Adlernest, von Winterfeldt´s Office an hour later:
Von Winterfeldt looked at his watch: He awaited Susanne von Stülpnagel for an extensive report about the disasters that had had happened on her watch. He had sensed her anxiety, her fear, but she had not dared to talk about the incidents.
Outwardly von Winterfeldt seemed to be cool and collected. But inwardly he fumed. That the termination of the Dark Lady had failed was regrettable.
For their Failure the two Valkyries had paid the price and von Winterfeldt had agreed with the disciplinary actions von Stülpnagel had taken. The latest failure in Munich had been her responsibility and hers alone. He would deal with her shortly.
And there was Sophie Reichenbach … he had read the reports how she had adjusted to her new surroundings. His staff had been impressed how she had handled herself so far. Von Winterfeldt was already sure that he had made the right decision.
He would have Tea with her later, when he had dealt with Susanne von Stülpnagel. For the evening he would invite her to a formal dinner in his personal Quarters. He looked forward to that. But now to the Matter at hand, he knew that Susanne already waited for over 15 Minutes.
He stood behind his desk, Hands folded behind his back. “Enter” he called. The large double leave doors swung open and his assistant entered von Winterfeldt´s spacious office.
She tried very hard to demonstrate calmness and radiate authority. It was the small tell-tale signs which betrayed her and he knew her way too well not to detect those signs.
“You called me, Sir?” Susanne stood three meters before his desk. She dared not to look him in the eyes but stared at the tips of her high heels. He regarded her for a moment, let the silence do its work then he moved from behind his desk, till he stood directly in front of her.
Susanne was tall, and her High Heels made her even taller. But even now von Winterfeldt towered over her. He walked around her, invading her personal space, appraising her. “Susanne, Susanne” he spoke in this cool, well-articulated voice which gave her the creeps. “I´m disappointed. You have done so well lately.”
“You know, that this failure could well endanger our complete operation, don´t you?”
Susanne took this as her clue to speak. “Yes Sir, I do.”
“But nevertheless you dispatched only Sieglinde and Kriemhild to Munich.” Von Winterfeldt spoke in a mild tone now, like a king talking to a faithful minister who had served him well in the past.
“Yes Sir, but I thought time of the essence, in case our opponents had already approached von Instetten Sir.”
“Your decision was wrong.” Von Winterfeldt´s voice hit her like a whip. “You should have sent a full team, as Sieglinde had suggested. Then we would not be having this conversation. You know, that failure has consequences?”
“I do Sir, and will take full responsibility it is not Sieglinde or Kriemhild´s fault. It was my responsibility and mine alone Sir and looked him in the eye for the first time.”
That was something he had always admired in Susanne von Stülpnagel: She would never shrink away from her duties. “Your failure was severe; your punishment will be as severe accordingly. It starts now.”
“Go, fetch the ropes and the largest harness ball gag you can find.” Susanne turned on her heels walked to a large cupboard and returned with the items von Winterfeldt had demanded.
Von Winterfeldt gave Susanne an appraising look, from her blonde crown to the tips of her High Heels. Normally von Winterfeldt let other people do his bidding. That he had obviously decided to punish Susanne personally demonstrated how important this matter was to him.
He turned to her: “If you would be so kind to undress Susanne!” This sounded polite, but it was an Order nevertheless and Susanne complied with it without hesitation.
Von Winterfeldt´s Assistant stepped out of her heels and began to disrobe; she folded her clothes and laid them orderly on a chair. Not the heavy Chair with its high back. This one would von Winterfeldt use for her.
Von Stülpnagel turned her back to von Winterfeldt and placed her slender wrists behind her back. To an observer this would look like a well-rehearsed Ballet:
Von Winterfeldt took one rope and began lashing her wrists together, then tight rope bands under and above the joint followed the equally tight framed Susanne von Stülpnagel modest B Cups. She drew her breath inward sharply when her Master pulled the knotted crotch rope so tight, that the knots seemed to vanish in her black Panties.
“Sit on the Chair” von Winterfeldt commanded her. Gingerly Susanne sat down on the cool smooth surface. She could not see what von Winterfeldt did. Suddenly the large 3 inch ball of the harness gag appeared in her field of vision. She hated that gag, and von Winterfeldt knew that.
It took von Winterfeldt considerable effort till the ball plopped behind Susanne´s teeth. Her jaw began to ache almost immediately. Von Winterfeldt pulled all the straps of the harness gag tight, not with malice, but with the practiced precision of a master of his craft.
Susanne could not see it, but von Winterfeldt knelt at her feet and tied her ankles together.
10 Minutes later, Susanne was all but welded to the Chair. As finishing touch von Winterfeldt tied her big toes together and fastened that rope to her wrists bonds. Thus, the sitting hogtie was complete.
But von Winterfeldt was not finished: After he had inserted ear buds in her ears and blindfolded her. He took then a thin rope, which he pulled through one of the rings of the harness gag. He pulled then, till he could fasten that rope to the crotch rope. Susanne was now compelled to look straight at the ceiling above her. She knew that this was just the warm up.
The Adlernest Sophie´s Quarters around 1400 Hours:
The female voice Sophie already knew broke through the silence: “Sophie, at 1600 Hours you will have tea with Herrn von Winterfeldt. At 1500 Hours Gunhild and Gaia will help you to dress accordingly. That will be all.” The Intercom fell silent again.
“So that is it.” Sophie thought, “The Moment I was waiting for and the Moment I have dreaded for days.” She pulled herself together “I will not this man allow to intimidate me. I survived my father in law, I will survive this.”
So it came, when Gunhild and Gaia entered her Quarters later, they found Sophie calm and cool. “You really look good Sophie.” the bubbly maid complimented Sophie and gave her an appraising look. “I really do feel good myself, thank you Gunhild.” Sophie smiled.
“Let us get you presentable then!” Gunhild replied cheerily. “We will make sure, that you will look your best for Herrn von Winterfeldt.” Sophie knew better, than to question the maid about von Winterfeldt. That would put the Girl into an awkward position.
And Sophie did not want that, she had not forgotten how Gunhild had helped her in these difficult hours when she had to cope with the shock to watch the Punishment of Brunhild and Freya. But now to the matter at hand.
The Adlernest Sophie´s Quarters around 1545 Hours:
Sophie looked at herself in the large mirror and liked what she saw. The two maids had outdone themselves she had to admit. They had opted for a wide cut summer dress which fell wide around mid-calve. It emphasized her ample bosom in a classy way.
A golden necklace with a green emerald in its centre accentuated her green eyes nicely. Nude Pantyhose and green peep toe Platform heels completed then ensemble. She nodded to her reflection, “The key word is elegance."
“Sophie, you will make a very good impression!” Sophie nodded and smiled. A knock at the door: The guard detail entered. Sophie automatically presented her wrists to them. “That will not be necessary, Sophie”, the Leader of the Valkyries turned her down. “Herr von Winterfeldt ordered that no restraints are necessary.”
“Okay then! Let´s go!” Sophie said, sounding more confident, when she felt. Gunhild and Gaia beamed at her.
Instead of the usual four Sophie was accompanied by six guards this time. The leader at the front, two Valkyries in front of Sophie, two behind her and one bringing up the rear, the boots of the Guards and her heels clicked loud on the marble floor.
They passed sheer endless Corridors. Large paintings covered the walls. Then they came to a halt in front of a large double leaved door of white wood and gilded ornaments. Two Guards stood there. The door leaves swung wide open, Sophie took a deep breath and they entered.
The Adlernest Carl von Winterfeldt´s Offices
The Offices of Carl von Winterfeldt were a copy of the Quarters of Louis XV., In Versailles, right down to the last detail.
Versailles Appartement du Roi
Versailles Appartement du Roi
Near the large Window stood the large desk, behind the desk stood the tall blond Man that Sophie had watched arriving earlier, Susanne von Stülpnagel was nowhere to be seen. Sophie and her detail came to a halt in the middle of the Suite.
Von Winterfeldt nodded curtly to the leader of her Guards. "You may leave us now I will call if I need you."
The leader saluted, stood to attention, turned on her heels and left with her comrades. As soon as the Doors had closed behind them, von Winterfeldt moved along his desk and walked towards her: “Sophie it is so good to meet you in person!” The genuine warmth in his tone caught her off guard for a moment, until she remembered why she was here.
He beamed, he was all smiles, so powerful was the impact of his personality that everything else in the large Suite seemed to recede.
When he reached Sophie von Winterfeldt he took her hand and executed a perfect hand kiss without his lips touching her skin. He moved with effortless elegance, at odds with his size.
Normally Sophie would have found this display of antique etiquette pure enthusiasm, out dated. But with von Winterfeldt it was different. To him, this manner fitted perfectly.
“Please do have a seat Sophie” von Winterfeldt made an inviting gesture to a couch, before her stood an ornate round table with beautiful delicate china laid out on it.
Von Winterfeldt who had noticed Sophie´s look explained: “Meissner Porcelain” It was this moment when Sophie registered the tightly tied Susanne von Stülpnagel which stared blindly at the ceiling. “Please do not let that distract you. This is of no importance what so ever, just a little disciplinary measure. Please take a seat.” He said with off-hand dismissal.
It cost Sophie all her self-control to turn her face away from Susanne and to take her seat. When they had settled, a maid appeared, who Sophie had not noticed before, and filled their cups.
“Sophie, I know you have a lot of questions why you are here, Susanne told me you showed exemplary behaviour. Please understand though, that a lot of things have piled up while I was away."
Sophie´s disappointment showed obviously.
“Listen Sophie, we will have a talk regarding your future tomorrow in the morning. Before we talk business I think, we should know each other better. It would be my pleasure if you would join me for Dinner in my private Suite this evening. I can tell you my Maître de Cuisine is excellent. What do you say?”
Sophie was seriously tempted to tell von Winterfeldt where he could shove himself his Chef … but it had gotten her nowhere. To antagonize Winterfeldt was not a smart move; the strictly tied Susanne was a stark reminder. “It would be my genuine delight, Herr von Winterfeldt” she replied politely.
“Then it is settled!” Von Winterfeldt returned beaming. For the first time Sophie could get a clear look of him: He was good looking and the long thin scar on his left cheek did not destroy that picture. He was ruggedly handsome. His Aura was mesmerizing Sophie could not turn away her gaze from those radiant blue grey eyes. She could understand now, what drew Susanne von Stülpnagel to her Master.
“So Sophie” von Winterfeldt spoke after he had taken a sip of tea, "Why don´t you tell me something about you? Why did you choose a career as District Attorney and not as a lawyer?”
And so it began, von Winterfeldt moved effortlessly from one subject to another, from the latest decisions of the Federal Constitutional Court to the latest Tizian-Exhibition in Berlin. Von Winterfeldt was a brilliant conversationalist. He discussed the finer points of complex matters of law equally competent as when he talked about Thomas Mann´s famous novel Dr. Faustus, in which the Music and a Pact with the Devil were key Parts.
It costed Sophie enormous effort not to forget that this was not a pleasant invitation to tea, but that she had a conversation with the man who had ordered the execution of her father in law and her abduction. However, she admonished herself to be patient, to bide her time.
Out of the blue von Winterfeldt asked her: “Sophie, I heard that you had considered a career as opera singer before committing yourself to the courts of law, why is that?”
This question took Sophie by surprise. Very few people knew that, that she had studied music. She still took lessons twice a week. But becoming a professional musician had never been an option for her. How von Winterfeldt had found out?
She pondered the question: “I love singing and I love the law, but the music is something for me only. It is private, it is personal.”
Von Winterfeldt nodded: “I understand.” “You sing Mezzo Soprano don´t you?” Sophie was surprised a second time, where was this conversation going, she wondered?
“Sophie, you would honour me deeply, if you would sing for me tonight. I would accompany you personally” He smiled his dazzling smile.
“Herr von Winterfeldt I have not practised for two weeks now, I doubt that you would enjoy my singing at the moment.”
“That is no problem what so ever, my dear Sophie.” “As it happens I employ one of the best Vocal Coaches. She would be glad to rehearse with you after tea. What do you say?”
He had got her; there was no way around it. “I would be glad, Herr von Winterfeldt”, Sophie answered politely.
“Why so formal dear Sophie? It is Carl to my friends”
“Friends” Sophie mused darkly. She pulled herself together: “Carl it would be my pleasure, but please be not disappointed.”
“It is settled then.” Von Winterfeldt smiled. He looked at his watch, “Sophie, I am sorry, but I have to attend to some business affairs. Tedious but necessary, but I look forward to Dinner tonight!”
They rose. Von Winterfeldt must have pressed some button, because as soon as they rose, the Doors opened and the Guard Detail entered. Von Winterfeldt turned to the Commander: “Would you please take Sophie to the Music room? Frau Berger is expecting her.”
“As you command Sir!” the Valkyrie replied. Together with her detail Sophie left von Winterfeldt´s Offices.
While they walked the long corridors, Sophie was confused.
What had she expected to see?
A devil with hooves and horns?
A small ugly man like Adolf Hitler or Heinrich Himmler?
No, von Winterfeldt exuded power; he was well mannered, educated and charismatic. The scar added even to his attraction. He was a handsome devil.
A few minutes later they halted before another double leaved door. The leader knocked. The door opened and they entered.
A Grand Piano dominated the room: Besides stood a slender blond woman in her fifties, who looked appraisingly at Sophie, to her surprise the guard showed reference to Frau Berger: “Frau Berger, this is Frau Reichenbach.”
The Woman nodded. “Leave us alone. I will call for you.”
The guards were dismissed. “Sophie how is Elina?” she asked, not very loud, but clear.
Elina Garanca had been Sophie’s Teacher for years. Sophie needed a few seconds to answer. “She is well I hope.”
“Then let us begin. Why don´t you make yourself comfortable at first?” She looked at Sophie´s High Heels.
Gladly Sophie stepped out of her heels. On her stockinged feet she approached the Piano.
“What have you studied lately?” The Teacher asked her.
Sophie told her: “Reynaldo Hahn and Handel”.
“Very well”, Berger said, “let us begin then.” and sat down at the Piano.
I tried something different this time. Indeed it is not easy to tell, what Hayley and Kirsty will be: Antagonists or Friends or something in between. Future will tell