Chapter 48

Basta turned nervously back to Capricorn,

"You were?"

Capricorn nodded almost lazily,

"Yes. Talking about what I'm going to do with you."

Dafne saw the fear in Basta's eyes.

"Sir the boy - it's not fault," he began to protest, "I didn't..." he glanced at Dafne, "We didn't have anything to do with it. I swear to you, we..."

"Yes I know," Capricorn cut in, looking bored, "We've been over this already without you," he indicated Dafne and Pietro with a sweep of his arm, "These two pleaded your case."

Basta regarded his self-appointed lawyers with surprise.

"They have?" then his eyes narrowed, "Why do you have your hand on her shoulder?" he growled at Pietro.

Dafne had forgotten the presence of Pietro's hand in the wake of Basta coming in. She glanced at it now as if she had only just noticed it.

"Dafne was feeling a little sick before," Pietro replied, smiling amicably but not removing his hand, "I'm just holding her to keep her steady."

Dafne stared at him in disbelief.

You liar, she thought, I don't why you've put your hand on me but I know that's definitely not the reason.

Basta didn't look convinced either but he was concerned.

"Were you feeling sick little mouse?" he asked Dafne, too busy looking at her to notice Capricorn sneer and roll his eyes.

"It was the cigar smoke," she replied, brushing off Pietro's hand as the man wouldn't do it himself, "But I'm fine now."

Basta smiled briefly at her before turning back to Pietro with a more unfriendly expression,

"She says she's fine so step away from her."

Pietro raised his hands looking unbothered by Basta's brusqueness,

"As you wish."

"I must say you're treating Pietro rather ungratefully," Capricorn remarked as Pietro strolled back to his side, "Considering he just defended you from treason charges."

Basta's head snapped around to stare at Capricorn wildly,

"Treason charges? But I've committed no treason..."

"Yes yes," Capricorn interrupted him again, "Like I said, Pietro's already cleared your name on that account. I think you should get down on your knees and thank him."

Basta looked uncertain as if he couldn't tell if Capricorn was ordering him to do this or not.

"Surely you don't expect me..."

Capricorn shrugged,

"Why not? He probably saved your life. What better way to show your gratitude."

"Please..." Basta protested in a small disgusted voice, "Please don't make me..."

Pietro chuckled before jumping in to spare Basta the humiliation.

"Don't worry. That won't be necessary. I know how very grateful Basta is deep down."

He laughed as Basta very gratefully glared daggers at him.

Capricorn looked a little disappointed but he shrugged,

"It's your choice," he said then smiled, "Would you rather Dafne come and do it instead?"

"No!" Basta objected before Dafne even had time to react.

Capricorn ignored him,

"What do you think?" he asked Pietro slyly, "You think she's beautiful. There's nothing like a beautiful woman throwing themselves at your feet."

"Did you call her that?" Basta snarled at Pietro, "Did you call her beautiful?"

Pietro regarded the other man's anger mildly.

"She is beautiful. I'm paying you a compliment by saying so."

"Paying me a compliment?" Basta snapped, "Like hell you are. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You think you can have any woman who catches your eye..."

He went and placed his hand on Dafne's shoulder, the same spot Pietro's hand had once been.

"But you can't have Dafne. She's mine and no one is going to take her away from me."

"Oh is that what you think," Capricorn said in a soft voice. Basta heard him and turned uneasily, the anger receding from his face, "You think that no one can take her away."

"Yes," Basta said, "Because..." he glanced down at Dafne. She met his gaze and smiled. It seemed to boost his confidence because he went on say, "Because she loves me."

"Because she loves you," Capricorn said in a harsh mocking voice which made Basta flinch. He leaned back in his chair, eyeing his servant scornfully, "Well that's what you've always wanted wasn't it. Some woman to love you. And who gave you this woman Basta do I need to remind you?"

Basta bowed his head,

"You did," he said quietly.

"Yes I did," Capricorn said, "And why did I give her to you?"

Basta shifted uncomfortably like a child under interrogation,

"As... as a reward."

"A reward for what?"

"For serving you faithfully."

"Yes that's right," Capricorn drawled sarcastically before his tone become more severe, "And do you think you've served me very faithfully of late Basta?"

Basta's head jerked up, eyeing his master worriedly.

"I... well... yes," he stammered without conviction.

"Yes? Is that what you really think? Let's consider how you've performed recently. You left your post in the middle of an operation," Capricorn ticked this off on his finger, "You failed to procure the girl I wanted," another finger, "And now your apprentice has run off with one of my maids..." another finger.

"Surely you can't hold the last one against me," Basta protested.

Capricorn bundled the ticked fingers into a fist and slammed it down on the arm rest.

"He was your apprentice," he spat as Basta winced, "That makes him your responsibility. His crime is your responsibility."

"I know that," Basta said desperately, "And I will find him for you. I will. Let me go and..."

"Oh I will," Capricorn said, silencing Basta with a raise of his hand, "But not until you've rethought the answer to my question."

"What question?" Basta asked timidly.

Capricorn stared at him in frustrated disbelief.

"The question of whether or not you've served me faithfully of late."

"Oh?" Basta said in a small voice. Then he sighed, hanging his head in defeat, "No I haven't."

"So you admit that you've failed me?" Capricorn went on.

"Yes," Basta mumbled.

"I'm glad you've been able to get that through thick skull," Capricorn said, "Because it will help you make sense of what I'm about to do."

Basta raised his head,

"What are you going to do?" he asked in a quiet anxious voice.

Capricorn made him suffer in suspense a while before he answered.

"I'm taking back your reward."

It took a moment for Basta to comprehend what his master was saying. A moment before a horrible look realisation dawned on his face.

"No," he said, shaking his head, "No you can't take her back."

He gripped Dafne's shoulder tightly but she only dimly felt it. She was staring at Capricorn in shock. Take her back?

No, no, she thought desperately, you can't do that. You can't... But he could. She knew he could. So did Basta.

"Please," he pleaded, "Please don't do that."

"Why not?" Capricorn said, indifferent to Basta's plea, "You've failed me and this is your punishment. You can have her back when you've proved your worth to me again."

Prove his worth? Dafne knew exactly what this would entail. She now realised Capricorn's game. He had hinted at it earlier when he had been philosophising about happiness.

You threaten to take away the source and people will do just about anything to be given it back. Whatever the price.

Capricorn expected Basta to pay for her by committing atrocities. Thought of such an exchange sickened her. She needed to do something. She needed to convince Capricorn not to take her back just yet. She needed him to let her go with Basta tonight. If he did, they could use the opportunity to leave the village. Capricorn would never be able to separate them then. Not if they disappeared out of his reach.

She went to rise but Basta held her down,

"Don't," he whispered, thinking she was moving to obey Capricorn by leaving his side.

"It's alright," she patted his hand reassuringly, "Just let go for a moment."

Basta resisted at first but eventually allowed her to prise his hand off. With a deep breath, she approached Capricorn and lowered herself down on her knees before him. She was too overwhelmed by desperation to feel the humiliation of such a degrading position. She looked up into his amused face beseechingly,

"Please," she said, "Give Basta one more chance before you take me from him."

Capricorn chuckled,

"See what you missed out on Pietro," he said.

Pietro didn't seem like he regretted the opportunity. He looked uncomfortable watching Dafne prostrate herself. Capricorn was the only one enjoying it, relishing his power.

"One more chance," he said to Dafne, "One more chance you said."

"Yes. Please."

Capricorn stroked his lip with his finger contemplatively. In the silence of his pondering, Dafne could feel the rapid thumping of her heartbeat as if she was running instead of kneeling still.

"Well," Capricorn said finally, making her heart speed up even more in anticipation, "I will say this," he was addressing Basta, Dafne glanced over shoulder to see the look of pained anxiety on his face, "she loves you enough to sacrifice her dignity. If I were you, I'd be touched."

Basta nodded, his eyes shifting to Dafne. He gave her a nervous but tender smile. She smiled back, just as nervous, just as tender.

"I would also," Capricorn went on, drawing their attention back to him, "be very determined not to screw up the final chance she's secured you."

Dafne nearly leapt to her feet in joy. She had done it. She had convinced him. They were free.

Basta looked tremendously relieved. Relieved and eager.

"I won't screw up. Thank you, my Lord. Thank you. I..."

Capricorn cut him off with a raised hand.

"Spare me the sycophantic gratitude. It won't help you catch that boy."

Basta's happiness evaporated.

"Boy?" he said uneasily.

"Have you suddenly gone senile?" Capricorn sneered, mistaking his reaction for forgetfulness, "I'm talking about your lovesick apprentice," he pointed to the window, "I want you to go out there and bring him back. The maid too," Capricorn smiled thinly, "I want you to bring them back so I can watch you cut their throats."

The elation Dafne had felt now blackened into fearful repulsion. She couldn't picture the act in her mind but she imagined Basta's sharp blade and blood pooling on the floor, growing bigger and bigger.

Don't think about it, she tried to tell herself, it's not going to happen. It won't happen because you're going to leave with Basta and meet Silvio and Netta at Signor Orazio's. No more village. No more Capricorn. No more killing.

"If that is what you desire," Basta was saying to Capricorn, no eagerness in his voice, only resignation.

"I do desire it," Capricorn said, "And you should too if you want to keep your little maid."

Basta nodded, moving to reach for Dafne,

"Let me take her home," he said, "Then I'll find them."

"I don't think so," Capricorn said, his words making Basta freeze, "She'll stay with me in the meantime."

An icy fear gripped Dafne's heart as she registered his words.

No! No! I can't stay! I need to leave! It's our one chance! Our one chance!

"But you said..." Basta protested.

"I said I would give you a final chance," Capricorn said, "Which you're squandering by wasting your time here. Do you want Dafne's stay at my house to become permanent?"

Basta shook his head vehemently,

"No."

Capricorn gestured at the door,

"Then do something about it."

Basta took an obedient step towards the door then stopped.

"Can I say goodbye first."

Capricorn rolled his eyes, motioning Dafne to rise,

"I'd make it quick if I were you. Walk him to the door if you like."

Each step towards the door was painful. Painful because she knew that once she got to the door she could go no further. She wouldn't be leaving him after all. They wouldn't be leaving the village. She had no idea what to do now. She didn't want Silvio and Netta brought back and killed. But if Basta returned empty-handed, who knew how much blood Capricorn would expect him to shed before he handed her back over to him. Blood that would be as much on her conscience as Basta's.

She was so lost. Utterly lost.

Basta drew his arms around her. There was no comfort in his embrace but she held onto him desperately, holding him in place, not wanting him to leave and decide their fate.

"I'm sorry," he murmured to her, "But I have no choice. I need to find them."

Dafne shook her head,

"You won't find them," she whispered, "I don't want you to."

"Time tock Basta," Capricorn informed him cruelly.

"I have to go little mouse," Basta said apologetically, sliding his arms away.

But she refused to let him go. When she did, he didn't attempt to prise her off. He just stood there watching her cling to him with a conflicted expression on his face.

Capricorn sighed,

"Pietro, go help Basta disengage himself. He doesn't seem able to."

"Don't you come near us," Basta snarled before Pietro hadn't even moved, "Please dear heart you need to let go of me," he pleaded in a low voice so only she could hear, "Don't make me force you myself."

With a heavy heart, Dafne relented. She couldn't hold him here forever. She couldn't stop him walking out the door after he stroked her face a final time.

Then he was gone and she stared at the closed door, imagining him walking out another door, the front door, heading out into the night without her.

Off to hunt Silvio and Netta. She hoped he wouldn't succeed. She wanted the two to remain alive and free despite the consequences it would have for her and Basta.

She was staring so intensely at the door, without even seeing, lost in her own thoughts, that she didn't register Pietro's approach until he put his hand on her arm.

"Don't worry," he said as she regarded him with startled alarm, "He'll find them."

"Bring her to me Pietro," Capricorn called.

Instinctively and rather irrationally Dafne went to jerk her arm away but Pietro's hold tightened like a clamp.

"Come," he said, not without sympathy on his face, "You can't stare at a door all night."

Dafne allowed herself to be brought over to Capricorn. What else could she do? She was all out of ideas. She felt like she was stuck in the middle of vast ocean and there was nothing she could do by let herself be taken by the current.

"Pietro, go and tell Mortola she has one more bird that needs to be shut in with others tonight."

Despite how tightly he'd held her arm, Dafne wished Pietro hadn't been dismissed, leaving her alone with his master.

"So tell me," Capricorn said to her, "I want to know. How did he do it?"

Dafne regarded him wearily, unsure what he meant.

"What do you mean?"

"How did Basta make you love him," Capricorn elaborated impatiently; "I know it wasn't jewels or gifts. They wouldn't have been enough to make you overlook the wrongs he's done you. So what was it? What won you over?"

"Kindness," Dafne answered since he was determined to know. She didn't expect him to understand. She expected him to sneer, which he did.

"Kindness?" Capricorn scoffed, "Is that it? You gave yourself to him because he acted all nice around you," he shook his head, "I never took you to be such a fool."

"It wasn't an act," Dafne replied, "I would have seen through that. Basta has goodness in him. A goodness you can't see because you've only ever needed his bad side to do your bidding."

"Goodness," Capricorn spat out the word like he'd eaten something offensive, "There's no goodness in Basta. He's comprised of less nobler stuff. Possessiveness. Jealousy. Desperation. Loneliness. Rage... Deceitfulness. Mustn't forget deceitfulness. After all he's deceived you."

"You're wrong," Dafne said, refusing to listen to him. He was trying to make her doubt herself, "He hasn't deceived me. There is good in him."

"No there isn't," Capricorn smiled, confident of that fact, "And I'm going to prove it to you."

I'm going to prove it to you.

Capricorn's words filled Dafne with dread and she kept dwelling on them as Mortola whisked her off to the maids' sleeping quarters. She was so preoccupied with the words that she barely caught any of the woman's nasty self-satisfied comments as they went.

"Here you lot," Mortola called into the dark yet familiar room she shoved Dafne into, "An old friend come to stay."

She sneered smugly at Dafne for a final time and slammed the door. Standing in the pitch black Dafne heard Mortola turn the key in the lock followed by the sound of her quick but stilted footsteps.

"Dafne?" a voice whispered in surprise, "Is that you?"

Dafne recognised the voice. It belonged to Marianna.

"Yes it's me."

There was the rustle of sheets being pushed back.

"Resa," that was Agnese, "Light a candle for us, will you?"

Dafne's heart did a leap. Resa was here.

She was. A moment later Dafne could see her lovely face, glowing in the light of the candle she was holding.

Dafne wanted to run over to hug her but stayed put. They were no longer friends. That was her fault.

To her surprise, Resa approached her instead, her face enquiring and concerned.

She wasn't the only one. Agnese also came over, followed by Marianna. Their expressions matched Resa's.

"What are you doing here? What's happened?" Agnese asked.

"Have you heard anything about Netta?" Marianna said before Dafne even had a chance to answer Agnese's questions.

She was somewhat glad too. She didn't want to talk about how Capricorn had taken her from Basta like she was a toy. She didn't want to talk about Basta in front of Resa.

"I know she hasn't been found yet," she said. The three women let out a collective sigh of relief. Dafne turned to Resa, "Dustfinger is helping Netta and Silvio escape."

Resa smiled. It felt so good to have Resa smile at her even though the smile wasn't for her. It was for Dustfinger.

"How do you know he's helping them?" Agnese asked.

"Silvio sought him out after he took Netta," Dafne explained, "He knew we were friends so he could trust him. He left Netta with him and came to see me at Basta's house. Basta wasn't there, he was out looking for them," she winced to say this part. It didn't put Basta in a good light but it was the truth.

"Why did he risk coming to see you?" Marianna said, "Especially since Basta could have been home."

"He wanted me to escape with them," Dafne said.

"Well why didn't you?" Agnese said, 'It would have been a good opportunity."

"Because..." Dafne was reluctant to tell them the truth. She had stayed for Basta, "Because I would have slowed them down. I twisted my ankle today and the last person you need with you in an escape is a limping woman."

This wasn't a complete lie. She had twisted her ankle. All three women were starring at her sympathetically, pitying her apparent bad luck. Their pity made her uncomfortable. Their reaction would have been different if she had stated the true reason for staying behind.

"Anyway, it wasn't important for me to go," she went on, "Netta and Silvio were the ones who really needed to get away. And they have a strong chance with Dustfinger helping them."

"Let's hope you're right," Agnese said, not looking entirely reassured, "If they get caught that will be the end of them."

Marianna put her arm around her.

"Try not to think about that," she said. There were cracks in her soothing voice, showing she was just as worried as Agnese, "Like Dafne said, they have a good chance."

But Agnese wasn't comfort by her friend's words. She only grew more gloomy.

"I don't think I could stand to lose Netta," she said, a tremble in her voice, "She's such a sweet girl and she's been through so much. I was so afraid that day she ran off the first time. Afraid for her life. I'm just as afraid for her now. I've already lost one friend since coming here. I don't want to lose Netta like I did Cecilia."

Cecilia. Dafne recognised the name. She had been the girl Basta had taken to hospital after being bitten by a snake. She remembered Basta telling her that she had discharged herself and escaped. But Agnese was acting as if Cecilia had died.

That's because she thinks she did, Dafne realised, no one must have told her. She suspected Mortola would have used such a lie to cover up the humiliation of a girl escaping. It made sense. She didn't want other maids holding out a chance for their own shot at freedom.

"Cecilia's not dead," Dafne told Agnese.

Agnese stared at her confusion. So did Marianna and Resa. But Dafne focused on Agnese.

"You were told otherwise weren't you," Dafne said sympathetically, "I'm sorry that you were. It must have caused you a lot of heartache, thinking your friend was dead."

Agnese regarded her almost fearfully,

"What are you talking about?" she said, "She is dead. She got bitten by a snake and died."

Dafne shook her head,

"She got bitten but she didn't die. Basta took her to hospital and she escaped from there after she recovered."

Agnese stared at her stunned.

"How do you know that?" she demanded.

"Basta told me."

Agnese's face hardened and she gave a derisive laugh.

"And you believed him? He's the one responsible for Cecilia getting bitten in first place," she said with venom in her voice.

She hates him, Dafne thought, she hates him as much as Resa. But Agnese's reason for hating him was based on misinformation.

"No he wasn't. He didn't set the snake on her."

"Yes he did," Agnese said angrily, "I bet he fed you that lie too," she narrowed her eyes at Dafne, disgust on her face, "I know you're with him now. We all know you're his girlfriend."

"That's got nothing to do with what we're talking about," Dafne said defensively.

"It has everything to do with it," Agnese snapped, "You might have fallen for his lies but don't expect the rest of us to."

"But I'm telling you the truth," Dafne was unable to stop herself shouting out of helplessness, "Why don't you believe me? I may be Basta's... girlfriend but I'm still your friend."

Agnese tore away Marianna's arm so she bring herself up close to Dafne.

"You're not my friend," she growled in Dafne's face, "You're a traitor. I don't why you've been shut up in here. Probably to spy on us. Find out if we know anything about the escape so you can pass it on to Bas..."

She never got to finish as Dafne slapped her across the face. She hadn't been able to stop herself. What Agnese had been saying had been so unfair, so hurtful.

"How dare you accuse me of that," she cried, though she immediately regretting striking her, "I would never do that. Ever!"

Agnese backed away from her. Hurt and surprise in her eyes. Fear too. That was the worst thing for Dafne to see. Fear. She had never made another person fear her before. It was an awful feeling.

"I'm sorry," she said, trying to follow her, "I didn't mean..."

"You stay away from me," Agnese said in shrill warning.

Dafne stopped, standing helplessly on the spot. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Resa shaking her head. She saw the disappointment on her face. It was horrible to see.

"I see he's rubbing off on you," Agnese said, drawing Dafne's attention back to her. Behind her, Marianna's face held the same amount of condemnation, "I should have figured. Are you carrying a knife as well?"

They're all against me now, Dafne thought sorrowfully. She didn't answer. There was no point. Their minds were made up, whether or not she was carrying a knife. She was no longer one of them.

"Come on," Agnese said, placing her hand on Marianna's shoulder.

Marianna nodded. The two of them disappeared from the sphere of light from Resa's candle, returning to their beds.

Resa remained standing where she was. Dafne took this as a hopeful sign.

"Resa," she turned to her desperately, "Please I didn't..."

Resa's face was full of sadness. She shook her head again and the motion made Dafne's heart ache painfully.

"Resa," Dafne said, tears springing in her eyes, knowing what was going to come next. She was going to leave her.

She appeared conflicted about it though, she was chewing on her lip.

But in the end, Resa went back to her bed, candle in hand, leaving Dafne to be swallowed up by the dark.

From her bedside, she glanced over in Dafne's direction. Then she took a deep sighing regretful breath and blew out the candle.

Dafne found her way to the closest empty bed. It was Netta's. She lay in it, smelling the ghostly scent of the girl's hair. It smelt faintly feline. It was familiar but it offered little comfort from the grippingly lonely feeling of Dafne's ostracism.

She missed Basta. She missed him even if he was the reason her friends had turned their backs on her. They didn't know him like she did. They didn't know he had goodness inside him.

Didn't he?

How much goodness could a person have if they slit a boy's throat?

Dafne rolled on her side, gripping the sheet with her fists restlessly.

What if he went through with it though? What if Basta caught Silvio and Netta and executed them, as Capricorn wanted? It would break her heart. She would never be able to forgive him.

Capricorn's words drifted tauntingly back into her head again.

There's no goodness in Basta... I'm going to prove it to you.

Dafne was worried. Very worried.

To be continued...