Vaile

Aislinn V

     Aislinn woke in the middle of the night to find Zel watching her.

     "What are you doing?" she hissed.

     The shark smile returned. "Trying to figure out if I could pinch a ring or two without you noticing."

      "The answer is no. Go back downstairs, you pirate."

      He shrugged. "Fine. I probably won't need the extra cash anyway. I'll have all the money I need very soon." Turning towards the stairs in a very exaggerated manner, he heaved a dramatic sigh.

      Aislinn could tell he was dying to brag about something, but her curiosity was piqued. "Why won't you need money?"

      He turned back around with an air of superiority. "One hears things when one hangs around the scum of the city, little girl. Important things. Things that will make you glad you ditched whatever high class pigsty you ran away from," he whispered as if telling an enormous secret. Apparently there's going to be trouble for the moneyholders of Vaile. Some of the real crazies called it a rebellion."

       Aislinn sat straight up. "Can we stop it? My aunt and uncle are up there. They'll be hurt."

       Zel shrugged. "Hey, not my problem. Zoe's either. But don't worry, Ace. We'll take care of you and your cousin with the lousy attitude, even if I don't see why we're doing it."

       "'Ace?'"

       "Uh, I don't know. Short for Aislinn? Cooler to say? You'll be dead if you set foot on the street, so I guess it doesn't matter." He coughed and seemed in a sudden hurry to get to the stairs. "Night, Ace. Sweet nightmares."

        Aislinn turned over, heart racing. Was there really a rebellion planned? And if there was, what could she do about it?