Fallen Angel

 

 

Chapter 9

 

 

Anna took a deep breath and looked right ahead, mindless of the bitter wind that blew her hair away from her face and neck, chilling her skin. She was sitting at a bench and Blackie was pacing up and down in front of her, gazing at her from time to time with curiosity. She glanced at him and smiled as she reached over to pet him.

“Given up on trying to find a lady then?” she chuckled and her pet barked softly at her before he proceeded to lick her hand.

As she let him play with her fingers her thoughts drifted back to what had happened a few nights ago…or was it a week? Maybe two? She didn’t remember because since that night Sweeney Todd hadn’t stepped foot into the pub again. She hadn’t seen him at all and she was partly glad for that fact. She didn’t want to know what her emotions meant. Why had she let him treat her like that? She was many things but she was not weak. He had practically threatened her and she was left breathless because his bloody lips and teeth had touched her skin? She was starting to think that she was pathetic or even worse crazy. It was obvious that the man had issues.

Maybe she should let Tom get close to her. Perhaps she was missing having someone close to her and that was the reason she let that…bloody barber treat her like a child.

 Another obvious fact was the he was not stable. One minute he was calm, cold and indifferent towards everything and the next he was spiting fire and acting like a lunatic. She still recalled how he had threatened that man at the pub for propositioning her. Who would threaten a man with a razor publicly? Only him.

It seemed like those years in prison had changed him. Completely and irreversibly. It was sad and maybe it was hope that made her so susceptible to his treatment of her. Perhaps she still hoped that Benjamin Barker was somewhere deep inside him. She snorted loudly at that and Blackie chose that moment to bark, snapping her out of her daze. She heard footsteps approaching but she didn’t turn to look. Blackie barked again. A piece of wood was thrown towards the centre of the park and Blackie, choosing that moment to act like a puppy, rushed after it, leaving her alone at the bench. Anna looked down, to her right and saw black boots. Familiar black boots.

She sighed and looked away again.

“Your dog is easily pleased.” Sweeney intoned gruffly and she shrugged.

“Someone has to be.” She murmured and she noticed that he didn’t sit next to her; he simply stood next to her bench.

“You didn’t come by the shop.” He stated and from his tone she couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or glad.

“You told me not to. I always follow my elders’ orders.” She said and she knew that her voice was laced with sarcasm.

“I am elder now?” he asked with dark amusement and she could feel him watching her.

“You always were.” She responded and she could hear him snort.

Blackie returned with his piece of wood trapped in his mouth and looked up at the barber with hope. It was official; her dog had gone mad. Sweeney leaned down and took the wood before he threw it again, causing Blackie to run after it once more.

“You’ll cause him a heart attack. He’s too old for this.” Anna said with a huff but the barber remained silent.

“Are you going to sit down or do you plan on looming over me like a vengeful demon?” she finally snapped as she looked up at him.

“Demon, Anna? How astute of you.” He said in a low voice before he reluctantly sat down next to her. His thigh touched hers as he shifted on the bench and she gazed ahead again, choosing to ignore the meaning of his comment.

“So why are you here? You weren’t stalking me, were you?” she said and the barber next to her groaned.

“No.” he muttered, “Mrs. Lovett thought it a good idea to have a picnic.” He spat the words out in repulsion and Anna turned to look at him.

“Are you blind or what?” she asked him and he turned to glare at her.

“I beg your pardon?” he hissed and she sighed.

“How can you not see that this woman cares for you? It’s so blatantly obvious that it’s almost pathetic.” She said quietly and the barber stared at her for a moment.

”I never said that I haven’t noticed. After all, it is blatantly obvious like you said. And I have to agree on the pathetic aspect of it all.” He said darkly with a sneer, “It’s so pathetic that it disgusts me. Have you ever felt disgusted, Anna?” he asked as he gazed at her intently. His eyes were a bit different though. They were looking at her differently, as if noticing her for the first time.

“Yes. Once.” She responded as Blackie appeared by her feet and collapsed down on top of them while panting loudly.

“Disgusted of what?” he asked, his mouth barely moving as he spoke.

“Myself.” She spoke before she could hold her tongue.

The barber gazed at her and Anna could hear the sound of his name being called. He didn’t move a muscle though and continued to gaze at her until he spoke again.

“Why?” he asked and she shook her head.

“Forget it. She’s calling you.” She murmured as she leaned down to pet her exhausted dog.

“Ignore it. Answer the question.” He said with insistence.

“I made a mistake…I let someone fool me…and I regretted because he wasn’t worth it.” Anna said before she stood up sharply. She looked away and Blackie immediately followed her while looking up at her. That dog could always sense her displeasure.

“A man.” Todd said gruffly and Anna looked at him with a small smile.

“Now that was very astute of you.” She said and they stared each other until Mrs. Lovett’s voice called out Sweeney’s name again. She sounded much closer than before.

“What did he do?” the barber asked as he too stood up and looked at her almost urgently, eagerly waiting for her answer.

“What do you think?” Anna asked as she took a step back but he reached over and grasped her elbow tightly.

“Forced you?” he said tightly through gritted teeth and Anna laughed a little before she removed her arm from his hold. The barber frowned at her reaction.

“No, it was not forced but it was definitely a mistake.” She replied finally and the barber stared at her. Surprise was edged onto his face but that expression disappeared when he heard the baker calling out to him again.

“Will you stop screeching, woman!? I am right here! Are you blind?” he snapped as he turned to face the shocked baker.

“Sorry, Mr. T-…” Mrs. Lovett started as she looked between Anna and him.

“I am going back.” He muttered crisply as he walked away with long strides of his feet.

Anna watched him go before she turned to the baker, “I apologize. We were talking.”

“That’s alright, love. I’m used to it. Is something the matter though?” Mrs. Lovett asked and Anna shook her head.

“No. Have a good day. Blackie, come.” She ordered as she walked away from the disgruntled woman.

 

************************************

Kate jumped at the sound of the sneeze and turned to look at Anna, “Oh, dear…Bless you.” She said as Anna wiped her eyes and blew her nose on her tattered handkerchief.

“Thanks.”

“Are you sick?” Kate asked as she reached over the counter and rubbed her arm comfortingly.

“A bit…” Anna mumbled as she grabbed a bottle of gin and set it on the counter.

“Why didn’t you take the day off then?”

“I need the money, Kate. If I don’t work I am not going to get paid.” Anna said as she sneezed again.

“I could cover for you and then I’d get you the money.” Kate said as she picked up the tray of glasses.

“That would not be fair now, would it?” Anna smiled as she blew her nose and then paused.

“You think I’ll get the rest of the pub sick?” she asked with wide eyes and Kate shrugged.

“They’re all- or mostly-dirty so who cares, honey?” she snorted as she walked away with the tray.

“Just keep your hands and nose away from my drink.” Kris said bitingly as she slid behind the counter and reached for a glass to pour herself some gin.

Anna glared at her back and scowled before she proceeded to ignore her. Besides, her head felt heavy and fuzzy. Perhaps she was having a fever? She placed a hand on her cheek but she already felt warm and couldn’t tell the difference.

Choosing to also ignore the fact that she was cold, she picked up her cloth and proceeded to clean the counter.

After several hours of sneezing and trying to keep herself from falling asleep on the counter she was finally free to go back home. Kate took the responsibility to close the pub for the night and take care of the tenants.

As she was wrapping her coat around her body she noticed that it had started raining; heavily. She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. Well, her house wasn’t that far so if she hurried she wouldn’t get too wet. With that thought she walked out the back door and hurried down the dark alley. The wind caused the rain to hit her face but she carried on walking. Her feet were a bit uncoordinated but they usually were when she was in a hurry.

As soon as she turned the corner it started pouring down more heavily and she cursed as she shivered.

“Damn!” she hissed just before she collided with someone else. She looked up quickly, her head protesting at the sudden movement and locked eyes with…

“Taking a night stroll in the rain?” she asked and Sweeney sneered.

“I could ask you the same.” He mumbled as his wet hair clung to his forehead. It was strange how he managed to look ethereal despite the fact that he was soaked to the bone.

“I am heading home.” She said as she wrapped her arms around herself while trying to keep her heavy eyes open. She went to walk again but she wavered and paused, pressing a hand to her forehead.

“I needed to get away from the shop…Hey.” He murmured the last word as he reached a hand to steady her. His voice sounded distant and she blinked rapidly as his hand tightened around her elbow.

“I’m…I need to get home.” She mumbled as she grasped both of his arms to secure herself.

“What’s wrong with you, woman?” he asked as he looked down at her, blinking the rain away from his eyelashes.

“I…a cold.” She said as she looked up at him. Her vision was blurry though and all she saw was his dark figure looming over her before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and everything went black.

Two strong arms caught her just before she hit the hard pavement.

 

************************************

“Why don’t you just shake her awake, woman?” a harsh voice snapped.

“This is better, Mr. T. Why are you so impatient? You’re the one who brought her here in the middle of the night. You gave me a fright, you did. I thought she was dead.” A familiar feminine voice snapped right back but Anna’s eyes felt too heavy for her to open them.

“And that would surprise you, Mrs. Lovett? We deal with death every day.” The man stated gruffly but Anna didn’t know what to make of the words. Suddenly a cold wet cloth was pressed against her forehead and she shuddered in delight.

The felt so good. Where was she again?

“Hush up!” the woman hissed and she heard someone snort, “Where did you find her anyway?”

“In the street.” Came the short reply.

“What were you doing out at this time of night?”

It was then that Anna finally recognized the voice; Mrs. Lovett. Why was Mrs. Lovett there? Where was she? The sure thing was that she was sitting on something soft and warm.

“None of your business.” She heard footsteps and then a surprised gasp, “I’ll bloody do it. Go back to sleep. You have to open a shop in the morning.”

At that Anna opened one eye and saw a man leaning over her, holding a cloth in his hand. The barber. Her eye closed again and she snuggled further in the chair she was in.

It was just Mr. Barker. Mr. Barker?

“So do you, Mr. T.” the woman replied and she sighed, “ I’ll just make her some tea before I head back to bed…or perhaps you have other plans for her?” the baker asked with a smirk and the barber turned sharply to face her.

“No tea will be necessary. Goodnight, Mrs. Lovett.” He hissed and the baker chuckled before she walked away.

“Bloody nuisance…” the barber muttered and then the cool cloth was pressed against her skin again. Anna sighed and leaned towards the coolness, trying to understand why the barber was there.

“Have I opened a door to the past?” she spoke but her throat felt dry and it hurt for her to speak. The hand brushing the cloth against her forehead paused and she slowly opened her eyes.

The barber was close to her face and when he saw her gaze on him he leaned back a bit.

“What are you talking about?” he asked with a grimace but he didn’t relinquished his hold on the cloth.

“Where am I?” she asked instead and she realized that her entire body ached.

“Mrs. Lovett’s parlor.” The barber replied.

“Who brought me here?” she croaked.

“I did.”

“Oh…”

“I’ll have a carriage take you home in the morning. In the meantime, you can sit here.” He said before he straightened and handed her the wet cloth, “I suppose you can hold it on your own?” he asked with a raised eyebrow and she nodded.

“Thank you…”

“Right.”

“This is the second time that you help me.” She observed.

“Right.”

“So…thank you.”

“Hmm.”

“And…I’ll try not to make a habit out of it.” She continued and the barber gazed at her strangely.

“I hope you won’t.”

“I think I have a fever, right?”

“Right.”

“Did I collapse in the middle of the street?” she asked tiredly.

“You did.”

“Is that the reason my bones hurt?”

“No…you didn’t fall.”

“Oh…thank you again then.”

“Right.”

“Am I too feverish or do you keep saying right?” Anna chuckled hoarsely as she looked up at him. He stood in front of her rigidly with his hands behind his back, his face a frown of deep confusion. Why was he confused? She saw that he wasn’t looking at her face. His gaze was settled elsewhere, below her neck. She also noticed that his lips were parted. Sleepily she looked down and she could see that her clothes were still wet and that they were clinging to her skin. She realized that a blanket was over her lap and she pulled it up to her neck self-consciously.

“Do you still have an aversion to corsets then?...Anna?” he spoke up and she looked at him in surprise. Did he remember that?

“Um…”

“How unladylike. I am surprised.” He mused as he cocked his head to the side and she watched in shock as his mouth twitched. He didn’t smile of course but his mouth definitely twitched.

“I…Staring is not polite, sir.” She said instead, trying not to stutter too much.

That seemed to break him from whatever illusion he had thrown himself into and he tensed. She could see his entire body stiffen at her words. He averted his eyes from her and released a breath through his nose as if in aggravation. But with what?

“There’s water next to you.” He informed her briskly before he turned on his heel and started walking out of the parlor, “I’ll see you in the morning.” He muttered as he snatched his jacket from a nearby chair and stormed away.

Anna blinked rapidly and pressed the cool cloth to her skin again. Well, well, it seemed like Mr. Barker had been staring at her assets. She stifled a chuckle of amusement at that and leaned back in the chair. Perhaps she was a little too feverish after all. He would never do that...Or would he? And why was hovering around the pub so late…? What was he trying to find in her?

With those thoughts she closed her eyes again and immediately fell asleep, oblivious of the frantic pacing taking place upstairs.

 

End of chapter 9

 

Xxx Lina :)