Ch. 21-The Mysteries of Ludwig Van Beethoven
With a new purpose coursing through his veins, Artemis disapparated to Vienna, Austria; where he hoped to find the long lost wand of Beethoven as well as his never before seen 10th symphony. But where to start? The only place he could think to begin was Beethoven's grave site.
As he traveled to the infamous site of the three composer's graves he could see the sun beginning to set behind the beautiful greenery. The soothing darkness was enveloping the landscape and a calming serenity was in the air.
In the enclosed circle of the cemetery stood three statues, enclosed by trees and trimmed shrubs all sitting upon a circular path. To the right was a large square tombstone; engraved in the marble were two figures of a man and a woman. She appeared to be crowning him with a crown of olive branches. In the center was a monument upon which a weathered bronze statue sat. It had turned green with time and was enclosed with flowers and guiding bars. Artemis strolled along the path taking in the monuments. Finally on the far left was a large grave stone pillar. Embroidered with a golden lyre, surrounded by quaint pillars with metal decorative gates between them, underneath lay a bed of flowers, and written across the front was the name Beethoven.
Artemis stood before the grave of the greatest and his most favorite composer, taking in the majesty of this gravesite. A couple came into the site and was strolling about holding hands. They looked at Artemis with a strange parting glance, taking in his black and purple cloak and suit. As he gazed upon the pair, so in love, he thought not of Adora, but of that woman he met, Lily. He tried to shake the connection from his mind, strange that it was even here at all. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a rustling of branches behind him, and as he turned to look he saw a glowing light. The warm glow of a lantern illuminating a bony arm and as the lantern moved aside Artemis saw an old man shone in the shadows of the twilight with an orange luster. He was extremely frail looking with a tall staff, and white shaggy hair and a beard. Glowing off his bald head was the light of his lantern and he was draped with ragged leather clothes and had a buckled cape over his shoulders. He was looking at Artemis with a frightful delight causing him to reach for his wand.
"Is it you?" The old man said with a haggard tone. Artemis did not reply to the man half in the brush of the cemetery. He peeked out further approaching Artemis in his hunched gimp. "It is isn't it; you're the angel, my angel. He told me, he told me one day you'd come, and now you're here." He smiled showing his crooked yellow teeth and wheezing a slight giddy laugh.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken sir. Good day." Artemis turned to walk away until he heard the old man speak again.
"You seek the wand. Don't you, you seek the wand of Ludwig van Beethoven." Artemis turned seeing his wanting face.
"Do you know where it is?"
"Oh do I, do I ever sir. Come angel." He reached his arm and grazed his fingers across the engraved name and now they glowed with golden light. The iron gates in front of the tomb bent like snakes forming a new path leading to the base of the small tower. The man reached out his arm and just as if the marble statue had turned to liquid he walked through it and disappeared into the monument, rippling like the waves of water. Artemis walked cautiously to the front of the grave, then reached out his hand and watched it meld into the once solid piece. It felt like wet sand as he pulled his hand out observing it to ensure it was safe. He took in a breath and stepped through.
He opened his eyes and was now standing in a scattered room at the center of which was a piano of a dark golden wood atop of it was scattered all manner of papers, melted candle stubs, and broken quills and ink bottles. The room was tall and circular and all around the walls were made of shelves stuffed to their peak with what must have been hundreds of thousands of scrolls, parchments, and books. A ring circled around half way up the room as the second floor, with a curving staircase leading to it. Illuminating in a dim glow above was a chandelier hanging crookedly with numerous broken pieces. Artemis saw the man just ahead of him rifling through the shelves upon a ladder. He stepped through the small arc leading into the room, and quickly glanced behind him to see nothing but a blank wall. With an exclamation of triumph the old man found what he was looking for and pulled a large leather bound book. Slamming it upon the pianos top knocking over a violin and several papers, he turned to Artemis waving his hand for him to come nearer. He was, however, still wary of the old man. After all he didn't know him, and this could easily be a trap. But time was running short, what choice did he have?
"What is this place?" Artemis said coming nearer and stepping in front of the keys of the piano running his fingers gently across their white and black ivory.
"It was Beethoven's study, his real study. He composed all his greatest works here, works that mankind will never know." He grunted as he opened the massive book and turning the pages stopping on one particular page, pointing to a passage. "Come, come look here angel." Artemis stepped over to the book. "Beethoven's prophecies, look here it is you my angel." His bony finger pointed at a passage squared in the middle of the page.
"Behold the angel of death.
He comes in amethyst flames,
Riding upon the wings of darkness.
Surrounded by black night,
wicked in nature, light lost within.
A child of music, only he can proceed
To use my power to smite the snake
But who is good and who is not
Old friends become foes.
Tried three times shall he be,
take mine wand and set my servant
free."
"You see!" Said the old man riddled with excitement. "It is you; you've come to free me. My angel has come to set me free!"
"Stop it, why do you keep calling me that?" The old man came to Artemis' side and turned him round and pointed up above the arch from which Artemis just came. Hanging in a golden frame was a portrait. A portrait of him!
"Where did you get this?" Artemis demanded in shock.
"He painted it, the night before his death." The portrait was indeed of Artemis Gridlock, only as some sort of angel, for he had large wings and purple flames above his head. In his hand he held a sharp sickle and in his other some sort of magical orb. He wore magnificent violet robes and was enveloped in black. Artemis was stunned, the likeness was uncanny. Beethoven was obviously a seer, a great one at that. To predict something so far into the future has never been done before.
Artemis was somewhat concerned to be called the angel of death, but he did seek the wand, and obviously this old man had something to do with finding it; although he was not looking forward to being tried three times. The old man felt along the shelf looking for something.
"Who are you?" Artemis said.
"I am Joseph Sonnleithner, attorney to Beethoven, and the founder of the Society of Music Friends."
"Joseph Sonnleithner died over a hundred years ago." The old man chuckled.
"If only he did", he said pulling upon a book, setting apart two of the shelves that unfolded to reveal a long decorated corridor. He grabbed his lantern and motioned to Artemis to follow.
"What are you doing here, if I may ask?" Artemis said as they walked down the grand hallway.
"When Beethoven died, his will specified where he wanted to be buried, but when our Society exhumed the body we found something that wasn't there before."
"His wand".
"No, his alternate will, it was a strange envelope in which it was contained. It would not open to anyone but me. We tried and tried but nothing could tear the parchment until it was brought to me. In it were specific instructions as to where the wand was hidden, I followed those instructions and found this place. When I came upon the wand I reached out to touch it. From that day forward, no matter how long I walk upon this Earth, or put myself in harms way, I remain immortal."
"What do I have to do with all this?" He stopped in his tracks and turned round and approached Artemis closely.
"You are the angel of death, here to use the wand for its true purpose. Vanquishing evil was all that he cared about. His only fear was that his madness, his power, his music could be used for evil." He turned and continued down the hall until they came upon a grand golden double door. On it was engraved thousands of swirls. He stopped in front of the door, turned to Artemis saying.
"Open the door. The first test, you must open the door with musica."
"How do you know so much about wizards? You're a muggle."
"I've had plenty of time to learn. Now open the door."
"Alright…You might want to stand back." The old man gimped behind Artemis as he pulled his wand from his coat. He thought of a song, then took a deep breath and with forceful power began.
A hit from the orchestra! The rumbling of tympanis, the low charging syncopations of the deep brass, the strings echoing back with a stabbing blow. Now the trumpets repeating the dark tremulous melody while flames erupt treacherously from Artemis wand. A rise in tempo, the flames take shape swirling overhead like a predator in the sky. The crimson fire now takes the very shape of the composition's name. Stravinsky's Firebird rings throughout the long hall, illuminating the engraved walls, plastering a harsh orange hot glow over Artemis and the old man. The bird flies eclectically to the beginning of the hall, then with impressive headway charges at the golden door. The violins race up and down with mysterious eighth notes, the trumpets answer back with supreme sharp tones. Raising in tempo the bird gains speed, faster and faster ending the piece with a triumphant high as the fiery phoenix crashed with devastating force into the door. Flames swirl and a gust of wind blows back Artemis' cloak igniting his eyes with the light from the blaze. As the explosion receded and the flames disappeared, Artemis saw with stupefying disbelief that the door still stood. Silence broke over the two, Artemis was speechless, and how could it not have worked? Suddenly the old man broke the silence.
"You're going to have to do better than that. I would've assumed an angel would know what he's doing." He said with concern.
"The door won't open! I tried."
"Not with force dear angel, serenity. Not with power but with humility." Artemis couldn't even begin to think what he was talking about. His mind wandered, wandered back to his lessons with Broderick, all those years he had nearly forgotten. Broderick had once taught him how to use music to repair a clock without having to take it apart. The music gave him eyes within it, he could see all the parts move about to their correct places. It was much different that what he had done before, or what he had mastered. Honestly he never thought he would ever use it, and now he wasn't even sure if he could do it. But mustering the memories of his past he chose the most serene song he could imagine, breathed deeply and began.
The tremulous breathy cry of a flute, dancing with the mysterious trills of a piano while a single violin caresses the melody. A beautiful mystery, a heavenly dissonance, the majesty of a glass harmonica flies above as a blue mysterious vapor erupts from Artemis' wand. Swirling round and round like majestic smoke arcing high above it leaks a gentle mist that kisses the skin with a cool touch. The mist approached the door like an intruder, filling the nooks and crannies. The piano does a marvelous trickle downward, and the strings tenderly pluck a static note. The door is leaking the mysterious mist. Artemis cracks a faint smile, he sees something, he can actually see inside the door. The smoke does his bidding, moving the hundreds of cogs and turners into place, the cracking of hammers inside, the tumblers clicking purposefully within the door. Soon a loud final lock is heard, the door is unlocked, and the mist comes out of the door while the violin hangs lightly in the air. The gentile falling trills slow, bringing the brief piece to an end, the obedient mist comes round again circling round Artemis casting itself into the air, then letting itself fall, dissipating as it reached the ground. Silence, peace, tranquility; Artemis smiles at his feat, watching the massive door move its magnificent self with open arms.
"Well done angel! Well done!" Artemis was stunned with himself; he looked at his wand with disbelief, mouth slightly agape. "What was that splendid music?"
"Aquarium, from the Carnival of the Animals…Saint-Saëns." The old man Joseph came to Artemis' side now, nudging him along.
"Well come now, onto the second task!" Artemis followed the old man through into complete darkness. Their footsteps echoed in the black abyss. Suddenly the old man stopped and tapped his staff three times on the hard floor. With brilliant vivacity the room came alive. All manner of torches ignited with stunning light, a magnificent chandelier above glowed with royal radiance. Suddenly it became clear that this was the grandest of ballrooms, empty and haunting. Each word spoken was spoken again and again, as their voices rang through this grand room. All along the numerous walls and spires were figures of ancient stories. Characters of mythology, creatures of fantasy and monsters of make believe. True craftsmanship went into this room, it was stunning. The crystal chandelier above loomed with commanding authority, and soon the old man broke his admiration.
"Now you get to show off you're destruction." Artemis didn't understand how he could be expected to destroy this beautiful room. "I assume you can dance?" Artemis had trained himself in dance during his twenty years, but didn't quite... "Then begin!" He stamped his staff upon the floor and a golden surge rushed through the floor, up the walls and into the several figures. As the intensity grew in the room the figures stirred, shaking off their slumber, transforming their solid nature. Creaking and cracking, the wooden figures left their perches; climbing down from the walls and out of the architecture. Soon he was met with an army of centaurs, satyrs, gods, and heroes alike, coming toward him with an ominous slow movement. Artemis turned to see that Joseph had disappeared; now he was soon to face an entire army. From behind approached a Greek hero unsheathing a sword; Artemis threw a charm at him, astonishingly is passed right through him, punching a hole in the wall just beyond it. Of course, he has to destroy them with musica. Now he stood his ground, and began conducting a dark little ditty. Black charms flew toward the figure and missed, blowing huge chunks out of the wall where they slammed forcefully. One after another the music threw magic toward the figure but they all missed, it was too intense, too powerful to control. Suddenly he was picked up from behind and thrown clear across the ballroom crashing into the golden door and falling down to the ground. There were hundreds of these things, how could he possibly aim and hit them all.
"I assume you can dance?" He heard in his head, and suddenly it became clear what he had to do. No reason why he can't' have a bit of fun. Being the theatric he is, he conjured a rose and grasped its stem in his teeth. An enormous organ on the other side of the room came to life, blowing the dust of its past from its weathered metal pipes. Its glorious light notes dancing down a staircase of majesty. The staccato plucking of violins emerges from the air and the glissandos of serene flutes gives way to the infamous tango El Choclo. Artemis' cloak extends itself and wraps round his arms, with every step and every turn it waves passionately; it has become deadly smoke. His steps are powerful and true, as he turns round his cloak swipes through a statue like a knife through butter and it falls destroyed. His cloak obeys the music lurching out to an approaching figure of Zeus; the statue is reduced to splinters. More and more come and to the familiar melody they fall as Artemis dances the dark ominous tango round the room. A centaur and an elf archer, a figure of medusa, and a dragon, annihilated. With every turn another figure is crippled and cut through, exploded, and shattered to pieces. The music gets faster and faster and the tom drums pick up the tempo and the organ flutters and the dark undertone of a horn and the angelic descant of the strings. He moves with such purpose, every step choreographed with the ancient art of Argentina. Spinning in his place now, swiping every figure in the room. His cloak flutters all around him, flapping as a deadly weapon. The unseen orchestra plays powerful notes in a triple meter on every beat, rising and rising in intensity, stopping for one last grand note before a harp brings it down, and Artemis winds down to his knees letting his cloak wrap round him. He picks up his head as a double bass finishes off the dance. He flings his cloak off him as it returns to its normal state. He stands looking at his scene of destruction, but it was such orderly chaos. Like nothing he had ever done before, it was incredible he could feel the music within him, moving within him and attacking with his steps. The room around him was still in tact, and now from behind him he hears the clapping of Joseph, appearing once again out of the woodwork.
"Well done Angel well done!" His face ignited with a large smile he looked up to the ceiling. "And now angel…your prize." He pointed his staff as if to the heavens, and the magnificent chandelier began to descend. Twas illuminating, a blue ambrosial light, glorious to behold and wondrously splendid; alluring, addicting to gaze upon. It came upon the floor resting upon the mutilated pieces of statue. The crystal of the chandelier bloomed like a strange beautiful flower. The fragile pieces folding out creating an opening from which a beam of light erupted. Out of the beautiful clear orchid came gentle star lights floating through the pillar of brilliance. Slowly came the wand, the wand of Beethoven, caressed by the air, hovering above the blossomed chandelier. Artemis reached out his hand; his fingers basked in the glory of the glow, their shadows apparent in the air. The light illuminating the fragile Joseph Sonnleithner, He grasped the wand, marveling at its wonder, marveling its genius. Artemis thought and with confusion asked.
"What's the third task?" With a giddy smile Joseph stood back, and opened his arms.
"I am the third task. You must kill me." He said with alarming happiness.
"You can't be serious. I can't kill you."
"But you must angel, it is what you do, it is mercy angel."
"I am not the angel of death! I can't kill you, you've done nothing wrong."
"I must die, I want to die. Please set me free!" The two pause, Artemis looks to his new wand, but cannot.
"I can't, I'm sorry."
"But you…you must…it is…your destiny angel, the last three days you have proven yourself to be Beethoven's ancestor."
"Beethoven's ancestor? How could I…Wait, three days? But how, we've only been down here a few hours."
"This place is enchanted; an hour here is a day out there; a courtesy from Beethoven to me."
"But…three days. I have to go now!" Artemis ran for the door but felt himself slam into a wall, an invisible wall. Something beckoned him to stay.
"You cannot leave angel. Not until the third task is complete." Artemis was stunned.
"What about the Tenth symphony?" The old man stumbled forward, then presented Artemis with his staff, and for the first time Artemis realized that there were notes engraved on it.
"You need only roll it upon a parchment." As he handed the staff to Artemis he collapsed onto the floor. Immediately Artemis stooped down to help him. "Please, please kill me. I beg of you, be the angel I have been waiting for." He coughed a retched heave, weak and breathless; unable to die, but begging for death. Artemis couldn't bear to be responsible for the death of another innocent life, but he had to. He reached into his pocket and felt the solid jewel of Adora's heart pendant, the rigged form of the diamond chain. He was reminded of love, and compassion. He pulled it from his pocket, and Joseph Sonnleithner looked up at Artemis, and he, wishing to purify his life, was about to defile it once more. He pulled out the wand of Beethoven looking upon it with wonderment and abhorrence. They lock eyes as Artemis stands and points his wand at the old man.
Wand and staff in hand Artemis raced to the surface. The old man was right, three days had passed and today Adora would be sacrificed to make Tom immortal. He had to destroy him, but his musica may not be enough. Strong as he may be Tom has an entire army at his command. Artemis would need to make a quick stop.