Title: The Demon on Academy Street
Genre: romance, tragedy, horror
Rating: M for language, violence, and suggested themes
Pairings: JohanXJudai (spiritshipping); hinted others
Summary: Based on "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". After fifteen hard years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Johan Andersen, now adopting the name Jehu Ralleigh, returns to London to find his beloved husband supposedly dead and his son in the hands of the evil Lord Viper. In his anger, Johan goes on a murderous rampage on all London. With the help of Ms. Asuka Tenjoin, an old friend of his, he opens a barber shop in which he lures his victims with a charming smile before casually ending their lives with a flick of his razor across their necks. But not one man nor ten thousand men killed can satisfy Johan's lust for vengeance on those who've caused his years of pain and the loneliness of losing his family. But to get his revenge, all he needs to do now is try to convince the wicked lord who accused him of the crime, raped his husband and drove him to supposedly committing suicide, and stole his son, to sit in his chair of death.
Me: The next chapter is up! Something big happens!
Lucy: But at the same time, Johan mourns the loss of his family! By the way, his song will switch between him speaking about Cecil to him speaking about Judai. So notice those little changes.
Me: Anyway, please enjoy!
Chapter Thirteen: Cecil
Cecil's hands were trembling as he removed clothing from the drawers of his dresser. He slid them into his suitcase, laid over his bed. His hands slid down and grabbed his books as well, throwing them into the suitcase.
"So, it's true," a voice said. The voice made him jump.
Cecil glanced over and saw Viper standing in the doorway. He looked hurt, very angry. He looked dangerous. And even through all that, Cecil straightened his spine and narrowed his eyes.
"Sir," he used the term lightly. "A true gentleman knocks before entering a young man's room."
"True," Viper said, stepping in. "But I see no young man."
"And I see no gentleman," Cecil spat bitterly. He turned and showed his back to Viper, a form of disrespect. He slammed his suitcase closed and turned to glare at Viper, who glared back.
"I told myself that the girl was lying, that it was some cruel fiction... That my Cecil would never hurt me in such a way," Viper said.
"Hah!" Cecil laughed bitterly. "I was never yours!" He picked up his suitcase and turned towards Viper. "I will leave this place with Diana, and you can not stop me!"
"Then, it is only appropriate," Viper started, watching Cecil's eyes coolly. "That since you no longer find my company to your liking, young master, I shall provide you a new lodging." Viper stepped forward and grabbed his arms, yanking the boy close. Cecil glared into his eyes, not shaking, hiding his fear. "Until this moment, I have spared you and given you a home, and you, ungrateful child, break my heart. Now, you will learn some discipline."
He motioned, Napoleon blocking the doorway. Cecil didn't seem the least bit afraid, though inside, he was trembling like a madman. He watched Viper dragged him forward.
"When you have learned to appreciate what you have over what you have lost, we shall meet again," the tall man said. "Until that day, think on your sins, child."
"Think on your own sins!" Cecil spat. "Not on your false accusations of mine!"
Viper threw him towards Napoleon, and they two men dragged Cecil towards a carriage. Cecil fought with them the whole way, but he was unable to fight back. They threw him into the carriage, just as Diana arrived.
"Cecil!" Diana cried, rushing for the boy.
Cecil looked out the window of the carriage, allowing his fear to show for the first time. Cecil was yanked away from the window as the carriage started to roll away.
Diana glared up at Viper, who stood on the stairs.
"Where are you taking him!?" she yelled angrily. "Tell me, or I'll-"
"You'll what?" Viper asked. "Kill me, girl? Well, here I stand!" He threw his arms out and gave himself unarmed to Diana. Diana snarled at him, turned on her heels, and rushed after the carriage.
She knew she couldn't catch them, but she had to try.
--
Johan's fingers touched a picture in his shop. It was one that he had taken a long time ago, shortly after Cecil had been born. Judai and Cecil were in the picture, both smiling happily to the camera.
Johan's heart pounded sadly. He longed for them. He longed for his family. Johan closed his eyes and heard the bells of the church in the distance chiming. How ironic...
...Diana rushed down the streets and stopped, knowing that she could not catch the carriage. She frowned, tears staining her cheeks, and she looked to the stormy skies.
[Diana]
I feel you, Cecil
I feel you
Do they think that walls can hide you?
Even now I'm at your window
I am in the dark beside you
Buried sweetly in your bronze hair
Cecil
Johan turned to one of his customers and began working on him. This man was rich and snotty, another man who was going to be used to make pies, as Asuka had planned.
Johan's mind wandered to the thoughts of his son.
[Johan]
And are you beautiful and pale
With bronze hair, like him
I'd want you beautiful and pale
The way I've dreamed you were,
Cecil
Johan sighed softly as he ran the razor across the snotty man's throat. The man gagged as blood spewed from his new wound, and he collapsed against the back of the chair.
Johan stepped on a pedal on the chair, which he had created to make the chair swoop back, open a trap door, and send the bodies down the duct to the basement, where Asuka's oven was located. It was their plan, after all.
[Diana]
Cecil
Johan looked to the picture of Judai and Cecil, his mind wandering from his darling little son to his beloved husband, the man that Johan had fallen madly in love with.
[Johan]
And if you're beautiful what then
With bronze hair, like that
I think we shall not meet again,
My little dove, my sweet,
Judai
Diana closed her eyes and let some tears fall as she stood in the streets alone.
[Diana]
I'll steal you, Cecil
Johan went back to work on a kindly man. This one would live. This man got his shave finished, paid Johan, and walked out of the shop with his life. Johan sighed and sat down in the chair, looking out the window to the darkness. Night was falling.
[Johan]
Goodbye, Judai
You're gone and yet you're mine
I'm fine, Judai
I'm fine
Diana kept walking forward.
She had to find the boy that she had fallen in love with. She had to find him and bring him with her. He didn't deserve the fate that he was given, and he needed to be freed.
[Diana]
Cecil
Outside the pie shop/barber shop, the beggar man was watching the building with wide eyes, hidden by the hood. He looked around and around, calling to people who were heading for the pie shop, which had just recently reopened and was now starting to gain customers.
[Beggar Man]
Smoke, smoke
Sign of the devil
Sign of the devil
City on fire
Witch, a witch
Smell it sir, an evil smell
The men and women that the beggar talked to pushed away from him and left, muttering something about him being insane under their breath. The beggar man looked back to the building with wild, fearful eyes.
[Beggar Man]
Every night at the vesper's spell
Smoke that came with an awful hell
City on fire
City on fire
Mischief
Mischief
Mischief, I say!
Johan sighed, wiping his razor and moving to a new customer.
[Johan]
And if I never hear your voice,
My turtle dove, my dear
I still have reason to rejoice
The way ahead is clear
Cecil
He slit this man's throat as well, since this man made a living out of making people's lives Hell. He stepped on the pedal, and the body was cast down the duct to be made into a new pie.
[Diana]
I feel you, Cecil
[Johan]
And in that darkness when I'm blind
With what I can't forget
It's always morning in my mind,
My little lamb, my pet
Judai
You stay, Judai
[Diana]
Cecil
[Johan]
The way I dreamed you were
Oh, look, Cecil
A star
Johan smiled at the shooting star as it swept by.
Diana stood in the middle of the streets and saw it moving as well, tears shining in her eyes.
[Diana]
Buried sweetly in your bronze hair
[Johan]
A shooting star
Outside the building, the half-crazed beggar man pointed to the chimney of the pie shop/barber shop. He was jumping up and down, literally going madder than he could be.
[Beggar Man]
There, there
Somebody, somebody
Look up there
Didn't I tell you?
Smell that air
City on fire
The beggar man went to a nobleman, but the noble just waved his hand at the beggar and returned to his activities. He walked into the pie shop, ignoring the beggar's warnings.
[Beggar Man]
Quick, sir! Run and tell
Warn them all of the witch's spell
There it is, there it is
There in hell, this smell
Tell it to the Beadle, and police as well
Tell them, tell them
Oh! Fiend!
City on fire
City on fire!
Mischief
Mischief, I say!
Johan sat in his chair, holding the picture in one hand, his razor in the other.
[Johan]
And though I'll think of you I guess
Until the day I die
I think I miss you less and less
As every day goes by
Cecil
[Diana]
Cecil
[Johan]
And you'd be beautiful and pale
And look too much like him
Oh, Cecil
If only angels could prevail
We'd be the way we were
Judai
Johan touched the figure lightly with his fingers, tears in his eyes.
[Diana]
I feel you, Cecil
[Johan]
Wake up, Cecil
Another bright red day
We learn, Cecil
To say
Goodbye
Johan put the picture down and stood, ready to work on another customer. This one would live as well. He was a kind enough man, and was going to go down and get a pie after a shave. Johan could let him live.
Diana looked to the moon.
[Diana]
I'll steal you
Johan watched as the man went down the stairs, thanking him over and over again. Johan closed the door and looked out the window, hoping that Cecil was seeing the same moon he was.
He closed his eyes.
He had work to do.
---
Me: Oh, poor Johan and Diana! Johan's heartbroken, and Cecil's in a locked away place, far away from those that he cares about! Fear not, Cecil! Diana and your daddy will save you!
Lucy: But what will they do? How will they do it?
Me: Please review!