{NOVELETTE} A Heist To Remember - Part 02

On other heists he would systematically pillage every room in the house, taking anything and everything valuable. However, heists of this magnitude were never just about the gold.

‘We owe the people of Arcanadel!’ Theo said to them all, a couple nights back. ‘We have been put in a position where we can help them, make their lives a bit better, stop the maddening Aldermen in their tracks. Something is happening to this holy site, and it’s their fault! My fellow scoundrels, this city holds the last of humanity, we cannot let it fester as well.’

He was smooth, his guildmaster, a speech like that could even turn scum into thinking they were doing something noble. Alphonse was smart to the idea though, Theo actually wanted chaos. But giving the guild a cause beyond getting rich – not to mention a legitimately goodhearted one – told Alphonse something about the man: his guildmaster was in the wrong line of work. Thieves were not meant to be noble.

Alphonse slithered down the brightly lit hallway feeling exposed by the light. He noted a clock hanging from a nearby wall – might prove useful later. He counted the doors to the left, entering the third one down. Inside he found some boxes and barrels, as well as a ladder, leading to an open trap door above. Good, the informant was doing their job.

The contractor had them stealing some very important documents, so important in fact that only the manor staff could possibly know where they were located, as Alderman Gile was prone to moving them for one reason or another. The maid Alphonse was now searching for, supposedly knew the current location.

Alphonse mouthed a silent thanks to the King, ladders that made no sound when you climbed them were always appreciated. Said ladder lead him to a closet on the third floor.

The moment Alphonse reached the top he could smell the tinge of sulfur in the air, confirming that the laboratory was on this floor.

Silence. Alphonse pushed the closet door, light spilling into the darkness. When suddenly the door to his right opened.

Shadows engulfed Alphonse, hiding him, protecting him. The pompous looking figure that appeared in the hallway seemed to be scolding someone inside the room. Sloppy. He should have heard them. “Do try and finish up, my dear.” He said. “There are other cleaning duties that require your attention.” He closed the door and turned to look directly at where Alphonse was standing.

For Alphonse was now veiled by his shadows, invisible to the naked eye. “Now how did this door open?” The noble said.

Not good – Alphonse stood directly in his path. And while his shadows concealed him when standing still, any movement would break the illusion, exposing him. And the blasted noble was moving straight for him, there was only one thing to do.

Alphonse reached for his belt, for the last potion on the right, his stunning mixture. The noble stopped, the illusion fading, but Alphonse was fast and threw the potion directly in front of him before the noble could react. Heart thumping, Alphonse side stepped the immobile, befuddled noble, and entered the room on the right. The meeting room – his destination.

As he closed the door he leaned into it, his heartbeat the only sound he could hear. That was too close for comfort, even for him. “What in King’s name.” He heard the noble curse. “I need to cut down on the wine.”

There was a sound of a door closing; footsteps, getting quitter, and quitter. Silence.

Alphonse exhaled, the stunning mixture worked, thank the Saviors it worked. I owe Tems a pint after tonight. Alphonse thought. The stunning potion was a work in progress, previously made renditions failed to completely bewilder their target. The thieves that used those ineffective batches were all caught. Blessedly this one was –

“H-How did you do that?” A woman’s voice brought his attention back to the room. “H-He just came out the door, how did he not see you?”

Alphonse noted the small thin thing of a woman. A lit silver candlestick on the table in front of her illuminated the room. She was clothed in a simple grey dress, her hair tied up behind with a white scarf – maid attire. “Tricks of the trade.” Alphonse said. “You are Violetta. I hope…”

“I am.” Violetta said apprehensively. She was clutching a cleaning rag in both hands. “And you are here to steal from my lord.”

“I am.”