Sneak Thief (Pt. 2)

“The Master was busy today, it seems.”

Sylvis catches his breath. One of the mahogany bookcases slowly begins to slide forward and Sylvis, seeing that this would be a most inopportune time to be discovered, sinks into the blue shadows in the corner of the room. The weight of his golden charm feels slightly heavier around his neck. He knows that he won’t be seen. Not just yet. Good.

“Aye, it did seem that way,” replied a second voice. This voice is a bit higher pitched.

Sylvis peers past his sanctuary ever so slightly. The sliding bookcase has now slid completely to the side and only the soft light of a candle in the dense, dark library illuminated the faces of the voices.
“And he spoke to them, alone,” said the first, a tall male with a slim handsome face and a short, well trimmed beard. His hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail. He probably kept his hair so long to hide his ears, but they still managed to pop out some.

“Rather strange business if you ask me,” said the second, an older, small framed woman who’s head barely reaches the male’s waist. She kept her hair up in a tiny bun. “Did you see ‘em? All of ‘em I mean.”

The handsome one shakes his head as he turns and pulls a wide bound book from the shelf. “I was preparing dinner.” The bookcase slowly moves back.

“Well one of ‘em looked like death. Like death itself. There was a furry one, her mother never taught her ’bout dressing modestly, I’ll tell you that much. Then there was a big ol’ ugly bastard with barely anything coverin’ him up!”

There’s a thud. The bookcase was closed. “They had one of ‘em metal men too. He was touching all the books and the like. It was the last one I couldn’t figure out.”

“How so?”

“She dressed like she belonged in a repair shop but she was high born, I knew that much just by looking at her. Held herself too tall to be a poor girl. Her face was a bit dirty but that wasn’t a face that’s seen any hardship.”

They began to walk through the open thresh hold into the next room and the light slowly slinked away from the dark. “If she’s getting herself involved in anything that Master Enoch’s ever been involved in, those eyes are gonna come back a little bit darker that’s for sure!”

“What do you mean?”

“Hush, you!” she hissed, “You talk too much! Master Enoch’s probably up and about and he’ll have your neck if you’re neglectin’ your duties for chit-chat!”

When the safety of the dark had completely returned, Sylvis stepped out from his hiding spot. Well that’s interesting, he thought. Sylvis had only been given this assignment today. Not five hours ago. Curious. I wonder if those visitors have anything to do with my target?

No time to ponder though. And no time to see what’s behind bookcase number one even though it is an itch he longs to scratch. No. Sylvis looks up. Second floor. Enoch’s office.

The rooms in this place aren’t very beautiful. They are gorgeous. Deep, lush colors and patterns line the walls, not that you could really seem them past the menagerie of portraits and landscapes, most look like a window rather than paint on a canvas. The carpets are an inch thick and are soft like a newborn’s bottom. Definitely imported. Sylvis spots a blood stain in the corner of the carpet in the music room beside the grand piano. He was getting to like this Enoch guy the more he snuck around his home.

And while each of these rooms are stunning, each feels off. Off like someone is watching him but that can’t be. Maybe it’s the thin layer of dust that has settled on the furniture that makes Sylvis listen just a little harder. Maybe you’re just nuts. Which is why you took this shady job in the first place!

No sign of anyone since the library and Sylvis can’t tell if this is a good thing or a bad thing. It probably means nothing but it nags him in the back of his mind. When he gets into the entrance room he takes the arm of the grand staircase on the left. Sylvis himself is left handed and he makes it a point to only trust the left side of things. Right siders are too full of themselves to ever get anything done. Sylvis’ footsteps sound like a dust bunny’s sigh as he maneuvers up the staircase. Only at the top can he appreciate the diamond chandelier in the middle of the room. Damn, that’s some nice shit.

 Sylvis spots a candle in the corner of his eyes and swiftly hides himself under the velvet tablecloth draped over the hall table. The light comes from an old man, drenched in shadow as he exits a room on the far end of the hall. Sylvis smiles. The moonlight of the room outlines an imposing desk. He is exactly where he needs to be.

Sylvis doesn’t breathe as the old man walks past. He won’t even peer out a tad to catch a glimpse of his face. The very essence of this tells him that seeing him means that he’s seen you. The man stops in front of the table Sylvis is under. Sylvis is silent as the grave and won’t even let himself think. It’s a moment that feels like a year but after that moment, the old man passes and walks down the right side of the staircase into the music room.

The door to the office isn’t even locked. Enoch must really think he’s untouchable. Upon opening the door, Sylvis sees what he’s come for. The thief picks it up and inspects the outside. It’s a large, green envelope with golden script written in elvish script- a dialect that Sylvis isn’t familiar with. Certainly old. Maybe as old as Enoch. Sylvis slowly pulls back the envelope’s flap.

“You’ll stop right there if you know what’s good for you,” said Enoch, standing in the doorway.