-XIV-

Sweeney Todd was beside himself. He could not decide where to go or what to do, so strong was his anticipation. His right hand shook unmercifully as he rushed to the bureau making sure everything was prepared for the Judge's arrival. It was then he caught a glimpse of the cherry red stain on his white sleeve. He touched the mark, and quickly scrambled for something to conceal it. He speedily slipped into his coat as the sound of the shop door eased open, and then shut behind the guest. Todd turned abruptly, and exhaled slowly when he saw the Judge standing before him. Turpin offered him only the vaguest of silent consideration.

"Mr. Todd." He greeted.

Todd swallowed back his impatience and offered a very curt bow. "At your service. What an honor, to receive your patronage milord."

The Judge raised a curious brow. "Have we been introduced once before, sir?"

Todd didn't panic at the question. He smiled graciously. "No my lord, I am afraid we have not. You could say I know you by reputation. There are not many, around this street at least, who don't know of the great…Judge Turpin."

The final words were difficult, Todd had to admit, but the Judge was so enrapt in his own conceit that he accepted Todd's words without another hesitation. He then proceeded to take a turn about the shop, lifting his chin slightly as though he was sampling something foul. Todd stood completely still, still focusing on keeping his inhalations steady. Turpin ran a finger across the dusty windowpane with a distained expression.

"These premises are hardly prepossessing, however the Beadle assured me you are the most accomplished of all the barbers in the city."

Todd growled quietly, and then forced a grin to his ridged lips. "That was gracious of him sir. Now, if I may, what can I do for you? A stylish trimming of the hair perhaps, or a soothing skin massage?"

Sweeney reached out and eased off the Judge's coat. The Judge started in apparent surprise at Todd's forwardness, but he didn't remark on it. He turned and faced the barber with a mask of pretentious dismay. He laid a hand on Todd's shoulder, and it took every ounce of the latter's power to remain unmoved.

"I must reveal something to you Barber. You see, I come here for a purpose. I am a man infatuated with love, and I desire the most rejuvenating of treatments to make myself presentable -or perhaps…seductive is a proper word- to her. However, what I desire first and foremost is a shave."

Turpin then proceeded to rub the back of his hand along the lengthening stubble across his cheek. Todd offered the barest of smiles.

"I assure you, milord, it shall be the closest I have ever given before. Sit sir, sit."

Judge Turpin slowly leaned himself back into the chair, loosening his collar in preparation for his shave. At first, Sweeney Todd had been somewhat nervous that the Judge would recognize him. After all, Davey Collins had, and was killed and folded into a chest because of it. However, Todd couldn't say he was completely surprised by the man's obliviousness. Who could remember an insect crushed under their boot?

"It is a quite incredible phenomenon." The Judge spoke idly.

Todd draped a smock over the Judge, tucking it just under his chin. "What is that, sir, if I might inquire?"

"Women." Turpin clarified as he crossed his legs at the ankles. "They are such intoxicating creatures, wouldn't you agree?"

"Correct you are sir." Todd felt his jaw trembling with a spurt of anger. "Pretty women are a wonder."

Todd mixed the lather and quickly dabbed it on the Judge's face, covering it completely. When he'd finished, he reached his razor with a surprisingly steady hand. He gazed at the blade in his grasp.

Slowly…patience…revenge can't be taken in haste.

Todd could hardly contain himself as he leaned forward.

"Make haste Barber, and if we wed you will be commended for your work."

Todd paused for a moment, and clenched his jaw tightly. "And who, might it be said, is your intended, sir?"

An infuriating smile dusted the lips of his enemy. "My ward, and as pretty as a rosebud."

"Pretty as her mother?" The words had escaped unbidden, and Todd immediately clamped his mouth closed.

Turpin glanced at him with a confused expression. "What was that?"

Todd cleared his throat. "Nothing sir, nothing. May we proceed?"

Todd reached forward, and as the blade touched the man's throat an eruption of anticipation exploded through Todd's veins. However, he remembered Mrs. Lovett's advice. He would enjoy this.

"She is a beautiful woman Mr. Todd, however she has the disposition of a child."

Todd's hand trembled as he scraped the blade across the Judge's skin. He would need to change the subject to something other than his daughter or his patience wouldn't last.

"Oftentimes they do sir. Something in them is so detestably innocent it cannot be explained."

"Fascinating creatures they are, I agree with you sir. Do you find that even if they vanish they can somehow remain with you, forever?"

Todd angled his eyes and the corner of his mouth lifted in contempt. "Truly sir. If I may venture, you appear quite practiced in this field, may I ask if there were any other particular women in your past adorations?"

Sweeney Todd gripped the razor tightly as he held the blade across the Judge's neck. He bared his teeth in animal anticipation as his arm trembled. However, before he killed him, Todd only wanted one thing. He wanted Turpin to admit to what he'd done. It would make the moment that much more satisfying, and the Judge seemed perfectly willing to accommodate. A twisted smile wrenched his features into an ugly kind of scowl.

"Ah yes. One such other will always be singed in my memory. A golden goddess, beautiful in every way that could possibly be imagined."

Todd leaned forward as he felt his heart pound like a drum. His arm tensed as he readied himself for the swipe that would end the detestable man's life forever. Todd's voice was a growl in Turpin's ear.

"And her name?"

Turpin seemed to consider for a moment, as though he'd forgotten. "Her name…hmm….?"

Sweeney Todd experienced a burst of morbid excitement, and decided he didn't want the name of his virtuous wife escaping the fornicator's lips. However, before Sweeney Todd could complete the deed the shop door flew open. Todd's head snapped to the left, and his jaw fell. It was Anthony, smiling with joy at the news he was committed on delivering.

"Mr. Todd! I've seen Johanna and she said she'd come away with me…" When Anthony finally sobered enough to see who Todd was serving his voice faded.

Turpin was enraged, and Todd could only stand there in dumb shock as the Judge got to his feet with the lather still spread across his jaw.

"You? Do you honestly think my Johanna would ever elope with a repugnant little wretch like you when she could have all the comforts in the world? However, your declaration has sparked a consideration in my mind. I will be sure never to let you, or any man, ever set eyes on her again."

Turpin's voice was nothing but an assortment of angry snarls and guttural growls. He grasped his coat and turned to Sweeney Todd with a look of utter rage.

"And as for you, barber," Turpin hissed at the motionless man. "It is all too clear to see what breed of company you keep, appreciate what patronage you have sir, you shall not have mine."

With those final words Turpin marched to the door and exited in a manner befitting a man in such a temper. Todd, conversely, was standing as still as a statue, his gaze dropped to the floor throughout the entire exchange. Anthony was stunned, but he recovered quicker so as to speak.

"The Judge… Johanna." Anthony turned his attention to Todd. "Mr. Todd, you have to help me, please."

Todd felt utterly empty.

"Out." Todd's voice was soft.

Anthony continued to implore his assistance. "What will he do to her? Mr. Todd, please?"

Todd's next insistent demand was louder, but Anthony was not swayed.

"Mr. Todd…"

"OUT!"

Sweeney Todd's rage erupted through the anger in his voice. To reinforce the order he took three strong steps toward his resolute guest. Anthony jumped back in surprise, and followed a well heeded instinct to rush through the door and outside. Now Todd was alone, and he was still unable to believe what had just taken place. The Judge was gone. He was gone. Mrs. Lovett opened the door quickly and focused a confused expression on the man inside.

"All this shout'n and runnin' about. What's happened?"

Todd's voice was pathetically small as he attempted to convince himself of what happened.

"I had him."

Mrs. Lovett appeared not to hear the confession, and motioned toward the door with a sweeping gesture. "The sailor came I know, then I saw them both running down the stairs."

Todd was beginning to understand the severity of the opportunity he'd let slip through his fingers.

"I had him! I had his throat bare beneath my hand…right…"

Mrs. Lovett stepped warily closer. "There, there dear, calm down now."

"He'll never come again." Todd's voice was low and demonic. He spun toward Mrs. Lovett. "Do you hear me? His throat was exposed directly beneath me and…and now he'll never come again!"

Sweeney Todd's rage boiled past his level of control, and he didn't even attempt to restrain it. He grasped Mrs. Lovett by the throat and forced her into the wall. She gasped as she struck the wood, and gazed at him with less fear than he'd imagined. He locked his hand about her neck.

"You told me to wait. Why did I listen to you?"

Mrs. Lovett attempted vainly to wriggle out of his grip, but she settled on speaking to him warmly.

"Hush now darlin', you're beside yourself. There's still plenty of time to slit him, what's your rush?"

Todd stared at Mrs. Lovett for a moment more, and then he released her. As she inhaled rapidly to catch her stolen breath Sweeney Todd marched toward the window. His mind was wandering once again, and he felt himself enshrouded in darkness. He saw Turpin's wicked smile as he condemned Benjamin Barker to prison. He could see all the people watching his wife die and not doing a thing to help her.

"There's a hole in the world like a great black pit, and it's filled with people who are filled with shit, and the vermin of the world inhabit it…" Todd slammed his fist against the window. A terrible grin lifted a corner of his mouth. "…but not for long."

From beneath his window a steady movement of people flowed up and down Fleet Street. Todd growled. His hatred was not solely placed on the Judge any longer, his rage had transcended into a resolute dedication. There was no measure of justice in society. Wicked men remain free to do whatever they wished, while the vermin under their boots had to scrounge for everything they had. However, these low creatures were just as much to blame. The wicked should be disposed of, and if those deaths were not sanctioned by God, Sweeney Todd supposed the duty fell to him. He felt his razor in his hand, and he caressed the silver handle with a thumb. It was up to him now.

"They all deserve to die." Todd's voice was hardly a whisper. "Every one of them, and they will. I will get my revenge, but before I confront the Judge I'll practice my technique on the throats of others. I'll cut a path through the city, and when I do have his throat beneath my hand again I will exact my vengeance."

"Mr. T…?"

Todd had forgotten about Mrs. Lovett, but his passion was ignited, and more life than he ever remembered possessing flowed through him. His eyes were alight with furious fire as he turned and grasped Mrs. Lovett tightly by the shoulder.

"We all deserve to die, Mrs. Lovett." With a hearty shove he forced her backward, and she collapsed into the barber's chair. He sauntered about the chair, remembering Turpin in the exact position. Almost unconsciously the blade leveled itself against Mrs. Lovett's bare neck. "Even you, Mrs. Lovett. And even I."

Mrs. Lovett didn't dare utter a word with the blade so close to her throat. For a moment, Todd let the idea of adding her to the list of victims dance through his head. That thought led to the pile up of more bodies, and deranged ecstasy was the result. However, as he saw the bodies soaked in blood he unwillingly thought of his poor daughter, still alive, and in the clutches of the Judge. The blade lowered from Mrs. Lovett's neck as he turned about with great deliberation. It was too late to save his daughter now. All he could do was be sure her guardian could never hurt her. All he could do was kill those who threatened her. Then a surprisingly logical thought came to mind amid the disarrayed madness. Who exactly was he avenging? His wife? Of course. His daughter? He'd believed so. Then why did he not travel to Turpin's manor and abduct his child himself?

Because his focus was lying on the Judge and no one else. Because his need for revenge was the only thing holding him together, and he would execute it. He looked at himself in the mirror, his expression appeared haunted and empty, without a trace of the former anticipation he'd felt so acutely.

"I can't save my daughter. Because of the Judge I'll never again hug my girl to me." Todd's voice didn't sound as though it belonged to him. "And my Lucy lies in ashes, and I'll never see her again."

"There's no need to dwell in it, Mr. T. It's over and done with. You got to put it behind you now."

"No." Mr. Todd turned away sharply, fueled by his new revelations. "I will never forget this. I will have my vengeance on this world. Not one man, nor a hundred will assuage me from my salvation. Those who enter here will be killed, and I will practice the skill of my blade on their throats. The Judge will return, I'll be sure he does."

The world seemed to spin unmercifully, but Todd did not notice. He was too involved in the enlightening visions of his epiphany. He held one razor high in the air, and smiled deviously when the sun caught the gleam.

"I'm alive at last." He growled, motivated by a new goal he was determined to complete.

He stood there for another moment, frozen in his stance, memorized by the shine of his blade. Suddenly, Mrs. Lovett stepped into his line of sight.

"That's all very well, Mr. Todd, but what are we gonna do about 'im?" Mrs. Lovett gestured lazily to the trunk in the corner of the room. "Or did you forget you stuffed a body in there not ten minutes ago?"

Todd's smile slowly disappeared, and his hand dropped to his side. Blankness had returned to his mind, and after he demonstrated more emotion than he had in ten years he felt thoroughly drained. Mrs. Lovett now stood directly in front of him, her pretty face looking up at him questioningly.

"You hear me, Mr. T.?"

Sweeney Todd didn't respond. He was considering what he was going to do with all the bodies he planned to accumulate. He couldn't think of anything that would successfully keep him out of the eye of lawful suspicion. Men could not simply disappear without a trace. Subconsciously, Todd heard Mrs. Lovett speak again.

"Come on now." She took him by the arm and led him toward the door. "Great useless thing." She heaved a sigh.

Todd could just barely make it down the stairs without catching his foot and tumbling the remainder of the way. His arm was draped over Mrs. Lovett's shoulders, and he had to admit she was a sturdy woman. She opened the shop door and sat him down at the empty table. Todd leaned forward on the wood, a calculative look shading his features. Mrs. Lovett strode about, on the search for something or someone. She disappeared into the living area for a moment and returned with a glass and a bottle of gin. She sat down adjacent to Todd and poured the clear liquid into Todd's glass.

"There you go Mr. T, drink that down."

Blankly, Todd reached for the glass and slid it closer. Mrs. Lovett propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands thoughtfully.

"Now, I know you're not wanting to hear this now, but we've got a dead bloke rottin' away up there. What you suppose we should do 'bout that then?"

Todd studied the gin in his hand, and decided on the most obvious course of action. "Later on, when it's dark, we'll take it to some secret place and bury it."

Mrs. Lovett looked strangely disappointed at this prospect.

"Oh yeah. Course we could do that. Don't suppose he's got any relatives gonna come pokin' around lookin' for him. At least, any who'll think to look for 'im here." There was a moment of silence, and then Mrs. Lovett spoke again. "Seems a shame, really."

Todd took a gulp of gin and felt the liquid send prickly sensations up and down his throat. He coughed once.

"Shame?"

"Well, he being such a thickset fellow and all, it just seems a shame to bury a frame like that."

Mrs. Lovett got to her feet and started walking toward the counter. "I mean, with the price of meat what it is, when you get it…even if you get it…"

The implication hit Todd with promising calculation. "Ah…"

Mrs. Lovett turned to face him, a bright smile on her face.

"What'cha think Mr. Todd? Mrs. Mooney's pies are selling as good as ever, and she fills 'er shells with nothin' but meat made a' pussycat. Now think of it. Pussies are only good for maybe six or seven pies give or take. I don't suppose they're any tastier."

A grin spread across Todd's face as he stood.

"What a practical notion, Mrs. Lovett."

Mrs. Lovett's excitement escalated. "Think about it. You'll have more gentlemen comin' up for a shave. And when they do…think of all those pies."

"These are desperate times, Mrs. Lovett." Todd uttered with a small grin. "And desperate measures are called for."

Sweeney Todd wandered toward the shop window and watched the people scurry about the street. He crossed his arms in triumph.

"What a marvel how the world begins to change at an encouragement of exchanged ideals. History tells us those above common filth are to be served by them. However, the positions seem to be reversed."

"Ah yes, Mr. T." Mrs. Lovett stood beside her neighbor. "How gratifying that this time, those above will serve those down below."

"We'll not discriminate. Great or small will be served in equal accordance."

"Good thinking, Mr. Todd."

Suddenly there was a rustling from the living quarters, and Todd's hand dropped to the nearby counter, his palm resting on the hilt of a cleaver. Mrs. Lovett spun in the direction of the noise, and then fluttered her hand dismissively.

"Calm down dear, it's just the boy."

The boy called Toby stumbled into the room, grasping on to the walls in a drunken stupor. He raised his arm to shield his eyes from the light.

"Mrs. Lovett…mum…I seem to 'ave misplaced the-"

"Don't you worry bout that darlin'." Mrs. Lovett rushed to Toby and laid her hands on his shoulders to steady him. "How'd you like to help me with the baking? Things are gonna change round here and we'd better tidy up."

Todd didn't know how much the boy heard, but by his semi-conscious movement he could deduct it was not much. Sweeney Todd lifted the cleaver, and admired the blade with a content deviousness.