Chapter Eight

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

The Doctor watched, as Rose looked around the empty room. After he had located the dream, he had mentally projected an image of himself into it so that he could observe and explore without being restricted by the dream's events. He came up behind Rose and watched her closely. Since it was just a dream, he went unobserved. He glanced around trying to determine the location of the dream. It was an old house, but it was unfamiliar to him. Still, he had a feeling that this house was more than just a random location. He had a feeling that it also tied in with everything else.

"Hello? Doctor, are you in here?"

"Rose."

The Doctor and Rose both looked over at the door.

"Doctor? Is that you?"

"Rose. Come to me."

The Doctor glanced at Rose's confused face. Even though the voice was faint he could still make out the Scottish accent, but that was because he had far better hearing than his companion.

"Doctor!"

"Rose, it's me. It's your beloved. Come to me."

The Doctor narrowed his eyes when his suspicions about the dream were confirmed. He knew now that this was no ordinary dream.

"Go to him, Rose, so I can get a good look at him," he said. "Guide me to him."

"I'm coming, Doctor!"

"Come to me, Rose. Come."

"At last, we can get to the bottom of this," the Doctor said.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed behind Rose while she followed the sound of the voice. He kept looking around trying to take in the layout of the house and commit it to memory.

They entered a room and Rose paused when she called out the Doctor's name again. He noticed the panicked look on her face and knew that she had finally figured out it wasn't him. He watched while she turned and stared in confusion at a spot behind him. Turning, he saw the door was missing. He glanced back at her, and his hearts ached as he saw the terror on her face. He longed to put her arms around her and hold her close, but he knew she wouldn't be able to feel him. Using his keen senses, he followed close behind her and watched while the other door and the two windows vanished from sight. There was a pause and then he heard her pounding on the wall.

"Doctor! Help me!"

The Doctor came up behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder wishing that she could feel him. He was standing behind her when suddenly he saw the wall illuminated in front of them and he turned with Rose to see a man holding a candle.

"Aha, so finally the mystery man reveals himself," the Doctor said.

"Who are…"

The Doctor glanced over at Rose when he noticed she didn't finish her sentence. She saw her frozen in place, her mouth hanging open ready to finish her question. He looked back at the man who was looking directly at him.

"I believe you've seen enough," he said. "Don't want you to know too much, at least not yet."

"Who are you and what do you want with Rose?" the Doctor said.

"My name is Ian," he said. "As for what I want with Rose."

He gave him an enigmatic smile.

"That will be revealed in time," he said.

"No, it will be revealed now."

He stepped closer to Ian.

"Or do you want me to get your little secret out of you the hard way?" the Doctor said.

Ian raised his eyebrow, and he stared at the Doctor impassively.

"I don't know who you are or how you got into Rose's dream," Ian said. "But you do not scare me. I have never feared anyone; no matter how powerful they claim to be and…"

He paused. The Doctor watched while he listened intently.

"Wait," Ian said.

He stepped closer to the Doctor.

"Your heartbeat, it's so strange."

He laid his fingers against the Doctor's jugular vein.

"Your pulse, it's almost as if you have two hearts beating inside of you," he said. "How fascinating."

He looked the Doctor over.

"You are able to project a complete mental projection of yourself into Rose's mind. You must be powerful indeed."

He smiled at him.

"Not to mention beautiful," he said, running his finger down the Doctor's cheek. "I can see why Rose fancies you."

The Doctor said nothing.

Ian stepped closer and stared into the Doctor's eyes.

"Such ancient eyes," he said. "Who are you, Doctor? Perhaps you are the one who needs to reveal the secret of your identity."

"You will leave Rose alone," the Doctor said. "You will depart from her mind and never come back. Do you understand me?"

"You didn't answer my question, Doctor. Who are you? What are you? Tell me and perhaps I'll deem you worthy enough to spend eternity at our side."

He stepped closer until he was inches from the Doctor's face.

"When I say "our" I mean me and Rose, of course," he added.

"Leave her alone," the Doctor said.

"She is so beautiful. It would be a shame to let her grow old and die, don't you think, Doctor?"

The Doctor shifted uncomfortably as thoughts of Mister Finch floated through his mind.

"A rare jewel like that deserves to live forever."

"As your slave?"

"Oh no, as my consort."

He stroked the Doctor's hair.

"And you could be with us, Doctor. I was going to let Rose destroy you, but you are also too beautiful to waste on death. Join us, Doctor. Bring Rose to me willingly, and the three of us will live as equals for all eternity."

"I'm warning you one more time and that's it. Leave Rose alone. She's with me. You don't want to make an enemy of me, trust me."

"And you don't want to make an enemy of me either, Doctor."

He walked past him and stood beside the frozen image of Rose.

"Look at her, Doctor. So innocent. Do you want to see her suffer for your resistance?"

The Doctor gritted his teeth, balled up his fists and started towards him.

"Stop right there! Or I will make your beloved scream."

The Doctor froze. He stared at Ian with hate while he walked back to him.

"At midnight tonight, I will summon Rose to me. I would love for you to come with us, Doctor but if you won't accept my offer, then you will let Rose come to me without a fight."

"Never."

"Oh really? I think you will, Doctor. I think you will let her go because otherwise this will be her fate."

He gestured to the dream image of Rose and it began to move again.

"…You?" Rose finished.

Ian put his hands on either side of her head and closed his eyes. The Doctor's hearts stopped when Rose let out an agonized scream. The scream lasted for a full minute before Ian let go of her head. Rose dropped to her knees. Ian gestured to it and the image froze once more.

"That is a small sample of what awaits Rose should you try to prevent her from coming to me, Doctor," he said. "I will have her as my bride even if I have to make you carry her screaming to my door. Join her, and come to me, and I will spare both of you and show you wonders you've never dreamed of."

"What? Live as vampires throughout eternity? Is that the "wonders" you're gonna show us?"

He smirked at Ian's surprised look.

"I know what you are. I've dealt with your kind before and won. So, if I were you, I wouldn't register at Tiffany's and get the personalized coffins just yet. You might be surprised at how much of a match we are."

"You'd risk Rose's mind to fight me?"

"I would and Rose would also want me to fight for her. She means the universe to me and I'm not about to lose her to a Lestat wannabe."

"We shall see, Doctor. We shall see how powerful you are when I get through with you. I will see you cowering at my feet begging me to spare you while my beloved makes you her first meal."

"Wow, what an active imagination you have. Anne Rice oughta hire you to write for her. I'd bet you'd make a fortune."

"How droll, Doctor. We will see how witty you are after tonight."

He smirked.

"And now, I believe your little fact finding mission must end. I have control of Rose's mind now and I order you to depart."

"Enjoy your "hold" on Rose's mind because it won't last," the Doctor said.

"Like I said, we shall see; and now my beautiful, little Doctor. It's time to go."

The Doctor jerked. He felt himself being pushed out of Rose's mind. He opened his eyes and dropped his fingers from Rose's temples.

"You will never have Rose. I will stop you even if I have to give up my life to do it."