---Nadir's POV---

Days passed before I made it to Aakif's city. The city was busy, people just passing through or setting up shops for a few weeks. It was a very interesting spot, a settlement at the crossroads.

I had to admit that it was a very smart idea; merchants would have new people passing through daily, the people passing through would stack up on food and suplies before continuing their journey.

My eyes slowly settled on the large palace, my mind darkened with memories. For many, this town was a paradise but for a small group, this city was hell.

Looking around, I could already spy several faces that tried to hide their pain and fear. Distraught mothers looking through the streets, clamping onto passerbys to ask them about their missing sons. Fathers with worry lines on their faces, glancing at the city guards and shaking their heads.

Welcome to Al Karbah, the city of wealth and travelers. Or known by the minority, the City of lost innocence.

Nudging Tahir, I rode into town, not bothered to hide myself. I was a blade hidden in the mass, visible yet hidden in plain sight. Clicking, I lead my horse to an inn, nodding at the young stableboy who ran out with a grin.

After tossing him a silverpiece and making sure he would take care of Tahir and knew how to handle the stallion, I went inside. Instantly my senses were assaulted with smells, the buzzing of several conversations at once.

There were several men conversing softly while sharing a hookah, a water pipe. Smoke circled through the air as they conversed and ate small fingerfoods. A few women were there, but I suspected they were the women of the men smoking, maybe relatives of the owner.

It was still rare to see a female without any guidance or claim but there were families who were expanding and loosening their views. Not all of them clung to the ancient ways and instead allowed the women to make their own path.

"Salam alaykum. Welcome good sir," (Peace be upon you.) I looked up at the greeting and smiled, accepting the hand while replying with the customary response. "Wa alaykum as-salam. It looks like business goes well." (And upon you be peace.)

The owner smiled warmly and nodded, "Indeed Sir, many travelers lately. Many thirsty, hungry or in need of a place to sleep. All are welcome of course." I smiled, grinning as I inquired for the man's health, knowing that is was the polite thing to do. Judging by the way he held my hand a bit longer and the way he guided me in, I had made a good impression.

"We are well, thank Allah for our good health. My wife has just given birth to our first daughter. She's as beautiful and rare as a desert flower." He grinned happily and I congratulated him, placing my hand on my heart in greeting when the man motioned to his wife.

After several minutes of back and forth questions, I slowly guided the subject to possible accomidations and hopefully some food. It took some more back and forth banter, an invitation to join his family to eat, which I couldn't decline without insulting the man and then I was guided to my room.

It was spacious and left nothing to be desired for. A low groan escaped me as I saw a bathtub ready to be filled before tossing a longing look at the extremely soft bed. I depostited what little I possesed besides the bed and started removing my clothes.

A bath would be lovely now.

A hiss escaped me as I sat down in the steaming water, feeling my skin tingle at the nearly burning heat. Even if I had been roaming through the desert heat for the past days, the water's high temperature succeeded in soothing my aching muscles.

"Hmmm...man, traveling sure has a way to settle in your bones." I murmured over the steaming water, closing my eyes and tilting my head back. Damn, I could sit in this bath all day but I had business to do.

The thought made my mood sour, instantly washing myself up to prepare for the day ahead. I wasn't going to lurk in the shadows tonight, knowing that I'd do more harm than good if I'm sneaking while being exhausted.

Actually, I could use the upcoming dinner invitation to gently nudge the conversation towards the missing children. Surely the owner of the inn would have heard at least some useful rumors. 

Even lies held a source of truth and were worth investigating. I knew most of what was happening but many years had passed since I've been here. For all I know, Aakif could be handling things differently.

I snorted at my thoughts, pulling the belt around my lean hips tighter. Aakif changing to become a better man? Yeah, and I'm an Angel.

An Angel of Death.

------

There were already starting rumors about me. People where whispering in corners, talking about a murderer on the loose. They even went as far to call me an Assassin, a murderer that kills for political gain.

Isn't that what most Sheiks do though? Kill the opposition or order their deaths?

I walked past a group of huddled women wagging their tongues on the newest subject, rolling my eyes slightly at how butchered the truth had been.  They spoke of how the Assassin had fought its way through Saeumus' guards, fighting like a demon come from Jahannam, hell itself.

Well, at least I gave these people something to talk about. I smirked to myself, letting my eyes wander over the mosque walls and sighed deeply. I had accepted the dinner invitation but nothing fruitful had came out of it.

Sure, the owner had been glad to tell me all about the rumors of the missing children, even went as far as blaming some of the nearby Bedouin for it but I had been quick to prove his claims wrong.

Still, the truth needed to be revealed. The world needed to see what kind of filth sat on the throne as Sheik in these parts.

My mind darkened, memories tainting my vision of the familiar surroundings and the haunting walls of Aakif's home.

The young boy panted in fear, looking around as he scratched at the tight wrist cuffs. Nadir knew something bad would happen to him, especially when Javier had taken the effort to bring him to Aakif all the way, by himself.

A pleased grin on the face of the cruel slaver never promised anything good for the slaves in his care.

Nadir was rather surprised though when Aakif seemed to be a rather friendly Sheik. The boy had been guided to the kitchen and had eaten his fill before being whisked off to bathe and be dressed.

Now however, Nadir felt his throat pinch, heart slowly starting to race as he kept his eyes on his lap. Aakif was sitting beside him on the large bench, watching the boy with a darkening glint of something in his eyes.

Something that was making Nadir increasingly nervous.

"Did you enjoy the food and clothes I've given to you?" Aakif asked in a murmur, making Nadir respond in a soft nod of his head. "Yes, thank you Sir. You're kinder than I thought you'd be." Nadir bit his lip, eyes flitting to the man as he leaned closer.

"I must say, these clothes do fit you quite well, my boy." The man cooed, brushing rough fingers over the silken fabric that covered Nadir's shoulder and back. "Javier does know how to find a slave after my...peculiar tastes." When the boy flinched away from the touch, the Sheik's expression darkened slightly.

Quick as a flash, his sweet words and soothing demeanor changed as Nadir's wrists were clamped shut in a painful hold. "I've been kind to you, slave. I've bathed you, given you food and clothes and now its time you repaid my kindness."

The young boy cried out, kicking his tiny feet before he was flung through the air and landed on a soft surface. His chest moved erratically  while the boy started backing up on the bed as Aakif's once gentle expression turned into a cool sneer while he locked the door and placed the key out of the young Nadir's reach.

"Time to play with my newest toy. If you're lucky, you might become my new favorite, boy."

A cool gust of wind made me shiver, though I couldn't quite say if it was just the wind. Nothing had been the same after that night. A whole new world of pain and fear had been opened to me and showed me that Javier had been kind in his way.

For years I had been tormented and abused until Aakif had scoffed and found me too old to play with. The instant I'd become twelve, I was shackled once more and sold to the first man that offered Aakif a newer, much younger slave.

Cold hate filled my eyes as I looked up at the house of nightmares, my resolution growing stronger than ever.

Aakif dies tonight. I'm going to free those children from that monster and I'll actually enjoy killing him, ever so slowly.

I wasn't going to waste anymore time. Aakif would've heard about Sameus' demise and would've taken some precautions to make sure he was safe. My feet moved quicker as I went back to the small inn to gather my belongings.

Tonight was going to be a new moon. And when the sun would caress the earth to wake it from its slumber, it would wake with one less monster roaming the streets. A slow smile formed on my lips as I found the small pouch containing delicate purple flowers and ink-black berries.

I handled the carefully, making a mental note to scrub my hands diligently as I transferred them to a thicker fabric to make sure none of the fruit's juices would leak through the thinly woven fabric of the first pouch.

Aakif's weakness didn't just lie in young children. He preferred unknown fruits and treats as well and I had made sure to get him the best of the best. The small handful of the so called Belladonna had cost me a fortune but I'm going to enjoy the look on Aakif's face as he consumes these.

Maybe I truly am a messenger of Hell, the vengeful Angel of death. All I'm doing is bringing these monsters back to their rightful place in the afterlife.

And after tonight, I can go to bed with an easy conscience, knowing I freed dozens of children from Aakif's filthy hands. His time has come...I'm just delivering the message.