"Twilight for Anonymous…"

Disclaimer: Not mine but thine...O, Joss!

Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, or direct to story at www...

General audience level...

Summary: In a past life of Buffy and William, a certain story- and scene-stealing vampire gets his much-deserved desserts…

Part XVI…

The, rather modern for its era, complete with flushing latrine and piped water, private dungeon of Essex House…

Though given its private nature, currently subject to the poorly restrained whim of Robert Devereux, current Earl of Essex, and a man of such mercurial, often childish, temperament as to have antagonized even his rather loving and generally indulgently tolerant, though by no means unrestrainedly so, Queen and that it also came equipped with the latest in late 16th century torture implements, it was debatable as to its desirability as a place of incarceration…

Add to the fact that Devereux's current house guest, charged with the care and maintenance of the current dungeon occupants was Essex' close friend and associate, the rather sadistic (out of public view) if always charming and cultured Earl of Oxford, his sadistic streak sharpened exponentially by his vampiral nature….And the dungeon might well be said, as many had, in the security of their own minds and homes, after the hideously brutal examination there of the Queen's Jewish doctor, to fit more the reign of her illustrious/infamous Neroian father, Henry VIII.

In short, for the just-entering Edward DeVere, sole Earl of Oxford for the past 250 years, a most charming place…

"Enjoying your new accommodations, Slayer?" he sneered to Anne as he moved down to her cell from the doorway, fresh-lit torch in hand. He handing the torch with grim look to Bella who, sheepishly bowing as she rose, took it and placed it a sconce on the wall by Shakespeare's cell.

"I've gotten out from, and killed owners of, worse, DeVere." she replied.

"Spirit…I so like that. Sadly lacking in my current significant other…" Edward smiled, cold flick of eye to Bella as she hesitated…He nodding for her to retake her stool seat by Shakespeare's cell.

"DeVere, let my wife go and we'll come to an agreement…" Shakespeare, from the door of his cell, urged.

"Not a chance, Will…" Anne called over, shaking head. "He'll not be stealin' your work if I've any say."

"Really?" DeVere, amused. "I rather think after I'm done with you, you'll think differently. I think, in fact, you'll be so eager to please me, you'll happily torture or deceive your husband to make him work at his best. Though I think having you threatening to harm your own children in, where is it? Strafford? Should be sufficient to keep him in line."

"Keep talkin', bastard." Anne, quietly. "I'll enjoy killing ye all the more…"

"My Lord, as a lover of the Arts, which I still take you for…" Shakespeare, earnest tone… "…this is unworthy of you."

Anne rolling eyes…Frances likewise in her cell…

"Hmmn…" DeVere considered, rather obviously mocking… "You make a good point, Will. If I may be so bold since you established us on a first-name basis earlier…" icy sneer. "Best to just have your wife cut the little dears' throats and bring me their blood preserved in ice…Have you heard tell of Sir Francis Bacon's experiments in preservation through cold?...No? Well, I'm sure it's the wave of the future in keeping food from spoilage. Yes, that's a finer way….No need to torment you with false hope…"

"My Lord…?!" Frances called. "Please, you'd do well to release me, in your own interest… The Queen will inquire of me…I can't speak of this, you know that."

"Such cowardice..." DeVere sighed. "I beg you, Shakespeare to believe it is the demon within her panicking, as much as the mother…A true noblewoman of her house would never disgrace herself so…"

"Let her go, my Lord." Shakespeare urged. "She can't speak for fear of the Queen's wrath and you know she's with child. Consider it a gracious act to win our trust…"

DeVere, cold glance… "Indeed…Frances? I could count on your silence?" he called.

"I'm so sorry, friends…" Frances, weeping a bit. "I must protect my child…"

"No…I'm afraid the thought of devouring whatever it is you may spawn is just too intriguing…" DeVere chuckled.

"My Lord, for my child's sake, I swear I'll say nothing…"

"If that treacherous creature speaks again, go and shoot her in the legs." He told Bella coldly. She nodding…

"Enjoy yourself, DeVere…" Anne, calmly. "You've not yet learned what a Slayer, or pain, is…"

"Now, Anne…" Edward turned to regard her coolly. "I plan to make you very happy for many years…Why, I may even offer you eternal life. But, I understand a mother's feelings. I had one, long ago."

"Who mourns what she spawned, I'm sure…"

"Hardly fair, Slayer…I didn't ask for this fate. I was rather a saintly child in my human days…"

Lord…Frances, listening, rolled eyes but mindful of Bella's instructions, held tongue.

"Not as I hear tell, Edward." Anne noted. "Me sources tell me you sought out a vampire to sire you…"

"Indeed. Could I, knowing a chance of immortality existed, deprive the world of this?" Oxford waved hand over his form. "But, so that you know I'm not simply vain and that I hold no petty grudges, my offer for you still stands. Join me voluntarily, Anne…And I'll grant your husband a natural life, under my protection and shelter. You may settle your children, as you wish, with family or elsewhere…Tell them to hide them even from you, if you like. That dear wretch Frances can bear your message…You see, seven lives, generously spared by me. Why, I'll even let dear Bella live till she collapses naturally if you like."

"I think I prefer to just kill you, sorry…My Lord." Anne noted.

"We'll see…" he smiled. "I can be quite creative in torture as Dr. Lopez learned to his agonizing misery. And at least for now, you're clearly far too loving a wife to witness such practices on your husband…And if necessary, your children…"

Tight snap of manacles…Which did not break…

"Even you will find those chains difficult to break…The finest Spanish steel, occultly reinforced." DeVere noted, archly.

"Thanks for the information, my Lord." Anne, coolly. "Now here's me offer. Run. Now. And you might, just possibly, get to France or Spain before I've freed meself, and I've not the desire to be chasing about, leavin' me little ones and Will alone."

"How…Generous…" he smiled, giving mocking bow. "Well, I must to my friend Robert and work out a proper examination schedule. You may have the good fortune, Shakespeare…" he turned to Will… "Of having a representative of Her Majesty's present. We shall see. Lord Essex has sent to the Court to tell of this sordid treason and, much to my own surprise, his business may yet end happily for him."

"If he knew you…" Shakespeare noted.

"Oh, don't wish that…Robert is far too amusing to kill." DeVere grinned. "I look forward to enjoying his disastrous influence on England for a few years yet. I must thank you both for being the cause of saving his delightful neck if all things do work out today. Well, I shall see you both later. Think carefully on my offer, Slayer." He turned, taking torch from sconce, and headed back to the door.

"Bella! Please try to maintain some watch over our guests. Tell the guard at the door if they require anything short of sending messages." He ordered. Bella nervously nodding as he went out, closing the massive door with light, and consciously elegant, touch.

….

Essex House, the upstairs library…

Dreary sort of a room, it always depresses me to see all these books…Essex sighed from his chair at reading table.

Of course stepfather, though a resolute man of action whenever circumstances allowed, was always a big one for keeping up the proper accoutrements of a gentleman…And always said there were some useful things in books…Certainly helped him while away a few hours while dancing on the Queen's pleasure when he was her favorite. Helped him and the Queen herself bear prison in their younger days…

But me, I find such masses of dust-collecting tomes wearisome…

Naturally young Rob Cecil…My deadly rival for position…Loves them.

He would, the little clerk. Well, when one can't do…One reads of doing.

"My Lord…" a slight man entered, closing door behind him and pulling back hood.

"Ah, yes…" he eyed the drab little man in rather drab clothes…Not at all impressive by any means but known for his ability to penetrate even the most secure of secret places…Who'd borne several messages in happier days to the oft-beleaguered Queen to save his employer's hide from her annoyance at his waywardness.

"Flitch…Good man. I have an urgent message for you to bear, to her Majesty."

Willie sighed. "My Lord… The Queen was not eager to receive your most recent message. I was threatened with scourging if I should again bring her such, as she called it, 'twaddle and lunacy', again."

"Old fool…" Essex, irritated. "Here I do all I can as her most loyal subject and protector to help her see her danger and she forever treats me as a foolish indulgence, a mere whipping boy to dance on her favor…"

About right, I'd say…Willie did not say. And I never heard that "ole fool" remark… Glancing about…

"I can assure you she will wish to receive this note. Your reward will be great if you succeed, Flitch. And my displeasure equally so if you fail." Frown. "For the nonce, this should be fair compensation for your trouble…Till greater rewards are mine to bestow…" he tossed a bag which Flitch deftly caught.

Well, can't fault him for being stingy. Though his excessive liberality's probably what brought him to such disaster as he faces…

"I'll do my best, Lord." He nodded.

"Excellent…Go at once…" Essex indicated the door.

Can't wait to get out of here myself, he thought, rising from table.

Sure, right after I've a look about and see if my charge and my girl are still ok, Willie noted to himself, as he left, closing the door quietly and slipping away down the hall. Bit disturbin' not to have seen them in the Great Hall when I passed. And Shakespeare's boys milling about, not allowed to leave, by the guards' tellin'…

Things I do for duty, and love…And the duty doesn't even pay…

Though the love…Well…Quiet smile…