A Night to Remember
Bavaria, Germany
The Rahn Estate made Arendelle Manor look humble and puny in comparison. It was tucked away in a remote location on the slopes of the Bavarian Alps, and was comprised of a large and imposing castle surrounded by a dense forest of coniferous trees. Guarded by a ring of thick and tall exterior battlements and towers, the gothic castle rose high above the walls and treetops, stretching towards the sky. Additionally, the sprawling complex featured several other buildings disconnected from the main castle as well as some modern luxuries. In every respect, the Rahn Estate was overwhelmingly gaudy and ostentatious.
... ... ...
"Jeez Louise, would you take a look at that place?" Kristoff said upon spotting the estate as they rounded the corner of the mountain road.
"It's a good thing we're stealing the reliquary when they bring it to the auction stage then, there's no way we could get inside the vault. Not with the kind of security they've got," Anna said.
"I still don't like it. It's risky… are we sure there's no other way?" Elsa muttered fretfully.
"Not with the kind of scratch these high-rollers are playing with," Kristoff replied as he turned to Elsa. "Once any one of them makes the buy, that reliquary is as good as gone."
From the back, Anna leaned forward and poked her head between Elsa and Kristoff. "And since the vault is a no-go, stealing it when it's on stage is the only shot we've got," she added.
Elsa sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "It's certainly not ideal," she muttered.
"We'll be okay," Anna smiled reassuringly. "Kristoff and I have pulled off tougher heists than this, right?
Kristoff kept his eyes on the road. "I'm sure, I have no idea what you're talking about," he deflected easily.
Their ease and comfort around each other unsettled Elsa, so she glanced out her window to try and distract herself from the sudden jealousy she felt. "Let's just go over the plan on more time," she said.
Thanks to a well-placed bribe, Kristoff had managed to acquire architectural blueprints of the estate's layout. He withdrew the folded document and handed it to Anna, who spread it open held it out between them.
"Okay, this is the ballroom here. That's where the auction is being held. Over here, way at the other end of the estate is the main breaker room," Anna explained as she pointed out the locations on the blueprint. "I have to sneak in, get to the breakers, and kill the power when they bring the reliquary on stage."
"Right," Kristoff nodded. "When that happens I have to be right next to the stage, ready to make the grab when the lights go out. Which means, once we get in, I have to steal a waiter's uniform so nobody will notice,"
"And my job is to keep my eyes and ears on the ground in the ballroom, calling out if anything looks hinky," Elsa finished.
"And to look pretty," Anna teased, batting her eyelids. "You really do look nice, you know. Wish I could have gotten all gussied up for the prom too."
Elsa blushed and turned away as she flushed red. She was dressed in an elegant navy blue evening dress that ran to the floor and had a slit in the side to expose the barest hint of her thighs. It was low-cut, complementing Elsa's modest bust and left her collarbones exposed. Draped over her shoulders was a long, billowing cape. Elsa's distinctive blonde hair was tied up in a regal bun and she wore smoky violet eye shadow to accentuate her sapphire blue eyes.
Anna was dressed in completely different attire, more suited for nighttime special operations than an elegant gala. She had donned her usual nocturnal wear; all black beanie, turtleneck, gloves, cargo pants and boots, with the addition of a lightweight Kevlar vest that Elsa had insisted on.
"Do I really have to wear this? If everything goes to plan, then nobody should see me," Anna protested as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat and adjusted the straps of her vest.
"It's just a precaution, Anna," Kristoff peered in the rear-view mirror to make eye contact with her. "We wouldn't want you to get shot again now would we? Remember what happened last time?
"You're right," Anna sighed, unconsciously reaching up to touch the white scar at her hairline. She caught Elsa's eye and smiled reassuringly.
She really is gorgeous, Anna mused. And those legs! Where in the hell did Elsa get those? Not from sitting at a desk all day. She glanced again through the corner of her eye and distantly, she wondered just how smooth Elsa's legs really were.
In the meantime, Elsa turned back to the mirror she was holding up while she scrutinized her own face. She put the finishing touches to her makeup, then made some final adjustments to her dress.
Once again, Anna was stunned by her beauty. Elsa looked every bit the picture of eloquent grace and sophisticated poise. She was honestly clueless as to how Elsa had remained single for this long, but more baffling was how oddly comforting the thought was and how it made Anna strangely possessive.
Just means I can enjoy her all to myself, the errant thought crossed her mind. However, before Anna could summon it again, it vanished. Wait, what? She sighed internally and cursed her jumbled thought process, then turned out the window again.
As they rounded another corner on the mountain road, the entrance of the estate came into view.
"Kristoff, you have the invitations?" Elsa asked.
"Sure do," Kristoff replied as he patted the breast pocket of his tuxedo jacket and withdrew two invitations. "One for moi-self and one for milady."
Anna rolled her eyes and adjusted the beanie on her head. As they approached, Kristoff pulled to the side of the road by a shady copse of trees.
"Alright, the auction starts in about forty-five minutes, so that should give us plenty of time to get in position," Kristoff said. "This is your stop," he turned to Anna.
Anna exhaled and nodded once. She opened the door then stepped out of the car, walking up to Elsa's side where she had rolled the window down.
"Good luck, Anna," Elsa said, fixing Anna with a worried stare.
"Break a leg, feistypants," Kristoff said, then pulled away.
Anna let her gaze linger on Elsa until they were out of sight, then, she headed towards the trees as she started muttering to herself. "Okay, Anna, you got this. I got this, I got this, I got this."
... ... ...
After a short drive, Kristoff and Elsa arrived at the Rahn Estate. As they approached the front gate, a guard with a rifle slung over his shoulder stepped forward, signalling for them to halt. Kristoff slowed to a stop and rolled his window down as the guard stepped up to the driver's window.
"Here for the auction," Kristoff said casually, handing the guard the two invitations.
The guard accepted them from Kristoff's hand, inspecting them carefully. He glanced up to Kristoff, then to Elsa who was sitting in the passenger seat, and then peered into the empty rear seat.
Elsa was holding her breath, nervous under the guard's watchful gaze and kept her eyes forward. A second guard approached from the right with a large German shepherd on a leash, sniffing intently all around the car. He opened the trunk and upon doing so the intimidating beast leapt up on its hind legs and sniffed around the interior. Finding nothing, the guard shut the trunk then gave a thumbs up. The first guard nodded sternly, then handed the invitations back to Kristoff before waving them through.
"That wasn't so bad," Kristoff said jokingly.
Elsa let go of the breath she was holding and sighed deeply in relief as they drove on towards the castle.
... ... ...
Anna pushed herself onto the battlements, then cast a wary look around her before dropping down to the soft earth. "Piece of cake," she said to herself. "Now, to find that breaker room."
From where she had infiltrated the estate, Anna was in a small courtyard somewhere between the main castle and the breaker room. The sun was setting behind a notch in the mountains, and as the dull orange light of the day faded to blue twilight, the shadows lengthened and darkened, giving Anna more cover.
She crouched by a low wall, peering over the top to study her surroundings. Ahead of her, in the center of the courtyard was a tall fountain. To her left and right, tall rows of columns and archways stretched on before her. Nothing around her stirred, and Anna was alone. She knelt back down, and withdrew the blueprint that she was using as a map.
"Okay… I'm right about… here," Anna mumbled quietly to herself as she planned her route. "And I need to get over there."
Finally decided, she put away the blueprint and vaulted over the wall, setting off in the direction of her goal.
... ... ...
Kristoff pulled up in front of the main entrance and set the car in park. On Elsa's side, a valet opened her door and offered his hand as Elsa stepped out. She accepted it gracefully, nodding her thanks as she did. On the other side, Kristoff also exited the car and tossed his keys to the valet who caught them easily. He stepped up to Elsa's side, and behind them, the valet entered their car and drove away to park it.
"Milady," Kristoff offered his arm.
"Milord," Elsa replied, accepting it. "You clean up well."
Kristoff adjusted his bow tie with his other hand. "Whenever I have to."
In the back of her mind, Elsa wished that she was walking arm in arm with Anna instead. She could imagine the dress she wore, likely something green and resplendent. Anna's favorite color was green, but even then no matter what she wore, she would always look radiant to Elsa. She imagined her in different colors; blues, like Elsa favored; purples, befitting royalty; until eventually her mind settled on white, calling to mind wedding dresses.
That would be nice, Elsa thought dreamily. Except in her mind, when she pictured Anna walking down the aisle, she was walking towards Elsa and she was also wearing white. Wait a second.
All around them were guests dressed in similar fashion. Ladies wore refined evening dresses or gowns, and the gentlemen wore neatly pressed suits and tuxedos.
"Look at all of 'em." Kristoff muttered under his breath. "Buncha high class crooks and criminals all dressed up for the red carpet rollout."
"What does that make us, I wonder?" Elsa chuckled softly.
As they walked up the tall steps to the front doors of the castle, another guard stopped them. Again, Kristoff withdrew his invitations and handed them over. The guard appraised them silently, glancing up at Kristoff and Elsa before handing them back.
"Enjoy your evening," the guard recited.
As they crossed the threshold, Elsa and Kristoff were greeted by a scene of complete decadence and luxury. Elsa's heels and Kristoff's dress shoes clacked on immaculate black and white marble flooring. Red and gold tapestries adorned the high walls, stretching all the way up to the domed ceiling, which was decorated with paintings of intricate scenes. In front of them, two large stairways rose up on either of the foyer and met at a landing on the second floor. Hanging in the center above them was a large crystal chandelier. All around them, guests in regal finery conversed with one another or in small groups. Meanwhile, waiters and waitresses passed among them, holding trays piled high with all manner of drinks and food. Somewhere, a string quartet and a piano played an elegant tune that Elsa recognized as a piece by the Jewish composer, Gustav Mahler.
"Holy moly," Kristoff whispered.
Elsa simply gasped in awe.
Together, they made their way further in, appearing like any other of the auction attendees. As they slipped through the crowds, Elsa saw a green-eyed woman with dazzlingly long blonde hair in a dainty pink dress, and another woman she nearly mistook for Anna due to her head of curly red hair and bright blue eyes.
"Excuse me, sir, madam," a waitress approached Elsa and Kristoff and offered a tray filled with hors d'oeuvres. "May I offer some refreshments?"
Elsa shook her head politely in refusal.
Kristoff smiled charmingly as he took up a toasted baguette slice topped with smoked salmon and caviar. "Hi, how are you?"
The waitress smiled in return then left the pair to continue her rounds. Meanwhile, Kristoff kept his gaze focused on her as she departed, eating his hors d'oeuvre in one bite.
"Would you focus?" Elsa slapped him on the arm playfully.
"I'm always focused," Kristoff licked his fingers clean then reached for a champagne flute from the tray that a passing waiter was holding. "Now, come on. Let's keep looking around," he took a long swig.
... ... ...
Go away. Go away. Go away, Anna repeated to herself internally, willing the guard below her to finish his smoke and leave.
She was clinging to a wall several meters off the ground, flattening her body against the stone as much as possible to appear invisible. It was a precarious position, and if the guard below happened to glance upward, she would be seen. She could not risk moving for fear of being heard, so, Anna was stuck there until the smoking guard left.
Her muscles, conditioned as they were by years of climbing, were starting to burn from the exertion of maintaining her posture high off the ground. If the guard didn't leave soon, there would be trouble. Thankfully, after another minute, the guard flicked the butt of his cigarette away then turned around and disappeared from sight.
"Whew. That was close," Anna whispered as she clambered up to the roof. "Wonder how the other two are doing. Probably... sucking on champagne and munching on caviar without me. Ugh, typical. I always get the dirty jobs."
... ... ...
"Alright. The auction should be starting soon and I still need to get in costume," Kristoff said in a low voice so that only Elsa could hear.
Elsa nodded, and sipped her ice water. She had refused flutes of champagne to keep her wits about her.
"I'll see you in the ballroom. Good luck," Elsa whispered to Kristoff as he set off down an empty hallway.
She finished the rest of her water, placing it on the tray of a waitress as she passed by. People were beginning to file into the ballroom now for the auction, and Elsa followed suit with them.
Kristoff turned down the hallway and down another until he found a washroom. Quickly, he peeked inside to ensure it was empty, then wandered around for several minutes until he spotted a waiter of about the same size and build as himself, clearing away empty trays in the abandoned foyer.
"Hey buddy! Need your help, I've got a big time situation going on in the washroom over here," Kristoff said urgently. "The bloody sinks leaking and flooding all over the place. You better come quick!"
"Of course, sir. Show me the way," the waiter replied politely as Kristoff led him down the hallway towards the washroom.
When they entered, Kristoff quietly locked the door behind them and stepped up behind the waiter.
The waiter looked around in confusion. "There's nothin he-"
Kristoff cut him off by wrapping his arm around his throat, while with his other hand, he pressed his head forward into the crook of his elbow. "Sorry, pal," he said as he tightened the chokehold. "I'm really sorry about this, you seem like a really nice guy."
After another few seconds, the waiter ceased struggling and fell limp. He was unconscious, and would wake up relatively unharmed, albeit naked as Kristoff began to strip him of his uniform.
As soon as Kristoff was dressed in his new clothing, he deposited his own evening wear in the wastebasket and exited the washroom. He broke off the handle while whistling a jaunty tune to mask the noise, then stashed the handle behind a potted plant as he set off towards the ballroom nonchalantly.
... ... ...
In the ballroom, Elsa was standing a small distance away from the main crowd that was gathered before the auction stage. She was happily minding her own business and keeping an eye on things as was her job, at least until a reedy and slightly abrasive voice addressed her from behind.
"Darling, you're the picture of loneliness."
Elsa turned to respond to the stranger and when she did, her gaze initially found nothing. Another second later, she looked down and saw a rather old, short, grey-haired and mustached man peering at her.
"Now, who would leave a woman like you alone in a place like this?" the man said, smiling affably.
Elsa chuckled politely and a little nervously as she was taken aback by this odd man before her.
"Ah, blast it, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henrik Weselton. A pleasure," Weselton said, bowing slightly as he extended his hand. "Charmed."
Elsa's eyes snapped to the short man in horrible recognition. This was mom and dad's rival? she thought to herself.
Weselton peered up expectantly. "And you are?"
"Elsa Drake," she replied stiffly and accepted the gesture.
Weselton shook her hand, before turning it over and planting a soft kiss on the top.
Elsa pulled away slightly, casting an uncomfortable glance around her as she tried to escape this strange fellow.
"My, what a lovely name," Weselton said, peering at Elsa a bit shrewdly. "And what is a lovely woman such as yourself wanting to do at an auction of this nature, if I may ask?"
"I'm a… collector. Of sorts," Elsa answered noncommittally, trying to find a way out of this uncomfortable conversation. "Antiques and the like."
"Ah, as am I. Though my tastes are a bit more… particular," Weselton replied, eyeing Elsa up and down lecherously.
Elsa laughed nervously. She was truly unsettled now, so she backed off slightly. She opened her mouth to mutter an excuse to leave when another voice cut in.
"Weselton! What the devil have you done this time?!" said a handsome auburn haired man dressed in a crisp white tuxedo as he approached the two. "You aren't harassing this poor woman are you?"
"Nothing of the sort!" Weselton laughed disarmingly, waving his hand in the air in a dismissive gesture. "I was simply making introductions."
"You'll have to forgive my associate. Sometimes he forgets himself," the auburn haired man said to Elsa apologetically.
"Only in the company of stunning women," Weselton added mischievously.
Elsa had to swallow down the bile that had risen in her throat.
"I am sorry. I'm Hans, Hans Westguard," he extended a gloved hand towards Elsa. "I can see you've already had the pleasure of meeting my associate."
Elsa didn't accept this handshake this time, and instead cocked her head to the side in curiosity "Westguard? You wouldn't happen to be…" she started.
Hans retracted his hand graciously and nodded. "Yes, of the same Westguard family company," he replied with an easy smile. "The private security firm I own, however, is an independent entity that I run separately from the family business. And you are?"
"Elsa Drake," she said again, more coldly and in a tone that would suffer no further questions. .
"A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Drake. Again, I apologize for my associate's behavior here," Hans said, gesturing to Weselton.
Behind him, Weselton was fixing Elsa with a piercing stare.
Hans turned back to face Elsa. "I hope he hasn't ruined your evening."
"Not at all. Thank you," Elsa replied.
"Then I shall say good evening. Ms. Drake," Hans said, then turned to leave.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Weselton stepped forward and whispered low enough for only Elsa to hear. "Yes, good evening, Ms. Drake. If that is what you are calling yourself these days. I know who you are and for your sake, I certainly hope we aren't eyeing the same prize. I will only warn you once. Give up. This quest killed your father and mother, and it will kill you," he said, his earlier friendly demeanor having vanished completely and was now replaced with malice.
At that, quickly as it had happened, Weselton stalked away into the crowd.
Elsa stood stock still, stunned beyond belief and at a loss for words.
