Chapter 6: Confrontation

Rain had been coming down pretty hard in Salem. It seemed a fitting setting for what was to be Stefano DiMera's grand finale when Kate arrived at the mansion. It had been dark and not one servant was in sight. It had not been much of a change from the previous night. She had known he was alone and in his study. She broke in and made her way into the room. He was sitting quietly in his chair listening to opera with a glass in his hand. She had not known but he had several visitors prior to her visit. EJ, who had taken a few shots at the wall. Abe Carver, who left his gun hoping Stefano would kill himself, which was never going to happen since Stefano would never be that cowardly. Will Horton, in an effort to win back his the love and trust of the Brady family by saying Stefano blackmailed him for his affection when none of this had been true. Hope Williams had come by out of anger for his attack on Bo. Bo had arrived shortly after her to express his rage at his attack and trapping Hope in Alamina. John arrived as usual with words for Stefano but he had gone without so much as threatening his life.

Every visit was met with the same emotionless wit and uncaring reception.

"If you are not going to pull the trigger then get the hell out of my house." he had told them all.

They left without much else to say.

Now he sat alone calculating to himself that he was due more "visits".

Kate walked in. She was wearing a hooded jacket and there was a look of rage in her eyes. Stefano looked up at her emotionless as a child not at all sure as to why she had been here considering their morning together but he awaited her reasons just the same.

"Katherine." he said unimpressed as she removed her hood.

"Why couldn't you divorce me like a normal person?" she asked raising her gun.

Stefano had been hurt by her action and more than a little puzzled by it but he remained unimpressed.

"If you are going to shoot me...shoot me." he replied unaffected by it.

"Oh make no mistake Stefano I am going to shoot you." she said glaring at him. "What I do not understand is why all the punishment?"

Stefano got up from his seat.

"I owe you nothing." he replied making his way back to his brandy.

Kate shot at the bottles shattering them. He glared at her but conceded to staying put.

"I was your wife." she said bitterly. "I loved you...why was that not enough for you?"

"You know, Katherine...I could ask you the same question." replied Stefano enraged.

She pointed the gun at his chest.

He wasn't in the least intimidated by this. He walked into the barrel of the gun making sure as to aim it at his chest. He steadied her hand with his own without so much as a blink. She had been shocked as he reached down and removed the safety.

"There...now you have a clear shot." he said emotionless.

She had known that he was never afraid to die but his detachment was startling. A part of her wondered just what it was that made him feel that life was simply not worth living. All the money in the world, power and influence had done nothing to deter him from his evident agony.

"Do it." he demanded. "Salem would no doubt give you a medal...maybe place a statue of you in Horton square."

Kate burst into tears. His eyes had seemed so...sorrowful despite his demeanor. Kate got the sense that he had been in a great deal of pain. Her hands began to tremble. He had been content to die, despite all of this and she couldn't stay angry at him not enough to ever wish him dead...he had done so much for her over the years, taken care of her and her son...no matter how much trouble he caused he would get them right back out of it. He had loved her, that much she had known and this was just his way of dealing with his broken heart.

"I can't." she said bitterly as the tears increased. "I can't..."

She put the gun down and walked out of the mansion without another word.

Stefano went back to his seat and awaited his next visitor, he had known all too well that it would be Marlena Evans in an effort to save her precious John Black from doing the same thing. She had come as he had known she would but only offered insight into his soul. Just as the others had she took her leave of him. Stefano couldn't hide his delight at her visit no matter how miserable he had been.

He was left alone once more and turned his attention to his opera. He sat quietly letting the haunting tunes fill the room and his ears as he listened. The scent of Katherine's perfume filled the air as he thought back to her recent visit. He had loved Kate more than she would ever know but he was a long way from forgiving her. Still he had wondered why she suddenly became hostile toward him as far as he knew she had been aware of him taking her companies and it had no effect on that morning they spent together. Stefano had been so busy with his thoughts he had not been aware of an intruder walking the halls of the mansion. The footsteps had been much too light for him to hear through the music but he felt he had a visitor. He opened his eyes to see a figure draped in black from head to toe standing in front of him with a gun drawn.

"What are you doing here?" asked Stefano surprised but not afraid.

The Visitor pulled a gun with a gloved hand then proceeded to shoot Stefano DiMera in the torso. He fell to the floor bleeding out from his wounds as he did he looked up at his murderer.

"Why?" he asked confused. Then realized how dumb the question might have sounded. Still if he was going to be murdered he would've at least liked to know the reason.

The visitor left without a trace of being there.

He gasped for air as blood continues to spill from his mouth. His study littered with blood and his nice suit stained with it as well. As the storm raged on outside he knew there was no use in calling for help. Even if he could there would be no one to give it as he was the most hated man in the town and he conceded to his death with his children on his mind…his children and Marlena…he had never forgotten his unyielding love for that woman and the sting of death seemed irrelevant as his image of her seemed to soothe him. An Image of Kate flashed across his mind...it seemed to be against his will to think of her, all his hurt and anger melting away to those moments she they spent together as husband and wife in happier times. He was filled with a sudden sense of fear and anguish...Katherine...Katerina...who will protect her now?