Thank you for all the amazing reviews so far! I'm glad everyone is enjoying this, and I hope you like this chapter…

Red Dragon

Chapter Twelve

Horus Dekla-Merzadar

"Master Flynn." Airise bowed before Derol, keeping her eyes on the floor, waiting for the flick of his hand to signal her to look up. After a few seconds he did, and she settled her unnatural pink eyes upon her employer. She waited patiently.

"Yes?"

"There is a message for you from one of your contacts. He is online now."

"Who?"

"Horus Dekla-Merzadar." Airise stated.

"Very well. I will come."

"Ah, Horus. It is good to see you again." Derol settled himself down comfortably in a chair, relaxing his back against the soft fabric. He smiled knowingly at his old friend. It had been a few years since they had last been in contact. Horus was known for his unorthodox methods upon his subjects and he had been jailed for a crime against a child that he had unwittingly tortured to death to get what he desired of her. However that was in the past.

Horus inclined his head in a gesture of respect. Unlike Derol, Horus was pure human and had originated from Earth. Horus' hair had once been red but was now streaked with grey. A few wrinkles lined his face, and he had sparkling blue eyes. "Derol, it's been a long time."

"So it has my friend." Derol responded, smiling lightly. "You got my message, I presume?"

"I did." Horus stroked his chin with long, lithe fingers. "And I must admit, your latest project intrigues me greatly."

"I thought it might."

"And it's genuine?"

"Definitely. My subject is a Time-Lord. That has been confirmed."

Horus nodded, assimilating the information. "Good. I wonder…" he trailed off letting Derol's curiosity rise.

"You wonder what?"

Horus smiled knowingly. "I think you know what I am asking."

"I do." Derol replied. "But how can I trust you?"

"You don't. You just have to assume that my intentions are honourable."

Derol nodded. "Since the incident in question is long in the past, I suppose I can allow you some time with my subject."

"Excellent." Horus clapped his hands in glee.

"He will be delivered to you within the next twelve hours. I trust you are in system?"

"I am." Horus confirmed.

"Until then." Derol closed the connection.

"I thought you didn't want anyone to know about me yet?" the Doctor asked wryly, rising one eyebrow as Derol stared at him through the glass panel.

Derol shrugged. "A few of my contacts deserved to know. I knew Horus would be interested and that he would respond. Much as I am wary of him, he is different from before. Though, if you wish to stay alive then you'd better not cross him. You know what will happen."

The Doctor shuddered, remembering the Chamber. That had not been a nice place. "I will keep your advice in mind."

"Good. I don't want to damage you too much. It'll be a shame otherwise." Derol sauntered off clearly finished for the time being.

He was escorted into the lab that Horus had on his private yacht. The Doctor tried to take an interest in his surroundings but he found it difficult to. He had a strange feeling that something was going to happen - and that he was not going to enjoy it at all. When he had been hauled from his 'new home' and forced to stand and walk, the Doctor had found it hard. Mostly due to the fact he hadn't used his legs in days. And it felt odd doing so. Thankfully his limbs had got used rather quickly to the sudden movement.

He was quickly placed in the centre of the lab, and forced inside a glass tube. Wires were attached to the bottom of it, leading to ugly looking machines. A man stood calmly in the corner watching, and waiting.

When the doors slid shut the Doctor focused his eyes upon the approaching figure who was staring at him with a mixture of awe ness and delightedness. The Doctor swallowed, trying to ignore the thread of fear that was slowly worming itself into his gut.

"So you are a Time-Lord, the last one of your kind." The man spoke softly, mesmerised as he circled the Doctor's small prison. "Fascinating. I have to admit I never thought I'd get the chance to actually see one, let alone have one to myself for a few hours."

I'm not liking this…

"Of course Derol Flynn believes that I just want a few tests…but that is not my intentions of course." The man gave a soft laugh. "He is a fool."

He began to walk round his lab stopping at various machines pulling levers and pressing a series of buttons or flipping switches. He looked up, a glint in his eye. "I don't suppose you have heard of me?"

"I doubt it." The Doctor replied.

"Horus Dekla-Merzadar."

"Never heard of you." The Doctor stated.

"Being a Time-Lord, I suppose you travel a bit?"

"You could say that."

"Good, good." Horus replied. He stepped back suddenly, crossing his arms. "Now I'm just running a few simple tests on you. See how you react with certain things."

Almost immediately the Doctor felt dizzy. He realised with some clarity that the tube he was in, was filling up with noxious fumes. He began to cough, blood splattering to the floor. His body convulsed and he struggled to breathe. Leaning heavily on the glass tube, the Doctor struggled to fight back against the fumes and the poison that was circulating his body.

With one last gasp of air he collapsed to the floor, blackness followed shortly after.

The Doctor glanced at Rose, his eyes meeting hers. "You're going to have to learn to control it."

"And how am I going to do that?" Rose asked, dumbfounded.

The Doctor shrugged. "I have no idea. It's something you're going to have to discover on your own."

Rose bit her lip. "Oh." She didn't know what to say.

The Doctor gave her a charming smile and his eyes were bright. "You'll manage. I trust completely in you to achieve this."

Rose woke, her cheeks wet with tears from before she had fallen into sleep. The words from her dream continued to echo through her mind. That conversation had taken place, before all this had started. He had faith in her and she was failing miserably in the task that he had set before her. He trusted her.

Swinging her legs over her bed Rose stood up, brushing out the crinkles from her clothing. Taking a brush she swept the tangles out of her hair, and then left her room, heading towards the Control Room. As she neared it, she heard the voices of Mickey and Martha further ahead and she slowed, curiosity overcoming her.

She knew it was wrong to listen in, but she couldn't help it. She had to know. Instinct drove her till she was close enough to the room. She slipped to the side of the corridor, hiding in the darkness. Her heart began to pump faster as the words sank through.

Words of mistrust.

Betrayal.

"…no longer have any trust in her." Mickey was saying. "After what she nearly did to you…" he sighed.

"It's obvious that she is letting herself be controlled." Martha spoke quickly, but then slowed as she considered the facts. "I don't want to judge Rose, but from what I can see, she's not listening to what the Doctor asked her to do."

"I know. I'm scared for her…I want her to be happy, but the way she is going I can see everything going wrong. I shouldn't judge Rose, but this Bad Wolf is playing with her mind, making her believe she can do things which she shouldn't be able to do. Flying the TARDIS for instance. That's the only thing that is useful for us, but when Rose loses control, we won't be able to do anything about it."

"We can't help her?"

"No. If the Doctor can't help her, how can we?"

There was slight hesitation in Martha's voice. "I shouldn't be suggesting this…but if everything comes to the worse, would you kill her to save her?"

Silence.

Rose's heart was beating fast, and she could feel anger searing through her. They were plotting against her. They would take her life for trying to help others.

Finally Mickey replied. "I would, but it would break my heart to do so."

The last part of the sentence didn't sink in, and Rose stepped out into the corridor, facing the control room. Her voice was filled with anger, and her eyes were shining red.

"You would take my life for trying to do what is right?" she demanded.

Mickey stood in front of Martha, protecting her. "I would if I had to, but I would hate doing it. If it was the only way to save you."

"You don't need to save me. I'm fine. I'm Rose Tyler." Yet the words sounded foreign to her tongue. "All I am trying to accomplish is to save the Doctor's life and you're working against me! How can I save him when you refuse to accept what I am?"

Mickey sighed, wariness creeping into his features. "Because you're not the Rose Tyler that I once loved."

She halted, the anger fading, but it lingered. "People change with time, Mickey. Get used to it." Then she turned and stalked away.

They don't trust me and now they seek to end my life.

Of course they do. They fear you. The Bad Wolf said. They fear what we are. What we can do. We're more powerful then them…it'll be easy to get rid of them.

Then I would be with the Doctor. And Martha wouldn't be able to take him from me. Rose thought. Though she had mulled over this issue time and time again, she realised with some clarity that was what she had believed Martha was doing. Now that she had heard her and Mickey conspiring against her, the theory seemed probable. The only option that Rose could discern as possible was to get rid of them.

Still that left a bad taste in her mouth. Get rid of them? That wasn't Rose Tyler, was it?

Yes it is. The Bad Wolf answered her question.

It knew her well.

There was something missing, she could feel it in her soul…but…

Before she could explore the feeling the Bad Wolf interrupted her train of thoughts. Those two are still useful to us. Keep them alive. Only when we know where the Doctor is, do we even consider ending their lives. Until that point…act normal.

Rose nodded. I will.

She hesitated before adding: I don't know where I'd be without you.

You'd be lost and confused.

Rose did not reply, but a part of her felt that everything that had transpired in the last day was wrong.

Something was not right. She could tell, but could not place her finger on it.

To Be Continued…

Hmmm, I wasn't too sure about this chapter...I think Rose might be a bit out of character, but I suppose with what is going on with her, that is alright, right? Please let me know what you think!

Next chapter is entitled: White and Red Light - This chapter is not yet completed, therefore I'm hoping to have it done over the weekend as well as the following chapter. If not, don't expect an update until Wednesday. If I do get a lot of writing done in the next few days I'll update on Monday night.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck by me.

Leila-Rose-Bell