Next Chapter! Enjoy :)

Of course the drive eventually ended, either because the world it trying to tick me off, I have bad luck, or it was just not realistic that we would keep driving to the ends of the earth. Sometimes I hate reality. That is one of the many advantages of writing. It takes you away from reality. Unfortunetly I had no pen or paper and the reality that I had been kidnapped by a bunch of pchyco guys in black jackets was punching me in the face.

Not to mention I already felt like strangling Cockerell, and disfiguring Flatnose's face even more. As for Basta... I didn't know what to think about him. He scared me more then the others even though he was shorter than they were. He was just so intimidating and when ever I saw him I wanted to run away and hide, which had nothing to do with the silver knife hanging from his belt.

Could things get worse for me? Sure they could! Starting at our arrival at the creepy village that practicly should have come with a sign that says "SOMETHING EVIL LIVES HERE!" Or rather several somethings given by all the black jackets walking around. There were women too. Of course they were all doing work, folding clothes and wearing uncomfortable looking dresses. Great. I had been kidnapped by sexists. This was just getting better and better. Or NOT!

When the car pulled to a stop Cockerell swiftly got out and limped quickly to my side of the car, grabbed my arm and hauled me out. I wanted to spit in his face but I couldn't bring myself to. What a coward I was.

"Right this way Princess" he sneered pushing me in front of him.

Some of the maids stopped work to glance at me. There expressions were full of pity and their eyes seemed to say. "We're so sorry. You have no idea what your in for."

"What are you gawking at!" I sharp voice said "Back to work!" An old woman was hobbling twoard us. The maids quickly ducked their heads and resumed work like they had just been wacked with a ruler.

The old woman stopped in front of me and the three black jackets.

"Mortola" Basta said shortly. There was no mistaking the contempt in his voice.

So they were enemies! That was good. Maybe we'd get along.

Mortola scrutinized me "Is that her then" Basta nodded "Isn't she a skinny little thing" Mortola concluded. Scratch that, I hated this woman too. Dang I was good at making enemies!

"Capricorn is waiting to see her" Mortola continued. "Once we are sure of her talents Capricorn wants you to fetch Silvertongue. That match stick eating friend of yours has found him." I could tell by her tone of voice and by Basta's reaction that he and this "match stick eater" were not friends at all.

Basta simply clenched his jaw and motioned for Cockerell and Flatnose to follow him. Cockerell pushed me forward roughly and I followed Basta to an old red church without a fight. What would be the point. Yes I think it would be very realistic for me to escape 3 grown men and an old lady (Ok maybe the old lady) not even pointing out the fact that they're armed!

I didn't mind the guns to much... maybe because I had never seen one used at close range. It was Basta's knife that scared me most. Once again thought it wasn't the most dangerous wepon the fact that Basta was holding it made it all the more terrifing. Mental note: Never touch a knife again... not that I ever did...

Inside of the church was blood red. Statues of the same man lined the walls (I asumed they were of Capricorn. Self absorbed much?) each in a different possison.

"Bow" Cockerell hissed in my ear. When I remained up right he grabbed the back of my neck and forced my head down. Then almost as quickly as I had been pushed down he jerked me sharply back up right and shoved me ahead of him. He was really not helping his relationship with me.

We finally came to a room where a pale, gaunt man sat in a comfortable looking arm chair. His face was bloodless and his hair was so fair, I couldn't tell if it was white or just really blonde. There was a maid with long blonde hair and blue eyes sitting at his feet cutting his toe nails. When we entered Capricorn waved her away and she straightened up and moved to another side of the room.

"This is the girl?" Capricorn asked looking at Basta who nodded.

"Just as you have ordered sir"

Capricorn rose to his feet and approached me slowly. I in voulentarily took a step back- conveniantly straight into Basta who rested his hands on my shoulders, holding me in place. Capricorn stopped only a foot in front of me.

"Callypso" he said softly "As you know you have a gift."

No way! I thought that the fact that what ever I'm writing about seems to come to life was a strange coincidence. I thought to my self.

"A gift" Capricorn continued "That could be of great use to us. You have the ability to bring things you write to life do you not?"

A smart person would of said "What that's impossible! Who ever heard of someone who can do that!? I hate writing! English is my worst subject" Some thing along those lines. I however just nodded admitting to be a magician who could bring random things to life when ever I feel like it. Brilliant Callypso.

"I am very interested in a demonstration of this skill of yours." Capricorn snapped his fingers and in stumbled a skinny fearful looking man with glasses that slipped down the end of his nose. He had a pad of paper in one hand and a pen in the other. He handed them to me and then quickly retreated to another corner of the room.

"Darius has a simaler gift to yours except with reading." Capricorn smirked "He does a terrible job of it though. Now" He sat down "Write. Or You will have to deal with Basta."

Basta took his knife from his belt and twirled it around "Go on then."

Taking a shaky breath I knelt to the ground with the paper and pen. I wasn't sure what to write so I just settled with one of my previous creations. Death's Kiss. The black and red rose still sat on my bedside at home. The thought almost brought tears to my eyes. But I wouldn't cry. No, I would write and make the evil of this place fade away...

The words flowed from my pen spilling easily onto the paper and leading me into a laberynth of letters. An orchid of black and red roses grew around me as I described them so beautiful though truly terrible. When I had finished there was a flash of light and Death's Kiss was sitting on the floor next to me. I was sitting on the floor of the old church again with Basta, Cockerell, and Flatnose still behind me and Capricorn in front of me his eyes glinting with a touch of greed.

I touched the petals of the rose and drew a shaky breath. Was it really only a few days ago that I had brought one of these to life in my room?

Capricorn took the paper from me and read what I had written. "Intresting choice. Inventive in the least" He glanced at the rose. "And possibly a useful persuasive tatic." Oh great. I had given them a poison flower. I'm a genius!

Capricorn looked at Basta "Take her to one of the cages. Mortola will send for her soon. Then I do believe you three have other buisness to attend to." he eyed the three black jackets pointedly.

Flatnose nodded "Will leave to find Silvertongue right away."

"Good" Capricorn sat back in his chair and made an impatient gesture "Dismissed."

Cockerell grabbed me by the arm "This way princess."

He lead me quickly from the room with Basta and Flatnose following him. Out side he "accidently" let me fall.

"So sorry" he said smirking in a way that said I'm not sorry at all.

"Will you stop fooling around Cockerell" Basta growled hoisting me back off the ground "It's really getting on my nerves. If you can't do this job seriously then you better just not come to Silvertounges'"

Cockerell's face fell a bit "Fine Basta."

Basta led me around the back of the houses and opened the door to a cow shed marked number 4. "Your home for the next few days, sweet heart" gesturing to the "cage". He wasn't as bad as Cockerell with the nicknames but he was close.

"It's Callypso" I muttered "Not princess, not sweet heart, Callypso. Cockerell seems to forget that as well so let him know." Wow. I completly forgot who I was talking to. I realized this a fraction of a second after the words left my mouth.

There was a mettalic zing as Bata drew his knife and pressed me against the door frame the cold metal against my throat. I drew in a sharp breath and looked away so that he wouldn't see the fear in my eyes. I'm pretty sure he noticed anyway.

"And I suggest you remember your place." He hissed in my ear. I noticed how strongly his breath smelled of pepper mint. "Like I said I doubt a few more scars on your face will affect your ability to write. Understood?" The metal pressed harder to my throat.

I nodded quickly "Y-yes"

He smirked and put away his knife "Good girl." then he gave me a little shove and I stumbled into the cow shed. I looked around at my dreary surroundings, sighed and sat down on a straw mat at one corner of the room.

This sucked.