Illusions That Confine Us
Chapter Five
Fresh tears slid down her reddened cheeks and she turned before smiling. Alfred was sitting on her bed looking up at her with his bright yellow eyes.
Mrs. Lovett scolded herself and wiped her eyes before kneeling next to her bed and sighing, she supposed it was her fault she was in the mess that she was in. Being as selfish as she was, she married him out of hope, and secretly vain. She knew that it wasn't what he had wanted to do in order to cover up her identity. She knew that he never really wanted her, that the only thing he ever wanted was his old life back. Which just so happened to be Lucy and Johanna. His yellow haired lambs.
Did she really even love Sweeney Todd? Or was she just starving for companionship? Being alone all those years, you begin to wonder. Maybe she felt like how Sweeney Todd felt towards his razors. They too were locked out of sight all those years. But so was she, she was alone as well, until he showed up, as tired and as lonely as she was.
Thinking of this she realized that maybe it was because she was lonely and he was just as lonely as she was. But now she had Alfred like he had himself and his razors to keep himself company.
Then again she had never experienced the intense feelings that she got when he was near her.
How her heart felt like leaping out of her chest whenever he came as much as a foot near her, how her pale cheeks turned a slight blush of rosy red, and most importantly how much she yearned to touch him and kiss him.
It was then she grew curious as to what would happen if they were to kiss again…
Would his tongue slip past her lips? Would he run away like he did before? Or would he stay and let her melt into him?
Their first kiss consisted mainly of their lips being pressed awkwardly against the other's, but a kiss was a kiss. She was certain he didn't mean it, he only did it because he was probably annoyed with her constant need for them to play 'house' in a way. Wasn't that what they were doing though? Playing 'pretend'? Here they were, two adults living together, married, and they weren't even 'together'. It was just another game to them, or him at least.
The next morning during breakfast they were back at that same situation again, the situation where neither of them spoke and both pretended that nothing had happened the night before.
"Would you pass the sugar, dear?" Mrs. Lovett asked without looking up, when she received no response she got up and exhaled annoyingly before picking up the sugar bowl and carrying it to her spot at the other end of the table.
Later on in the afternoon Mrs. Lovett sat outside, finicking with the numerous flowerbeds that she had on the side of the cottage. She looked up and saw that the sun had been hidden by a mask of grey clouds.
She sighed, knowing it was probably going to rain and pulled a daisy from the ground. She smirked before plucking a pearly white petal from the stem, "'E love me, 'e loves me not, 'e loves me-"
Meanwhile in the back room of the cottage Sweeney Todd watched the sky darken with satisfaction. He hated living by the seaside, although it was free of the crowds back on Fleet Street, it was all too bright and lively. With the seagulls constantly cawing as they passed by the house, Mrs. Lovett's constant want for him to go for a walk with her, not to mention the sound of the waves swishing across the seashore every time a tide came in.
Sometime he wondered why he didn't just sail the world like he did before, nobody would ever know where he went and someday if he was lucky enough his corpse would wash up on shore.
Then again it was no use, the memories of Lucy and Johanna would never go away. Besides, married life may have been a bitch when it came to Mrs. Lovett, but at least he knew that someone in the world cared.
"'E loves me not." Mrs. Lovett said as she plucked the last petal from the stem, staring at it in disbelief, knowing that the silly superstition was likely telling the truth.
An hour later the sky grew darker and she was sure it was going to rain any time now, so she went looking for Alfred.
Down at the beach Mrs. Lovett was confronted by a woman by the name of Addie Henry. She was in her early sixties and lived with her husband in Southampton. Addie Henry was the type of woman that would drink water with wildflowers in her glass, she was generally a kind woman but she wasn't afraid to ask questions, especially personal ones.
"You must be one of the newlyweds." Addie began after they exchanged greetings.
Mrs. Lovett just smiled politely, signaling that she was correct.
Normally Mrs. Lovett would have been happy to carry on a conversation with someone new, but, it had been a while since she talked to anyone other than Alfred, and Sweeney Todd wasn't much for chatting.
"Mrs. Todd is it?" Addie asked, she, for one, was much for chatting.
"That would be me." Mrs. Lovett nodded.
"Oh you must be so 'appy!" Addie went on, as Mrs. Lovett stood, unsure what to say. "I remember back when me and me 'usband Samuel was married, of course 'e was in better shape then, I suppose-"
Samuel Henry was a short, skinny and quiet old man. He was a decade or so older than his wife but was kind and tightfisted, times were hard after all.
Mrs. Lovett opened her mouth and was about to bid the woman goodbye when she started talking again. "But your 'usband must be a complete wonder in bed." Addie added, pausing for a second to shift her basket of eggs to her other arm.
It wasn't very ladylike to discuss personal matters such as what happens in the bed of a husband and wife but, like it was noted before, Addie Henry wasn't afraid to ask questions, especially personal ones.
"I wouldn't know." Mrs. Lovett suddenly mumbled before closing her mouth, hoping she didn't hear.
"What was that dear? I didn't quite hear you. My hearing s'not as good as it used to be." Addie replied, taking another step towards the slightly annoyed 'newlywed.' She hated being reminded that she wasn't even close to sleeping with her new husband.
"Nothing, it was nice meeting you." Mrs. Lovett said, masking her face with a fake smile and turning to go back up to the house.
She hoped that Alfred would be there waiting for her.
When she got back to the house, it's volume was at its usual minimum, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of her boots clicking against the wooden floors.
"Alfred… Come 'ere kitty, kitty, kitty…" Mrs. Lovett called as she walked through the parlor, hoping to find him curled up on the settee, but frowned when she saw nothing but a lifeless room.
"'Ave you seen Alfred dear?" Mrs. Lovett asked during supper that evening.
"Not since this morning." He answered gruffly, not even looking up at her.
After another silent supper with nothing but the sounds of the rain patting against the roof, Mrs. Lovett continued her search for her cat and finally decided to look in the last place she thought Alfred would be, the back room.
Alfred seemed have to kept his distance from Sweeney Todd after their scratching incident the other day. So Mr. Todd was surprised when he saw Alfred come out from under his desk.
Alfred yawned and stretched his rather plump self out (he had gained a considerably vast amount of weight in the last few weeks) and hopped up onto Mr. Todd's desk.
"Mista T is Alfred in-" Mrs. Lovett began when she walked into the room, stopping when she met eyes with Alfred.
Mrs. Lovett smiled when she saw the cat jump down from the desk and rub his side against Sweeney's leg.
Mr. Todd frowned and annoyingly stepped away from the cat, and before he could ask her to take Alfred and let him be, Mrs. Lovett started to speak.
"Aww, don't be that way now, luvvy, 'e likes you." Mrs. Lovett smirked, walking over and leaning against his desk.
He grumbled and faced her, "Is there something you need?"
Besides you? She was tempted to say but decided to tell the truth besides that, "I was jus' lookin' for Alfie, an' now I jus' figured I'd say goodnight."
His brows furrowed together when she rested her palms on his desk and she gazed up at him. It was apparent that she wasn't planning on leaving until he said goodnight as well.
"Goodnight then." He said and she smiled faintly, leaning her head up to kiss the corner of his mouth.
When she pulled away, the expression on his face was a cross between dazed and frozen.
She was surprised, however, when he lent down and awkwardly kissed exactly where she had just kissed him.
When he was about to pull quickly away she risked it all by cleverly turning her head and capturing his lips with hers.
Mrs. Lovett no longer had to wonder what would happen if they were to kiss again because most of her questions had just been answered-
His tongue slipped past her lips, he wasn't running away like he did before, and the only thing she was unsure of was whether or not he would stay and let her melt into him.
Ooh, what's gonna happen next? Will Mister Todd run away again?
Cause that would be no fun...
Hotcakes oh hotcakes, I have been so busy at school, not to mention I am doing this after school Virtual World thingy, it sucks D:
I am so excited for the chapters to come…
Which reminds me, do you guys (ladies whatever xD) like drama and all that?
Teehee, anyways, I would like to mention that this chapter is dedicated to all of you reviewers and readers. Not to mention Fiona Apple for her song, "If we kissed." That inspired this chapter some.