Der Letzte Tanz (The Last Dance): Der Tod

I must tell you how much fun I had writing this chapter! This is probably my favorite song in the show, and I was very excited and eager to reach this section in my story. This is also the only chapter (so far) that uses the direct translation of the lyrics (which appear in italics within the chapter). I strongly recommend you all going to and finding a video of this song (it really is so much better when you watch it). Just type in "Elisabeth Jesper" in the search bar, and look for Der Letzte Tanz (I'm giving you the way to find the video with Jesper Teyden as Der Tod (Uwe Kroger is my absolute favorite, but the video of him that I liked was taken down). Jesper has a wonderful voice for Der Tod, I just think he lacks the presence the character needs. Anyway, that video is the one that I based this chapter off of (there are many versions of this song that I have seen). Enjoy! Please read and review!

I had sounded the wedding bells myself, I knew that they were married, for now. But I was not going to let this day pass without making an appearance myself. It was time for me to introduce myself as Franz Joseph's rival, and what better day to do it than the day of his wedding?

I watched, invisible, from the back of the grand staircase as the reception began. It was held in the grand entrance hall, couples whirling across the dance floor underneath an enormous chandelier. The hall was lined with mirrors that stretched from the floor to the ceiling.

Everything became silent as Elisabeth and the Emperor appeared at the top of the grand staircase, arm in arm. In one smooth motion, all of the other people in the room bowed, as the couple slowly walked down the stairs. Even from my hiding place I could see the smile on Elisabeth's face, could see the gentle way that she looked at the Emperor.

As they stopped at the foot of the stairs and the Emperor nodded his head, the music began once more. Soon, the room was a whirl of colors, the dancing couples reflected in the mirrors, giving the illusion that the hall was filled with thousands of people swirling across the floor.

I saw Elisabeth grab Franz Jospeh's hand, eagerly puling him to the center of the room. Soon they too were dancing with the rest, seeming as light as air as they spun around the room.

Now was the moment for me to make my entrance, the perfect opportunity to introduce myself, if you will.

I slowly ascended the stairs from the rear, waving my arm, not saying a word. The entire room stopped, the dancers kneeling on the floor, the Emperor freezing on the spot. The only one unaffected by what I had done was Elisabeth. She gazed at her husband a moment in confusion, unsure what was happening. I stretched out my hand to her, my palm down. In that instant she lost control of herself, she was susceptible to my every whim. I made her spin slowly away from the Emperor, towards a small group of my dark minions that had accompanied me. With a slight adjustment of my palm, she stopped, her back to me, her arms raised out to her sides. I dropped my hand, aware that she was frightened now. I had her exactly where I wanted her.

"It's an old story to most, but not to me,"

I began as I slowly walked down the center of the staircase.

"Two men who love the same woman…you," I inclined again towards her with my hand, watching Elisabeth's shoulders tense as she recognized my voice.

"You have already chosen, and I am the loser, only a guest at your wedding."

I couldn't help but spit out that sentence, bitter and angry at having been brushed aside. I was now on the main floor, walking a few steps forward.

"You turned away from me, but you only pretend."

I glared over at the Emperor, who could do nothing but watch and listen as I continued to speak.

"You would be loyal to him, but you have been wanting me."

I walked towards her now, drawing her to me with my powers. I could see a strange mixture of confusion, fear, and something else I could not name in her eyes as I brought her to a halt just in front of me.

"He holds you in his arms, but you smile at me."

I spun around slowly with her, in a kind of ghostly waltz, our hands not touching at all, her movement caused by my powers. As we stopped, face to face again, I reached out my hand, just barely caressing her cheek.

"And where that will lead to, you know as well as I do." I felt a flame ignite somewhere in my gut as she backed away from me, free from my powers, and ran to her husband, attempting to bury her head in his chest even though he still could not move. I took two angry steps toward her, then stopped, letting my words express my meaning.

"The last dance, the last dance belongs only to me! The last dance, I dance only with you!"

I realized that my voice had risen, and I took a deep breath to calm myself, sneering over at the two of them, taking a few steps away, considering my next words. I spoke without turning back to face them.

"Time becomes old and tiresome, the wine becomes stale"

I turned slightly back, gesturing with my hand to indicate the entire hall.

"The air is sultry and stifling in this Hall of Mirrors."

I looked at her again, could see her regarding me with hesitation and outright fear. Well, I had wanted to get my point across, and if fear was the only way, so be it.

"Invisible eyes look at us, while everyone waits for the rendezvous."

I stalked toward her now, the flame now a rolling fire inside of me. I grabbed her arm, puling her incredibly close to me. I took a moment to stare into the Emperor's eyes as I held his love.

"The last dance, the last dance belongs to me."

I pulled her away from her husband, my arms around her, she still facing me. I then threw her to my other arm, so that she was now standing beside me, one arm around my shoulder. I could see a flash of anger in her eyes now, but I did not care.

"The last dance I only dance with you! "

I spun her away from me suddenly, grasping her other arm, and then pulling her body tightly against mine. Fully aware that the Emperor was still watching, I caressed her gently, letting my hand slide down her figure. For a split second I saw her give in to my touch, her eyes closing and a slight sigh escaping her lips. I pushed her away from me suddenly, feeling a new wave of bitterness and slight anger at what she had done, sending her tumbling to the floor. I stood above her, the heat seeming to rise with my emotions as I continued, my voice escalating.

"And I am waiting in the dark, always looking at you."

I dropped to my knees beside her, cupping her cheek in my palm gently before running my hand down to meet hers. I saw her gaze at me, felt her grasping my arm as we both slowly rose to our feet.

"I seem to be the loser, but I know that I will win…"

I saw the look in her eyes change suddenly, her caring gaze become a cold glare of anger. I flung her hand away from me, furious that she continued to reject me. She ran back to where the Emperor was still frozen, I followed slowly, my eyes boring into the back of her head.

"The last dance belongs only to me!"

I leaned forward, getting a strange pleasure in the fact that she shrank away from me. I glared into the Emperor's eyes, which held a satisfying look of fear in them.

"The last dance, I dance only with you! "

I turned, my pulse pounding in my ears as the large silver platform that carried me back into my world lowered at my feet. I ran up its slope, turning back to glare at the couple below me. I threw my arm out to the side, and suddenly the hall was full of colors, reflecting off the mirrors, and throwing shadows on the walls. My voice had risen to almost a scream, echoing off of the walls as my minions came to life below me, the ebony wings that grew from their backs gleaming in the strange light.

"The last dance belongs to me! The last dance I only dance with you!"

As the platform rose into the air, everyone below me came to life, the guests mingling with my minions in a strange dance, the lights becoming brighter. With another wave of my fingers the mirrors came to life, revolving on their own, reflecting the lights in all directions and adding an almost supernatural glow to the entire room. I echoed the people chanting below me, my voice rising even more, echoing in my own ears.

"Oh! The last dance, belongs only to me!"

I snapped my fingers, and I saw the Emperor's head whip around to look at Elisabeth in surprise and disbelief, unfrozen at last. She tried to pull him away from the crowd, and they ended up directly below my platform. I knelt down, seeing her eyes lock with mine over the Emperor's shoulder as she threw her arms around him. I saw her large brown orbs widen in anger, fear, and perhaps…was it sadness that I saw in her eyes? The last sentence I uttered to her with great seriousness, my voice now a good deal softer, but very very dangerous.

"The last dance…dances Death with you! "

I stretched my hand towards her, at the same moment as she buried her head on the Emperor's shoulder.

Then everything was devoured by darkness.

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