Chapter 2.

Catherina Cavalieri
As I was hurrying to my singing lesson at the Opera because I was five minutes late already, at the door I ran into a young man. I ran into him literally, I could not stop.
" I am sorry, Mein Herr, I wasn't paying attention, I…" – I stuttered but the young man smiled at me .
"Ssssh, Fraulien, nothing has happened. You are not guilty. It is me, actually, because I was stunned and amazed by your unearthly beauty."
"Ohh, Mein Herr, I don't think, I…"
"But yes, dear Fraulein, you little angel, could I have your name?"
I blushed bright red and lowered my head a bit, but smiled. "I am Catherina… Catherina Cavalieri."
"What a nice name." – the young man smiled. "And Iam your most humble servant and admirer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart."
I gasped in disbelief. "Mozart?... Herr Mozart?"
"In person, Fraulein Cavalieri and I think we will meet much from now and it will give me much happiness to see your lovely face. I settled down in Vienna and I start to rehearse my new opera."
"You will have a new opera, Maestro?"
"Yes, but please, don't call me Maestro… I would like more if you called me Wolfgang. Simply. "
"I will." – I smiled, and looked into his eyes, they were so beautifully blue. The Stephansdome's clock started to hit eight. "Oh, my God… I am sorry, Wolfgang but…"
" Of course." – he nodded. – I was desperately running to my dressing room and I was gasping for breath when I opened the door.
"How can you sing like this if you are gasping?"- the beautiful voice of my tutor asked, but he was not pleased at all.
"I… I am sorry; I was in big hurry…"
"And even though Fraulein, you are half an hour late."
"Maestro, please don't be mad at me… I was in hurry, I hurried as I could…"
"But you did not hurry that much did you? You had time to talk to Herr Mozart for ten minutes."
"Please, Maestro, I just met him…."
"What did I tell you about earthly joys and amusements, my child?"
"But you don't have to worry about this, I don't feel anything for him…."
"That is very good to hear as you know if you give your heart to someone on the Earth, the Angel has to leave you."
"I know, I will never see him again…"
"That's what I wanted to hear my child."
I started my singing lesson but I could feel the Angel's displease all the time. I felt guilty. How could I forget my promise to my Angel of Music who teaches me since I am here at the Opera? I learned so much from him and that's how I repay him? I promised him I will never se Herr Mozart again. His voice seemed to be little happier after.

ERIK

I was worrying about this will happen. I just knew it will. That Mozart, that damned Mozart… he dares to flirt with my Catherina! She is mine! I love her! Since she appeared here in the Opera I knew she is not like the other girls. She is unique. She is an angel, she has talent… and now that little bastard comes here and starts to flirt with her? How dares he?

I am in love with her. I am MADLY in love with her. But I swear to the Almighty that I did not touch her… never. and this young one dares to come and pet her? I saw it, he petted her and he complimented her voice. Her voice! It is MY work. I created it, I gave her wings and music…. music…

"Maestro!" – she stormed in her dressing room when I was waiting for her again for half an hour. Her lateness, as I say, was usual by that time and I was overheated with fury.
"What is that my child?" My voice was so strict and cold all her smile withered away from her face.
"Oh, I am sorry for I was late again, but I…"
" Never mind. What did you want?"
"Imagine, Maestro, I got a lead role!"
"Lead? In what?"
"In Mozart's new Opera, the Abduction from the Serail."
"What?"- I gasped.- "My child, do you know what kind of sujet it has? It takes place in a…. Turkish…. brothel! In that you want a lead?"
"But Maestro, please it is not an opera like that… it is harmless, a love story."
"Love… story… lead…"
"Maestro?"
I had to hurry away as fast I could. I was running desperately in the secret tunnels. Mozart gave my darling a lead in an opera with that kind of sujet… I must do something that this opera would not debut… quickly.