other, the light barely dared to enter. Martín slept beside her, his breathing weak as a whisper

were still

er to the library

been the i

le. So

fragile body. She closed her eyes for a m

t braid, and dressed in her worn maid's uniform. She adjusted her

, her mother c

oday?" she asked, her vo

lowered

e's a lot to do

t gesture that was her only way of tellin

mother knew that what she was about

black gates, adorned with wrought iron leaves, rose like a sleeping monster. S

ed her head and moved forward, hiding the envelope among the dirty clothes in the basket she carried. The interior of the mansion smelled of polished wax, expensive pe

ry was. Her heart pounded in her ears. She knew

intimidating, massive, carved with m

last look around.

the handle.

ld come running to catch her. But the

ss bookshelves, the intoxicating scent of antique paper,

back, an imposing

ith light step

nd the middle drawer lock

ned sl

ter inside. She placed it reverently, as i

p click brok

bolted

peared in t

stela

matr

seemed to absorb the light around it. He

here, girl?" Her v

hands, scattering dirty cloth

to clean... The hea

rward, each step ech

uired, an eyebrow raised. "How c

her head, feelin

am. I'm just fo

ence gr

idn't dar

enough for Beatriz to smell her he

ed, her voice sharp as a kitchen knife. "In this

e couldn't

he, but her family as well, w

d up her basket, and left the

a challenge t

ed back into the main

t the wall, feeli

just bee

a declarat

rst time in her life, Beat

piece, a

ps a doo

t was, the battle