While Meggie rode home in a coach with Brianna, she was thinking about Farid, though she knew she shouldn't. Should she forgive him? Could she forgive him? Her mind was wavering, but she thought she knew the answer.
And while she was thinking about him, Farid was thinking about her. If his little show the other night hadn't worked, he didn't know what would. But he had to get her to forgive him. He wanted her, more and more every moment. He wanted her badly.
He watched the little fiery vines that Dustfinger was teaching him to create twist and reach up into the air, where they faded, whipped away by the wind. Dustfinger's stayed strong, twisting and reaching up so far the top disappeared. Only when Dustfinger closed his hand did the vines disappear.
Farid conjured some more fire-vines and imagined them reaching out to Meggie, pulling her in to him. Then they disappeared. He tried again, and this time they were a little stronger, lasting for a longer time. That's what he needed to do. Keep trying to get Meggie back, keep trying to wrap the vines around her again and reel her in. Because he wanted her so badly it almost hurt.
But what could be his next attempt?
His thoughts trailed back to the night of the fire, the crackling flames, the terror, the Queens's face as she watched her home burn. The Queen, adorned with so many jewels but now with no proper bed to sleep in. Wait... Farid thought. So many jewels. Jewels. The idea clicked into place, a plan forming immediately in his mind.
The Queen's jewels. The diamond necklace.
The fiery vines conjured from his hand wound up into the air and reached almost as high as Dustfinger's. He knew exactly how to win Meggie over.
For anyone who hasn't already guessed, I have written this story in a different way to the Inkheart books, so the characters don't have exactly the right personalities . In this one, everyone has lived in the Inkworld all their lives, and this is my attempt at guessing a few of the things that might happen if that was the case.
Thanks for reading, and, as always, please review!