I am sosososososososososo sorry that it has taken so long to update. I've been having major writers block and it took me a while to decide what to write in this particular chapter. But I'm having a dilemma with the coupling right now. At first I wanted a DustfingerXAnn couple, but now after this chapter I sorta made a bit o' fluff between CapricornXAnn. Both men are still going to fight for her anyhow, but who will she end up with is the true question! Anywho, please enjoy this chapter and dont forget to review. When you review though, I would like to know who you guys want Ann to end up with.
I accept flames, as well as constructive critisim, and any thoughts on what you reviewers would like in the story is greatly appreciated!
That night the black jackets threw Dustfinger back into the very same room where he had once rescued Silvertounge, Meggie, and the fat woman. He found it quiet ironic but the humor in his mood was long gone after Cockerell and Flatnose had tossed him in, taking his matches as well as his backpack that he had with him. So he sat in the small space and silently thought to himself as to how he was going to get himself out of the predicament.
"What I want to know most of all is how in the hell Silvertounge managed to get himself captured in the first place. I was the one who left them so how did Capricorn find them?" Dustfinger rubbed the stubble on his face in puzzlement.
Damn it. This is just making things worse than they already are. Of course it could be a lie and Capricorn may not even have Silvertounge in his grasp. He might have said it in front of me while Ann was around just to lower her hopes as well as mine for getting out of this place.
Dustfingers hope was waning the more he thought of all the possibilities that something would go wrong with anymore plans, as well as what had maybe already happened.
"What am I going to do?" He said to the ceiling. "We just want to go home and live peaceful lives."
With that said Dustfinger settled himself on the floor and proceeded as to making himself comfortable on the moldy straw, trying to get some rest before the next day.
When Ann had heard that Dustfinger was taken somewhere, she immediately had her sights set on finding where they had put her friend. But it seemed that Capricorn had anticipated this, and had set guards all over the area as to keep an eye on the young fire-eater. While this frustrated Ann to no end, she already knew that now that Dustfinger was in Capricorns grasp, he was going to do whatever it took to keep him there.
"Ann, come with me for a moment." Capricorn spoke up. They had sat in the church for what seemed like hours after Dustfinger was taken away, and his voice sounded surprisingly soft for someone who found joy in killing.
"Why, so you can brag about how you finally have everything you wanted. Dustfinger, his friends, and me, all in your grasp to do as you please? I think not." Ann glared daggers at the man before her, but as she continued to look at him, she saw none of the gloating boastfulness that he often had around his subordinates. Instead, his eyes were soft and looked at her with mixed emotions.
"No, you misunderstand Ann. I do not wish to gloat in front of you, nor will I. All I want is for you to walk with me somewhere. Is that so hard to ask? No one else will be escorting us. But if you do not wish to go, I will not force you."
Ann was shocked. Never before had she ever heard Capricorn tell her that she 'must' do this or she 'must' do that. No, he was giving her a choice, and he said that no one else was going along…
"Alright." Ann said softly looking at Capricorn no longer with a glare, but with a small smile. A smile that had never before been showed to him ever since he had brought her to the village.
Capricorn stood from his throne and proceeded to walk towards the girl with a slight quickness in his step.
As soon as he reached her, he offered his arm like a true gentleman and she took it with a tiny bit of hesitation.
"Capricorn…" Ann asked softly. He looked at her, afraid that she had suddenly decided against his request. "There's no tricks right? Nothing is going to happen. No ones going to get hurt?"
"No, I promise. I have done enough to you that has caused you pain, and it somewhat hurts me that you think that all I would ever do to you is cause you pain." They walked outside in the chilly autumn weather, with the moon shining brightly on them, lighting up there pathway.
"Well can you blame me? Honestly, ever since you found me, all I've gotten is threats, slaps in the face, my hair pulled. All because of what? Because you saw me when I was younger and decided that I was going to belong to you. I have done nothing to you to deserve getting kidnapped. And there are times Capricorn when I know that I make you angry, but have you ever thought about why!?"
They stopped in their tracks to face each other, standing quite a distance away from the village. Only the farthest houses of the area stood rotting beside them.
"I do understand Ann. And I know my actions are unjustified."
"Then why?"
"Because I wish for you to be mine." Capricorn said with a soft sterness in his voice.
"Ever since the day I saw you when you were younger I wished for you to belong to me and not the dirty fire-eater that you care about so much. You, who fought for those you care about as well as things you believed in. You have a fire in your eyes that has no comparison to the fire you toy with."
Ann was surprised to say the least. She never knew that Capricorn thought of her other than something to use as leverage against Dustfinger. She almost thought him to be lying until she looked up at his colorless eyes. He hadn't looked away from her the entire time he spoke to her, and for some reason it didn't unnerve her.
"Your telling the truth aren't you? But why me? In the Inkworld there are hundreds of rich woman who would do anything to be with a man who was friends with the Adderhead. Instead you choose a poor Molty Folk girl who plays with fire for a living."
Capricorn chuckled. It wasn't he evil one she was used to hearing when he laughed around the other black jackets.
"Like I said Ann," he grasped her chin, making her look at him straight in the eyes. "You fight back, you don't just submit like other woman would do. You are strong willing and don't back down Ann. It's almost impossible to break you down. In fact, I think you've actually made my most cruel men regret meeting you."
Even after all Capricorn had done to her, Ann found it somewhat amusing that he was trying to joke with her. She even managed to laugh.
"Why can't you be more like this? Why couldn't you have this attitude around me when we first met? I may have not hated you at all." Ann almost felt like she wanted to beg. This Capricorn was so much more bearable than the cruel heartless man that she had been stuck with for almost a month.
"Try to imagine a soft hearted man ordering a bunch of ruthless murdering men. I am not soft, as you have seen before, but if they saw how I would truly wish to act around you, I might as well shoot myself or all the men I have with me.
"Besides my dear, do you think that I'm an idiot? Honestly, if I would be a soft gullible fool like your fire-eater, I know that I would still be nowhere nearer in your heart."
"How do you know? No one knows my heart but me." Ann asked, now realizing the close proximity that her and the black jacket leader had gained while talking. The realization cause a small blush to appear on her face.
How can I be blushing at a man who has tried to kill Dustfinger countless times and has made me miserable over the weeks!? But, this side is new, almost like he truly cares…
"How do I know?" Capricorn asked, with mock shock on his face, causing Ann to once again release a small laugh. The man laughed as well, his breath brushing Ann's face. The young girl instantly thought of cinnamon when his breath hit her face, she almost was expecting the peppermint smell of Basta's disgusting air. She turned her face away, looking out at the woods surrounding them that almost seemed to glow because of the full moon above them. The houses even stood out more, making their rotten detail stick out. The cracks in the walls, the collapsing roofs, even the dead plants that sat where once flourishing gardens grew. Ann was trying hard to get the flush off of her face that Capricorn had caused. But when he grabbed her face softly for her attention once more, she could not look away.
"Because my dear," He said, leaning in closer, "that is the way life works." Then Capricorns lips suddenly pressed up against her own softly. Ann way beyond shocked. She didn't know what to feel. Hatred, confusion, sadness, fear. All these emotions rushing through her head while Capricorn continued to press his mouth on hers, moving his lips slowly against hers but Ann in her shocked condition could do nothing but let him do as he wished.
Then, as he grasped her arm, she felt a large shock erupt in her body. Capricorn having slowly pulled away from her, looked at her with pity as blackness was starting to cloud her vision.
"Y-you said no tricks." Ann mumbled as she started to feel her body collapsing.
"I know my dear, and I'm sorry." Capricorn said, for once actually looking sorry. Then everything went black as Capricorn picked up the girl and walked back to the church, where he ordered his men to not feed Dustfinger, and to make his time a living hell while he stayed in cell.
The old Capricorn was back.
Thank you for reading, now please please please review!