Ok It has been awhile cause I've been lazy and I'm cycling 4 stories at a time so go easy on me!

Kat: Um... Kallypso?

What?

Kat: Not that it matters but Callypso is standing behind you with a dart gun to your head.

Callypso: Kill the Procrastinator!

Screw you! DIE!!!

Kat: They're fighting... again. Oh well. R&R!!!

At sunrise Flatnose and my favorite person in the world, Cockerell came to get us from our cell.

"Silvertongue's giving us a demonstration today" Cockerell sneered. "This should be interesting."

"Is that the annoying one you were telling me about." Elinore hissed to me.

"Gee, how'd you guess" I muttered.

"You say something Sweetheart" Cockerell turned his narrowed eyes on me.

I shook my head "No. What makes you think that." I tried to maintain a perfect picture of innocence, something I've never been good at.

Cockerell grunted and turned back around. I silently contemplated what he would do if I through a rock at his head.

The church was crowded with black jackets and maids. There was also another man with dusty hair and green eyes. He had a box of matches in his hands. Ah. The betraying match stick eater. My theory was proven right by the hostile glance Meggie sent his way. He avoided her eyes and instead met mine, curiously. I sent him a small smile.

"Go find your self a place to sit" Cockerell shoved me away. I glared at him and went over to stand by the strange man.

"Uh... hi" I said in a low voice. "I'm Callypso"

"Dustfinger" the man replied lighting a match and watching the flame burn down to his fingertips. Then he threw away the spent match and lit another. "Why'd they bring you here?" he met my eyes.

"I can sort of um... write things to life." I said awkwardly. Well how would you feel? That's not exactly a sentence you use in every day conversation.

"Oh" Dustfinger said as if I'd just said something as simple as "I like to eat pie."

"Why are you here" I asked.

Dustfinger smiled bitterly "My own reasons" Great. Thanks for the straight answer.

I was going to ask more questions but at that moment Basta came toward us, an oil can in his hand. "Well if it isn't Dirtyfingers" he sneered. He sent me a glance "Seems like you two are acquainted now." I felt like punching him... really hard but I didn't. "Light us a fire" Basta handed the oil can to Dustfinger "That is what you do best."

"Why not you Basta" Dustfinger's eyes narrowed in distaste 'Oh wait... your afraid of fire aren't you"

"Really?" I stared at Basta in disbelief "Afraid of fire? I think I'll keep a mental note for later."

Dustfinger smiled "That's what I do. A very useful weakness"

"Shut up!" Basta hissed. "So what if I am? You would be too if..." he trailed off, turned and stalked away.

"If?" I looked questioningly at Dustfinger.

He shrugged "Burnt both his arms up to his shoulder once. That's why he always wears long sleeves"

Hm... I probably would of felt sorry for him... if it was anyone other than Basta.

At that moment Capricorn entered the room followed by several blackjackets. He had a book in his pale hands. The title read Inkheart.

I saw Dustfinger's eyes linger longingly on the book.

"Good our guests are here. Have you enjoyed you stay Silvertongue?" Mo made a point not to answer. I was kind of in and out of Capricorn's next long winded speech. Something about the book I think. Then he brought in a bunch of other copies. "In any case I have no intention of leaving this world. So I will just have to make sure that doesn't happen." I knew his intentions at that moment. The fire was for burning the books. Wasn't Mo's wife still there. I knew this wasn't going to affect me but I felt like I had to stop this. Light seemed to dawn on the others.

"NO!" Mo, Dustfinger, Meggie and Elinore screamed in unison.

As Capricorn dropped the first book in the fire I jumped forward and swiped the book away. I snatched it from the floor and clutched it tightly to my cheast. The black jackets were a bit slow on the up take but they quickly moved forward to catch me. I avoided the first two and darted out of the reach of Flatnose and Cockerell. I thought I was doing pretty well but that wouldn't last for ever.

"Callypso" Dustfinger called. I saw him gesturing for me to throw him the book. I threw and he caught it and began his own evasive dance. He was quicker than me. I breathed a sigh of relief but a felt someone slip a hand around my waist and the feeling of sharp metal on my throat. Basta had taken advantage of my hesitation.

"Give the book back" Basta hissed menacingly at Dustfinger. The other black jackets backed away leaving only the two men and me standing in the center of the room. Meggie looked terrified, Elinore was cursing Basta, Dustfinger was frozen. "Give it back Dirtyfingers. Or I may let my knife slip." I felt his breath on my neck.

Dustfinger looked from me, to the book, to Basta then said "As far as I'm concerned that girl is very valuble to Capricorn. I doubt you'd be so careless as to let that knife slip." Ooh he was clever.

"Silvertongue can bring things to life to Dustfinger" Capricorn said calmly. "We may not have such a great need of this girl" Basta knotted his fingers through my hair and forced my head further back.

Dustfinger was silent for a moment. Just enough time for Cockerell to snatch the book from his hands and throw it into the flames.

"NO" Dustfinger tried to pluck the book out of the fire but just ended up burning his hands.

The book was ashes in seconds, devoured by the hungry flames. Dustfinger stared at his hands his fce twisted in pain. The other blackjackets were laughing like a pack of hyenas.

"Dustfinger" Capricorn said calmly "go to the kitchen and get one of the maids to treat your hands."

Dustfinger obeyed walking from the room his head bent.

"Don't try a little stunt like that again" Basta hissed in my ear. He still had a firm hold on me. "Or it will be the worse for you."

Capricorn was eyeing me "Basta keep an eye on our guest for now. Next she'll be trying to escape."

Not a bad idea but I knew I wasn't going to get the chance.

Basta removed his knife from my throat but held me in a firm headlock preventing me from going anywhere.

Even if I could get away, where would i go? I didn't know how to get back home, or where the heck I was. I was trapped with these thugs. I know I've said it a million times but this sucked!


Callypso: Review!!!

Kat: Or die!

Or something less extreme! R&R!