Chapter 36

ERIK

I visited him in every four weeks since; dressed in the costume I wore on that special Masquerade. I think he first did not even get what I meant. He looked at me in total horror and shock, with his mouth and eyes wide- open like he was some retarded lunatic. I warned him several times in little notes left under his front door, not a word to anyone about that mass.
In May, I had to make him clearer he has not much time left. This Mass took a little longer than I expected, and I did not like this fact at all. He is working on that mass nearly for 5 months, and he only had two movements done. I planned to kill him as soon as he finishes his own Requiem. I was surprised, compared to being a total lunatic, he still wrote excellent music. I had to take much effort to ban his works from the lodge, but the brothers were mad at him anyway because of the all issues he had with money and his behavior turned worse and worse. His eyes turned into a strange glow, like a sick dog's, he was always pale, but now his face started to turn to ash- gray, he was biting his lips until his lower lip started to bleed. One could see the scars on it always as he did not give time for it to heal. All of these signs showed me he was in complete stress in every waking second, waiting for the next meet with the Masked Stranger. And I never disappointed him.
"How much time you need still, Mozart?" I would ask impatiently, pointing at the calendar on the wall behind him- "soon they are going to pick the grapes your wine is made of."
"Please…. it is a very big work… it needs time… I don't compose as fast as I did when I was younger…" – he said softly, looking at me with pain and fright in his eyes, constantly biting his lips in the pauses.
"Hurry up." – I answered coldly, and left. This was the usual way of my visits.

6th June, 1791

CONSTANZE

Wolfie was sadly a walking dead in his last months. I have to tell, his death wasn't unexpected at all. He was too young, but as I think back to these last months from the spring of 1791 till his death, I see the happenings as logic as God's thoughts.
When Karl came back from school for his summer vacation, Wolfie did not even recognize him first. He just handed him a piece of paper and said "copy this please, Xaver…" and when Karl started to read "Req…"- he jumped up, ripped that paper out of Karl's hand and ordered him into his room.
- What the Hell is your problem?- I yelled at him when I arrived back from Karl's room, the poor boy was crying so hard that his father behaves this way with him that I had to comfort him for nearly an hour.
- No one can know about this. – he replied but did not look at me.
- You should go to a mental asylum… you are dangerous!
- Death is dangerous.
- Why do you say that? You want to kill me? Or your son? Lift a finger on him and I scratch your eyes out.
- C minor…
- Go to bloody Hell!- I slammed the door behind me when I realized he was only working again, paying no attention to me at all.
He got rid of Xaver too for a few weeks he said. He was working all day but I did not know what was he writing as he started to yell every time I neared his desk.
- Fuck off! Go to the kitchen that's your lace!
- Kiss my ass! – I yelled back at him, it was the only way we could talk.
I am ashamed to admit, but I hated him sometimes. He was avoiding contact with me, he never kissed or hugged me anymore, and of course, there wasn't any word about anything in bed either for months. My pregnancy didn't bother him before, until it was safe, we were in bed during those months as well. But not now. To tell the truth, he wasn't even interested about soon he will have a new child. Or… if it is his at all…

In late night of that day, I heard three loud knocks on the door. I was sleeping but the knocks were so forceful I instantly startled up. I looked at the other side of our double bed to check how Karl was doing. Karl slept with me since he came back from school. Wolfie didn't even need a bed any more, he usually fell asleep on his desk. He never came to sleep with me anymore and as Karl had nightmares several night he spent in his room, I allowed him to sleep with me. As he admitted, he missed me a lot at school and felt safe by my side. He knew if mommy is there with him, he has nothing to be afraid of. Thankfully Karl did not wake up to the noise. He was peacefully sleeping in fetal position, he slept like that since he was a baby. The noise repeated more times till I could finally get up from bed. My big belly didn't make it any easier. I opened the bedroom door and walked to Wolfie's study door and knocked, but no reply came. I sighed as I dragged myself to the front door to open it. Schikaneder stood there.
- Am I bothering you? – he asked impatiently and angrily.
- No. – I replied a bit surprised and scared.
- I hoped so. – he entered the salon without a second question. – Where is he?
- I don't know… maybe he is not home. – I muttered as he opened the study door.
- Here you are? – he asked, looking at Wolfie who was sleeping in an armchair. – Okay and where is the opera?
- Opera?
- Yes, the Magic Flute. Where it is and is it finally done? I want to see it.
- Maybe it is on his desk…
- Good, I can find it. – he answered and started to look around on my husband's desk. – What the Hell… - he asked with surprise. – Requiem? Is he an undertaker in second job?
- Put it down! – Wolfie jumped up from the chair, waking up to the word Requiem and he attacked Schikaneder like a wild animal.
- Hey! And what you have for me? – Schikaneder asked when Wolfie finally got the paper and hid it in his drawer.
- What do you want?
- The opera!
- Oh… that? – he started to laugh. – Oh yeah, I remember now… that…
- Where is it?
- In my head. – he laughed- here is the whole opera in my head. It is done… all is done…
- You idiot! – Schikaneder grabbed Wolfie's cravat and shook him wildly- are you aware of I paid the all cast to start the rehearsals next week because you said yes? You promised a role for everyone and I paid them from my own pocket! What do you want you ridiculous little monkey, do you want me to die in hunger because your own stupidity?
- Release him! – I hit Schikaneder's head with my umbrella from behind and he finally stopped it.
- Take care cause I will rip your blond hair out if you keep doing this. I have enough of your stupidity. – he looked at Wolfie and stormed out of the room and banged the front door behind him.

18th June

On this day, I heard a knock on the door again. It wasn't that forceful now, and when I wanted to get up I heard Wolfie saying "I am coming" so I sat back down. I heard Karl was playing his dad's violin in the music room, Wolfie didn't care about it at all, so he was allowed to.
- Is there a Herr Mozart, please? – I heard an unknown male voice from the salon.
- Yes, Father… it is me. – Wolfie answered. – What do you wish of me?
- You…? Please don't make a fool of me…
- It is really me, Father, tell me what do you need. – Wolfie started to be a bit of impatient so I thought it would be better if I go out too.
- You… can't be him as I…
- What is wrong, Father? – I asked the priest, who looked at my husband with such an expression as he saw a ghost.
- Frau Mozart…? I was told to come here as soon as possible to give Herr Mozart the final sacrament… the man said he is dying and has not much time left…
- Oh… it must be just a very bad joke Father. – I said and shook my head. Wolfie, as expected, was pale with horror.
- Are you sure, Madam? He doesn't look good… - the priest looked at Wolfie, who dragged himself back to his study.
- I am… he just got scared… he is very sensitive about these rude jokes. Who said that to you?
- I can't tell, Madam, as the gentleman did not say a name, and it was dark and even his hat was pulled in his eyes… I am sorry for bothering.
- I am the one who is sorry for your wasted time Father. Sometimes there are people who think this is a good joke.
- Sadly yes, Madam. Well, I wish God's blessings upon you and your family. – he smiled at me. – And your youngest too. – he looked at my belly then he left.
Well… I am much in need of blessings… indeed.

ERIK

16th July, 1791

- I am not stepping in there again!- Lizl cried out loud in despair when I opened the door for her in my apartment.
- Where?
- To Herr Mozart's house!
- Why? What has happened?
- You can't imagine that, Sir…. he is insane! He drinks all day, he talks nonsense…
- Is he working at least?- I asked, trying to make her stop throwing a tantrum.
- I am so much afraid Sir… I am not going back any more… and I..
- I asked if he was working on something?
- I think so… he is writing some kind of dumb opera all day…
- Opera?
- No, I am not going back, I will be murdered!
- By him? – I asked calmly.
- Not necessarily… I mean… there is a man who sends priest to his house to give him final sacrament, and who frightens him in a mask… and I have an idea who he might be.
- And who he might be?
- You! – she pointed at me. – If you are not stopping your actions I go to the police and tell them everything! Literally everything! That you ordered me to spy on him and with the information I give you, you use it to destroy him… I know everything! I came to you to tell that I know everything…
- Are you done? – I stood up from my chair a bit irritated and looked at her.
- I just warn you I will tell everything to the police. I go back to collect my belongings at Mozart and if you are not stopping your dirty little game, I go to the police and tell them the all story. I don't care how you helped me and my mother, but I am not assisting a murderer!
She turned around and hurried to the door. Before she could open it, I was right behind her back with a jump. I grabbed her shoulder and she started to scream. I put my hand quickly on her mouth to silence her and I moved my hand upper on her neck. I squeezed it and though she tried to fight with me for a few seconds, she couldn't win. Simply, I was too strong for a woman like her.
I was annoyedly looking at the dead body lying in front of my feet. Not only one more thing I had to kill, but now I lost my best news channel between Mozart and me. Now I will have to talk to Mozart more which is a bad thing because she might recognize the Masked Stranger's voice… but I will try to do something about it…

But firstly I have to get rid of this little problem lying here.

CONSTANZE

Our ex- maid was found dead in the Danube. She left a little good- bye note on my desk before she left, it said there was something in her life she had to end because she was very ashamed of it. I felt so sorry for her, maybe she got pregnant and she could not bear the shame she would have with her child.
I am so sorry about her death, she was a very good girl and helped me a lot with the children. Karl knew her since he was very small. She helped him with his first piano lessons, she listened to his first violin piece… he misses her dearly. She was like a big sister to him when neither I or his father was around to listen, Lizl was.
Wolfie was all crazy since the Pries't s appear, he wasn't home, or when he was, he was composing. He did not have any relationship with the real world, his wife, or his son. I was in the last month of my pregnancy, and finally I got enough of staying here. Again, I packed all Karl's clothes and mines, and we went to Baden. I left a little note on Wolfie's desk about it, but I was sure he won't care.