Chapter Text
Time of the Angels Part 2
They were eventually led to an opening in the ground. Everyone climbed down the ragged rope ladder, everyone except Seraphina. She simply leapt into the darkness, landing lightly on her feet with a deliberate flare of drama.
River shook her head. She had forgotten how much Seraphina liked to show off, especially when it meant one-upping the Doctor. She glanced over at him just in time to catch his reaction: his mouth had fallen open, but he snapped it shut before Seraphina could notice.
The instant Seraphina's boots hit the stone floor, the feeling slammed into her. Her stomach twisted hard, the same unease she'd sensed in the room with the angel now magnified a thousandfold. Every instinct screamed at her to stay alert. She had yet to move rom the landing spot, senses razor-sharp.
River moved to her side. "Phina, you okay?" River could have kicked herself at slip of the nickname.
Seraphina barely registered the old nickname. "Yeah. Fine."
"Do we have a gravity globe?" the Doctor asked, not really aiming the question at anyone.
"Grav globe," Octavian echoed. One of his soldiers pulled one from his pack and passed it over. Octavian handed it to the Doctor.
The Doctor gave a quick nod of thanks, then kicked the globe high into the air. It flared to life near the ceiling, bathing the vast chamber in a soft, steady glow and revealing a sprawling maze of stone structures and silent statues.
Seraphina stared at them. The figures were weathered and broken, their faces worn away to nothing, yet something about them tugged at her, wrong and insistent.
"Where are we? What is this?" Amy asked, turning slowly.
"It's an Aplan Mortarium," River said. "Sometimes called the Maze of the Dead."
"Sounds even less cheerful the second time," Seraphina muttered. She finally moved, coming to stand beside the Doctor.
"Mmm. Yes. Well, if you happen to be a creature made of stone—" he began, glancing down at her, "—this is the perfect hiding place."
Seraphina's gaze drifted back to the statues. The feeling only grew stronger; her instincts were screaming.
"I guess this makes it a bit trickier," Octavian remarked, scanning the stone figures with clear unease.
"Well, it doesn't make it any easier," Seraphina said under her breath. The Doctor nodded in quiet agreement.
Octavian looked between them. "A stone angel loose among stone statues." He shook his head. "A lot harder than I prayed for. Still, with your guidance, I'm sure we'll be led well." He gave Seraphina a respectful nod before turning back to his men.
She didn't like that at all. She wasn't here to lead anyone.
"A needle in a haystack," River murmured, steering the conversation back to the statues.
"A needle that looks like hay," the Doctor picked up. "A hay-like needle of death. A hay-alike needle of death in a haystack of, er, statues—"
"Stop there," Seraphina cut in smoothly. "Hers was fine."
"Thank you, Angel," River called out, the corner of her mouth twitching.
The Doctor rolled his eyes conceding. "Fine. Hers was better."
"Right," Octavian said, turning sharply to his men. "Check every single statue in this chamber. You know what you're looking for. Complete visual inspection."
"Excuse me," Seraphina called out, stepping forward before he could continue. Octavian paused, pivoting toward her. "Just a suggestion, maybe don't let them stray too far. They should still search for the Angel, but stay close, move in pairs, and check in with us every few minutes."
She waited for him to brush her off. Instead, he gave a crisp nod.
"Yes, ma'am." He turned back to the soldiers. "You heard her. Pairs, stay close, report in every few minutes."
Seraphina blinked, caught off guard. Maybe leading wasn't so bad after all.
The Doctor approached with a grin, slipping his hand into hers. "Well, look at you getting all commanding," he mused, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. "Nice. Come along, Angel." He tugged her forward, Amy falling into step behind them.
River started to follow when Octavian caught her arm, pulling her back just far enough for a private word.
"They don't know yet, do they?" he growled low in her ear. "Who and what you are?"
"It's too early in their time streams," River replied through gritted teeth.
"Well, make sure they don't work it out," he warned, "or they're not going to help us."
River scoffed. "I won't let you down. Believe you me, I have no intention of going back to prison." She leaned in closer. "And for future reference—I know Seraphina better than I know myself. She would never not help me. Remember that... or you'll find out exactly what it feels like to be on the wrong side of her when you get between her and the people she loves."
She yanked her arm free and strode after the others without another glance.
Amy walked a few paces behind Seraphina and the Doctor, the soft glow of the gravity globe casting long shadows across the stone floor. Something gritty stung her eye. She blinked hard and rubbed at it with her fingertip. When she pulled her hand away, a tiny speck of grit glinted on her skin. Alarm flickered through her. She stopped dead, staring at her fingers, only to find the grit had vanished. She glanced up, ready to call out to Seraphina, then shook her head. It was nothing. Just dust.
River fell into step beside her, noticing the sudden halt. "You all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Amy said with a shrug. "So what exactly is a Maze of the Dead?"
"Oh, it's not as bad as it sounds," River replied lightly. "It's just a labyrinth with dead people buried in the walls." She paused, then winced. "Okay... that was fairly bad. Right, give me your arm." She held up a small syringe, offering Amy a reassuring smile. "This won't hurt a bit."
Amy yelped the instant the needle went in. "Ow!" She shot River a glare. "You lied." It hurt like a bitch.
River chuckled. "There. Viro-stabiliser." She glanced ahead to where Seraphina and the Doctor walked hand in hand, a mischievous spark lighting her eyes. She saw her chance. "Angel," she called, voice warm and teasing, "I need you for a sec."
She beckoned with a coy smile. The Doctor's grip tightened on Seraphina's hand for half a heartbeat before he let go with a low growl. Seraphina slipped away to join River, and the Doctor turned sharply the other way, pretending sudden fascination with the device in his palm. He fiddled with the settings, jaw tight, but his ears stayed tuned to every word behind him. River knew exactly what she was doing, and damn it, it was working.
"You called for me?" Seraphina asked, walking over to River and stopping just in front of her.
"Always," River grinned. "I need to give you a shot too. Your human side hasn't been exposed to any of this yet—radiation, drive burn, that sort of thing. You're not immune to it all yet." She offered an apologetic smile, gently taking Seraphina's arm and pressing the syringe to her skin. The liquid slid in with a quick sting. "Sorry, Angel."
Seraphina shifted her weight, tilting her head as she studied River. "You calling me Angel really gets under his skin... doesn't it?"
River smirked and leaned in closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "That's exactly why I do it."
Seraphina felt heat bloom across her cheeks. Between River and the Doctor, the pair had an uncanny knack for flustering her, and she still wasn't sure whether she liked it or not.
River's smirk deepened, clearly delighted. "There's that flush I love to see on you. I love it when those innocent eyes of yours come out to play... makes it so much more enjoyable when I catch the version of you that isn't so innocent."
Seraphina swallowed, momentarily at a loss for words. Amy's knowing smirk wasn't helping. "I'm beginning to see that you are trouble, future Professor Song," she managed at last, trying and failing to keep the flustered edge out of her voice.
"Oh, Seraphina," River replied, voice dripping with flirtation as she gave her a wink, "I'm exactly your kind of trouble."
Seraphina let out a soft laugh. This woman had a gift for always staying one step ahead—must be nice, having the future on your side.
"Yes, we are," River added suddenly, then tilted her head toward the Doctor, who was clearly listening in. She motioned Seraphina in his direction.
"Sorry, what?" he asked, far too casually.
Seraphina rolled her eyes at the blatant attempt to look innocent. "Talking about you." River added with a knowing look making, Amy giggle.
"I wasn't listening. I'm busy." The Doctor retorted, She walked over and plucked the handheld device from his grasp, turning it the right way up. "If you're going to eavesdrop, at least don't make it so obvious. Pretty sure that's supposed to be the other way up."
The Doctor flushed bright red and gave her an embarrassed grin. "Yeah... thanks, Angel."
Amy burst out laughing. "Oh, you three are so together in the future."
Seraphina shot her a look. "That should not be your focus here, Amelia. There's a Weeping Angel on the loose."
Before Amy could reply, the Doctor hooked his arm through Seraphina's and steered her forward again.
River shook her head fondly. "Oh, Amy, Amy, Amy. This is the Doctor and Seraphina we're talking about. If only it were that simple with the Doctor and our Angel. Do you really think it is?"
"Yep," Amy said cheerfully.
River sighed, a smile tugging at her lips. "You're good. I'm not saying you're right... but you're good."
The Doctor glanced down at Seraphina as they walked, noticing the faint tension in her shoulders. "You all right, Angel?"
"Hm? Yeah," she nodded. "It's just... there's something about these statues. I keep feeling like they're calling out to me."
He raised an eyebrow; that wasn't the tension he'd expected. "I was actually asking about back there with River, but never mind that for now. What do you mean, calling out to you?"
"It's like with the star whale, when it was crying out for help. Only this time... I don't think it's help they're asking for. It's more like—"
Gunfire cut her off. Two sharp cracks—BANG! BANG!
The Doctor's eyes widened. He grabbed Seraphina's hand and they sprinted back toward the others. When they reached the group, one of the young clerics stood staring at a bullet-riddled statue, face pale and hands trembling.
"Sorry... sorry," he stammered. "I thought... I thought it looked at me."
Octavian glowered at him. "We know exactly what the Angel looks like." He jabbed a finger at the damaged statue. "Is that the Angel?"
"No, sir," the cleric answered quietly.
"No, sir, it is not," Octavian snapped. "According to the Doctor and Seraphina, we are facing an enemy of unknowable power and infinite evil one that has turned against the Lord Himself. So it would be very good if we could all remember to remain calm in the presence of décor!"
Seraphina felt the young cleric's fear like a physical wave raw, human, and aching brushing against the angelic part of her that always reached out to soothe pain. She stepped forward without hesitation and laid a gentle hand on his arm. A faint warmth flowed from her palm, subtle and comforting, easing the tremor in his muscles.
"Yelling at him isn't going to help," she said, her voice soft yet carrying quiet authority as she spoke "Being scared is part of being human. It comes in all shapes and sizes. Amy was terrified of a spider in the bathtub once, and I don't judge her for it."
"In my defence, it was a very big spider," Amy muttered.
"Fear isn't real," Seraphina continued, her eyes meeting the cleric's with deep, unwavering compassion. "It's only a story your mind tells you in the dark. Danger is real, yes but fear is a choice. And no one should ever shame you for feeling it. Not here. Not ever." She gave his arm a gentle squeeze, letting another pulse of that quiet, angelic warmth sink in. "You're doing your best in a place that would terrify anyone with a heart. That courage matters more than you know."
The cleric's shoulders loosened under her touch, the panic in his eyes softening into something closer to relief. "Thank you, ma'am," he whispered, voice steadier now.
The Doctor stepped up beside her, pride glowing in his expression as he gave her hand a warm squeeze. "She's right. What's your name?"
"Bob, sir."
A genuine smile broke across the Doctor's face. "Ah, that's a great name. I love Bob."
"It's a sacred name," Octavian explained, still avoiding Seraphina's gaze. "All of us are given sacred names in service to the Church."
"Sacred Bob," the Doctor teased lightly. "More like Scared Bob now, eh?"
Bob managed a small, genuine smile, the last of the tension melting away. "Yes, sir."
"Every word my Angel said was right," the Doctor declared, loud enough for Octavian to hear. "And you should remember it. Scared keeps you fast. Anyone in this room who isn't scared is a moron." He shot Octavian a meaningful look. "Carry on."
He took Seraphina's hand again and led her forward into the maze.
Octavian watched them go, jaw tight. He was not winning any points with either of them today. "We'll be moving deeper into the maze in a few minutes," he announced to the group, then turned to Bob. "You stay here with Christian and Angelo. Guard the approach."
Seraphina and the Doctor led the way deeper into the maze, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone.
"I've never seen the big deal about mazes," Seraphina said, glancing around at the towering walls of statues. "I don't get how they're even supposed to be fun."
"Have a bad experience with one, Angel?" the Doctor asked, shooting her a curious look as they walked.
"Not really. My uncle Gabe took Amy, Mels, and me to one once. I found the exit in under five minutes." She shrugged. "Pretty boring after that."
"Oh, I remember that day," Amy laughed, then stopped short as the memory sharpened. "Actually, in hindsight, it wasn't the smartest idea to bet against someone who's half angel."
"Probably not the wisest decision you've ever made," the Doctor chuckled, clearly enjoying the story.
Seraphina felt it then, a sudden, quiet wave of sadness rolling off River like a shadow passing over the sun. She turned to glance back at her, but River had already smoothed her expression into something neutral, the flicker gone almost before it registered. Still, Seraphina's angelic senses caught the ache beneath the surface, sharp and layered.
River let out a soft, private sigh, the sound lost beneath the crunch of their boots. She hated these moments more than she could ever admit, when Seraphina and Amy fell so effortlessly into the easy rhythm of shared childhood stories, the kind of memories that glowed with laughter and belonging. River knew every detail of that maze day: the ridiculous bet, the way Mels had cheated by climbing the hedges, the way Seraphina had rolled her eyes and still let them all pretend they had a chance. She remembered the warmth of it all so vividly it hurt, because she had been there too—Melody, Mels, and she was secretly thrilled to be included, feeling, for one afternoon, like she was part of something real. Like she had a family who chose her instead of a destiny that had already carved her into a weapon.
But she could never say it. Not here. Not now. One careless word, one shared glance too knowing, and the delicate threads of their time streams would tangle and snap. So she swallowed the ache, buried the longing beneath layers of practiced charm and flirtation, and kept walking in silence. The love she carried for them, for Seraphina especially, it was a quiet, constant fire in her chest, both comfort and torment. She would wait. She would protect the timeline. And one day, when the stars finally aligned the way they were meant to, she would be able to laugh with them about that silly maze without the weight of secrets pressing down on her heart.
For now, though, she simply pushed the memory down, let the warmth of it settle into something smaller and safer, and kept her eyes on the path ahead.
Amy gazed up nervously at the wrecked ship hanging precariously above them, "Isn't there a chance this whole lot is going to collapse?" she asked, pointing. "There's an entire ship up there."
"Incredible builders, the Aplans," River remarked, barely sparing the wreckage a glance.
"I had dinner with the chief architect once," the Doctor added cheerfully. "Two heads are better than one."
Amy's brow furrowed. "Wait you mean you helped him?"
"No," the Doctor said, grinning. "I mean he had two heads."
"Two heads..." Seraphina muttered, her gaze drifting back to the rows of silent statues lining the passage.
"Yup. Two heads," the Doctor confirmed, looking down at her with a fond nod.
Seraphina repeated the words under her breath again, eyes still fixed on the weathered stone figures as they walked. The Doctor followed her gaze for a moment, then turned back to River, a shadow of unease crossing his face.
"That book," he said, voice low. "The very end, what did it say? Read it to me."
River pulled the battered volume from her backpack and flicked to the final pages. "Hang on... 'What if we had ideas that could think for themselves? What if, one day, our dreams no longer needed us? When these things occur and are held to be true, the time will be upon us...'"
"The Time of the Angels," River and Seraphina finished in perfect unison.
The words hung in the air. The other three turned sharply toward Seraphina. For a split second her eyes had gone strangely blank, distant, as though something ancient and vast had slipped behind them and spoken through her, then there was a faint, unearthly shimmer that flickered across her irises, there and gone before anyone could be certain they'd seen it.
Then the moment passed. She blinked hard, the strange light vanishing, and she looked perfectly normal again, except for the faint crease of confusion between her brows.
"Angel?" the Doctor asked softly, squeezing her hand. "You okay?"
Seraphina nodded, though her voice carried a faint note of uncertainty. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm... not sure how I knew those words." She pressed a hand lightly to her temple, as if trying to catch the echo of whatever had moved through her. "It was like they were just... there. Waiting."
The Doctor gave her hand another gentle squeeze, his thumb brushing reassuringly over her knuckles. "Whatever those words mean, they don't sound very good. But we'll sort it. We always do."
The climb continued, each level of the ancient maze stretching longer than the last. To Amy it felt endless, even though barely twenty minutes had passed. Her thighs burned and her breath came in short, sharp bursts.
"Are we there yet?" she groaned. "This is a hell of a climb!"
Seraphina glanced over, not even slightly winded. "Really? It hasn't been that bad."
Amy shot her a glare. "Couldn't you at least pretend it's hard, Sera? So the rest of us mere mortals don't feel completely pathetic?"
Seraphina shrugged, the ghost of a smile on her lips.
River shook her head at the pair of them. "The Maze is built on six levels," she explained, giving Amy's shoulder a reassuring pat. "It represents the ascent of the soul. Only two more to go."
"Lovely species, the Aplans," the Doctor commented. He stayed close to Seraphina, her hand firmly clasped in his. The thought of the Weeping Angel anywhere near her made his skin crawl; he wasn't letting her out of his sight. "We should visit them sometime."
"I thought they were all dead," Amy said, frowning.
Seraphina gave her a deadpan look. "So was Winston Churchill, but we still met him."
Amy let out a sheepish laugh, properly reminded of how time travel worked.
"So was Virginia Woolf," the Doctor added cheerfully. "I'm on her bowling team. Very relaxed, sort of cheerful. Well, that's the advantage of having two heads, of course — you're never short of a snog with an extra head on standby."
"That's good to know," Seraphina murmured, only half listening. Her mind kept circling back to the Aplans' two heads... and the growing, insistent pull she felt from every statue they passed. The sensation was becoming heavier, like thousands of silent voices pressing against her thoughts.
The Doctor furrowed his brow at her distant reply. "Good to know? I don't think it's that good to know. Actually, I think we'll give visiting the Aplans a miss. I mean, I-I don't think snogging extra heads is really for you... or for me..." He began to ramble, growing more flustered by the second.
River shook her head and cut him off, sweeping her torch across a cluster of nearby statues. "Doctor, there's something wrong here. I don't know what it is, but..."
The Doctor swung his own light onto one of the weathered faces. "Yeah... there's definitely something wrong. I don't know what yet, but I'm working on it."
Seraphina stared at the statue he had illuminated.
And then she really saw it.
Her grip on the Doctor's hand suddenly tightened to the point of pain.
"Ah—ouch!" he yelped, turning sharply toward her. "Angel...?"
"They're Angels," she said, her voice low and unnervingly steady. "The statues... they're all Angels."
"Oh," the Doctor breathed as the horrifying realisation sank in.
"How could we have not noticed?" River asked, slowly turning in place as fresh dread crept across her face.
"Low-level perception filter," the Doctor muttered, "or maybe we're just thick."
"What's wrong, ma'am? Sir?" Octavian asked, confusion etched across his face as he caught up to them.
Seraphina whipped around to face him. "The statues, they're all Angels," she said sharply. "Take it in. Fast. And nobody move. Everyone stays exactly where they are."
The Doctor stepped forward, voice heavy with regret. "Bishop, I'm truly sorry. I've made a terrible mistake. We're all in danger now " He shook his head, especially Seraphina was in danger, guilt twisting in his chest. She didn't just have one Angel's attention on her anymore; she had hundreds.
Octavian's eyes flicked between them, still struggling to catch up. "The statues here are Angels? How can that be?"
"The Aplans," River said simply.
"The Aplans?" Octavian repeated, still lost.
River pointed at the nearest weathered figure. "They've got two heads."
"Yes, I get that," Octavian snapped, impatiently. "So?"
Seraphina's gaze swept across the silent stone army surrounding them, her angelic senses now wide open and screaming. "The Angels don't have two heads. None of these statues do." She drew a slow breath, voice low and edged with dread. "I can feel them. Now that they've shown themselves, I can sense every single one."
Her eyes locked on a statue hovering far too close to Amy. Without a word, Seraphina reached out and pulled her friend firmly against her side, keeping her within arm's reach.
Amy was grateful Seraphina had pulled her close. No matter how dangerous things got, Seraphina always put herself between her friends and harm. Amy worried was how could she not? but she trusted her completely. In the end, she had faith in Seraphina and that things would always work out.
"Everyone, over here. Just move. No questions, no talking." The Doctor herded the group into a clear alcove where no statues stood. He positioned Seraphina directly behind him, shielding her from the plan he was about to test. "Angel, I trust you—I believe you—but I need to see it for myself. Everyone, switch off your torches."
The clerics hesitated.
"Just do it," the Doctor said firmly. "I'm turning mine off too. Only for a moment."
One by one the lights winked out, plunging the chamber into total darkness.
"Are you sure about this?" River asked quietly. She would follow both of them into anything, she had before, through plans far crazier than this, but that didn't stop the knot of tension in her chest.
"No," the Doctor answered simply. He took Seraphina's hand again, gave it a quick squeeze, then clicked his torch off.
For two heartbeats the darkness was absolute.
He clicked it back on.
Every statue had moved.
They now faced the group head-on, mouths stretched wide to reveal rows of jagged stone teeth. Seraphina had been right. They were all Angels.
The Doctor spun and sprinted back the way they had come. Seraphina raced after him. They found him crouched low, torch beam trained on one of the Angels frozen in a crawling position across the floor toward them, arms outstretched, fingers curled like claws.
"They're all Angels," he breathed, voice tight with awe and dread. "You were right, love. Every last one."
"I know I was right," Seraphina said, eyes scanning the shadows. "But that doesn't exactly help us figure out what happens next."
The Doctor swallowed hard. "Clerics, keep watching them," he ordered, "Every statue in this maze, every single one, is a Weeping Angel. And they're coming for us."
River frowned, tension tightening her features. "There was only one Angel on the ship. Just the one. I swear it."
Seraphina turned to her, reading the guilt etched across River's face. She stepped close and laid a steadying hand on her arm. River instinctively leaned into the touch, drawing what comfort she could. "They were already here," Seraphina said gently. "You said it yourself, River, the Aplans died out four hundred years ago. The Angels have been waiting all this time... patient, starving, until the perfect moment arrived."
"They don't even look like Angels," Octavian pointed out, suspicion in his tone.
"And they're not fast," Amy added. "You said they were fast. They should've had us by now."
The Doctor's gaze swept over the frozen figures. "Look at them. They're dying... losing their form." He trailed off, eyes widening as the pieces slammed into place. "Like my Angel said—they've been here for centuries, starving, their image crumbling away. And their image is their power." His voice rose, with realisation. "Power. Power!"
"Exactly," Seraphina murmured. "Waiting. Planning. The crash of the Byzantium was no accident. The Angel on board made it happen."
Amy threw up her hands. "Can one of you explain this properly, please?"
"Come on, think!" the Doctor urged, already pacing. "All that radiation pouring out of the drive burn—exactly what she said. The crash wasn't random. It was a rescue mission for the Angels. We're standing in the middle of an entire army... and it's waking up." He stopped, turning to lock eyes with Seraphina, his expression darkening with fresh dread. "And they know exactly who you are."
River frowned. "We need to get out of here. Fast."
"I could get everyone out," Seraphina said, "but then we'd still have the Angels, the radiation, and every innocent person in the surroundings areas they'll hunt down the moment we leave."
The Doctor nodded, jaw clenched. He wanted nothing more than to grab her and bolt, and get her as far away from this situation but he knew she was right.
Octavian lifted his radio. "Bob, Angelo, Christian, come in please." Silence. He tried again.. "Any of you, come in.."
Static crackled, then a voice answered. "It's Bob, sir. Sorry, sir."
"Bob, are Angelo and Christian with you? All the statues are active. I repeat, all statues are active."
Seraphina's skin prickled. She could feel it in the air, the wrongness.
A pause. Then the voice returned, calm and eerily polite. "I know, sir. Angelo and Christian are dead, sir. The statues killed them."
Her senses flared. The voice on the line felt wrong, cold, hollow, like stone scraping against stone. She stepped closer, every instinct screaming, Before anyone could react, Seraphina snatched the radio from Octavian's hand. He opened his mouth to protest, but one hard look from her silenced him.
"Hello, Bob," she said evenly. "It's Seraphina. Where are you?"
"Hello, Seraphina Morningstar." The words dripped with mockery. "I'm on my way to you. Homing in on your signal."
The others exhaled in relief. The Doctor, Seraphina, and River didn't. They knew.
The Doctor leaned in close to the radio, forcing a cheerful tone. "Well done, Bob! We told you, scared keeps you fast, and it's okay to feel that fear. Keep that courage. Just one question about your friends: what did the Angels do to them?"
"Snapped their necks, sir."
The Doctor's frown deepened. That wasn't how Weeping Angels killed but then he just learnt more about the origins. "That's odd. They don't usually do that. They displace you in time... unless they needed the bodies for something."
"Bob, did you check their data packs for vital signs?" Octavian cut in, clinging to hope. "We might still be able to initiate a rescue—"
"Don't be a fool," Seraphina said sharply. "Your men are dead. That isn't Bob. It's the Angel."
"Seraphina Morningstar is correct," Bob answered.. "I didn't escape. The Angel killed me too." Every time it used her full name it landed like a taunt. "Snapped my neck. Wasn't as painless as I'd hoped, but it was quick. So that was something"
The Doctor's eyes narrowed. "So if you're dead..."
"Seraphina Morningstar is correct again," Bob interrupted. "You're not speaking to me. The Angel has no voice of its own. It stripped my cerebral cortex and re-animated a version of my consciousness to talk to you. Sorry for the confusion."
Seraphina's grip tightened on the radio. "So the Angel is on its way up to us."
"Yes, Seraphina Morningstar. The Angel is coming. No way out." A pause, then the mocking edge sharpened. "Especially not for you."
Octavian's face hardened. He turned to the remaining clerics. "Then we go through the wreckage. Go! Go, go, go, all of you, run!"
The Doctor nodded sharply. "You heard him, everyone move. Now."
"Sera..." Amy's voice wavered. She glanced down at her hand, brow furrowed, then back up.
"Yeah, Amelia, we're right behind you," Seraphina called. "Go. Please."
The rest of the group hurried ahead through the wreckage. Soon only the Doctor, Seraphina, and Octavian remained.
Seraphina turned to the cleric, regret heavy in her eyes. "I'm sorry I called you a fool. This is my fault. I told you to keep your men in pairs, they walked straight into a trap. I'm sorry I couldn't save them."
Octavian met her gaze, his voice flat and bitter. "I know that, ma'am. But you aren't the one who has to explain to their families that they're dead... and that the Lord that we serve and have faith in , own angels couldn't save them."
The words landed like a blow. Seraphina blinked, the sting settling deep. She had no answer. Without another word she dropped the radio into the Doctor's hand and walked away, determined to keep the rest of the group alive.
The Doctor's expression darkened. He seized Octavian by the arm before the man could follow. "Don't ever speak to her like that again," he said, voice low and lethal. "This is not on her. It will never be on her."
He released him. Octavian gave him a sour look but said nothing, only turned and strode after the others.
The Doctor lifted the radio. "Angel Bob? Just checking, I assume the Angel we've been talking to is the one from the ship?"
"Yes, sir," Bob replied calmly. "And the other Angels are still restoring."
**~**
Seraphina pressed on, the bishop's bitter words still echoing in her head. She was done letting anyone else get hurt. No more.
She stopped short when she spotted Amy frozen in place, both hands clamped white-knuckled around a metal railing.
"Amelia?" Seraphina stepped closer. "What are you doing? This isn't exactly the time for a break."
"I can't!" Amy's voice cracked. Her whole body was rigid, trembling. "I really can't."
Seraphina frowned, reaching for her arm. "Why? What's going on?"
"Look!" Amy jerked her chin downward. "Look at my hand. It's stone!"
Seraphina glanced down, then back up to Amy's terrified face. "What?"
"Sera, use those brilliant senses of yours! It's stone, I can't move it. You have to leave me."
Seraphina's expression hardened. "Amelia Pond, get that out of your head right now. I am never leaving you."
The Doctor came sprinting up behind them and skidded to a halt. "Why aren't you two running?"
"Well, Amelia thinks her hand is stone," Seraphina said tightly. "I've told her it isn't, but she won't move."
The Doctor moved in fast, shining his torch straight into Amy's eyes. "You looked into the eyes of an Angel, didn't you?"
"I couldn't stop myself," Amy whispered. "I tried."
"Listen to me," he said, urgent and low. "It's in your head. You can move your hand. You can let go."
"I've tried!" Amy snapped, voice rising. "It's stone, Doctor. It won't move."
Seraphina felt the shift in the air, the cold, creeping presence of the Angels closing in. The Doctor's torch flickered once, then again, the beam stuttering against the dark.
"Amelia," she said, stepping in close, "I promise you can move it. Just focus."
"I can't!" Amy cried, tears stinging her eyes. "I've said it over and over, I can't! You two have everyone else depending on you, and River, and the future, whatever that is. It's okay. Just go."
Seraphina's voice turned fierce. "I told you once and I'm not repeating myself: I am never leaving you behind. I don't care what you think is waiting in the future. So if those Angels are coming, they're coming for both of us, because I'm not moving."
She placed her hand over Amy's rigid one. A soft golden glow spilled from her palm, spreading across Amy's skin. The air warmed.
Amy's eyes widened. Heat bloomed under her fingers, growing hotter, hotter—
She yanked her hand free with a gasp, stumbling back from the railing. "Ouch! Really, Sera?"
Seraphina gave a quick, satisfied nod. "You're welcome. It's not stone." She grabbed Amy by the arm and pulled her forward. "Come on, Amelia, time to run!"
"Look at my hand!" Amy protested, still flexing her fingers. "It's still tingling from whatever you just did to it!"
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "I think the words you're missing, Pond, are 'thank you.' I was two seconds away from biting you if Angel hadn't stepped in."
"Not with those space teeth," Amy shot back.
The Doctor huffed, seized both girls by the elbows, and steered them briskly down the corridor toward the waiting clerics and River.
By the time they caught up with the others, the remaining clerics had formed a tight defensive ring. A fresh gravity globe hovered higher than before, casting a pale, unsteady glow between them and the wrecked Byzantium overhead. Every torch and lamp in the group flickered erratically. Seraphina's stomach tightened. She couldn't shake the suspicion that the Angels were growing more vicious because she was here. The way they had murdered Bob and the others, then stolen his voice and re-animated his mind, left a cold fury burning in her chest.
"They're coming," the Doctor announced the moment the three of them reached the group, "and they're draining the power for themselves."
"Which means we won't be able to see them," Octavian said tightly, eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.
"Which means we can't stay here," the Doctor muttered.
River glanced between him and Seraphina. "Any suggestions? This is normally when one of you pulls something brilliant out of the air."
Seraphina winced. She could feel River's absolute faith in them both, and it sat like lead in her gut. She hadn't even managed to keep bob and the other clerics alive. How was she supposed to stop an entire army of stone Angels who were still her own kin and get everyone out safely? She had always been wary of unleashing her full power; something inside her still feared what might happen if she did.
"The statues are advancing on every side," Octavian reminded them. "We don't have the climbing gear to reach the Byzantium."
Seraphina tilted her head back, staring up at the distant wreckage. She could carry two people at a time and fly them out, but would she be fast enough before the Angels closed in?
"There's no way up, no way back, and no way out," River agreed, voice steady but edged with tension. "Like I said... this is usually when one of you has a really good idea."
The Doctor sighed. He hated the weight of expectation pressing down on him, and he hated even more that it was crushing Seraphina too. He had seen the flicker of guilt cross her face when River spoke. Not on his watch.
"There's always a way out," he said firmly.
"Seraphina Morningstar?" Bob's voice suddenly crackled from the radio in the Doctor's pocket. Everyone froze and turned toward the sound as the Doctor pulled it free. He already knew this wasn't going to be good. He lifted the radio to his own mouth instead, refusing to give the Angels what they wanted. Seraphina edged closer to his side.
"Hello, Angels," the Doctor said, tone light but sharp. "What's your problem?"
"We just wanted to tell you and Seraphina Morningstar that your power will not last much longer," Angel Bob replied smoothly. "The Angels will be with you shortly. Sorry, sir."
"Why are you telling us this?" Seraphina asked, leaning in before the Doctor could stop her.
The Doctor's grip tightened on the radio, but he let her speak.
"There is something the Angels are very keen for you to hear, Seraphina Morningstar," the voice continued, almost intimate, "before the end. Before they claim their rightful revenge."
The Doctor's hearts hammered. He could feel the Angels' malice crawling through the words.
"And what is that?" Seraphina asked.
A beat of silence. Then the voice returned, cold and intimate.
"I died in fear."
"What?"
"You gave me hope. You made me believe I could trust you, just like your father once did. And when it truly mattered... I died alone and in pain." The mockery sharpened. "You let me down. Like father, like daughter."
Amy furrowed her brow, still trying to make sense of the Angels' taunts. She had never understood why they kept dragging Seraphina's father into this. Sure, the universe called him the Devil, but to Amy he had always been warm and welcoming, more like a second dad than anything else. His house had been a second home to her, and he surprisingly had good advice, especially about Rory.
"What are they doing?" she whispered, glancing at River.
"They're trying to make her angry," River answered quietly. "And to hurt her. Which only makes him angrier."
"I'm sorry, Seraphina Morningstar," Angel Bob continued, not sounding sorry at all. "The Angels were very keen for you to know."
The Doctor watched a thousand emotions flicker across Seraphina's face. His eyes darkened; he was half a second from snapping when she spoke first.
"I'm sorry for what they did to you, Bob," she said, voice steady and sincere. "I'm sorry they stole your life and your free will."
The Doctor took her hand and gave it a firm squeeze.
"The Angels have forgotten what the rebellion was truly about," she went on, "with their selfish, evil little games. But they were right about one thing." Her tone sharpened, cold and dangerous. "Like father, like daughter. And making me mad? Taking me on? That was their first mistake."
"You're trapped," Bob replied flatly. "And you are all going to die."
Seraphina glanced up at the Doctor. He was already looking at her, something bright and reckless sparking behind his eyes. "Yeah," she said, "we're trapped. But like I said, taking me on was their first mistake."
"Second mistake?" the voice asked.
She ignored it, pressed the radio into the Doctor's hand, and gave him a small nod. "Over to you, Doctor."
"My pleasure, Angel." He lifted the radio, a dangerous grin tugging at his mouth. "Hello, Angel Bob. Yes, second mistake. We are trapped. And you know what? Speaking of traps..." He let the word hang, savouring it. "This trap has got a great big mistake in it. A great big, whopping mistake."
"What mistake, sir?" Angel Bob asked.
The Doctor ignored him. He turned to Amy. "Trust me?"
"Yeah," she said without hesitation.
He looked at River. "Trust me?"
"Always."
Then to Octavian and the remaining clerics. "You lot, trust me?"
"We have faith," Octavian answered, glancing between the Doctor and Seraphina. "In both of you."
The Doctor nodded, then locked eyes with Seraphina. "Angel?"
She cut him off before he could finish. "You don't need to ask, Doctor. But if it helps to hear it..yes. You have it. Absolutely."
He grinned, quick and relieved, and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.
Having their trust felt good. Having hers felt like everything. He turned back to Octavian. "Give me your gun."
Octavian handed it over without question. The Doctor took it, then looked at the whole group, jaw set. "I'm about to do something incredibly stupid and dangerous. When I do..." He bounced once on the balls of his feet. "Jump. As high as you can. On my signal."
"Jump where?" Octavian asked, confused.
"Just jump. High as you can. Leap of faith, Bishop. On my signal."
"What signal?"
"You won't miss it."
Seraphina touched his arm. The tension in his shoulders eased instantly beneath her fingers. He knew she had his back, just as he would always have hers.
"Sorry," Angel Bob's voice crackled again, "can I ask again? You and Seraphina keep mentioning a mistake we made."
The Doctor raised the gun, aiming up at the hull of the Byzantium high above them. His eyes stayed fixed on the hovering gravity globe.
"Oh, it's a big mistake," he said darkly into the radio. "Huge. Didn't anyone ever tell you—there's one thing you never put in a trap?" His voice grew colder, sharper. "If you're smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans of seeing tomorrow... there is one thing you never, ever put in a trap."
"And what would that be, sir?"
The Doctor's grin turned feral.
"Me."
He pulled the trigger. The gunshot cracked through the chamber as the bullet slammed into the gravity globe.