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 Addams' house parties, shortly before Will's demise. See the reference to it in "Drusilla"...
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 XI...
Dr. Potter's room...Where, if in the politest terms possible, the gentle Miss De Russell had made the situation somewhat clear to the startled Peter...
Miss Springs standing by, a look of utter innocence and trusting faith...Surely the good Dr. would play the part of a true gentleman...And get on with it...Willie Smackles at her side like a good and supportive cousin. Shocked by the intelligence being communicated...However discretely...
"Are you accusing me...?" Potter said, tone swiftly moving from astonishment to rage. "Miss De Russell, I assure you that I am not the sort of man..."
"I certainly hope not, Dr. Potter..." Marie said, solemnly.
Hmmn...This deal needs clinching...Miss Springs thought.
"It's all right..." she said suddenly, tears starting. "I don't want to force anyone to do anything they don' wanna...I'll be all right...Somehow..." she made for the door.
What the damned bloody hell?...Potter stared.
"You been messin' with my cousin, Potter?" Smackles, loudly.
"Now Mr. Smackles..." Marie put up a hand. "I'm sure the doctor will do the right thing..."
"What the bloody hell are you people talking about...?!" Potter cried. "Miss Springs, goddamn it! What have you been...?"
"That's enough, Potter!" Smackles growled. "Here in the States, we know how to deal with types who mistreat our womenfolks..."
"My boy..." Sweeney rumbled portentiously. "As a gentleman, you ought to know your duty to a young lady..."
What?... "Now you little..." Peter began. As Smackles removed his coat...
"Oh, don't hurt him!" Elisabeth cried. Smackles raising fists...
Much...She thought contentedly...
"Gentlemen! I will call for the manager!" Marie cried.
Hmmn...Miss Springs thought...Probably the best thing...
Wouldn't really want to see that pretty face banged up. And Willie is a master of the boxing art...
He at least oughta look good at the funeral.
"This is ridiculous!" Potter backed away from Smackles, who'd taken up position, fists ready. "I've done nothing to Miss Springs except spending the afternoon with her and finding her a room..." He reluctantly raised his hands in defense... "Smackles, you and your cousin are a couple of lying..."
"That's all I need to hear, brother..." Smackles began closing in for the kill.
"Manager!" Marie cried.
"We oughta go and get him..." Elisabeth suggested.
"What the devil's up here?" a familiar voice...
Potter looked over to see Detective Harris from the New York City docks staring in the doorway, the hotel clerk Miss Ana beside him, hands on hips, annoyed.
"What are you people up...?"
All lights went out...As Smackles found his opportunity...
…
Lair of the (would-be) Napoleon of vampires...(Would-be)throne room...
"Vladmir is watching the hotel?" Nast questioned.
"As I said, yes..." Olive frowned as she stood on the level below that of his elevated throne. One must not be seen on rising to be a foot shorter than one's average subject. Eyeing the new dress she'd had to steal from a nearby shop before coming.
Well, minor price to pay to witness that expression on young Dracula's face when I slammed him into that wall. To indicate my annoyance at being asked to betray my very own dear sire...
Still...A girl must keep her options open. This "Apocalypse" thing could be true...
Heinrich always did lack the patience to think things through. Consider the consequences of rash actions...
Anyway, no doubt our dear Count got my message…If I deal when the time comes, it's as an equal partner...
"And your new agent is traveling with them...Human in thrall? Are you sure Vladmir has done the job right?"
"At female enthrallment even I will concede he's among the best. She's under firm control."
"But if the Slayer detects her?"
"We lose a mere human agent. Heinrich, she must be aware we're on her tail and if she spots her, we and our other agents will be able to take up the slack. Besides, I have to further admit Vladmir did an excellent job of concealing her bite scar and her thrall state. She's generally not even aware of his control herself. I think she'll be an asset."
Hmmph...Nash glared.
Putting trust in human operatives, even if well-thralled. What the Christ are we coming to in Evil...?
Still...It is little enough to lose...And could even divert the Slayer from our real people.
"Unless you have a remarkably better plan...?" Olive, pasting an attentive look. "Perhaps Gregor could give it another try...?"
"One day, Olive...You will go too far." Nast, coldly.
"My dearest lord..." she bowed. "I only seek to serve you and all things Evil."
Uh-huh...He frowned...Tapping thumbs together.
"Well, keep me informed…Constantly... And do not trust Dracula too far."
"Never, dearest..."
"I mean before we eliminate him at the end of his usefulness."
"Of course..." Olive nodded... "So, do we travel together to California?"
"Mmmn...I think it's best you and Vladmir stay close...To the Slayer." he added, a trifle blandly.
"I will be there for the finale when you and she arrive, rest assured."
"I'm sorry." she said, a bit miffed. "I'd thought you'd be there to see me defeat her en route. And take her then. Why wait until California?"
"Until we know she has the location of the Hellmouth for certain, we may need her contacts with the Council...That requires she remain human for the moment. Olive?..." he stared at her frowning face.
"Fine...It would have been a nice trip together." she shrugged.
"Another time, once I've become the world's Master…We'll see the great West, my great West, in detail together then. In any case we'll be in California together..."
"Sure...And I suppose you'll want her undamaged when you take her in California." Narrow look.
"You will have your chance to defeat her in battle, Olive. I promise. And however useful she is to me in revealing the Hellmouth, her demon will never compare in my regard to you." Warm smile.
"Great..." dryly.
"You look tired, my girl. Make sure you sample some of my vintage stock before you leave. And Olive...? Nothing says you can't enjoy the pleasure of matching wits with her and taking anyone she cares about. There are great joys in tormenting before killing, you know..."
Damn him...She thought, sighing as she was directed to the "vintage stock". Agonized screams of the human dying rebounding through the dank tunnel hall...
When he gets like that, a girl gets confused about her heart even against her own best interests...
"Gregor?" Nast, back in his throne room, turned to the pure-bred vampire. Currently but only recently out of protective armor suit... "You're sure of what you saw?"
"Dracula...Ennnnh..." Gregor shook head. "Bad speak..."
"And Olive attacked him but spared him?"
Decorous pause...Embarassed look.
"Gregor?...We all love dear Olive. But for Evil's greater good?..."
"Olive let go...Hear bad speak." Gregor shook his gray death's-head head sadly...
"My heart's broken, too, Gregor." Nast sighed, patting him.
…
The eminent Dr. Potter awoke to find himself stretched on a sofa in his room. An anxious Marie chaffing his hands. A worried Miss Ana...
Lord, just what the hotel needs...
...And a frowning Detective Harris...Standing round him...
"Dr. Potter? Thank goodness..." Marie sighed... "For a moment we thought Mr. Smackles' blow might have been more serious..."
He stared at her...
{The brunette...Cicely noted with satisfaction. Thralled but sweet and the giver as well as object of devotion. Whereas the scheming little blonde...
...Though it is disturbing that she should be the Slayer...
Surely there's no subliminal message here? Will couldn't know… And I would never, ever…Use him like that…
I'd die first. Or let him go, which would be worse.]
"Where's...?"
"With her cousin..." Marie explained. "She was quite concerned for you..."
Sweeney entered, a bit out of breath with a box...
"No, Father..." Marie turned to him. "Last rites will not be required after all..."
There's the first good news of the day, Miss Ana sighed...
"I said take my part and push him into it, not beat the life outta of the little guy." Miss Springs glared at Willie as they stood in the hallway outside the room. She occasionally glaring off the passing curious guest...What's it to ya, pal?
"I didn't mean to land one. He moved when Sweeney came in. 'Sides, it's only a question of time anyway..."
"I need him alive till we get the Book set. And to draw Nast's fire...That means he gotta be kept close." she frowned. "And how do I get him to make me Mrs P. tonight now you probably broke his jaw?"
"We could magics him." Willie suggested. "I could try and find somebody..."
"Too many witnesses tonight to have him start going all lovey. Besides, magics is double-edged. Nast'd pick up on it and might get a hold on him before we get the Hellmouth nailed."
"You were gonna embarrass him into it. He gotta be embarrassed big time now." Willie shrugged. "Why not just go on and try...?"
"He ain't the type..." she said quickly. Not thinking...
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I just mean he won't let fists push him to it. He ain't a coward, whatever he is..."
Willie stared at her...
"What?..." she frowned.
"We are gonna get this dude killed, you know." he noted. "If you want him outta this, now's the time..."
"I know what we're about..." she snapped back. "Doesn't mean I can't show the little feller a little respect before I get him killed. He's a hero, in a sorta way, you know..." off-hand look.
Long stare...
"Just leave the doc to me and keep your fists in your pockets while I tries to straighten this mess out!" she frowned.
"Miss Springs?" Marie had come to the room door...
At last...I was getting ready to use my fists meself if she found one more excuse to keep me from his side, Elisabeth thought.
"Dr. Potter would like to speak to you... And Mr. Smackles..."
She nodded politely. Putting up a hand to block Willie as Miss De Russell returned to her charge...
Let me handle...Hiss...
"Miss Springs..." Potter eyed her from his prone position.
"Hey..." she waved. "Willie's real sorry his temp got outta hand."
"Yeah..." Willie responded to her sudden poke in the ribs. "Real sorry..."
"I understand...And I meant no disrespect to your cousin." Peter nodded carefully, groaning as he sat up...
"In fact...Since it seems I've thoughtlessly placed her in a compromising position." he blandly eyed Elisabeth who stared back…
"...I ask her and your forgiveness...And if the good Father is willing...I would be very pleased...Proud..." he struggled to rise. Hmmn, not a chance...
"Forgive me for not getting down...Miss Springs? If you could find it in your dear heart to forgive me, would you still do me the honor of becoming my wedded wife...?"
She blinked. Willie blinked.
Marie beamed...
Knew the doctor was the right sort of man. You can always tell by the clothes a man chooses. Even if poor, the right sort always goes for the best quality...
Hmmn...Well, anyway...She shrugged it off…
"That'll do it..." Miss Ana nodded, mollified.
Detective Harris frowning even more than before...
This all bears watchin'...