She should have known better. The beast was restless of late, prowling along its cage, waiting. It wasn't like she could have helped it, her mind and body was on the brink of collapse after a long and fitful day of demon play. They had generated with such force, she could comprehend nothing but claws and teeth, blood and bone. River never came, and she cursed herself for losing her temper at the women. Maybe if she has kept her mouth shut River might have come, and though she loathed to admit such a venerable state, she was scared, and wished River had come to her aid. So tired she was, that after the battle, she forced herself to crawl back into the library of the TARDIS, and plummeted down onto the floor.
She felt the beast stir, and with slow rising panic realized what it was doing. She cursed herself for letting down her guard as her conscious was pushed back, until it was she who was locked behind the bares.
Never forget, it hissed, who I am. I am your protector, you only ever need me. Wish all you like, but you can never be rid of me. Wish again for another, I dare you.
With the last words a door to her mind opened. She let out a strangled cry as the swirling blackness filled her scenes as an old memory took away her conscious.
Even as a child the one thing the Creature detested more than a fleet of Daleks, were haunted houses. Truly, she would rather face an army of demons rather than stepping into a place known to be haunted. So when the Doctor proclaimed they were going to visit 1974, to see a professor who was a war veteran, and a ghost hunter, the Doctor had proclaimed this with such glee the Creature couldn't help roll her eyes. But it wasn't until he mentioned the Caliburn House, a mansion that was famously known for its haunting ghost, did she squeak out a protest, "no!" the same time Clara let out an excited "yes!"
"You cannot be serious!" The Creature groaned. The Doctor danced around the counsel, tapping away at buttons, "the ghost is known as the Witch of the Well," he said rather too jolly for the Creature's liking, "I've always wanted to go on a ghost hunt. Gives you a chill right down the back bone doesn't it," he laughed excitedly. The Creature threw her hands in the air, "how can you be so exhilarated by this!"
She fought demons, yet she coward at the thought of stepping into the haunted place.
How pathetic! The voice hissed.
"Keep your damn mouth shut," she snarled.
How dare you act so childish. You fight the monsters of this world and you have the audacity to grovel at such a monstrosity. The idea of ghosts are beneath you, and you shy away like a coward.
"I'm not a coward," she mentally kicked herself for the quaver in her voice.
The voice laughed, you are more of a ghost than that thing they are chasing.
At that moment the TARIDS had landed and Clara was first to reach the door.
Have no fear, it crooned,I shall be here to protect you.
"I protect myself, be on your own guard," she warned before following the Doctor out the door. The mansion was beautiful, in a haunting way. And if it could have been any more cliché, thunder cracked across the darkened sky.
"Of course there just had to be a storm coming," she watched as the Doctor scampered up do the porch, nocking on the large wooden doors, "an on coming storm, wouldn't ya say Doc?"
The door opened hesitantly, revealing a handsome man who glanced unknowingly at the odd pair before him.
"We are the ghostbusters," Clara introduced themselves. The Creature rolled her eyes. Without being invented in the Doctor squeezed his way in passed the man, looking about the vast room like an excited child.
"Alec Palmer," the Doctor exclaimed excitedly shaking the man's hand, "its so wonderful to finally meet you." The Doctor continued to ramble on about his little investigation on Palmers life, probably revealing too much information, for which made Alec look at the Doctor questionably.
There was another presence standing in the room behind Alec, standing back a little nervously while observing the sudden intrusion. Her name was Emma, and was the first object that caught the Creature's attention. She was a different sort of girl, pretty, but appeared to be holding a great burden. She was intriguing. Palmer, who excused the Doctors presence as military intelligence to an unsettled Emma, explained the events of the ghost, how even though the house was only a few decades old, the ghost had existed long before the house was built. The pictures Palmer showed, revealed a white ghost, mouth gaping open, arm out stretched.
"Its in the exact same position," Clara pointed out, "the ghost never changes."
The pictures unsettled the Creature. She didn't care much about this 'hunt' so long as the demons were behaving, she could lean back and watch the events unfold. And she would have done so if Emma hadn't caught her attention. The women stood next to Palmer, but she kept glancing around, as if looking for some unknown presence. She heard her describe herself as an empathic psychic, someone who can since feelings in other entities; somewhat telepathic. The revelation of this information made the Creature blinked owlishly. Uncertainty threaded with excitement, the Creature crouched next to where Emma sat as she talked with Clara.
"How much can you hear? Can you since me?" The Creature barely whispered while the monster recoiled in anger.
Hear you? What can she do for you? Relay a message to your precious Doctor? Do tell me what you plan to tell him.
The Creature drew back slightly from Emma, and in truth she was not sure what she wished even if Emma could, by some miracle, hear her. However, if the Creature hadn't been distracted by her own thoughts, she would have caught Emma's sudden intake of breath and her eyes dart to the empty space around her.
What do you wish her to do? What can she do that I cannot? The monster jeered.
"Even if she were to hear me, there is nothing she can do, but she can offer more than you ever could." The Creature retorted. The monster was silent for a moment.
And what may that be? It challenged.
"She wouldn't be asking for a blood sacrifice, nor draw more danger than you already bring." The Creature got up from her position by Emma, and strided toward the center of the room.
You would be lost without me, you would be dead if I hadn't saved you.
"Saved me?" She halted her step, anger reddening her skin, "I never asked to be saved, and you didn't save me, rather I saved you. You need my body, so you use me as a host to keep you alive."
And in return I saved you from the fate of hell, and fulfilled the desire to travel with him for all eternity. Am I not kind?
"And in return you've taken my soul, my freedom. Yes you are so very kind," she sneered.
It gripped the bars, its impatiences radiating a sense of danger.
Be careful what you say, my love. Do not forget who I am, do not think you can simply...replace me.
The Creature wisely held back her biting words, and instead glanced back at Emma who still sat talking to Clara. Her thoughts traveled in circles, living out scenarios she had often wished were reality. What if Emma could be the passage between her world and his? What if she found a way to grab hold of Emma's attention? What if she could send him a message? Wish after wish, but that was all they were, fake realities, unrealistic wishes. She truly believed that if such a chance were ever given to her, she was not sure she would take it. What a coward she was. She could not face him now, being as she was. She was not the girl he had known, had even loved once. That girl, that child, was gone, more accurately, dead. Despite her thoughts, she continued to glance at the young women longingly.
She felt the beast quiver in its cage.
"Jealous?" She taunted with a slight laugh.
How little you perceive, it whispered ominously. She merely shook her head in disgust.
Do not turn from me you pathetic thing. You belong to me.
She clenched her fists, wishing for a demon to tear apart.
"I belong to no one!" She snarled in a desperate rage.
You pretend too much.
She felt the cage begin to crack, and, in a sudden panic, she desperately tried to through the bares back into place. She gasped in exertion, the bars rattled and bent, the beast pushing unrelentingly.
"You will not hurt them!" She panted.
Is that what you think? Its slithering voice dripped with poison, they are nothing to me. They hold no means of anything worth my attention. Come let me out, let me show you what I can do. For you.
Her heart raced, gasped for air as she desperately kept the beast from leashing out. She closed her eyes, widely attempting to ignore its tempting voice. Once too many times it had taken over her, and anguishing regret had soon followed. But every time, somehow despite the horrendous actions and despair it had caused, her head was filled with its luring voice.
It looked back at her, its eyes had gone soft, it knew of her struggles, the nightmares, the blood. It knew how she secretly wished she could be held, and be taken away from the cold and darkness. It knew her, it offered comfort, safety. Let go, it whispered, let me take care of you.
She opened her mouth to reply, her chest heaving, bitter tears formed in her eyes. The blackness began to take control. Let go, echoed its whisper. She wanted to, she wanted to let it have its way, do what it wanted, it had her under its spell.
"You bastard!" She shrieked. She fought the pending darkness, shoving back the hideous beast back into its cage. It reeled back in surprise before lunging out and striking another attack.
"Parasite!" She seethed.
Fight as hard as you like, as long as you like, but I will have my way. You are mine.
She shoved harder.
You only ever need me. One day you will realize it. Emma can't do nothing for you, I can do whatever you wish. Unlike her, I can even bring you to him.
"Damn you," she chocked; she was growing tired, "Emma," she muttered.
The beast paused for a moment.
What? It growled a warning.
"Emma," she uttered a little louder.
She won't hear you.
"Emma," she managed a call.
Why must you learn the hard way?
"Help me!" She screamed.
There were four people standing alongside each other in the vast room of the mansion. Each unaware of the struggling woman kneeling, gripping her head, as she screamed. The desperation, and anger, rose like a wave hurtling toward the shore, and hit the barrier dividing her world.
Emma suddenly rocked on her feet, "she knows I'm here," she murmured as if in a trance, "I can feel her, calling out to me."
"Whats she saying?" Clara asked, eyes wide.
"Help me," Emma murmured.
Time froze around the Creature, and she heavily lifted her head to stare wide eyed at the small form of Emma. The Creature gasped, sucking in what air she could, feeling the compulsion to reach out and grasp Emma's hand. Desperate to hold on to the moment. The beast said nothing, but its viscous attacks had ceased. She dared not provoke it further so she too kept silent, but could not stop her heart from overflowing. She stood shakily, a real smile etched gracefully on her lips. The beast sneered.
For the first time in centuries there was a chance, a hope, someone could see passed the veil; maybe she no longer had to live alone.
Be careful of your emotions, one may never know what they may lead to, the slithering whisper of its voice curdled her blood. She shook slightly from containing her excitement, her thoughts whirling.
Freedom...free...
One word that was constant in her thoughts. A chance that was barely allowing light through the cracked door, but was still wide enough for her to peek through and reach out with both hands to wrench the door free.
Black stars flew before her eyes. A heavy pounding rolled through her head, an anger that was not her own, consumed her very essence, and the air in her lungs stifled at the raging heat.
I warned you, the voice thundered, how many times must I teach you?
"Do you truly believe," she rasped through clenched teeth, "I would allow you to consume me? If freedom from you, from this place, is ever laid into my hands, I will always take it. Or will die trying."
The voice chuckled.
Death is not an option for you darling.
She ground her teeth. She heard it sigh exasperatedly, I can give you freedom. Stop resisting me, you will come to me in the end. After all, we have eternity. Time is all it will take.
She rubbed her eyes, feeling the need to curl onto the floor and sleep for a year.
"Then wait for eternity. I belong no one but myself. I am no one's slave."
It laughed, seeming to enjoy her weary attempt at resistance.
She choose to ignore its provoking jeers, willing to keep her thoughts from wondering lest the beast hear them.
The house groaned and creaked, making her skin crawl, and eyes dart about to the corners of the room; watching to see if the shadows would transform into a demon. She hated this, and wished the Doctor would hurry up, save the day, and get back to the TARDIS already. The shadows were moving, or so she believed, but she couldn't stop the feeling of eyes watching her.
She became transfixed on the far corner of the room, the shadows flighting and dancing in the light of the fire that roared in the great stone fireplace. An invisible hand brought its icy fingers to her face, stroking her cheek, trancing her to step toward into its dark embrace. She let in a deep breath, the air was sweet, her head no longer filled with fear, anger, or regret. She felt free. She wanted to dance and sing for joy. She was happy, and a smile was introduced to her lips. She stepped toward the beckoning corner, and the sound of one humming filled her head.
It was an old song, one a children would sing before bed, yet, something was wrong. It was not a delightful song, it held a sinister note, one that held a secret warning; a message. The notes floated in the air only to be snapped away, locked inside a trap. The humming was coming from behind her. Her eyes widened, jolting herself back into reality, and dragged her eyes away from the shadows. She saw Emma, sitting in a large green chair, the notes purring from her lips. The girl did not seem to be aware of her singing, her eyes were misted over. Clara was darting a worried glance at the Doctor who stood a in front of Emma, waving a hand in front of her eyes trying to bring her back from whatever depths she had fallen into.
The Creature's body became stiff, the warm glow suddenly gone cold. Emma began to sing.
Tick tock goes the clock, and what then shall we play?
Tick tock goes the clock and Rose shall fade away.
Tick Tock goes the clock, and it will come to take her.
Tick tock goes the clock, and soon your time will come.
The fire was no longer warm, the room seemed to be closing in, the light began to diminish, and all she could comprehend was the realization of how close she had come to be embraced by the wolf.
Do never underestimate me again, its voice sickly sweet.
"Never," she murmured, her eyes never leaving Emma's. She paid little attention to the happenings around the room. Clara had taken Emma's hand, calling the girls name, the Doctor stood still, his mind whirling with confusion. He muttered to himself, stepping away from the group, his eyes drifting passed the women who stood transfixed beside him. The Creature soon turned away from the group, leaving the gloomy house to sit inside the TARDIS. She plopped down, leaning back against the counsel. She was weak, oh so very weak, and her days were numbered.
She came out of the memory like one emerging from murky water. The walls of her head thudded to the beat of her heart. She groaned and reached blindly for something to pull herself up from the floor. The room was dark, and for that she was thankful. She felt the arm of the couch, and heavily pulled herself on top of the cushions. The memory replayed listlessly through her head, recalling the song that even now echoed in the far off distance in her mind. She shuddered.
Fade away...
The memory was a warning. She was possessed by a demon who wanted to enslave her mind and soul, and no other could offer a chance to give her the freedom she craved. It would not let her forget how drawn she was to the darkness, and how close she was coming to be consumed by it.
Thank you all so much for the reviews of this story. It means a lot to me. I am currently trying to get into nursing school so the story will be a little prolonged. I appreciate your kind words and I'll update soon.