A Walk on the Water

"Please, señorita, we have no where else to go. My friend here has been very ill and was just released from the hospital just a few days ago. Her heart cannot handle the stress." Nicolò added when the maid looked like she was going to turn them away.

Now it was the maid's turn to stare at her uncomprehendingly, glancing back and forth between the water for the nonexistent airplane and the two of them. "Wait, you were brought here by an aéroplane ? And you said the man who brought you here took your money? But . . . I do not understand. Who are you? Are you are related to the Beringer family?"

"Who?"

The maid indicated the mansion around them. "The Beringer family owns this Chateau. You are a relative? A guest? They are expecting you?"

Flushing with embarrassment, sensing that she was the victim of a criminal's hoax, Alannah said, "The man who brought me here by plane said he was taking me to a place called Storm Haven Island -"

"¡ Dios mío! " the woman muttered, her features darkening with anger. "He was an older hispanic man, si? Tall and skinny, missing teeth?" Noting Alannah look of confusion, she cursed under her breath. "That - that good for nothing criminal! He has done this before! Taken the money of unsuspecting turistas and flown them only Dios knows where!" the stout maid said "Come I will take you to my mistress Señora Beringer, it is she that will decide what is to be done with the two of you. Come inside before the bugs come in and leave your bags there." She said pointing to an area just inside the entrance. "There are no thieves around here!"

She led the two of them down a long corridor and up three flights of stairs, until they came at last to a door that was partially open that led to a study. Alannah looked around the room, and saw grand bookshelves filled with books. The room reminded her of her Fathers' study, the dark wood bookcases, dark furniture, brightly lit room and there sitting behind an enormous desk was a classically elegant woman who was absorbed with an assortment of tiny objects. She was inspecting each object beneath the lense of a microscope, or so it appeared. "Yes, Maria," she said without even looking up.

"I beg your pardon, Señora Beringer, but Matias Bechtel has stranded and robbed yet another unsuspecting turista and left them on your premises."

The woman grimaced. "Only one this time?" She straightened in her chair, titling her neck side to side, in a stretching motion, as she looked up at Alannah she at that time noticed Nicolò, she gave the two of them an unsettlingly look. "Oh, there are two of you, well what are your names?"