Paris, France
March 11th, 1946
11:34 P.M.
Tap, tap.
A light knock rapped upon the bright red door of the study. A German officer lazily lounged in a plush chair within the room. His shiny black boots rested upon his desk, and a book on the French language sat in his lap. The man's eyes danced across the pages as his lips subtly moved to mouth each word.
Tap, Tap, Tap.
The officer again didn't respond. His brow furrowed as he struggled to pronounce the phrases presented to him. Though his quiet and calm mumbling soon turned into an agitated growl as yet another knock tapped against the door. Except this time, it was accompanied by a quiet, shy voice.
"General-... G-Generaloberst Ritter von... Von Adalwulfe?" The small voice stumbled.
"Ja. I am here, Angeline."
"May I come in, Monsieur? I mean- I... Generalober-"
"Come in." Von Adalwulfe cut the voice off as it began to struggle over his title once more. The library door slowly creaked open, and the face of young housemaid peeked inside. Stray, wild blonde hair dangled in front of her light eyes. She nervously tucked the loose strands behind her ear as she looked upon the General.
"It's alright, Angeline. You can come in. And please, just call me Herr Wulfe." The man's voice purred as he lazily lulled his head back to glance at her. His cap fell from his head. Wulfe made no attempt to catch it.
"My apologies, Herr Wulfe." Angeline now stepped into the room. She softly closed the door behind her. The girl radiated a great amount of anxious energy. Something was wrong. Her hands anxiously tugged at her starched apron as she stood there.
"Well?" The officer asked as he closed his book. His sea-glass eyes watched the girl's every move. It didn't take much to be able to tell that something was off with the girl's body language. Angeline still struggled to find the words she wished to say. All that escaped her was a few stutters.
"Du armes Mädchen..." Ritter cooed before rising from his great chair. "Have a seat, will you? There is no reason for you to be so afraid of me." The German coaxed as he stepped towards the maid. Angeline simply stared up at him with round, fearful eyes.
"I assure you I do not bite." Wulfe urged. The maid jumped as the German placed a hand upon her back. Though he promptly removed it at her startled reaction. "My apologies." Ritter softly spoke as he guided Angeline to his chair. With a smooth bow, he pulled it out for her.
"Now, have a seat, Fraulien Belleau." Wulfe bared his perfectly straight, sharp teeth as he smiled at the girl. Angeline hesitantly sat down with a gulp. She looked uncomfortably stiff. Her nervous hands continued to pluck at the hem of her apron.
"There you are. I have not seen you rest one moment since I moved into this house. Did you know that?" The Wolf asked as he lifted his cap from the floor. He dusted it off before placing it upon his neat, pale hair.
"Well... It's my job to always keep busy, Gener-" Angeline caught herself as she locked eyes with Ritter. "I-I mean, Herr Wulfe."
"But the house is already spotless. I pride myself on being a rather clean man, if that doesn't sound too... Ah, prideful of me." Wulfe chuckled. "I truly doubt there's that much cleaning to be done. I don't mind if you rest a while, Angel. May I call you Angel? I think it suits you very well." The man added with an honest expression. Angeline sheepishly nodded.
"It's just... It's just that I feel guilty if I do not work." Angeline piped up. She panicked a moment, for she forgot to address the man. She quickly murmured out a "Herr Wulfe" under her breath.
"Nein, I don't think you understand. I want you to rest. You are too tense, my dear. It breaks my heart to see a young woman so distressed..." Ritter drawled. While he spoke, he began to slowly wander around the library. In admiration, he ran a finger along the spines of the old books.
"I understand... I understand, Herr Wulfe." The housemaid repeated. Her anxious gaze was fixated on the dapper officer. Wulfe had a subtle smile to his face as he lovingly read each title of the various tomes. He was always a good housemaster to Angeline. He seemed so warm and kind. He seemed like a friend. Trustworthy. Why was she always so scared of him? Was it the power he held? Or was it her immense fear of him finding out what she had done?
"Great. I'm glad we're on the same..." The German paused as he pulled a book from a shelf. "Page." He opened it and dramatically turned a page. He shot a wink at Angel as he let out a booming laugh. The girl stared at him with a confused expression.
"Aha! No? Not funny?" Ritter sighed. "Well, good thing I never became a comedian. Or a clown! Oh Angel, could you imagine me as a clown?" The Wolf scoffed to himself as he aimlessly flipped through the novel in his hands.
"That would be a sight to see, Herr Wulfe." Angeline offered an uncomfortable giggle at the man's corny humor. She bowed her head as her smile quickly faded. Her mind was still distorted with immense worry.
"My apologies, my dear Angeline! I almost forgot. How selfish of me." Ritter scolded himself. "What did you need to talk to me about? Speak your heart's desire, my dear." Wulfe urged. He now leaned against a bookshelf, turning his full attention to the girl. Angeline seemed absolutely dwarfed in comparison to the large chair which she sat in. She peered back at Ritter over the stacks of books that lined the man's desk.
"O-oh, it's about Ludvik, Herr Wulfe..." The girl softly spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hmm? And what about my boy?" The Wolf purred in question.
"Well... He- He's not in his room."
"That's alright, Angel. He's allowed to wander the house as he pleases." Ritter shrugged. "As long as guests are not around, of course." He quickly added.
"But- But I mean, he hasn't been in his room. O-or the house at all, for that matter, Herr Wulfe." Angeline murmured. She turned her attention to the floor. Her anxious hands had managed to tear a rip in her apron's seam. The girl could feel her master's sharp eyes staring at her.
"What do you mean?" Wulfe's cordial tone now dipped into a more serious octave. He began to slowly step towards Angeline. The girl winced as she spoke.
"Ludvik is gone, Herr Wulfe. I-I, I do not know where he is. I have searched everywhere." She began to tear up as her trembling little voice spoke. "He's gone... H-He's been gone for nearly three days, Herr Wulfe."
The Wolf gave a frustrated grunt as he banged a fist on the desk. Angeline jumped with immense fear at the officer's sudden change of emotions.
"What do you mean he isn't here?! He has escaped?!" The Wolf growled, his nose wrinkling in a viscous snarl. "I am an easy man, Angeline. I have but one primary rule, Ludvik is not to leave this house!" Ritter spat. He ripped the cap from his head to run a hand through his hair.
"Y-Yes! I don't know how, but yes! I-I'm so sorry, Herr Wulfe, please I-I don't know, I..." The fragile Angel began to plead between tears. "Mon-Monsieur Henri has not seen your son either... No one has."
"What about Reiner? Alric? Have they seen him leave through the front door?"
"Non, Herr Wulfe. Th-they haven't seen him either..."
"I knew giving him a room with a window was a horrible idea!" The General yowled as he angrily threw his cap to the floor. Angeline began to quietly cry. She sat balled up in the great chair, trying to protect herself from any blows that should come her way.
The poor girl was absolutely terrified. Even though Herr Wulfe had never lashed out in anger towards her, she knew that he very well could. Other German's have, so why would he be different? She feared that Von Adalwulfe's welcoming warmness towards her would soon come to an end. Memories of evil Aryans flashed through her mind each time Ritter moved. Ghostly shouts from the past haunted her ears as the man's voice turned angry. She scrunched her eyes shut while she listened to the officer ramble on in frustration. Her body shook as she heard him step near to her.
"Angel. Oh Angel, I'm sorry. I must apologize. I didn't mean to scare you." Wulfe huffed. He kneeled down to get to the girl's eye level.
"I-I'm sorry, Herr Wulfe." Angeline whimpered, refusing to open her eyes. She still sat tucked into a small, defensive ball. Her face was hidden in her hands.
"No. Do not apologize. I'm the one who is apologizing. You did no wrong."
"Sorr-"
"Angeline."
The girl tried to control her soft sobs as she peeked at the German officer. His steely eyes squinted back at her with a stern look of reassurance.
"It's alright, Angel. I'm not going to hurt you. I would never even dream of it." The Wolf stated. He reached a hand out to gently pat the girl's shoulder. Angeline lightly flinched with a stifled sob.
"I must thank you for this news, Angeline, even though it isn't exactly good news." Von Adalwulfe stated. He stood and filled his lungs with great sigh.
"Now, I know it's late, and I know that I just told you about how much you should rest, but I need you to do something for me. Is that alright?" He earnestly asked. His voice was now back to it's usual suave, and silky tone. Angeline hesitantly nodded at the officer.
"I want you to look for Ludvik. You are the only one that the boy truly seemed to like. He saw you as a motherly figure. A well loved caretaker, at the very least."
"R-Right now?" Angeline asked. A trembling little hand reached to wipe a tear from her eye.
"Right now." Ritter confirmed. He offered the Angel his hand to help her from the chair. She stared at his palm for a moment before accepting his assistance. The maid sniffled as she stood and straightened her dress.
"I suppose I could do that, Herr Wulfe... I want Ludvik to be safe..."
"Wunderbar, Angel, wunderbar!" The general chimed. "Just, wunderbar. Thank you, Angel. You are my heroine!" Ritter praised as he pulled the girl in for a tight hug. Angeline immediately stiffened as her face was suddenly pressed to his chest. The General smelled like a a mix of expensive cologne and old books. His various medals softly jingled against her ears as he rocked back and forth. The maid did her best to not try to writhe away in a scared flurry. Physical touch in a kind manner was now so very alien to her.
Though admittedly, Angeline didn't mind it very much this time. She felt reassured and safe in the General's embrace. Such a kind gesture mean't that he truly wasn't mad with her.
"Well, you best be on your way then, Fraulien Belleau. Don't let me keep you from your search!" Ritter announced as he let the girl go with a gentle pat on the back.
Angeline held onto the crook of his arm as Wulfe politely walked her to the front door. As he opened it, a gust of chilling wind blew into the house. Two soldier's stood guard on the steps. They stared straight ahead.
"Reiner, Alric, I want you to accompany Angeline on her search. Make sure nothing bad happens to her." Ritter commanded. The two statue like soldiers sprang to life. They saluted the general with simultaneous clicks of their heels.
"Wait, no, no that's alright, Herr Wulfe, I can go by myself." Angeline quickly declined. She wanted anyone to go with her but those two men. Nothing good ever happened when she was alone with them, for they were the Germans that made her so afraid. They were the one's that have always mistreated her.
The night wind whipped her curly golden hair as she stood in the doorway. Adalwulfe removed his greatcoat from the wall, wrapping it around Angel's shoulders to shield her from the cold.
"Here, take my coat. You'll freeze out there without it. Just make sure you bring it back, alright?" Wulfe added as he set it upon her with a smile.
"Thank you, Herr Wulfe. You're too kind..." She nodded as she pulled the oversized coat tight around herself. "B-But Herr- I really don't want-" Angeline immediately began to protest once more.
"Oh it's my pleasure, Angel." The officer assured. He cut her off as he firmly ushered the girl out the door.
"Herr Wulfe I don't want to go with them." Angel blurted. She now stood between her two worst fears. The poor maid looked absolutely helpless between them. Small and fragile. Like at any moment the men in gray could snap her in half.
"But I insist, dear Angel. It's dangerous for a girl to wander the streets alone at night." The Wolf urged. His pale, glowing eyes were illuminated by the moonlight. "Alric and Reiner will keep you safe. Isn't that right?" The officer looked at the two guards.
"Of course, Generaloberst." Alric agreed. A slight mischievous smile flickered on his lips as he looked to his partner.
"Oh ja, she is safer than Berghof with us, Herr Adalwulfe." Reiner gave an exaggerated nod. Both guard's eyed the girl with a hungry stare. Angeline sunk into the general's greatcoat with a nervous whimper.
"Please, Herr- I-I don't wan-" Angeline began to stammer before Ritter shooed her off. Her little hands reached out to cling to the officer's sleeve in desperation.
"Go now, the sooner you find Ludvik, the better. He couldn't have gone far with that leg of his. Auf Wiedersehen, my sweet Angel!" Wulfe plucked her hands from his sleeve. He placed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles before sending her off.
Angel's quiet pleads were cut short as Reiner and Alric roughly pushed her onwards. Their hands firmly grasped her arms as they began walking. Angeline tried to shake their grips loose, but their hands only tightened. She quickly began to panic. The safety of the house and Herr Wulfe were now gone.
"Please- Please don't do anything. I beg of you." Angeline quietly choked out as she fought back tears. Memories of last time the two soldiers were asked to assist her flooded her mind.
"Oh of course, fräulein. We'll be on our best behavior! I promise." Reiner sarcastically swore as his companion laughed. The two men began to murmur plans amongst themselves in German as the poor maid's stomach tied in a knot with anxiety.
Angel fought against the German brutes to look back at the house one final time. There, Wulfe stood in the doorway. He watched the trio for a few moments before stepping inside. Did Herr Wulfe not know what he just did? The absolute nightmare that he just sent her into? She should've told him what the guard's did to her. She should've told him that the guards are the reason that she is so utterly terrified of all men. Surely Herr Wulfe would've taken pity and saved her, right? He was like a friend. She trusted him.
"Let me go!" Angeline cried. The soldier's began to tug her along into an abandoned building. She kicked and writhed against their grip to no avail.
"Or what? What if we don't let you go, 'Angel'?" Reiner mocked in a snarky tone.
"O-Or... Or I'll tell Herr Wulfe about what you've done to me!" She showed a fiercely furrowed brow as she looked up at the soldiers' wolfish grins. They paused a moment to share a look with one another. Angeline mistook this for a look of fear.
"That's right! He'll have you punished for this, for sure! Y-You'll... You'll be arrested on sight!" Angeline threatened, her voice trembling. The Wolves immediately erupted into horrible howls of laughter. Their dark, looming shadows illuminated by the moonlight that flooded into the building.
"Oh you poor, stupid little girl. I almost envy your innocent, dumb mind." Alric cooed as he stooped down to the Angeline's level. He reached a hand out to begin to gently play with the girl's blonde hair in admiration.
"But my dear, Wulfe knows exactly what we do to you. He's the one that allows it." Alric snarled. The Angel's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wha- What? Non. He can't. Herr Wulfe would never let you-"
"Oh, but he does! Wulfe's got to have some way of punishing you other than sending you to the camps, right? You're too pretty to be there. Too good for the Aryan bloodlines to waste away with some Juden in filth." Reiner rumbled from behind the girl. He rested two heavy hands on Angeline's shoulders as he spoke. He leaned down to spit his poisonous words of truth into her ears. The maid shuddered at his warm breath upon her neck.
"Non... Non..." Angeline shook her head and furiously tried to jerk Reiner's hands from her. She couldn't believe what they were saying. Wulfe was the one that allowed their dirty deeds? He allowed all the suffering and pain they have caused her? Wulfe was the source of the constant anxiety that the guards may spring up and assault her whenever they wished?
"Oui! Oui!" Alric mocked in a condescending tone. Reiner removed the General's coat from Angeline's shoulder's, tossing it to the ground beside them. The maid shivered. Her layer of protection from both hungry German eyes and the cold was now stripped from her.
"Why do you think he sent you out here with us tonight?" Reiner asked as his hands gently trailed down her soft arms.
"To help find Ludvik." Angel spoke, her faith in that statement was teetering. The two soldier's chuckled once more.
"Silly girl. We know what you did. This is your punishment." Alric stated with a fanged, white smile.
"What do you m-mean? I didn't do anything!" Angeline cried.
"You were the one that helped poor, useless Ludvik escape. You led him right out of the attic window. For a weak boy with a disfigured leg, it's near impossible for him to climb off the roof without any assistance." The Wolf's cold eyes danced with bright amusement as he watched his prey fill with fear.
"We know what you did, my dear little Angel. It's so very obvious. Herr von Adalwulfe has known ever since the night it happened. He was just waiting for your guilt to boil over. He wanted to watch you try and come up with some excuse. He wanted to play with you. Make you trust every reassuring word he spoke..." Alric cooed to Angeline in a biting tone. Each word cut into Angeline's heart like a knife. Her blood ran cold as she stared into his hypnotic, wild eyes.
"And tonight, in Herr Wulfe's own words, is going to your last..." A low, rumbling chuckle rose in Alric's throat as the girl whimpered in frozen terror. He looked like a deranged, rabid animal. The hungry Wolf simply couldn't wait to tear the helpless Sheep infront of him to shreds.
"For you, little Angel, the farewell will not be so sweet. That's the price you pay when you break the rules to save the weak. But for us, it will be a night to remember..." Reiner whispered in her ear with a cruel grin.
The Wolves voices howled in unison once more. Their evil laughs and the Angel's sobs echoed through the dark streets of Paris for hours. No one heard. Not a soul stirred.
There was no longer a hero Herr to save Angeline. The one person who she believed she could trust was the very mastermind of her nightmares.
Truly, an angel she would become that night.
————————————————————————
"Herr von Adalwulfe? Is everything alright?" Monsieur Henri questioned. The humble steward knocked before he peeked inside the General's study. Von Adalwulfe stood in front of the library's grand windows with his hands resting behind his back. Ritter's once cordial facade was no longer on his face.
"Oh I am just fine, Henri. Just fine..." He lowly spoke as he stared out of the window into the night.
"I'm glad to hear that. But, if you don't mind me asking, Herr, where did Mademoiselle Belleau go?" The steward inquired once more.
"I need a new housemaid hired by tomorrow afternoon. Do an extensive background check on her. No exceptions." Ritter commanded. Henri paused a few moments before giving an unsure nod.
"What do you mean, Herr? Surely Angeline will be back."
"Nein. She is never to return." The Wolf flashed his fangs as his lips curled into a disturbed sneer. He turned to address the Frenchman. "Do you question my orders, Henri?"
"Oh no. Of course not, Herr Wulfe. I would never dare to question your authority." Henri quickly denied with a gulp. "I was only curious, is all." He added.
"Good..." The General mused. "Then by tomorrow afternoon there will be a new housemaid, and a search has already begun for that little disgrace." He murmured in disgust.
"A search for who, Herr?"
"Ludvik! Who else?!" The Wolf barked at the steward. "That shameful excuse of my son. He was supposed to be the perfect example of my Aryan bloodline. He was mean't to be great like his father. To help his country triumph..." Ritter spoke aloud with bitter words.
"But instead he has caused me so much turmoil with that... Disgraceful deformity." The German spat with hatred. "I should've gotten rid of him years ago. Hiding my tainted blood has only caused me more trouble than necessary. I thought I could fix him somehow. That maybe I could correct the blemish that he bears..."
Henri silently listened to his master speak. He recalled seeing the malnourished boy only a number of times. He was almost always locked in the attic, hidden away from everyone that visited the house. He was to be ignored at all times of day. Save for the doctors that would occasionally request to see the ghostly child. Henri tried to hide his frown as he remembered the boy's cries for help as various tests were ran on him. Henri knew deep down that Angeline always had a motherly soft spot for the poor child.
"If he is found, I requested that he be killed on sight. I have had enough of him. I'd rather have no son than a deformed one. My name will no longer be blotched by my useless offspring." Wulfe decided. Though his vile train of thought was derailed by two booming knocks on the front door.
"I will get it, Herr." Henri claimed as he hurried to the door. He opened it only to see two pairs of blue eyes staring at him.
Alric and Reiner had returned. Their uniforms appeared disheveled as they stood on the steps. Reiner's helmet was missing. His once neat uppercut was now ruffled and messy. And as Alric moved to adjust his pants, Henri couldn't help but notice that his belt was gone. The two soldiers were certainly up to no good that night.
"What is it?" Henri asked.
"We're here to return the Generaloberst's coat. Tell him it's from the Angel..." Alric lowly snickered as he shoved the leather coat into the confused steward's hands.
As he grabbed the coat, Monsieur Henri noticed the blood that stained the soldier's hands. His face grew pale in sudden realization.