Disclaimer: I do not own Inkheart or any of it's characters, Cornelia Funke does. I own Joy, Isabella and Thomas Antoni, Basta Jr., Rosalita, Alexander, Graziano, and Basta's Pride and Joy
A/N: This chapter is the main "tie-in with Basta's Pride and Joy" Chapter.
You guys, also check out MusicRush's Creating Basta its really good.
And, I'm working on another story as well, The Vampires' War its partly a newsie fanfiction and kind of not, it's written by me and ChocolateCoveredJockey. If you like it check out her story, Take Me or Leave Me, its hysterical.
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Kat was exhausted by the time night fall came, for an old albino man Capricorn did a lot of things and went a lot of places. So far she had been with him to visit two of his 'business associates,' one was a powerful mobster who was terrified of Capricorn, the other was a bank president who gave Capricorn as much money as he wanted; the look of shock on his face when Capricorn had Basta, Cockerell, and Flatnose pour the two large bags of golden coins, rubies, and other gems into four safety deposit boxes was hysterical. It took Kat all her strength not to bust up laughing.
Now though she was tired and scared, poor, poor Meggie! She stared up at the two nets suspended from a pulley system bolted into the ceiling. One held the man Dustfinger, the other held another maid by the name of Resa. Mortola was enjoying herself by lowering and pulling up the nets to either frighten the two people in them, or to make them sick to their stomachs.
Joy stepped up a minute later, "Capricorn, please, let Meggie go to bed now. She's tired, she's had a long and hard day."
Kat winced when Basta got ready to slap Joy again.
"Basta!" Capricorn said softly, Basta looked over and lowered his hand, "do not slap her. She was giving me a suggestion, the child does need to sleep," his colorless eyes fixed on Meggie, "we can't have her being tired when she reads the Shadow out."
"I won't read the Shadow or anything else out for you! I'll bite my tounge so it swells up so much I can't talk!" Meggie shouted back at Capricorn, until Joy wrapped an arm around her and hugged her, then walked out with her.
"Kat, you may go home to your husband now," Capricorn said to her, "Mortola will care for me from here."
"Thank you, Capricorn, it...It was an honor...Helping...You," Kat said slowly and softly, praying nothing she said would be taken as an insult.
"She learns fast," Mortola exclaimed, "a lot faster than Joy ever did. Go on now, off with you."
Kat glanced to Capricorn, then turned and walked out slowly, Basta followed behind her, Kat found herself hoping Basta wouldn't skin her.
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Kat lurched up in her bed to see Cockerell, dressed only in his tank top, boxer shorts, and socks, at the front door of their house (which was only a few inches away from the square it was a miracle the spotlights didn't shine in on them), shooting at a shadow of a running man. Kat saw a flash of a green sweater and knew who that was, Mo.
"Cockerell," she asked tiredly, pretending to not have seen anything, "what happened?"
"Silvertounge," replied Cockerell, "I think I hit him." He was quickly dressing.
"Where...Where are you going?"
"To report this to Basta, incase his body is found Basta will be the one to bring it to Capricorn..." Cockerell paused looking annoyed, "as always. He'll probably take all the credit as well, if I missed then he'll gladly give me the credit." Kat watched her husband slip on his shoes, put his pistol in his belt, then walk out. Kat sighed, well, no use trying to get back to sleep now. She was too awake, she redressed, there wasn't much to do in the village, but maybe Joy was up. Kat walked towards Basta's house and peeked in to see it empty, frowning she looked around to see Joy in Capricorn's house with Resa, Resa was hugging Meggie close and smiling.
Kat met Joy's eyes when she glanced down, Joy looked shocked and motioned for Kat to walk along. Kat quickly walked along and looked for her husband, she knew she was bored out of her mind when she was looking for him.
"O-Oh, h-hello," stammered Darius, the reader.
"Hi, Darius," smiled Kat, "did you hear the shot as well?"
"I did," he nodded, "Silvertounge, erm, Mo was here looking for his daughter."
Kat nodded, "the poor little thing, noone, not even a child, deserves to be in this village."
"I wish I didn't read that bird out of that book one day," Darius sighed, "if it hadn't come out...I wouldn't be here."
"I wish Southern Italy's Making History Foundation had never sent me out here to take photos," replied Kat, "and I wouldn't be married or worried about being..."
"Being?" Darius asked.
"Pregnant," Kat replied in a soft voice.
"Oooh boy," Darius whistled, "if you...Do wind up being pregnant be warned," he said softly, "Capricorn will never hear of you or your child leaving. He has a tight reign on Joy and Basta Junior, he's hoping Basta Jr. will be one of his men one day when he gets to be around nine."
"NINE?" Kat asked, "isn't that awful young?!"
"Do you remember seeing Alfredo?"
"Yes," Kat replied, thinking about the sixteen year old.
"He came here when he was eleven; one our maids, Trista, came here when she was seven."
"Damn," whispered Kat, Darius nodded.
"But getting back to b-before, if you're pregnant and while your pregnant y-you'll be treated a lot like a queen. E-Especially in your last two or three months of pregnancy. Capricorn wants all his future men and maids in perfect h-health. So after five months you won't b-be allowed out of the village much, and anytime you want something diferent to eat your husband will have to g-get it for you. B-But, it comes with a p-price, in turn y-you and your child belong to Capricorn forever."
"Just for having a baby and for having your husband help you?" Kat asked, wide eyed.
"N-Not for your husband helping you, f-for having the baby. If you're capable of h-having babies, which not to many women in this v-village are for some r-reason, you belong to Capricorn f-forever then."
"I hate this," Kat muttered.
"Be glad you're his personal maid," Darius said softly, "because no harm will ever come to you."
"I doubt that," Kat replied, "Graziano wants Cockerell gone."
"Oh no," he exclaimed, "Graziano, from what I've heard, has a particular taste in women and when he finds one he wants, he doesn't let go of her, whether she's m-married or not."
"Great," Kat muttered.
"But he won't h-hurt you, he has a deep respect for women, he's just creepy."
"A pervert as well."
"Tha-"
"Talking about me?"
Kat turned to see Graziano she paled, how long has he been standing there?
As if reading her mind he smiled, "just walked up, gorgeous. Besides," he wrapped an arm around her and held her close, "if all works out well after the reading tommarrow night, you'll be my wife and that husband of yours may be dead."
"Sh-She might be pregnant the baby needs it's r-real father!" Darius stammered in terror, when Graziano glared at him, Darius skittered off in absolute complete utter terror.
"Is that true, you might be carrying a kid?"
"Yes," Kat replied.
"Then I'll be it's father, it never has to know about Cockerell, ever," Graziano replied, "you deserve someone better than that limping toad. Go back to sleep, Kat, you're going to have a long and emotional day tommarrow trust me."
Kat waited until he was gone then quickly went to find her husband, even if it meant having to live with him for the rest of her life she would; there was no way in hell she wanted to marry Graziano and be his wife.
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(A/N: For all those who read Basta's Pride and Joy you'll recognize this, I'm trying to tie the two stories together a bit more before the last chapter. This and the next part is from Chapter 12.)
Seventeen year old Stephen Antoni parked on the hill above Capricorn's village, it was early in the morning, the sun was just starting to peak over the horizon causing shadows that made the village even eerier.
"You're Stephen?" Mo questioned, looking him up and down.
"I was twelve when they took my sister," the lanky teenager replied as he lifted the binoculars to his eyes. "how is she? Does she look better than she did three years ago?"
"I didn't know about then," Mo replied softly, "Dustfinger has said even though she is tired and stressed, she is still beautiful. Where's your mother?"
"In the hospital with a brain tumor," replied Stephen, almost bitterly, "I blame it on the black jackets."
"Those evil snakes are easy to blame, each one of them deserves to be shot without an honorable burial," Elinor exclaimed, as she looked down at the village. "Mo's daughter, my grand niece, Meggie is down there also."
"How old is she?" Stephen asked.
"Twelve," replied Mo.
"We need to come up with a plan if we want to get those two out of there," Stephen exclaimed, as he fingered the pendant around his neck. The pendant had been one of Joy's favorites, she wore it nearly every day; the pedant was a smooth and polished stone with an arrow carved into it standing for the constellation of Saggitarius - Joy's zodiac sign. "I'm comin' Joy," he said softly.
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I edited this part a little to fit in with this story.)
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The next morning came bright and early, Kat redressed and went to help Rosalita with breakfast. She paused as she saw Joy walking towards a maid that was leaving Capricorn's house. She saw the maid carrying some plates with half eaten breakfast foods on it, the 'guests' meals were always made first, Rosalita had said.
"Wait," Joy called to the maid.
"Yes?" The woman asked, turning, revealing a small blonde haired girl, "Mrs. Basta?"
"Did Meggie- I mean the little girl- eat her food?"
Kat blinked, wow, Joy really did care a lot about Meggie to going as far to make sure she ate her meal.
"Not much," replied the maid, showing Joy the tray.
"Thank you," replied Joy, she turned and made sure Basta wasn't around, then snuck towards the kitchen.
"Joy?" Kat asked, "is everything ok?"
"Hi Kat," Joy said softly, "I'm worried about Meggie, she's a good young lady, and she's scared, she's angry, she hasn't had any reassurance that her father's alright..." She sighed, shaking her head as the two walked into the kitchen together.
"What ye be doin' in here?" Rosalita asked as she stirred the menostroni soup she was making for lunch.
"Hi Rosalita, how is that soup coming? Can it be eaten yet?" Joy asked.
"Well, yes, but it won't taste as good - "
"That's ok, I just need a small bowl and a spoon," Joy replied.
"Is Basta starvin' ye, Joy?" Rosalita asked, her dark brown eyes staring into Joy's.
"No, no, it's Meggie, she didn't touch her oatmeal - "
"Oh, no," Rosalita exclaimed, backing away, "now Joy, I don' mind helpin' out, but nuh-uh, Capricorn says if the child don't eat breakfast she isn't given another breakfast, she holds out 'till lunch. I got into trouble last time i helped yeh."
"Rosalita," Kat exclaimed, "you said yourself you don't always listen to Capricorn, why listen now?"
"He threatened my Katrina!" Rosalita replied, "I have got to listen!"
"What if you turn your back and you say you thought Joy was getting something for herself?" Kat asked, going over towards a stove she helped Katrina and a few other maids cook for breakfast.
"Rosalita, I'm so sorry about that, I really am," Joy apologized, "but she needs to eat something. I think she's trying to starve herself; she doesn't understand that Capricorn will shove food down her throat and force her to swallow it. He won't care how much she struggles or fights,and Basta..." she paused, looking at Kat, "Basta wouldn't mind shoving things down that poor child's throat." She looked back at Rosalita, "Please, Rosalita, please, we can even use the excuse Kat made!" Joy begged.
"Alrigh', but I didn't know ye were in here, yer alone on this, Joy," Cooky replied, she turned around quickly as Joy grabbed a bowl and filled it with warm soup, she grabbed a napkin and spoon, then rushed out.
Kat looked over to Rosalita in concern, "Rosalita, are you going to be ok?"
"I'll be fine! It 'tis is Joy I am worried about! De woman is losing her marbles over that child!" Rosalita replied, "and you should not be here either! You are Capricorn's personal maid now, you git outta here," she exclaimed shooing Kat towards the door, "go on now, I will not be blamed for you not showin' up at Capricorn's on time, I won't!"
Kat rushed off towards Capricorn's house, she didn't know that Capricorn had meant she couldn't help cook breakfast.
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"Capricorn," exclaimed Cockerell as he walked in, he bowed deeply to him, "the geologist is prepared to tell you what mines you discovered are important. I gave him your description, two of the mines you have described are gold mines, another one is a diamond mine."
Kat looked over to her husband when he gave his announcement to Capricorn, geologist? Mines? What was Cockerell talking about? Who was this geologist, she hadn't seen any captive men but Fenoglio here.
"Good," replied Capricorn, smiling, "I'll no longer have to squeeze these folk around here so hard. I don't want more snoops like the two we had two years ago." He exclaimed, thinking about the Joneses' children.
"We've also received word that Isabella Antoni is in the hospital with a brain tumor, a sort of Cancer; according to the doctor who works for you the tumor is between the sinus and brain and can't be taken out. She'll die in less than a few months when the tumor gets larger."
Isabella Anotni, that's Joy's mother! Oh gosh...Poor Joy! Kat thought to herself.
"She will not be able to speak to the Shadow to make sure my commands are met, then," Capricorn frowned slightly, "that is alright, Joy too shares her mother and father's gift. She is valuable to have around," he paused, "tell me, how is Joy."
"She is stressed and looks rather unhappy," replied Cockerell, with a smile on his face.
"The child needs to learn there is beauty in darkness," Capricorn replied, "she needs to learn how to hate," Capricorn looked to Kat, "as do you."
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"Mortimer, you want me to tell them that... you're dead?" Elinor asked staring at Mo in shock.
"Elinor, that's if you get caught; you know this isn't blood, it's dried Posion Berry, but they won't know that. If you tell them I'm dead they figure they have nothing to worry about. Stephen and I can sneak in, get Meggie, Joy, and Basta Junior, we'll burn the village, and then we'll get out."
"Burn the village, Mortimer? They'll catch you before you even lay a hand on a gas can! They'll kill you! You have to be Meggie's father, and that's a long life ahead of you, you can't just hand it to those...those..forked tounged...devils!" Elinor exclaimed, she looked to Stephen, "and you! What are you going to do? Say 'surfs up dude!' and knock them down with a skate board?"
"I'm not like that, Elinor," Stephen replied, his voice rigid with anger, his long blonde hair was tied back in a pony tail, a small beard grew on his chin. "I may look like I am like that - but I'm not. You're scared and worried, we are too, but we have to try. We've got to stop these people from whatever their planning...on top of that when they're done with their plan they may not need Meggie and Joy, and they may kill them! I'm damned well not gonna sit here while that happens. Besides, I have help lined up."
"You do?" Mo and Elinor asked at the same time.
"Yes, I do," replied Stephen, "three years ago two kids were here looking at the village; they're names are Indiana Jones and Casey Jones, sister and brother. I met them on my way here and they've offered to help; they know enough about this village by watching it for a few hours...they can help us." He paused, "don't forget, as soon as we get Meggie and Joy out they'll be helping us too, we have to count on that."
Elinor stared at Stephen for a long moment, "You...you two don't go off getting killed! I'm going to the authorities, right now!"
"Be careful, Elinor-"
"Well theres life outside of his hell hole," Alexander Inglestone exclaimed as he and his men walked up.
"That was quick help," Elinor said to Stephen.
"I don't know them."
"I'm here for my girlfriend's daughter, she was taken here against her will," Alexander replied, he looked through binoculars down at Capricorn's village with a frown.
"Well then, we have more help, the more help to get my sister back, as well as Meggie...and...uh..." Stephen stammered.
"Kat."
"We know her," Mo replied with a nod, "I'm so sorry she was taken again. Dustfinger said she was married off to Cockerell-"
"Married off?" Alexander growled, "we're getting her the hell out of here and I'm shooting the damned bastard that married her against her will."