Once a Thief: Part 1
----- Book of Secrets -----
Note: This chapter written by Harid/Paige/The Dejarins & Bampot/Six. Compiled/Edited by me.
Pictures used, with permission, from Bampot/Six
Tapping a button on the side of the asuran tech goggles on their face, the figure began a scan of the property. Once complete, they moved along the rooftop, to a point where they had a clear view inside one of the upper rooms of an adjacent wing of the property. The large window was framed by thin curtains, giving the shadowy figure a view of the person inside.
Paige Dejarin.
Paige had been up late reading and preparing for next week's journey to Elona. Her dinner was half-eaten on a plate by the side of her desk with a cool cup of coffee laying forgotten where she had left it. She yawned and rubbed hands over her eyes as she shuts the book and sets it aside.
"Alright, I think that's it for one night."
The figure watched a moment, holding a finger up to her ear, listening to a static-filled voice over the asurian communicator.
"static ...st the survey th-static ...ime...do not engage...static"
The figure scanned the area, shutting the communicator off. The employer was annoying, and something about this job did not feel right. After taking another look around, the figure moved along the rooftop, to a position above the window. Slowly and carefully, they moved to the edge of the overhang, and picked a small mirror out of a pouch. Lowering a hand to the top of the window, the figure held the small mirror to take a peek inside at the 'target'.
Paige had taken the plates out to a small table that Sebastian was kind enough to provide for her dishes. Ordinarily she would have taken it to the kitchens herself but she was so exhausted from the long day, she could allow herself to be lazy once, right?
Once that was done, she turned and stood in front of a mirror as she reached up to unsnap the buttons to her dress.
Something didn't add up, the figure thought. The target her employer hired her to gather intel on, was the woman, the young woman in fact, in the room. But the rest of the intelligence provided did not seem true. This girl, was supposed to be a slave trader, using the winery as a front for several illegal activities. So far no evidence had been seen in the several nights she had ventured onto the property. So far her employer seemed to want more information about the layout of the property itself. Robbing the woman would not be hard to do...yet the feeling that something was off would not go away.
Paige walked from the bedroom into the adjoined bath. The dark mocha colored woman enjoyed these quiet moments alone. They were supposed to be for relaxation, but Paige was dedicated to doing right by her people. So by the bath was a small basket that had letters and checklists of things that needed doing. If the visitor followed her to the window to the next room, then she would notice that the room was humbly designed built for comfort rather than ostentatious display of wealth.
"All done...Five above, I just hope that this works. The brewers deserve a break."
The figure watched as Paige moved to the next room, and waited a moment before planning her next move. She relocated her position, moving as quiet as a cat to another vantage point, keeping the Dejarin woman in sight through the window. Spotting the basket near the bath, she adjusted her goggles once again, using the asuran tech to zoom in. She frowned when the curtains obscured any relevant detail, she would have to either get closer and risk being seen, or come back another night.
But as the figure looked and searched, Paige jotted a few notes and tossed them in the basket. It seemed that she was reading a report on the restoration of land that was destroyed by fire, and clipped to it was a child's drawing of a woman and man standing next to a child. The word Damien was written. Intel said that Paige had no child, perhaps she was assisting in foster-age.
The shadowy figure chewed her lip a moment under her mask, pondering what to do. Nothing added up. She did not being lied to, so either this woman's illegal operations truly was hidden well, or her employer was lying to her. One way or another, she was going to get to the bottom of this and find out what was going on. The best bet would be the estate's basement or an underground area if there was one. She had been lucky so far not to be seen, the estate was well guarded and watched. Getting down off the roof undetected would be difficult enough, not to mention breaking into the basement.
She scanned the area once more before moving, checking on the woman.
Paige had been laying back in the tub. Her head leaned back against a provided cushion and a single leg kicked up to play with the sponge that dangled from a hook. She had a smile on her sweet looking lips and bubbles covered everything beneath her neck that wasn't sticking out. She looked at peace and contented.
The thief's leg slowly slid into Paige's room, as she quietly entered through the window. She paused in a crouch, listening to the water dripping off the young woman's leg in the next room, satisfied the target was still in the tub. She could easily take her belongings without risk,end this whole mess and get paid, but that was not how Kimura worked. A seasoned thief she may be, but she did have a code of honor.
She moved to Paige's desk, looking for documents and papers, not to mention any hidden compartments where any information confirming the true nature of her business may lie.
Paige's desk was locked. Because of course it would be, so there must be something good inside. But the lock was a simple lock, nothing a pick and a flick of the wrist couldn't solve. Thankfully it was well oiled so it barely gave a sound as it was opened,.
Contained within were documents and letters that were either stamped for morning delivery or were recently received in neat leittle piles. A casual glance through the open ones showed it was simply business missives and receipts. Requests for wine and drinks, completely above the table. Though there was an interesting note regarding a potential counterfeit and Paige seeking the services of an investigator to look into it.
Beneath the letters though was a small almost hidden cover that when opened revealed a leather bound book with no obvious labels and a simple latch.
Kimura made quick work of the lock and began skimming the pages and documents inside, not finding anything either incriminating or nefarious. She kept a careful ear to the sound of Paige in the next room, listening for indicators that she was either still in the tub, or was getting out, as she searched.
She lifted the cover at the bottom of the desk quietly, seeing the bound book inside. Perhaps this was the proof she had been looking for? She carefully picked up the book and set it on the desk, opening the latch.
Inside the book were secrets, but nothing at all nefarious. It was the recorded thoughts of a woman who grew to be at once appreciative of and disappointed in her father. It told the story of a woman with body issues because she was surrounded by women curvier than her and insecurities about her own femininity. But then, at some point, she took charge of her own life and inside were sketches of dresses and outfits of varying showiness.
It was nothing more than the private thoughts of a woman who wanted to find her place.
Kimura frowned and closed the book. She was a thief, an exceptional one at that, but she suddenly felt remorseful about invading this woman's privacy, not to mention her home. There was nothing here to indicate she was the target her employer made her out to be, which brought up more questions. For what reason? If her employer would go to the lengths he had by hiring her to survey her home, then this woman likely was in more danger.
Kimura hated being lied to. She carefully replaced the items back in the desk exactly how they had been, and stepped over to the window. The reasonable thing to do would be to leave the grounds, bring her payment back to the man who hired her, give him a piece of her mind, and then forget all about this business.
But instead...
Kimura stepped quietly into the doorway of Paige's bathroom and held a hand up.
"Do not scream... Do not move... Do not call out..." the masked Kimura said softly, only her green eyes visible through her mask. "No harm will come...I have but a single question."
She never gave up an employer's name, but she had to know. "Who is Olgen Blackstone to you?"
Paige was shocked by the woman's sudden appearance, especially as she was very much nude. Even the bubbles were not enough coverage to stop her from feeling awkward about being so exposed. She raised a hand from the water and twisted her fingers to cast a spell, but one look at the woman's armaments at her hip told her that that was not a wise choice. So the fingers twisted again and reached slowly for a towel to wipe over her face.
"I don't know the name. Blackstone is a wine label I believe, but I don't know if that's related. Who are you and why are you here?"
Kimura simply watched Paige a moment. She was no spell-caster herself, but she knew the quick gesture was certainly the start of some kind of spell. She was relieved when the young woman's need for modesty outweighed the need of her to use some kind of spell to do Gods-know-what.
"I was here on behalf of someone who has an interest in you, and who sent me here under false pretenses. I am going to leave...unseen and unnoticed by your guards, and you have my word I will not be back. Watch your back where this Blackstone person is concerned..."
With that, she slowly backed up out of the doorway, toward the open window, her hands out to her sides away from the two sais at her hips, watching Paige.
"Wait! If someone's after me, and you aren't fulfilling the contract, then could you tell me more?"
She paused a moment, which went against everything her mind was screaming at her to do right now, which was leave. Get out as soon as possible. There could be armed guards and servants on their way up to the room right this very moment, signaled by a silent switch or a magical alarm the young woman could have set off.
"If I find out more...I...I can contact you." she said, looking toward the window then the door as she continued to back away from Paige.
She frowned.
"Not while I'm bathing I hope. My open court days are announced you know."
Kimura raised an eyebrow under her mask, then gave a quick nod, turning and running silently toward the window, disappearing into the night.
[To be Continued...]
