The Devil and the Red Ribbon

by Theo Rion

  He had to admit repeatedly that only John gave him genuine interest, but inside, in his crystal castle, a waltz played at a masquerade ball. Puppet people danced in a lovely manner. Remaining cold and indifferent, Kurt conducted, directing the music and dance of feelings and colors.

  He was the only man among these dolls, and the waving of his hand easily generated new gold threads and tore old ones asunder. The threads aspired skyward or dissolved in the air. And the charade continued till the indefinite or until the maestro got bored with the game.

  Dancers circled around Kurt, but he was staring only at John. He wore a mask of course, but Kurt saw him without it. He suddenly felt the trembling inside. He wanted to go to John, tear off his mask, but couples circled in a dance, masks flashing in a colorful swirl. John suddenly got very close. He took off his mask and looked at Kurt. Under his gaze, Kurt’s mask just crumbled to dust. The ball turned into an insignificant background. They seemed to remain alone in the middle of the room, and Kurt felt like fire erupted inside him. Every time, he woke up at this moment with a mixture of anguish and a strange desire. And today, there was this dream again. Like a ghost, passing between the dancing dolls, Kurt cut threads with a wave of his conductor’s baton. And the music flowed out without stopping, but now their hearts bled. They broke off the threads binding them and fell to the floor, to dissolve into crystalline dust.

  The rest of the guests, bewitched by the perfect game, applauded Kurt Rhein as the crystalline remains of the dancing couples streamed into Kurt’s heart.

  * * * *

  Kurt listened to the clacking of the coach wheels on the cobble stones. Rosalie sat opposite him, seeming to doze. She sometimes reminded Kurt of an old lady from his past, whom he had entangled with flattery and persuaded to give him shelter and care, and later to leave him her fortune. Lady Taylor differed from her only by having a bigger fortune and title, but otherwise it was also easy to captivate her by flattery, manners and compliments.

  The coach drove out of town, where the fields lay. He and Rosalie were going to Willow Manor. Obviously, Rosalie had decided to take Mary Ann under her wing, to the delight of her mother. The patronage of such a person as Rosalie opened the door to a bright future. Mrs. Willow even secretly hoped Rosalie wanted to match Kurt Rhein and her daughter. Although Kurt’s origin remained a mystery to her, the halo of Lady Taylor eclipsed any doubts.

  When they reached the gate, the coach stopped. Kurt came out first and gave a hand to his elderly companion. They went to the house where everyone was ready for their visit. Kurt felt the tension and excitement in the air. A regular welcoming ceremony began. Kurt looked at Mary Ann, at her blushing face. Suddenly he remembered her. It was amazing for him, as if his whole life before the events in John’s manor and that damn tower hadn’t existed at all. And by coincidence, she was from that part of his life, and even there she appeared briefly. She was the girl who had lost her medallion at the inn. Kurt had found this medallion and wanted to give it back, but John had somehow outsmarted him and returned the medallion himself. That desire to protect the girl from John now seemed strange to Kurt; he didn’t recognize it, didn’t understand it. Now he looked at her very differently. The way John might have looked at her if she had been a guest in his house.

  In the recollection, he was more interested in the question of why she had travelled alone. In his hands, Kurt was already holding a new thread for her doll.

  After dinner and long conversations, it was decided to go horse riding on the estate. The weather was excellent. Mr. and Mrs. Willow and Lady Taylor were seated in the coach, and Kurt and Mary Ann rode horses.

  They rode slowly, Kurt enjoying the cool air and silence. The coach went far ahead, but Mary Ann tried to keep up with Kurt. They stopped at the river so the horses could drink. Kurt walked to the water’s edge and looked into the distance. Blue skies were rippled by hazy clouds. Wind occasionally disturbed the bare branches of small trees growing along the bank.

  “Don’t torment me, Mr. Rhein,” Mary Ann finally said. Kurt smiled faintly. He had been waiting for this. During lunch and after, he had thrown long looks at her, talked evasively while squinting at her, making her more and more nervous. He knew she would break down and tell him what she wanted to hide so much because she was afraid her secret was known to Kurt.

  “You’ll tell my parents everything. And Lady Taylor…won’t you?” she asked.

  Kurt could not help it; it was funny, almost ridiculous, but he turned to her with a serious look and said: “Everything depends on you, Miss Willow.”

  She sighed and patted the horse, as if she wanted to distract herself.

  “Well, you can do as you like, but at least hear me out first.”

  Kurt said nothing.

  “Everything I do, I do for the sake of my father. At the inn…I was there because I wanted to run away from home. It was cowardice on my part, and yet…I decided to take it, because this life isn’t for me. And as you probably know, I lost my medallion. I felt that it was a bad sign. And all night I was praying to find it. And then I said, if I found it, then I would go back home to my father, and be a virtuous daughter, and do everything to help him. He’s on the verge of ruin, and my match can save him from disgrace and poverty. And…father doesn’t know I wanted to run away; it would break his heart. So, I ask you not to tell him anything.”

  For some time, Kurt was savoring her confusion, and then said softly, “You put me in an uncomfortable position with Lady Taylor, because she provides you with such support.”

  “I know!” Mary Ann blushed even more. “But this won’t happen again, and she doesn’t need to know something about me that can disappoint her. With her help, I can hope for a decent match.” She glanced at Kurt and then looked away again.

  “Perhaps you also consider my candidate as your future husband?” Kurt kept talking in a deliberately calm voice.

  Mary Ann broke out, “I wouldn’t think any of this!”

  “I just have to warn you that I have absolutely nothing to save your father from ruin,” Kurt smiled. “But what worries me more…” He came closer to her, and fear possessed her heart. Mary Ann didn’t dare to look him in the eye. In his voice was something relentlessly cruel, and his next words pierced her heart like a dagger. “…is your honor.”

  She wanted to protest, but for some reason she could not.

  “You could get away from your father, but you didn’t run from your father; you ran to someone else.”

  Mary Ann froze, and the blood drained from her face. She instantly turned pale and almost fainted. Finally, she looked up at Kurt and saw how cold his dark blue eyes had grown. She was scared; she felt cornered.

  “How…how…how did you…?” she sputtered.

  “I’m a psychologist, have you forgotten?” Kurt smiled and turned away from her. He mounted his horse and rode forward, leaving a bewildered Mary Ann behind. She was stunned, frightened, alone with her fear of Kurt and how much he knew. Unable to hold back, she wept bitterly.

  Chapter 19

  Lady Rosalie Taylor had always loved lavish celebrations. Tonight, a masquerade ball was to be held; all members of high society were invited. Kurt naturally was lucky enough to be among their number. When he arrived at the mansion, the guests had already started to gather. Coaches drove up, one after another. The main entrance was decorated with lights and ribbons, and snow endeavored to give a special charm to the frozen garden. Guests wrapped in fur coats passed along the icy track, while Kurt inspected the night garden. He was in no hurry to plunge into the festive fuss. And this garden evoked a memory that seemed strange and alien.

  Rosalie met the guests downstairs. Kurt hid his face behind a lacy white mask that looked like it might have been woven from threads of snow. And he felt calm. His eyes kept wandering among the dancing couples, but his face was hidden behind the fragile veil of his mask, the same as all the others. Yet, Kurt didn’t have trouble exposing who was hiding behind each mask.

&nb
sp; He quickly got tired of this game and went to the salon, where Lady Taylor was talking to Lady Estelle. They had always disliked each other, but her position in society didn’t allow Rosalie to ignore her. However, it seemed Lady Taylor wasn’t bored in her company. Lady Estelle had recently returned from a trip to Europe and was ready to share her impressions with those who were ready to listen. Fortunately, it was really interesting for Rosalie.

  Kurt drank some champagne and then realized something was wrong; the air filled with a familiar aroma. Kurt surveyed the guests with tension constricting his chest. One man a few steps away caught his attention. He was wearing a black mask and held a champagne glass. Couples danced in this maelstrom of colors and masks, but to Kurt, it seemed time stood still. Kurt saw only this one man, and though his face was hidden, he clearly saw it.

  How many times had he had this dream? For a second he even wondered if this was the dream.

  “Mr. Rhein? Lady Taylor asks you to come.” It was a servant who made Kurt turn around. When he looked again, the man in the black mask was gone, and Kurt could only guess whether he had seen him or just imagined him. Either way, all of Kurt’s composure left him.

  * * * *

  “Dear friend,” Rosalie said softly when Kurt joined her. “I ask you to provide companionship to Miss Willow tonight.”

  Kurt was amused by Rosalie’s supposedly secret attempts at matchmaking. He seemed to see her thoughts, but nodded politely. But when he looked at Mary Ann, she was afraid to look him in the eye.

  Their last meeting had ended when Mary Ann had gotten ill, and Kurt and Rosalie had escorted her home. Kurt knew she hadn’t been sick at all. It was just a game, one he understood, despite its insignificance. Mary Ann with her wide open eyes and ruddy face, hidden behind a mask, seemed ridiculous to Kurt. Her fear and excitement hovered around her; Kurt felt them in the air. Her secret was still undisclosed and therefore frightened her because she saw Kurt as dangerous to her plan.

  Kurt casually watched her gestures and glances, and realized her nervousness was caused by something else. It was as though she looked for someone amid the guests. Kurt looked around too. It turned out that they were both looking for someone here. Illusions?

  Kurt took Mary Ann into the ballroom. The music started, and they circled on the dance floor.

  “Still afraid of me?” Kurt smiled. Mary Ann was in no hurry to answer and looked at Kurt again cautiously, as if he could read her thoughts in one glance. However, it wasn’t so far from the truth.

  “No, Mr. Rhein. I’m grateful you kept my secret. You are a real gentleman.”

  This clumsy flattery made Kurt smile. “Oh, my God, you know absolutely nothing about lying,” Kurt said, laughing. “Who do you seek among the guests? Waiting for someone?”

  She shivered and looked at Kurt. Even if her whole face was hidden, Kurt still would have known the expression in her eyes.

  “I…” obviously, Mary Ann wanted to lie, but couldn’t think of anything, and knew it was useless. “I thought I saw a friend.”

  “Mmm.” Kurt smiled again. Mary Ann became even more nervous. The music ceased, the pairs stopped, and along with them, Mary Ann and Kurt. He decided to bring water, and Mary Ann was relieved. But when Kurt walked past her, he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Or maybe you really saw.” It completely knocked her out of her mental balance.

  Mary Ann shouldn’t have pretended to be ill the last time and left Kurt alone with her parents. In just a few minutes of casual conversation, he learned all he needed to know about Mary Ann. And after to learn the name of her lover wasn’t difficult at all. James Ollford. A descendant of a once prosperous English family. Unfortunately for James, his parents weren’t able to save the family from ruin and died from grief. James had been left alone. What could he propose to Mr. Willow, whose daughter he had been in love with since childhood? James had nothing but a passionate heart. But who nowadays was concerned with such trifles? An ardent heart couldn’t be hung on a blazon or sold to buy sustenance. And in the case of Mr. Willow, a fortune was necessary. The estate was about to go under the hammer. And his daughter was his only hope for the resurrection of past glory and wealth. And fortunately for the aged father, the daughter didn’t resist fulfilling her duty. Although her mother sometimes regretted her daughter would repeat her fate in that her true love wasn’t meant to be.

  Kurt had found James Ollford and purposely brought him to the ball, and now he was among the guests. Kurt gave him clear instructions not to do anything until he said. “Otherwise, failure awaits Mary Ann.”

  Naive James Ollford agreed. This little prank was supposed to entertain Kurt tonight. In his head the play began, curtains rose, and puppet actors took their places.

  And suddenly Kurt again saw the man in the mask. His eyes could not lie to him, otherwise he would consider himself insane. Kurt resolutely approached him. He was again overcome by a strange feeling, as if he was in one of his dreams, in which Kurt reached out and removed the mask from John’s face. Here the dream always ended, but not this time. John didn’t disappear. They stood and looked at each other, and Kurt realized that he had felt his presence, when he had come here.

  “This is a masquerade, after all,” John said as he calmly took the mask out of Kurt’s hands.

  “It is unlikely that you’re here by invitation.”

  “Not everyone is able to deceive old ladies,” John retorted.

  “It seems to me you just admitted your defeat?”

  “Don’t be too hopeful,” John replied with a smile.

  “Well, then have fun as follows.” Kurt was going to leave.

  “And you’re probably going to have fun with some unhappy couples? Oh, Kurt, I thought I had really opened something in you, but you’re just my pale copy.”

  Kurt listened to John and turned his back on him and just walked away. John’s presence was a surprise. John loved to disrupt plans. Now not so much was at stake, and John’s presence brought a pleasant variety and even excitement. Kurt had to admit John was the only one among the guests who deserved at least some attention. And frankly, Mary Ann and her feelings seemed bleak and uninteresting, so Kurt’s attention turned to John.

  Walking past the salon, Kurt noticed there were men sitting and playing Tric-Trac. He wanted to play with John again, and he saw no reason to abandon the idea. In the passage he noticed James at the window, nervously wringing his gloves. But Kurt didn’t come up to him. He returned to Mary Ann, who was talking with Rosalie. Kurt caught only snatches of the conversation, but when he approached the ladies, Rosalie turned to him.

  “Dear friend, please take Mary Ann in the guest room; she needs a little rest.”

  “Thank you, Lady Taylor,” Mary Ann bowed.

  Kurt nodded and led her upstairs. Leaving her in the room, he went downstairs and saw that James was no longer at the window. Kurt slowly climbed back and stopped at the door to the room, where he had left Mary Ann. He listened. Behind the door he heard voices; someone was whispering rapidly. Kurt opened the door and entered. Mary Ann was sitting on the couch, blushing, and next to her was a man. But it wasn’t James. The man stood up and turned to face Kurt. It was John. They stared at each other for a few seconds.

  Mary Ann seemed afraid to even move. She could not understand why they didn’t speak to each other, what silent struggle was going on between them. But at this moment she was clearly aware of how these two men differed from all the people she had ever met. They ignored the rules of decency, went beyond what was permissible. In their actions there was a frightening freedom not peculiar to anyone else in this house. Even though the power and wealth, which other guests had, always seemed to Mary Ann something that could provide this freedom, these two men had no orders, no lands, yet were freer than all the titled persons. It was as though titles and wealth were burdens upon the shoulders of their owners. And they had to serve them, instead of freedom. John Fenririr and Kurt Rhein weren’t like that; they were either free, or insa
ne. And one didn’t necessarily cancel out the other.

  Kurt’s blue eyes were scalding, though cold, but John looked at him without a drop of fear.

  “That’s not,” began Mary Ann, unable to endure this long silence, but John stopped her with a gesture.

  “Please, Miss Willow. I’ll send you home,” John said. Under Kurt’s gaze John and Mary Ann left the room. Something clicked inside Kurt. John was trying to break the thread Kurt had entangled to make him a part of his game. But John refused to play his role and generally spoiled the whole performance. A smile touched Kurt’s lips; he wasn’t going to give up, though he let John take Mary Ann away. For him, the most important performance had only begun.

  * * * *

  Downstairs, Kurt easily found John, but his attention was drawn away from him when an elderly lady called his name. “I say, is it true you know the technique of hypnosis?” she asked.

  Kurt had to stop, though he kept staring at John calmly drinking champagne. “Yes, it’s true.” Questions rained down on him, which Kurt patiently answered. The ranks of the curious grew. Kurt noticed John had put his glass on the table, as if he was about to leave. “Ladies and gentlemen, I think it is better to see once than hear a hundred times. I’m willing to show it right now,” Kurt said, going into the salon, accompanied by the whole group. “Mr. Fenririr, would you help me?”

  Determined to leave, John stopped and turned around. “How could I refuse an old friend?” He smiled confidently and walked over to where the other guests stood in anticipation. There was nothing familiar in Kurt’s eyes, nothing John had seen in him before, and because of that he desperately wanted to rip off this immaculate porcelain mask and smash it on the floor into hundreds of pieces.

  “Please.” Kurt invited him to sit in a chair. John settled himself in it comfortably. “Close your eyes.”