Rita winced when Rory pressed an ice pack against her head "Why did you do that?" She whined.
"Sorry had to shut you up some how." Aderyn said. Though there was no hint of genuine apology in her tone. She sat awkwardly on a chair in the restaurant, jiggling her leg constantly and drumming her fingers against the bar in a regular, constant pattern. The Doctor stared at her fingers. That was a pattern she shouldn't know. His blood ran cold. There was only one person that beat had ever been associated with. She shouldn't know the drums of war.
"Where did you hear that?" He demanded.
"What? Hear what?" Aderyn said. The Doctor pointed at her fingers which were still tapping out the beat. Aderyn shrugged "My publisher. She usually taps it out during meetings. Kinda gets stuck in my head."
She? Ah, that's ok. Must be a horrible coincidence then. The Doctor breathed a small sigh of relief.
"So what are we going to do?" Amy asked "Is it going to come after Rita again or skip over her and come for me instead?"
"I don't know." Aderyn said.
"How did you even know who was going to be next?" River snapped. She was really starting to get annoyed with how much friendly attention Aderyn was starting to show towards Rita and yet seemed unphased by Amy's potential demise.
"Because I worked it out. Smaller beliefs, like luck or conspiracies, are easy. They're nothing. It's too easy for someone to believe that they've lucked out or been kidnapped by the CIA. They're the easy ones to pick off. But religion is complicated. It's harder to believe in a God or a Devil," Aderyn waved her hands casually as though she were having a conversation about something as mundane as the weather "However, the belief in people is something different. It's a belief that works away at you over a long period of time. In your case Amy, you have a deep seated belief that the Doctor will save you."
"What about you? What do you believe in? It's not come after you yet." Amy snapped.
"I don't believe in luck, or fate, or a God or anyone. I used to. But not anymore," Aderyn said quietly. "It's easier that way."
River watched Aderyn carefully. She was a bundle of nervous energy. And in her head, something clicked into place. "Aderyn, in that note the TARDIS got, at the end..." River started.
"I know," Aderyn interrupted "Like I said, I used to believe."
"But what did you believe in?" Rita asked. She had only known Aderyn for a short period of time, but already she felt like she knew her well. She found it hard to believe that Aderyn had believed in anything or anyone. She was fiercely independent and a little bit snappy.
"It doesn't matter. All that matters is I don't now and I don't know how to get out of here." Aderyn muttered.
A door behind the bar opened and they all jumped. Madame Korvarian stepped through. But Aderyn noticed something weird. That door should have lead to the kitchen area. However, behind Madame Korvarian, Aderyn could see what looked like a console room of a ship or base. Madame Korvarian stared at her and smiled knowingly. The Doctor, River and Amy looked at Aderyn. But she wasn't paying much attention anymore. She was rummaging through her pockets. She took a vortex manipulator out of her pocket, punched in coordinates then gave it to Rita.
"This is a vortex manipulator. When everything is sorted, which it will be, you'll be able to use this. Just put it on your wrist and press the button." With that Aderyn walked towards Madame Korvarian and pushed passed her, through the door.
"You, Doctor. That's what she believed in. And you failed her again." Madame Korvarian said. She then backed away from the door and closed it.
The Doctor was the first to reach the door. He yanked it open and found himself looking at an untidy kitchen.
"Where is she? Where did she go?" River said. She followed the Doctor into the kitchen, looking this way and that. But Aderyn was no where to be seen.
"I don't know but it's not good. Madame Korvarian has something to do with this. Right now we have to get out of here and find her. Wherever she is, she's likely to be in trouble."
"Praise him."
The Doctor and River walked out of the kitchen and stared in horror at Amy.
"Praise him." She said again.