he's still alive, then by God, I'll assist him."

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

We finished the first batch, just as we heard loud pounding from upstairs. "Hand me a pan of the water!" Lady Isobel demanded. Flora scooped a pan of water from the boiling pot and delicately handed it to the woman with a top.

She left down the hallway, but I quickly jumped up, feeling somewhat better now, and followed her. "Go back with the others!" She ordered, but I crossed my arms defiantly.

"If the Doctor's in trouble, then I'm going to help him," I said, leaving no room for argument in my voice and standing as straight as I possibly could. A scream resonates through the mansion, and the woman scowled, but runs ahead, not bothering with me anymore, so I followed.

Racing up the steps, we met the Doctor, Rose, the queen and a Sir Robert in the hall. The wolf is on top of Rose, about to harm her. Something inside me snaps as Lady Isobel threw the mistletoe water on the wolf, I clicked my fingers, turning the water a boiling hot in seconds.

The wolf yelps at the pain of scorching hot mistletoe water and bounded in the opposite direction. I quickly went to Rose, who was eyes were wide with fear and she was trembling. "Rose!? Are you okay?!"

"Yeah," she nodded, stranding up straight. "How are you feeling?"

I blinked, nearly forgetting that I almost died trying to keep that wolf contained inside the metal cage earlier. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine," I nodded, but she didn't seem so sure.

"Auggie--"

"I am," I insisted. "Really, I feel fine."

"Auggie, you should go back downstairs with the others," The Doctor said.

"No! I'm staying here," I frowned, I wasn't going to let him or Rose get hurt.

"It's not safe here, and were wasting time!" He insisted, although I refused to leave. The determination to stay was evident on my face. He groaned, knowing that I was not going, "Fine! Come on!" He said, racing down the hall, the four of us following closely behind.

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

We quickly made it to a different room, "The observatory's this way!" Sir Robert told us, pushing the doors open and letting us inside. The large metal device still stood proudly on the center of the room, the same room that we were in earlier.

The Doctor checked the doors, sniffing it. "No mistletoe on these doors, your father wanted the wolf to get inside! Get inside I just need time! Is there any way of barricading this?!"

"I can try but--" I began but Sir Robert cut me off.

"Just do your work and I'll defend it," he assured, and I rose an eyebrow, that was suicide.

The Doctor must've noticed that too because he continued, completely ignoring Sir Robert's proposition. "If we could bind them shut with rope or something!"

"I said I'd find you time, sir," Sir Robert said again, this time he was determined. Rose and the Queen stare at him sadly, knowing that there was not any other way. "Now get inside," he continued.

I grounded my teeth, "Give me your sword," I ordered, tearing off my gloves with my hand.

He stared at me, shocked, "Why?"

"Just give my your damn sword!" I hissed, taking no extra time to pull it out of the sheathe on his side. I slid two fingers down the blade, making it glow a dark red, "I'm heating it up. It'll help you fight against it. Be careful and don't... Don't be stupid," I muttered, handing it back to him by the handle once I finished.

"How?" He asked, quite astounded.

"Don't ask," I grumbled, putting back on my gloves, holding the door for the other two women to get in the room.

The Doctor gave the man a grateful look, "Good man," he said, giving him a nod, and turning into the room following us inside.

Sir Robert closed the door with his free hand as the Doctor runs to the queen, "Your Majesty, the diamond," he asked.

She gave him a suspicious look, "For what purpose?"

"For the purpose it was designed for."

She gave him a unsettling stare before finally digging through the big bag that she had lugged around this entire time and revealed a shiny see through stone.

The Doctor snatched it from the woman and ran to the device, "Rose! Lift it! C'mon!" He said, turning a metal wheel, Rose coming to his side to help.

I stood by the door, guarding the queen and us as the two groaned and pushed. I can hear Sir Robert on the other side, "I committed treason for you," he told the animal. "And now my wife will remember me with honor!" I heard him grunt a few times, and then the wolf whined a bit, but then a loud scream of terror erupts from the man. The Queen went pale, her eyes widening in terror, while I kept a neutral expression on my hardened face, his yells not fazing me at all.

His screams of bloody murder finally diminish and is replaced by the animal banging on the wooden door. Rose and the Doctor are arguing over something trivial, but whatever the Doctor is working on seems to be working, but not very quickly. With every pound, the queen flinches, most likely scared for her life. She holds onto the crossed necklace around her neck, breathing and whispering silently to herself. I took a deep breath, as the banging stops. I hear footsteps, charging footsteps.

"Get ready," I announced seconds before the wolf collided with the door.

I quickly ducked out of the way as splintered wood shattered over my body. Since I was the closest to the door, I took the bulk of the damage. I managed to push the queen out of the way so she didn't get hurt as much. A large piece of wood lodged itself in my leg, making me suck my teeth, trying not to scream in pain seeing we have way bigger things to worry about. Like the wolf trying to murder us.

The wolf growled at us, swiping a paw at the queen, who had her hands in front of her face in an attempt to save herself.

Then, a magnificent bright beam spewed from the end of the large device, hitting the floor a few feet from the wolf. He continued to advance on us, but the Doctor threw the translucent rock into the beam, making the light strike the wolf directly in its hairy chest.

The wolf staggers back and rose in the air, being engulfed by the bright moonlight. He slowly but surely shrinks back to its human form, which is a young adult male. He wore a shirt barely holding together and loose pants.

He looks at the Doctor, exhaustion seemed to fill his helplessly blue eyes that is partly covered by his shaggy dark hair. His voice is quiet and matches his exhaust look, "Make it brighter," he says softly. "Let me go."

The Doctor nodded, flipping a switch on the device. The bright moonlight from the shiny object covered his body. With one last howl, the wolf vanished from sight.

I let out a heavy sigh once it disappeared, along with everyone else. I leaned back against the wooden floor quietly. I didn't bother to worry about the piece of wood still stuck in my leg. At least until Rose said something.

"Auggie!?! Are you alright!?"

"Fine. Just need some rest," I assured her, lazily.

"Your leg... It's bleeding."

I glanced up at her, then down at my leg, where there is a bit of blood coming from the piece of wood lodged in it. Grinding my teeth, I slowly pulled it out. A sharp pain goes through my body, but I ignored it. After a few seconds, it is done, and I tossed the bloody piece of wood across the room. Luckily, it hadn't been in too far or else it'd cause unneeded damage.

Leaving my leg to heal later, I got up, "Wait! You're still--"

"There's a perimeter around the house of soldiers," I announced distastefully, peering out the curtained windows. Sure enough, they were still there, oblivious to the fact that we defeated their little challenge. "Even with the wolf dead, nobody makes it out alive."

I backed up, letting the Doctor checked the window as well. "You're right," he growled. We were in a bad situation. Anyone who goes out there gets shot full of bullets, but after a while, they'll know that something is up. If they find out that the wolf is dead, they'll shoot us with bullets.

"Rose," I spoke up, but not looking at her. "Can I rip a part of your dress off? My leg hurts."

"Course," she nodded. I took no extra time going to one of the silky-soft layers underneath her actual dress, and ripping a strip off, tying it tightly around my leg.

I quickly checked the rest of my body for any serious injuries. There were a few splinters here and there, but otherwise, I was fine. I quickly went for the door, limping slightly in my step. "Where are you going?" The Queen asked.

"How many more soldiers are left?" I asked.

She frowned, "Not many. The wolf killed most of them. There should be a few still guarding the women in the kitchen."

"I need one of your weapons."

"If you're thinking of killing them--" the Doctor began, with anger in his tone.

"I never said I was killing anyone," I cut him off, a bit angry he'd think I'd plan anything like that. "Whoever is left should stay on one of the higher floors, it'd take longer for them to get you that way. We don't have a lot of time, so we need to start now." I turned to Rose, "Can you tell the woman in the kitchen this? Take the queen with you."

"What about you?" Rose asked, concerned.

"I'll be fine, but we need to hurry up, they will probably come in and check on the wolf soon," I said, heading down the hallway.

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

When everything was set, I began to go outside. The others stayed by the door, only watching from a window. As soon as the door opened, all eyes turned to me. The sound of guns' safeties going off filled the brisk, midnight air.

"Go back inside!" A gravelly voice ordered, his gun pointed at me. I kept walking, watching as his hands clench around his gun. "This is your last warning! Go back--" at a wave of my hand, he dropped to the ground, unconscious.

Guns opened fire, bullets coming from all around, but the ground moved around me, shielding me as the bullets collided, making it bounce off harmlessly. I walked to the next man, who's eyes were wide with fear, and waved a hand at him, making him drop.

Now, the men were coming towards me, knifes and swords on their hands. I stopped in my steps, bracing myself to fight.

The first man came, aiming for neck. I easily twisted his arm around, tossing his knife a safe distance away, and tapped his forehead, dropping him unconscious.

The gunshots continued to fire, and I gritted my teeth, readjusting my earth shield. Another cloaked man took this chance of distraction to plunge his sword at me. I pivoted, barely getting the chance to dodge, and tapped his legs, stopping the blood flow in them momentarily. He dropped to the ground in a cry of pain. I moved to touch his head when a knife was thrown my way. I moved my head, making it only scratch my cheek.

The man went back, pulling out a few more, and I rose a hand at him. A dirt-like snake appeared in the ground, rapidly approaching him. A yelp of fear crossed his lips as the 'snake' rose, its dirt-like fangs bared at him, and snapped down on his body.

I made sure he was fine, but the snake went back underground, chomping up more people and holding them there.

A man lunged his spear at me, and I moved, but it cut my side, creating a shallow wound. The large, bulky, dark cloaked man smirked, and tried again. I ducked down, just missing it, and controlled the earth by his feet, making him sink into the earth. He dropped his weapon, trying to pull himself out, giving me the chance to tap his head, rendering him unconscious.

I continued to go through each and every man, earning several injuries while doing so. After using up a ton of energy, it had finally gotten down to me and a man wielding a sword that trembled in his hands. I rose a shaky hand at him, only to have my vision blur and I fell to my knees. Perspiration made my messy, loose strands of hair stick to my forehead and I took shallow, uneven breaths.

My weakness was evident, I could barely move. I could be finished in a single notion, so when the man gripped his sword, ready to deliver my death in a single blow, I complied, resting my head on the ground.

Suddenly, there was someone in front of me, holding the enemy's arms, twisting it and making him drop the sword. A single, silent glare was given to the man who had tried to kill me, making him back up, and then run off. "Auggie!" The person said, going to my side and helping me up. I glanced at him to see the Doctor holding my side up, a worried expression splayed on his face. "It's okay, I got you, I got you."

I looked over the field, the last few soldiers that we had were rounding up the cloaked men, stripping them of their weapons, and cloaks. "You did it, Auggie," the Doctor said, a smile on his lips.

Finally, I turned to the sky, seeing a bright, orangish sun peek over the horizon. A hue of blue, yellow, and even purple circle around it, creating a beautiful display.

I couldn't take my eyes off it. In fact, my hazel eyes only gotten wider and wider, gradually filling with tears, until they spilled over and down my cheeks. A smile grew on my lips. It almost felt foreign, smiling like that after not smiling for over a year.

It was a strange smile, not like the one that Subject 12-June.34 did when he killed people using my hands. And it wasn't the one that the Director would do whenever he hurt or tortured me.

It was a smile that Rose would beam at the Doctor, or one that the Doctor would do to me. It was strange, I didn't understand it; I couldn't understand it.

What is this feeling? Why is it making me feel... Weird? And why am I crying, I don't feel sad, and I'm not fatally injured. I don't understand...

I turned to the Doctor, thinking maybe he could give me some type of advice to this. Was he doing this to me? Why? "Wha-what are you doing to me...?" I asked in a small voice.

"Doing what?" He replied, looking rather confused. I scrunched my eyes closed, trying to hold back any more tears. It didn't work.

"This... It's... This feeling... I can't understand it. I don't know why I'm-I'm crying and I can't stop! I can't!" I took a few breaths to calm myself down, "I-It hurts my chest... I... I don't understand... It feels like... A-A lot of colors I don't know... It's... Pink? B-blue? Yellow? I don't--"

The Doctor gave a light chuckle, "Maybe you're having mixed emotions," he suggested and I stared at him.

"What?"

"Maybe, you're just feeling sad and happy at the same time," he said, trying again.

"I... How? I don't know-- ... You can do that?" Another round of chuckles.

"Yes, it's called feelings, Auggie," the Doctor said, stroking my messy hair.

"How... How do I stop these feelings? It's making me feel... Weird..."

"You can't stop them, you can only... Embrace them," the Doctor answered wisely. I opened my mouth to say something else, but he shushes me. "You did very well today, Auggie, but you need to rest."

"I'm fine..." I lied through my teeth, earning a glare from the Doctor.

"Do you want me to put you to sleep?" He threatened.

I sighed, "Fine..." I murmured, getting up, but my legs felt numbed, nearly making me trip and fall back down had the Doctor not swept me off my feet.

"Go to sleep," he coaxed, quieting me. I glanced behind him, watching as the sun rose silently. Animals began to chirp and screech with the day's awakening.

As we entered the house and as I slipped into my subconscious, the strange smile never left my face. Maybe, just maybe, the strange smile made me feel... Happy. 

>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<

Okay, before you try to murder me for not updating this in, what, two months? I have a reason!

A lot, I mean a lot, of stuff has happened lately, and I kinda lost confidence in my writing. I also been having a bunch of other ideas that I wanted to show you guys, but it's a bit hard to show you everything at the same time! 

That, my Ice Pops, its why I have made a schedule. If you don't know what the hell I'm talking about, go look at my message board from a while back, but I'll give the general idea here. So, once or twice a month, I will try to update a few stories, during the week, and then on weekends, I'll do the random, other smaller stories that I write when I'm bored, or just got a spout of inspiration, or whatever. Otherwise, I will have five main stories that will always be updated, and those are the stories I will try to focus more on. 

OH! Another thing I have planned for this story... A potential love interest!! Yesh, our little Auggie is gonna find a significant other, who I will introduce in the next chapter! I might update sooner, because I wanna introduce them to you guys!! Oh, I can't wait~! 

But, since I am a nice Happyritas, I will give you a hint as to who they are. Auggie's significant other is... 

...

.....

...

... to be revealed later because I don't like giving spoilers ;P~!

Anyways, I hope this makes sense, and again, I'm so sorry for not being more active with you guys. I love each and every last one of you guys, and seeing you vote on this, or any of my stories really, or finding more reads on them, getting a comment, or even getting a follow really makes my day. In fact, it actually gives me inspiration to write and put it out to you guys, because I love y'all so much! 

Okay, okay, this is getting too squishy, and as the great Dean Winchester would say, "No chick flick moments." I'm gonna leave it here, and I really hope you guys enjoyed the update. I love you all.

Remember to...

LIKE!

COMMENT!

AND FOLLOW!

I love you all, my little Ice Pops, and I hope you have a great day.

Until next time!

~Happyritas

<OOO