Hello! First of all, this story contains violence and a wee bit of smut, so if you don't like, don't read! I have a few Sweenett stories in store, but this is my personal favorite, and probably the only one I'm going to put here.
Enjoy! =)
Finally it was over.
The deaths, the blood, everything.
And Sweeney.
He was the only thing Nellie Lovett could think of while she was running through the streets of London. For a moment she regretted what she had done. Why hadn't she told him Lucy was alive? Why didn't she help him? After all, he wanted him to be happy…
Well, the answer was simple, and it made tears well in her eyes.
Because she loved him.
She thought about the last sight she had of him, his face twisted in a blind rage, his razor held high above his head, the oven open behind her back.
But she didn't want to think about what had happened next.
Was he dead? Was he mad? Was he running after her? Had he been arrested?
She ran.
-Nellie, dear, I must say you are simply exquisite tonight.
She turned around to face an elegant man dressed in expensive clothes, his hands resting on his cane, his gloves so white she wondered for a moment if it wasn't her finally losing her mind.
-Why, thank you, dear Nelson, she answered.
As he turned away after addressing her an obviously faked smile, disgust showed on her face. She hated all those nobles. They were too clean, too polite, too perfect, too… too noble.
-Nellie, honey! A voice called.
Her frown of disgust transformed into a bright smile as she turned to the man that called her name.
A man approached her and tenderly touched her cheek, ignoring the disapproving look of the men and women around them.
-I missed you, my dear, he said.
-Julius, shall we go to a more private place? She asked as he was about to kiss her.
-Ah, practical as always, love, he answered.
She froze as he said those words. Sweeney used to say that.
As Julius was taking her hand and leading her toward a door on the other side of the room, she forced herself not to think about the barber.
-Ladies and gentlemen, Julius said in a loud voice as he pushed her in a hallway after opening the door, continue on. We will soon be back.
And he closed the door.
-So how was that hunting trip? Nellie asked as she put her black and red dress back on.
-Fun, he answered. But long… as always when I'm away from you.
A tender smile stretched her lips. When Julius Wright had asked her to marry him, she didn't love him and almost refused. But back then she was only a poor baker working in a small town, and yet there was this handsome young man noticing her, and wanting to marry her, not caring about anything but her joy. And she was sure to die young if she stayed in that ugly, dirty town.
So she said yes, driven by the need to survive, the need for security, the need for human warmth.
And now she realized that was probably the best decision of her life. In the first months she had been cold, distant, but soon the young man gentleness and humor broke the last of her resistance.
She hadn't told him about her past, of course, and he had never asked. And she doubted she would ever tell him anyway.
She put on her gloves and she was ready. She took his hand and they both returned to the bal room.
When they entered, no one paid attention to them, they were all looking at the other door.
Something, or someone, had caught their attention.
As they made their way through the crowd, they heard a soft music coming from the door. When they to the first row of spectator, they saw a tall man, dressed like a count, playing violin.
But it wasn't any violin player.
The music that emanated from his instrument was mysterious, bewitching, magical. For the first time he rose his eyes from the violin and saw Nellie and Julius. He stopped playing, making the crowd snap out of its ecstatic state. They all started talking at the same time, and soon no one could hear anything.
-Silence! Screamed Julius, dominating the uproar with his loud voice.
Silence suddenly fell upon the room, and the violin player walked to the couple.
-Who are you? Julius asked without letting the man the time to talk.
-I come from London, he said. I travel through England, looking for public.
-Who are you? Julius repeated. What's your name?
-My name is Todd…
As she heard this name Nellie's blood froze. She looked at him. Short black hair threaded with grey, pale face, dark eyes…
-… Albert Todd, the violin player finished.
She didn't feel relieved that his name wasn't Sweeney. The demon barber was too smart to keep his name after what they had done.
-I am Julius Wright, her husband said after a minute of silence. You're pretty good. Would you like to play for us tonight?
Albert Todd smiled.
-I would be honored, he answered.
-Here is my wife, Nellie Wright, Julius said.
Todd turned to Nellie, and his eyes plunged into hers, making her shiver.
Just like Sweeney's eyes did.
After a long an uncomfortable silence, the violinist spoke again:
-Haven't we met? He asked.
Please leave a review! =)