My first try at Inkheart, hope its good :) Lines from the movie have been taken for the plot, but none of them belong to me. I own nothing!

The plot is basically what the story would be like if Meggie was 16 instead of 12. It had been 12 or 13 years since Resa had disappeared. And also this story will lean towards a different couple…you'll see what I mean…:3

Chapter 1: The Fire-Eater

Mo was in the bookshop again. She knew he was looking for that book again. What book that was, she didn't know, but she just knew. He had been looking for that book for as long as she could remember, and he still hadn't found it. This would probably end up just like all the other times: dead ends.

Meggie was browsing outside. Books old and new piled up and strewn about. Finding a book that piqued her interest, she picked it up and sat down at the fountain, setting her messenger bag next to her. Opening the book she got lost in the pages, oblivious to all around her.

It wasn't until she heard a chattering noise next to her that she looked up.

It was a ferret thing.

She stared at the creature and her eyes widened when she saw the tiny horns. Deciding it wouldn't hurt anything, she took some pieces of bread that was in her hand and tossed it to the fuzzy animal. Watching it nibble up the crumbs, she leaned forward with her hand outstretched, to pet it.

But when she got close to it, it bit at her fingers and made a hissing noise. She jumped back.

"He doesn't like to be tickled."

She tensed at the voice, and turning around slowly she sought the owner.

It was a man. A man with three scars on his face. With dirty blonde hair falling over his cerulean eyes. She watched as he walked closer, studying him, his trench coat floating behind him as he moved. He continued talking.

"And you should be more careful. His name is Gwin," Meggie looked at the ferret thing once more, and labeled him with his name. Gwin. Turning back to the strange man, she shrunk back when she saw how close he was. "And I know he looks charming, but you know what they say about books and covers."

She was still leaning backwards, when she saw that he was just reaching his arm out for the ferret to climb up his arm. She stared at the man, a flush moving up her neck to her face, her voice stuck in her throat, as he watched her, his pet making its way to his backpack, before getting a hold of herself.

She started to get up, her tongue untwisted, "Um, yea, I do, and I know what they say about talking to strangers, too," she nodded to him before turning to walk away, "Excuse me."

"But I'm not a stranger, Meggie."

She stopped in her tracks.

"We already met once. But you might not remember me, you were quite small." She turned slowly on her heel to look back at the man.

He gave her a meaningful look, "But I'm no stranger."

The man looked at something over her shoulder, looking for herself, she saw it was Mo. The man spoke again, but this time towards her father.

"Hello Silvertongue."

Meggie felt confusion wash through her. Silvertongue? What is a Silvertongue? And why did this strange man call Mo that?

Mo walked towards her, and the man continued, "I was just having a talk with your daughter."

Mo walked in front of Meggie and pushed her back, "Go wait for me in the van, Meggie." She hesitated, he sensed it, "It's alright, he's just an old friend."

She still didn't believe him. "Dad!" she whispered, shooting a glance at the other man. Mo gave an exasperated look and turned back to her, "Do it now!" he said sternly.

Her teenage pride injured, she jutted her chin out defiantly, and tried to gain some dignity back by turning around and walking with her head up.

She waited in the van. But Mo was gone with the man for a while, and she started to worry. Questions were whirling in her head. What does Silvertongue mean? Who is that man with the scars? What does he want with Mo? Why is this happening? Should she follow?

She turned around in her seat to look out the back window, as if she could see her father and the man out there, but she could only see the snow. She swiveled back around, and rested her head on the seat, deeply sighing.

She should be with Mo, she decided. She shouldn't be in here, while Mo was out there with a stranger. Nodding her head, she got out of the vehicle and slammed the door. As she walked to where she last saw the two men, she began putting her hands in her coat pocket, before giving up and just started to run.

She heard Mo's voice farther up, and she ran to the corner where she hid and listened. He was standing in front of the man, saying something about how it's too dangerous and uncontrollable.

What was? she wondered.

The other man spoke, "If you won't help me, I'll find someone who can. Just give me the book." He reached his hand out with his head down, waiting for Mo to comply.

But Mo didn't, "What book? I don't have the book," he answered. The man tilted his head up, before dropping his hand to his side.

"You don't have the book?"

"No." Mo shook his head, and the man walked closer, "I searched everywhere. I don't have it."

She couldn't hear the next part very well, for the man leaned in very close and spoke softly, but she did see Mo lean his bag away, so she took a wild stab in the dark and guessed the man asked about the bag.

But she also saw the tiny little marten on the ground behind Mo, and knew something wasn't right. She clenched the plant she was holding onto, and leaned forward some more to hear and see better.

The man smiled, "Did you finally find one?" Mo gave him an indifferent look, while he continued on, "It's funny isn't it? Strange my turning up here right at that very moment."

Mo glanced at the ground, and the man looked up, "You know, sometimes in life there are times when the stars just simply align!"

Mo face twisted, "But this is not one of those times!" And he knocked the man down into the snow and began to run. But before he could get far, the marten screeched and dove at him. Mo blocked with his bag, and the marten fell away. After a moments daze, Mo ran off. She immediately followed.

"Dad!" she cried. She ran past the man on the ground and the marten, running after Mo.

She took a path and a few seconds later, she almost plowed right into Mo, he grabbed her arms, "Meggie?"

She looked at him, "What's happening?" she cried, her eyes narrowed. He shook his head, "I told you to stay in the van! Run!" he pushed her along, and they ran into the van, locked the doors and he started to drive.

Right when they pulled away, she heard the man run up behind them, "Stop! I'm trying to help you!" she turned around, and watched while Mo drove away.

She immediately grabbed for his bag, but he pulled it away. "No! Leave it alone!"

"I want to see the book!" she tried reaching for the bag again, from where he put it behind his seat, but he put his arm in the way, and then pointed it at her, "You're not allowed to touch that book, understand?"

She shook her head, ready to get answers, "No! I don't understand! What is that book? Why did the weird man with the scars want it? And why did he call you Silvertongue?"

Mo just shook his head, "I can't tell you that."

"You have to tell me!"

"No," he shook his head lightly, "I have to protect you"

She rolled her eyes, "Mo, I don't need protection! I'm sixteen for God's sakes!"

She almost didn't hear him when he finished his statement with: "And your mother." She stared at him in disbelieving. "My mother? What does this have to do my mother?"

Slight pain flashed over Mo's face, as though this conversation would hurt him, "Meggie, please, just…"

She sat silently for a few minutes. Then in a tiny little girl's voice, one she hadn't used since she was one, she whispered, "I'm scared, Mo…"

Mo stayed silent for only a few seconds, "Meggie, I'm going to take care of you. I always have, and I always will."

She stared at him, trying to believe him. Then, "At least tell me where we're going," he had to at least tell her that.

He kept his eyes on the road, "We're going to Italy. You have a great aunt there," he explained when she cast a confused look at him, "It's very important we get there, okay?" he sent her a look, "Please, Meggie, no more questions."

She nodded her head slightly, and Mo drove on. But while she was silent, her head wasn't. Flashes of the Scarred man and the horned marten and her father's bag went through her mind, their voices echoing. 'the book….just give me the book…the book…' it wouldn't leave her alone. She cast a quick glance behind Mo's chair to his bag. She needed to find out what book it was, soon. Maybe when they reach this aunt's of hers place she'll get lucky and get some answers.

But for the entire ride, it was quiet. Mo didn't say a word till they got to the front door.