My name is not Xerces. Everyone at this godsforsaken table seems to think it is, though. If only they knew the reality, all their blades would be against my neck right now.
Lilith looks up from the sprawling map lying across the table to check if everyone else is listening to her, although most of us just tuned her droning out.
"Ahem," Lilith coughs loud enough to shake the table.
"38 Terrence Street. Residence of Duke Westmonton."
"This job is simple. The Duke holds all his valuables, and more importantly, incriminating documents, in a safe in the second-floor office. Steal the contents of the safe and leave the mansion undetected. That is all the Thieves' Guild requires of you."
She glances at the five of us sitting around the table, her eyes narrowing and staying on me for an extended moment longer than the rest.
"I trust you can handle this simple mission without supervision, yes?"
All of us nod so as not to upset her further. As soon as Lilith gets up and leaves, I take the chance to survey my teammates. From left to right, there's Eryth, Yin, Flex, and an unfamiliar hooded person. Flex is the eldest member, so it's his turn to plan the heist.
"Yin, you take lookout."
"Eryth, you and Xerces handle the safe."
"Z and I will take care of the flank."
Of course, that bastard put himself in the easiest position, as always, to take credit for our dirty work.
"I don't want any of you fucking up and tarnishing my reputation, are we clear?"
Flex has on a dark grey cloak, which contrasts with his bright blond hair. I can see him staring daggers at me. I give him a light nod and quickly head out of the room.
…
The sun fades beyond the horizon as we approach 38 Terrence Street. A small puffball with cat ears sticks its head out of my satchel.
"Whisk, what are you doing?" I question my small spirit companion.
"Peeking." Whisk looks around at the crew.
"Watch out for that one." Whisk gives a tiny yawn before curling back into the satchel.
Must be Z… My eyes dart to the unfamiliar Z, trying to glean any information about them. Their disguise is elaborate and covers every identifiable part of them. I give up as we make it to the mansion.
"Eryth, Xerces. On my mark, head through the side window." Flex instructed.
Eryth and I snuck over the metal gate surrounding the mansion, and crouched beneath a ledge under a window on the left side of the building. In the darkness, dimly lit by gas streetlamps, I could barely make out Flex's scrawny figure on a tall building across the street.
After a few minutes had passed, he raised his fist. I glance to my right at Eryth, who is dressed in a large black cloak and thieves' gear. As soon as Flex gave the signal, she scattered onto the ledge and swiftly pried open the window. I follow her lead and enter the mansion.
The long hallway is adorned with priceless paintings, and a lavish gold veneer plasters the edges of the well-furnished house. My boots softly collide with the soft red carpet, and I follow Eryth up a spiral staircase to our left.
"Whisk," I whisper to the satchel.
"It's time."
Whisk pokes its head out of the satchel and taps me with one paw. An ethereal cloak drapes over my body, falling from my head down to the floor.
"It'll only last 10 minutes, so be quick." Whisk snaps quietly before diving back into the satchel.
Eryth reaches the top of the stairs, then suddenly freezes. She crouches down in the shadow of the center column of the staircase. I squat down quickly.
Soft footsteps resonate through the silent hallway, slowly approaching us. A nightguard rounds the corner. He glances at the staircase and seems to stare straight through me. I control my heartbeat and silently breathe deeply to keep my composure.
The guard continues walking down the hall, and after what feels like an eternity, his footsteps gradually fade away until we can't hear them.
Soon after, Eryth stands up and swiftly, but silently, continues down the hall, in the opposite direction from the guard. I follow her, and we make it to the office door. Eryth shoots me a glance, and I grab out a lockpick and shim, and deftly unlock the door.
We enter the small office. It's mostly barren aside from a large wooden desk in the center and a few chairs placed opposite the desk. Even the walls only have one painting, a massive self-portrait of the Duke himself. Eryth closes the door behind us, leaving only a small crack left for a quick exit.
I walk over to the desk and start searching the drawers while Eryth checks behind the painting. The drawers are mostly filled with paperwork and various writing utensils. After confirming there's nothing in the desk, I look up to check on Eryth.
The moment I look up, I hear a muffled scream as a longsword slices through her back, blood splattering all over the room. The sword retracts, and her guts spill onto the floor as her lifeless body falls limply onto the wall with a thud.
In the candlelight, I can see Flex with the longsword in his hand. Z walks to his right side.
"You really thought you could fool me?" Flex cackles.
"The bounty on your head is quite high, Xerces. Or should I say, Lynford von Alges?"
Well, shit.