Drusilla...
PG-13
Summary: An alternate Cicelyverse tale...In 1880 Cicely Addams Walthrop makes the right choice and saves her William on that fateful night. But Drusilla is not so easily cheated of her Prince...
A companion story to "Groom of Rosenberg" for Halloween, at the request of the Shes Who Must Be Obeyed...The musical touches are their idea...Sorry...they want a "Phantom-ish" story...
You might want to read my Cicelyverse page to get a handle on the situation, possibly my "Romance Palace" as well... .
Archived at the Buffy Rebecca verse, Cicelyverse page.
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...
Part VIII...
What a powerful force is love...Even for the vampiral...
The mighty and courageous Angelus had barely made his way into the darkening London streets before his devoted "family" came after him. Determined that his fate should be their own...
(Why am I getting the feeling my brooding friend is leaving something out here? Vladimir thought, sarcastically eyeing Angelus.)
Embracing them tenderly as any human paterfamilias would, he accepted their heartfelt pleas and rejoiced at their reunion.
Their fate would be faced together, he assured them. As they made their way to the new lair he'd secured.
(Moron's gone and led a team from the Council right to us. Darla cursed under her...For human onlookers' consumption...breath. If Dru hadn't sensed them and we hadn't fled, just as the idiot left us...
Not to mention the little worm took all our available money. If he thinks he's gonna scoot off and leave me penniless, hunted, and... "Grandmother, we must stay! My Prince comes tomorrow!" Dru wailed as Darla grimly dragged her along.
Leave me with his psycho "daughter" on my hands...
Almost made it...Angelus sighed. Still, something to keep the Slayer busy if she catches up with us. Until I reach the Thames and the first boat I can get on.)
Back at the rooms previously held by the Angelus pride, Wilhelmina "Willow" Rosenberg sighed to Chairman Rathskeller. Who'd felt it his duty to accompany the brave young woman and the team he'd provided to assist her.
"They've eluded us. I would guess our Miss Dru played a role in that..."
"Is this "Drusilla" so dangerous...?" one of the group asked.
"From all accounts...She's rather...Childlike."
"I can't believe...As opposed to Angelus and Darla, our most feared opponents..." the young man continued.
(Oh, please...Dracula sighed to himself.
I definitely take back what I said about his restraint in self-glorification.)
Ah...Willow beamed within, though maintaining a coolly professional and scientific air...
An opening for me to do Grandpa's favorite line.
"My friend..." she sternly eyed the young Observer who'd spoken.
"The strength of the vampire is that people will not...Believe."
"She's formidable..." One of the other Council members of the team, a psychic, nodded. "And her power is growing..."
"If only Miss Addams would come to her senses..." Rathskeller shook his head.
"We've never needed her so much as now."
Hmmn...Yes...Willow nodded. "She would be of assistance..." Eyeing the lair...
She felt some sheets on the bed. Still lukewarm...And...Eehew...she suppressed the urge to cry out...
Bloody. She looked at her fingers. A towel, Miss Rosenberg?...one of the more gallant male members of the team proffered.
God, I'd expect the Angelus pride to have a leetle more pride. Dining in bed?
She eyed the Chairman...Wiping her hands.
"You're sure Miss Addams is not seeking them herself...?"
Not that we need her of course... Willow, a true Van Helsing descendant, of a long, proud line of fearless human vampire killers, thought.
Still...A little help on my first big job without Grampa...Couldn't hurt.
"Mr. Farris is doing his damn...(Willow eyed Mr. Rathskeller sternly. Proprieties, please, sir.)...er his best to persuade her. But she seemed adamant to him." the Chairman noted.
All for her young man? Willow sighed.
Most disappointing...she shook her head.
A poor time for a Slayer to play a fool for love...
"Perhaps it would be best for us to reconvene in the Council's chambers..." Rathskeller noted.
"Mr. Farris was to return there shortly as should our various operatives deployed about town..."
"He can inform us as to his efforts with Miss Addams and the others as to whether the pride has been detected moving about."
Indeed...Willow nodded.
"Well...Let us hope your Mr. Farris has induced the Slayer to see reason. However, if she is not available I feel certain we shall yet succeed."
Spoken like a true Van Helsing/Rosenberg...Rathskeller thought gratefully. Thank God old Abraham had a moment to review my note to him before leaving for Romania.
But...He suggested. "Before we continue our hunt…"
"Perhaps it were best we call on the assistance of the Almighty..." the Chairman solemnly noted.
Ummn...Certainly...Willow nodded. Sighing a bit...
They're not gonna ask me to pray to whathisname, are they? God, Dad is already pissed with me hanging around Catholic Grandpa so much.
"A hymn...?" Arthur suggested.
"Why not...?" Willow mustered a gracious smile. Waving a hand...
"Gentlemen..." the Chairman gathered the team.
Miss Rosenberg...he politely bowed.
She nodded.
The Chairman led the team...
[Play theme..."Stand up for Jesus."]
"Stand up, stand up for Goodness...We soldiers of the Light...
Lift high the sacred banner...It shall not...Suffer loss.
From Victory onto Victory...These armies shall we le..ad.
Till ev'ry foe is Vanquished...And Light has won the Field."
(Hmmn, one team member thought. Something...Missing...?)
Why, that was so sweet of him to change the lyrics for me. Willow couldn't resist beaming.
Gramps did say Arthur was a great guy...Very inclusive.
"Excellent, gentlemen...Perhaps now we could..." Willow began.
"Onward Watcher Soldiers...Marching as to War..." Arthur began.
Guys...Evil rampant...Willow thought. Singalong can await the victory...
Still, kind of him to go to all the trouble with the lyric changes.
So...Van Helsing isn't Catholic?...one of the others hissed to his companions as Willow and the
Chairman headed out, the rest of the team dutifully collecting all items of potential interest and removing any trace of vampiral activity from the room.
His part of the family converted some time ago I believe...one quietly noted back.
…..
"With this ring...I thee wed..." William nervously paused.
Eyeing his young sister Amelia, kindly brought up to the little church in haste from the Walthrops' home town of Brusset by Henry for the wedding…
Go on, Will...she beamed at him silently.
"I thee wed...And..." he faltered.
"Endow her with your worldly goods, Will!" Amelia hissed.
My worldly goods...he sighed.
"And all my worldly goods..." Such as they are, he grinned at Cicely who squeezed his hand in hers. "I thee endow..." he pushed the ring on her finger.
"This is the worldly good I want..." she hissed back. Squeezing hard...
Her turn...And her turn to freeze...
"Cicely..." Henry gently whispered.
Nervously she made her pledge. Pushing the ring on his finger...
(Sings, aside at first...The song becoming a joint wedding vow...)
(Play theme..."All I Ask of You...from Phantom of the Opera...
No more thought of darkness;
Forget these ancient fears.
We're safe,
nothing can harm us -
(She eyes the priest in front of them, intoning the formal pledges...)
These words will warm and calm you.
He will be my freedom,
His light will end all fears.
He's here, with you, beside you,
You'll guard him and you'll hide him...
(Eyes Will...)
Say you'll love me
every waking moment,
turn my head
with talk of summertime
Say you need me with you,
now and always
Promise me
that all you say is true -
that's all I ask of you.
Oh...Let me be your shelter,
You will be my light
We're safe:
No-one will find us -
My fears are far behind us...
All I want is freedom,
a world with no more night
and you,
always beside me,
to hold me and to hide me
Oh say you'll share with me
one love, one lifetime
Darling, save me from my solitude
Say you need me with you here, beside you
Anywhere you go,
let me go too -
William, that's all I ask of you...
(She sings aloud now...He joins...Their joint wedding vows...
Much improved over his previous efforts...she happily notes to herself.)
Together.
All I ask is for one love, one lifetime...
say the word and I will follow you.
Share each day with me,
each night, each morning...
Anywhere you go
let me go too.
Love me - that's all I ask of you.
(He's getting better...Amelia grinned to Henry.
Indeed...Henry smiled back.)
!...Drusilla clasped her hands to her head in horror. Rocking from side to side where she stood in the middle of the rather busy, if darkened, street.
Even within her...Her trapped counterpart sensed the slipping away of her only hope of rescue. Or at least, of comfort...
"Drusilla!" Darla turned back to her, furious...
My daughter is a delicate, frail creature. Easily upset... Angelus smilingly explained to several well-meaning, concerned passers-by.
"She is taking My Prince!" Dru screamed, hand to mouth.
"Drusilla..." Angelus exerted his gentle but firm paternal hand.
(And socked her with it, no doubt...Vladimir and Willie noted to themselves.)
"We must get to our new home, lass."
And out of this damned street before more Watchers or the Slayer appear...he thought.
"She lied to me! The fairy mother lied! That one is taking him!" Dru wailed.
Back to the fairy godmother...Darla sighed, rolling her eyes.
Not yet dear...All's not lost...A voice whispered to Dru within. And to her trapped "sister"...
Tomorrow night, remember...Haly's voice continued.
"I will come to you..."
"You swear, Lady?" Dru called to the open air.
"Who the hell is she talking to?" Angelus hissed to Darla...Who shrugged.
"Who the hell is she ever talking to...?" she replied.
"Just thank the Master she's quieting down..."
"He is mine...Forever?"
No...No...the faint cry of the trapped one within...
God forgive me, sir.
"Forever..." Haly's voice whispered back, drifting on the wind...
"Be true, Lady..." Dru hissed.
Sings...With a grim fierceness, new to her... (end of All I Ask of You...From Phantom of the Opera, see above cut and paste address)
"You will curse the day you should not do!
All that you promised me you'd...!"
"Drusilla!" Darla grabbed her and lifted her up.
"No...More...Singing!"
"Understand?"
"Yes, Grandmother..."
…
In the small church, Cicely and Will looked nervously at each other as Amelia, Henry, and the priest offered congratulations...
We can do this...she told herself, smiling at him and clasping her hands in his.
The door blew open...
"You cannot protect him...He is Mine..." A voice floated to Cicely on the wind.
The candles on the altar began flickering gently, then strongly.
Forever...Dru's gentle laughter faintly lingering.
"Dear heart...?" Will stared at his bride. Looking at him in terror…
"Cicely...?" Henry looked at her.
They are coming...For him...As Simon told me they would...
Oh, God...What have I done...? she thought, trembling.
…..
