*Author's Note:
Thank you all for your kind comments! It gave me such a thrill to hear my story is being enjoyed! Sorry for such a delay in the second story; I had lost my internet connection for a good month and a half. Here is part 2, part 3 will be released soon, but part 4 won't be until after the new year, so I will make sure the next part has got all those juicy bits I'm making you all wait so long for. I have also tried to space up the paragraphs a little better, as requested. Hope you enjoy further!*
Orion's Nebula was, suitably, the highest point in the mansion. A long, mahogany staircase which started near the doors to the main library spiraled upwards, passing the door to the attic -- the initial peak of the mansion -- and ended in a beautifully crafted oak door, similar to the ones leading into The Orbit Room, but much smaller, and with the letters "NT" carved boldly into it. It was the first time Arianna had ever been told to go to the Doctor's office in person, and with each step, the clicking of her kitten heels seemed to reverberate ten times louder than usual around the otherwise silent building. Reaching the doors, she took a big breath, and knocked weakly.
"Enter," she heard from inside.
Her knees wobbled again, but this time in fear and anticipation rather than admiration. She slowly pushed the door open and walked inside.
Momentarily, Arianna was stunned.
The room was even more incredible than she had imagined; with a diamond chandelier hanging from an extremely high ceiling, silver and gold designs etched into the woodwork on the walls, full length bookshelves and diagrams lining the outskirts of the room, and, behind an elaborately carved desk on the far end of the room, a massive stained glass window.
The thing that caught Arianna's eye the most about the window, was that at the center of it, in large, red, capital letters, were the Latin words "TOTALIS DOMINATUS", which, through her studies, Arianna understood to literally read: "TOTAL DOMINATION."
The Doctor himself was sat behind the desk, with his piercing, deep blue eyes focused on his screen. His elbows were planted on the desk and at the end of his arms, his fingers met in a triangle, which pressed against his lower lip. Overall, Dr. Tarrant looked as serious and concentrated as ever.
As quietly as she could, Arianna closed the door behind her, and stood motionless, waiting for her order. It came.
"Sit," said the Doctor, in one sharp, cold syllable.
Arianna moved to the large wooden chair and perched on the end. She could feel her neck beating with her pulse. With his eyes still stuck on the screen, Dr. Tarrant began to speak.
"Do you know why I brought you here, Arianna?"
Dr. Gold shook her head, and then realized that the Doctor couldn't see her, so quietly, she mumbled.
"No."
Suddenly, Nathan turned his head, stood straight up, and stared at her. She felt her heart stop, even jumping back slightly in surprise.
"What did you say, girl?" Nathan boomed, looming over her.
Arianna squeaked, more scared than she had ever been in her life before.
"N-no Sir."
Arianna dared not even breathe, and the silence in the room was deafening. Then, for the first time ever, Arianna saw Dr. Tarrant smile. It wasn't a warm smile, or a cold smile. It was a triumphant smile.
He seemed to relax, and then slowly, almost gently, he reached out to his desktop screen and turned it.
Arianna coughed, having held her breath for so long, and now being presented with one of the most shocking things she had ever seen.
It was security camera footage; footage from all over the entire mansion and, in one of the small boxes, Arianna saw herself in the laundry room with her hand under her skirt.
She then felt heat fill the room as if she were back near that steamy boiler again, except this time she realized it was the blood rushing to her cheeks, as they turned bright red.
The two of them sat in an awkward silence, which was only made more awkward by the fact that Arianna knew she was the only one who felt that way; the Doctor was calm and collect.
Eventually, he opened his mouth, and spoke in almost a purr.
