Esperanza

-1-

The night was young. Rain drops patted into the window.

Esperanza left the ballroom hurriedly. No one noticed her absence since they're already intoxicated.

Gathering her bubble-shaped long skirt, she glided down the vast marble hallway, which was trimmed in gilded and plaster frieze, relieved to be away from the noise made by the people dancing in the ballroom.

The party was splendid, the whole mansion was flooded with gorgeous people, intoxicating wine, and sumptuous food.

But Espe was not here to eat nor drink or even to flirt.

She was here to steal.

The area was clear when she stepped into the hallway as Espe made her way across the mansion to the room where the Lord of the house housed his valuables. She didn't know if she could find there the thing that she's looking for, but that place is a good start.

As Espe hustle down the hall, she peered into every room. The very last one contained Señor Sebastian's collection and was the room that she's looking for.

Veering towards the lone room at the end of the hallway, she carefully opens the door and slipped inside. Espe partially shut the door.

Espe looked around. The moment she crossed the threshold, her breath whooshed out of her lungs.

Scanning the two-story room with vaulted ceilings, her eyes took in the elaborated gold frieze, gaudy paintings and portraits, and chandelier.

Señor Sebastian's collection room was awe-inspiring and spectacular. She'd never seen so many artifacts and old leather-bound books in her life. She never thought that besides her friend Alicia, there's someone who has more valuable than her friend.

Chalices made in gold, silver, and lapis were arrayed on one wall, along with the copper and bronze lamp in form of a bird and a maiden holding a jug. There's brass cauldron was displayed in a glass case in the corner.

"It could be here, somewhere," she murmured. She searches for the thing that she's looking for when she passed by a large mirror.

Espe looked at her reflection.

A sun-kissed skin pretty lady was looking back at her. Her hair was tied in a neat chignon, large doe eyes, dainty nose, and cherry lips. Dangling pearl earrings adorned her ears. Her long neck was decorated with a black silk choker with a round ruby cameo pendant.

The pretty lady was wearing a collarless blouse whose hem is at the waist and is made from flimsy, translucent pineapple fiber with bell sleeves. A stiff, folded pañuelo was placed over her shoulders to cover her nape and her upper body due to the camisa's low neckline; a bubble-shaped long skirt with a length that begins from the waist reaching the floor; a hip-hugging, knee-long overskirt made of lace and embroidered richly.

Esperanza grimaced.

The pretty gal in the mirror is nowhere to be called a thief. She's beautiful and sophisticated. An angel who's oblivious to the world's darkness.

Espe gritted her teeth. But she has to do this.

She reasoned out.

Alicia's life depends on her. She had to do the blackmailer's horrid note. The missive had made it clear that Alicia, her bosom friend, would face a terrible death if she didn't make the villain's demand.

Esperanza move to the bookshelf in the corner, five thick leather-bound books sat on the lower portion of the shelf. She slid one volume out and right away noticed it was a grimoire, aging four hundred years old. Setting it aside, she looked at the other four books. Both are grimoire spell books from ancient times. She could recognize the Latin and Armaic text.

She scanned the bookshelf once again. The bookshelf was neat and organize, it was easy to find the title of the book you were looking for. Espe's eyes gleamed in happiness after she found what she's looking for.

"The book that I was looking for... ha! I finally found it."

The original version of the Bible.

Friar Damascus knew the book's existence in the collection room of Señor Sebastian. With the book, he would have a ticket to his promotion once he presents it to the Vatican.

And for that to happen, he threatened Espe that he's going to kill her friend who's a werewolf if she didn't steal the Bible for him.

Beings from the dark and light coexist in their land many years ago but, there's still a time that humans felt threatened by the presence of supernatural beings.

The States designated a land where the supernatural beings would reside, but there's still a time that some of them prefer to mingle with humans and live with them. Just like her friend Alicia, who is a werewolf.

And that friar caught her.

Torn between euphoria and despair, Espe had no choice but to attend the party that Señor Sebastian threw, and grabbed the opportunity.

She had found the book.

But there was one single problem- the book was very high up.

Espe approached a heavy and very tall chair and pulled it to the shelf's direction. Pushing aside her bothersome skirt to reveal her legs, she put her feet clad in silk shoes one after another above the chair.

She tried to reach the book, but it was still away from her reach.

Stretching her hand up, she could barely reach it. It seemed that if she tiptoed, she could get to the book.

'Just a little bit more. A little bit...'

Espe struggled with all her strength.

It was so close yet so far. While she was putting all her effort into getting the book, her toe slipped on the jusi hem of her skirt. She slapped her free arm high, clasping the book's spine, and teetered backward into a free fall.