5

Return of the Magpie/Punishments

There is always an underlying story that you find when you read between the lines.

Two days later Luna was in her room this time waiting for Capricorn's summons. She got up and opened her door as Basta's footsteps approached. She walked past him heading for the church as Basta turned to follow. Darius was to read a few of the women servants and Mortola/The Magpie out.

"Ah Luna."

She nodded at Capricorn and took her spot as Darius started reading. After an hour the Magpie was standing in the center of the room. A chold chill ran down Luna's back. the Magpie walked to Capricorn. Luna bowed and existed the church. She was the first to leave and let mother and son get caught up. Darius was scolded and through in the cage. Luna wanted to tell them that they should stop scaring Darius. He alway stuttered when he was scared. A few hours later Luna was called into the Magpie's service.

Luna was cleaning clothes when Mortola walked up to her with Resa. Mortola was obviously annoyed.

"Lunar Star. Show Resa your room you shall be sharing."

Luna nodded in surprise to see Resa. She lead her to her room and helped her get situated. Luna handed her a pencil and paper once she finally realized that Resa didnt' have her voice. Resa's questions in regards to her flew across the page.

"I ran," was Luna's only reply when Resa asked about why she was limping. Resa shook her head, but Luna smiled.

"It was worth the risking the punishment." Luna jumpped up and ran form the room mumbling. Resa came out sometime later to help her finish up what she had been doing. She realized a fresh bruise on Luna's face. She remembered that Luna never cried or showed much emotion when it came to being in pain. She sighted and started on dinner.

Resa wrote, "Luna what else have they done to you."

Luna didn't answer her in words. She moved her hair reveilding the scar on her neck. Resa's eyes widened as she asked another question that she already knew the answer too. This time Luna only answered with the name "Basta". This would continue for five more years minus a small enterance of an old friend. LUna had tried running again, but the punishment had almost killed her and she never did it again. Many others now followed Capricorn. Most against their own wills. Many were read out, but most came form neighbouring villages. They were all traped in the nightmare of Inkheart.

By the age of 16 Luna hand been in bed with most of the men. How she manged to still be a virgin was beyone the comprehension of a normal person. It is not say that the men didn't try. It just never happened. After awhile most of the men left her alone, except for three, and Luna was punished off and on for one thing or another. Punishment was a night with one of the three. Things had died down and become routine until one nighth when Dustfinger ented the village and had told Capricorn where to fined Silvertoungue. Luna followed him.

"Dust you know Capricorn in decieving you. He can read you back." Dustfinger shook his head and disappeared. She stood there looked out in the direction he had gone.

"Don't you have work."

She spun around looking into Basta's knife. "Next time that fire eater come back. I'll kill him."

Luna stayed frozen to the spot watching Basta's knife. "You wouldn't be able to you coward!"

She reached out and grabbed his good luck charms dashing off. A black cat crossed Basta's path. He freaked and ran off. Luna entered his house taking his good luch charms throwing them out of hiding them elsewhere. She'd get in deep trouble but she didn't care. She placed what she had taken form his neck on the pillow and ran to her room collasping on the bed. Resa looked at her with interest. Luna on said his name at first then went on.

"He said he'd kill Dust." She was shiving now as Resa put her arms around her comforting her.

Basta was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Flatenose walked up to him scaring the living day lights out of him.

"Curse that Lunar Devil!" Flatnose backed away as Basta went to find Mortola who would tell Caricorn later when asked.

"Basta i will deal with her, but i will leave the rest of the punishment to you."

Basta only smiled and left to go to his house cursing her again when he had to go in search of items.

Luna and Resa were making the final preperations for bed when The Magpie barged in.

"Luna star! Come with me NOW!"

Luna took on glance at Resa as she obeyed. She was drug out of the room and out back.

"Don't you dare do a thing like what you did to Basta. Ever again!"

Luna shivered making no sound as the beating started and the men came to watch some even joined in. Luna couldn't remember much of it, but with it stopped she knew she was being drug to Basta's. When they got there he grabbed her form the Magpie and walked with her throwing her in a cage.

"I'll be back for you later." With his knife he cut her arms and left.

Luna curled up in the corner.

Hours later Basta returned. He had gone off to Mo also known as Silvertoungue. He came in as she looked up still holding her arm. Luna knew it was going to bea long next few hours before the sun saved her. She made no noise or protest as he lifted her dress and placed the cold blade of his knife on her stomach.

"I will teach you not to do that child!"

Luna closed her eyes as she felt the blade enter her. She only gasped as Basta pulled it back out. Then made nice slash marks down her sides. She had been laying down, so he forced her up and against the wall hard letting her slide down and forcing her into the wall again. Through it all she didn't scream in pain like she wanted too. Minutes later he drug her Mo's cell.

"This is what happens if you don't obey."

He threw her to the floor leaving in a huff. Luna gaged moving into a corner holding her stomach. Mo looked at her in astonishment. She curled up trying to stop the bleeding. Blood started to slowly flow from her mouth. Her whole body shook. Mo was lost for words and didn't know how to help. Moments later Flatnose came in and took her out mumbling something about letting her die.

Capricorn roared, "Basta I'VE TOLD YOU. DO NOT GO KNIFE HAPPY ON HER!" Mortola came to Basta's aid but Capricorn didn't care. Flatnose brough her in. She collapsed before Capricorn. She was loosing conciousness. Capricorn lifted her head up. "Get the doctor. NOW!" It seemed like and enternity before Luna gave in and fall unconcious.

Moment's later the doctor was there fixing her up as best as he could.

"She's lucky a few minutes more and she's have been dead."

Capricorn nodded and glared over at Basta. The doctor finised up and left.

"take her to Resa. Basta bring me Silvertoungue."

Flatnose walked up to Luna and Resa's room and placed Luna on the bed and left. Resa ran to Luna's side. As the sun hit its midday spot Luna's eyes fluttered open. the sun lite the room even more making it brighter then Luna liked it. Resa looked at her with a relieved smile.

"What happened. My head is pounding." Resa's hands flew wildly and Luna caught it all.

an: I know i know i'm mean sorry. hehehe hope you like.