AN Okay, yeah, so I'd planned on getting this up last night, but that didn't happen. Sorry. I've been busy with packing and preparing for camping to Lake Powell. :P Sorry, though. I'll be gone until Friday and I won't be able to work on this story--or any of mine for a matter of fact. So yeah… I'll try to write and upload a full size chapter on Saturday or Sunday. READ AND REVIEW!!

DISCLAIMER! Don't own it!

Chapter Seven

Emily's POV

"And this is where you'll be sleeping." Emily said, spreading her arms out to the room before her. It was small, and she knew it, but it was all the town had to offer her. "You have the rest of the morning to get your bearings of the house and then you'll be meeting with Mr. Madison--the bookseller and our boss." She smiled at Mo, and then left the room.

Emily paced her way down the hallway to the kitchen where little Elsie sat peeling potatoes. The young orphan smiled up at her with her not-quite-complete set of teeth. "And how are you today, Miss Emily?" Elsie questioned politely as Emily put on an apron and sat down to peel the vegetables with her.

"I'm fine, and you?" Emily grabbed a potato and dipped it in the bucket of water.

"Curious." The eight-year-old said to her potato.

"And why is that, little Elsie?" Emily grabbed a knife from the counter and began peeling.

"The man you brought home today--where is he to work? You gave him the last guest room, so, surely he has to have a decent job, right Miss?" Elsie put her peeled potato into the pot for the cook to prepare for later and then grabbed another.

Emily grinned. In the two years that Emily had had Elsie in her custody, she had already learned proper grammar and etiquette--and not just for a slave either. At times, Emily almost felt as Elsie's skin were the same color as her own.

"That's quite right. He is to work with Mr. Madison and I. He is a literate bookbinder I'll have you know, maybe I'll soon have time to teach you to be literate myself--wouldn't that be quite an adventure?" Elsie's eyes widened. Until today, Emily had been the only literate of the household. Besides those who had formerly been slaves, Emily lived alone.

"Oh, yes Miss! That would be splendid! I could read all the books you keep in your library! Well... on occasions of course--like just before bed! I wouldn't have to go to sleep without a bedtime story!" Elsie's grin grew from ear-to-ear, exposing her tongue through the gaps in her teeth.

Just then, Harold, the cook, walked in followed by an aggravated Mo. "Miss Emily, this is the man you brought home this morning, yes?" Emily nodded. "He was found up the road, heading towards the manors, and he won't tell us why." Harold shot a glance at Mo. "Will ya, boy?"

Harold was one of the older and rougher slaves, but he knew his way when it came to the kitchen. He had fathered three daughters, all of which had been kidnapped or killed by the time they had turned twenty--and ever since he has looked out on the world and everyone else as if they were the culprits.

"He was probably just getting his bearings, but, thank you, Harold. Oh, and will you get one of the other kitchen hands to finish these potatoes? Elsie is coming with Mo and I to meet with Mr. Madison." Harold glared but nodded as Mo silently stepped towards Emily and Elsie.

Emily and Elsie took off their aprons and hung them on the hooks next to the pantry.

Mo's skin was bruised from head to toe and Emily was sure he was in far more pain than he let show on his face. Elsie reached for his hand but he flinched away, almost like an abused pet. But Elsie still smiled. She'd seen her share of shy and scarred slaves in her two years with Emily, but after a few months with her, you couldn't help but love the kid.

"My name's Elsie, and yours is...?" Elsie let the question hang in the air as she always did, letting the words float without a care in the world around Mo's head.

"It's Mo." Mo said in a distant and annoyed voice.

Emily, Elsie, and Mo made their way to bookshop in silence.

The bookshop was a newer building. It was built completely out of the reddest of bricks and the windows were glossier than any other up or down the street. New titles stood behind the windows with elaborately designed covers and bindings. Elsie stared in awe at the pieces of art she could not yet analyze, but she had a new hope that she would be able to by snowfall this year.

Emily opened the door for Mo and Elsie to enter before her, and then entered the shop herself.

The inside was even more spectacular than the out. The walls were covered in paintings and quotes from the artists of the Inkworld. Emily walked over to the front desk to see if Mr. Madison had left any notes or memos when she didn't see him waiting in the front of the shop, but there wasn't any.

"Mr. Madison!" Emily called looking back through the bookshelves behind the desk, finally she found him on the second story floor--in front of a table stacked with weathered and old books needing fixes.

Well he sure doesn't waste any time, now does he? Emily chuckled to herself and motioned for Elsie to stay up in the front and for Mo to follow her.

"Mr. Madison?" Emily tapped the old man's shoulder, causing him to jump at least a foot.

"Damn it, girl! How many times do I have to tell you?! Notify me when you're in the building. Sheesh, I'm not going to make it to the next solstice if I keep you around, now am I?" Emily grinned, holding in a laugh, for she knew better than to laugh at the old man before her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Madison, I'll try not to do it again." She said with the most sincerity in her voice.

"And who's he?" The old man jutted his chin to point to Mo who was standing silently by the table..

"That would be Mo--the new book hand I told you about. Now really, I must be leaving, Elsie is in the front of the store and has got to get home to help with dinner. I'll be seeing you in a few hours, then, Mr. Madison." Emily and Elsie quickly made their way out of the store.

"Miss Emily, why is the new man so quiet?" Elsie asked as they were making their way back to Emily's house.

Emily thought about lying to her for a moment--but only for a moment. "You see, Elsie, you know how slave auctions no one really cares about keeping families together?" Elsie nodded. "Well, Mo was parted from his family--two golden haired ladies, a woman and a child." Elsie's eyes opened wide. Two golden haired women in one family? Emily had to be pulling her leg.

"In the auction, his daughter acted against Daz's will--and he had her whipped Very severely--no one even knows if she's still alive. Louis Nicholas was the one who bought her though, and I think I know why. Do you remember when Rosabelle disappeared?" Elsie, again, nodded. "The girl looked an awful lot like her." Elsie looked at her with saddened eyes.

"And what happened to the woman?" Elsie asked in a monotone.

Emily closed her eyes trying hard to remember who had bought the first of those who were sold. "She was sold to the old seamstress on Windsor Lane." Elsie cringed.

The old seamstress woman was hardly kind--but she made the best of dresses and everyone went to her shop. Emily had gone there on multiple occasions, and the seamstress's maid was always different.

"Um... Elsie, would you have Gregory get Mo from the shop for me? I have some... errands I need to do." Elsie sighed, but nodded. "Run along now, I'm going to be home late tonight." Elsie looked at Emily one last time, and then ran off in the direction of the house.

AN GASP! What errands does she so suddenly have to run? Lol, only two people in this world know, but feel free to guess.

Next chapter will be Resa's POV! Then the story will return to Meggie.