Chapter 13: Black Out
"I have a grand announcement to make," Count Olaf crowed as he stepped forward to face the audience. "There is no point in continuing the performance. I have actually married Violet and Jane and am now the possessor of their entire fortunes."
There was a wave of gasps from the crowd of theatergoers and they stared at each other in surprise.
"That can't be!" Justice Strauss cried.
"I followed the laws exactly," Count Olaf said. "Violet and Jane said I do in the presence of a judge such as yourself and they signed the document. You are all witnesses."
At that moment, as I clenched my fists red boils appeared on Count Olaf's face and he raised a hand to his face. I looked closer and noticed they formed the word Liar on his face. I unclenched my fists and the boils faded just in time for Count Olaf to look at me in puzzlement. I tried not to notice and looked away.
"We can see it clearly now!" one of the actors said. "You're nothing but a liar. Violet and Jane are only children. They can't marry."
"She can with the permission of her legal guardian,," Count Olaf said, "and in addition to being their husband, I am their legal guardian."
"But how can you marry two?" cried another actor.
"My religious beliefs allow me to," Count Olaf said.
"How can you say that when those pieces of paper aren't official! They are only stage props."
Count Olaf picked up both documents and handed it to Justice Strauss. "If you examine the document closely, you'll see it is an official document from City Hall."
Justice Strauss picked up the document from Count Olaf's hand and read it quickly. Then she closed her eyes, sighing deeplyand frowned.
"You're right," she said in defeat, "this marriage, unfortunately, is completely legal. Violet and Jane said 'I do,' and signed their names here on this paper. Count Olaf, you are Violet and Jane's husband, and therefore in complete control of their estates."
"That can't be!" Mr. Poe cried from the crowd. "This is nonsense."
"It's the law unfortunately," Justice Strauss said. She began to cry.
"I can't believe how easily I was tricked," she said. "I would never do anything to harm you children. Never."
"You were easily tricked," Count Olaf said with a wide grin as she cried. "It was child's play winning this fortune. Now, if all of you will excuse me, my bride and I need to go home for our wedding night."
"You have to let Sunny go first," Klaus shouted and moved over to me to take my hand. "You said you would let her go!"
"Sunny?" Mr. Poe asked. "Where is she?"
"She's tied up," Count Olaf said as if it were a joke. "Pardon my joking."
He pressed the buttons on his walkie-talkie.
"Hello, hooky! Yes it's me, you fool. The plan worked now remove Sunny from her cage and bring her here. There are chores for Klaus and Sunny before bed.
Count Olaf looked at Klaus.
Count Olaf gave Klaus a sharp look. "Are you pleased now? Now you've lost your precious girlfriend."
I saw tears in Klaus' eyes but I knew I signed the document with my left hand and so did Violet. Still, seeing him cry made me cry.
"Yes," Klaus muttered.
"Don't think you're so safe," I heard the bald man say under his breath to Klaus. "Count Olaf will take care of you, Jane, and your sisters later. He doesn't want to do it in front of all these people."
"I'm certainly not satisfied," Mr. Poe said. "I find this horrendous. Monstrous. And completely dreadful."
"It is completely legal," he said. "Tomorrow, I will come to the bank and withdraw both fortunes."
Mr. Poe looked like he was going to speak but coughed instead.
"No," he said. "This can't be. I won't allow it."
"You have to," Count Olaf replied.
"He's right," Justice Strauss said, as she wept. "It's a legal marriage."
I looked to Violet who was looking calmly at Justice Strauss. "Excuse me. But I don't think it's a legal marriage after all."
"What did you say, Countess?" Count Olaf said.
"It's not legal," I said. "We signed the document with our left hands."
"And we're certainly not your countesses," Violet added, sounding annoyed. "At least, I don't think we are."
"And why is that?" Count Olaf said.
"We both used our left hands to sign the document and therefore it wasn't in our own hand."
"What do you mean? We all saw you!" His eyebrow shot up in anger.
"I'm sorry girls," Justice Strauss said. "But I'm afraid it's true. There were many witnesses."
"But we're not left-handed," I said. "We're both right-handed and therefore did not sign the document in our own hands."
"What?" Count Olaf roared and grabbed both documents from Justice Strauss and his eyes shone so bright that I tried not to look at him.
He turned to Violet and I. "You liars!"
"They're not liars!" Klaus said fiercely. "I watched them both tremble as they signed with their left hands.
"You can't prove it!" Count Olaf declared.
"We could sign our names again in our right and left hands," Violet said as I brightened, "and match the signatures."
"But that's a small detail. It doesn't matter at all."
"Justice Strauss will decide that," Mr. Poe said.
The crowd turned to Justice Strauss as she examined the documents
"If they are right handed and signed the document with their left hand then it is not a valid or legal marriage. Violet and Jane are not countesses and are certainly not married to Count Olaf."
"Yay!" cried the audience as people in the crowd applauded.
"If that's so," Count Olaf addressed Violet and I, "then I demand you two marry me again or—"
He pressed the button on his walkie-talkie.
"Neepo!" Sunny cried as she crawled onstage with the hook-handed man behind her with his walkie-talkie sounding off.
"It's Sunny! She's safe!" Klaus cried and we all rushed over to hug her.
"She needs something to eat," Violet said. "She must be hungry."
"Cake!" Sunny cried with joy as I gave her a tight hug.
"Argh!" Count Olaf roared. He shoved his finger at Violet and I.
"You two may not be my wives," he said, "but you are still my daughters, and-"
"I wouldn't think to leave these children in your care after what I've seen," Mr. Poe said.
"They will stay with me," he said. "There is nothing against trying to marrying someone."
"It is illegal to dangle a baby out of a tower window," Justice Strauss said. "You will go to jail for that Count Olaf. The children will live with me."
"You're under arrest!" an audience member cried.
"Lock him in jail!"
There were more shouts.
Mr. Poe grabbed Count Olaf's arm and said, "You are under arrest."
"Will you really let us live with you?" Violet asked Justice Strauss.
"Of course," she said. "I love you children and I feel responsible for your wellbeing."
"Can we use your library every day?" Klaus asked.
"Can I play the guitar any time I want?" I asked.
"Can we work in the garden?" Violet asked.
"Cake!" Sunny cried, making everyone laugh.
Before anymore could be said, the lights to the theater went out and I reached for Klaus' hand in the dark. I felt someone's breath near my ear.
"I'll be back for your fortunes if it's the last thing I'll do," he said. "You may have escaped this time but I won't stop until I have you and your friends in my clutches and dead. But not you. No I've never wanted you dead. You're dear mother would kill me if she knew I left you for dead. No, you are the one I want forever. You and your fortune. I know you found the photo. Your poor parents are incapable of saving you from me but don't worry, I'll take good care of you. Just enough to keep you alive. Watch out for your boyfriend. I won't be as kind to him."
The figure vanished as quickly as it came and the lights turned on to reveal that Count Olaf was gone.
"Where did Count Olaf go?" Mr. Poe asked.
His accomplices had vanished as well and the stage was bare.
"They probably escaped while it was dark," Klaus said.
Mr. Poe went outside and we followed with Justice Strauss. I could see a familiar black car driving away off into the night and we watched in solemn silence.
"Shoot!" Mr. Poe cried. "I'll go call the police. Don't worry. We'll catch them."
"Come on children," Justice Strauss said. "Let's go home and we'll worry about it tomorrow after a good breakfast."
"Hold on," Mr. Poe said. "Justice Strauss isn't a relative. I can't allow her to be your guardian."
"How can this be?" Violet asked. "After what she's done for us?"
"She helped us figure out Count Olaf's plan with her library. We would have lost our lives without her."
"I suppose so," he said. "But your parents' will declares that you must be adopted by a relative. You'll stay with me in my home tonight and tomorrow I will find you a new guardian. I'm sorry but that's how it is. Jane will stay with you because Madame Bovary believes the Baudelaires are a good influence on her."
We all stared at Justice Strauss who gave us a heavy sigh and hugged each of us.
"I'm afraid Mr. Poe is correct," she said. "It's your parents wishes."
"Mr. Poe is right," she said sadly. "You must obey your parents will."
"You're right, Justice Strauss," Violet said. "You'll be missed."
"I'm sorry," I said. "I wish we could stay."
We each hugged Justice Strauss and then went with Mr. Poe to his car. Strauss one last embrace, and followed Mr. and Mrs. Poe to their car. We stared back at Justice Strauss as the car pulled away and I held Klaus' hand again.
"I'm glad you got out of it," Klaus said to me as we headed for Mr. Poe's home. "We're free to be together."
I smiled at Klaus and leaned forward to plant a kiss on his small, soft lips. "We won't be truly free until Count Olaf's gone," I said and swallowed as I remembered his last words to me. "But whatever comes our way, we'll survive it together."