<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="https://cdn2.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/592/254/20150331160008/smaller_square/thomas-scholes-thomasscholes-arenanet-commonersmarket-web.jpg?1443932162">[ img ]</a></div><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF8000">Old Bastiel - Madani Street</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Madani Street was one of the oldest streets in Old Bastiel. The road was about two or three miles long, and not a single inch of it was lacking a street cart or conversation. It had somehow become its own little community, as people who lived in the area tended to sell to one another and live above their own stores. There were some residents who did not have their own market, but they provided services in other ways--whether it be working at someone else's business or providing the community art, music, and other forms of...entertainment.<br/><br/>A variety of stone buildings settled in the background of the street, while echoes of children's laughter and gleeful shrieks filled the area as they played--the whole area seemed to be filled with the cacophony of everyday life. Behind the hustle and bustle, though, there was a large, intricately-made mahogany door. It seemed strange in comparison to other doors and was terribly gloomy looking. On the right of it there was a large window, a figure blurred out by the glare of the sun. This was The Namikals' home--extravagant only by accident (and the thriftiness of Mr. Namikal's wife). The figure turned away.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">________</div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/f674bc0e-ac89-4a1b-a09d-30e363d8c8c4.jpg">[ img ]</a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/a3a1a9d6-a034-4153-99e8-5a2abf007e9c.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF8080">Paislee</span> &amp; <span style="color: #FF8040">Athan Namikal</span></span></span></div><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">"There have been a lot of noises about an attack soon, but no one can seem to figure out where--that information was stifled. Sharon is dead,"</span>a woman with dark hair stated as she faced a window, arms crossed in loose defiance. She was bathed in the light filtering through, her eyes taking in all they could, watching--waiting. Two men sat behind her--one in a pea soup green chair, the other on a dark faux-leather couch. The man in the green chair sat back some, bringing a well-worn mug to his lips and taking a large sip. After a few moments of smacking his lips in an exaggerated fashion, he let out a long, satisfied sigh.<span style="color: #FF8040">"Now, now, Paislee. We didn't call Kareem over just for talks of war. Besides, you aren't telling him of anything he doesn't already know,"</span>he said, his green eyes catching a glint of the sun from the window.<br/><br/>Paislee dropped her arms to her side, sagging some,<span style="color: #FF8080"> "Yes, I know. Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean she hasn't been doing so well here--what makes you think she'll be any better with Kareem? Athan, she's not stable." </span>Athan sat up some, only to lean forward to put his mug on the coffee table. He sat up once more and turned to the man on the coach,<span style="color: #FF8040">"What Paislee means to say is Ellie is going to be living with you from now on. She'll be your responsibility."</span>A snort came from the woman as she looked back at the window, obviously anxious about something or another.<span style="color: #FF8080">"I just don't know that she'll like this. She probably thinks we are trying to give her away or something,"</span>Paislee said as she brought a thumb to her mouth to nibble on her nail.<span style="color: #FF8040">"Oh come on! We already talked about this. Kareem is the best guy for the job. She is most comfortable around him. Not to mention he found her,"</span>Athan defended as he gestured to the man on the couch.<span style="color: #FF8080">"What? So it's like finders-keepers?"</span>Paislee shot back, turning back to look Athan in the eye.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8040">"Paislee, she tried to kill you the other day!"</span>Athan exclaimed with mild irritation. It made Paislee bristle,<span style="color: #FF8080">"Yeah?! So? What do you expect? Not all slaves are freed just because they get away from their owners!" </span><br/><br/>She had known the consequences when she agreed to let Ellie stay with them. Kareem had been the one to find her, but the details on what occurred never really had come to light. Only he and Ellie knew what had gone on that day and it wasn't as if Ellie was a talker; all he divulged to them was that Ellie had been through quite a bit of hell. Paislee and Athan had asked few questions after that, as they had known Kareem for a while now and trusted him with their lives--he was even the next highest ranking member of their organization outside of them.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8040">"Exactly! And we do not have the ability to help her! Kareem does!" </span><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">"Have you even asked him if he wants to---" </span>Paislee didn't get a chance to finish as a small voice came from the hallway entrance.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"Hey...I just...I'm sorry...did I interrupt?" </span>All eyes looked towards the voice. It was Ellie. She stood at the end of the hall with a red top that revealed a rather toned body. Looking at her, she certainly didn't seem like someone who needed rescuing, but her strange eyes screamed for some kind of relief from the cards she had been dealt.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">_________________</div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/9d9fce26-223e-48bc-872d-c996e0a1872a.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF0000">Ellie</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Today was the day Paislee and Athan were going to saddle her with Kareem. She wasn't opposed to the idea as much as she was opposed to the reasons behind it. Athan thought she was incapable of controlling herself, she could see it in his eyes even if he didn't say it. Then again, she had panicked the other night and nearly choked Paislee to death. Paislee didn't even fight back--only spoke in hushed, choked tones to calm the ex-slave girl down. It had worked and Athan had pulled her gently off Paislee as quickly as he could.<br/><br/>She supposed she could understand Athan's hesitance in wanting her around much longer. She was just glad she was going with Kareem and not some stranger. Whenever he stopped by he would come see if she was adjusting well.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"Not well enough, evidently..." </span>she muttered to herself as she stuffed the last bit of clothing she had in the bag. She dug the heel of her hand into one of her eyes, attempting to quell the strange burning behind them and the strange lump that had settled in her throat. She wasn't used to having so much time to feel her own emotions. Prior to freedom, her life had been nothing but constant adrenaline and fear; there had been no time to sit and ponder the what ifs and whys of the universe. It was always just screaming. She took a deep breath and tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, quietly making her way down a small hallway. Eventually it broke out into a sitting area where it looked as if Athan and Paislee were in the midst of a heated discussion.<br/><span style="color: #FF0000"><br/>"Hey...I just...I'm sorry...did I interrupt?" </span>Ellie asked nervously, her red eyes already darting to look for an escape.<span style="color: #FF8040"> "No, no. Ellie, come sit. We were just about to tell Kareem about his new assignment,"</span>Athan said, giving a mischievous grin towards the man sitting across from him.<span style="color: #FF8040">"You'll be taking Ellie under your wing--getting her familiar with the ropes, showing her, you know, how to adjust to free life,"</span>Athan explained as he sipped on a cup of black coffee. Paislee rolled her eyes from her position near the door, obviously annoyed at Athan's dismissal of the conversation.<span style="color: #FF0000"> "You mean to say that you're giving me a new owner..."</span>she mumbled without thinking. Athan seemed to sputter for a moment and Paislee remained silent in an "I-told-you-so" fashion.