It was the spring of 1938 when Giles showed me the bordello. It was he assured me no ordinary place of sex. Having lived in Paris all my life I didn't think there was anything I hadn't already seen and done.
But with conviction, he told me that what I'd find there was unlike anything I could or would expect. Cleverly, he never told me exactly what it was. So not a week later the power of curiosity found me returning to that very spot.
From outside it looked like just another downtown middle-class brownstone, well hidden by virtue of its anonymity. At the door I was greeted by a humourless woman who was wrapped in an Oriental kimono. She welcomed me while seeming very wary of my presence.
The interior lobby did feel much looked the bordellos I'd visited in the past with the air strongly hinting of alcohol and perfume. I awkwardly explained that I was looking for something 'different' and that I'd been told this was where I should come to. The nameless Madam nodded in understanding and after settling the financial terms led me to the uppermost floor of the building.
"No regrets, Sir" She said enigmatically before leaving me in front of the bare wooden door.
I nocked uncertainly, but getting no response. I finally decided to let myself in. The small room beyond was fairly dark and the only real light coming from the unclean windows. The scent of something vaguely stale pervaded the air. I noticed a pile of loose material bunched in the far corner. There was virtually no furniture apart from the low bed and a narrow backed wooden chair next to it.
Here she sat, one leg stretched out while her chin rested on the opposite knee. She appeared to be enveloped in some sort of encompassing woollen shawl. With my eyes still adjusting to the relative darkness it was hard to pick our any more detail than that.
"Do come in." She said in a soft voice strangely accented yet quite melodious.
Closing the door behind me I approached with some trepidation. This was all rather different than my previous experiences at these places.
"Um, hello, my name is Gregory. May I ask yours?" I said gamely.
She lifted her head revealing her bright eyes and her sandy blonde hair with she kept short and unkempt.
"My name is Anacheil." She answered.
"Why don't you undress, you can put your clothes on the bed." She said again.
It was then that I noticed it wasn't a shawl wrapped around her it was the folded length of long grey-feathered wings.
"But, you're..." I stammered genuinely shocked.
Anacheil, as if to further confirm the point drew back her wings exposing her lean naked body.
"Please do undress." She offered.
"Unless it is your intention of course to simply gawk at me." She said rather miffed.
"Oh, right, sorry." I stammered again.