Jacob departed the conversation with Winifred, but did not go to his seat in the theater. Blending in with the bustle of activity back stage, he knew if Winifred would not heed his warning and so he would need to find another way to derail the show. 

At the end of the hallway, he found an open area. Stagehands and other attendants darted about, fussing with the cables, props, and a rolling rack of dazzling costumes. Treading lightly, Jacob crossed to the opposite side of the stage to explore the other hallway. Everyone was too busy to notice him, so he easily slipped around the corner. He'd only take a few steps into the new hallway when his ears picked up the sound of his name being whispered.

"Jacob... over here." Jacob then noticed Robert's head poking out from one of the hall doors. "I've discovered something you should see." 

Jacob joined Robert, and closing the door quietly behind him, was nearly overwhelmed when the horrible smell hit him.

"Dear Lord, what is that?" he moaned. Robert's expression looked all the more grave in the long shadows cast by the lantern at his feet.

"It's a body. Been a few days, by the looks of him. I think they were trying to hide him behind the boiler."

"What? You can't be serious!"

"I am. And worse than all that, he appears to have been killed the same way as the junk shop owner..." Even in the dim light, James could see his usually confident brother's expression falter. "We are getting close, Jacob. It has to be Emmanuel Lemmiux, which means we need to do whatever we can to find the Spirit Door and make sure that no one opens in."

Meanwhile, above in the theater, the lights were dimming for the performance. A hush fell over the crowd as ushers walked through the theatre, closing the curtains to each box suite. Mercifully, the start of the show silenced Mary at last, and Henry was finally free to turn his attention to Faye. She quickly caught the exasperated look on Henry's face when he squeezed her hand.

"She must really like you. The only person she talks to that much is Father," Faye whispered in his ear.

With the auditorium fully dark, the stage dazzled with bright lights. The red velvet curtains fluttered and then parted as a round-faced man covered in garish stage make-up emerged to modest applause. Henry slowly stood, knowing now was the best time for him to look for his brothers.

"I'll be right back," he whispered in Faye's ear before departing. He politely nodded to Roland and Mary, though both already had their opera glasses pressed to their faces, enthralled in the dry introductions unfolding on stage. As he buttoned his jacket, Henry felt a tug at his arm.

"Be careful," Faye whispered.

"You have my word," he replied, disappearing behind the curtain.

While Duncan droned on, Emmanuel stood proudly at the edge of the stage. His eyes scanned the packed audience, the excitement inside his belly like a swarm of bees. It wasn't from nerves or stage fright. He was too experienced to get anxious about a performance, but the genuine possibility of transitioning to what felt like the next stage of his life was so terribly overwhelming he felt like he could burst. 

Directly across the stage, she watched Winifred pace nervously. He'd been so caught up in the preparations for the show that he'd only given her a passing greeting when she had first arrived. But seeing her now, Emmanuel was astonished with just how ravishing she looked. The dress bodice created a perfect hourglass shape for her curves. Even the dark curls of her hair bounces slightly as she moved. Emmanuel sent an intense wave of desire as he stared at her, a strange sense of excitement in knowing Lenore would be soon inhabit Winifred's body and beautiful face.

"Are you nervous?" Daphne's voice ripped Emmanuel from his thoughts.

She'd been following him around most of the evening, pestering him with endless questions. An irritation which made him wish it was she who would be sacrificed to the Spirit Door rather than Winifred.

"I don't get nervous, my dear," Emmanuel replied flatly, his attention returning to the stage as Duncan completed his presentation.

It was time to introduce the main event.

With a bow and thunderous applause, Duncan exited the stage. Emmanuel's heart pounded in his chest. More than ever in his life, this moment felt as if the world was shifting under his feet. With one final breath, Emmanuel stepped out into the spotlight.

Out in the lobby, Henry heard the applause give way to eerie silence as the show began. The lobby was empty save for a few ushers milling about near the entrance. Casually making his way down the stairs, Henry had hoped to sneak toward the stage, but his plan was rudely met by a large usher.

"Sir, you will need to return to you seat for the performance," he said in a voice that seemed too high pitched to belong to a man of such a large stature. Henry raised an eyebrow and straightened his necktie, hoping to channel some of Jacob's bravado when faced with conflict.

"I have important matters to attend, if you'd permit me to pass," Henry replied, bluffing as much confidence as he could. The usher did not move.

"Kindly return to your seat, sir."

He stepped forward to block Henry's path. In that moment, many thoughts crossed Henry's mind, none of which would've allowed him to pass without causing further complications. He'd noticed no security around the theater, but given the part of town, it wouldn't be a surprise if there were a few somewhere in the building in order to keep any riff raff away.

With a slow nod, Henry retreated up the stairs in a show of compliance. Thinking there may be a better opportunity when the performance was further along, he hoped his brothers were having better luck with getting close to the stage. 

Luck might have been the wrong word, but as Robert and Jacob were at least technically closer in the basement below the stage. With the sound of the stage production in full swing overhead,  they were at a loss for what to do next.

Jacob had insisted that Robert show him the corpse. Robert initially resisted, not wanting to view the grotesque source of the terrible stench, but he was glad when he did. Even with his strange condition and advanced state of decay, Jacob instantly recognized Anthony Tilford from his encounter at the bar.

"You're sure it's the same man?" Robert pressed.

"I'm positive," Jacob said, holding his nows. "I don't know how he was involved in all this, but no one deserves a death like this."

The pair returned to the basement entrance door, undetermined what their wisest course of action was with the performance unfolding. They had yet to locate the Spirit Door, which was obviously key to their plan to keep it shut at all costs.

"Emmanuel likely knows we are looking for it, so it's probably somewhere safe," Robert concluded. "I would guess it's locked away in his dressing room."

"What if it's out on the stage?" Jacob huffed.

Robert considered this for a moment, then realized his error in reasoning. Emmanuel wasn't saving it for after the performance; the ritual was the performance. His face turned slack with dread.

"It's part of the performance... he's using it as a stage prop!" 

"We need to stop the show immediately," Jacob said. "He means to use Winnie in the performance. She's in grave danger!"

Robert put a hand on his brother's shoulder, finding comfort in the knife and knuckle buster concealed in his jacket pocket; he didn't know if he would need them or really how to in the heat of combat, but the knowledge of their existence made him feel slightly braver at least.

"There's no time to waste," Robert replied. "I'm going to open the door and head toward the light panel to see if I can interrupt the show in a manner that doesn't cause Emmanuel to suspect our intervention. We've seen what he is capable of. Let's not lose our heads and put Ms. Huxley into a more perilous situation. You go around the stage and see if you can locate the Spirit Door with the other props. It could be anything with a door or lid — a box, cabinet."

Jacob nodded, reaching for the door, when he felt Robert's hand on his shoulder. 

"Here, take this with you. Just in case." He handed him the knife. Jacob tucked it in his pocket.

"That will help if I run into trouble, but what do I do I find this Spirit Door?" 

"Keep anyone from opening it, at all costs."