Capricorn's Daughter

by TripleAAAmanda

Capricorn turns out to have a daughter who is just as cunning as himself. Will he except her as family, just use her as a weapon, or leave her to rot in the cages? Takes place during time before Meggie and a bit during. First story, sorry for lame summary. But give it a try? Rating but will progress into the story. All characters I do not own belong to Cornelia Funke.

4. 4: Back to the Van

(A/N: thanks for waiting here it is)

They were out of the alley now. Since she wanted to see Capricorn, Basta trusted that she wouldn't run off. He had to take a leak. He was gone two minutes, but when he came back she wasn't where he left him.

He panicked. Stupid Basta, he scolded himself, I couldn't have waited could I. However, he found her at a jewelry stand near by. The man there was tieing the clasp of a necklace around her pale neck, trying to persuade her to purchase it. He was planning her punishment for leaving when he realized how uncomfortable she looked. She must of been coaxed to the booth. Basta admitted that she didn't deserve any harm... yet.

He approached the stand. The jeweler was a short man, puggy around the tummy. The jeweler saw Basta, and scurried away from the child. He stared at Basta suspiciously, realizing that he was a new face. Basta smiled as kindly as he could and leaned in towards the girl, who was fiddling with the necklace the jeweler had given her. "Boo," he said. She looked up startled, but relaxed when she saw his smile. She wasn't in trouble. She smiled back, catching onto what Basta was doing.

"Isn't that a pretty locket," Basta said sweetly and turned to the booth-tender, "How Much?"

"Oh, um... On the house, or booth, I insist!"

Basta nodded. He liked that price. He'd spent all his money on the hobo anyways.

"Ready to go, hun?" Basta asked, as fatherly as he could. He was holding back vomit; he wasn't fatherly nor sweet. She nodded and giggled as Basta gently lifted her onto his shoulders. With a nod of thanks and farewell to the jeweler, Basta walked off. As soon as they were out of sight and out of the bustle of the market, Basta dumped the child back on the ground. He told her to walk towards the parking lot. Then he started muttering crossly about salesman and their cons.

They reached the white van and Basta knocked on the window for Flatnose to unlock the door. He heard the doors click and he opened the van back door and pushed the kid inside. He then ran around the car to the passenger door and got inside.