Caroline cranked up the music and pumped the accelerator as the minivan climbed up the gravel forest road. The plan was simple; you, Tanya, Pixie, Simone and Caroline all take a weekend to rent a cabin in the woods for a women's retreat. Well, "women's retreat" was overstating it a bit. Simone had packed a suspiciously large amount of marijuana edibles, Caroline brought a crate of liquor and between you, Pixie and Tanya, there were enough art projects to occupy an entire high school for a year. But the purpose held, time away from the responsibilities of the world where you could enjoy each other's company and get some time in nature.
The AirBnB had a captivating title, "The Cabin in the Sky" and as the gravel road brought you around the crest of the mountain, you could see why. The wood cabin sat perched on the edge of a forest valley in the Olympic Peninsula. A panoramic view of the rolling temperate rainforest unfolded below.
"Holyyyyyyyy shit." Caroline whistles as she gets out of the car.
"This is amazing!" says Simone, "I'm so excited, you guys!" As they unloaded the car, you made your way up to the front door. You punch in the code and the door swung open.
Inside was every bit the vision you hoped. A wide stone fireplace with full wrap around couches, a loft overlooking the main room and floor to vaulted ceiling windows captures a breathtaking view. The sturdy logs of the cabin, the flannel blankets, the rustic appliances. Yes, this could be a damn fine weekend.
###
"Never have I ever . . . slept with my boss!" Announces Simone. You, Caroline and Tanya all drink. Pixie looks on in mock shock, "Damn this is easy with you kinky bitches!"
"At this point, we should probably try really boring things to get each other." said Tanya. "Never have I ever . . . made a pivot table on excel." Damn, another drink down the hatch.
You laugh and get up to refill your glass and go to the bathroom. When you return, Caroline is standing in front of the fireplace shouting at the mounted Elk head.
"Listen here, you spooky old cabin, I am a powerrrrrful witch, and I command you to reveal your secrets to meeeeee!" Simone dissolves in a fit of laughter.
"It's not going to just fork them over." Pixie says. She gets up and tickles the Elk under its chin, "You have to tickle it! Goochie goochie goo!"
Ka-chunk! The metal sound of something hitting the ground reverberates through the room, instantly silencing the merry making.
Everyone gathers around as Pixie picks up the fallen wrought iron key.
"I think it was in the Elk's mouth." she says, a concerned look darkening her warm features. She holds up the key to the light and you recognize it's heart shaped handle.
"Wait a minute . . ."
"Is that?"
". . . Dan's wedding?"
You, Simone and Tanya all start talking at once. Pixie holds up a hand imperiously.
"One at a time!" she commands.
You take a breath. "That looks like the keys were given when we all stayed at this hotel for Dan's wedding. It was a strange hotel, full of secret passages and . . . rooms to have sex in."
You blush at the memories. Pixie looks inquisitively from Tanya, to Caroline to Simone. Caroline nods.
"Yep, she pretty much covered it." Simone gingerly picks up the key.
"So this friend of yours . . ." Pixie began.
"Dan." you answer.
"Why Dan?" Simone mutters under her breath, prompting a suppressed chuckle from you and Tanya.
"He had you all stay at a hotel in . . ."
"In Tacoma, way the hell on the other side of the Sound." finishes Caroline. "So how'd this get here?"
Tanya steps forward and snatches it out of Pixie's hands.
"Are we going to theorize about this all night or are we going to figure out what the heck it opens?"
And with that, the search was on. The five of you ransack the house, upstairs and down, trying the key at every door, nook and cranny until finally you come to a closet tucked in Simone's room.
The closet door was tall and thin, faded green wood with a simple lock. The door had refused to open when Simone had first arrived, so her suitcase was set on the bed but now the whole crew had gathered in her room as she slid the iron key effortlessly into the lock.
CLICK. The door swung open revealing a narrow set of stairs leading down into some sort of basement, set into the mountain.
"ooOOOoo" said Caroline. "I'm getting wicked weird energy here."
"Ya think?!" Tanya says, clicking the flashlight on her phone. Thankfully, the liquid courage you all had consumed was enough to quiet any fears as you made your way down into the cellar door.
The narrow stairs led down to a dim basement. Tanya clicked on the light revealing piles and piles of strange artifacts. Everyone fans out through the space. As the last one down the stairs, you survey the scene. While most of the antiques are just what you would expect, old cookware or faded furniture, a few items catch your eye.
In the far corner, on top of an ornate engraved wood table is a massive glass bottle propped on its side. Within the bottle, a three-mast ship is contained. A brass plate next to the bottle offers more insight.
In the center of the room, two arabic curved swords are mounted on a rack, strange writing engraved on the blades themselves.
In the far right, a full suit of armor, dull and rusty, stands at attention, holding a polearm with a banner attached.
Near the stairs, an iron lantern with a red wicket hangs above a pile of colorful silk.
Hanging next to some faded gowns, you see an ornately decorated masquerade ball mask with feather and glittering jewels.
Finally, tucked at the very back of the room, you see a small tiki idol, a hunched carved totem surrounded by coconut shells.
Making your way through the piles of old things, you come to the aging clothes rack. You finger the beautiful flowing brocade but your hands land on the large silver and gold masquerade mask. Small pearls are inlaid in gold weaves around the eyes while the gold filigree forms leaves and flowers across the top. A simple black cloth strap is attached to either side.
"That's gorgeous!" Pixie says glancing over from the hanging gowns that have captured the seamstress' eye.
You put the mask up to your face, tying the cloth strap.
WHOOSH
A woman jostles into you and a stagger to the right, your gown swishing around you. You look around in confusion at the crowd of color people around you.
"Sorry love, got a bit carried away." Says the woman, helping you up. Her words don't seem to match up with her lips but you barely have time to register that as your eyes sweep the elaborate ballroom. Broad staircases, a giant chandelier with a million candles, masks and hats and gowns everywhere. Glittering gold trim framing white windows and dramatic paintings.
"Where . . what?" You stammer, but the woman has already gone, swept up in the throng of dancers as the music strikes up, full cellos and soaring strings as the sound of hundreds of feet clap to the ground in rhythm.
You push your way to the side of the dance floor to try and get your bearings. This is spectacular!
A full masquerade ball! Whether this is some weird hallucination or dream, you are ready for it. You consider taking the mask off, would that end the vision? Possibly, better not risk it right away.
"Pardon me, mademoiselle, may I have the pleasure of the next dance with you?" A tall man in black boots, a ruffled black shirt and a tri-cornered hat has appeared next to you. You focus on his face as his lips don't seem to quite line up with the words you are hearing. His dark slightly curled hair fell below his jaw, mostly hidden under a tri-corner black hat, framed his jet black domino mask.
Before you have a chance to object, he slides his white gloved hand behind your back and the two of you are whisked away to the floor of the ball. Your legs quickly fall into the familiar steps as the world twirls around you. Familiar? You look down to your feet and quickly stumble. The man gracefully helps you recover.
"Tut tut. Eyes up here." He says and the two of you return to the spinning swirl of colorful coats and gowns.
"What brings you to the house of Orsini? Are you a friend of Count Orsini? Or maybe his wife, Countess Maria?"
"Uh, just passing through. I'm traveling." You fumble trying to remember to place which Doctor Who episode you seem to be living through. Is it one with a dark secret or did you just need to avoid messing with the timeline?
"I'm an artist." you explain. He smiles knowingly. "Yes, the Count is quite fond of his paintings, he seems to think he is a Medici. But you know what they say, Orsini iron is paid for with Medici gold!" He laughed at his own joke as you jot down "Renaissance Italy" as your location.
The song comes to an end as you arrive at the base of the staircase.
"I don't think we have been properly introduced. My name is Orlando De Borromeo of Trento. Who do I have the pleasure of entertaining this evening?"
"I'm Brenna McCormac of Washington." You try and put on some airs into it but his eyes just look amused.
