Esperanza

-2-

A woman landed in his arms, a flailing scatter of limbs and flimsy pineapple cloth. He caught her easily, her huge dress disguising her lightweight.

“It's not every day that a thief delivers their selves to their impending doom,” he said. His eyes were at the book that she's clutching.

The girl suddenly struggled and kicked on his hold so he let her stand and shuffle away. Her large doe eyes quiver as her gaze is fixed on his face.

“Señor Sebastian—”

He heard his name came out from her lips.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes dangerously as he pace towards her, the woman stepped backward, hugging the book closer to her chest.

“You already know who I am, yet you dared to steal in my abode. Now, hand me the book that your reckless adventure earned you.”

She shook her head in denial. “Señor, my friend's life depends on this book. Could you please be generous and give this one to me? If not, I'll go buy this from you. Name your price, I have a lot of riches.”

Sebastian sneered at her thick face. He looked at her straight in her eyes and reached out with his mind to touch hers.

“Señorita, my riches couldn't be compared to yours, so I don't want it. And I don't care about your friend. Friar Damascus probably sent you here to steal my book. He's the only one who knew its existence.”

With that, he also added, “Too bad that your friend is a stupid one, she allowed that equally stupid friar to catch her. What's mine should be mine. Count yourself lucky that I'm in good mood today and I don't want to resort to violence. Now, hand me the book and you may go in one piece.”

Her bright cherry lips parted. She looked at him with haze in her eyes.  The hands that clutching the Bible loosened, with a little deeper persuasion, he could get back the book.

Her dark lashes flutter and she was suddenly awake. Espe widened her eyes and finally snapped out of her trance.

“W-what are you doing to me?” she instantly scooted away from him, greatly alarmed.

“Y-you! I can feel that you're controlling my mind a while ago.” She made a grim face. “You're a vampire!”

Sebastian clicked his tongue. His mind control shattered.

“Si! Since you already know my secrets—” He paces towards her, his footsteps echoed. “It's no longer safe to keep you around.”

“Señor, why don't we trade?” the lady squared her shoulders and eyed him. Neither of the two retreated their gaze.

Sebastian quirk his brow.

Despite that she's near the Creator's doorstep, she still has the guts to trade with him. What an audacious human.

“I can't let my self die Señor, as I said, my friend life depends on your book. Why don't we trade your secrets with this book? Your secrets are safe with me. I'll mum that you're a vampire.”

His shoulder shook and a rough sound erupting from his mouth.

A burst of wild masculine laughter floated in the room, his laughter mixed up with the sounds of the party below. When he saw a scowl emerge on her face, Sebastian returned to himself quickly, sobering up.

What he'd heard was the funniest joke that he'd heard in his entire life.

Wasn't she's swindling him?

“Why don't I kill you, to keep them both, hmm?” He blinked, his thick, dark lashes shuttering his pale blue eyes.

The lady gritted her teeth. “Didn't I made myself clear? My friend's life is in danger and I'll buy this book to be fair to you.”