Thank you to those that have expressed your interest in the story, and apologies to you for not having posted in some time. It's just a matter of getting it written, but I've been distracted with other things. It's the longest piece I will have ever made. I hope the rest of you are still enjoying the story. Be assured it will be completed!

The Doctor was pleased he had been proven right. They were nearing the floating ring of rock that orbited the upper Eye of Reshanta, and he could easily judge by the distance they had left that he and Rose wouldn't have trouble making a safe landing.

Due to their fright in reaching Tigraki Island, Rose had taken a bit of convincing after they had rested up and looked back towards the Eye. When the Doctor had gone into vectors and triangles in an attempt to assure her, Rose had told him to shut up and just fly.

As they approached the deceptively solid structure, the Doctor turned his attention to the craggy islands beyond it, searching for any signs of Artifacts. Once they landed, they could rest their wings by at least walking one way or the other along the ring of rock towards their next destination. He could see a bit of a large structure peeking out from behind one of the horns of rock on the perimeter of the nearest island, but it was safe to say that it was one of the fortresses and not an Artifact.

The Doctor was about to look down and prepare his landing descent, but something tiny in the distance caught his eye to the left.

Black wings were beating purposefully towards them. Fear stabbed at the Doctor's hearts, and he reared into an uncertain hover.

"Rose, fly away! Now!"

The Doctor wanted to give her further instructions, but there was no time. He could see the light glinting off the Asmodian's plate armour and the long polearm in his hand. The enemy was moving fast. The Doctor dropped into an immediate dive to quickly gain speed, and the Asmodian dove after him.

He swooped under the rocky ring hoping to break line of sight, but his attacker was now right on the Doctor's tail. He had to think like a Daeva as he had little experience of what he could consider aerial combat to fall back onto, and he quickly recalled what he had learned at the Lyceum.

As they rose above the ring, the Doctor used the drop in speed to concentrate on his spell. The Asmodian's polearm flicked backwards with inhuman speed and swung towards him, but the Doctor's manipulation of Space with Aether was quicker. He was suddenly seeing the Asmodian ahead of him swinging his weapon through the spot the Doctor had just disappeared from, and to suddenly find himself several metres backwards was disorienting and it took him a moment to get his bearings.

Unfortunately, the Doctor's hesitation was all the Asmodian needed to locate him. The chase was on again, and he chastised himself for not taking the opportunity to put the Atreian to sleep. Blind Leap had worked, however, and the next time the Doctor wouldn't waste the advantage it had given him.

"I'm not your enemy!" the Doctor cried. His wings were tiring from their long flight, and he couldn't keep this up much longer. He dared slow enough to look over his shoulder and found that his pursuer was gone.

No, there he was, flying in the other direction. Where was he going? Suddenly there was a flash of white wings as Rose leapt up from where she had landed on the rock ring, and the Asmodian was now chasing her!

"Rose, no!" The Doctor yelled. He flapped his wings hard to change direction, his growl of frustration coming out more as a grunt of exhaustion. Foolish girl! Why hadn't she fled like he had told her to?

Rose was flying for the gap between the horns that rimmed the large island floating near the top of the Eye of Reshanta, and the Asmodian was gaining on her. The Doctor's angle of approach got him close enough so that when he threw his hand forward, he could reach the Aether about the Asmodian's wings and order it to still, dramatically cooling the air around them.

The black wings immediately began to beat slower, and white frost collected over the black feathers and was flicked outward with each sluggish beat. It was a struggle just for the Asmodian to stay aloft, and Rose disappeared behind the rocky spires in the distance.

The Doctor couldn't maintain lift any longer. He dropped into a boneless glide and aimed for the ring, giving his last to keep from crashing into the unforgiving surface. His wings lost substance, and the Doctor stood on shaky legs as he panted from exertion and looked up. He had expected to see the Asmodian coming after him, to fight him as his wings also failed, but the enemy was nowhere in sight. Somehow, he had managed to keep going. Had he continued after Rose?

"Damn!" the Doctor seethed. He felt utterly helpless. He just needed a moment's rest. The nerve of him, that dark-skinned creature attacking them completely unprovoked! They had run from aliens many times before, and in the end it had become a way of life for them, but the Doctor found his emotions burning in response to this attack. That monster was now likely chasing Rose. Who knew what he would do to her once he caught up to her. Deeply-rooted anger surged into a rage the Doctor hadn't felt since the invasion of Arcadia.

He strained his eyes for a spot of white above the island, but he couldn't see beyond the broad horns if she had landed. She would have to set down soon, he knew. He began to make his way along the rock towards the space between the horns of the island to position himself closer and felt out for Rose's presence, but the vindictive haze that was building within him was working against him. After a minute of walking, watching, and resting his wings he looked towards his destination.

He could make that. The Doctor extended his wingspan and gave everything he had into lift towards the island.

The fortress came into view, and as soon as he had uneven but solid ground under him again, the Doctor touched down and looked around. It was very hot, and the waves of heat could be seen in the air. He was on a slope that formed one of the great horns of the island's rim. Within the island, large exoskeletal creatures roamed about the cracked, dry surface, and hints of molten rock could be seen just underneath the surface plates. Towering organic formations replaced the horn-like rock spires, possibly created by the creatures, but he didn't pay any of this much mind.

There was no sign of Rose or the Asmodian.

There was no time to search the place on foot, but he couldn't fly anymore. "Rose!" the Doctor called out into the distance above him, his voice cracking with the effort. Anger was beginning to become overwhelmed with panic, and he had to tell himself that she was safe, even if she...well, the Obelisk would take care of her, as long as it worked for her the same as it did the Elyos.

The Doctor drew in a shuddering breath and closed his eyes. Get a hold of yourself, Doctor, he thought, what's wrong with you! You're stronger than this. Don't get so hotheaded you forget what you're capable of. He struggled for some time to tamp down on his internal emotions to sense outward. Over and over he had to berate himself to try harder, and the storm within finally lessened by sheer desperation.

The Doctor gasped in surprise as his sense of the world around him unfolded as never before, at least not until yesterday just before Rose had healed him, but this time there was no pain. It wasn't raw sensation on his nerves anymore, but he had to concentrate to maintain it. Just as the sight of it, the energy from the Eye could not be ignored and dwarfed all other signatures. The Doctor could pick out much smaller expressions all about, and an overwhelming majority of them welled with hatred and aggression.

He was distracted as his half-open eyes spotted beating white wings and a flash of shiny metal and blonde. He called Rose's name again and launched into flight, keeping a fair distance above the creatures on the ground. He shouted again, and after a moment the spot turned towards him. The Doctor immediately landed on the bent point of a rocky spire, desperately needing to rest properly. He could only watch as the Daeva drew closer, and his hearts sank as he took in the masculine figure and short blonde hair.

"Arieluma, friend. You the one calling out?"

"Have you seen a blonde woman?" the Doctor asked of him, frustration clear in his voice. "In armour much like yourself. We were separated."

The man landed next to him. "No, not recently. Sorry."

The Doctor shook his head and let out an exasperated sigh, but he kept searching the distance. "Well if you see her-her name's Rose-there's an Asmodian after her. I lost sight of them just a minute ago."

The armoured Daeva nodded, his youthful face a mix of concern and bravery. "If I see her, I'll tell her you're here looking for her, and defend her if necessary."

The Doctor nodded, allowing himself a bit of relief. "Thanks."

"You look winded. You need a serum?"

His eyes lit up. "Yes! If you've got one."

His new friend fished out a small vial from a cube and handed it to him. "Here. I'll look around. Hopefully she didn't get too close to Krotan Fortress. The Asmodians control it right now." He nodded to the fortress in the distance and the Doctor turned to look as he unstoppered the vial. He heard the rustle of feathers and looked back to find the Daeva already flying off.

After drinking the small elixir, the Doctor's eyes slipped closed as he felt strength returning between his shoulder blades. His immediate inclination was to take wing and search for Rose, but she could be anywhere now, and it wouldn't do to fly the wrong direction and tire again. He knew he had a better way.

Drawing in a deep breath and slowly exhaling, the Doctor opened his senses again. He forced his fear aside, latching onto his desperation to drive his search, and was taken back to when their bond had first been formed on Bosthinatia. It hadn't been that long ago, but so much had happened since his soul had touched and fused to hers. It was that bond he pulled at now, searching out into the deep emptiness of the Abyss for a piece of himself.

Doctor!

He grinned with sudden joy at her touch, but the situation was still perilous. Rose was all right! Come to me!

The Doctor opened his eyes and turned. He could feel her that way. Taking off once again, he flew towards his bond mate.

A glowing orange sea of molten rock radiated heat from below. In the distance above the Eye, a large flaming rock was tossed chaotically upwards, only to fall and disappear out of sight. He could see movement of crawling beings below, but none of it was Rose, and he instead focused forward, straining to catch a glimpse.

The instant a Daeva appeared around a spire coming towards him, the Doctor knew it was Rose. He laughed in relief at the sight of her, but continued to watch behind her for any sign of pursuit. The edge of the island's rim was between them, so he altered course to land upon it. Rose got there first, and he dropped down next to her and enveloped her in a hug.

"Where is he?" he asked immediately.

"I don't know," Rose said, her voice muffled into his shoulder. "I guess I lost him."

The Doctor pulled away, deciding abruptly not to take chances and waste any more time. He turned from Rose, dropped open his spellbook, and studied furiously for a moment.

Rose appeared beside him to peer at the book. "What are you doing?"

"Getting us out of here." He flipped the book closed and handed it to Rose. "Hold this."

As soon as his hands were free, the Doctor brought them together, and a violet ball of energy formed between his palms. He closed his eyes and chanted the alien words softly under his breath. He wouldn't pretend to believe that he was communicating with spirits, but he did know that certain words had power, even if he didn't exactly know why. These held meaning with Aether, and with energy channeled through the right combination of gathered soil whipped up by the wind, a directional vortex could be formed.

He spread his hands, dispersing the energy in front of them, and for a moment nothing happened. Then the dust was rapidly rising from the ground, followed by pebbles and then larger stones. They arranged themselves in a rough circle, and green veins of Aether glowed from runed patterns within the rock pieces, constantly drawing them together with electrical arcs. The portal created within the circle shimmered with an indistinct image that hung undecidedly before them.

"You first," the Doctor commanded.

"What? You want me to jump? Where does it go?"

"Sanctum, apparently."

"What if it's not?"

"I'm betting it's safer than here," the Doctor prodded Rose's back. "Now, go!"

Rose apparently agreed. As she stepped forward and leapt up towards it, the portal drew her in and she disappeared. The Doctor immediately followed, leaving the Abyss behind.

-^^-W-^^-

The first thing the Doctor noticed was the light. It shone brilliantly from above, and the intense heat from near the Eye of Reshanta was replaced by cooler air rushing against his skin. The steady roar that had accompanied the molten ground and shifting rock was replaced by quiet serenity, along with idle people sounds and singing birdsong.

The bright walls and walks of Sanctum met his eyes, and his attention next settled on his beautiful pink, white and gold companion standing next to him.

"Oh, thank God," Rose uttered in relief.

The Doctor hugged her tightly, burying his nose in her hair. "I was so afraid he'd got you, Rose!"

Rose squeezed him back, pleasantly about the ribs. "I thought he had me, too."

"What'd you go and do that for anyway, hey?" he scolded, but he didn't relent in his grasp of her. "I told you to fly away!"

"You're mad if you think I'd leave you alone with him!" Rose shot back. "Besides, I knew you couldn't fly much longer." She managed to pull away from the Doctor just enough to stare into his eyes. "We work together, we always have. You watch out for me, yeah, but I gotta watch out for you, too."

The Doctor sighed helplessly, Rose's liquid brown eyes full of love for him drawing him in. Perhaps he was mad for thinking she would leave him in danger. His hearts melted and he dropped his head to hers in a passionate kiss.

It was an indulgent twenty seconds before someone else shifted next to them. They looked up at the man in plate armour, who appeared startled at their proximity.

"Erp, pardon me, but my entire party's coming in. Landing zone, isn't it? Get a room, perhaps?"

The Doctor and Rose hurried away from the spot, and sure enough, more people were appearing. Looking about as they began to wander, the Doctor could see they had turned up near the front of Sanctum. He could see the Obelisk before the Lyceum.

"You so teleported us just now," Rose said, hinting at disbelief. She grinned up at him, and he returned it.

"I know!" the Doctor replied exuberantly.

"That a spell you learned there?" Rose asked, gesturing towards the Lyceum.

"Yep. Imagine it, popping back here anytime we please. Most useful spell I've learned!"

Rose's smile faded. "Sorry you didn't get to look at any Artifacts back there."

He made a dismissive face. "Doesn't matter. I should have had us teleport from Tigraki Island straight away." They approached the entrance to the Lyceum and entered. "It's the one in Asmodae I'm really interested in." He heard Rose ask how they would get there, but the Doctor was already forming a plan in his mind, and he must have paused too long in his response.

"Doctor?"

"I think the TARDIS will work," he said distractedly. We'll have to circumvent the Eye of Reshanta, of course, and we shouldn't move further out from Aether's influence than we're in now."

The Doctor had to admit, it was quite convenient that the Illusion Gate spell had brought them right to Jucleas, out of anywhere it could have sent them on Atreia. Then again, he was passing the Preceptor who had given him the spell even now, so perhaps it was considered a convenient destination. He briefly eyed Bellia up and down before they passed into Jucleas chamber in the back of the Lyceum.

"Back so soon?" Jucleas said. "Or have you not left yet?"

"We've been to Tigraki Island," the Doctor said. "The Shugo Jarumonerk claims there is an Artifact of Time and Space in Asmodae."

Jucleas was immediately and intensely interested. "Really? Where?"

"Some place called Beluslan, at an Asmodian fortress."

"Beluslan Fortress..." Jucleas appeared to be working this new information in. "And how reliable is this Jarumonerk?"

The Doctor shrugged and shared a glance with Rose. "'Said it's been there a long time. Seemed rather matter-of-fact about it."

Jucleas nodded in thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose that's the next place to search. Are you up for the task?"

"I am," the Doctor replied, swallowing nervously and made a point not to look at Rose.

"I only wish I could direct your means of travel. I've heard as of late there are rifts between our lands that occasionally open, but they seem to be random and can hardly be planned on."

"It shouldn't be a problem," the Doctor assured him.

"Well, then." Jucleas turned and walked towards a small chest on a stand against the back wall. He opened it with his back turned towards them, and when he returned, he offered them a handful of coins. "I can at least reward you for your service to Sanctum and pay your way. This could be one of the most important missions in not just the defence of Elysea, but all of Atreia."

Rose began to step forward, but the Doctor stayed her with a hand to her armoured shoulder. He looked down at the kinah in hesitation, and as he opened his hand to receive it, the Doctor wondered at how he had changed.

It had seemed they had needed money after all, and more of it just might help him in his plans.

Jucleas produced an incomplete map, but after studying it, the Doctor was sure he could locate Beluslan Fortress with the TARDIS navigational computer. As they went on their way, the Doctor poured half of the coins into his other hand and offered them to Rose. She took them and eyed him, and he couldn't tell if it was a look of "I told you so" or simply one of concern. He pulled out a drawstring bag from his pocket and dropped his coins into it before slipping it back into his jacket.

"So," Rose began. "We're off to get the TARDIS, then? In Eltnen, right?" She chuckled. "And hooray, look, we can pay the teleporter now."

They exited the Lyceum, and instead of turning right past the Obelisk towards the teleporter, the Doctor steered them left, into the small alley the TARDIS had last landed them here. He sighed deeply. There was no other way to do this. "I am, but you're staying here, Rose."

"What?" Rose exclaimed, as if it was the most ludicrous idea she had ever heard.

"You saw how dangerous the space between was. Imagine how many more Asmodians we would run into in their own land."

"All the more reason I have to come with you!" Rose laughed, incredulous.

"But you can't, Rose. If it was just about your safety, that would be enough reason, but I know you would insist anyway, and I can't deny your skill and company are without match—"

Rose was pointing out from the alley when she interrupted him in a raised voice. "I'm not standing here waiting for you to appear in front of the bloody Obelisk!"

"That's why I have to go alone, Rose! I don't want to fight them! Yes, I want to confront the one that attacked us and give him a piece of my mind, which would be highly unpleasant for him..."

"You said you'd never leave me again," Rose said miserably in a quieter, broken voice.

The Doctor looked into her eyes until he couldn't anymore, glancing away as his own tears threatened to fall. "You were upset I'd left without telling you. I agreed not to do that again. This is me, telling you."

"That's not how it was! You said you wouldn't leave!"

He sighed and drew Rose to him. She hugged him tightly, as if she would never let him go.

"It's better with two," Rose insisted. "I can keep you safe, I can!"

"You're not listening, Rose. You can't come, not unless we want a fight, and we don't. You're as good as Elyos to them."

She was still for a moment before she lifted her head to look at him. "And you're not? Is that what you're saying?"

"I'm different, aren't I?"

"You...you think they won't attack you?"

"Perhaps not."

"But...Doctor, that one in the Abyss came after us! He even attacked you first!"

"He saw me with you. I'm not wearing armour, so perhaps I presented an easier target. I don't know, but I have to try."

They were quiet for a few moments in their own thoughts before Rose spoke. "Doctor, what about...what we saw this morning? My dream? It happened there, in Asmodae. You can't go there. You could become one of them!"

Right, he had been hoping to avoid this part. "Rose, you were there in the vision. If anything, it's even less likely to happen because you're not there, don't you think?"

Rose narrowed her eyes. "It was you who said my visions are conceptual, not literal. It might not be exactly how we saw it."

"Exactly!" the Doctor insisted. "Maybe I don't even become Asmodian at all, but like an Asmodian in some way! I..." Well, the Doctor thought as he rolled his eyes, that didn't exactly go where he was intending. He huffed. "We just don't know, Rose. I'll be careful. It's not about me going there and getting lost without you. I've got a portal here whenever I need it, remember?"

Rose stared at him. "And, what, just leave the TARDIS there?"

The Doctor's eyes broke contact. "Um, right. There is that..."

She sighed heavily. Both of them were frustrated with the situation. "So you're saying I'd only make it worse if I go."

"In this case..." the Doctor considered his words carefully for a moment. "Yes, but not on purpose."

"What you gonna do, then?"

He swallowed, feeling like he was finally getting somewhere with her. "I'll land somewhere close by. If it's a fortress, I just might be spotted by someone. I'll have to convince them I'm not Elyos. Then I've got to find this Artifact thing and see what exactly it is. Then...I'll make a point of not leaving the TARDIS there, as you say."

Rose appeared to be finally accepting his plan, although she didn't have to be happy about it. She threaded her fingers through his and allowed herself to be walked slowly out of the alley.

The Doctor felt bad for Rose, having to wait idly by while he adventured on alone. "You know I'd take you with me anywhere if I could," he said.

"Yeah, but 'could' with you is all relative, depending on how you choose to interpret it," she replied. He frowned, but she sighed and bumped sideways playfully into him. "I dunno, couldn't I just...you know, spray paint my wings black or something?"

The Doctor snorted at the amusing image, and she laughed at her own attempt to lighten the mood. He would be okay, he reasoned, and he would come back to her, but for now, he took comfort in Rose at his side as she accompanied him to the teleporter.