The Vampire as Metaphor...Book III of the (Semi) Complete Works of William Soames Walthrop...

PG-13

Summary: A lost work of one William Soames Walthrop (...aka Spike) as it was delivered at one of Cicely (see my Cicelyverse notes at the included link) Addams' house parties, shortly before Will's demise. See the reference to it in "Drusilla".

Archived (soon) at the Buffy Rebecca verse, In Book III of the (Semi) Complete Works of William Walthrop...(direct link will be.. buffyrebecca/ )

Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...

Contributions to the recovery of the lost works of England's third worst poet are always welcomed...

Part VIII...

A deeply reluctant Elizabeth had accepted...With many a frown at the good doctor Potter over their dinner table...Miss DeRussel's offer of shared accommodations.

The only bright spot being that access to the wan young mourner's room might allow her to come up with something, anything that would allow for a Slayer's quick solution to the situation...

"Too bad 'bout your dad..." she noted as she sat watching her hostess wash up a bit in the room's basin. Looking for some place to set her hat and small bag...Having entrusted her trunk, with the Book, to Peter...

Bet she takes a bath every day, too...Frenchies, she rolled her eyes surreptitiously.

"His heart trouble was more serious than he ever let me know..." Marie sighed as she gently patted her face with a towel, employing an elegant grace that made her guest squirm a bit.

I'd guess so, if it croaked him...Elizabeth thought.

"It is so kind of you and Dr. Potter to agree to let me travel with you." Marie smiled wanly at her. "My...Ummn...father will...Would...Be so grateful."

I suppose I still think of him as alive...she noted sadly, if hastily.

"Yeah? Me too...I mean regards poor ole unk...I did mention my unk kicked it, didn't I?"

"Yes, I remember...I am so sorry..."

"Yeah...Unk and I was close. He really watched over me, ya know? Good ole Uncle...Ummn, Merritt...Yeah..."

"I understand. Well, it's good that we were both so fortunate as to meet a gentleman like Dr. Potter. The idea of traveling West without a male guardian terrified me."

"Yeah? Oh, me too...Had the willies till I met up with Petey..." Elizabeth leaned back in her seat, a sidelong glance as Marie resumed gently dabbing at her face with a wetted cloth. She do that all night?... "Ummn...Ya know Petey and I...We kinda have a sorta...Arrangement, ya know?"

Marie paused in the middle of opening a large jar of cream. Rather elegant...French, Elizabeth guessed...Lettering on the side.

"Really? I was under the impression you two had just met today?"

"Eh, well..." Elizabeth stretched casually, a languid hand wave. "Only takes a moment to know when it's for real sometimes, ya know?"

"Indeed?" Marie smiled at her a moment. "Well, I must tender my congratulations to you both properly when we meet Dr. Potter in the morning. Will you marry as soon as you get to California?"

"Sooner..." Elizabeth smiled back.

God willin'...

Marie blinked. "But...The train leaves tomorrow morning..."

"Plenty a time..." another casual wave. "We're gonna keep it a small thing for now, do the works right later..."

Say...She sat up a bit. A beaming grin... "You can do me a favor, Marie...er Miss Russell."

"DeRussel...But Marie is fine. What can I do?."

"I...We...Are gonna need a coupla witnesses. You can sorta be my maida honor and witness all in one, ok?"

"I mean, us not having time for the big thing and there being only my cousin Willie around what with poor unk dead and all. Did I mention he was gonna give me away?"

"I am so sorry...Well, I certainly would be happy to assist you, Elizabeth. But are you sure there'll be time? The train leaves at nine am..."

"There'll be time." Elizabeth smiled. "Cousin Willie's seeing to the minister and bringing the license."

Just got one minor detail to tend to. Soon as I can slip outta here...

"A pity we're both in..." Marie eyed Elizabeth's rather unmourning outfit. "Mourning...Though I suppose it does make it easier in terms of a wedding dress."

"Yeah...I guess I outta see if I can get a hold of a black dress." Elizabeth looked down at her traveling clothes. "Didn't know I'd be needin' one of course..."

Hmmn...I had to bring up the mournin' thing for poor ole Merrick…er Merritt. Now it's black for me for the next coupla weeks, soon as we get somewheres damn.

Thank God no time to shop tomorrow. Though if she can carry black off so well...she eyed Miss De Russel's elegantly stylish yet respectfully sober dress.

And the Council owes me the best I can get...

"Still..." Marie moved to her trunk and turned back to Elizabeth, smiling gently. "I can't help thinking your uncle wouldn't mind if you wore something a little more appropriate to the occasion. Though still more or less suitable for your condition..." she lifted out a rather stylish black number with white sash.

"It's really a ball gown but I should think that with a little effort...And it is black..." she beamed.

Whoa...Elizabeth stared.

Sold...Marie's natural sales instinct couldn't resist kicking in a bit as she eyed Elizabeth's smitten face...

"Come over and lets see what has to be done..." she beckoned.

….

The alley outside the Germania...

"Now sweetie..." Olive eyed the young girl of eleven or so she'd just put in thrall. A perfect choice being a general cleaner at the hotel on her way to her rather grueling night duties.

"You sure you know what to do when you get inside?"

"Yes, miss...I gos and finds the pretty black-haired lady, miss. Like you made me see in me head, miss. And I tells her...You and him..." she pointed at Vladimir who smiled benignly. "Wants to know what's up. Then I comes back here to you. If nobody's followin'..."

A delightful girl, an intelligent girl...Dickens' fan Olive thought...

"Only if she's alone, dearie. If someone's there..."

"I waits near. Then goes to her..."

"Fine...And if the blonde lady, Miss Springs, catches you and wants you to tell her who sent you...?"

"I gives her what for with this...Then me." the girl held up a rather sharp-looking, though wooden, knife.

"I wouldn't bother with trying to fight the Slayer, honey. Just get her to let you loose a second and then put it right in your sweet lil' heart."

"Yes, miss..."

Vladimir standing by, a bit perturbed. Not at all by the suggestion of having an eleven-year-old immolate herself but by Olive's reaction to his suggestion that she pool forces with him against her lord and sire, the self-styled "Master" of vampires, Heinrich Nast.

She having displayed rather cool indifference in the few moments before their young recruit had fortuitously walked into their clutches...

"Now give us a kiss and be off. And for Hell's sake, sweetie...Don't let the Slayer or her friends get too close to you before you meet up with Miss DeRussel. She at least will spot your thrall ten feet off..."

Not my enthrallee...Vladimir thought contentedly.

"Yes, miss..." the girl demurely kissed Olive's cheek and headed off.

"Always did wonder what kind of a mother I'd make..." Olive beamed as they watched the girl enter the hotel via the back entrance in their alley.

"Yes...Charming..." Vladimir frowned. Tapping thumbs impatiently...

"Now as to your proposal, dear heart..." she smiled at him.

….

A gallant Dr. Potter had naturally, on Elizabeth's hesitant plea…My only relation left west of the Mississippi, me leaving for Lord knows how long...Invited Smackles to spend the night in his room in order to see his "cousin" properly off the next morning.

Smackles himself a bit perturbed by her request to him. How's I supposed ta find a preacher, get the license, etc...While stuck here…

However, if the Slayer wants you to spend the night with her chosen one...And given Elizabeth's plans for the evening had been thrown a bit by Patter's...er Potter's dimwitted request to their a- bit-too-conveniently-arrived-on-scene-for-Willie's-comfort new friend Miss DeRussel, he could see the possible need for extra support in tonight's little action, whatever the girl had up her sleeves.

A clever one, as London had told him in their instructions, coming up with this one on short notice. And the mark...He eyed Potter, now engaged in checking his valuable instruments before settling down for the evening...Offering a friendly smile...Nice stuff ya got there...A perfect choice for clay pigeon...Er temporary spouse...Hell, textbook Watcher, if minus the brains.

Not that she'd be the first Slayer to hook with some chump for cover...

Though, before the end, he thought, with a genuine smile at Potter. Dearest, beloved Angela had really come to care for him...