Return Of The Demon

A/N: Bit of a short chapter. Sorry I didn't get it up sooner. I'm in a bit of a rush...

On the other hand, in good spirits, I turn sixteen May 1st! :D Wish me luck with all the relatives...dear lord, save me!

Chapter Twenty Six

"You'll take the reins won't you sweets?" Janice cooed at Sweeney. Johanna stood beside him, her lips in a tight line as she slowly approached the carriage. Janice reached across Toby's lap, patting the seat cushion invitingly. Looking unsure, Johanna glanced to Sweeney who nodded, gently palming the base of her spine and urging her forward. She stepped cautiously inside, sitting herself rigid at Toby's side, her face pale with fear.

Janice's eyes twinkled as she motioned for Sweeney to shut the door. He did so, slamming it in ager as he rounded to the front of the carriage. The mare gave a hoarse whinny, staring at him forlornly with large eyes. He patted her flank and pulled himself up into the carriage chair. The horse stared at him, shaking her head of mane, muscles twitching in anticipation.

Gathering the reins in his hands, Sweeney passed a look over his shoulder into the cab. Janice smiled at him, a wicked flash in her eyes. Toby was slumped forward, almost hopelessly as Johanna held his hand, her thumb stroking his palm. Janice rolled her hand in a "Get along" kind of gesture. Sweeney turned back to the horse, slapping the reins down. The mare gave a pitiful whinny and clattered forwards.

"Home if you please Mr. Todd." So she was calling Mr. Todd now, eh? Strange woman; complete nut-buggery. The streets were dim, the lamps flickering against the shadows. Shades were drawn, sleeping bodies behind them, lost in dreams and nightmares alike. Sweeney watched each house that went, somewhat desperate to see a figure hidden away he could signal.

An urge to actually see another being was something he was not so profoundly used to; it startled him. He had never thought that needing someone else in such emergence was something he'd ever come to expect. He usually depended on himself, not daring to let any of those farther than the dank expression on his face.

"Hurry won't you Mr. Todd? We've got to be quick about this." Janice called from the back. A light went off in a nearby window and Sweeney's heart skipped a beat. He watched it. A shadow moved behind it, getting larger as it drew towards the sill--and then the light flickered out. A deep sense of misery flooded him as the buggy clopped on by.

Soon, Fleet Street was fading behind them, lights dancing like the gentle flickers of flames in the darkness. Those disappeared just as well. As did eventually the main of the London's streets as they became dirt roads waded in rocks. All that could be seen was the arching rooftops of the grandesque buildings behind them…and then those disappeared as well. Trees arched over them, covering them in dashing shadows as the moon's light swayed through the breeze.

"We're almost home lovelies." Janice cooed from the cab. Sweeney passed a glance over his shoulder. Johanna had lost herself out the window, her face streaked in tears that shone silver against her cheeks. Toby was still somewhat slumped helplessly as Janice held the knife to his throat. She was whispering something in his ear, grinning wickedly as she did so. She caught Sweeney's eyes, smirking.

He turned away, watching the road bend and her old house come into view.

This was going to have to be done the hard way…

--

"Don't sit there Johanna dear," Janice fussed, "Move along child." She seemed like a grandmother whirring over a grandchild. Johanna stared at her a moment as if this whole thing might hopefully be a dream she could awaken from. When Janice rapped her sharply on the cheek with the knife, a thin cut biting into her cheek, Johanna immediately jumped out. She practically fell over her own feet and onto the ground had Sweeney not come forward, grabbing her firmly under the arm.

Almost immediately she swung away from him, grabbing the door handle before doubling over and vomiting into the road. Janice shoved Toby out, a gnarled hand clutching the back of his shirt.

"Johanna?" Toby called out, reaching for her when the tip of the knife prodded seductively at the base of his spine. It jiggled a bit, breaking skin, a red flower blooming across the linen in an instant. Toby sucked in a breath through gritted teeth, hands clenching at his sides as he drew back. Johanna nearly keeled over in her own mess as she swayed dizzily.

"Come now Johanna," Janice whispered daintily, "Don't be such a push-over my dear," She turned to Sweeney, "Would you mind fetching the body from the back Mr. Todd. He'll be needing to come with us."

"Don't you dare touch them." Sweeney threw a threatening finger in her direction. Janice threw her head back, laughing. It was a sugar-coated sound, grating to the ears. She shook her head, white wisps of hair flurrying about underneath her bonnet.

"Of course not Mr. Todd," She smiled coyly, "I'm a woman of my word."

"You best be Miss Crawly," Sweeney growled, using her last name, spitting it to the ground as if it were an insult, "Because if you so soon as take one or both of them to the dead, you have no other pawn to deter me from sending you to hell." Janice's smile flickered a bit, faltering just slightly. Her eyes remained glued to his though, danger flashing inside them.

"You have my word, Mr. Todd. My life." And suddenly she retrieved the razor from her pocket and held it up into the night air. She stared at a moment as if intrigued by the glinting silver and then lowered it, handing it out to him. Sweeney stared, brow furrowing.

"Take it, Love," Janice said quietly, "If I so much as even end the life of a strand on their head, so much as their spirit, you may take that to my throat." Sweeney stood there, a foot between him and the beloved weapon that could mean the alteration to every bit of this horrid nightmare.

"Take it sweetheart. Take it." She urged tenderly. Sweeney reached out a hesitant hand, pausing, and then grasped the handle. It was cold, like the ice one might find on the caps of Everest (had anyone "discovered" Everest at this point in time). The strange pulse he normally felt quivering beneath his 

fingertips was gone. He slicked it in his hands, rubbing the metal harshly against his palms as if to warm the life back into it.

"Go one Mr. Todd," Janice shooed, "You've got a guest to fetch." Sweeney glared at her, turning away and disappearing in the direction he knew to be headed for the shed out back. Feeling his way along the brick confines, he came to the corner where the edge dropped off, sloping down into the trench. Sweeney was immediately hit with a rank odor that sickeningly plugged his nostrils, its greasy, grimy fingers sleeking against his body.

He drew away, practically gagging as the smell hit him like a blow to the face. He wrenched the collar of his shirt up, forcing it over his nose as he descended. He was halfway down when something caught his eyes. He wasn't sure why it stood out now of all reasons…the shed. Its mighty shadow hovered over him and, before he could even process what he was doing, he pulling himself back out of the ditch and heading for the rotted shack.

Sweeney stood before the door, staring at it, the rusted handle nearly blending with the desecrated brown of the wood behind it. His hand, almost lily-white against the dark color, found its way around the ancient piece of metal and tugged. The hinges screeched angrily, roaring in resistance as Sweeney wrenched it open.

He widened it just enough that he could slip inside, wriggling through the opening and squinting into the darkness. He could see nothing at first until his eyes adjusted, and then small figures and shapes stood out at him. Reaching blindly out before him, the dust now took over from the horrendous stench from before. It prickled the hair in his nostrils making him sneeze.

Sweeney let a hand glide against the wall before it suddenly came across a rather soft material, something cold behind it as he palmed it. Shifting it about, a flash of white suddenly blinded him and his fingers met glass--a window. He yanked down what he supposed was a shade, light flooding the room just enough for whatever had hidden in the shadows to now be seen…

There was an old night stand just below the window. Upon it was a frame and, as he lifted it, he brushed the dust away. There was a woman crouched beside a small boy, one arm around his shoulder while the other hugged around his waist. She was a pretty young thing, her smile--Janice. That was Janice. The boy was smiling brightly at the camera, teeth all shown, head keeled up so most of his neck was exposed to the photographer rather than his face. He was…strangely adorable with a mop of dark hair and great big, brown eyes.

That had to be Jared.

Sweeney placed the photo back down and looked around him, other items bathed now in silver. There were boxes piled high to the ceiling, shovels among other tools hung on racks and nails, and the old waft-y smell of dust clinging to the air…

And then a bed. It was off in the back, covers yanked down to the end as if someone might just have risen from it.

("I kept you in the shed out back, all comfy and warm in Jared's bed that had been taken out there for storage many years before…")

The words swirled around in his head as he approached the small apparel, reaching out, his fingers grazing the yellowed sheets. They were crusty, old, ancient and wrinkled with more dust and grime that nearly blackened his fingers. So this is where he had lain…for ten god damn straight years. And she hadn't even pulled the covers up to tidy up after herself. Sweeney sat upon the comforter, feeling along the bed as far as his arms could reach before resting them on the edge.

Dust clouded about him as he closed his eyes, almost feeling drowsy in the silent presence. And then--

"Mr. Todd!? Mr. Todd!?" Janice's voice rang from the dark. Sweeney opened his eyes at another strangled yell from Toby. No doubt the poor boy had been punctured once again. Sweeney sighed, standing, his back suddenly aching. He rubbed it, staring down at the bed, a strange, delicious mixture of hatred, fear, and delight filling him. He was leaving this-this-this nightmare behind him; he was leaving this monstrosity to the past now; he was gone…

The hinges screamed as they shut for the last time; their barely-silver nuts reflecting the fading image of our Mr. Sweeney Todd into the shadows from where he would never return.

For future spoilers: Expect either the next chapter or the one after to be the last ;) We're heading for a final close people!