Over the next few days, Diana felt increasingly uneasy. She knew that she had challenged him. She had thrown the gauntlet down and she was waiting for a response. She feared everything now.
The Duke maintained his persistence with his offer, sending letter upon letter to Diana, demanding the sale on the threat of violence. Diana's response to each of these letters was to either burn them or tear them to shreds. She held steadfast that she would not sell the Moulin Rouge. But the stress of the strength of her conviction was beginning to show. She became very unstable; the smallest thing could set her off. Christian had to do everything in his power to keep her calm.
Even after the letters slowed down, Diana still felt uneasy. She felt like she was being watched. Everywhere she went, she felt the eyes watching her, someone stalking her, especially in the Moulin Rouge.
Telling Christian about this only lead to greater stress. He became very protective of her, not letting her go anywhere on her own. She knew why he did it, love, but in turn she felt caged.
One day during rehearsal, Diana felt even more fearful. She knew these "people" were following her. She tried to stay close to Christian but it wasn't always possible.
Diana was rehearsing one scene during the afternoon and realized that she had forgotten something in her dressing room. She was then forced to go up there and get it since she had the only key. Diana climbed up the backstairs into the darkened corridor where her dressing room was. As she was fumbling with the lock, she heard breathing behind her. Diana turned around to see a pair of eyes staring right at her. She couldn't breathe; she couldn't move. Not even a scream could escape her lips. Diana felt her life was going to end right there until she heard footsteps on the stairs… Zidler.
"Diana dear, Christian is calling for you."
"I'll be right there Harold."
The figure slinked back into the shadows as not to be caught, instilling fear in Diana. She ran down the stairs and into Christian's arms. As he held her, he could feel her trembling.
"What happened?"
"They're up there."
"That's it. This place will be searched top to bottom until all of these stalkers are found. I'm not putting Diana's life in danger anymore." Christian said as he was walking out the door with Diana.
Back in their apartment, Diana wouldn't leave Christian's side. It was hours before Diana wanted to talk about what happened. She finally started explaining as she and Christian were lying in bed.
"… if Zidler hadn't come up there, I would probably be dead now. I had never been so scared in all my life."
"I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." Christian said as he wrapped his arms tighter around her. He tilted his head down to kiss her but saw instead that she had already fallen asleep. Usually, he went first but, like his wife, a few moments later he was asleep as well.
Diana's mind was still racing, even in her sleep.
"Diana?" a voice called out to her.
Diana opened her eyes to a pale figure in her room.
"I know you haven't forgotten me, Diana."
"Satine?" The figure smiled. "This is impossible. I have to be dreaming. This is in my subconscious or I'm hallucinating."
"Trust me you're dreaming. Look."
Diana turned around to see her sleeping body in Christian's arms.
"I'm glad he found happiness. I'm glad it was you, Diana."
"And I bet you've gotten your hands on David." Satine just smiled.
"What's wrong Diana? You were calling me and we only did that when we truly needed one another."
"The Duke wants to take back the Moulin Rouge."
"Did you refuse?"
"Of course I refused…don't be absurd. It's what followed after the refusal is what has gotten me scared. He has persisted with this offer, even sending me the check. My answer to this was to tear up or burn every one. Then it got worse. I know of at least five people who are stalking me inside and around the Moulin Rouge. One of them would have killed me right by my dressing room if Zidler hadn't come up."
Satine was trying to comfort her friend, who was obviously most disturbed.
Diana turned to face Christian. "I think it's been harder on him. He's had to put up with me. He's been trying everything in his power to keep me happy and safe." She said as she blew a kiss to her sleeping husband. "What should I do, Satine? Should I sell it to get the Duke off my back? Or should I keep up my defiance?"
"You said once that the Moulin Rouge had become a part of you. Do you really believe that you could give it up?"
"I couldn't… but I don't know how much more I can take."
"If I know you, you'll survive anything."
Suddenly the surroundings changed. They were no longer in Diana's bedroom, but in the Moulin Rouge.
"We never really did get to perform together, did we?" Diana said.
"The Jewels of the Moulin Rouge is what we were calling ourselves, right?" Satine replied.
"The Sparkling Diamond and the Midnight Amethyst on the same billing."
Diana began to hear faint music, ghostly music, in the background. She heard "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend." Then it changed to "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" and again to "In his Kiss." Diana heard their entire performance, as it would have been. A number for Satine, then Diana, and then both. Diana and Satine acted out each one as if there was a full house. This went on for what seemed like hours but was only a few moments. The two women forgot about the pain of what was going on; essentially taking them back to the freedom of childhood.
Diana blinked again and they found themselves back in her bedroom as dawn was approaching.
"I'm always here when you need me, Diana. Remember you can survive anything. I love you, my best friend." Satine said as she disappeared.
Diana returned to the conscious world. She seemed to have woken up right as Satine left. She kissed Christian softly on the cheek to entice him to awake. He slowly opened his eyes to see his wife smiling and happy. This was unusual of late. It was more typical for her to be waking him up because of something wrong.
"I missed that." He said sleepily. "What happened to bring back your smile?"
"Let's just say that a guide has helped me through the darkness."
Maybe now life could get back to normal.
