PHEW! I had SO much fun writing this chappy but it was so much work! It took me two days and two sleepless nights... der Tod will do that to you! ^__^ But this was one of the scenes I was most looking forward to writing. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. ENJOY!!

Chapter 4

The Last Dance

Elisabeth and Joseph's years of dating were hurried along by Sophie and Elisabeth's mother. The night of her 18th birthday was the last time they had ever spent candid time together.

Two years had passed in a flash and before she knew it, Elisabeth was staring into a mirror seeing a young woman in a pure white wedding gown staring back at her.

Joseph had proposed to her on her 19th birthday. It hadn't been sweet and unexpected, as his gift and kiss had been the year prior. There was a grand show in front of all of the guests; all the same guests, minus Becky. The day after her 18th birthday was the last time she had spoken to her best friend. At the moment of her engagement, she would've given it all up to just have Becky with her once again.

"Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Elisabeth stared down at the caramel brown haired man kneeling before her. In his hand was an enormous diamond sparkling in the light casting rainbows all over his face. Although she knew this was going to be a part of the celebrations that night, she still felt the pit of her stomach plummet to the floor. She could feel hundreds of eyes boring into her as they awaited her answer.

"Of course," she answered in a dry, raspy voice. She cleared her throat as he slid the ring onto the third finger of her left hand. It felt as if it held the weight of the world on that single band. Remembering that she was in front of all of her guests, she accepted Joseph's kiss and placed a smile on her beautifully flushed face.

That had been just over a year and a half ago but it seemed like mere moments. Only three years ago, she would've thought she was crazy to even think that she would be here today, about to marry one of the most successful, powerful politicians in all of Europe.

"Oh God," she quietly prayed as she shivered. Had the room gotten colder all of a sudden? No, she thought. It's just nerves. She silently lifted the veil over her hair that was braided on top of her head, took a deep breath, and turned. She was ready.

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Though, their time of dating had gone by in a flash, the wedding went by painfully slow. The entire time Elisabeth wondered if she was doing the right thing. She was only 20 years old. She had only completed one year of college before she had to drop out to help plan the wedding. Her mother had told her that, with Joseph, she wouldn't need school! She would be provided for and protected. Wasn't that enough? Elisabeth knew that that wasn't enough. What about love? She loved Joseph. Didn't she? Yes! And love is more important and powerful than anything else in the World. Anything. Love was stronger than War. Hate… Death.

She would be happy. Happy and in love. She didn't need any more than that. She did love Joseph and because of that fact, she would become his wife.

"And do you, Elisabeth, take Joseph to be your lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better, for worse, for rich, for poor. In sickness and in health, until Death do you part?"

Looking into Joseph's eyes, Elisabeth said in a strong, clear, confident voice, "Yes!"

That one word seemed to echo in the church hall for an eternity. As if thousands of voices were shouting it back to her to show her what she had just done. She stared around her, terrified. They wouldn't stop! They continued to ring in her ears, mocking her… driving her mad. Just when she thought she would scream, it stopped.

"I now pronounce you," the Priest continued. Had no one else heard it? She looked around, confused, at everyone's faces. They all seemed to be unfazed by the deafening echoes the church walls had emanated just moments prior. "Man and wife."

She instantly hid her concern with a dazzling smile as she and her husband turned to face the congregation.

Through the applause and cheers, Elisabeth could swear that she heard someone laughing. Laughing at her.

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Elisabeth instantly forgot the deafening voices and mocking laughter once the wedding reception began. There was singing, dancing, eating, drinking. It was impossible for one not to have a good time. Joseph and Elisabeth danced every dance together. But Joseph would constantly correct his bride while dancing. They needed to make an example, nothing wild or unexpected. Each time she would begin to perform inappropriate moves- a spin here, a dip there- he would stop and whisper, softly and lovingly correcting her. With a giggle, she would fix what she was doing. If she was going to spend the rest of her days with him, she would listen to what he had to say and try to please him. Try to be a good wife.

Time flew by. It was as it had been on the evening of her 18th birthday. All was right in the world and nothing could break her spirit.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen," the band leader announced into a booming microphone. "It's time for the final dance of the evening. So men, grab that special woman because here we go!"

A soft melody began to play and Elisabeth smiled at her husband. He bowed deeply and held his hand out to her.

As Elisabeth reached out to place her hand in his, the lights began to dim. And they did not stop. The room was plunged into darkness and it seemed as if the world itself had come to a halting stop. Elisabeth reached out for her husband's hand, terrified of the dark. Finally she found his hand, and held fast to it. Gloves? She hadn't noticed that Joseph was wearing gloves on his hands that day…

"Elisabeth…" An ever so hauntingly familiar voice sang in her ear.

Elisabeth froze in fear. She knew that voice. She knew it all too well. She had not heard that beautiful voice in years. She wanted nothing more than to wake up, run away, anything to return to the way things had been just a moment before.

She felt a cold hand slide down from her hair to the small of her back. As she tried to pull away, the arm around her waist pulled her in even closer. As her eyes began to focus in the darkness, she saw the face of a ghost from her past.

"You!" she cried out.

Der Tod. She had resigned herself to the belief that her Dark Prince had been something of a childhood fantasy. An imaginary friend created to fill the void the absence of her father had left. A sweet, dark dream too good to be true.

"Der Tod," she whispered, looking at him with terrified eyes. She tried to free herself from his icy grasp, looking about her for help. "But you're not real! This can't be happen-"

She fell silent as Death lifted a single gloved hand and brushed it softly down her face, from furrowed, worried brow to trembling chin, causing Elisabeth to close her eyes. As they fluttered open, there was an eerie glow about the room and a haunting melody began to play within Elisabeth's ears. What's more, she was dancing with Death. By some powerful, unseen force, her petite feet were moving in time with his in a grand waltz and she had no hope in stopping herself. They were slowly getting farther and farther away from Joseph's frozen form being engulfed in the darkness.

Sisi tried with all her might to keep her wide eyes fixed on Joseph, fearing that if she even so much as blinked he would be lost in the darkness forever. How could this be happening? Der Tod wasn't supposed to be here! He wasn't even supposed to have existed! She had created him out of her loneliness. Hadn't she?

"Joseph!" she cried out. Instantly, she was free from the ghost of her Prince's cold grip. The darkness was blacker than night. Sisi was incapable of seeing her own nose much less finding her way back to her husband. "Joseph!" she cried out, hysterically, tears cascading down her flushed cheeks. She was completely lost, spinning in circles, hoping to find some beacon, something to point her in the right direction.

Turning frantically, she spun right into awaiting arms that instantly grasped her trembling shoulders. They were not the warm hands of her Joseph. She snapped her head up only to see two ice blue eyes staring back at her. He smiled a lustful smile at her as Elisabeth felt her body go rigid. He placed his hand on her tiny waist and intertwined his fingers within hers. The haunting tune began to play once again, as Elisabeth lost control of herself and began in their dance once again.

"This is new for me," the beautiful, blond ghost said to her. She could hear the smile in his voice. Continuing, after Elisabeth refused to look at him much less respond to him, he said, "I seem to be in a battle over the love of another man's woman."

Cautiously, Elisabeth raised her eyes to meet her partner. "What?" she asked in a confused whisper, her eyebrows furrowed in disbelief and concern.

"You."

Elisabeth's eyes widened. Death arched his eyebrows and simply stared deep into her eyes, daring her to try and escape his grasp again.

"No," escaped from her lips as she shook her head. How could this be possible? This was a dream. Worse- a nightmare. Her Prince, her Guardian Angel from her childhood had appeared at her wedding. Why? What was the reason behind this? She hadn't so much as thought of him in at least seven years. Why come to her now? And on her wedding day. Then she suddenly remembered…

"You!" she peered back into his icy stare. "It was you! You were the one who was laughing!"

Death just stared down his perfect nose at her, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her accusation. He simply held her fast and smiled.

"Strange," he paused. "After all we had been through, I attend your wedding as simply a guest? Hardly seems fair, Elisabeth."

Elisabeth, disgusted with what her Dark Prince had become, found the will to push herself away and free herself once again. This time she didn't pause to try and find her bearings- anywhere was fine, as long as it was away from him. The minute she could no longer feel his cool fingers on her skin, she ran. In a blind craze, she willed her legs to run faster than ever before. She didn't hear his footsteps pursuing her, so she allowed herself to peer over her shoulder.

"It's funny, though," his humored voice said, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. Elisabeth tried to turn and run the other way but Death's cold grasp found his way around her wrist.

"No," Elisabeth cried out quietly, in a defeated tone as Death swung her limp body back into his awaiting chest. He wrapped his arm tightly around her, making her escape attempts impossible- she was nowhere near strong enough to fight him off.

"Ssh," Death cooed as he pet her hair. "I realized today," he started as he began to sway back and forth with Elisabeth still held tight in his strong, icy grip. "That I have lost to a mortal. You made your choice, and it seems that I have lost," he paused for a moment. Then, after a moment, he began to laugh hysterically, throwing his head back, his golden locks flying through the air. He spun the woman in his arms out in a flashy twirl. As he spun her back, he caught her and stared at her body. He raised his hand and placing it on her throat, he ran it down her body, taking in her scent, her shape, everything about her. How he had longed to touch her, for all these years. "But I know how to win you in the end." He said confidently, looking into Elisabeth's wide eyes.

He smiled a wicked smile that lit up his child-like face. Slowly, still holding her in his arms, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Just remember, that you belong to me," he paused for a moment, allowing Elisabeth to absorb what he was saying. "And no matter what, in the end, you will only dance with me."

And with a deafening laugh, he vanished from beside her. Elisabeth closed her eyes as the lights above blinded her. As her eyes fluttered open once again, she realized that everything had returned to as it had been prior to Death's arrival. Nothing seem to have changed. Joseph was standing before her, bowing, waiting for her hand to begin their final dance. Elisabeth paused for a moment, remembering Death's warning: in the end, she would only dance with him. Her mind rushing through what had happened throughout the day- from her doubts, to the ceremony, to the deafening voices, to Death's mocking laughter, to her unexpected reunion with her Dark Prince. Suddenly everything went black. But before she lost all consciousness, Elisabeth could hear a small voice in her mind:

"You belong to me…"