Dustfinger couldn't move, even if they had pushed him. The feelings he felt, seeing her tied up, a blade on her graceful neck surprised him. They surged through, whispering into his heart. He rolled his shoulders, trying not to show how tense and frightened he really was. It's what the enemy wanted. When you gave them that control over you, then they could use you however they wanted.

"You want to know the whole story, or are you content with my edited version?" Orpheus asked.

"From your poorly detailed version, I can guess what went down." Dustfinger said coolly. Orpheus blushed, before glaring at his once idol, and then he nodded to someone. Meggie choked as the blade was pushed deeper into her neck. Terror clutched his heart in their unforgiving hands.

"Stop!" Dustfinger whispered calmly. Mo reached for his daughter's hands as best as he could, though it was near impossible to do. Meggie leaned away from the knife, visibly shaking. If not now, Dustfinger would kill all these men. They obviously liked to play with fire...

"So who's going to get us back?" Orpheus asked cheerfully, as if what was going on was a good thing. To him, it was. Meggie and Mo looked at each other, knowing that Orpheus would threaten one of them. Mo didn't want to put his daughter in that position, so he raised his hand wearily, unable to speak for the duct tape covering his mouth.

"Ah, Good. Maybe I won't kill you. No, I need you. You or your daughter…Meggie, how would you like to live with me while the others die?" Dustfinger went cold at the threat, but the anger inside kept the fire inside him alive. Just the thought of Meggie being left alone, him being without her, and her being in Orpheus's hands alone…he would never allow it. Meggie glanced at her father, and Dustfinger watched them have a conversation with their eyes. Meggie then looked at Dustfinger, and he did his best to reassure her that he would not let harm befall her, that he would take care of her and keep her safe. She nodded. That was one of the reasons Dustfinger liked her-she didn't just need words, she understood the words lost in emotions, too.

"Read, Silvertongue." Orpheus demanded, holding a piece of paper in front of him. He ripped the duct tape off, and Mo let out a small groan.

"Remember," his voice sounded hoarse, "I cannot control what happens." Mo warned. A thought stuck Meggie so hard that it made her dizzy. Farid…would she see him? What would he look like? It had only been half a year but surely things had changed, like they had here? And how could her mother go when she was pregnant?

Mo had the same thought.

"My wife is pregnant." He said flatly.

"Oh? I thought she had just gotten fat." Orpheus sounded bored.

Meggie glared at him in contempt, trying to say something. Orpheus ripped it off, and she blinked, her eyes filling with tears from the sting.

"You are so rude! You really need to get manners, then you'd get a wife and maybe have a life!" The room went silent. Dustfinger walked warily over, ready to intervene.

"You are turning into that old lady…Elinor." Orpheus said dryly. Pride filled Meggie, until he slapped her.

Dustfinger grabbed the plump man, throwing him against the wall, fire teasing his hands. Mo struggled viciously, yelling abuse at Orpheus, promising all the things he would do to him when he got free. Resa tried to comfort her daughter as best as she could, while Meggie hung her head, her hair hiding the bruise that was growing where he had hit her.

"You don't touch her. You don't ever hurt her, do you understand? Now I promise you, I will get you. I will burn that hand off first. Then your heart and your lustful eyes." Dustfinger snarled into Orpheus's face.

"Get this fire off me or else!" Orpheus squeaked. Dustfinger obliged grudgingly, before bending down to Meggie. He tugged her chin up, as gently as he could, trying to not show his anger, but love through his actions.

"Pretty girl," he whispered, brushing his fingers over the offending mark. She looked up at him, tears slipping down her cheeks, racing each other. He wiped them away and kissed her forehead tenderly.

"I'm frightened." She whispered to him. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Don't be. Meggie you are brave…you have to stay strong, alright? This is a story…look for excitement in it not fear." Dustfinger told her softly. Meggie nodded, and he kissed her once again.

"I'm getting sick of this! Just read!" Orpheus said, shoving the paper to Mo. Mo shot him an ugly look, of hatred, before he began reading out. Silence fell as they all listened to the beauty of it. Meggie closed her eyes, and when she blinked them open, she was in the beloved world of Inkheart. Meggie looked down-she was now untied. She flexed her wrists, relieving the aches in them. She met Dustfinger's cautious eyes, and she walked swiftly over to him. He wrapped an arm around her tightly, shielding her. Mo and Resa stood side by side, looking around at the beauty of the place. Though it was hardly beautiful now.

"Now this is part two…and I want Meggie to read it." Dustfinger clutched her closer.

"No."

"This isn't optional." Orpheus snapped.

"Why me?" Meggie asked.

Orpheus bent down near her. Dustfinger backed them up, putting an arm out in front of Meggie.

"Because, the guilt will surely eat you alive…" he laughed. Meggie gasped, and looked up at her father as he came to her side.

"Let me read it. I don't want that upon my daughter." He pleaded. Orpheus raised an eyebrow.

"No. This is going the way I want it to, for once."

Dustfinger barked out a laugh.

"It did go your way fool. And then it blew up in your face. That is what happens."

Meggie shrunk into Dustfinger's side as Orpheus grew out a gun, and pointed in his face. Horror coursed through her veins, and she swallowed, tyring to keep calm as Dustfinger was.

"Meggie reads."

"Alright! I'll do it! Just don't hurt anyone." Meggie cried, stepping forwards. Dustfinger glared at Orpheus, before looking down at Meggie before at Mo and Resa. Resa had her hand on Mo's arm, as he walked forwards to put his arm around his daughter.

"Meggie whatever happens do not feel guilt. Because it is not your fault." Mo breathed in her ear. She nodded absentmindedly before taking the sheet of paper. As she read, her eyes widened and she gasped, tears in her eyes at the horrifying images that came to mind as she read. How many times had she cried? How many times had tears filled her eyes? Surely, you must run out of tears!

"You can't do this!"

"And I'm not. You are." Orpheus grinned smugly.

"Meggie? What is it?" Mo asked. Meggie chose not to respond, she just stared at Orpheus for a long moment.

"This will come back to you. Maybe not now, but someday. Just you wait Orpheus. And I'm not a vengeful person. But I cannot wait for the day." She said in a low, shaky voice.

"Read it, now!" Orpheus snarled, the gun on her. Dustfinger stepped forwards.

"Don't point the gun at her."

"Why couldn't you love me, protect me like you protect her?" Orpheus asked, his vengefulness slipping as sadness surged through like a tidal wave.

"That would be considered gay."

"No. I mean why couldn't you love me like I loved you? I looked up to you!"

Dustfinger shook his head disbelievingly.

"Are you seriously asking me that question? Look what you are doing now!"

"But I wouldn't have had to do it if you hadn't…." Orpheus trailed off.

"You are an evil, selfish man and I could not love someone like you." Dustfinger said, his voice extremely cold-he did not even want to talk to him anymore.

"You were once upon a time selfish."

"And now look at me. And now look at you." Dustfinger shot back. A heavy silence fell.

"Read Meggie. You can thank your beloved Dustfinger for this." Orpheus finally said bitterly.

Meggie glowered at him.

"No I can thank you." She said, sighing before she began to read. As she read, everyone braced themselves, but no one could prepare themselves for the horror.

It came at night. It was huge-massive. No one knew what size or mass it really was. It was as black as the blackest night. It came to check on you every night, if you were not asleep by seven p.m. it would take you away. No one knew where they went. One man had come back, but his explanation of what had happened was so twisted that he now lives in a psychotic ward. What he described could not even be published-it was that horrendous. The thing knew when you were pretending to sleep, too. It would test you, scaring you so that if you were truly awake you would react. It answered to only one person…

When Meggie reached to that point, Orpheus placed the gun on her head.

"Say my name or I'll kill you."

Meggie glared up at him.

"No."

Orpheus grabbed Resa, and placed it on her stomach.

"No!" Mo roared and went to run forward, but men grabbed him. Dustfinger surged forward, but he was tackled to the ground, his hands unusable for a fire. There were too many of them.

Meggie stared into her mother's panicked eyes.

"Do what is best." She said softly. Meggie squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming down.

"and that was Orpheus…"

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is coming up? Let's see...

Farid and Brianna soon come in.

A character death. . .

It does get interesting. I promise.

So please REVIEW!