Here's the next one. It was only 1/2 way typed up, so i finished it. might type up the next one too. but uh... so i might have a little fun with Ornias and the Doctor, which i hope is fine with you all. I don't plan on hooking them up like an actual couple (ornias is a demon, after all, so flings like he had with jack are his specialty) but they might become a bit more than friends in a way? in a two old lonely souls who need support sort of way... hope that's fine. nothing crazy will happen until way later (as in chapters i haven't even written yet) but if that puts you off, oh well *shrugs*

Anyway, enjoy and let me know what you think about their relationship and whatever else you feel like saying :) love hearing from all of you!

"So?" The Doctor questioned as we neared the front of the lunch queue. "See anything suspicious on your rounds?"

I raised a brow at him, rather peeved at the job I'd been given in this mission of his. Rose's boyfriend, Mickey, had called to drag us down to a school of suspicious circumstances. To infiltrate it, the Doctor and I had managed to… deal with a professor, lunch lady and a janitor. Guess which one I ended up as…

"Other than how disgusting human spawn are—namely in the restrooms I am constantly summoned to—what do you suppose my answer is?"

He chuckled awkwardly as we were served our lunches by an equally unimpressed Rose.

"I really am sorry, you know," he apologized to me. "But having two teachers suddenly quit would be suspicious."

"Then, you be the caretaker next time," I grumbled, stabbing at the chips on my plate as Rose approached to pretend to wipe our table. "And I have been given orders not to clean the headmaster's office, if that helps."

"Hm, it's definitely odd."

"Two days," Rose grumbled then, glaring at him.

"Sorry, could you just?" The Doctor gestured to a spot on the table. "There's a bit of gravy. No, no. Just, just there."

I snickered a bit a Rose's stubborn determination to rid the table of the gravy when it was going to be my job to clean as soon as lunch was over.

"Two days, we've been here," she repeated.

"Blame your boyfriend. He's the one who put us onto this. And he was right. Boy in class this morning, got a knowledge way beyond planet Earth." The Doctor ate a chip, but grimaced, drawing Rose's attention as she slipped onto the bench beside me.

"You eating those chips?"

He pushed the tray over as I went to try a chip myself. "Yeah, they're a bit different."

"I think they're gorgeous. Wish I had school dinners like this."

The moment the chip hit my tongue, I hastily spat it back out and stole the Doctor's offered bottle of water.

"T-They weren't that bad."

I continued to chug the bottle, emptying it with a groan and pulling out a feather from behind my ear to summon my pocket dimension. "I have never tasted something so foul, and I am from Hell, where meals taste of ash and brimstone!"

"I think he's finally lost it," Rose mumbled, still eating the chips. "Hold on. Where'd you get that?"

I'd pulled a cinnamon bun from the dimension and was currently half-stuffing it in my mouth to combat the lingering flavor of chips. I held up the feather, swallowing a mouthful of pastry to speak.

"Pocket dimension."

"I think the chips have screwed up your eyesight as well. That's a feather."

I rolled my eyes, finishing my food and licking icing off my fingers as I tucked the feather back over my ear where it disappeared once more.

"Think of it as a key to the dimension. I can't just open it all willy-nilly. Requirements are needed. In this case…" I gestured to the discarded chip. "Saliva. To have it open wide requires blood but I just needed a palate cleanser after that, that terrible excuse for chips."

"As amusing as this is, what do you think about this place, Ornias? Rather well-behaved, isn't it?" The Doctor mused. "I thought there'd be happy slapping hoodies. Happy slapping hoodies with ASBOs. Happy slapping hoodies with ASBOs and ringtones. Huh? Huh? Oh, yeah. Don't tell me I don't fit in."

"I honestly have no idea what sort of English was escaping your mouth just now," I muttered, expression deadpan. "Though, if you must know, there is a subdued hint of fear in a few students. The rest appear rather muddled."

"Muddled how?"

"Hm," I tried to think of a way to explain. "Children are typically a mix of emotions constantly flickering and changing on a whim. These children are only feeling the base level of normal. Normal joy, excitement, contentment. No sorrow, no anger, no frustration or even shock or amazement. They're dull."

"What about professors or the headmaster, even?"

I smirked at that. "I can taste the corruption miles away."

The Doctor's eyes widened but before he could question me further, the head lunch lady approached Rose with a scowl.

"You are not permitted to leave your station during a sitting."

"I was just talking to this caretaker," Rose said, pointing at me. "He doesn't like the chips."

Her gaze snapped to mine. "The menu has been specifically designed by the headmaster to… t-to improve concentration a-and… p-performance."

I raised a calm brow, knowing I intimidated her and had begun to cause a small amount of nervous fidgeting. "Are you quite finished?"

The woman gave me a hesitant nod, then turned to Rose with an attempt to gather her authority once more. "G-Get back to work."

As the woman started to walk off, I called after her.

"And your chips are shit."

She flinched but didn't turn, continuing to scuttle off as I chuckled.

"Humans are so fun to mess with sometimes."

Rose rolled her eyes, getting up and soon returning to work as I did much the same. Surely, I could discover something more interesting before the staff meeting this afternoon.

I strolled into the staff room rather proud with what I'd found, even more so when the lunch lady from before flinched away. Oh, won't the Doctor be pleased. Said man was conversing with a teacher who was quite flustered about something. Oh, dear. That might be me. Am I projecting? The man scuttled off when I approached, leaning on the table beside the Doctor.

"You look rather pleased about something," he commented. "Care to share with the class?"

"The staff are corrupted," I hummed, shifting my gaze to the group of said staff huddled together. "Headmaster included. I slipped into his office earlier and discovered why he didn't wish for me to clean it." My eyes flared gold as I smirked at the Doctor. "It reeks of blood. Young blood. They're eating children."

A trill of pleasure went down my spine as the Doctor's eyes went cold.

"No children have been reported missing," he stated.

I shrugged, knowing the excuse meant very little in the scheme of things. "Then, they are careful who they devour. It's easy to get away with murder if the victims won't be missed."

"Which staff?" He growled.

I nodded towards the group nearby, grabbing a mug of coffee from off the table. "Those lot. I'm counting about a dozen, give or take one or two. Counting corrupted souls becomes difficult when they're grouped together."

"And they're human?"

"Mm, yes and no. Currently, they appear so, but their souls say otherwise," I mused, giving him a sideways glance as I lifted my drink. "I could find out, if you'd like."

He shook his head, frowning as he eyed the teachers. "No. We'll look into it tonight, together. There's something more going on here and I want to know what."

"Suit yourself," I hummed, sipping the coffee only to spit it back into the mug. "Hell, even the coffee is shit."

The Doctor cracked a small smile at that, and I pointedly ignored the hint of satisfaction that ran through me when he did. Instead, I focused on getting my own coffee from my pocket dimension as the headmaster entered, pulling someone in with him. I would have normally ignored the human woman, but I tasted the Doctor's surprised enthusiasm and had no choice but to be a bit curious as she approached.

"Hello."

"Oh, I should think so," the Doctor beamed, making me raise a brow and run my tongue over my lips once more.

Perhaps I'd missed something. This woman was important to the Doctor somehow, yet she stared at him like a stranger.

"And, you are?"

"Hm? Uh, Smith. John Smith," the Doctor answered her, a bit dazed and the woman cracked a small smile.

"John Smith. I used to have a friend who sometimes went by that name."

"Well, it's a very common name."

"He was a very uncommon man," she mused, eyes shifting to me. "Hello."

"Hi," I replied, accepting her outstretched hand with a polite smile. "Ornias."

She blinked, a little surprised but smiled in return. "Sarah Jane Smith. Nice to meet you."

"Same," I hummed, recognizing something as she looked between us both.

"So, have either of you worked here long?"

"No. Uh, it's only our second day," the Doctor answered for me, intent on being her focus of attention.

Something I didn't mind as I sipped my new cup of coffee and eyed the other staff members as they watched us. There'd be no movement from them with so many people here. Too many to miss and cause trouble before they enacted their plan.

"Oh, you're new, then. So, what do you think of the school? I mean, this new curriculum? So many children getting ill. Doesn't that strike you as odd?" Sarah Jane asked.

"You don't sound like someone just doing a profile," the Doctor remarked but she didn't back down from the challenge.

"Well, no harm in a little investigation while I'm here."

"No. Good for you," he smiled as she walked off. "Good for you. Oh, good for you, Sarah Jane Smith."

"She travelled with you then?" I asked, surprising him.

"How did you—"

I sighed. "Honestly. I'm a demon who can taste souls. Did you really think I wouldn't notice the way time touched hers? Rose's soul has much the same mark. Curious how she doesn't recognize you."

"Well, I've changed faces since I last saw her," he said, rubbing his jaw.

"Yet, you don't tell her?"

"Not the right time. And if she's looking into this too, we'll see her again." He smiled warmly and I rolled my eyes as I stood.

"Is there anything else you need from me before you return to your class?"

"Just keep an eye on those teachers and the headmaster. Stop any more children from getting hurt if you can."

I hummed in acknowledgement and stepped out. Nothing more occurred the rest of the day and we returned to the Tardis until nightfall, when we met up with Mickey to explore.

"Oh, it's weird seeing school at night," Rose mumbled, eyeing the shadows nervously. "It just feels wrong. When I was a kid, I used to think all the teachers slept in school."

"Perhaps they do," I hummed, eyes glowing unnaturally in the dark. "The corrupt souls are gathered in the headmaster's office and your human friend is roaming nearby," I informed the Doctor, earning a small frown from Rose.

"Who?"

Before I could respond, the Doctor cut in.

"All right, team. Oh, I hate people who say team. Uh, gang. Uh, comrades. Anyway, Rose, go to the kitchen. Get a sample of that oil. Mickey, the new staff are all Maths teachers. Go and check out the Maths department. I'm going to look in Finch's office with Ornias. Be back here in ten minutes," the Doctor rattled out, heading off with me on his tail.

"The creatures are in his office," I reminded him as we walked.

"Yes, well, I want to catch Sarah Jane first, then check it out. You'll be around to keep anything too bad from happening and maybe they'll just tell us what they're up to."

I shot him a look. "No one ever does that."

He shrugged. "You never know."

"I've been around for a long time. I'm fairly certain they won't."

"You say that, but I'm pretty sure the demon addicted to pastries has less of a say than a 900-year-old Time Lord."

I scoffed. "Believe what you will, I'm still right."

"Let's bet on it then. I'll get you a dozen cinnamon buns if you're right."

"And in return?"

"Hm, how about… you tell me more about that woman you liked. Janette."

I stopped walking for a moment, making him pause himself.

"Is… that okay?"

I hesitated, brow furrowing because I was unsure why I stopped, before continuing. "Yes. Why wouldn't it be?"

"I can pick something else if it bothers you—"

"It doesn't bother me," I argued, trying to ignore the twisting of my gut.

"All right," he muttered, dropping our conversation as we spotted Sarah Jane looking up at the Tardis in awe. "Hello, Sarah Jane."

The woman beamed. "It's you. Oh, Doctor. Oh, my God—"

I winced.

"It's you, isn't it. You've regenerated."

"Yeah. Half a dozen times since we last met," the Doctor admitted solemnly.

"You look incredible."

"So do you."

I rolled my eyes, understanding how that their fondness for each other was a bit more than that. Rose won't be pleased.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, UFO sighting, school gets record results. I couldn't resist. What about you?"

"The same." Her smile fell then. "I thought you'd died. I waited for you and you didn't come back, and I thought you must have died."

Well, isn't she a treasure trove of information. He can be killed even with his ability to cheat death, I mused, listening in as they continued to spill the Doctor's secrets.

"I lived. Everyone else died."

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone died, Sarah."

The Time Lords died. He's the last and for some reason, Sarah Jan knew about them. It must have been recent then. How curious. It explains why the Doctor's taste attracted me. Tragedy like that is always best fresh.

"I can't believe it's you," Sarah Jane breathed just as we heard a scream. "Okay. Now I can!"

My gaze immediately went for the door as my tongue ran over my lips.

"None of the creatures have left the office," I informed the Doctor, ignoring how Sarah Jane jumped.

I'd gotten a bit absorbed in my thoughts about the Doctor and incidentally hid my presence rather well.

"Is he safe?" The Doctor asked as we started to run for Mickey.

"If he wasn't, I wouldn't be here." I smirked at the Doctor's surprised look. "He is a treasure trove of entertainment. I'd take any chance to terrify him."

"I should have guessed," he muttered just as Rose joined up with us.

"Did you hear that?" She asked, before spotting Sarah Jane. "Who's she?"

"Rose, Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane, Rose," the Doctor introduced. "And you've already met Ornias."

"Pleasure," I hummed, tasting the air to figure out where Mickey was.

"Hi. Nice to meet you," Sarah Jane smiled at Rose before nudging the Doctor. "You can tell you're getting older. Your assistants are getting younger."

"I'm not his assistant," Rose snapped; Sarah Jane not yet noticing her jealousy.

"No? Get you, tiger."

Oh, what fun this is going to be.

The group all caught up with Mickey, who was quick to apologize for sounding the alarm over a storage room of vacuum-sealed rats.

"And you decided to scream?" The Doctor questioned him.

"It took me by surprise!"

"Like a little girl?"

"It was dark! I was covered in rats!"

"Nine, maybe ten years old. I'm seeing pigtails, frilly skirt."

"Hello, can we focus?" Rose stopped them. "Does anyone notice anything strange about this? Rats in school?"

"Well, obviously they use them in Biology lessons," Sarah Jane replied snarkily. "They dissect them. Or maybe you haven't reached that bit yet. How old are you?"

"Excuse me, no one dissects rats in school anymore," Rose bit back. "They haven't done that for years. Where are you from, the dark ages?"

"Anyway," the Doctor cut in before they could continue. "Moving on. Ornias, did you know about this?"

Ornias grumbled under his breath about the Doctor ruining his fun before replying. "Yes. Though there weren't that many before. I also assumed they were for lessons." He flashed Rose a smirk. "The dark ages were far more fun than this."

Rose rolled her eyes as the Doctor let out a small sigh.

"Well, everything started when Mr. Finch arrived. We should go and check his office."

"Just keep quiet," Ornias warned. "The creatures are still in there."

"A-And we're just going to go look?" Mickey squeaked.

"We'll be fine, Mickey," the Doctor slung an arm over his shoulders, pointing at Ornias. "We've got Ornias."

"And that's supposed to comfort me?"

Ornias rolled his eyes. "Remind me to let them eat you then."

"Now, Ornias. Behave," the Doctor chided as they walked, though he was smiling slightly.

Rose moved up ahead to join Sarah Jane with a frown. "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but who exactly are you?"

"Sarah Jane Smith. I used to travel with the Doctor."

"Oh. Well, he's never mentioned you."

"So much for not being rude," Ornias hummed under his breath as the Doctor fidgeted.

"Oh, I must've done. Sarah Jane. Mention her all the time."

"Hold on. Sorry. Never," Rose mused with a smirk.

"What, not even once? He didn't mention me even once?"

"Ho, ho, mate," Mickey grinned as he pat the Doctor's back—the two women moving ahead. "The missus and the ex. Welcome to every man's worst nightmare."

Even Ornias chuckled, enjoying the chaos at the Doctor's expense. The issues between the women were mostly forgotten once they reached Finch's office though, and the Doctor went to open the door.

"Maybe those rats were food," he mused.

"Food for what?"

He peeked in first, slowly opening the door further for the others. "Ornias was right. Teachers sleeping in the school."

"No way!" Mickey squeaked, rushing off with the others following behind. "I'm not going back there. No way." He refused as they walked out of the school.

"Those were teachers," Rose breathed, still in disbelief.

"When Finch arrived, he brought with him seven new teachers, four dinner ladies and a nurse. Thirteen. Thirteen big bat people. Come on."

"Come on? You've got to be kidding!" Mickey complained as Ornias rolled his eyes.

"You humans are so finicky. We already said you'd be safe with me.

"I need the Tardis. I've got to analyze that oil from the kitchen," the Doctor argued also.

"I might be able to help you there," Sarah Jane offered. "I've got something to show you."

She led them to her parked car, opening the trunk and pulling off a blanket to reveal a metal dog underneath.

"K9!" The Doctor beamed. "Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, Ornias, allow me to introduce K9. well, K9 Mark Three to be precise."

Ornias leaned in and flicked the dog's tail. "You're excited over an overgrown paperweight?"

"Why does he look so disco?"

"Oi! Listen, in the year five thousand, this was cutting edge," the Doctor huffed. "And he's just not working, Ornias. What's happened to him?"

Sarah Jane shrugged. "Oh, one day, he just… nothing."

"Well, didn't you try and get him repaired?"

She scoffed. "Well, it's not like getting parts for a Mini Metro, Besides, the technology inside him could rewrite human science. I couldn't show him to anyone."

"Ooh, what's the nasty lady done to you, eh?" he cooed at the dog.

"Oh, joy," Ornias drawled. "You've turned him into a child."

"Look, no offence, but could you two just stop petting for a minute?" Rose huffed. "Never mind the tin dog. We're busy."

Ornias's gaze snapped to the side then, eyes glowing gold for a moment. "I fear I must agree. The creatures are stirring and may be aware of us."

"There's a chip shop nearby. Open late," Sarah Jane offered. "We can go there, though it will be a bit cramp in my car."

They didn't mind and a few moments later, the group was getting situated at said shop. Rose and Mickey had ordered chips and the Doctor was working on K9 over by Sarah Jane and Ornias—who was enjoying his own chips.

"Enjoying those, Ornias?" The Doctor remarked, and the demon shrugged.

"they are… adequate. Far better than that school's."

Sarah Jane cracked a small smile at that. "You're not human, right? What species are you then?"

Ornias looked to the Doctor, wondering if this was going to be another Mickey situation.

"Oh, he's not alien either," the Doctor informed, surprising her.

"What else is there? Certainly not an android."

"I'm a demon," Ornias answered simply, eating another chip with a curious expression on his face.

He didn't often eat human food—or food in general—so he enjoyed savoring the flavors.

"You're joking. There's not such thing!"

"Not in this universe, apparently," the Doctor explained. "He was kicked out of his world and into ours, and he's not lying. I've tried running scans and nothing works."

"I'd reveal more of myself, however, civilians tend to panic," Ornias hummed, glancing at the shop owner.

"Can you prove it? Just a bit?"

Ornias glanced t her and his eyes flared gold as he smirked. "I could hypnotize you into various nightmarish situations and then cause you to forget."

"Ornias."

The demon sighed, gold fading from his eyes. "Which the Doctor would greatly disapprove of."

"Fascinating. Well, don't you find all the interesting people." Sarah Jane smiled at the Doctor before it fell. "I thought of you on Christmas Day. This Christmas just gone? Great big spaceship overhead. I thought, oh yeah, bet he's up there."

"Right on top of it, yeah," the Doctor remembered.

"And Rose? You, Ornias?"

"Unconscious in his ship," Ornias drawled. "Our adventure before had proven rather taxing, even for a demon."

"Rose was there though," the Doctor added.

They continued to talk and bicker, but Ornias's gaze had drifted out the window. They were being watched, he knew, and had to stay alert. They were safe inside for now, but he didn't doubt that a move would be made once they were outside.

There was a hum of machinery before K9 began to work again, pleasing the Doctor and turning Ornias's attention to the metal dog.

"Master," the dog chirped with a wag of his tail.

"He recognizes me!"

"Affirmative."

"I'll never understand human's fascination with technology," Ornias sighed, eyeing the dog. "Or pets, though subjugating another creature to following your will is rather demon-like. But what is its purpose? This… tin dog."

"Oh, he's way more than that," the Doctor said, waving over the others. "Rose, give us the oil."

She gave the Doctor the oil with a warning, but he ignored it and gave K9 a sample.

"Oil. Ex-ex-ex-extract. Ana-ana-analyzing."

"Listen to him, man. That's a voice," Mickey chuckled, only to get scolded by Sarah Jane as K9 finished.

"Confirmation of analysis. Substance is Krillitane Oil."

"They're Krillitanes," the Doctor murmured, voice serious and drawing Ornias's attention away from K9.

"Is that bad?" Rose asked.

"Very. Think of how bad things could possibly be and add another suitcase full of bad."

"Sounds like a party," Ornias mused as Sarah Jane began to look worried.

If they made the Doctor serious, they can't be good.

"And what are Krillitanes?"

"They're a composite race," the Doctor explained. "Just like your culture is a mixture of traditions from all sorts of countries, people you've invaded or have been invaded by. You've got bits of Viking, bits of France, bits of whatever. The Krillitanes are the same. An amalgam of the races they've conquered. But they take physical aspects as well. They cherry pick the best bits from the people they destroy. That's why I didn't recognize them. The last time I saw Krillitanes, they looked just like us except they had really long necks."

"What're they doing here?" Rose asked.

"It's the children. They're doing something to the children. We need to head back, find out more."

They nodded and Mickey went to help Sarah Jane put K9 back in the car as Rose and the Doctor had a talk. Ornias though, had slipped into the shadows unnoticed. He knew what was coming and the element of surprise always got the best results. Sure enough, just as the Doctor and Rose's discussion came to a head, a Krillitane swooped down towards them with a screech. Needless to say, it didn't have a chance to react before Ornias had grabbed a hold of it by the throat, pulling it from the sky before it could even come close to the Doctor and the others.

"Now, now," Ornias purred, eyes bright gold and his wings out as the Krillitane screeched and flailed in his grip. "I'd be more careful if I were you. If you hurt me, I might get angry."

The Krillitane, too panicked about getting caught to really listen, lashed out in retaliation—claws tearing into Ornias's shirt and chest. Hs grip tightened on the creature, making it choke until the Doctor interfered.

"Ornias, let it go."

"But they're so predictable. I knew they were coming the moment we left the school. They saw I noticed, but still tried to pull something. Why should I let it go? There's still a dozen more. Maybe the others will learn something and think twice before trying to touch what's mine," Ornias growled, eyes cold.

"Let it go," the Doctor repeated, just as seriously. "You want it to learn something? Then, show it mercy."

Ornias hesitated, eyeing the still-struggling creature for a moment before sighing and dropping it to the ground. It was quick to scrambled back to its feet and fly off—Ornias's gaze meeting another's a ways away.

"I may not be so lenient next time."

"You were kind once, you may be kind again," the Doctor argued, rather relieved and not knowing that Ornias's words were a threat meant for someone else.

"Perhaps," Ornias hummed, tucking his wings away for now. "Though the chances of that are low."

"Was that a Krillitane?" Sarah Jane asked, though her eyes were glued to Ornias. "And I must say, I certainly believe you're a demon now."

"My pleasure," Ornias smirked, eager for the next morning.

The next morning, we all split up—the Doctor refusing to let me go with anyone other than himself after what happened the evening before. I didn't mind too much, knowing he wasn't thrilled by my display, but I needed to send a message. If anything, it only further proved the Doctor right. Normally, I would have killed it without remorse. Now, I was giving warnings, offering things a chance. It wasn't like me. What could I possibly be changing into?

"Are you all right?"

I blinked out of my daze as we left the cafeteria where the Doctor had gotten the headmaster's attention. "Hm?"

"You're a little out of it, is all. Is your chest okay?" The Doctor asked, eyeing my new shirt with slight concern.

Sarah Jane had insisted we stop by her home to get the wound caused by the Krillitane dealt with, despite my protests.

"They fully healed a few hours ago," I hummed, tugging my shirt away so he could see. "Not even a scar."

"So, you were…"

"Thinking," I offered. "I don't usually let prey go, especially after it attacks me."

"Well, thank you," he said, tugging on his ear as a warmth swelled in my chest. "I… know it's not easy for you, to go against your nature, but I… really do appreciate it."

"And you constantly surprise me with your sympathy," I replied, eyeing him. "Tell me, Doctor. I'm a demon who can name emotions with east, but I always struggle with understanding the motives of those who feel them. Why sympathize with me? Why spare creatures you are obviously furious with? I understand not how you can so freely give killers a second chance at redemption."

The Doctor paused, eyeing me in apparent curiosity. "Why? Well, I suppose… hope."

"Hope?" I questioned, confused.

"Hope that by sparing them, they'll change. People have done so before and sometimes all it takes is being shown a bit of kindness and sympathy in order to change someone's ways."

Pondered that as he smiled softly, a hint of brightness flaring in his soul. I considered questioning him about the warmth I felt, but we were nearing our destination, and try as I might, I still couldn't fathom these Krillitanes changing their minds anytime soon.

"Let me do the talking, Ornias," the Doctor said as we reached the pool.

"As you wish," I shrugged, not one for talking to creatures that tried to go against me once before. "I will move though, if anything happens."

He cracked a small smile at that, having expected nothing less as we stepped into the pool area and faced the headmaster.

"Who are you?" The Doctor asked the man, wanting clarity.

"My name is Brother Lassa. And you?" Finch's eyes drifted to me but I stayed silent and picked idly at my cuticles.

"The Doctor and this is Ornias. Since when did Krillitanes have wings?"

The two went back and forth like that for a while, gathering information on their opponents as Finch came every closer I kept my eye on him and he did much the same, letting me know my message had gotten though yesterday. He was cautious of me and for good reason.

"I always thought of you as such a pompous race," Finch informed the Doctor, drawing me in with more information on the Time Lords. "Ancient, dusty senators, so frightened of change and chaos. And of course, they're all but extinct. Only you. The last."

A thrum of pleasure went through me as the Doctor only seemed to darken.

"This plan of yours. What is it?" He asked, turning the conversation elsewhere.

"You don't know."

"That's why I'm asking."

"Well, show me how clever you are. Work it out."

How annoying. He's stalling.

"If I don't like it, then it will stop," the Doctor threatened.

"Fascinating. Your people were peaceful to the point of indolence. You seem to be something new. Would you declare war on us, Doctor?"

"I'm so old now. I used to have so much mercy," he said calmly, though I could taste the turmoil underneath that was making me jittery. "You get one warning. That was it."

"But we're not even enemies. Soon you will embrace us. The next time we meet, you will join with me. I promise you." Finch's eyes shifted to me. "I'm curious who you are though. Persuading you to join us might be far easier."

I scoffed. "You have nothing to offer me."

"I disagree."

I cracked a smirk, eyes glowing and enjoying the hesitation the action caused in him. "Oh, believe me, you lot are worthless in my eyes. And if you try to harm any of us, you can be sure I won't hold back this time. You got his warning. This is mine."

"Ornias," the Doctor said, only a hint of warning in his tone as he turned to leave.

I followed with an idle wave at Finch as we headed back to the others.

"You dislike your people," I noted, drawing up a conversation I'd been wanting to have with the Doctor for a while.

"No. I dislike authority," he argued, not looking at me though his emotions almost boiled underneath.

"You dislike any talk of them," I countered. "I understand mourning, but you feel anger and guilt. Why?"

"Do we have to talk about this now?" He said shortly.

"I have withheld my questions thus far. I considered questioning Rose, who apparently knows more, but I felt you'd rather I speak more directly. And with a woman who traveled with you before your people's war, asking her would be ideal. But again, I turn to you."

The Doctor sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "My… people, they… The leaders began this fight with the Daleks and after a while—with no end in sight—they began to lose sight of what was important. They wanted to…" He paused expression shifting into a troubled one. "They made the decision to end the war by ending everything in the universe. I made it my job to end the war another way."

"By killing both sides," I knew. "Destroy the few for the many. A hard decision, but a good one nonetheless."

The look he sent me made me pause with its intensity.

"Good? You think killing two species, billions of men, women and children was a good thing?"

I worded my response carefully. "In my world, people are judged when they die. A… figurehead looks at them and all they have done, and he makes a decision: good or bad. Heaven or Hell. I questioned him once and he had e watch as he made these judgement calls. Never once did he choose to condemn a man who put everyone else above himself. Yet, every so often, he would condemn one who stood by and did nothing."

The Doctor was quiet, looking me over cautiously.

"I am not Him, of course," I added. "But no demon would go after a man who chose the lives of many over the few. Not when the only other option was to let it happen."

"Are you… trying to cheer me up?"

I blinked, rather surprised and I drew a finger to my chin. "Hm, I'm not sure. My goal was to better understand you, but perhaps I was. Seeing someone so miniscule upset you so easily made me… angry." I realized, head tipping curiously. "That's new. Feeling for someone else's suffering."

The Doctor let out a short chuckle. "You never cease to surprise me, Ornias. How do you not know what you're feeling?"

"Demons don't have souls," I answered simply. "I have a basic understanding of what a feeling is and what it tastes like. Experiencing more complex emotions myself is… confusing and technically no possible, or at least highly unlikely. Maybe it's due to this change I'm undergoing. Tell me. Why does my chest feel warm when I act against my nature for you?"

He looked shocked. "What?"

"Before, when I released the Krillitane, you thanked me and my chest felt warm," I explained. "What emotion is that?"

"Um, pride, maybe?"

My brows furrowed. "But too much pride is a sin. Or can easily become one."

"What I mean is, it's just a good feeling. I-I praised you for doing a good thing and you appreciated it. Emotions are hard to explain, and pride is good in moderation," he said with a frantic wave of his hands as we neared the computer lab where Rose and Sarah Jane should be. "Are… Are you really feeling these things? Pride at doing something good?"

"If pride is the warmth swelling in my chest at your praise, then it is quite possible." I wrinkled my nose. "I do not know if I like this change."

He chuckled as we entered to find the once bickering duo bursting into uncontrollable laughter as they pointed at the Doctor.

"How's it going?" He asked but they continued laughing.

"Perhaps leaving them together was a poor decision…"

It took some time for them to calm down, leaving the Doctor full of questions as he started trying to get into the computers himself.

"I can't shift it," he huffed.

"I thought the sonic screwdriver could open anything!" Sarah Jane said.

"Anything except a deadlock seal. There's got to be something inside here. What're they teaching those kids?"

"Ornias, can't you do something?" Rose asked, earning a raised brow from the demon perched on one of the desks—wings out since they were alone.

"Need I remind you what my relationship with technology is?"

"Well, can't you break the deadlock seal"

"Only if you wish the whole computer to fizzle out and die." He paused though, eyeing the screen of the nearest computer and trailing a long nail over the top. "It's curious though. These computers have the essence of children's souls."

The Doctor jolted at that, slamming his head on the underside of the desk before he pipped up. "What?"

"These computers are literally draining their souls," Ornias explained, lifting his finger to show a small white flame on the end of it. "See?"

"Is that…?"

He nodded at Sarah Jane, flicking it away and eyeing the scorch mark on the computer he'd drawn it from. "Leftovers. Not much, but it explains the children's lack of complexity. Souls need time to regain lost energy. Being drained everyday prevents proper growth, especially in young ones." Ornias turned suddenly to frown at the door.

"What? What is it?" The Doctor asked, seeing the demon's sudden shift in mood.

"They're not heeding our warnings. Shall I deal with them?"

He shook his head. "not now. I need you here. Your job is to protect Rose and Sarah Jane. I want as little death as possible." He gave Ornias a look. "At least try and hold back."

Ornias rolled his eyes. "If I must."

"Doctor?" Sarah Jane called out then, gesturing to the green-glowing computer screens and projector. "You wanted the program? There it is."

He eyed it. "Some sort of code." Then, it was like a switch flipped and his hearts sank. "No. No, that can't be. The Skasis Paradigm. They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm."

"The Skasis what?"

"The God maker," the Doctor explained, earning a curious look from Ornias. "The universal theory. Crack that equation and you've got control of the building blocks of the universe. Time and space and matter, yours to control."

"What, and the kids are like a giant computer?" Rose asked.

"Yes. And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil. That oil from the kitchens, it works as a, as a conducting agent. Makes the kids cleverer."

"But that oil's on the chips. I've been eating them."

"What's fifty-nine times thirty-five?" The Doctor tested.

"Two thousand and sixty-five," Rose said instantly before gasping. "Oh, my God."

"But why use children?" Sarah Jane questioned. "Can't they use adults?"

"No, it's got to be children. The God maker needs imagination to crack it. They're not just using the children's brains to break the code; they're using their souls like Ornias said."

"What a ridiculous notion," Ornias scoffed, arms folded as he faced the projection, tucking his wings away for now. "You must be more idiotic than I first expected if you think a simple code like this could make you into a God."

"Simple?"

Everyone's gaze snapped to Finch as he stepped in.

"You act as though you've solved it," he scoffed, getting silence in return and looking to the Doctor. "Think of it, Doctor. With the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it."

"Oh yeah? The whole of creation with the face of Mister Finch? Call me old fashioned, but I like things as they are."

"You act like such a radical, and yet all you want to do is preserve the old order? Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good."

"What, by someone like you?"

"No, someone like you." Finch smirked, not seeing Ornias's gaze narrow at him. "The Paradigm gives us power, but you could give us wisdom. Become a God at my side. Imagine what you could do. Think of the civilizations you could save. Perganon, Assinta. Your own people, Doctor, standing tall. The Time Lords reborn."

The Doctor was quiet, actually pondering the idea. He'd said once before how he would do anything to be able to go back and save everyone. Wasn't this his chance?

"Doctor don't listen to him," Sarah Jane argued, seeing his hesitation.

"And you could be with him throughout eternity," Finch purred, not wanting her to stop the Doctor. "Young, fresh, never wither, never age, never die. Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join us."

"I could save everyone," he murmured.

"Yes."

"I could stop the war."

"How tedious," Ornias's words seemed to almost echo around them, making Finch stiffen when he realized the demon was gone. "Is that really all it takes to make you waver, Doctor? The false promise that you could bring back your people? Even I could have offered you that."

"False promise?" Finch questioned, eyes darting around to try and locate him. "The Paradigm is capable of that and more."

"Even if it could, I can taste it. The lies on your lips. You're fan servicing. I would know. It's practically on my resume."

Finch's head snapped to the right where he'd heard the demon, but no one was there. Then, came the light brush of a breath over his left ear.

"Oh, the lies you're spewing to try and trick them. I'll admit, you'd make one hell of a demon."

Finch couldn't move. It was as if every instinct was demanding he freeze because this man was a predator. One wrong move, and he would die. He couldn't remember the last time he'd feared someone so much.

"Tell me, Brother Lassa. Say the Doctor accepts your offer. What a mistake that would be. He'd bring back the Time lords and then you'd be in real trouble. One is enough, I'd say, but millions? Billions? No, you're smart. You would never let it come to that. Let me guess. Get him to lower his guard then you lot have a feast? Use him to learn all you can before killing him? Honestly, you lot are so easy to read."

Finch was quivering now, as he felt a breath on the nape of his neck and a sharp nail tracing his jugular.

"I could kill you right where you stand, Brother Lassa, for even considering this plan f action after my earlier warning.

Blood slid down his neck and his knees threatened to buckle under the pressure of Ornias's killing intent.

"I should, really. It'd save me a lot of trouble, but the Doctor would disapprove."

Finch fell to his knees, gasping for air as Ornias strolled towards the Doctor, also rather frozen in uncertainty at the demon's approach.

"And to think, you were willing to consider bringing back the very same people you despite," Ornias scoffed. "As if they would have somehow learned their lesson and chose to not destroy this universe. I expected the humans to be coerced by his words—they always fall for the promise of longevity and immortality despite how terrible it is in reality. But you? What does it mean when a demon expects you to know better?"

"D-Demon?"

Ornias's glowing yellow eyes snapped to Finch on the floor. "Are you still here? My tolerance towards your presence will not last much longer, and I'm not in the mood to clean up any mess I make dealing with you."

Finch was quick to scramble away and Ornias rolled his eyes before pointing at the projector. It sparked and the Paradigm was turned off, allowing the overhead lights to turn back on with a flicker of Ornias's power.

"Are we done feeling sorry for ourselves now?" The demon questioned, raising a brow at the group that were now acting rather sheepish at his scolding. "I do believe it is never supposed to be the demon's job to save the day."

"We need to find a way to stop them," the Doctor declared, voice softer than he would have liked as he cleared his throat. "Come on."

The group hurried out and he gave Ornias a small glance.

"Thank you."

Ornias only scoffed. "Thanking a demon, what has the world come to?"

We'd ended up bumping into Mickey and one of the students on our way out and ducked into the cafeteria in an attempt to buy ourselves some time. The Krillitanes were fast though, blocking off our route out.

"Are they my teachers?" The student questioned, earning a wince from the Doctor.

"Yeah, sorry."

"We need the Doctor alive," Finch told his bat-like comrades. "As for the others, you can feast."

"Is that smart?" I questioned, stepping to the front of the group and causing Finch to hesitate. "I warned you once. Even let you run out a moment ago. Do you really want to test my patience?"

The Krillitanes looked to him for direction—although one was already quivering.

"You're on a leash," he spat.

"One of my own making," I added, eyes glowing gold as I smirked. "Feel free to test my restraint, Brother Lassa."

He bristled, though I could still taste the fear. "Kill him first."

"That's more like it," I purred, wings flaring out wide and horns appearing as I rolled my neck. "I suggest you take the others and go, Doctor. I'm a bit angry now and might make a mess."

"Don't kill them," he demanded, and I glanced at him from over my shoulder, eyes cold.

"I think we're a bit past that now, don't you?"

He winced, knowing I was right. They had killed students, teachers, and despite our multiple warnings, were now trying to kill us. I had tolerated them for the Doctor's sake but now even his mercy had run out. He gave me a small nod and began to herd the others towards the door.

"We won't let you!" Finch growled and a Krillitane flew towards them with a screech.

It had no chance. In a split second, I was between it and the Doctor, a hand wrapped around its throat. The moment the others were out of the room, the struggling creature went slack as a sharp "snap" echoed through the room.

"And here I thought you were intelligent," I sighed, dropping the corpse whose neck was now at an odd angle. "Challenging me was the biggest mistake you could have made."

Finch let out n inhuman screech and the rest of the Krillitanes rushed forward to try and avenge their fallen comrade. I dodged the first few easily, smiling as I untucked my feather and ran it over lips.

"I haven't used this since the Daleks."

Reaching into my pocket dimension, I pulled on a hilt and whipped a sword out just in time to plunge it through an approaching Krillitane. The creature screeched in pain only for a moment before I finished it off.

"Next," I hummed, tongue running along the blade as they swooped in again.

The fight lasted only a moment—if you could even call it a fight. They were far outmatched even without my sword. When I had finished though, a quick head count made me sigh.

"Two left. Finch and his right-hand. How annoying."

I flicked the blood off my sword and began to head to where I could sense the others, allowing the blade tip to drag on the tile. It was always fun to unnerve people when they knew I'd be coming. I could tell that Finch was near them though, and considered stepping in, only for the fire alarm to go off and hasty footsteps to approach. At least someone here is clever, I mused as the Doctor and others rushed around the corner with the robot dog, K9.

"Ornias!"

"Apologies. They snuck out while I dealt with the others."

The Doctor blinked though eyeing what was in my hand. "Is that a sword?"

"Hand-to-hand is tedious against that many." I shrugged and he stiffened as the alarm cut off.

"We need to get back to the kitchens."

"While there is a clear route through the cafeteria, I suggest going around," I offered, tucking my sword away. "I didn't bother to clean up."

They grimaced, but heeded my advice, entering the kitchen through a side door.

"They've been deadlock sealed," the Doctor informed us after scanning the barrels of Krillitane oil. "Finch must have done that. I can't open them."

"The vats would not withstand a direct hit from my laser," said K9," but my batteries are failing."

"Right. Everyone out the back door. K9, stay with me."

Rose and Sarah Jane left but I stayed until the Doctor noticed.

"Has Mickey gotten the kids out?"

I nodded. "It's just us and the last two Krillitanes."

"Then, head out with the others. I'll be with you soon."

I bobbed my head, tasting no lie, and stepped out the back door. The Doctor, true to his word, followed soon after and comforted Sarah Jane over the loss of her robot dog as the kitchen exploded. The Krillitanes were gone, but the woman's crying and the Doctor's melancholy attitude bothered me. Neither noticed me slip back into the school as the crowd of students cheered.

I ensured the burning cafeteria held no remainders of my dealing with the Krillitanes before moving into the kitchen. The fire did not bother me much, and it took some doing before I recovered what I could of K9, placing it in my pocket dimension. I sensed the Doctor heading for the Tardis then, and was quick to join them before they noticed I was gone. Sarah Jane and Mickey were nowhere to be found, and Rose had gone to change, leaving the Doctor and I together as he moved the Tardis elsewhere.

"We shouldn't have had to kill them," he muttered, drawing my eyes to his back.

"Are you under the impression that they would have listened to reason? Because I do believe you and I both attempted as much."

"No, it's just…" He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "There should have been another way."

I rolled my eyes, pulling out my feather and giving it a twirl as I opened my pocket dimension. "If you stop moping, I will give you what I collected."

"What?"

I reached in and pulled out the parts to K9, stunning him. "They might not all be there, but you and that woman refused to stop fussing."

"You… You went back and got him?" He breathed, stepping over and taking one of my hands.

It was slightly singed from having handled the hot metal, and I frowned at the Doctor's gentle touch.

"It will heal momentarily. Why do you always pout about my injuries?"

"I don't like people getting hurt, much less because of me."

I tugged my hand away. "I chose to do this. Your constant self-blame is really annoying."

He chuckled though, finally allowing me to relax a bit.

"Why is it that I wish for you to be pleased?" I asked him, earning a small soft smile.

"Well, when people form bonds and grow closer, they tend to enjoy the other being happy. I want to say it's only human, but neither of us are."

I hummed, moving to lean against the console beside him. "Is that what we are? Bonded?"

"In a way. I consider you a friend, and I'm sure Rose does too."

"A friend…" I haven't had a friend since…"

A memory of an angel and a woman flickered through my mind and the Doctor watched me thoughtfully.

"Did you… love her?" He asked and I tipped my head back with a hum.

"I don't know. It's hard for me, as a demon, to remember what it feels like to love and form bonds. But…" My expression softened. "I would have thrown my life away if it meant she was happy." I glanced at the surprised Doctor. "Is that what love is?"

"Oh, yes." He smiled, making me snort.

"Then, you best be careful, Doctor."

"Hm? Why?"

"No reason," I waved off, making for my room to rest after having used up my energy fighting the Krillitanes.

I already fight for his survival and I've started to care about his happiness as well. When does a bond turn to love, I wonder?