A carriage arrived, finally, after waiting by the enterance for so long. The judge gave another glace towards the stairs to find Johanna walking from the hall and towards their center. He smiled to her, knowing that smile would be pure and not at all force, before turning his head back to the door with his lips glued in position. A man exited the carriage, a white mask covering only parts of his face. It was very odd, but Edmund did not judge him; perhaps it was a style in Paris. Upon walking toward the door, the man joked about Edmund's lack of mask. He, of course, smiled and joked along with him. "I am afraid I did not." he replied "Then again, I assume that the host of the ball did not need to follow his own dress code." He laughed and tried to ignore the man's next comment about the lack of guests. He must not have ralized that he was early by quarter of an hour.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, inspector." He took the man's hand and gave it a firm shaking. He knew of Inspector Cockburn, having sentence many of the criminals he had caught. Johanna appeared at his side at last, standing quietly with her mask in place. "This is my ward, Johanna." he said guesturing to her and then pulling his eyes back toward the Inspector. "Yes, I've heard of the murders. All prostitues, if I am correct." he opened his arm, inviting the man in and signaling for the woman in the corner to come and take the Inspectors coat. She nodded and did, coming swiftly over and placing her hands on his shoulders to remove it.

Tonight was the night, the night that the Judge would pay for what he did to the boy Christian Lee; for what he had done to Gabriel Alfero Mort. Gabriel had dreamed of nothing else for the past few weeks. Of course he'd had the occasional dream of getting his revenge now and then, but never had it been so strong.

All day Gabriel had prepared himself, hardly caring about what it was he would wear, such a trivial thing did not matter to him, all that mattered was thathe'd feel the Judge's blood on his hands, and with the help of Archie he'd escape being hung or going to jail. Gabriel wasn't prepared to die, he wouldn't allow it. Even if he had to fight one hundred men to keep out of a cage, he would.

The plan was already in motion, Archie was to play his own small part in distraction the Judge, then Gabriel would quietly and subtuly walk past the Judge. And whilst doing so he'd stick a knife through him. Cutting the Judge as he walked. Then he'd dumb the knife somewhere and act like some poor unknowing bystander who knew nothing. No one could connect the blame to him, and they wouldn't be able to blame Archie either because the attack would come from behind.

Adjusting his mask, Gabriel went over to his desk and unlocked the draw that held all of his knifes. Smiling with joy he ran his hand along the one nearest to him. It was the one he usualy kept on his personat all times. But for tonight he had put it away, the knife wouldn't be that much of a use to him tonight. And he couldn't risk having it with him, not when it was likely that a full body search could be done.

Putting on his gloves, he took out one of the larger knives. A knife he's used only once before, and now it was time to use it again. He so wished to hold the knife in his own hands. But it was impossible, Archie wouldn't allow it. He'd be too afraid of Gabriel being found out, and in truth Gabriel felt the same way. The Judge's murder would be a big thing, and the police would do everything to find his killer, so extra caution had to be used.

Putting on the finishing touches to his outfit he nodded at Archie and watched as he left in a carriage. Archie had to be there before him, it was part of the plan. And Gabriel wished to have some time alone before doing this wonderful deed. "The time has come... the Judge shall pay for what he did... no longer will he escape the law. I, Gabriel Alferto Mort The angel of Justice... the angel of death shall bring justice upon him." Clasping his hand around the knife he slowly placed it in his pocket. "He shall hurt no other" He hissed.

As a soft knock erupted on his door, Gabriel quickly grabbed his extra pair of gloves and puleled them over his already gloved hands. Thankfully the gloves were thin enough for it to go unnoticble. But it did mean that Gabriel would have to suffer with overheated hands. But it was the sacrifice he had to make, if blood got on his gloves, he couldn't risk them being found with his DNA all over it.

Putting his mask on, he sat in the carriage and watched the world pass him by, too long he had suffered because of the Judge. For years he'd sat, rotting away in Bedlam, watching everyone walk by laughing and throwing things at him. The Judge had been the cause of that, he'd shown no mercy... no compassion. And now it was time for the Judge to get what he deserved. Gabriel wished that he could torture the Judge, but Archie had wanted it to be quick, and of course Gabriel had obeyed his wishes.

As the carriage arrived outside the Judge's home, Gabriel tossed a few coins to the driver, thanking him for getting him here so quickly. It was the one thing Gabriel actually enjoyed about where he was today. Even after going insane in Bedlam, even after all that pain and torment. He was still able to hold his high class status, and he had his parents money and now his own. He was one the same level as the Judge, so the Judge wouldn't be able to make any sly comments on his status.

Knocking on the door, a maid answered and Gabriel gave a polite nod of the head, he had to try and gain their trust... just in case they saw anything. Well, if this one did Gabriel would do away with her aswel, not like it mattered really if she lived or died. She was a lowerclass girl, she didn't really mean anything to him. "Archie my friend" He said smiling as he manovered around some man he didn't know. "I've found you, I was beginning to wonder where you had gotten to. I left only a moment or two after you." He said laughing. "And just so you know, it's all sorted out now." He said cleverly refering to the plan.

Looking over at the Judge he gave a fake smile and nodded his head, "Ah Judge Turpin, how are you this evening?" He asked being his usual 'kind' self when around others who didn't know the true him. "I have to thank you for inviting me, it gave me a chance to have a break from all the ghastly murders I've been trying to solve with Archie" He said scratching his chin. "But I'm sure we'll soon catch the vermin and we'll see him hanged...well that is if you say so my lord." Oh he was enjoying this, he was enjoying this so much. The Judge would have no idea what was going to happen to him, he was completly and utterly blind to Gabriel's true intentions.

Just like most people, Mrs Lovett and Todd had recieved and invitation to go the a masqerade ball that the Judge was holding. Mrs Lovett usually ignored these things, she had with his previous ones...like the one that Lucy had gone to one that terrible night. It was that sort of thing that kept Mrs Lovett away from these sort of things, one they weren't her things, and two they got out of hand. But mostly she wasn't invited or had nothing to wear.

But with the rising sucess of her buisness she now had more money in her pocket. Which meant she was now able to get herself a nice dress and come. Of course as always Mr T had moaned and grumbled, but she'd insisted that they should go. After all, they needed to get out more and socilaise. And Mrs Lovett thought it could be a way of getting the both of them more buisness, and who knows... Todd could even convince the Judge and the Beadle to come to his barber shop.

Mr T looked rather dashing in his white suit, it was quite plain though but Mrs Lovett thought it better not to complain about it, after all he was going even though he didn't want to, and she didn't want to get him angry. She knew it would be foolish to get on the recieving end of his anger. She herself had a nice black dress with red satin cloth on top. Her mask was pretty plain though, afterall, she wasn't made of money.

As a maid showed the two of them into the house, Mrs Lovett couldn't help but be astonished by how beautiful it was, of course she'd never say it outloud, it would be insulting to Mr T's feelings towards the Judge. Almost like a slap in the face. And Mrs Lovett would never do that, no it was better to think it then say it... or maybe it was best to dismiss the thought all together.

"Evening my lord" She greeted polietly, turning to the other gentleman she nodded polietly. She didn't find the topic they were talking about all too interessting. The talk of urdered prostitutes just didn't sound like an appropiate conversation. She thought it was a horrible things...but then again, the same could be said for what they were doing. After all, it wasn't the nicest of buisness' to cut someone up and serve them in a pie.

As another man came and pushed past her and Todd in order to talk to the gentleman who she now knew to be 'Archie', Mrs Lovett had half the nerve to smack the newcomer round the head. How dare he act so rudly, didn't this man have enough manners or patience to say 'excuse me'? Glancing over at Todd she wondered if she could ask Todd to offer this man a shave and add his name to the list of those they had killed. Of course she'd ask him later when there wasn't others around.

Alina sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. Although she quite liked how this dress looked on her, she still was reluctant to go. The dress was a nice green satin gown that she had seen in one of the shops and had bought earlier today. She'd been reading the invitation she had recieved over and over for the past few days, trying to decide wether or not she should go.

Alina wasn't really a 'party' sort of person, she never really had been. But that was probably because of the lack of experience she had with them. There had always been some ball or party which her father had been invited to, in fact a few of them had even requested her attendance. But her father had always stopped her from going and had left her alone at home. She didn't care all that much, it meant she had some time alone where she didn't have to fear what was going to happen. Plus, she saw parties as another way for her father to get drunk... so they never really appealed to her.

There had been one party that Alina had attended. And she had snuck in without an invite, and from the events that she had seen at the party, it had only made her wish to attend balls so much more smaller. But the invite had been staring at her for ages, and after a very long and had decision she had decided to go. After all, she needed to try and be more social and had to move on with her life. She couldn't spend her whole life stuck in her home waiting for something... or someone to come along.

Putting on her mask Alina went over to her drawer and tried to find a hair grip. Finally she found them beside her hair brush and began to style her hair until it was in a nice formal but elegent style. She felt it suited her well, not amazingly great, but it would do. She was a barber, not a hair stylist. And she didn't have the skills, nor the patience to make her hair look perfect. [imagine the picture as blonde hair]

The only problem Alina faced now... was Alin. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she could almost see him beside her. The two Vania Kerl's, standing side by side. But only one would be able to attend the ball. Well, they both could, but only one would be seen. Alin wasn't really real anyway, he was just Alina's duisguise... it wasn't like he could properly maifest or anything. But the image of his in the mirror did puzzle her.... was she finally dtarting to loose it? Or was it her mind just doubting this decision?

With a heavy sigh Alina picked up the ends of her dress and walked outside, immediatly she felt a cool breeze hit her and she wondered if she should just forget about going. After all, who would even bother talking to her? She hardly knew anyone and most people that did know her often took sympathy on her because she lost her father. No one seemed to realise that Alina wasn't affected at all by his death. In fact,she didn't moarn him at all... she'd do it again if she could.

The carrige ride wasn't too long, Alina found time seemed to fly by as she kept within her thoughts. She had spent quite a bit of money for tonight. And part of her wondered if it was worth it... after all. When would she wear any of this again? Maybe she should have gone as Alin... it would have been very risky, but it would have been better for her. But she had a good enough lie that would hopefully convince everyone about why he wasn't attending. All she had to say was that buisness had been tough on him and that he was too tired to do anything.

Getting out of the carrige she walked up the steps to the Judge's house. Memories started flooding back of her previous time here... the time in which she had seen poor Lucy have so many people laugh at her as the Judge performed unspeakable things upon her. Thankfully Alina had not seen, but she had heard... and she was starting to worry for her own safety. She didn't even know who else was coming, nor did she know who had been invited. "Willian... I'm sure William will be here" She mumbled to herself.

Knocking on the door, she soon found it answered and a maid showed her where to go. With a small thanks Alina saw that there weren't very many guests, but there was one person she recognised. Mr Sweeney Todd, it hadn't been that long ago that they had discovered each other's secrets. Maybe a few months or so, but Alina was glad that nothing had been said. And she had now gained a small amount of trust towards him. But today she did not feel like talking to him..at least not yet, she was rather nervous and didn't want to be seen like this.

With a small nod at the Judge and at Sweeney, she entered the ball room and took a small drink and stood in the corner, simply watching and waiting. She wasn't up to dancing or socialising just yet. The hall was quite empty, and she didn't want everyone to be looking at her, she just wished to be unseen and unimportant