Third POV

Outside the mansion, where Maki and the others were seated at a table set for ten.. A lavish coach remained stopped just past the gate, the coachman attending to his horses. "I've decided not to stay." A man spoke. The man who, at times, was a king, a prince, a lover, but always a liar.. left the moonlight glow to re-enter the coach. "But Monsieur, what about the banquet?" The coachman asked.

"Capricious Fate has invited a guest of fairer mien than mine to take my chair. Hers is center stage tonight, though I shan't stay to see how she performs. Let us depart anon." The coach hurried off through the night, its passenger relaxed into a seat that held cushion against the harsh road. Quietly, he spoke to himself- like that of a bard playing to an audience of none. "O, what upturned expectations have come at the arrival of this new player?" The bard had seen Maki but for a moment, and yet, he found himself to be haunted by her.

"No devil can beguile a man to persuasions more than she with an angel's form. Or be she one of heaven's messengers behind the horns and wings of temptation?" The coach rocked as it hit a divot in the path, sending the script that lay in the bard's lap atop the floor. Visible on the cover was a signature, scrawled in fresh ink- belonging to that of one named William Shakespeare.

Maki's POV

"Sebastian, if you would make us a cup of herbal tea. I think anise would be-" Comte began his order, but I interrupted. "None for me, please." Dinner had ended with no answers. But as promised, le Comte invited me to his suite for an explanation. "I have one single question. How do I get back? Does that door have a deadbolt? Where's the key? Is it your fingerprint? Whatever. I don't care, I just want it open." Comte wore a calm smile, "The door isn't locked. Opening it is easy. But it only opens under very specific conditions."

I narrowed my gaze, "What conditions?" Comte's smile fell, "The specifics are a bit hard to explain." le Comte de Saint-Germain got up from his chair and stopped in front of an oversized hourglass. The top half was filled with sand. "It will open when all the sand in this hourglass has fallen. It's quite precise, and I rely on its timing myself." he explained. I wasn't liking just how much sand was in there. "Hmm.. I see. And approximately how long does that hourglass run for?"

"It takes a month, on average." he spoke calmly. A month?! On average?! "I apologize but.. Did you say it takes a month?" Comte nodded, looking at Sebastian, "It typically takes a month for all the sand to fall. Doesn't it, Sebastian?" Sebastian nodded as well, "Yes, M. le Comte. Meaning she will not be able to leave for another month. Approximately." Ha- They can forget that! "We're in Paris, yes?" I asked. "Yes." "I'll leave through the front door. How far are we from the Louvre?"

There's no need to fixate on that strange door! Why would I even need it to get back? I have no idea how it became night without my knowing, but I can return to my hotel and get back to work tomorrow. le Comte returned to his seat and picked up a newspaper that had been neatly folded on the table. He turned to me and held out the newspaper in my direction, "I'd like you to look at the date." "Le Petit Parisien..?" I mumbled. I looked at the date, but I didn't believe it. But the paper, the feel of it, the news articles..

It was too real. I felt my body grow cold. "This is the morning's edition. As you've no doubt gathered from the date- We're in the nineteenth century." Comte spoke, his tone remaining calm. I stared at him, eyes wide, "..This is really the nineteenth century?" On the cusp of the turn-of-the-century too.. If this date is correct, that is. But how could that be? le Comte kept a calm, inexorable tone, "We're in France, but not the France you know. You arrived at this mansion by traveling through time."

"You must be kidding me." I mumbled. I didn't understand. "You look like you're struggling to believe it." Comte commented. "What do you expect? I'd honestly believe any number of explanations before accepting time-travel." Comte smiled at me, "It's true that a newspaper can be easily faked. Maybe this will convince you?" le Comte moved towards a window, where an old-fashioned brass telescope had been set up.

"What an excellent idea, M. le Comte. Seeing is believing, they say." Sebastian spoke. "It is our good fortune that, owing to the genius of one of our guests, this telescope provides an excellent view of the city." Comte smiled. I allowed them to guide me to it and peered within. Once my vision finally focused, I saw- "..It's all real?" My tone of surprise followed by amazement came without me realizing.

There were no neon signs, no skyscrapers. I counted one car but saw over a hundred carriages. I'm seeing it, but I still can't believe it. I turned the telescope to someplace much closer. Gentlemen in morning coats escorting ladies with bustles. Dressing up actors inside a mansion was one thing. You couldn't dress up an entire town even if you tried. I was not in the 21st century. "..Then.. I really have traveled through time?" I muttered. "There's a phrase you use in Japanese. Do you recall it, Sebastian?" Comte asked. "Yes. We call it a 'time-slip.'"

"It's true. That is what we call it, but that doesn't matter right now." I spoke. How do you come to terms with the impossible? "That door connects to both the past and the present. You used it to travel here, to the past. You may have read or seen stories about time-travel- But in my experience, it is neither a simple nor an everyday occurrence." le Comte explained. It's not an ANY day occurrence! "Time-travel has very particular rules. In this case, you cannot return for the next month."

"Hmm.. When all the sand in the hourglass falls?" "Yes. When that time comes, either you or I could open the door. But even I must follow the rules. It remains sealed to me for a month as well." Comte confirmed. He doesn't control it? Comte averted his gaze slightly, "If the door hadn't shut, you could have passed through it exactly the way you came. But once it is closed, that particular passage ceases to exist. And the door requires time before it can open again."

Is he saying that I could've walked back if the door hadn't closed? ..Well, that's fantastic. "The men you've met tonight, all of them were gathered here by way of a 'time-slip.' That is why people from such diverse times and countries are all here, living in my mansion." Comte added. ..If what he's saying is true, then the men I met at dinner- could they be the real thing?

So many famous names, names from history, many known throughout the world.. "I can see you still have some doubts." Comte smiled, "But I assure you, you have met the real van Gogh, the real Mozart, and the real Napoleon." It's not unreasonable to assume that they're all real, now that time-travel is no longer out of the question. And yet, it's unbelievable! I eyed le Comte suspiciously, "And who are you, Comte, that you have collected some of history's greatest figures to live here in your mansion?"

I looked at him over steepled fingers, this ineffable gentleman who only said that people CALL him Comte de Saint-Germain. le Comte averted his gaze, "I'm not trying to evade your question, but in truth, it's getting quite late. Please, stay the night. Sebastian will prepare a room. In fact, you're welcome to stay here for the entire month." I sighed, he was lying but- "For the night, perhaps, but-" Sebastian interrupted me, "You do realize you can't return to your time for another month, don't you?"

Yes, I do realize that. And I've come to terms with it. "I'm an experienced traveler. I can make my own way. I've been doing it all my life ever since I was young, and I'll continue doing it." I spoke, my tone no longer timid nor kind. Sebastian fixed me with a severe look, "I believe you'll find that difficult. This is France at the turn-of-the-century. How do you intend to 'make your way?'" I glared at him, "Is that really your business?" While it was true I didn't know much about this period, hell, I didn't even know what currency they currently used.

But I'm uneasy here too. There's something dangerous here that no one's telling me about. But I couldn't admit my suspicion outright. I dropped my anger and once more wore a polite smile, "I don't want to impose." "You're not imposing, I assure you." Comte returned the smile. "It's just that you're offering me so much and asking for nothing in return. I don't feel right accepting your offer." And that offer also scares me the most..

"If that's your concern, I've been thinking that Sebastian could use a hand around the house." Realization of what le Comte was suggesting settled in rather slowly. Yet Sebastian continued to listen without comment. Assist Sebastian as a housekeeper? A job could imply mobility and security. Regardless, I now had two choices. Risk spending a month in a house full of supposed time-travelers who most definitely haven't told me anything. Or run for it and risk being penniless on the streets of turn-of-the-century France at night. ..I know which I would choose.

I gave le Comte my answer, "..Fine. I accept. I suppose that makes us co-workers, Sebastian. ..For now." It's the only option that would guarantee a place to sleep tonight. Whatever dangers may lie here, the streets will be worse. le Comte and Sebastian have already confided in me. I'll trust them. For now. Sebastian looked distinctively uninterested in the prospect of having my assistance.

"You may continue to address me as Sebastian. I will support M. le Comte's decision. However, I must warn you that I'm very strict." Sebastian informed me. I shrugged slightly, "I can handle that." Housekeeper feels a bit like a step down from my previous job, but I can just choose to view this as an extended vacation. I'll be back to work in at least a month. And maybe I'll consider adding a history section to my blog as well.

I had been lost and confused. But now, the ground under my feet felt a bit more stable than it did before. "I'm pleased we've come to an agreement. I wasn't able to answer all your questions tonight, but we'll continue tomorrow. I also have something important to tell you. But that, too, can wait for morning." Comte smiled. I looked into those eyes, those dark golden eyes I had first seen at the musee. And strangely, I found myself content with that conclusion.

"I look forward to it, le Comte." I smiled. "I will inform the others that you will be staying with us and are to be treated with courtesy. Two of them did not join us tonight, but I expect you'll have the opportunity to meet them soon." Comte explained. Hm, more famous names from history? "Erm.. Two more, you said?" "Yes. One is Jean d'Arc." Comte smiled. "Joan of Arc? She's here as well?" Joan of Arc was the Maid of Orleans who led the French in the Hundred Years' War. "So I won't be the only woman here..?"

Comte gave me a confused look, "A woman? Jean is a man, though I can see how you'd make that mistake." "Are we talking about the same person..?" Comte's calm smile returned, "As to that, truth and history have a curious way of becoming distorted in the telling."

Third POV

He often heard voices that others couldn't hear. Voices that guided him. Tonight, a new voice urged him to look out the window. An eyepatch covered the left side of his face, almost entirely hidden beneath his lank, dark hair. Jean d'Arc looked out at the crescent moon. And he could hear its laughter. As he watched, it morphed from a smile to a bow, bent to loose an arrow; from a bow, it then morphed to a blade, arcing mid-slice.

"La lune is laughing.." He mumbled, his voice fading into the night. But the mocking laughter of the moon did not. "..There's a curse on this night."

Maki's POV

"Besides Jean, there's one other who lives with us here in the mansion-" le Comte was cut off by a dull thump. Almost like something heavy had fallen against the door. "That's probably him. I'm sorry to trouble you, Maki, but could you get the door?" "All right." I opened the door, but found no one there. What, is the last guy invisible? When I stepped out into the hallway, I finally noticed him. He was lying slumped against the wall. What is he doing there? Is he sleeping? "..Excuse me?" I muttered.

I couldn't help but wonder how he could be comfortable sleeping like that. He cracked a single eye open. Then, he pulled me into his lap. I wanted to be angry, but I felt as if I was in another world. "..Never seen you here before." He mumbled, his amber eyes staring at me. "Thought I'd wait patiently until you were done. Took so long I fell asleep. So, you're the one he was talking to?" the man smiled.

He wasn't letting go of me, but strangely.. I didn't feel like I wanted him to. I knew he had asked me a question, but no answers came to mind. "Hmm?" As if waking up from the dream I was still stuck in, he finally realized what he'd done and let go of me. He chuckled warmly and murmured an apologetic 'scusa' in a provincial Italian accent. "Did I surprise you?" he asked. I decided to be honest, "Yes.. Yes, you did." "Heh.. Your words, they match the look on your face. That's rare."

The man helped me to my feet, and as he did so, I caught the scent of tobacco lingering on his clothing. "And here he is. The last of our residents." Comte commented. "Hmm? We introducing ourselves now? I'm Leonardo da Vinci." the man spoke. "Along with Sebastian and myself, nine of the greatest figures in history reside in this mansion." Leonardo ran a gloved hand through his hair, his voice still heavy with that rough, sleepy quality.

"I don't know what happened, but your luck ran out for you to have wound up in a place like this." Leonardo spoke. "Eh? Why do you say that?" A sorrowful smile graced Leonardo's lips, "..Simply put, cara mia, I don't think you're going to enjoy it here."