The Last Chance: Der Tod

I chose not to write an entire chapter involving the scene in Mrs. Wolf's salon or the song Nur Kein Genieren (Don't Be Embarrassed). There just didn't seem to be enough plot/translated lyrics to make a suitable chapter. I will include the information in this chapter, but we've jumped back to Der Tod's point of view. Enjoy!

I had watched Elisabeth slowly spiral away from her family. She grasped at the freedom she so desperately wanted, not caring what she had to sacrifice. But as I watched I could not help but feel my heart twist as I saw how unhappy she had become. I wanted her to be happy, but she had to first realize who would finally give her the freedom she desired: Me.

Elisabeth's distance had begun to take a toll on Franz Joseph as well. I would watch him try and reach Elisabeth, watch as she never really saw him and I saw the pain she caused him. Not that I cared all that much, his pain was nothing compared to the pain Elisabeth had put me through. I had always known that in the end they would fall apart.

Soon, I began to manipulate Franz Joseph, using his sadness and frustration to draw out deeper emotions. He began to focus on his desires, to resent being alone. He began to long for companionship, any companionship. One day his resistance seemed to break and he sent one of his trusted men to a salon in Vienna. This was no ordinary salon, however, it was a brothel, run by an older woman named Mrs. Wolf. Franz Joseph's desires had finally broken through his emotional wall and he had requested that his man return with a suitable girl from the salon.

I watched from the shadows Franz Joseph's man watched each of the girls in turn, trying to make a decision. I drew his eyes to a brunette in a blue dress off to the side. Little known to him, this girl was infected with a venereal disease. If my plan was to be prosperous, it was this girl that must be chosen. In the end she was escorted back to the palace and led into the Emperor's chambers.

I had no desire to stay and witness their encounter, but I caught sight of Franz Joseph's eyes, filled with pain and sadness, as he watched the young woman walk into his bedchamber. I shook my head. Sometimes I would never understand humans.

Two months passed, with not much change. Elisabeth had somehow sensed Franz Joseph's sadness and had tried to seem warmer towards him, but I saw that her attempts fell short. Franz Joseph continued to try and win Elisabeth back, but she still would not respond fully towards him.

As the weeks passed I began to notice a look of discomfort or pain shoot across Elisabeth's face every once in a while. As much as I hated to see her in pain, I knew that my plan was working. Now all that was left was the final act.

Elisabeth had a habit of exercising early in the mornings. Although the Archduchess had put this schedule upon her, Elisabeth enjoyed the activity. She enjoyed releasing her frustration and tension through the exercises. I watched one morning as she began to stretch, she tensed for a moment, a look of pain on her face. It subsided and she shook her head, the pain forgotten. As she exercised I watched her, knowing what was to come and wanting to be there to make sure my plan was carried out.

It was near the end of the session that it happened. Elisabeth was using the rings hanging from the ceiling when she suddenly froze, an odd expression in her eyes. She shook her head, bringing one hand up to her temple. With a small groan she collapsed onto the floor. In a few moments one of her maids came by to look in on her and shouted for help. Elisabeth was carried into a large hallway adjacent to the exercise room. She was laid on a divan and a doctor was called for. I took the…liberty…of portraying the doctor.

I entered the room, a long black cloak over my shoulders and a black hat pulled low over my eyes. I did not want to reveal my identity too soon.

"Where is the patient?"

The aid attending to Elisabeth walked over to me, looking wary under my gaze.

"The Empress, she has fallen…I believe she may be very ill."

"Leave us."

The young woman nodded, glancing back nervously towards her Empress before disappearing down the hallway. I turned my attention to Elisabeth, who had begun to stir weakly. I slowly walked behind the divan, gently touching her wrist with my hand.

"The pulse…"

"I'm fine." But the smallness of her voice did not convince me. I laid the back of my hand lightly against her forehead, measuring the fever there.

"The forehead is hot."

"I am well…" her voice was a bit stronger now, but she was not fooling me. I stepped back a moment, regarding her face. I noticed how her gaze merely drifted across me. She did not recognize who I was.

"The eyes are white," I began, as I walked slowly to the back of the divan, placing one hand on the headrest as I spoke.

"And if I'm not mistaken, and I am never mistaken…these are symptoms of a disease. An infection your Highness." I paused for a moment, letting my words sink in before I continued. "Not fatal…but it is what we call the 'French sickness'." I saw the muscles in her shoulders tense. She knew as well as I that the French sickness was commonly found in the brothels.

"That is impossible! My husband is faithful!"

"That is not so, the Emperor is weak." It was all I could do not to spit out the word 'weak'. Even if Franz Joseph's actions had moved my plan along, he had still betrayed Elisabeth.

"It cannot be!"

"It is so!" I would get through to her that her husband was the cause of her suffering…and that I would never betray her. I could see the comprehension enter her eyes as she turned towards me, one hand going to her chest. She slowly stood up, her knuckles white as they gripped the edge of the divan.

"My god…he really has betrayed me. He has buried me in this filth!"

"And everything…"

" I won't stand for this any longer," she exclaimed as she strode away from the divan, her hands clenching in fists as her voice rose. "I will kill myself!"

My heart leapt at those words…my plan had worked! She would be mine at last.

"Do it…Elisabeth," I said smoothly, removing my hat and cloak. I saw her eyes go wide as she recognized me. I cast my disguise onto the divan as took a step toward her, my eyes locking with hers. "I have waited for you to say that!"

"You?"

I began to walk slowly towards her, my hand reaching out for hers, offering Elisabeth a way to free herself at last.

"This is now the last chance. Leave with me!" As I came near her Elisabeth ran down the hall, stopping next to a pillar, her frightened eyes looking back at me. "Come dance with me the last dance! Leave everything behind you!" Didn't she understand what I was offering? I was going to give her her freedom, release her from the world she lived in.

I saw her regarding me, unsure what to do. Then something in her expression hardened and she began to stride towards me, her voice now echoing in the hall.

"I am staying here." I felt something cold slide into my gut as I heard her and I slowly lowered my arm. She had now walked past where I stood, staring at me for a moment before turning her back to me.

"My husband has really done me a favor. Where his reign ends, my freedom begins." As she spoke I ran my hand down her arm, finally grasping her hand in mine. For an instant we stared at each other, the fire in her eyes equally matched by mine. I began to pull her towards the silver platform that had lowered, ready to take us into my realm. I would not lose her so easily. Not this time. I felt her pulling against me, trying to resist, but I held firm.

"This is so, this is what will be done!" She cried.

I had now stepped onto the platform and she was still struggling. I did not understand her resistance to me. She had been willing to kill herself a moment ago and now she was fighting the inevitable. But as I turned to her something in her gaze made me freeze. I saw in her eyes, not only pain and sadness but anger and…was it hate? Suddenly the air had become thin and I felt my chest constrict as the emotion in those brown orbs cut through me. She truly meant what she was saying.

In that instant Elisabeth broke free of my grip, tearing her hand away from mine and backing up as my platform began to rise. I shook my head, inwardly cursing at allowing myself to be distracted. That could not be how she felt towards me…could it? I knelt down, grasping the edge of the platform with one hand and extending the other to Elisabeth. Her next words cut me to the quick.

"I will not call for you anymore! Leave me!" She was glaring up at me and I snarled under my breath, my anger rising to match hers. How dare she reject me in this way! She shook her head and pointed up at me, a chill in her voice I had never heard before.

"Go!"

I threw my arm down and stood up, my eyes locking with hers one last time before I vanished into darkness.

Thank you so much for returning to read this story! I enjoyed writing this chapter, as I really love this song. I had to search for a translation, but I finally found one. If you'd like to see a video of this song, go onto YouTube and type in "Elisabeth Maladie" in the searchbar. Click on a video of Uwe Kroger and Pia Douwes performing the song, as that is the staging I used for the chapter. Please read and review!