a/n Thanks to the one person who reviewed, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 37 WHO VIEWED MY STORY? Hahahahaha I'm kidding guys, I didn't give you that much time to review after posting. This is my longest chapter yet, just FYI.
Words in italics are vocal, written by Stephen Sondheim. Words in bold italics are vocal, written by me, based off the work of Stephen Sondheim. Regular text is just spoken. Just to clarify.
Rated T for now, may be M in the future, solely for violence.
Despite the begging of an angry reviewer, I will not be deleting this story. My deepest apologies to Misery Lovett.
Disclaimer: I only wish I owned Sweeney Todd. Only the story, Lindsey, the Wrights, and Amaria are mine. An FYI, I picture Amaria as sort of a Tia Daalma character, just Lindsey's age.
Chapter Seven
Sweeney Todd had been up half the night thinking over what Amaria had said. Did the crazy girl have a point? He supposed he liked Mrs. Lovett. But could he do that to Lucy? And after the way she'd lied…no…he pushed that thought from his head. If Lindsey ever found out he still thought about that, he was a little afraid of what she'd do. Mrs. Lovett had really grown on him since he'd come back from prison. He only remembered her as the quiet, obedient wife of a horrible butcher. But when he came back, Albert was dead and she was free to speak as she wanted. And as annoying as he found her sometimes, she'd definitely grown on him.
He was tired of sitting around. It was at least three in the morning. It was dark outside. He got up and left the room, quietly. He decided he would go for a walk. Everyone else was asleep and wouldn't miss him. He'd be back by morning. As he entered the living room and was about to open the door, he crashed into something, no. Someone.
Lindsey Lovett glared at him from the floor as he'd accidentally knocked her over. "What are you doing?" she hissed.
"Couldn't sleep…you?"
"Thought I heard something." She looked outside. "Do you see that? That shadow."
Sweeney moved over to where she was by the window and peered outside. "I don't see anything."
Lindsey shrugged. "I would've sworn…" She took a step backwards. She stepped on something, no. Someone. The body shot straight up in the air, screaming.
"AAAAAAAAAH! DAVY JONES! HE'S RETURNED! WE ALL DOOMED! AAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Lindsey jumped on top of Amaria and shoved a hand over her mouth.
"Why'd no one invite me to this pajama party?" a tired voice said. Mrs. Lovett had appeared in the doorway.
"Sorry mum…we couldn't sleep," she said, gesturing to Sweeney and herself, "And I stepped on Amaria by accident. OW!"
Amaria had bitten Lindsey's hand. She muttered something in another language and curled up on the floor, falling asleep instantly.
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Johanna and Anthony arrived at the house the next morning. She nervously knocked on the door. Mrs. Lovett answered. "Wonderful to see you again dear," she said hugging her. "And you Anthony. How've you been dear?"
"Very well mum, thank you."
"Come on mum, let them in," Lindsey said, pulling her mother out of the doorway. The two walked inside. "Come on Johanna, I want to show you something."
Johanna followed Lindsey and Amaria out the back door.
Anthony was left in the living room with Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney, who was sitting in the corner. He stood and shook Anthony's hand.
Anthony wasn't sure of what to do with himself, so he nodded at Mr. Todd, then followed Johanna out the door. The door led straight onto a little boardwalk that led down to the ocean. Sweeney followed him out the door.
"What are you ladies doing?" Anthony asked.
"Just enjoying the view. Lovely innit?" Lindsey said. "Oh where are my manners! I'm Lindsey Lovett, and this is Amaria." She leaned over towards Anthony and whispered, "She's not quite right in the head, but she's getting a lot better!"
"Ah, I see," he replied.
Amaria was staring at him with the suspicious expression she always wore. She leaned in right next to his face, sniffed at him once, then screamed, "HE SMELLS LIKE FISH! HE'S DAVY JONES IN DISGUISE!" She then proceeded to jump in to the ocean, dress and all. She came back up, sputtering and thrashing about.
"Crazy girl," Sweeney muttered.
"Actually, I think Amaria has the right idea," Lindsey said, and before anyone could stop her, she jumped in after her.
When she returned to the surface, Sweeney said, "Lindsey get out of there, you're going to ruin your dress."
"Oh yeah, because I care about my dress," Lindsey said.
Sweeney glared at her.
Lindsey sighed dramatically. "Fine. At least help me out then."
Sweeney, oblivious to Lindsey's scheming little mind, reached his hand over the edge of the boardwalk. Lindsey seized it and, being rather strong, pulled him into the water.
Sweeney shook his drenched head around like a cat who'd just been doused with water. "LINDSEY!" he roared.
But Lindsey just laughed. "Either of you going to join us?" she said to Anthony and Johanna.
Sweeney climbed out of the water and stalked back into the house.
"What happened to you?" Mrs. Lovett inquired.
"Your daughter," he said, "asked me to help her out of the water then pulled me in."
Mrs. Lovett chuckled then grabbed a towel and began drying him off. "Don't you know, silly man, my crazy daughter's always got some sort of plan. She's just a girl. Be patient with her."
At that moment, Lindsey and the others returned inside. Lindsey was being supported by Amaria and Anthony. Upon seeing her mother, she immediately let go of their shoulders and started limping back towards her mother's room. "Hello everyone, lovely day we're having, sorry 'bout that Mr. T, I'm gonna be off now, bye!"
"Oh no you don't," Mrs. Lovett said, seizing Lindsey's shoulder. "What happened to you?"
"She cut her foot on a seashell," Johanna put in.
"Thank you Johanna," Lindsey said, annoyed.
Sweeney chuckled to himself. "I hope you didn't jump in with my razors in your pocket." Lindsey's eyes went wide. "You didn't…" he said.
Lindsey stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. "No I didn't, the look on your face was priceless though."
"You bother me sometimes, you know that?" he said, then proceeded to stomp into the living room.
"Love you too Mr. T!" she shouted after him.
And thought Sweeney Todd would never admit it, deep down, he loved Lindsey too. But not like he'd loved Lucy. Like an obnoxious little sibling who was always getting in your way.
Later that day they all returned to the market, all but Amaria, who was terrified of Anthony and his fishy smell. That's what you get for working at a dock I suppose. As they had not bought anything the day before, after their run in with Toby, they had to buy some food. Lindsey was unbelievably protective of Sweeney this time. After seeing Toby was back in town, she was unnerved. But she was beginning to get on Sweeney's nerves. After a while he pulled her aside and said, "You do not need to look over me like I am a child. Besides, a little boy like that would be no match for me. I don't need you." He stalked off in the opposite direction.
"Where are you going?" Lindsey said.
"Home," came his short reply.
"What was that about?" Lindsey said.
"He's scared, love. He'd never admit it, but he is," Mrs. Lovett replied.
Lindsey hung back a bit from the group. "Ah, Mr. T. You wouldn't admit it even if you did need me," she said, "Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around. Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays. I'll send 'em howling I don't care, I got ways. No one's gonna hurt you, no one's gonna dare. Others can desert you, not to worry, whistle, I'll be there. Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while, but in time, nothing can harm you, not while I'm around. Do you think he'll be okay, mum?"
"Of course love, Amaria's there. He's a grown man."
After they'd been shopping for about an hour, a beggar woman came towards Lindsey. "Hello love," she said in an eerie tone.
"Hello," Lindsey replied, trying to walk away. The rest of the group stopped.
"I know who you are," she said. "Your one of 'is friends. He's not safe love."
"What do you mean?" Lindsey said, eyes wide.
"They know love, they know."
"What do they know?" she said, beginning to panic.
"Everything," she whispered.
Lindsey started back towards the house at a sprint. Everyone else followed. Lindsey's panic went full scale when she saw the door was broken down. She shot inside, not caring where she went. Johanna followed her back into Mrs. Lovett's room. No one was there. A scream cut through the air from down the hall. "MUM!" Lindsey screamed, running down the hall to Mr. Todd's room. It had been torn apart. There was a stain of blood on the wall.
Lindsey was unable to think, even to scream. She bolted from the room, ran out the back door, and crumpled to the ground on the sand, sobbing. "I said nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. And now something's harmed you, darling, while I wasn't around." She leapt to her feet and cried to the heavens, "Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while, but in time! Nothing more will harm you, not while I'm around!!!!!
a/n: meep meep. I love cliffhangers when I know what's gonna happen. Hee hee, I'll update soon, I promise. REVIEW POR FAVOR!!!!!
