The Vampire as Metaphor...from 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 XIX…
"Well?" Olive eyed her "travelling companion" and now, at her somewhat regretted but necessary statement, "employer" as they stood on the platform of their car.
She a bit impatient…Undead or no, you idiot, rain still soaks and cold remains keenly felt.
"Just a moment…I'm gathering myself into myself." Vladimir insisted. She rolling eyes…
Pity it's not a reference to curbing his ego…
"Well, you better suck yourself in quick…The conductor and his merry band are in this car…" she indicated the door to the car behind them. "And seeking the witness to our poor friend's demise."
"Tragic accident…" Vladimir noted. "We've no idea, being both of us too far away to intervene, if the poor man was killed or no, though it seemed likely to me from my vantage point."
"Uh-huh. That had best be true, Vladimir." She frowned. "If you somehow protected that Watcher…"
"Unless he can reassemble, he is dead, Olive. I won't deny I regret it…It would have been at least useful to interrogate him and I would have offered him the same arrangement I've offered you." He eyed her. "You see, I am being quite truthful with you."
"Fair enough, though I doubt you've told me much that's 'truthful', you've told me enough for Nast to have your head…And perhaps mine for not killing you here and now. We'll talk later. For now you have a Slayer to face and charm…" coy smile. "But don't worry, your faithful secretary Miss Giles is here to support you, sir."
…
"Ah, the man himself…" the conductor, relieved at seeing Vladimir enter the car. "Sir?! A word!"
"Which one…?" Olive hissed… "And stay in a group of them if you can…"
"The slight blonde in green and brown…" Vladimir hissed back, waving to the conductor. "Sorry, my friend…I had to check on my secretary here and we were looking for you toward the baggage car!" he called.
Such a great boss I have…Olive thought, dryly.
Well…Just do as I did when a Watcher…Spying on the mysterious group of supposed doddering scholars with rather oddly grand connections in the governments of Europe for my old comrades till I learned the power they held that I might (have) harness(ed) for our movement…And will, for my new ones…Repress, repress.
Though at least I need not be quite as prim and proper…
"I've found a doc, here." The conductor indicated Potter as he came to the waiting Vladimir, a gracious smile on the Count's face. Olive behind him doing her best to seem the attentive amanuensis…
"Ah, very good…" Vladimir stepped to Potter offering a hearty handshake and warm smile. "I fear though we may have pulled you away in vain, Doctor."
"Well, not a doctor…A dentist, actually…But I've had medical training. We'd best hurry if anything's to be done."
"Indeed…And thank you for coming so quickly." Vladimir, bowing slightly to Elisabeth and Ana…A friendly nod to Detective Harris who returned politely.
"My wife, Elisabeth, Detective Harris of New York and his fiancée, Miss Jenkins…" Potter offered a quick intro as the group made their way through the door, the conductor leading…
"Mind how you go over the connection, folks. We've stopped but it's still slippery."
"My secretary and the essential element in my daily life, Miss Giles…" Vladimir made hasty introduction…Olive nodding with smile as all hurried along.
Nice to know he actually remembered my human last name…
Elisabeth eyeing both carefully…
Nothing I'm getting yet. Still, these were the two closest to Willie…Exceptin'…
"Mrs. Potter?! Dr. Potter?!" a call from behind…She looked to see Marie DeRussell moving up the car from the forward door, in natch, elegant robe and nightdress, complete with slippers.
Hair turned out to a turn, as well, natch.
"I've heard there was an accident! Is everyone all right?!" she called, her face even paler…And rather lovelier, than usual.
"We're going to see now…" Elisabeth, a grim tone. "Come along if you like…"
"Oh, yes…Where is your cousin, Mr. Smackles?" as she came up.
Fast girl that one…Though the conductor is taking his sweet time easing out on that platform…
"I've not heard yet." Elisabeth, a bit of anxiety breaking through the grim reserve…
Vladimir glancing back as he turned to follow the conductor through the rear door…
No, my old command not to recognize us when we should make contact is holding well…No need to fear just now. He gave a quick slight nod to Olive who had also noted Ms. DeRussell's arrival.
Nice to know we can focus on seeing yon poor fellow properly turned into his grave…Vampire or human, there should always be respect for the amenities…
….
"So he fell here, down into and under the carriage?" Potter, peering down in the darkness…Yes, definitely some cloth and blood and perhaps more there on that wheel and frame.
"As far as I could make out, seeing him through the door…I'd heard his cry and tried to reach the door…" Vladimir sighed. "But it was too late."
"What a terrible thing…" Olive shook head, looking from the platform.
"Well, we've not found a body yet…He might just possibly have survived." Potter raised voice, noting the bit of torn suit on the frame of the train.
Yes, definitely the material Smackles wore…
"Let us hope…" Vladimir solemnly. "We'd best get down and begin a search. How far do you think we might have traveled beyond the fall point?" he addressed the conductor.
"A mile at most, I'd guess. Detective?" the conductor called Harris to them. "Care to have a look as well?"
"Don't let the ladies see…" Potter hissed.
"Indeed…" Vladimir nodded. "Olive? Can you see to the ladies while we see if we can do anything for the poor man?"
"Of course, Count de la Cule…" nod, smile. "I'll try to hope you can find him."
For your sake, Vladimir, in pieces…She thought, moving back to where Elisabeth was frowning, trying to peer from the doorway.
"We'd best let the men survey the scene and see if they can find the gentleman." Olive urged. Elisabeth eyeing her coolly…Ana, behind her, trying to move up to see Alex…Miss De Russell displaying surprising firmness in pushing right in behind.
"It's not Mr. Smackles, is it?" she asked, her face distraught. Elisabeth looking back at her coldly.
Damn you, if that's acting I'll cut that pretty face off and keep it as a trophy…She thought grimly.
"I think so…" she sighed, looking down. "Willie was heading to check the baggage…"
"Oh, no…" Olive, shaking head. "A relation?"
"My…Cousin…" Elisabeth ground out, between clenched teeth. "Let me through there, I want to see."
"Mrs. Potter…" Olive cautioned. "I really think…" she backed away at the Slayer's glare.
"Sorry…I want to know." Elisabeth pushed on. "I'd like to come too…" Marie had startled Ana by pushing by her…
The conductor gingerly stepping down onto a lower section of the frame, oil lantern in one hand, eyeing the wheels in view…Trying to peer under the train in the direction he'd expect the spatter trail to run…Vladimir carefully following…Potter just behind…Harris just ready to step down to join them…
Potter looking back…To see his good intentions ignored as the two ladies and then Olive and finally Ana came through the door.
"Harris? Can't you keep them back? We might find something at any moment…" he urged, calling up to him in whisper.
"Do what I can…Keep at it, fellas. Ladies…" he stepped back, arms outstretched. "Ya gotta let the doc and the conductor do their work. Step back, pl…" As Elisabeth shoved past…
"Peter! Is he…?"
"I don't know, Elisabeth. Please stay back…I don't want anyone else hurt." Potter called.
"Yes, Mrs. Potter, there's too little space here…" Vladimir called from just a step below Peter. "I promise we'll let you know as soon as we find…" he paused as the conductor, now on the track, wincing, fished down and pulled up a severed, bloody part of leg and foot to his view.
"…Anything."
Rest in peace, poor fellow…You were a brave man. Sorry we couldn't do business, Vladimir thought.
But perhaps your sacrifice won't be in vain…
…
"Surely it won't do any harm to search a bit and …Find the rest of him…" Potter hissed to the conductor who'd suggested, after he, Potter, Vladimir, and Detective Harris had scoured the immediate area of track, on the ground. No more of Willie to be found close at hand…
"We gotta schedule to keep, doc. And it won't do the poor fellar any good." Glance to where the severed leg and foot lay concealed under the train frame.
"My good man…Propriety demands we try. Besides, until we have proof the man is lost and some way to confirm his identity, the ladies must fear he might still live, badly wounded and abandoned." Vladimir frowned. "Surely it can't make much of a difference to your schedule if we spend just a few moments searching back up the track? The Doctor, the detective, and I should be able to cover a good deal of ground on both sides and the track quickly."
The conductor sighed…
"You'll need to be checking the train in any case." Harris pointed out. "Just give us an hour or so, the girl…If it is her cousin…Ought to know fer sure."
"I insist…" Vladimir nodded. "And I will complain to your superiors. Come, man…In the name of… (no offense) Humanity."
"Fine…forty minutes, no more…And I will leave you for the next train if you're not back. I'll have the engineer up and we'll check under the rest of the train. You boys follow the track back a mile, no more. We'll follow back in half an hour to pick you up. Hold up and I'll have lanterns brought up for ya."
"Thanks." Potter patted his arm. The conductor nodding…
"Good man." Vladimir nodded. "Well, Doctor, Detective? I'll take the left branch of the track gorge…?"
"I'll be taking the track…I know what to look for. I've run down a few train smears in me day. Beggin' your pardon, doc." Harris noted.
"Leaves me the right. Thanks, gentlemen." Potter nodded.
"Us the right…" Elisabeth had climbed down, to the astonishment of the conductor…And the annoyed, yet quickly resigned stare of her husband.
She does not look like a woman who'll be told to hang back, that's for certain…Unable to repress a slight smile which faded at her grim stare.
"Look…I'm not waitin' back there…And it's dangerous out here alone." She insisted to him.
Surprising even her, Olive and Miss DeRussell, followed a bit reluctantly by Ana, had followed, to Vladimir's and Harris' equal surprise, annoyance, and reluctant admiration.
"You ladies…" Harris began…
"We got forty minutes." Elisabeth sternly replied. "Either you jaw them away or we lend four more sets of eyes."
Vladimir shrugging to Potter…Modern women, what are you going to do?
Though really…They say both grandmother and mother were formidable in their own rights way back then.
"I'll go with you, sir…" Olive noted. "Perhaps the other ladies could go with you, Detective…?"
"Harris, ma'am. Sorry to meet ya under these circums…" Harris doffed hat.
"Yes, it's not the best, but very pleased…" she smiled. "Anyway, given you should have a chaperone…"
And we don't need dear Marie getting a bit antsy around her "master" if things get tense.
"That's good enough…Here's the lanterns…" Elisabeth indicated the conductor, followed by two others bearing more lanterns.
"I suppose…" Ana began.
As Elisabeth took a lantern and headed off to the right side, urging Potter to keep up.
"Lets go, sir…" Olive urged Vladimir, taking a proffered lantern down from a waiting trainman.
"Yes, certainly…Just call if you find anything, everyone!" he called, turning to close up to Olive.
We need to keep back a bit…From the Slayer and your fair lady…And keep that meditation going…It or the necklaces seem to be working so far…She hissed to him.
…
"Dead, ain't he?" Elisabeth eyed Potter as they walked along the stony gorge, he waving the lantern he'd insisted on carrying.
"I'm afraid so…Though till we find his body…"
"You already found part, didn't you?" she noted…Suddenly weeping.
So…Smackles was either more than a business partner or she's very good…He thought, feeling pockets for a cloth and handing one to her.
"Sorry…Willie meant a lot to me." She wiped eyes. "He wasn't my cousin, you know, I'm sure…"
Oh…Well…
"I see…" he noted, a bit stiffly.
"My stepdad, yer jackass!" she fumed. "You thought I was two-timin' ya with him?" grim stare.
Just a trace of despair within…
"I'm sorry." He sighed. "You have to understand, Elisabeth…Neither of us fully trusts the other. You think I'm after money after all."
"Aren't you?" she eyed him. "That's why you said yes, right?"
"Not entirely…" he returned stare…
…