The Phantom Thief

Chapter One "Remembering"

     It was a moonless summer night in Zelera when I first met him. It seems so long ago now, but I remember it like it was yesterday. In my thirteenth year I was walking back home from visiting my friend Alissa. I was wearing my favorite blue dress with yellow roses that flowed to my knees and my brown leather sandals. Lantern in hand and humming a melody, I walked down the cobblestone road back to my house. I lived in the small village of Rosewood. Lord and Lady Rosewood have always been kind people and because of that kindness there was rarely any thievery.

     I heard knights shouting in the distance but didn't think anything of it. Yet, sensing footsteps approaching fast behind me, I turned around and was knocked over by some buffoon dressed in all black.

     I opened my eyes to find long black hair tickling my nose and I resisted the strong urge to sneeze. Tired of the heavy oaf laying on top of me, I shoved with all my might and pushed him off of me. I stood and brushed the dirt from my dress. The fool in black sprawled ungracefully on the ground. I giggled because of how uncomfortable he looked. Feeling pity for him I decided to help him up. As I reached to touch him I saw a large, brown leather bag next to his side. Curiosity surged and I went to grasp the bag when I heard him groan in pain. He opened his eyes, saw me leaning over him and asked, "Am I in heaven? If I am, that would explain the angel standing above me."

    I shook my head, smiling, and replied, "No you're not dead. I'm just the angel you knocked over into the dirt."

    He apologized as I reached out my hand and helped him to his feet. I noticed his face wore a black mask with red swirling designs. His eyes took me by surprise since they were such a beautiful blue. They were like looking at the ocean after first light.

He looked down at me with a smile and asked, "Are you hurt at all?"

"I'm okay, I'm just fine," I said, smiling at him.

He stood there for a minute before he picked up his bag and said, "If I may ask, what is your name, girl?"

I glanced at him and replied, "My name is Lilly. May I ask your name?"

He opened his mouth to respond but we heard the shouting knights again, this time much closer. Fear contorted his face as he saw them approaching around a corner.

"Find the thief!" one of them instructed. "Lord Rosewood's jewels have been stolen! They must be returned at once! "

    The boy grabbed my hand and led me deeper in the dark alleyway. He leaned against a stone wall and held me close to his chest while a large pair of black wings suddenly sprouted from his shoulders. The wings enveloped me, hiding us completely in the dark. My eyes widened in shock and I dropped my lantern onto the ground. It landed with a clang and flickered out. He stared at me with his blue eyes and I was mesmerized by his gaze.

    The knights with their swords and torches passed the dark alleyway, shouting their orders. They split into groups and searched the nearby areas. A few minutes passed before silence fell where we were hiding. His dark wings shrank back into his shoulder blades and I stood speechless.

He gave me a shy smile and implored me to be quiet. "Shh! Don't tell anyone what you have seen tonight."

    I simply nodded, too confused to think of a way to ask him the thousands of questions running through my mind. Like since when do you become half bird? How long have you been like this? Are the knights after you? Why are you a thief? But I kept those questions to myself and just watched him instead. He stood calmly with a sly grin on his face. I raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"I don't know if you will stay quiet or not. I might have to do something to make you stay quiet about it," he stated with mischievous eyes.

"I promise I won't tell anyone! I always keep my promises!" I insisted, keeping eye contact to show him that I was serious.

    He slowly moved closer towards me with a smirk plastered on his face. I was afraid for a moment that he might hurt me as he reached his hand out to me. That's when out of instinct and my father's training I grabbed his arm and flipped him over my shoulder and onto the ground. My father taught me how to defend myself as well as educating me in the art of swords and knives. I was not a girl to be taken lightly.

He looked up at me, surprised and gasping for air. He coughed a couple of times before getting up. "I didn't think you had something like that in you. I won't underestimate you again."

He walked forward and gave me a tight hug and as he pulled away, to my amazement, he gently kissed my lips.

Before I could protest he had sprouted his wings and said to me, "Next time we meet, Lilly, I might steal a few more. So expect to see me again!"

    Without another word he flew above the roofs and into the stars. I was furious and thrilled at the same time. I picked up my lantern and marched home, angry at that winged idiot for kissing me. Just when I thought I might have made a friend he had to ruin it by being an ass.

    I made it home without any more problems. My father greeted me at the door with a smile and a hug, asking me if I had fun visiting my friend.

"I had a lot of fun, Father! Thank you!" I said to him with a smile. "I am tired so I think I'm going to go to sleep."

    He said he would do the same as he kissed my forehead and sent me to bed. I wondered if I would ever see that boy again, part of me hoped I wouldn't. He was clearly a thief after all. Just a thief, I thought as I drifted off to sleep.

    The next morning I awoke and found a white lily with a red ribbon on the table next to my bed. It seems as though my encounter last night with the thief wasn't a dream after all. My face burned bright red as I remembered the kiss he gave me. That was my first kiss and the imbecile had to steal it.

    Sighing, I changed into a green knee-length dress and undid my braid so that my red hair rippled down my back. I opened the window and leaned out, feeling a gentle breeze play with my hair. I stood watching the sun as it started to rise over the ocean in the distance.

    A few weeks passed without sight of him and then a few months. My father and I continued my training and each day I grew better. But every once in a while I would find a white lily with a red ribbon around it next to my bed. At least I knew he still remembered me, I thought with a smile. Wait! How did he know where I live? I never thought about that until now. It made me uneasy because I never mentioned where I lived. Maybe he followed me home or something? I backed up and closed the windows, locking them before I went downstairs to begin my chores. More time passed and I began to wonder if I ever would see him again. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of a grand adventure.

    




                                          AUTHOR'S NOTE:
        BIG THANKS TO QUIESCENTESSENCE for helping edit this chapter! Thanks so much! XD

      Made some changes.  Sorry it took me so long to get this first chapter out. I know it's short but the next one will be longer. Please VOTE and COMMENT. I'd like to know what you thought! :) It's my first book. Be kind with your words please! Big thanks to BrokenHeart1997 for reading this and being honest about my writing! Thanks! Oh and the picture above how I think the thief looks like in my mind. lol