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John Proctor was completely and utterly miserable. He'd been sat in this godforsaken cell alone for days,his wife thought him - no,knew him- to be unfaithful,and his poor Elizabeth would hang sooner than later,because of that whore Abigail.The only mercy would be if Proctor died before his wife,which,at least according to him,would be far more than he deserved.
The clanking noise of his opening cell door jolted Proctor out of his thoughts.
Judge Danforth,the man who'd caused his fair share of John's misery,was stood in his cell,with no-one else but them.
Proctor had always admired Danforth from afar. Danforth commanded people in the way John wanted to,Danforth walked as though God himself should be grateful for his presence,Danforth never doubted his faith,never doubted himself,never slipped up. John had wanted to be like Danforth as long as he'd known him, imposing,respected,in complete control.
"Well,Mr Proctor," Danforth began, considering his words carefully,"You've made a right mess of this, haven't you?"
Silver tongued prick.
John broke free of his trance with Danforth,and remembered all this monster had done to him,to his Elizabeth. As though he senses John's change of opinion,Danforth tutted and sat down next to John,and brushed his face delicately with his hand.
"Oh,John,John,John,what are we going to do with you? You're wife is still charged with witchcraft,you know? That little stunt you pulled in the courtroom didn't trick Hathorne or Hale."
John stared straight ahead, trying to block any and all memories of the court. Trying to forget that this was all his fault.Danforth moved closer still to him,he was practically on John's lap now.Good thing Proctor was strong. Despite his great strength,however,he still could not stop his breath from hitching.
"You see,John,even though none of the others believe in your lechery," Danforth leaned closer, tucking his mouth right next to John's ear,"I do. And I'm going to be very kind to you,and make you a deal."
Despite his best attempts, John's ears did prick up at that. A deal? What would he give,and what would he get?
"What sort of deal?" John spoke slowly, making sure everything was right,his tone,his words,his expression.
"None that you'd object to John."
Suddenly, Danforth stood up,and pulled John up with him roughly.
"You do whatever I want,John,and maybe I'll let your wife out. Maybe your sons won't have to live with the shame of having you for a father. Maybe the court will forget all about your and Abigail's little incident. All you have to do is what I want," Danforth dipped his head slightly, Whisper in John's ear again "and I'm sure you'll enjoy it, lecher."
Danforth had had John from the moment he mentioned Elizabeth walking free.Anything for Elizabeth. And after all, the whole situation was John's fault in the first place,so surely he should be the one to fix it.
"So?" Danforth asked,voice dangerously soft.
John gulped down his fear and guilt,and braced himself for whatever would happen next.
"Yes."
Danforth grabbed John's chin and pressed John's lips to his. Danforth's mouth was dry,and tasted of good food and wine.Johm found himself wondering what he tasted like,whether Danforth was enjoying himself enough to let Elizabeth free.
Danforth pulled away for a moment.
"Undress me." It was a command,as everything Danforth did was. John began, feeling sick to his stomach about what he had done,what he was about to do. Danforth pulled away a second time,and John heard the distant voice of Reverend Hale.
"Judge Danforth? Judge Danforth?"
Danforth left John without so much as a word, and that night,as John slept,he wondered how Abigail had felt during their unholy union. How Elizabeth had felt when she found out . Would this anger her too? He was doing it for her,but he was committing adultery. Would God care? John had assumed he was already damned ,but would this damn him further?