The Development:
In the morning Gabriella was very quiet and obedient toward her manager. She had performed every duty he had instructed to her. Had met for more press opportunities and was very cooperative for the remaining rehearsals that day. In the evening as the show was in its final preparation stages, Gabriella sat in make up in her little dressing room as her manager paced behind her.
"The opera is very well received my dear. For the remainder of the month you will dazzle them and then you and I will be flying off to Australia for another grand performance in the Sydney opera house." he said to her as her nurse patted white powder onto her face.
"That will be a wonderful venue," Gabriella sighed quietly.
"You are not excited?" he asked as he shooed away the nurse.
Gabriella forced a smile, "oh but I am, I am sorry if I didn't sound it I am just getting a little nervous about the performance tonight, as I always do."
"Good," he said, "we will concur Australia as we have France and the rest of the world and once Australia is finished we will surprise the media with an engagement."
"A what?" Gabriella cried.
"Yes, I will come up on stage at your final performance in Australia and I will propose to you in front of a sold out crowd. It will make all the world papers and television shows by the next morning." he laughed.
"You can't be serious," Gabriella said fearfully, "I could never ever marry you." she blurted out hatefully.
"Shut up!" He yelled and slapped her across the face, "you have no choice in the matter. Your voice and talent belongs to me and before long so will your entire being and you can do nothing to stop it. Contract or not you will be mine forever!" he screamed in a crazed fit as he grabbed and shook the pour little sing, "mine forever and always!"
Gabriella starred fearfully into his crazy eyes. They grew red and blood shot, filled with anger. He laughed like a mad man. His finger nails dug into the girls skin so deeply that she began to bleed. She felt as though she were suffocated and soon could not contain herself any longer. She screamed and pulled with all her might against him.
"Release me!" she screamed, "Someone please help me!"
Her cries echoed in the room and into the hall but no one came. Her nurse stood silently as tears poured down her face. What could she do against the mad man within.
Gabriella was helpless, she struggled and screamed until she was completely exhausted and her feet gave way beneath her and she fainted under his captive grip.
M. Fauxvoix flung the diva, like a doll, onto the sofa and stormed out of the room and looked murderously at Maria, "you say any of this to anyone and I will hang you by the neck until you are dead. Do you understand me?" he whispered, his eyes read as fire as he gabbed the woman's wrist, "go in there, revive her and send her out onto the stage. If she does not come onto the stage at exactly her cue I will cut off your hand."
The woman starred fearfully into the mans eyes. She did not see anything but the crazed anger withing. His eyes were fixed oh her as if he were casting a spell to kill her. She held her breath and so did he, then she grabbed her wrist in pain. Blood dripped from a fresh cut from just above where he had been holding her, "if she isn't on stage tonight you will loose you hand by this knife," he said as he whipped the bloody blade on a white handkerchief and handed it to Maria, "now get back to work!" he said and walked away down the hallway placing the knife back into its sheath.
Minutes later Maria was at the little diva's side, "wake up child, for all that is good in heaven please let her wake up," she said as she patted the young woman's cheeks and placed smelling salts under her nose.
Slowly Gabriella was revived. Tears filled her eyes as she sat up on the bed, "Maria," she whispered and hugged the woman.
"You're on in ten minutes you have to get out there," Maria said quickly releasing the woman and rushing about the room.
"I could not perform after that," Gabriella sobbed.
"Stop your crying!" Maria scolded, "you have no choice, none of us do!"
"Maria," Gabriella gasped as the white handkerchief fell off of her wrist and blood flowed freely down her arm, "what happened?"
"If you don't get on stage in..." Maria checked her watch, "nine minutes now, you manager will cut off my hand." she whispered as tears rolled down her face, "I would loose my hand for you my child but I could not bare to listen to him hurt you again tonight."
Gabriella gabbed her gown for the performance and hastily put it on. She retouched her makeup oh her own and sat Maria down on the sofa, "I am singing tonight only for you Maria," she said as her eyes pleaded for forgiveness,
"I'll be right here when you come back," Maria said.
Gabriella kissed her nurse's forehead and ran from the room. She was back stage and ready for her cue with two minutes to spare. She knew now more than ever that she had to find a way to get away from M. Fauxvoix and she would save her beloved nurse at the same time. This magical place between heaven and hell would be her strength. She took in a deep breath and floated onto the stage as if nothing had happened.
