Afternoon Lovely Readers!
I'm sorry this is late guys, I've just been feeling really sick lately which make writing hard.
Anyone who reviews this chapter will get an invisible basket of cookies! ;D
Enjoy!
~Bad Wolf~
The sun rose streaming warm light into Oswin's bedroom. Soft rays fell across the bed where Clara lays curled in a ball. She rolls over grinning into her pillow when the memory of last night resurfaces. It almost seems like a dream. She presses her fingertips to her lips imagining she can still feel John.
Clara knows getting involved with anyone is a terrible idea. She's trying to go home and once she does Clara will never see John again. The very thought hurts. This is all happening way too fast, yet all Clara can think about is kissing him again.
Last night John walked her to the end of the hall where Oswin's bedroom is located. He didn't dare go any farther in case someone saw them. If anyone found out the consequences would be severe to say the least. John is sworn to serve the Gray Court and stealing the Gray Prince's fiancée could get him killed. They're playing a dangerous game, one wrong move and everything will fall apart.
John promised to take Clara to see the oracle today. She resides in her own section of the castle cut off from the rest. People avoid her if at all possible; the idea of knowing the future scares them. Clara can't say she disagrees. But John said he met her a few times when she travels between the kingdoms and she's someone to trust. Like the witches, the oracle lives outside the governments. She can move freely. The fact that she chooses to reside in the Violet Kingdom has always been a point of contention.
Clara slips out from under the covers and heads towards the bathroom. She convinced the girls that she doesn't need help getting ready in the morning. Having them wait on her is ridiculous. Clara isn't any better than them. Also she's not an invalid.
She takes her time getting dressed. Washing her face and combing her hair. And telling herself this isn't because she's going to see John again. He has nothing to do with it. It takes several minutes of searching the closet full of more chiffon and silk than New York fashion week to find something that could even be considered casual.
It's a simple tunic style dress in deep burgundy. It comes with a pair of dark legging that have little brass buttons running up the side. Clara slips it on hoping the outfit won't get her in trouble. It was in the closet so…
Anxiety is building in her chest making Clara feel like a teenager on her first date all over again. Blasted hormones. They make Clara's mind go all sorts of places it shouldn't. She wants more than to kiss John. She wants to hear him whisper her name in the dark; she wants to know the feel of him. And it's more than that. Clara wants him in a way she's never experienced before. She wants to wake up next to him, to hear about his day, to curl up on the couch and watch a movie - or whatever it is they do here.
Clara bites her lip. It's an alarming revelation. She shouldn't get attached, she should avoid John completely. But Clara doesn't think she can. She's standing at a precipice and no matter what direction she takes Clara is going to fall. It's only a question of how hard.
John is waiting for her at the stone bench in the courtyard. It's a safe neutral location, there's nothing suspicions about going to the gardens. He jumps to his feet when he sees her ears turning red. She smiles and checks to see if anyone is nearby. Their section of the garden is empty and secluded by trees and hedges. Clara can feel the tension leave her body when she steps closer to John.
"Hey." she says simply. She doesn't know what else to say, words aren't enough to convey what Clara's thinking. It sounds silly and she knows it.
He chuckles, giving a crooked smile, "Hey."
Hesitantly Clara stands on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his lips. This is the exact opposite of avoiding attachment, but she can't find it in herself to care at the moment. Especially when John is kissing her back, arms encircling her waist. It's gentle and sweet, and Clara melts into it. It's also far too short. She leans back leaving her palms resting against his chest.
"I'd be a much better morning person if that's how I was normally greeted." John smiles. "Usually I wake up to Donna yelling."
Clara feels an unexpected twinge of jealousy. "Donna?" she asks hoping to sound nonchalant.
"Oh that's right you haven't met Donna." he says enthusiastically. "She's my partner, the other Gray Knight. Just like how Ten and Mickey are here."
Clara remembers the red-head she saw when she first arrived, that must be Donna since she was wearing the same uniform. Clara is momentarily distracted by something else John says, "Wait, someone's name is Ten?"
"His actual name is David, but he's the tenth Violet Knight named David so everyone just calls him Ten."
"Okay..."
John continues, "I have to introduce you to Donna. She'll like you, I know."
The way he's speaking sooths some of her jealousy. John talks about Donna the way one does a sister or a best friend.
"Sounds like a plan." She agrees.
John just kind of stares at her for a moment which makes Clara lightheaded. Seeming to comeback to himself, he takes one of her hands in his own. Their fingers intertwine as if they were made for each other. Clara is starting to feel like she's fallen into some fluffy romance novel. No way this is real life. L - No she isn't going to call it that - anything at first sight just doesn't happen. Not really.
"Rose is expecting us." he says leading out of the courtyard. "She's really interested in meeting you."
"The oracle has a name?"
John glances over at her with a raised eyebrow. "Why wouldn't she have a name?"
"How should I know?" Clara mutters, flushing slightly. "We don't exactly have oracles where I come from."
"Her name is Rose Tyler and … well I'll let her explain the rest."
Clara follows John through the corridors constantly looking over her shoulder to see if they are being watched. They pass a few servants and keep what they hope looks like a normal distance between them. Eventually they reach a wing that is completely disserted. It doesn't even look like it gets cleaned much. A light coating of dust rests on every surface.
John stops in front of a door with the head of a wolf painted on it. Clara shivers remembering the nightmares in the Lost Woods. He knocks four sharp raps and the door opens. Rusted hinges screech. There's no one on the other side.
"And now it's a Scooby-do episode." Clara mumbles liking this less and less every second.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Don't worry it's fine." John says taking her hand again.
Inside is the strange mixture of somebody's attic and a botanical garden. Plush chairs, glass lamps, and flowers are literally everywhere. The room is set up similar to an apartment with separate spaces for the living area, bedroom, bath, and tiny kitchenette. The place was obviously designed so Rose wouldn't have to leave it much.
The whole back wall of the living room is comprised of thick paned windows. A door opens up to a lush brick walled garden. It gives the illusion of one continuous space. There's also absolutely nothing threatening about the place.
"Clara!" calls a female voice from the garden. "Please come in."
Winding her way through the furniture and flowers Clara spots a young woman. She's sitting beside a well with a table set out for tea. She has a wide smiling mouth, large expressive eyes, and honey colored hair. Dressed in a long, cream, empire waist shift with a gold circlet, inset with what appears to be moonstones, resting on her head the girl makes a beautiful - if surreal picture.
"You must be Rose?" Clara says taking the seat she offers.
"And you're the impossible girl." Rose nods, "I saw you coming."
Clara glances at John whose busy pouring the tea. "You did?"
"Yes. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you arrived. I had no idea when you'd be coming, just that you would. " she frowns, "Time gets a bit confusing sometimes."
Clara nods and takes a sip of the tea John hands her, because she doesn't know what else to do. Rose is very friendly, but she still doesn't know what's going on yet.
"Do you know how to get her home?" John asks.
"Not yet." Rose hedges, "It hasn't told me that."
"It?"
"The spirit of time: the Bad Wolf. I'm its vessel, just as my mother was before me and her mother before her. It may not be the best gig in the universe, but what are you going to do?"
Rose finishes her tea than gets to her feet. She leans against the wishing well, peering down into its depths. Clara thinks she looks tired and in more than just the physical since. How much has this gift cost her? Rose is alone and cut off from the world and by the sounds of it she had no choice it the matter.
Its something she can understand.
Rose looks up at Clara, "I can't promise anything, but we can try asking it."
"Alright." She gets up to stand beside Rose on instinct.
Rose closes her eyes and breathes in and out slowly. Clara and John don't move afraid of distracting her from whatever it is she's doing. The air starts to get warmer, thicker. Clara takes a step back towards John.
Rose opens her eyes and they are no longer her own. Yellow, bright like the sun, and glowing with power. The woman's face is blank and expressionless.
"I am the Bad Wolf."