Chapter 13

ERIK

Before the debut gala of The Marriage of Figaro, Aloysia was preparing for her role in her dressing room. Thankfully she did not get Catherina's dressing room because the managers were too much afraid of the Phantom's fury.

-Madame Lange. – I spoke to her through the wall- would you please permit me to say that it would be better if you didn't sing tonight?

- Is that… I am not afraid of you…

- So it seems you don't understand me again.

- I won't drink anything before the performance.

- Do you actually expect me to be so blatantly unimaginative that I make the same joke twice? Madame…just consider your answer carefully.

- I am not afraid of you… I am not.

- Good, then I am afraid I have to take further steps. I did not mean to do so, Madame, oh no, I did not. But you leave no other choice for me…

I left a little note on the manager's desk as well, but I hadn't heard from them after. They appeared finally, but they did not seem to be scared at all. Well, The Phantom has to make the show unforgettable then.

MOZART

It was the worst night and worst opening gala of my whole life. And the Figaro won10t be played again in Vienna. And to make matters worse, our baby with Stanze, sadly passed away. This night was too much for Stanze and we could do nothing against this tragedy. I would have named him Leopold. But he is now a little angel.

It was a catastrophe, the all night. At first I heard voices behind my back but when I turned to see who was talking to me, I didn't see anyone. It was a male voice I have heard before but I could not remember where. Then… it came to mind. In Catherina's dressing room! It was "The Phantom of the Opera" as Catherina called him. Or Erik. He said if I won't ban my opera myself, he will take care of it to be banned. I did not listen and I even laughed at him.

Catherina ran to me after and told me that I must do what the Phantom says as he can easily make me obey. I was laughing at Catherina as well and told that I won't give up and Figaro will be on stage this night and I even brought Stanze to see it. Catherina was crying. I did not really care as I was not in the mood for drama. I went to see Aloysia but to my biggest disbelief she yelled at me at the door that she won't sing that night.

What are you talking about? – I asked. – Have you gone crazy?

No, I just want to stay alive! No one can make me sing…

If you are scared about that male voice, I tell you not to believe a word he is saying. He is a fool. And you will sing because here are your all fans, they need you and you will get thousands of flowers if you do.

Aloysia thankfully calmed down after awhile and she agreed that she will sing. She looked like nervous and scared so I asked 3 of my closest friends to take care of her and protect her if she is in danger. I thought, this way I can make sure that the Phantom won't harm her. Well, I was wrong. I was terribly wrong.

The opera started as everything was all right. I was happily conducting and even started to forget about the Phantom. Catherina was a charming little Susanna. She was reluctant at first when I asked her to be Susanna, and she accepted my terms only if I get another Susanna for the rehearsals and I let her only sing on the debut gala. I was not afraid that she will fail at singing, I knew she was practicing much and she was an awesome singer I had faith in her that she will be fine. I did not know however why she wanted it to be in secret so much but now I started to understand that it was because she was afraid of the Phantom. I made her sing Susanna, against her will It was a big mistake.

Towards the end of second act, the Hell appeared. Aloysia, in her finest aria, suddenly stopped singing. I yelled at her to continue and the audience started to laugh. Aloysia shook her head and her eyes were wide open in horror. Everyone laughed at my masterpiece. But it was nothing. Aloysia, after 10 minutes and a very big tantrum of mine, started to sing again… or at least we thought she will sing. No. It was not music. Not at all… and not my music. She croaked like a toad and I was crying from fury. The audience laughed.

But the worst thing just came. The complete Apocalypse. That damned male voice started to laugh as well and said:

Mozart wrote such an opera it makes the opera fall apart.

Everyone laughed at first and I kicked the sheet music holder. But the voice continued.

It is not a joke, look at the chandelier!

We did not have the time to look up. The chandelier fell down. Everything happened so fast that I can hardly remember what happened, I was running up and down to see what happened to Stanze and Karl. I thought myself an idiot as Stanze told me to leave Karl at home but I wanted him to see the play. A man kicked me out of the way and he was running to help his wife as well. I fell and cussed a bit but after I jumped up and ran to find Stanze. Many people were injured and as I heard a woman died. Aloysia was injured too, candles from the chandelier caused her to get burned, and some glass cut her arm and face. Baron van Swieten ran next to me and when I called him on his name and he looked at me I realized one of his eyes was red from blood. He turned his head away and ran away.

The Emperor was injured as well, thank God, not seriously. Everywhere I looked there were injuries, blood, tears and scared, horrified faces. I was running to find my wife, I fell in furniture and people. I got some slaps from a man when I accidentally kicked his young daughter. I just realized that I was injured as well. Something has happened to my left leg as it hurt much when I tried to run. I wasn't sure whether I got it while the chandelier incident or after that but to be honest, I did not even care.

I finally found Stanze, she was laying in a box, in a chair and looked like she was sick.

I am feeling terrible. – she explained softly when she saw me.

Nothing is wrong Stanze, just please stay with me. Stay awake, I will call a doctor for…

Wolfie, the theather's doctor is too busy for me, you can't wish of him to abandon all the people in need here. I will be fine, just… I am so tired.

I will search someone else then. Where is Karl?

Mama took him home. He got scared. He was hiding under some seats. That's why he stayed alive, they say. Otherwise people would have run through him.

The poor boy. Thank God he is all right. And you too. I love you Stanze.

I love you too.

Just… just stay still, right? – I kissed her face and she hugged me.

Don't leave me please.

I have to… I have to search a doctor for you. For you both.

Well… but please hurry.

I will.

I kissed her again and I hurried out of the box to search for someone to help her. I literally ran into Destler.

Please my friend help me! Do you know a doctor?

Lots of people needs a doctor here and as I see you can walk on your own, so you may wait a little.

He wanted to walk past me but I caught him.

You stay here. My wife is feeling sick and she is pregnant so either you tell me where can I find a doctor or I punch you in the nose.

Let me go. At first. Secondly I guess I will be suitable but if you tell me something similar once more…

I am sorry, I am just nervous and…

So am I. Where is she?

Sadly, Destler came out of the box with the news that our child can't be saved. Stanze will be all right, but we lost the little man.

I took Constanze home as soon as it was possible. She did not sleep all night, she was just trembling in my arms. It was the most horrible night of our lives.

CATHERINA

I arrived back to my dressing room and I was crying hard as I sat down at my dressing table. Such a horrible scary night! But it did not end yet.

You deceived me. – It was Erik's voice. I felt so horribly scared, I could feel my heart in my throat.

Erik…

You deceived me. – His voice wasn't so pleasant as it used to be it was angry and threatening.

I… I did not mean to…

You sing only for me. – He appeared through the mirror and now he was in my dressing room.

Erik…

Only for me. And you sang in Figaro tonight.

I had no other choice…

You thought I am such an idiot? Another girl for rehearsals and another for the gala?You thought I did not hear when he asked you?

Erik…

Silence!

It won't happen again…

No…- he paused for a bit. – It won't. – I felt he grabbed my arm and I saw his eyes, his yellow eyes were glowing and that hatred burned me in his look. – No one deceives Erik.

Erik… don't hurt me…

I only felt a hit on my head and I collapsed. When I opened my eyes, I was in my room at his house under the opera. I tried to open the door, but it was locked.

ERIK

No one deceives Erik. No one will have mercy. No one who can do about this. The cow was told, the miserable fat cow, that old canary with a voice of a raven, the toad. Erik still has to laugh when he thinks of Aloysia tonight. But the sad thing is she won't make Erik laugh more.

She was waiting for her doctor to come to see her injuries. She would not need to throw such a tantrum about some burns and that cut. Erik has survived much worse situations in his life and he is still alive. Aloysia did not act how Erik told her. She will pay for that.

Good evening Madame. – well Erik is polite. He at least greeted this pig. The pig idea made me think of I could make her grunt like a pig. As she opened her mouth I threw my voice and viola. She was at least true to her form. And her soul. She was always a pig. Sadly I could not do it for a long time as I started to laugh so hard I almost forgot about why I was there. We can't have that, so I stopped.

Do you think you are funny? How you do it?

Sorry Madame- I chuckled- I can't tell it, you see a true illusionist never tells his secrets.

What do you want of me?

I only disturb you for a few minutes, Madame. – Erik finally succeeded in being all serious again. – I have something important to do.

I won't lie with you if that's the case… unless you give me some lead role.

Oh-hooo Madame…what a nasty sense of humor you have…

It is not sense of humor, it is merely business. No lead role- no bed exercises.

Did someone actually tell you that you are disgusting, Madame?

Well, if you are so picky…

It is not the case I want to talk to you. – I said as I instantly appeared in front of her.

Why are you wearing a mask?

Don't dare to touch it.

And if I do? – she asked, laughing and removed my mask.

She screamed as she saw my face. That's what Erik expected, but as he does not like to hear screams at all, he put his hand on her mouth. She, this beastie tried to bite Erik's hand but I silenced her with slicing her head off of her neck. He was all neutral to see that much blood spraying the walls and the mirror in front of us and he was just looking at the head remained in his hand. Erik's face was bloody as well as he could see but for understandable reasons he did not like to look in the mirror for a long time.

Then… Erik will have a legal reason to do this. – I said as I disgustedly dropped her head on her bed and kicked the rest of her body away.

CATHERINA

I finally succeeded in getting out of my room somehow, I did not know how, but I was finally free. I was running desperately to find how can I get out of the house. I knew Erik too well, I just knew he will do something and that the chandelier was not an accident either. He was very angry at me and Wolfgang as well and I was deathly afraid of he killed Wolfgang. He clearly stated he could kill for me. I found the front door and started to kick it desperately. My fists and feet hurt so much after a while but I did not care at all, I just needed to run to save Wolfgang. I did not even care what his wife will say, it was the matter of life and death now.

I should have know that my attempt was to end in failure. After I kicked the door for the last time, it opened. I thought I have finally succeeded in opening it, but in the next moment, I found out that it is not so. Erik stood in front of me, his coat and white cravat wa covered in blood. I knew I was late.

What have you done?- I screamed and ran at him, beating his chest and shoulders.

Did you stop it?- he asked coldly and just stood still while I was beating him. I found out that my tiny fists sure did not cause any hurt for him so I started to kick him as well. – Are you done? – he asked still neutrally when I stopped it for a little time to get breath.

No!- I shouted and kicked him again.

Well, I see you found the other door as well. I did not think you could, but you did. That's why I locked you in your room, I wanted to prevent this happening. But you never listen to Erik, do you, Catherina? He asked you not to remove his mask, did he? You still removed it. And now he wanted you to stay in your room. You did not. Well, he did not want you to see him this way but it happened now. No, he won't search for excuses. It was fate, it was only fate. Everyone dies, you know.

Erik!

Well, my dear if you don't mind, Erik has to work on his masterpiece and as he sees you are not in the state of enjoying his company and you would just make him nervous and it does not make any good for composing. So… would you mind if he accompanied you to your room to sleep?

Sleep? Are you crazy? How could I sleep like….

He put his hand on my mouth and I felt that smell of death again on his hands. I could not help, but fainted.