Coffee arrived in my small sitting room at half after five. Klaus was preparing the auto while I finished my coffee and enjoyed a bite to eat. Dressed and ready by five, I was anxious to get on the road before Franz woke from his late night in the workshop. I quietly walked to the vestibule for my coat, hat, and shoes and escaped to the auto. Opening the door, I saw his legs in the passenger seat. “I thought you would probably insist on driving,” Franz said as I slid behind the wheel.
“Good morning,” I said, putting the automobile in gear and pulling onto the driveway. Franz had likely been awake as long as I had, anticipating my early escape attempt.
A half-hour later, I was approaching the turn to Innsbruck when Fritzy finally broke the silence. “You will be heading to Münster. Take a right, please.” I slowed the car.
“Where exactly might we be going in Münster at 6:30 in the morning, if I may inquire?”
“To see a woman, I’ll show you where to turn when you get to town.” Fritzy settled back into the seat as I made the requested turn.
They had far less snow here. The roads were clear, just a few patches of ice here and there. Before we entered the town proper, Fritzy indicated the left turn onto what I initially mistook for a road but was a driveway. As we approached the estate, the driveway wound through high shrubs. Then a significant tree line. Acres of the heavily landscaped property opened before us. The long driveway deposited us in front of an ornate entrance. The architecture was exquisite, incredibly out of place here. “Am I wrong, or is this entire manor based on La Belle Toque? Do not ask how I remembered that” I said, shutting off the auto.
“You are correct. Very out of place but magnificent,” Franz said, opening the door to exit. As we came up the steps to the ornate double doors, a butler opened them, inviting us in.
“The countess is expecting you, gentlemen. If you remove your shoes, house shoes are here,” he said, indicating a type of slipper. He took our outerwear in turn, hanging it in an elegant cabinet. We were led through the vestibule to a hallway on the right of the grand entrance. The words grand entrance did little justice to the grand stairway before us; masterfully crafted from stone, it served as a centerpiece of the room. The stairway circled onto the first flight, ornate handrails flowing along in highly polished black metal. An actual work of art. I stopped, mesmerized by the architecture and craftsmanship throughout the room. A polite, “at your leisure, sir,” brought me back around, continuing into the hall. He motioned for us to proceed through a door to an ornate receiving room. The butler indicated the tray of coffee on the table. There was also an assortment of pastries and breads. Then he left us to fend for ourselves.
“It seems they knew we were coming,” Fritzy said. A few minutes later, he broke down, indulging in several pastries.
“May I inquire who we are here to see and why?” I asked after Fritzy washed down a croissant with his coffee.
“The clairvoyant, of course,” he said.
“Here? You must be joking?” I stared at him, puzzling it out. It had occurred to me, of course. However, I anticipated the destination being closer to or even within Innsbruck. Perhaps a dark, dilapidated house. A cave just on the edge of town, in the forest, surrounded by warnings, just as night fell upon us, not as the sun rose. My mind flashed to the big book of Grimm’s fairy tales we would read when we were young. Whatever my mind had preconceived, it was not this.
The butler reappeared on my second cup of coffee, announcing Anna1 of Tyrol. We glanced at each other when we heard the name. We rose and snapped into our best form as she entered. Anna of Tyrol was physically quite different than her namesake. A woman in her later fifties stepped through the doors and moved to our sitting area. She was a tall brunette with striking amber eyes, resplendent in a golden silk outfit. The full-length skirt split from the hip at each leg, revealing silk pants underneath. I thought of Eva and how much she enjoyed similar outfits and how they allowed her to be stylishly comfortable at home. Slippers matched the outfit. Her long deep brown hair with peppered silver was pinned into a cascading flow to frame her face. The jewelry matched everything, gold earrings, bracelet, and décolletage. In her youth, no man would have been able to resist her. Even now, there was something sultry about her, intoxicating in a way.
“Gentlemen, I am countess or, as you prefer, Gräfin Anna Rose Maria Von Wolf. Additionally, Anna of Tyrol, whom I have the blessing of acting as a vessel for, a channel if you will. She introduced herself and extended her hand in a way that implied her slender fingers must be kissed.
Franz stepped forward first. “Countess, Gräf, or count, as you prefer, Franz Josef Stephen von Grünne of Tyrol, at your service.” With a click and deep bow, he took her hand, kissing it tenderly. Standing back at attention, he continued, “May I present Count Alexsander Jakob Wallner Von Rieser of Tyrol.” I stepped forward, duplicating Franz, clicking, and bowed but tried for a more perfunctory kiss when taking her hand.
The introductions done, Anna said, “I admit I am at a loss. Both of you have shadows about you. No matter, please come with me. Stephen will bring the refreshments,” she said, heading around to a set of double doors at the back of the room. Stephen was the butler, at a guess. We crossed a rather lovely sitting room and through another set of doors into a cozy room full of overstuffed leather furniture, an impressively crafted desk, and a roaring fire. Finally, she led us to an ornate set of double doors and into a room that was sparsely furnished in comparison with the others. In the corners were placed overstuffed leather chairs and ottomans matching the previous room, which I guessed was a study or writing room. There were side tables with lamps, a dry bar with bottles of clear liquid, and glasses. An ornate mahogany round table with comfortable-looking chairs occupied the middle of the room. A large, rather plain chandelier hung above it. The walls held no decoration, only large mirrors, one on each wall.
The countess crossed the room to a little sitting area off to the side. Privacy shades tactfully hid the area from the main room's view. A lounge and several chairs with ottomans were gathered into a circle. “Please, Alexsander, you here, and Franz on my right.” We took the chairs that were indicated to us. They were every bit as comfortable as they looked. She sat at the end of the lounge, close enough to touch either of us. A moment later, the butler reappeared with fresh coffee. He set the tray on a table between our chairs, then he crossed the room and retrieved a bottle and glass from the bar. He poured a half glass and set it on a small table next to the countess. “Water only,” she said, taking a sip and setting it down. “Gentlemen, you have come for guidance. No, please do not give me any details.”
She looked at each of us in turn. Her expression was a mix of confusion and intrigue. The back of my neck tingled. A feeling of being examined internally on an unseen level crossed my mind. Her hands were placed in a peculiar position. Her thumbs were end to end, as were her forefingers and middle fingers, but the ring and pinkie fingers were wrapped together. The entire pattern made an odd-looking triangle. As she focused on Franz, tears fell from her eyes. There was no sound, no cry or sniffle. Her gaze was transfixed, and tears flowed freely.
She blinked after what seemed an exceedingly long time, fixing her gaze back on me. The intensity had changed. The feeling of being examined returned. This time, though, it was almost overwhelming. If the clear waters of a stream could express a feeling when you broke the surface with your fingers, surely this is what it would be.
The strangest part of the entire experience was my inability to turn away. It was not the feeling of being captive. It was a union, an unspoken agreement. I felt and saw her thoughts and feelings, just as she saw and felt mine. We were joined, requiring us to lay bare our secrets to each other. When she finally lowered her gaze, it was like being shocked by a battery. An unseen jolt coursed through me for the briefest second. The countess fell back on her lounge almost immediately.
Franz was instantly up and at her side, taking her pulse and checking her pupils. A few moments later, she was shooing him away. Waving a hand to back him up. “Please, please allow me a moment. I must have room, please,” she said, still lying back but slowly opening her eyes. “You may assist me now,” she said, and Franz helped her sit back against the lounge. Her legs extended to the end. She reached to her side for a throw. He took it from her, covering her legs to her waist. “Thank you, please resume your seat. I need a few moments,” she motioned him away. Reaching for her water, she took a few sips, closing her eyes. As Franz returned to his seat, he looked me in the eye. He seemed off in a way I could not name. I reached over and poured us both coffees. He took it with a grateful smile. We both found ourselves mimicking the actions of our host. Sipping coffee, closing our eyes, breathing, then coming back around.
Perhaps ten minutes passed in complete quiet. As suddenly as the countess had fallen into a semi-conscious state, she sat up straight, again fully alert. “My apologies, gentlemen. I thought you were here for some trivial matter that would take no energy. An explanation of the process should have come first.” She poured more water, taking a few swallows before continuing. “The energy coming from you both intrigued me. I could not resist jumping in the waters.”
Her analogy struck me, waters, a stream. I tried to remember the thoughts and feelings she shared with me when she reached out. Only shadows remained, nothing tangible I could grasp. “Countess, would you prefer I explain the problems my cousin is experiencing, or...”
She cut Franz off. “No, Anna of Tyrol is quite astute. She is aware of the condition. Anna allows me a full spectrum of psychic powers. She chose me as a young child to be her vessel. Her knowledge of things beyond our perception is extensive.” I sat my coffee down, leaning forward; I asked what we both wanted to know.
“Countess, or Anna, can you explain what is happening to me?”
She laughed, “Of course, what kind of channel would I be if I could not discern?” Her laughter took on an almost uncontrollable quality. Perhaps the countess was slightly mad? “Anna of Tyrol, not me,” she said as if she read my thoughts. “I am not certain she is mad, particularly. She existed at a vastly different time. Channeling through me, our current customs, language, and so on, I believe she struggles at times. Particularly with tricky situations that are hard for her to describe.”
She leaned forward toward Franz. He rose and moved over to her. He sat beside her as if she had instructed him to do so. She took both of his hands in hers and looked at him for what seemed like a long time. Then she began to speak in the strangest voice.
“My darling, you must forgive yourself, I beg of you! It tortures me to see you in such torment every day. Please, my darling, live your life in happiness. When it is your time, I will come for you.” Franz rose from his seat, released her hands, kissed her forehead, and walked to the other side of the room. His movements were almost trance-like.
Did I just witness what I thought I’d witnessed? The voice, the very air in the room. Over nine years had passed, but I knew that scent. It was Amalia. I was watching Fritzy. He was staring into a mirror on the opposite side of the room, still like a statue, his back to us. How was this possible? It must be a trick. Perhaps she had put something in the coffee, some drug.
“I assure you; we would not waste our time drugging you, Alexsander, or Jim as you prefer,” the countess said, repositioning herself on the lounge in a relaxed, almost languid pose. “You, too, walk in both worlds, just as I. You simply do not recognize where you linger. The answer to your questions lay before you.” The countess looked deeply into my eyes. The left side of my head tingled, like when one’s foot falls asleep, and you try to stand on it. The sensation was completely disconnected from everything, formless, weightless. “The friend gifted by your friend is your true adversary, Jim. In your sleep, she reaches out to you from her time, she reaches out to warn you, to save you. The words spill from your very mouth into another body. The one in the mirror holds the key.” She coughed, took a sip of water, and shook her head a bit. Her words rang in the air, making me almost light-headed.
I fought for a notepad and a pen in my pocket. I was trying to make sense of the alphabet, switching through languages. For some reason, I could only write her words in English. As I finished writing, my head transitioned from a tingle to pain, momentarily overwhelming. The pad and paper fell from my hand, all feeling gone. My god, was I having a stroke? Franz turned, rushing toward me.
“There she is, listen, feel through the pain, heed the warning. She shows you in the mirror. See his face?” The countess stopped speaking and laid back as if exhausted. She raised her arm as she fell back, her finger pointing to the mirror behind me. The pain in my head was subsiding. Fritzy was checking me over as I sat straight back up. Both of us looked in the mirror behind me.
“I’m fine; it’s gone,” I told him as I rose and came around to the mirror behind my seat. I was a little disoriented but made it to the mirror holding onto the back of the chairs. When I looked in the mirror, I saw nothing. Simply my reflection staring back at me. Then something akin to smoke filled the mirror, but not smoke. Mercury, it flowed like mercury across the mirror. Suddenly, a lady appeared, older, perhaps the age of our hostess. She was speaking, her lips were moving. There was no sound though. She seemed so familiar, she was pointing, then waving, as if to wave me away from where she was pointing. Then her face became the mercury, swirling, rearranging. Him! The face from my dreams, the blond hair, the eyes, the laugh.
The next thing I was aware of was Franz leaning over me. His eyes were red, almost raw looking, but there was not a tear there. He looked concerned. I seemed to be on the floor. “Are you able to stand?” he asked. It took me a moment to whisper a yes. He took my hand and pulled me up. Dizziness gripped me, I leaned on the back of the chairs, and we slowly made our way around. I fell heavily back into the chair. He went to the cabinet, retrieved a bottle of water, split it between two glasses, and returned, handing me one. Drinking the other himself, he set the empty glass on the table and resumed his seat. The water was cool, refreshing in a way I could not explain. Five minutes after drinking it, I felt completely fresh, revived, as if I had just awoken from a good night's sleep. The countess, too, had partaken in more water.
We all seemed to come around at the same time. Suddenly, she stood up, reaching out to each of us individually and taking our hands gently in hers. She repeated the same words to each of us in turn. “Thank you for gracing my home. Anna of Tyrol and I wish you peace and bid you farewell.” To Franz, she added, “Until your return.” With that, she left the room taking the same route she had led us on. Franz had just started to speak when Stephen, the butler, arrived to show us the way out.
Once in the auto, we just sat for almost twenty minutes. Barely an hour had passed since we had left the automobile, but it felt like years had gone by.
“Perhaps,” Fritzy started, but I cut him off.
“Thank you, I am not certain what happened there, but something did. Shall we head to Innsbruck?” I asked.
“Please,” Fritzy said, and with that, I returned to the road, and we resumed our journey.