Well, this is way late, but my sister discovered Lucifer on Netflix and I couldn't help joining in and it brought me back to this fanfic. This chapter and the next one were already typed up (don't know why i hadn't published them here) so ta-da! hope you enjoy and please review and let me know what you think!

Getting rid of that Cassandra woman had been easy enough, and I had been quick to return to the Tardis while the Doctor and Rose dealt with the dying woman. I'd needed to rest. For the first time in a long time, I relaxed completely and sank into a bed in the pitch black bedroom the Tardis had led me to. It had felt odd to be back in my true form; my large feathered wings blanketing my body as my long talons somehow managed not to tear into the fabric of my mattress and sheets. Heated breath threatened to enflame my pillows as I'd sighed and rested my beaked, serpentine head.

I had slept deeply for a while, until the Tardis had given me a mental prod that the others wanted me up. I groaned and stretched, arching my back upward to easily touch the ceiling before shifting my tired red eyes towards the door that was being knocked on.

"Ornias, we're heading out! The Doctor says dress for the late 1970s!" Rose chimed. "Are you coming?"

I clambered off the bed, shifting back to my winged human form with a wisp of feathers and shadows before pulling the door open.

"I was sleeping."

"Well, yeah, but it's been almost twelve hours, you know. And the Doctor—"

I raised a brow when she'd stopped, only to follow her gaze downward. I'd forgotten clothes.

"Oh, dear. How indecent," I hummed, reaching behind me and sliding on a robe—tying it shut as I smirked at her reddened face. "The Doctor would disapprove."

"Y-Yeah. Well, um…" Rose cleared her throat. "I-I won't tell if you don't?"

How dull, though I'd rather not face the Doctor's wrath for this. Not now that we are in good terms. "Very well, if we must."

"Right. So, um… seventies?"

I nodded, waving her off to the wardrobe as I stepped back into my room to access my own clothing choice from my pocket dimension. I slipped on some dark pants and a button-up shirt that I left half undone to show off my chest and the upside-down cross necklace. Then, added a leather jacket, military boots and with a wave of my hand, multiple ear piercings and chains dangling off my jeans. Mildly satisfied, I strolled out into the console room and earned a small smile from the Doctor as I brushed my slicked hair back.

"Should've known you'd go for tall, dark and broody. How was your nap?"

I shrugged, leaning back against the console with my hands in my pockets. "All right. Mildly helpful. That Cassandra woman gave me quite the headache on top of dealing with the tainted hospital building."

"Tainted?"

I nodded. "I thought it was odd for it to have not affected me further, but the New-Borns had tainted the… holiness of the building. Do enough foul things in a blessed sanctuary and the blessing wears off unless it's restored. It's how demons get in to affect church-goers and priests. One sin can be enough to let a powerful demon slip through. More than that, and even the lower-level demons get in."

"There're demon ranks?"

"Yes. I am among the highest tier, serving directly under the man himself or the occasional archdemon. Then, there are blight demons—your pestilence, sloth, pollution and seven-deadly-sin types. And there are generals, like the military who take charge over groups of lesser demons. Those are typically in charge of minor sins. Pranking, vandalism, stealing and such. The higher up you are, the more power and more you can do to cause chaos. War, corruption, murder, terrorism, etcetera. Understand?"

He nodded, curiosity satisfied it seemed.

"And you?" I asked, curious myself. "What sort of rank do you have?"

There was a tell-tale stiffening of his shoulders as he turned to fiddle with the console. "What makes you think I have one?"

"Other than you pointedly avoiding my gaze and attempting to hide your uneasiness—very poorly, I might add. Mental blockades are ineffective against a demon's sense of taste." I earned an eyeroll for that. "Your previous self mentioned a war. One against those Dalek creatures."

The Doctor sighed heavily. "I don't like talking about it."

"Yet, Rose knows more about it than I," I challenged, before sighing. "Very well. A compromise then. Give me the general tale of your war, and in return I will tell you a tale of my own. Whichever you wish to know."

The Doctor paused and finally turned back to face me, expression as blank as he could muster but the emotions flickering over my lips easily. "There was a war. A universal war with my people—the Time Lords—and the Daleks at the center of it. I was a traveler first. Wanted no part in it, but everyone has to fight eventually. The leaders of my people had begun to make a choice. The choice to wipe out everyone and everything in the universe, and… I said no more. I used a weapon to destroy my people and the Daleks as the last resort."

I absorbed his story with mild interest. "A very… human approach. Save many at the price of a few."

He shrugged, relaxing now that he'd told his tale. "Not that it apparently mattered. If there're still Daleks, then there wasn't a point."

"So you say, yet the universe still exists," I countered. "Dealing with a few Daleks is far easier than two warring planets."

"I'd almost say you're trying to make me feel better, Ornias," he teased with a smile.

"Don't insult me."

"So, your turn. How did you fall from grace and how did you get sent here?"

"Two questions, but very well," I hummed, thinking back. "The first is hard to remember, though I do believe I quite possibly got carried away with a… human male."

"Really?" The Doctor said, giving me a look. "You know what? I really should have guessed."

I shrugged. "Heaven was always rather restrictive, and he came onto me first. Who was I to refuse?"

"Yeah, okay. And why did you get sent here?"

"Honestly? Probably due to my laziness. I'd been on Earth ever since the whole tempting Adam and Eve thing. A little chaos here, enjoying a margarita there. There weren't really any big jobs to do after the second millennia, so I had time to relax. But, well…. There was this angel."

"Angel?"

I nodded. "Bit eccentric, really. A book collector, of all things. He was stuck with me on Earth and we both grew rather fond. I'd do something for him, he'd do something for me. We had a deal to keep our higher-ups from dragging us back up, or down stairs, respectively. Things like entertainment were hard to come by in either place, whereas Earth had plenty."

"So, what happened?"

I sighed heavily, tipping my head back with closed eyes. "Armageddon."

"Armageddon?"

"You know, the end of the world. Never did find out what He was thinking. What good would the end of humanity bring? But, yes, Armageddon. The angel and I, comfortable as we were, teamed up to try and stop it. Got too fond of Earth, I suppose. Higher-ups found out, we got caught and rightly punished. The angel's probably in another universe himself. He couldn't handle being a demon. Weak stomach."

"And the Earth?"

"Probably gone. I was sent off before seeing the result, so no clue."

"Huh. I thought it'd be something a little more… bad."

I snorted. "Trust me. I've done things you wouldn't approve of. Helping an angel just happens to be a worse offense in the case of being a demon. Good is bad, remember?"

"What about this Earth? Are you fond of it?"

"I've gone through Earth's history once already. Doing so a second time without that angel to annoy is dull. Now, I'm just…"

"Tired?" He finished for me with a soft, empathetic smile that I tried to pointedly ignore.

Thankfully, Rose had finally finished changing and bounded into the console room, ending our conversation.

"What do you think of this? Will it do?" She asked us, gesturing to her blue overalls.

"In the late 1970s?" The Doctor smiled, thankfully turning away from our previous discussion. "You'd be better off in a bin bag. Hold on, listen to this." He slipped a CD into the console and began to bounce to the music. "Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Number One in 1979."

"You're a punk," Rose chuckled as he sang along.

"It's good to be a lunatic~"

"That's what you are. A big old punk with a bit of rockabillly thrown in. I expected that from Ornias!"

I grinned. "Oh, most definitely. You'd be surprised how many demons made an outing of rock concerts. Woodstock was always a favorite."

"I wonder why?" The Doctor mused sarcastically. "How would you like to see him?"

"How'd you mean? In concert?" Rose gaped.

"What else is a Tardis for? I can take you to the Battle of Trafalgar, 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?"

"A battle sounds fun," I hummed, only to roll my eyes at their expression. "Yes, fine. 1979 it is."

The Doctor beamed. "Hold on tight."

The ride was bumpier than usual, though I attributed that to the Doctor smacking the console repeatedly with a hammer. As such, it was no surprise when he and Rose were thrown to the floor upon landing. Rolling my eyes as I hovered off the ground, I begrudgingly offered Rose a hand up.

"What?" I questioned at her stunned look before she took my hand. "I am perfectly capable of being chivalrous."

"Never said you weren't." She smiled as the Doctor made for the doors with us trailing behind him as he rambled.

"1979. Hell of a year. China invades Vietnam. The Muppet Movie. Love that film. Margaret Thatcher. Urgh. Skylab falls to Earth, with a little help from me. Nearly took off my thumb. And I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I'm very attached to—" he was cut off upon stepping out to a number of rifles aimed at his chest. "—my thumb."

My eyes flared gold and I tucked my wings away as well as doing a quick wardrobe change to remove my potentially unsightly dress to suit the time and place. I then quite easily placed myself between the Doctor and the rifles, lightly pushing the barrel of one out of my face.

"The rifles are unnecessary, sir," I hummed, stretching my ability to hypnotize him enough to turn the weapon away. I'll not have the Doctor in danger now. "We are unarmed."

The man hesitated but soon nodded, making the other soldiers put their rifles away as well. "You will explain your presence and the nakedness of this girl."

"Are we in Scotland?" The Doctor perked up, leaning around my shoulder as though his life hadn't been threatened only a moment ago.

"How can you be ignorant of that?" The soldier grumbled, making me shoot a pointed look at him.

"Yes, Doctor. How can you be ignorant of that?" I repeated, pointing out the deep red kilt I now wore, though it only seemed to make him happier.

"Oh, I'm, I'm dazed and confused," he said, adopting a Scottish drawl that I knew would come back to bite us later if we got involved with the men. "I've been chasing this, this wee naked child over hill and over dale. Isn't that right, ya timorous beastie?"

Rose went to try and speak herself, but I was quick to cover her mouth to prevent a botched Scottish accent that she was sure to try and attempt.

"We apologize for getting in your way."

"Will you identify yourself, sir?" The soldier demanded and the Doctor beamed.

"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon, from the township of Balamory. And this is—"

"Ian McDougal," I cut in before the Doctor could make up something. "His protector while traveling through the Highlands."

The Doctor gestured to his coat. "I have my credentials, if I may. As you can see, a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Doctor Bell himself."

"Let them approach," a familiar female voice called from the carriage behind the soldiers and I quickly ran my tongue over my lips.

Oh, no. Of all the people…

"You will approach the carriage and show all due deference," the soldier told us, moving his horse aside so we could pass and see who had called for us.

A footman opened the carriage door and the Doctor beamed, whereas I resisted a groan.

"Rose, might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith."

"Rose Tyler, Ma'am. And my apologies for being so naked."

"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me. But you, Doctor. Show me these credentials." She took the psychic paper, giving it a once over before her gaze shifted to me. "And you look familiar. Have we met before, Mr… McDougal, was it?"

"No, ma'am," I lied through the forced smile on my face. "I do believe I would remember meeting the Queen of England."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, but with a hint of my power, she returned her focus to the Doctor. "Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my protectors."

"Does it?" The Doctor questioned, retrieving the paper. "Yes, it does. Good. Good. 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," she replied, making my eye twitch.

Oh, I thought I sensed a familiar presence. The Doctor won't be pleased.

"An accident?"

Nope.

"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned."

"An assassination attempt?"

Yes. A botched one. I felt my presence already here and left it to my future self to deal with her. Honestly, the problems I give myself.

"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun," the Queen said proudly. "As are you, I assume, Mr. McDougal."

"More than you know, ma'am," I answered, worrying about my ongoing hypnotism with her.

She was smart and would figure out who I was sooner or later otherwise. And if I wasn't paying attention when she did, I might very well be staring down the barrel of her gun… again. She was quick to get the carriage moving again as we followed behind it, giving the Doctor a chance to question me.

"You're a bit tense there, Ian. You doing all right?"

My false smile having fallen, I shot him a look. "It was me."

"What was you?"

"The tree," I answered, making sure none of the mounted soldiers nearby were listening in.

"What? But how could you when we just got here?" Rose asked.

"I've been on this Earth for a long while before traveling with you. During this time period, it was apparently to knock down a tree in order to force the Queen to take an alternate route."

"You're trying to assassinate the Queen?" The Doctor hissed in disbelief, grabbing my arm that I was quick to pull away.

"I was, though not with the intention of succeeding, obviously, or she'd have been dead ages ago," I huffed with a roll of my eyes. "I got bored and joined a group of vagabonds who had a severe dislike for the crown. It was correct of her to assume she knew me, because she shot me once and missed a few times before that. Even captured me for interrogation, which wasn't fun., mind you. I'm sure they were upset to find I'd broken out the following morning."

"We can't run into your past self, Ornias."

I waved off the Doctor's concern. "Don't worry. I'm very aware of time and its paradoxes. I sensed my future self back then and abandoned my quest assuming I was dealing with it in the future. The me here now is who I sensed, and obviously, I'm not going to kill her. It's not her time yet anyway."

"You're such a troublemaker," Rose teased, nudging me playfully. "What are you going to do if she figures out it's you?"

"She shouldn't. The person she interrogated was a rather dashing Indian man, but my face is similar enough to that one that she'll notice. I'll hypnotize her should she be figuring it out, and if she shoots me again, well I'll just come back to life." I shrugged, not really bothered. "A single shot from the pistol she carries is rather easy to deal with in comparison to, say, buckshot. I'll be alive again within a few minutes."

Rose and the Doctor grimaced.

"Yeah, let's avoid that if we can, all right?" The Doctor suggested, and he began to share tidbits with Rose about the Queen as we walked along.

When we reached the manor where the Queen planned on spending the evening, however, I perked. Ooh, there's something interesting here. Religion, but my kind of religion. Tainted, dripping with anger, revenge, darkness. If the Doctor noticed my change in demeanor, he said nothing as the Queen stepped out to greet the man of the house—Sir Robert. He's nervous, anxious. It's his servants. It's them. Ooh, I want a taste. I nearly groaned when the Doctor grabbed my wrist to stop me walking forward.

"Ornias, your eyes," he hissed, making me begrudgingly calm down to hide my golden eyes—returning them to brown. "What's gotten into you?"

"Later," I murmured, knowing there were too many watchful eyes around to talk and he begrudgingly stepped down as the Queen waved her hand vaguely at Rose.

"And please excuse the naked girl."

"Sorry," Rose said sheepishly as the Doctor made up some story about buying her before we headed in.

The Queen obviously had a destination in mind and had us all led up to an observatory where a large telescope was aimed at the darkening sky.

"This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour," the Queen mused, making Sir Robert nod.

"All my father's work. 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."

And it shows, I thought, brushing a hand over it with a small lick of my lips. It has a significant role. His soul has left its mark.

"It's a bit rubbish," the Doctor complained, making me roll my eye. "How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top. That's stupid kind of…" The Doctor paused, looking to Rose and I. "Am I being rude again?"

"Yep," Rose hummed as I smiled.

"Brutally honest, really."

He quickly backtracked. "But it's pretty. It's very pretty."

"And the imagination of it should be applauded," the Queen remarked, earning a surprised look from Rose.

"Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty. Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful? You could easily not be amused, or something? No?"

It was hard to resist a groan. The Doctor had made a bet with her about getting the Queen to say she wasn't amused. It was moments like this that made me question what went on in God's mind when He chose to create the bumbling monkeys known as humans. I perked up then, catching the taste of growing unease from Sir Robert as the Queen mentioned some story about a wolf. And judging by the small nervous glances at the bald servant behind him, it had something to do with the cultists roaming the manor.

"So, what's this wolf, then?" The Doctor asked, oblivious to Sir Robert's despair.

"It's just a story."

"Then tell it."

Sir Robert hesitated. "It's said that—"

"Excuse me, sir," the cultist interrupted him. "Perhaps her Majesty's party could retire to their rooms. It's almost dark."

"Of course. Yes, of course."

"And then supper," the Queen declared. "And could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler? I'm tired of nakedness."

"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose tried, earning a look that told me the Queen knew what she was trying to do now.

"Sir Robert, your wife must have left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven and talk some more of this wolf. After all, there is a full moon tonight."

"So, there is, ma'am," he muttered solemnly as the man led us to our rooms.

The Doctor looked over the room he was sent to curiously, only to jump and drop the nightgown he'd found in the closet by Ornias.

"Your fascination with something as simple as a nightgown amuses me," Ornias smirked from his spot on the bed—wings out, eyes golden and looking far too pleased about something for the Doctor to be comfortable.

"You know I hate it when you just pop up like that."

"Jack always found it amusing," Ornias hummed, getting up and looking over his outfit in the mirror. "Not bad for an impromptu change. What do you think? Too Scottish?"

"Only you would worry about your appearance in a situation like this. And I think the kilt's a rather nice touch."

Ornias hummed, twisting and turning to continue looking over himself. "And what sort of situation is this, exactly?"

"Don't know. You tell me. You're the one who looked about ready to reveal what you are in front of the Queen."

Ornias finally turned, a wicked smirk playing on his lips, revealing sharp canines. "I only wanted a taste."

"Of what?" The Doctor asked, suspicion growing. "Or, should I say, of who?"

"Sir Robert is anxious of his servants, and for good reason," Ornias explained, disappearing and popping up behind the Doctor, running a hand over his shoulder. "They're religious, and not the good kind. Or, well, not anymore. And I have a rather fond taste for cultists. The trouble they get into, the lies they'll believe," Ornias purred, stepping away. "I couldn't help myself."

"The servants are up to something?" The Doctor questioned, trying to ignore the way his shoulder tingled from Ornias's touch. Even to him, the demon was tantalizingly handsome.

"And are doing a good job of hiding it too, if they were able to fool you and the Queen so well, even with Sir Robert being such a terrible liar."

"Do you know what they're up to?"

"I could give you information, but what do I get out of spoiling the fun? And no amount of tempting with baked goods will get me to tell."

The Doctor thought of what he could offer, before coming up with something that might work. "I'll let you pick where we go next. Past or future."

Ornias was quiet for a moment and he began to worry that wasn't enough until the demon spoke.

"There are more souls here than those we've seen."

The Doctor blinked. "More people?"

Ornias nodded, turning towards the window. "Somewhere nearby, but not inside the manor. All huddled together in fear."

"Hostages," the Doctor grumbled, connecting the dots.

"And something else." Ornias's gaze shifted to him. "Something decidedly not human. Not entirely."

"An alien? The cultist have an alien?"

Ornias shrugged. "An alien settled in the soul of a human, is what I sense, but no alien I've met with you thus far. The humans fear it, whatever it is. And one of the humans trapped with it is bonded to Sir Robert. His wife, is my assumption."

A knock sounded on the door and the Doctor's eyes widened in shock as a servant opened it, only for Ornias to have returned to his human self—eyes normal and wings gone.

"I've come to show you to the dining hall, sirs."

"Best not keep them waiting," Ornias hummed, and they trailed after the servant as the Doctor's mind ran rampant, desperately trying to come up with a plan.

He was buried inside his head so much, he hardly noticed who was missing from the dining table until the head servant appeared at his elbow.

"Your companion begs an apology, Doctor. Her clothing has somewhat delayed her."

Normally, he would have brushed the excuse off, knowing how complicated women's clothing could be in this time period, but Ornias had drawn his suspicions.

"Oh, that's all right. Ian? Would you mind going to check on her?"

Ornias caught the hint and nodded, beginning to rise as the head servant frowned.

"There's no need. I left a servant in her care."

Rather adamant, isn't he? The Doctor mused, his concern for Rose growing, but Ornias had it covered.

"As the Doctor's protector on his travels, it's my duty to have an eye on him and Rose at all times. Servant present or not," Ornias smirked, eyes flashing briefly enough that it almost looked like a trick of the light. "Or will you continue to try and stop me, sir?"

The head servant backed down, no doubt some human instinct warning him about who—or what—he'd been about to pick a fight with. So, Ornias stepped out, giving the Doctor's shoulder a brief tap and surprising him without yet another show of his abilities.

"I'll keep in touch, though do try not to get caught up in your own trouble. I will gladly abandon Rose to keep you alive."

I'll keep that in mind, the Doctor mentally replied, returning to the conversation going on at the dining table before him.

"So, Sir Robert, you promised us a table of the nightmares, did you not?"

"Indeed."

Rose didn't appreciate being locked down in a cellar, much less chained up and within distance of a man in a cage, who's soulless black eyes sent a chill down her spine. Yet, a part of her churned uneasily. This man's stare had nothing on Ornias's. So, what did it mean when a man this dangerous—who could silence a room of men and women with a glance—paled in comparison to the demon her and the Doctor had in their company? She suddenly felt glad Ornias was on their side and didn't mind her little jabs of teasing. She'd hate to be on the other end of that cold, golden-eyed gaze. As such, he gave her the courage to face this man and question him.

"Who are you? Where are you from? You're not from Earth. What planet are you from?"

"Oh, intelligence," the man purred curiously, and Rose resisted the urge to grimace at the sound.

"Where were you born?"

"This body? Ten miles away. A weakling, heartsick boy, stolen away at night by the brethren for my cultivation. I carved out his soul and sat in his heart."

Rose fidgeted, repeating in her head how unfrightening the man was compared to Ornias. "All right, so the body's human. But what about you, the thing inside?"

"So far from home."

"If you want to get back home, we can help."

"Why would I leave this place? A world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it to such purpose."

Rose swore she saw something out of the corner of her eye, but there was nothing in the shadows, so she continued to press the creature for answers. "How would you do that?"

"I would migrate to the Holy Monarch."

"You mean Queen Victoria?" Not good.

"With one bite, I would pass into her blood, and then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf. Many questions." The man lunged, making her and the people behind her flinched. "Look. Inside your eyes. You've seen it too."

"Seen what?"

"The Wolf. There is something of the Wolf about you."

"I don't know what you mean."

"You burnt like the sun, but all I require is the moon."

"How interesting," a voice purred, Ornias stepping out of the shadows with a cunning smirk. "Quite a talkative one, aren't you?"

"Ornias!" Rose smiled, relaxing at the sight of the demon. "Thank God, you're here."

"Don't thank Him. And… well, you hardly expect the Doctor to just up and forget you. I dropped a hint of suspicion about the cultists, and all he worried about was you." Ornias rolled his eyes, sauntering over. "I don't know why I expected anything different."

"Can you get us out?"

Ornias snapped his fingers and the chains fell from everyone's wrists. "Consider it done."

"W-Witchcraft," someone breathed in the back and Ornias's gaze snapped to them.

"I could very well chain you up again and leave you here with your little friend, sir. So, do me a favor, all of you, and don't mention anything about what you see me do."

A chill went through the air, even causing the creature's body to shiver, before Rose lightly grabbed Ornias's shirt, calming the demon.

"Let's just go. We need to tell the Doctor."

"He knows," Ornias mused, eyes flickering to the door. "I've been relaying it to him telepathically. Don't ask questions," he stopped her when she opened her mouth to do so. "We have company."

The cellar doors opened, allowing moonlight to fall onto the caged man.

"Moonlight…"

Ornias tipped his head, eyes turning gold as the man in the cage began to twist and crack unnaturally. "How curious. His soul is absorbing energy from the moon. What is he? Did he say?"

Rose shook her head as the servants ran out of the cellar in fear. "Let's go, Ornias! H-He's like a-an alien or something! We need to get out of here!"

Ornias sighed, begrudgingly allowing her to pull him along as the man became a wolf and broke free of its cage. "You are no fun."

"Honestly, I don't know who's worse, you or the Doctor."

"Hm, definitely," Ornias joked, just as they ran into said man.

"Rose!"

"Where the hell have you been?" Rose huffed.

"Ornias had it covered," he replied, taking a peek into the cellar at the transformed werewolf. "Oh, that's beautiful."

"See?" Ornias smirked at Rose. "Definitely worse."

"Oh, come on," Rose groaned, pulling the Doctor away once he'd sonicked the door.

Everyone made for the gunroom, passing around weapons to all the male servants as the Doctor watched uneasily and the maids rushed out to the kitchen.

"It could be any form of light modulated species triggered by specific wavelengths. Did it say what it wanted?"

"The Queen, the Crown, the throne—you name it," Rose replied, just as the door to the manor crashed open.

The werewolf didn't get far before the armed men fired upon it, earning a small wince from Ornias.

"You all right?" The Doctor asked, having spotted the demon's slight discomfort.

"I've merely been in its position before, is all."

Empathy? From a demon? The Doctor mentally questioned, cracking the slightest of smiles. We're influencing him after all. The men stopped firing then, and the Doctor attempted to take charge.

"All right, you men. We should retreat upstairs. Come with me."

"I'll not retreat," the head steward declared, pointing his weapon at Ornias, who raised a brow. "Especially not with that witch. The battle's done. There's no creature on God's Earth that could survive such an assault. Not even him."

"Honestly," Ornias drawled. "I should have left you lot down there. See what happens when I try to be nice?"

"Leave him alone," the Doctor challenged, taking a step forward to put himself ahead of the confused demon. "He helped you and he didn't have to. Just come upstairs before the wolf comes back."

The steward huffed, not lowering his gun. "And I'm telling you, sir, I will sleep well tonight with that thing's hide upon my wall and the witch dead by my gun."

"But," Ornias started, slipping out from behind the Doctor and moving towards the hall as the steward's weapon followed him. "Wouldn't it be more interesting if the witch were to face your wolf? I could die. It could die, or we both might even die."

"Ornias, what are you—"

"Sh," Ornias shushed him mentally. "I have more control over this situation than you think. Just keep yourself and Rose safe or it may go wrong."

The Doctor hesitated but gave a subtle nod, taking Rose's hand and tugging her towards the stairs.

"But Ornias—"

"Has it handled. Trust him."

She relented, following him up with Sir Robert as the steward prodded Ornias in the chest with his weapon.

"Walk," he commanded and Ornias turned to do so, a lick of his lips drawing his gaze upward towards the rafters where a set of cold eyes watched.

"You male humans always think you're so powerful with your weapons," Ornias sighed, making the steward grit his teeth. "Thousands of years and that has never changed. And I doubt it ever will, even when you're constantly proved wrong. Humans are so fragile. Tell me, steward. Do you really believe your shots to have sent the wolf away?"

"Of course. My shots were true. It probably crawled away to die."

Ornias stopped walking, lifting a hand to point up. "You mean that wolf?"

He looked up just as claws reached down and hauled him up towards the wolf's jaws. The other men cried out, firing shots haphazardly as the wolf jumped down and rushed at them, leaving Ornias to watch the carnage in slight disgust.

"So messy," he sighed, rolling his neck until the noise stopped and the wolf turned towards him with a snarl. "Really? Do you honestly believe you stand a chance against me?"

The wolf ran forward, reaching for him only for Ornias to roll his eyes. The demon's eyes flared gold and in an instant, his hand had slammed the wolf's head to the ground. The wolf struggled to try and push itself up, but Ornias didn't even feel the pitiful attempt with only a single hand pressed to the top of its head.

"Now, that wasn't very smart, you see? You should have listened to your instincts. Those telling you to retreat, to run away because you're facing someone way out of your league." Ornias knelt down, drawing it's now fearful gaze towards the demon's smirking face. "But you're the most entertaining thing I've seen in a while, so I'm going to let you go instead of just killing you here. There's just one condition." Ornias's smirk fell, eyes going cold and a murderous intent filling the air—making the wolf tremble. "If you so much as try to go after my two people, you won't even have a second to try and backtrack before you'll be a shredded mess of fur and flesh laid out on the floor. Understand? You go against me, and there's hell to pay."

Unable to speak, the wolf simply cowered under Ornias's gaze as the demon stood and let it go. If the wolf was smart, it would think twice about going after Rose or the Doctor.

"What do we do?" Rose questioned in worry, seeing no easy way out of this situation without help from Ornias.

"We run," the Doctor offered, feeling much the same.

"Is that it?"

"You got any silver bullets?"

"Not on me, no."

"There we are then, we run." He turned to the Queen, forgetting his fake accent in the situation as he jogged in place. "Your Majesty, as a Doctor, I recommend a vigorous jog. Good for the health. Come on!"

He turned to run up the staircase only to jump, bringing a hand to his chest at the sight of a smirking Ornias, who hadn't been there a second ago.

"Stop that!"

"Oh, I don't know. I'm beginning to think I might do it more often if it means catching you like this," Ornias chuckled, earning a groan from the Doctor as he pushed the demon towards the stairs.

"Oh, just shift!"

They ran up and down the corridors, hearing the wolf coming up behind them only to turn the corner where Reynolds—the Queen's head guard—waited and fired at the wolf, making it back down for now.

"I'll take this position and hold it. You keep moving, for God's sake!" Reynolds commanded, looking to the Queen. "Your Majesty, I went to look for the property and it was taken. The chest was empty."

"I have it. It's safe," she answered, ignoring the Doctor's curious glance.

"Then remove yourself, ma'am. Doctor, you stand as Her Majesty's Protector. And you, Sir Robert, you're a traitor to the crown."

Robert shrunk at that, but the Doctor was worried.

"Bullets can't stop it!"

"They'll buy you time. Now run!"

They did, barricading themselves in the library as the wolf tore into Reynolds, making Rose turn and glare at Ornias.

"Why didn't you do anything! Why aren't you helping!"

"And reveal what I am?" Ornias questioned calmly, ensuring that they weren't being overheard by the Queen. "I have no obligation to save any human we may come across and exposing what I am has brought me my fair share of trouble before, if that wasn't already apparent with what just happened. While I cannot die, I still feel the pain of dying and don't care to experience it for anything less than necessary."

Rose looked absolutely furious but turned away as the Doctor shushed everyone. The wolf was pacing outside, not even attempting to enter the room. It didn't try for the other door either, just howled and left.

"I don't understand. What's stopping it?" Rose asked, glancing briefly at Ornias who shrugged.

"Nothing of my doing."

"Something inside this room," the Doctor muttered. "What is it? Why can't it get in?"

"I'll tell you what, though."

"What?"

Rose grinned. "Werewolf."

"I know!" The Doctor smiled back, hugging her as Ornias rolled his eyes. "You all right?"

"Being chased by a beast and they're hugging and laughing like morons."

"Hey. You get excited about cinnamon rolls, so I don't want to hear it," the Doctor scolded, before his eyes widened. "Ornias, you're bleeding."

"Hm?" Ornias looked at the sleeve of his upper right arm where a bullet had hit him. "Oh, I was shot. Didn't even notice."

"Honestly," the Doctor huffed, heading over and removing his tie to wrap around the demon's wound.

"What… What are you doing? It will heal."

"And until then, this will help keep you from bleeding all over the floor," the Doctor replied, giving Ornias a serious look. "Even you can be helped, you know."

The demon didn't understand, but they were soon distracted as Sir Robert questioned the Queen.

"Did you think there was nothing strange about my household staff?"

The Doctor shrugged. "Well, they were bald, athletic. Your wife's away, I just thought you were happy."

And Rose chose that opportunity to joke. "I'll tell you what though, ma'am, I bet you're not amused now."

"Do you think this is funny?"

"No, ma'am. I'm sorry," Rose murmured sheepishly.

"What, exactly—I pray tell me, someone, please. What exactly is that creature?"

"You'd call it a werewolf, but technically it's a more of a lupine wavelength haemovariform," the Doctor replied, earning a look from Ornias.

"Oh, yes. Let's get all technical with someone from the late 1870s. Do you listen to yourself?"

The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck as the Queen aimed a frown his way.

"And should I trust you, sir? You who change your voice so easily? What happened to your accent?"

"Oh right, sorry, that's—"

"Can I just knock her out? Change her memories, shut her up?" Ornias mentally questioned.

No.

He huffed as the Queen turned to him.

"And you, who has a face just like the assassin I had sentenced to death just months ago. Have you something to do with this?"

"What about now?"

No, the Doctor emphasized as Ornias sighed.

"I had nothing to do with this, ma'am. And should I happen to bear a resemblance to this assassin, then it's mere coincidence."

The Queen didn't look convinced, shaking her head. "I'll not have it. No, sir. Not you, not that thing, none of it. This is not my world."

Ornias snorted, earning her attention.

"Have you something to say?"

"Actually? Yeah."

"Ornias," the Doctor warned, but the demon ignored him, approaching the Queen with a look of annoyance.

"This is not your world? Really? You've seen a werewolf right before you and your intent is to deny it? Believe it or not, this is your world. It is here, now, trying to find a way in here. And there are far more out there, unbelievable creatures and beasts. And you are the Queen. There are people out there looking for your guidance—people in this very room—and yet you plan on ignoring this because of what? Something you don't understand?" Ornias scoffed. "There are people out there whose rituals would blow your mind, and are you to ignore them too? Some Queen you are. You're no more my Queen than she is," he huffed, gesturing to Rose.

"H-How dare you—"

Ornias rolled his eyes. "I follow no one unless they are of interest to me, and I obey only those worth listening to. And you? The child sitting atop a throne afraid of the wolf in the dark and the monsters under her bed? Please. The Doctor may act ridiculous at times, but at least he faces these creatures as a proper leader should. You have no right to criticize anyone, much less him."

The library was silent after his tirade, leaving the Queen to take a seat at the far corner of the room. While he'd assumed Ornias was just annoyed by the Queen, by the end of the demon's speech, it became apparent that there was something off.

The demon lectured the Queen, sure, but was giving her advice to better herself. And then, at the end, he turned to defend the Doctor. It didn't make sense for Ornias to do that. He was a demon who sowed contention, who smiled at the sight of chaos, not the complete opposite of that. Standing up for someone? Forcing the Queen of England to second guess her morals? That wasn't right at all, and if it weren't for the fact that Ornias was a demon, the Doctor might have assumed he was ill. Instead, it just made him even more certain that something was happening to change the demon.

"It smells," Ornias said then with a wrinkle of his nose, drawing the Doctor's attention away from his thoughts and the carving of mistletoe on the door.

"What?"

"The doors," Ornias clarified, giving him a look. "A carving would not stop a wolf, however…"

The Doctor connected the dots. "A varnish might!" He licked the door, much to Ornias's shock. "Viscum album, the oil of the mistletoe."

"I take back everything I said in your defense," Ornias muttered. "Was licking the door necessary?"

The Doctor winked as he spoke louder so the others could hear. "Powerful stuff, mistletoe. Bursting with lectins and viscotoxins."

"And the wolf's allergic to it?" Rose asked.

"Well, it thinks it is. The monkey monk monks need a way of controlling the wolf, maybe they trained it to react against certain things."

"Nevertheless," Sir Robert spoke up. "That creature won't give up, Doctor, and we still don't possess an actual weapon."

"Oh, your father got all the brains, didn't he?"

"Being rude again," Rose lightly chided him.

"Good. I meant that one. You want weapons? We're in a library. Books! Best weapons in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have." He tossed a couple of books around. "Arm yourself."

Why did I do that? I wondered as the Doctor rattled on about the wolf that had apparently come from space. Why defend the Doctor from words? If anything, I should have enjoyed how unsettled he was by being scolded by the Queen. And why lecture her? While my patience for her whining was running thin, I tend to just shut them up, not show them how they're wrong. I ran a hand through my hair in vague frustration and confusion.

Something must be wrong with me. Perhaps I need a break away from the Doctor for a while. Fully relax and cause some good old-fashioned chaos. The Queen pulled out a large diamond then and my body stiffened, taking a sharp inhale as the taste of it ran over my lips.

"Is that the Koh-I-Noor?" Rose gaped.

"Oh, yes. The greatest diamond in the world," the Doctor beamed, eyeing it.

"Given to me as the spoils of war," the Queen explained as I moved closer. "Perhaps its legend is now coming true. It is said that whoever owns it must surely die."

"Well, that's true of anything if you own it long enough," the Doctor mused.

"Can I see it?" I asked, earning a cautious look from the Queen before she handed it over. "Hello, old friend," I muttered under my breath.

Absolutely riddled with death. I wonder if that man in Pakistan regrets executing me now. It's been a while since I've cursed something so effectively, though if I remember right, it only effects the men who have it. Falling into the hands of a female monarch is quite happenstance. I best remove the curse before someone like the Doctor messes with it. I closed my eyes for a moment, running my hand over the diamond and feeling the energy return with the added weight of the deaths it had accumulated. The thrum of power was rather pleasant, though I didn't have long to enjoy it before the Doctor cleared his throat.

I sighed, handing it back to the Queen. "Yes, yes. Here. Take your rock."

"This is a national treasure!" She argued and I rolled my eyes.

"It's a rock that only holds value because man saw it as pretty and uncommon. Human labels have no hold over me, so it is a rock." I waved off, walking away to find a chair to sit on as the Doctor chuckled awkwardly and tried to apologize.

"Sorry about him. Why do you travel with it?"

"My annual pilgrimage. I'm taking it to Helier and Carew, the Royal Jewelers at Hazelhead. The stone needs recutting."

"Oh, but it's perfect," Rose murmured.

"My late husband never thought so."

"Now, there's a fact," the Doctor hummed. "Prince Albert kept on having the Koh-I-Noor cut down. It used to be forty percent bigger than this. But he was never happy. Kept on cutting and cutting."

"He always said the shine was not quite right. But he died with it still unfinished."

"Unfinished," the Doctor muttered, something about the Queen's words catching his attention. "Oh, yes!"

I jumped at his shout, dropping the book I'd been looking at with a grumble. "Just call the wolf back, why don't you?"

"There's a lot of unfinished business in this house," the Doctor continued in fervor. "His father's research, and your husband, ma'am, he came here, and he sought the perfect diamond. Hold on, hold on. All these separate things, they're not separate at all, they're connected. Oh, my head, my head. What if this house, it's a trap for you, is that right, ma'am?"

"Obviously," the Queen huffed.

"At least, that's what the wolf intended. But, what if there's a trap inside the trap?"

"Explain yourself, Doctor."

"What if his father and your husband weren't just telling each other stories. They dared to imagine all this was true, and they planned against it, laying the real trap not for you but for the wolf."

"Yes, as interesting as that may be, I suggest we leave," I cut in, grabbing the Doctor's shoulder and turning his gaze to where I'd been looking.

Dust drifted down from the ceiling as the wolf walked across the skylight above.

"That wolf there."

The glass began to crack, and I pushed him towards the doors that I had easily unblocked.

"When did you—"

"Shut up and shift," I cut off the Queen, nudging her along as well.

Try as I might, I could tell it wasn't the Queen's time to die and doing so now would only cause trouble. So, I had to begrudgingly ensure her safety too. We ran down the hall with the wolf on our tail, only for Rose to scream. She'd fallen behind and the wolf was nearly upon her. My eyes flared gold and in an instant, I was between her and the wolf just as water of some sort was thrown over it. The wolf wailed and retreated as the maids explained the mistletoe-infused water.

"T-Thanks, Ornias," Rose muttered, shaking and scared but relieved.

"Do not thank me," I grumbled, eyes lock on where the wolf had retreated. "I warned him once, so now all bets are off. If he comes again, I will deal with him."

"What about the Doctor's plan?"

"He will die either way, but a punishment is required for thinking light of me."

"Ornias, I don't think—"

"Come on!" The Doctor called out, cutting her off as he and Sir Robert led the way to the observatory.

As if on cue, the wolf could be heard following and the Doctor eyed the observatory doors in concern.

"No mistletoe in these doors because your father wanted the wolf to get inside. I just need time. Is there any way of barricading this?"

"No need," I said, voice low in seriousness. "I'll deal with it."

"Ornias, I can't—"

My eye flared gold as I glared. "You won't stop me. I have unfinished business with it since he chose to go after Rose. I care not if I get exposed here now, but I will not risk it getting carried away again."

He hesitated, eyeing me to determine how serious I was before he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Just… Just delay it."

"I refuse."

He groaned. "Ornias—"

"Either way, the creature dies. It is ultimately down to who will do it," I stopped him, moving to the doors. "A demon is more suited to killing than a Doctor. Its death will be on my hands."

And with that, I stepped out of the observatory, closing the doors behind me as I heard him trying to come up with an excuse for the others. Taking a deep breath, I took a sword from a display nearby, testing its weight as I heard the wolf approaching.

"You know," I said when it finally appeared and pulled to a halt at the sight of me. "I did warn you. I gave you a chance to enjoy yourself. The hunt, the thrill of the chase. I let you do as you pleased because it was entertaining to watch the humans scramble around like ants. All you had to do was leave my humans alone. So, tell me, wolf, what made you think I'd allow you to just walk away unpunished for going after Rose, hm?"

My golden eyes snapped to it and it shrank under my calm gaze and the killing intent I was undoubtedly giving off.

"Well? You were talking before, so I know you're capable. Did you think I'd let you off?"

The wolf hesitated before speaking, its English slurred from the wolf's jaw being unused to the art of speech.

"I went for the closest."

"Oh, and consequences be damned?" I scoffed, starting to walk forward with the sword tip dragging on the ground. "For a creature able to conjure up a plan like this, you sure are stupid if you think an excuse like that would save you."

The wolf turned to run, but I threw the sword with enough strength to pierce through its left shoulder. It let out a wail, turning with a snarl as its ears flicked back. It had no time to prepare though, before I'd stepped in front of it, jerked the sword out and taking off its right leg just above the knee.

"I'm sorry, were you trying to run?" I questioned as it rolled onto its back and attempted to crawl backwards away from me. "And here I thought of maybe letting my humans deal with you if you were the least bit guilty of your actions. Instead, you made me get messy." I jammed the blade through its side, pinning it to the wood floors as it cried out in pain. "Amazing what a silver sword can do."

"W-What are you!" It demanded, attempting to free itself as I hovered over it menacingly.

"Me? I'm a demon. More a myth of legend than you, in any case."

"Impossible."

"To you, maybe, but I'm sure I can change that."

And I allowed my form to relax, shifting into that large serpentine true form that made the wolf look so small in comparison.

"Tell me," I hummed, voice low and murderous. "Do werewolves believe in hell?"

The corridor had gone quiet, unnerving those inside the observatory. The Doctor had attempted to explain that Ornias had a plan, but no one had really believed him, least of all Rose—who knew what Ornias was capable of. He was angry that Ornias had blown him off and went to kill the wolf. And yes, while his own plan would have done the same, there was no remorse in Ornias's gaze. The demon would kill the wolf and be glad he had, if not enjoy doing it. That's what made him angry.

And yet, Ornias's final words rattled through his mind. Perhaps, the demon was doing this for him? It didn't make him feel much better—having someone kill for him—but the sentiment was there. Not only that, but this was Ornias being protective over Rose. He had no obligation to and had made that clear before. With no contract to bind him, Ornias was free to make his own decisions—as much as some of them were against the Doctor's own morals. And despite him being only concerned with the Doctor's wellbeing—the only one capable of providing the entertainment he wanted—Ornias had gone to help Rose.

Yes, it could have just been because the Doctor would be upset if something happened to her, and therefore stopping Ornias's entertainment, but he felt it was something more. Ornias had already shown signs of positive change and, while this might not exactly be positive, it was different and done with seemingly the right intentions. That being said, the Doctor still planned on having a talk with him once they got back to the Tardis. Killing—much less out of revenge—was never the right answer.

The doorknob moved then, the lick of the latch echoing loudly in the silent room. Everyone tensed, concerned about who or what was about to enter the room, until the door opened and Ornias wandered in.

"I've dealt with the wolf. Hiding is no longer necessary."

The Doctor winced at how almost bored the demon sounded, standing there and running a hand through his hair as a bloodied sword dragged along the ground. Blood was smeared across the left side of his face unnoticed by no one except him, and it was Sir Robert who finally cut the tense silence.

"B-But… how?"

Ornias tossed the sword to the ground. "Silver, mostly."

The Doctor bit his tongue to keep from mentioning the demon's sharpened canines and the constant pulse of energy that only he could feel. Ornias had done more than kill the wolf. He'd consumed it.

"Then, I fear we owe you a great deal of gratitude," the Queen said, still eyeing him suspiciously. "Let us gather those of the house and meet downstairs. I feel it is necessary to reward the Doctor and his companions who have aided us in this endeavor."

And reward she did. All three travelers were knighted and then banished immediately afterward. It didn't really bother them much, and after hitching a ride back to where the Tardis had been left, Rose had gone to rest, and the Doctor finally turned his attention to the demon. Said demon had long since washed the blood from his face and let out a groan of pleasure as he let out his wings—horns appearing as well, though not as large as when he'd consumed a Dalek.

"Are you going to continue glaring at me for the rest of the foreseeable future, or lecture me like you're so intent on doing?" Ornias questioned, removing the Doctor's tie from where it was wrapped around his—now healed—arm.

"That depends. Are you going to actually listen, or ignore me?" The Doctor challenged with a hint of bite to his tone.

Ornias sighed. "If you're to lecture me about how wrong it is to kill, then I will undoubtedly ignore you."

The Doctor grit his teeth.

"However," Ornias continued, running a hand over the console before moving to the jump-seat. "I fear that something is wrong."

The Doctor's anger faded into confusion. "Wrong?"

"Mm." Ornias nodded. "Never before has a killing like that felt so… tedious."

Not quite the words the Doctor was hoping to hear, but odd enough to draw the Doctor's full attention.

"You… didn't enjoy it?"

Ornias shook his head, lying down on the seat. "Not in the slightest. I even got a meal out of it, but…" His expression scrunched into a frown. "What demon doesn't enjoy delivering punishment?"

The Doctor hesitated before heading over, sitting on the edge of the jump-seat, allowing Ornias to take advantage of his lap and drop his head onto his thigh.

"Perhaps," the Doctor started, eyeing the demon as he watched him in return. "Perhaps, you're not really a demon anymore."

Ornias frowned. "Not a demon?"

"What I mean is, while you might physically be a demon, maybe you don't have to be a demon."

"You talk in more riddles than I do."

The Doctor sighed. "Let's say Satan gave you the job of being a demon after you were… fired from being an angel. Then, you got sent here, where there are no demons. No need for demons. So, naturally, without a boss or a job, you're sort of… branching out. Testing your boundaries. No need to, to harvest souls or whatever you did while working under the devil, so you're just… figuring yourself out. Changing."

Ornias was quiet for a moment as the Doctor idly ran his fingers through the demon's hair.

"Changing… into what?" He finally questioned.

The Doctor shrugged. "Dunno. Bad Wolf said it too, didn't she? You're changing into something new."

"I'm… not sure I wish to."

"I think you've already started. You didn't have to save Rose or kill the wolf to prevent me from having its death on my hands."

"You would be upset otherwise," Ornias argued, eyes slipping shut.

"So? You obviously don't seem bothered by that at all, you cheeky thing."

Ornias cracked a small smile, rolling onto his side and pressing his nose into the Doctor's stomach. "Then, perhaps you are right."

The Doctor smiled in return. "Oh, I'll never hear that again."

But Ornias was silent, drawing his gaze downward to see the demon peacefully sleeping. Huh. Who knew how innocent a demon could be while asleep? And soon, the Doctor too closed his eyes and allowed himself a little reprieve from their everyday lives.