"Twilight for Anonymous…"

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

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 XXI…

"If ye be going to act, t'would be wise…"Jonson hissed to Anya as she quietly mended his jacket seam, seated by him.

"Leave it to me…" she whispered. "I can only act here as a human and this human has no interest in either bein' tortured or becoming DeVere's love puppy."

Hmmn…Jonson reflected. Mightn't be such a bad thing as all that to be of the Dark Ones if they have such power over the Ladies…

Still, who'd wish to be confined to Darkness, feeding on the Living, cutoff from the Sacred Heart, violating all that's holy, a hideous beast of the Devil?

Yet, t'would be rather neat in some ways, particularly regards the Ladies, though of course Anne, dear Anne would not only sternly object but would not hesitate to do her Duty, leavened, naturally, by the idea of aiding a dear old friend…The greatest playwright in England, though, again naturally, marital duty would require her to perhaps name him the second...

Oh, yeah…She will…Anya eyed Jonson, repressing an urge to smile.

Still that story is not yet fully written or fully clear to me, though sorry, bud…I do know…You strike out, Slayerwise, even with Angelus' power.

The Boss just can't resist sharing a joke with his staff…And this one has to be one of his best.

Frankly though? And I'd never say this aloud or within the Boss' telepathic range…I don't see his own scheme as likely to pan out over time. That Slayer is never going to join our ranks, no matter what despair he throws in her path.

And mortal as he is, I can't helping thinking that William in whatever form he takes later on, isn't going to let anyone permanently separate him from her.

But, job to do, duty calls…She rose, offering Jonson his jacket. "All ready, sir. There you are." He taking it with slight frown.

"It's still two pence, sir, the fee, sir." She eyed him, to his glare.

Hey, no way am I not getting paid for work done and done well…

In the dungeon, standing by a terrified Bella now locked into the iron helmet and chains, DeVere displayed his most sorrowfully tragic expression.

"Ah, Bella…" sigh. "To think it should come to this between us…"

"Master! My Lord! The Slayer lies! I be no papist, no spy!" she cried, strugging to view him through the narrow slits of the helmet. "I be innocent, my Lords."

"Then you have nothing to fear…" DeVere, solemnly.

Well, perhaps a bit to fear…Given we tend to torture first and obtain evidence proving innocence later in our current legal system.

"DeVere, Lord Essex, the girl has done nothing…" Shakespeare tried.

Sorry, Anne…He eyed her frowning face…But I can't let these ghouls torment the poor kid, even if she did murder that soldier. She can't help herself.

"We can hardly take the word of a papist, Shakespeare. Eh, Bob?" DeVere eyed Essex. "Besides your lady wife has named her as one of you."

Well…Probably not, Essex thought. Still…It does seem to me…

"Anne's a bit overdedicated, but I can't allow this child to suffer falsely."

Oh? And "overdedicated" Anne can? Anne glared.

Right, the heartless Shrew…

Ah, DeVere beamed, eyeing his prisoners…

A wedge between them…

"Enough. Bella? Do you wish to confess now or shall you leave the burden of proof to God?" he asked solemnly.

"My Lord…" she gasped. "I have nothing to confess…"

Well, that's certainly untrue, he thought. All the crimes you've committed under my thrall?

Still, she hasn't yet been made to swear…

Be rather interesting to see what she does and might tell, once she's been sworn.

"Bob? Could you have a Bible fetched? We ought to do this right."

It's really true…I've actually uncovered a Papist conspiracy at last…Essex, happily reflecting…

Eliza can't take my head now…Or at least, now she'll have good excuse not to.

And my charms will surely do the rest…I'm saved! "Oh, yes…Certainly…" he caught DeVere's stare.

I see Bob suddenly sees potential daylight and salvation at the end of this bleak tunnel…Well, we shall see…

So long as I have my own agenda fulfilled, I could go either way here…Though my native English patriotism does put a thumb against Bob's clear treason here, my delight in his idiocy and the chaos he could bring to the nation counters well.

"You there, guard. Fetch Lord DeVere my family Bible. The girl shall swear her oath on it."

Oooh, poor Bella. DeVere, amused.

I rather doubt she'll be up to that…Mix of my enthrallment and her own guilt.

"Will you let be, husband?" Anne fumed quietly to Shakespeare.

"We can't let the kid be tortured, Anne."

Ah, marital discord…DeVere grinned at the pair.

I love it so…Only sheer raw terror like Bella's here can exceed its pleasures.

Anne eyeing Will with slightest of smiles.

Just keep the sob aristovamp focused on us and not Lady Frances and dear, cloaked Willie in her cell…

"My Lord Essex!" an attendant from above had rushed down… "The guard on the road reports that the Queen's Guard is on the march! They'll be here in under two hours!"

Uh-oh…Essex blinked.

Well, just have to get a few details and…

"We'll have the Queen informed of all this shortly…Not to worry, Bob." DeVere reassured him.

"The Queen's Guard?" Frances, nervously, from her cell.

Oh, Lord.

On the other hand, this could make being locked in Essex's private dungeon not so bad a thing as all that. Assuming I can come up with a plausible excuse for being in Essex House just now. "Oh, Majesty I was seized by the fiends and taken to force me to help them come upon you in the Palace at night…And they threw me into this foul dungeon when I steadfastly refused…Yeah…That could work." beam.

Though the Guard tends to be a bit indiscriminate during assaults…

"The Bible you requested, my Lord!" the guard sent up had returned.

Bella looking fearfully at the Bible…

"Can someone take her statement? Anyone able to write here?" DeVere looked about.

"Please my Lord…" Bella whimpering…

"Anyone?" DeVere looked about. "Oh, very well…Bring parchment and quill, fellow. Bob, I'm afraid you'll have to handle the questions whilst I write."

I've just no patience trying to help you for the next fifteen minutes spelling every other word, old fellow.

"Certainly, Edward. You've nothing to fear, girl, if you answer true. Oh, you…Stephens…" Essex turned to the attendant who'd brought the foreboding news.

Nothing but hanging, drawing, quartering, and burning…DeVere thought.

Though, for old times sake I suppose I could request a simple beheading…She is of my blood, after all. Delightful as her agony would be, for the family's sake it is probably best to keep up appearances.

"Go to the road at once, meet the Queen's guard commander and tell him I have important news of a treason against the Queen!" Essex told Stephens who eyed him nervously.

"It'll be fine, just wave a handkerchief or something. Tell him this is all a mistake and the Queen's life is in danger! I have the proof or will soon. Bring him to me! Go, fellow!" he commanded.

There would be something touching in his innocent belief that all will work out, if I could still be touched, DeVere thought.

But I seriously doubt the Queen's Commander will be inclined to put his head in the tiger's…Well, more the jackal or hyena's, really…Mouth.

Of course he might send someone to hear us out…Eliza might yet have a desire to find a way to save her pretty boy. But my money's on a quick march and even quicker execution.

"Oh, best to just use the tongs without heat, dear fellow." He told the guard preparing implements of torture to Bella's terrified side. "We've no time for the fancier stuff, really. Just try not to mar the face in case she lives, will you? Good man."

Bella gasping in terror…

"We'd best to it…"Essex urged.

"Oh, by all means…Question away." DeVere nodded, "Bella… Now don't disgrace me. Remember you are of my blood. Show some modicum of courage, girl." He whispered, stepping from Bella's violently shaking form.

"Frances…" Willie's whisper to her in the air. "Don't say a word." As she started. "I've told the Slayer I'd free you first. Now your cell's unlocked, so stand ready to run at my call."

I love you, she mouthed to his invisible form. A guard eyeing her suddenly. She gave a quick smile, he frowning.

Aristos. Always think they can buy or screw their way out of trouble. Well, some of us are both incorruptible and not stupid, lass. He turned to ignore her, giving Willie the briefest chance to open and leave the cell, closing but not locking the door.

Bella's sudden scream of terror and pain likewise providing some cover…