Another chapter for you to read….please enjoy!

Red Dragon

Chapter Eleven

The Losing Battle

Carefully Rose splashed water onto her face. The coldness refreshed her, making her feel at peace. She sighed, drying her face with a small towel before taking a brush and gently untangling her hair. Rose had been aware that something had changed in her physical appearance when she had killed that creature but now there was no evidence of it. Her eyes had returned to their normal colour. She didn't know whether Mickey or Martha had seen what she had looked like but it scared her more that they were wary of her, distrustful. She had felt herself changing.

"Rose?"

The voice startled her and she spun. Mickey stood in the doorway, his eyes dull.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, not wanting to show any weakness in front of him. "I'm fine."

Silence fell between them. The awkwardness made Rose feel edgy.

A few minutes passed before Mickey dared to speak again. "You scared Martha today." He stated.

"I know." She bowed her head. "I didn't mean to…but I couldn't leave that poor creature to suffer. It had known nothing of love - just pain. I couldn't……" she trailed off.

"I'm worried about you Rose. You've told us about the Bad Wolf and what it's doing to you. It may be helping us in some form but it's slowly destroying you. The end result will not be what the Doctor wants of you."

"And how would you know that?" Rose snapped. She hadn't meant to say it so forcefully, but the mention of the Doctor had risen her emotions. She knew she was failing him, but in order to succeed in saving him, she had to fail him.

"You have to figure that out on your own. We can't help you beat this Rose. But if you continue as you are, you risk losing the companionship of Martha and myself, as well as the Doctor. He wouldn't want you to do this for his benefit."

"It's the only way." Rose replied. "If I could do something else I would, but I can't. I'm sorry Mickey, but this is how things have got to be. If the Doctor hates me because of it, so be it. At least I know he will be safe." She turned away before the tears that were building in her eyes could fall. "Just go."

She heard Mickey's footsteps fade as she settled herself on the edge of her bed. Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she was unaware of them.

Sometime later Rose woke.

I must have fallen asleep. She didn't remember falling asleep, but she instinctively knew that she had been crying, even of she could barely remember it. Rose stifled a yawn, swinging her legs over from the bed and planting them down on the deck. She pushed herself up and glanced at herself in her mirror.

I look terrible.

As she examined herself, Rose became aware of a red glint in her pupils. It was dull, but was definitely there. Then, with sudden velocity they glowed and the voice of the Bad Wolf echoed in her mind.

I trust you had a good sleep?

Rose did not answer. Though her decision in the lab had forced her to merge with the Bad Wolf, she did not feel inclined to play by its rules. If she could hold out long enough until they found the Doctor, then it might be possible for her to beat the Wolf. All she had to do was keep control, and the way things were rapidly happening, she felt that she was losing it fast.

You can't ignore me forever Rose. We are one now. We are joined. You will kill us if you continue to play this game. We can't be one if we do not speak. Everything we do must be based on our decisions.

My decisions, Rose vehemently replied. We may be joined together but that doesn't mean I have to talk to you.

But we'll die.

At least then you can leave me in peace, she replied.

But what about the Doctor? Would you really leave him when he needs you?

Rose remained silent. She had known for a long time that she loved him, but the question of whether he returned her love still plagued her. She knew there was something there, but his past was holding him back. She didn't was to lose him, but her actions of late only proved that she was not worthy of his love. He wouldn't want her after what she had done. Merging with the Bad Wolf had not been his intentions. He wanted her to fight it, but she had failed.

Despite that fact, Rose knew that whatever happened, she would not die until the Doctor was safe. She could not turn back.

Not now.

Not ever.

Once again Derol strode in to the glass cell through the side door, nodding slightly at the Doctor. He did not bother with formalities, instead he launched right into the conversation that Flynn had obviously been planning since he had last seen him after his session in the Chamber.

"I trust you learnt your lesson?" his tone was smooth, and his eyes showed a thunder that meant: Cross me and you'll pay.

Even the Doctor did not wish to irk his captor. He decided a safe answer would be best. "Yes." His teeth chattered as he shivered.

"You're cold." Derol stated.

The Doctor snorted. "Glad you noticed." Then the inevitable came. The Doctor could not keep his mouth shut as he continued speaking. "Though it might be nice if you actually said that it was your fault I'm cold since you robbed me of my shirt. You try being chained to a pole."

Silence.

Derol stared, anger evident in his eyes.

Oh shit.

But what he was expecting never came.

"I suppose I was a little harsh on you," Derol replied in that smooth tone, the anger in his eyes having faded to be replaced with a little bit of compassion. He turned to one of his guards, a Kryptalion that was tall and thin, walking on six legs with two arms. It's large round eyes focused upon its employer as he spoke. "Go and retrieve the subject something warm to wear." He waited until the guard had scuttled out the room, before Derol refocused his attention on the Doctor.

"I can't have you dying out on me too soon, can I Doctor? Imagine if my prize died…" he trailed off.

"It wouldn't help you after all." The Doctor continued his unfinished sentence.

Flynn nodded. "Exactly." He crouched down so that his face was mere inches from his prisoner's. "But do be careful in future. If you dare cross me, I will not show any compassion towards you again. I do not wish to harm you, but if you force my hand, then I will. You've been warned." Then he departed.

Dreams plagued him that night, though he rarely remembered them. This time he did. What he saw scared him.

Rose stood opposite him, her brown eyes fading to be replaced with red. "I'm sorry. I'm not strong enough to beat this. Not without you."

"Rose!" The Doctor shouted her name. "Don't do this! I need you!"

But the Rose Tyler he had fallen in love with was no longer there. Red eyes flashed and he knew she was gone, consumed by the evil that had enslaved her. He felt tears welling up, but he refused to let them fall.

Rose stepped forward. "I no longer need you. I am what I need to be. You mean nothing to me and you never did."

A cackle of laughter and then…

The Doctor had woken at that point in time, drenched in sweat. Even before he had become fully aware, the Doctor knew the significance of that dream. Rose was failing, she was falling.

No, he thought, she has fallen. His head sagged as the truth hit him. He had hoped that Rose might be able to contain the Bad Wolf. He swallowed. He couldn't lose her, not now, not like this.

Where would I be without Rose? he wondered. She had taught him to love again, shown him that love was worth the risks. And I never told her how much she means to me.

And now it was too late.

She stood in a chamber, one that was dark and Rose was sure that if she was physically there she would be able to smell a horrid stench. She swallowed. The door opened, and Rose watched as a figure was dragged in by three others, she was certain that the man was the Doctor.

Her fear was confirmed as he was hauled onto a metallic table. Two of the figures held him down as a third sharpened a cruel looking knife that glinted in the light. Rose's eyes widened as she watched the man cut the Doctor's skin, shedding blood. He began to look pale, and his breathing became laboured. She realised that if they carried on he would die.

But they did not stop. They laughed cruelly, taunting him. She tried to shut her ears out, knowing it was futile. Blood dripped to the floor, and with one final cut the figure hurting the Doctor stopped, and threw it to the floor. Then he walked over to a corner where a cauldron stood. Hot liquid bubbled away inside. Scooping it up in a goblet, the figure returned to the Doctor's side and began to pour it over the wounds he had caused.

From his mouth came a scream of pure agony as the liquid burnt the wounds together.

Rose could not deny the horror that spread across her face. Her eyes widened and she took a step forward, knowing that this was not real - it couldn't be - but all the same she wanted to help. As she reached out a hand grab the goblet from the figures fingers, she found she could not.

She was not there, but still she was seeing this.

Rose closed her eyes trying to block out the image before her and…

Rose woke, panting in the darkness. It was a dream. All a dream. It had to be.

And yet the feeling inside her was telling her it had been real; it had happened. And it was her fault. The instinct to blame herself came naturally. Whatever happened to the Doctor, Rose doubted she would ever forgive herself.

In her heart, Rose knew it was her fault.

She was causing the Doctor his pain.

And she could do nothing to prevent it.

Martha watched Rose with some concern in her eyes. The blonde that she can recently come to call a friend had changed. Yes, they barely knew each other, but both had spent time getting to know the other. Martha watched Rose as she walked towards the console. Standing across from her, Martha viewed the movements Rose made as she adjusted the controls.

Then, in the briefest of seconds Martha saw the red in Rose's eyes. She did not comment but watched. The TARDIS settled into the natural pattern of the Time Vortex, which would take them to the next planet where Derol Flynn had another home located. Rose stepped away from the console, the red in her eyes faint, but she glared at Martha.

"You think you're so special don't you?" Rose spat.

Martha jumped. She glanced over her shoulder to where Mickey was, but he was gone. She was alone with Rose. The way the other girl was staring at her made Martha feel a little uneasy.

"No answer?" Rose continued. "I should've expected it really. What the Doctor saw in you is beyond me."

Martha stepped back, calling over her shoulder, while keeping one eye on Rose who was steadily advancing. "Mickey!"

"He won't come." Rose replied. "You know what, why don't I do everyone a favour and get rid of you?"

"Rose…" Martha trailed over, unsure of what action to take. She knew that this was not Rose. The power that was consuming her was threatening her. The Rose she had first met would never do that. Perhaps Rose had been jealous that she had been a companion while she and the Doctor had been separated and the Bad Wolf had grasped on that fact?

"Don't speak to me!" shouted Rose. "I know why you're here. You want to take him from me, don't you?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Of course you do, bitch. You already took Mickey, now you want MY Doctor." The red was flaring in Rose's eyes.

"No, I don't!"

"Liar!" Rose bellowed. "I can see into your head! You a worthless thief, that's what you are! I won't let you take him from me! He's MINE!"

Martha swallowed. This was not Rose. This was the Bad Wolf scrambling Rose's mind, making her believe what it told her. And now she was bent on getting rid of the threat that she saw Martha as. "MICKEY!" she shouted more urgently.

Rose was almost upon her, reaching out her hands to clasp her pale fingers round her neck. Martha choked and -

"ROSE!"

A male voice.

Mickey.

Instantly the fingers left her throat. Martha stumbled back, her eyes rooted firmly on Rose's flushed cheeks. Her eyes were normal, but a red tint remained. But she could see that this was Rose, not the possessed one that she had been facing.

Rose was staring at her hands, shaking uncontrollably. Then, with a look of horror on her face, Rose fled from the control room, leaving Mickey and Martha alone.

Huddling up to Mickey, Martha allowed herself to embrace the cuddle he gave her. She felt safe in his arms.

But everything had changed.

They were all in danger.

Especially Rose.

Staring at herself in the mirror was the only way Rose could see the monster she was slowly becoming. The red tint in her eyes glared at her. Though the Wolf was not speaking to her, it was active within her.

Why did you make me attack Martha? she asked. It was a simple question and she fully expected a simple answer.

Because Martha wants what you want.

Rose snorted. Hardly. I'm not jealous of her.

Yes you are. You haven't admitted it yet, but I can see your inner thoughts. You are afraid of losing the Doctor to her, the Bad Wolf was speaking softly. Yet you don't believe it.

You do know me well, Rose replied.

Of course. We are one.

I wish we weren't, she responded.

I tell you the truth. What you did, you did on your own. When you controlled the TARDIS your thoughts were thinking of Martha and the Doctor. I know this and you know this. We know it.

Rose swallowed. She lowered her eyes so that she wasn't staring at her reflection - at her other self in retrospect. The memories were hazy but she realised with a sick feeling in her stomach that she had felt jealous of Martha. But it wasn't for the reasons the Bad Wolf said and what she had accused Martha of.

She was jealous that Martha had someone to love.

And that was Mickey. She could see the affection in her eyes. Rose craved the relationship that was slowly brewing between the two herself, but with the Doctor. Without him, she felt nothing.

The Bad Wolf was right. She was jealous, but not in the way it would have her believe. It was manipulating her, forcing her to act, making her think things she wouldn't dare to believe, and very slowly it was winning.

She could feel it in her soul.

The battle that she had once been winning, was now a lost cause.

Within time I will be consumed.

There was nothing she could do; Rose realised that now.

To Be Continued…

Please let me know what you think! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for all the reviews so far!

Next chapter is entitled: Horus Dekla-Merzadar - in which a new character is introduced…coming soon.

Until next time,

Leila-Rose-Bell