"Do you like her, Francesco?"

"Oh, I do, Mother, I do."

Matt wrinkled his nose, irritated by the prince's blatant stare at Amy's chest. The prince had coal black hair and a face that would have been pleasant if he wasn't licking his lips like some kind of carnivore. His teeth were startlingly white and his clothes shimmered and jingled as he walked. "I do," he said again, almost in a whisper.

Rory, dressed like a gondolier, had stumbled through their explanation and now stood still as stone. His eyes darted around, looking for Matt it seemed. Carefully, Matt nudged him, enough to let him know that he was there. Instantly, the nurse relaxed some.

"Well, then we'd be delighted to accept her. Say goodbye to your sister."

Rory's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to protest, but a butler quickly grabbed his arm and hustled him away. Matt could feel Amy stiffen under the hand he had resting against her shoulder. He wished he could whisper something to reassure her, but didn't dare. He didn't know how events would turn if he was found with her. He'd rather know what was going to happen, even if it wasn't pleasant, than not know at all.

Signora Calvierri lounged on her throne, eyebrows arched and impatient. "Well, go on," she shooed them with a finger. "Sir Carlos will show you to your room."

Hiding the slight shake in her voice that Matt figured was there, Amy nodded instead of speaking. A butler in a leather cap approached them, face devoid of emotion. "This way, Signora."

As they walked, Matt kept just behind Amy, squeezing through the doors. He latched onto her pinky and their footsteps echoed through the large hallways.

Footsteps. They would hear his footsteps.

He quickly aligned his steps with Amy's. "So…" Amy said at one point, eyes wide. Spiraling staircases around them lit by torches led to an unfathomable number of rooms. "You work here?"

The butler didn't respond and Amy let a sigh hiss through her lips. "Don't talk much do you?"

They took a sharp left turn into a domed bedroom with several beds lined up neatly within. A dozen or so young woman sat stiffly on their beds, dressed in long white nightgowns. Amy raised an eyebrow but otherwise did not comment. The air smelt like mold and rust.

"There are clothes on the bed. Get changed and wait here." The butler snapped his fingers and all but one girl rose to their feet. They followed him out, hissing, and soon it was just Amy and the other girl. The girl's eyes were wide and her fingers shook in her lap.

Matt recognized her as Isabela, Guido's daughter. His heart clenched. Couldn't he just-? No. Don't go there. He couldn't save her. But he couldn't stop staring. Within a few hours, she would be dead. Devoured.

Gulping, Matt sighed and leaned against a wall.

Quickly Amy grabbed a nightgown and changed into it behind a screen. After a moment she emerged, a small smile on her lips. "Hey," Amy said softly to Isabella. She crossed the room and sat down on the bed next to her. "Hello, I'm Amy. What's your name?"

Pursing his lips, Matt was about to turn away, but his stomach flipped.

He recognized the oncoming migraine immediately.

Seriously? Why now?

Like a light switch, something flipped inside of him. A wave of pain pulsed through his skull.

Suddenly, Isabella wasn't just a girl. He looked and a small patch of green scales scrawled up her neck. Her eyes stared straight into him, wide and shimmering with fear. She was terrified. She missed her father. She was so confused and didn't understand what was being done to her.

And then it was gone.

Stumbling back, Matt fell against one of the beds, making far more noise than he should have. His head pounded, and he screwed his eyes shut.

What the actual heck? How on Earth was he supposed to function if stuff like this kept happening?

Both Isabella and Amy froze.

"What was that?" Isabella whispered. The sound of her voice sent waves of her emotions through Matt. He clamped down on his tongue to keep from crying out.

Can't let her die. He focused on that thought, cementing it, and soon the whisperings skirting his mind faded. Letting out a soft sigh of relief, Matt looked up. Amy looked concerned half standing, while Isabella… Matt didn't need to look at her to know how she felt.

"Probably a draft," Amy squeaked eventually. "Don't worry about it." She turned back and placed a hand over Isabella's hand. "I'm here to help. I'll get you out of here. Can you tell me what's going on? What happens here?"

Isabella quickly explained the green room, the surgeon's table, the sunlight that now burned her skin. Matt could almost feel the pain.

"Right," Amy said softly. And then again, "Right. Okay. I'm going to fix this. Or, I mean- look, I've got a friend. Friends, really, who know how about stuff like this. We're going to get you out of here."

No we're not, Matt thought. Not unless I do something and risk up-ending some temporal whatsit.

And what if I did?

Perhaps later he'd question his sudden recklessness, but right now he didn't care. He didn't want Isabella to die, destiny or not.

Quickly, Amy stood and walked into the hallway. "I'll be back," she said over her shoulder. "Don't worry." Amy's eyes darted around. She expected Matt to follow her.

"Right behind you," Matt whispered.

Nodding, Amy tiptoed away. He'd catch up in a minute.

For a long moment, Matt stayed completely still. He shouldn't do this. Then again, it was just one person. One young woman, afraid, confused, dying.

Quickly, Matt swiveled toward her bed and sat down across from her. "Don't be afraid," he whispered.

Instantly, Isabella jumped to her feet. "Who are you?" Matt flinched at the nerves in her voice.

"I'm one of the friends Amy was talking about," he whispered, standing as well. "I'm going to get you out of here right now. You can go back to your father. Would you like that?"

Gulping, Isabella nodded quickly. "Why can't I see you?"

For a moment, Matt figured he could show himself. He pressed a finger against the purple jewel and a soft pressure in the back of his mind dissipated.

Isabella's eyes widened further and further as he faded back into existence. "Hey," he said softly, reaching a hand toward her, palm up. "I won't hurt you. I promise."

"Are you a ghost?" she whispered.

"No."

"An angel?"

Now a small chuckle left Matt's lips. "Well, I'm on their side."

He could see her thoughts tumbling, clicking and connecting like gears in a clock. Finally, she nodded. "What about the other woman?"

"Amy? She'll be fine. Now come on. It's night outside."

Carefully, Isabella let him take her hand. She let out a surprised gasp when their hands touched.

"Told you I'm not a ghost," Matt whispered with a smile.

Shyly, she let him pull her away. "I'm going to disappear again, alright? But you'll still be able to feel me." Isabella nodded and Matt pressed the jewel. Cold washed over him and he faded from sight.

They wove through the halls, ever downwards, with only torches to light their way. "Where are we going?"

"To find Amy," Matt replied. The moment the words left his lips, he heard a shout.

"Get your hands off of me!" Amy.

Oh no. He was late. Quickly, Matt placed his hands on Isabella's shoulders. "You need to run. Get out of here as soon as you can. There's a trap door that Amy just opened. Go down it and you'll run into two men, my brother, and another man. Tell them that I'm with Amy and then keep going. Your father is waiting with his boat. Do you understand?"

Shakily, Isabella nodded, eyes not focusing on his face. "Thank you."

Matt smiled softly and let go.

They waited until the sounds of Amy and her captors had disappeared and then Isabella raced to the trapdoor. Casting her one last look, Matt turned away and ran quietly in the direction the vampires took Amy.

He had done all he could. Now it was up to Isabella to survive.

It did not take long to reach the slightly cracked door. A green light seeped from within like ooze from a wound. Carefully, so as not to be noticed, Matt shifted the door open and crept inside.

Amy was strapped to a chair, a drip bag full of blood above her. Her eyes held fire and she clenched her fists. "Do not touch me," she spat.

Calvierri and Francesco only laughed. "She's a feisty one."

Francesco hummed in agreement. "I like her."

"I know, darling. She's yours if she survives the process."

Rory was going to kill him. Forget destiny. Matt wasn't going to just sit there, waiting for the Doctor to show up. He'd already messed up everything by saving Isabella anyway. Before he could talk himself out of it, Matt stepped forward.

AN: Hey, if you're into the Flash, I have a new story about it:))) Here's the summary: This universe is wrong. They shouldn't have died in the explosion. But everyone did and Cisco is the only survivor. Fleeing, Cisco moves to London and tries to forget. But he's haunted by dreams of universes that don't exist. He knows things he shouldn't and now he's attracted the attention of London's top detective. Cisco can't run forever. Cisco/Vibe AU

Check it out ;D

Oh, and please leave REVIEWS:))