She wasn't no match for such craft, ya see
And everyone thought it so droll
They figured she had to be daft, ya see
So all of them stood there and laughed, ya see
Poor soul
Poor Thing-Helena Bonham Carter
Julianne spends all of the next morning and afternoon in a state of constant worry. She hasn't seen Mo since the night before and no one will tell her if he's okay. Most of the people she's asked just laugh at her and the others mumble a curse before continuing with whatever they'd been doing.
Basta, her assigned guard while in the village, is the worst one of all. He enjoys tipping food in the floor when she's scrubbing just for laughs and dumping her mop water over to make her slip. Julianne bites her tongue and does her best, knowing he can't actually hurt her. Capricorn has ordered his men to keep at least three feet away at all times or he'll have their heads.
That evening, when she's ready to drop onto her bed and not move for a century, Basta barges inside and drags her out into the streets. She manages to latch onto a pillow, carrying it with her and resting her cheek against it as she stumbles along behind him.
"Why," she moans, almost tripping trying to keep up with him.
"Boss wants a show." Basta takes his place at his master's right side once they enter the sanctuary, an old hag kneeling at Capricorn's feet while Julianne's left to stand where she'd been tossed just last night. The men are on either side of her, sitting at long tables and digging into their food.
"Quiet," Capricorn demands. "Our very own songbird is going to sing for us." Julianne takes a deep breath to calm her nerves, closing her eyes as she tries to think of a song. Her mind draws a blank, like a jukebox that doesn't have any music yet. Oh, goddammit. "Anytime now, Julianne." So she opens her mouth and hopes for the best.
"Hey there, Rose Tyler, what's it like in your dimension? I'm a thousand worlds away, but I'm still seeing your reflection in the blue. My hearts are broken without you, I swear it's true. Hey there, Rose Tyler, don't you worry 'bout my safety. If I ever get in trouble I'll just run and shout allons-y, nothing new. Still got some running left to do. I'll run to you. Oh, it's what you've done to me, oh, across the galaxies. Oh, it's what you've done to me, oh, you and your Bad Wolf tendencies. What you've done to me.
Hey there, Rose Tyler, when I'd first regenerated, I knew something now was different, new, and simply fascinating. It was you. I found love inside that box of blue, and so did you. Hey there, Rose Tyler, I've got so much left to say, if it's my last chance now to tell you true, that I've wanted to say this for some time. Please don't forget me now, don't cry. Rose Tyler, I—
Oh, it's what you've done to me, oh, across the galaxies. Oh, it's what you've done to me, oh, you and your Bad Wolf tendencies. I'd walk five hundred miles for you, five hundred more, and when I'm through I'd fall down at your door and then I'd say Rose Tyler there's not time enough to tell you all the ways I think you're brilliant and I've missed you since that day. Rose Tyler I can promise you that I'd break time and space for you, the universe will remember your name! I'm on my way!
Hey there, Rose Tyler, you be good, and don't you miss me. You've got TenToo now to help you through, but I can't rewrite history, not this time. There's nothing I would rather do, but I'll stand at Bad Wolf Bay with you. Hey there, Rose Tyler, don't be blue. Just kiss TenToo. Oh, it's what you've done to me, oh, across the galaxies. Oh, it's what you've done to me, oh, you and your Bad Wolf tendencies. What you've done to me…."
She finishes with a sigh of relief, thanking God for the fact that she'd listened to that song on YouTube on repeat when she'd been working on her term paper. Capricorn claps slowly, the other men joining in and shouting for more beer. A good majority of them are already shit-faced, but the alcohol continues to flow freely. Capricorn gestures for Julianne to approach and she does so in fear. Did he not like it?
"I'm impressed," he says, looking and sounding anything but. "You'll sing for me every night from now on." Julianne nods without comment, pulling on her hoodie sleeve with shaky fingers. "Basta, why is she still dressed in those rags? The court minstrel deserves finery, don't you think?" Basta nods, quick to agree with whatever comes out of Capricorn's mouth. "Take her back to her room and help her find something suitable."
Basta steps forwards and grabs her arm, dragging her out of the church and straight to the room connected to Capricorn's chambers. It's basically storage, barely big enough to hold a twin bed, a small wardrobe, and a vanity.
She's pushed aside while Basta rummages through the wardrobe, eventually pulling out a strapless dress. It's crimson and gold, just long enough that it will stop around her knees. The colors alone make her half-expect Tywin Lannister to burst in and start judging her. She's more of a Stark girl anyway.
Basta throws the dress at her with a leering smile, making it clear that he isn't leaving the room while she changes. Well, joke's on him because she's not that shy. Julianne turns her back to him and quickly strips out of her dirty clothes before pulling the silk material on. It fits well enough, though it's a bit tight over her belly and chest. Obviously the previous owner had been smaller.
"Come on, Julianne, don't be shy." Julianne ignores him, struggling to zip the dress to no avail. A new pair of hands joins hers and makes her jump, Basta laughing in response as he pulls the zipper up. "Now, how about a thank you?"
"Thank you," she whispers, trying to move away. His arms wrap around her waist and he leans down to breathe in the scent of her hair. It must smell horrible since she's spent the day working in the heat and hasn't had a chance to shower yet. "What would Capricorn say if he could see you, Basta?"
"Capricorn isn't here." He spins her around and pins her against the wall, his lips crashing against hers in a bruising kiss. Her thoughts turn to the one she'd shared with Dustfinger, comparing it to this kiss. Dustfinger's had been gentle and sweet, this one is demanding and makes her want to scream.
Basta doesn't even seem interested in the kiss, just another way to make Julianne uncomfortable. There's one flaw in this plan, Julianne's a lot feistier than she had been as a teenager. She bites down on his lip until the coppery taste of blood fills her mouth. Basta jerks back with a shout, holding his mouth in pain while she takes advantage of his distraction. She sprints out of the room and down the hall, rounding the last corner that will take her to the front door and crashing into something solid that sends her sprawling on the ground. Capricorn stares down at her without emotion, like he'd expected to find her here.
"Julianne," he greets, picking a hair off of his suit. The events of the day catch up with her, her breaths coming quicker as darkness tinges the edge of her vision. No, not now. Please, God, not right now. But anxiety doesn't care about inconvenient timing, swarming over her like a wall of water.
And then Julianne is lost in a sea of unconsciousness.
Julianne wakes up to find herself lying on a soft bed in Capricorn's room, the walls painted the same garish red as the church. The room is large and the bed she's on takes up most of it, covered in red blankets and white pillows. It reminds her of the honeymoon suite in a cheesy movie or something, all the reds only adding to that affect.
"What in the hell," she grumbles in a voice heavy with sleep. She's still in the dress Basta had zipped her into but someone's removed her shoes and covered her in a robe of white satin. She stands up, pulling the too-big robe on and shuffling into the next room. The sleeves of the robe are too long, and she has to be careful not to step on the ends as it trails after her on the floor. In the next room Capricorn sits in an armchair, clothed in a red dressing gown while the old woman from earlier cuts his toenails.
"Julianne," he acknowledges in his deep voice without even looking up. "Are you any good at massages?"
"I don't have a lot of practice." He gestures her forward with a crooked finger, then points at his shoulders with one eyebrow cocked in impatience. She places her hands where he wants them and begins to knead the knots with firm motions. He relaxes slightly under her ministrations, his head rolling forward to give her more access. I could strangle him right now, Julianne thinks darkly. I could and then the crows will be leaderless and in chaos.
The door opens before she can move her hands around his throat, the people that are herded inside making her freeze. Meggie stares at her with wide eyes, clutching a plastic bag tightly to her chest.
"Excuse me," Basta says," but the visitors have arrived, and I thought you'd like to see them as soon as possible." Beside Meggie is Elinor and behind them both is Dustfinger. Julianne's eyes narrow into angry slits when she notices him, lunging forward to attack. Basta catches her before her fist can make contact, covering her mouth with his free hand to keep her from screaming in his ear.
Capricorn gives Julianne a scolding look, pale eyes shining like silver dollars. Those eyes scare her, and she does all she can to avoid looking at them. He gestures to the woman at his feet that she should leave, the old hag doing so reluctantly. She reminds Julianne of a Magpie, the dark look she sends Meggie making Julianne want nothing more than to claw out her eyes.
"Where is it?" Everyone knows what Capricorn means, the book he sent Dustfinger after again. "Don't tell me you've only brought me a girl." Capricorn stands up, the scraping sound his chair makes on the stone floor making Julianne wince.
"She has it," Dustfinger responds quickly. He's more worried about saving his own skin than the fact that he's just sent an innocent girl to an early grave. "It's in the bag." His gaze moves from one candle flame to the next, longing in his eyes. "The old woman insisted on coming along. I didn't like her from the start, but Silvertongue would trust the White Women if they said a nice word to him."
Julianne's hands clench into fists, struggling harder to get away from Basta. She wants the fire-eater to hurt, to worry if today's the day when he might be killed. She wants to make him suffer.
Capricorn walks closer to Meggie, his hands clasped behind his back. Meggie bites her lip, obviously frightened by the man in front of her just like all the rest of them. Capricorn's too close to Meggie for comfort now as he takes all of her in.
"How old is she?" His eyes look to Dustfinger for the answer, but it's Meggie who speaks, defiant.
"I'm twelve! Now, where are you keeping my father?" Yes, where is Mo being held in this despicable village? Capricorn ignores most of what Meggie says, thinking. He reminds Julianne of Lucius in a way; his voice is deep and calculating, he weighs his options carefully and plans everything out in advance. Julianne shivers as his eyes pass over her again. She hates him more than she hates Dustfinger. He uses fear to manipulate people into doing his bidding, but he has to do it himself in this world since his pet shadow is still lost in Inkheart's pages.
"In a few more years she'll be a pretty little thing, useful even. Maybe she'll resemble Julianne. We'll have to fatten her up, of course." He takes one of Meggie's arms in his hands, feeling it as if to judge how much he'll need to feed her. His fingers are long, piano fingers are what Mo calls them. Julianne's fingers are short and a little fat, the nails bitten and covered in chipped orange polish.
"Let the girls go," Elinor demands. Julianne winces at her tone, praying Elinor doesn't get a beating for it. The old fool steps up behind Meggie, her hands resting protectively on the younger girl's shoulders. "I don't know what's going on here and I frankly don't care! You have that godforsaken book now, so let all of us be on our way!" Capricorn turns his back to her, clearly agitated.
"I told you to bring me the girl and the book, but I said nothing about the old woman." Dustfinger shrugs, sitting on the edge of a table. He pinches the flame of one of the many candles between two fingers, taking some comfort in its warm bite. Julianne watches him closely, knowing full well that he could be the key to getting out of this place with all her limbs attached.
"And I told you that she insisted on coming," Dustfinger says. "The woman's as stubborn as my daughter." The last part is a mumble and barely heard. "She didn't trust me with Meggie or the book." Dustfinger's usually calm hands have a tremor in them as he places them in his lap. He's afraid, too. He knows what Capricorn does to those who displease him. Elinor, on the other hand, has a look on her face that Julianne's all too familiar with, it's somewhere between irritation and I told you so smugness. Nothing good can come from that look.
"Listen here, fat head," she snaps, jabbing her finger against Capricorn's chest. "As a book collector, I know that all of us aren't as sane as we pretend to be, but you're the craziest one of us all!"
Languidly, Capricorn puts his hands in his robe pockets and nods at Basta. The other man lets go of Julianne so abruptly that she stumbles, watching as he snatches the bag out of Meggie's grasp. He glances cautiously inside the bag as though to make sure there's only a book inside and not a poisonous snake, then he takes the book out and hands it to his master. The expression on Capricorn's face as he flips through the book is one of dislike and relief.
"Those two know nothing," he asks, snapping the book closed.
"Silvertongue told only Julianne," Dustfinger says. "He didn't want Elinor and Meggie to know, so why would I spoil the surprise?" He looks out the window into the darkness and Julianne knows in that moment that he doesn't have the courage to face what he has done. Capricorn nods, walking Julianne over to Dustfinger with her upper arm in a firm hold.
"Take the girl and old woman to the back of the house," he tells Basta. Basta nods, marching Julianne's family out of the sitting room. "You did well, Fire-Dancer." Capricorn smiles darkly. "I think you deserve a little relaxation for tonight, don't you agree?" Dustfinger is apprehensive, sending Julianne a nervous look. "Julianne will join you. I'm sure you'll enjoy her. It's been nine years since you were with a woman, hasn't it?"
"I don't think—"
"I could always let Basta have some time with her, but I'd rather not have her broken so soon." There's a tic in Dustfinger's jaw and the candlelight reflects in his eyes as they darken.
"Fine." Julianne swallows hard around the lump building in her throat, letting Dustfinger lead her out to a small hut on the edge of the village. She doesn't put up a fight, too scared of what Capricorn might do now that he has Meggie. Dustfinger closes and locks the door behind them, moving to the small kitchen and pouring himself a drink. "Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"No." He's nervous, shifting from one foot to the other.
"It will make this easier to forget." Julianne looks up at him with wide, frightened eyes, back pressed against the wall. She doesn't want her first time to happen like this. She wants to be married first and sure that the person will be gentle and love her. Not like this, not in some hut because of a threat.
"I'm a virgin." Her voice is hoarse and there are tears stinging her eyes, but she doesn't let them fall. She's so tired of crying, it's not going to help her out of this. "I'd rather like to stay that way for a while longer."
"Do you really think Capricorn's going to give you that option?"
"Basta doesn't actually want me like that."
"No, but he wants to make you hurt. You'd still be a virgin when he was done, but you might end up with scars like mine." She grabs the glass out of his hand and downs the cheap whisky like a shot. It burns on the way down her throat, but it's almost pleasant compared to everything that's happened. "I'm sorry, little bird."
"Give me the bottle." He hands it over without complaint, Julianne drinking until the burn is too much. Maybe she'll be able to convince herself that this is all just a bad dream. Maybe tomorrow she'll wake up back in her bed at home, term paper half finished, and poem memorized.
The hope shatters into pieces as Dustfinger wraps her up in a hug, and she holds him back as he cries. They slide down to the floor and share the bottle, passing it back and forth as the minutes tick by.
It must be close to midnight when Dustfinger sets the empty bottle aside and stands up. He holds out a hand and Julianne lets him pull her up on unsteady feet, feeling far too sober to have polished off a mostly full bottle of Wild Turkey. She follows him into the dark bedroom, sure of at least one thing that will let her go through with this.
Dustfinger will take care of her, he'll be gentle.