"for the beauty of the rose, we also water the thorns."
Descendant of Loa lineage, Karliah Shango stems from masters of Haitian and the old Oyo Empire Vodou. After the nuclear wipe out, she finds herself thrown into leadership with little comprehe...
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"Okay, I understand that this proposition sounds like a death sentence but if no one takes it into consideration we aren't going to get anywhere,"
"There's nothing to take into consideration!" Eshe's voice bounced from the walls of the meeting room. "We're risking the safety of everyone in this kingdom - he nearly killed Asim for gods sake!"
The group was only five minutes into the discussion, and already they had set out on the wrong foot. Karliah knew it would be difficult to persuade her counsel of her decision to work with Michael, if not for the fact that he was the Antichrist, it would also be a difficult task to trust someone who'd sought out to kill one of the division leaders.
Undoubtedly, Karliah still hadn't forgiven him for the whole ordeal, though it was taking every last nerve of self control to distance herself from the impulse-driven man.
Markus cleared his throat, trading a suspecting look with Karliah before turning back to her mother. He laced his fingers together, resting his elbows upon the table as he leaned forward. "All due respect, but the safety of this kingdom has already been invalidated... countless times."
Ali shook his head, running a hand over his wrinkled face, "And that gives even more reason to be reluctant about this," he pressed, his gaze falling over to his daughter, "You've always had my trust, cheri mwen, you know that. But you must understand this isn't a good idea."
Chewing her bottom lip, Karliah reluctantly met his eyes, "It's in our best interest to protect our people," a stifled scoff emitted from Eshe, "And if means I have to take a risk like this, then that's what has to happen."
"What risk?" Asim all but exclaimed, "From what we understand he's supposed to what? Aid you in your abilities? What good does that do for us?"
Markus squeezed his eyes shut in annoyance, his fingers running over his temples, "If Michael helps Karliah with her abilities she becomes more powerful and in turn will not only be able to make the jobs of our soldiers safer but she will be able to destroy any threat to this kingdom within a fifty mile radius."
"Maybe that's not what we need," Idella spoke in a hushed tone.
Markus' face scrunched up as he leaned over the table to meet her worried gaze. "You're kidding me right?"
She shook her head, ignoring the man as she looked straight at Karliah, "Your power is what has the kingdom in shambles, and it doesn't help that you don't listen to anyone but yourself," the woman hesitated, attempting to allay any conflict with her words. "It's not what you want to hear, but you're desensitized to anyone's beliefs besides your own, so much so that you took the life of a man - you've changed, and your people know it."
