Hey everyone! Chapter sixteen is finally here. I know I told you guys that it would be up sooner on the Updating but eversince the start of school, essay were poured on us ugh I already had to write two, one on the Holocaust and another on Leonardo Da Vinci. They werent that bad, but all the researching and working-up-to-writing-the-actual-thing took a bit longer. Anywho, this chapter is finally going to be the ending of them being in the Village (yay). But I'm not going to tell you that much casue ya have to read to find out what happens.
Though, all the Basta haters might like me at first, then wanna shoot me. Sorry ; But I'm actually pretty happy with how the chapter turnied out. I have the next few written, but I have to check over them and make sure everything is fitting in with my plot.
Enough of my babbling, enjoy!
Ann blinked once then twice before she finally realized that she was no longer with Dustfinger, but lying in a bed with little clothes and bandages.
How did I get here?
She looked around from the small bed, thinking with some small flicker of hope that her and Dustfinger were out of the Village and someplace comfy and away from the fear and death. But she recognized that she was in one of the many back rooms of the church. She felt somewhat ridiculous for her small hope, but she knew that she would never truly be gone from the place.
"Dustfinger?" Ann yelled out, but instantly regretted it, feeling the sharp pain in her sides, like some one grabbed a knife and plunged it inter her side. Looking down at her sides to see the cause of pain, she saw that her chest and as well as her waist was all wrapped up tightly and her wrist was in a small sling that tied around her neck to keep it in place. The sling didn't bother her much, but the bandages around her chest and waist made her feel as though she was wearing a corset that the woman wore back in her home. She had tried one on after seeing the other woman wear them. She didn't like them one bit.
"Dustfinger, anybody? Helloooooo!" Ann said again, this time a bit softer.
A maid, who looked around the age of a fifty year old came silently shuffling into the room, bustling about Ann.
"Excuse me, miss? Would you mind telling me if you saw a man with scars on his face around here?"
The woman remained silent, but when she looked at Ann, she knew that the woman wasn't permitted to speak to her. And though this confused Ann, she knew that she shouldn't pester the woman to speak. Not wanting her to get into trouble over her questions.
"Oh, ok. I understand."
The woman sent her a grateful look.
With that, Ann tried getting up, but she felt the same stabbing pain in her sides as when she yelled for Dustfinger. It confused her why she was in so much pain, and why her wrist was immobile. Then, flashbacks of when Basta had returned to the Village from his mission came to her. She remembered how his eyes had looked when he saw her, and how his rage was taken upon her. And how much pain had flowed through her till Dustfinger showed up and had told her that he was taking her to the church for help.
"Looks like I got it, I'm so wrapped up I can barely see my skin."
She smiled, but felt that even her face was swollen and beaten. And looking at her arm that wasn't in a sling, she could see dark, large bruises that decorated her skin in a purple color.
"Miss, is there a mirror around? You don't have to answer, just nod yes or no. I need to see what kinda monster I look like right now." Although humor was what she intended, she could tell she sounded fearful of what she may see.
The maid nodded and then scuttled out of the room quickly, then returning with a medium sized mirror.
Once the woman showed Ann's reflection, she felt tears prickling at her eyes. She was hideous! Her face was nothing but a bruise itself, her left cheek looking like the worst side of her face. With cuts and imprints all along her forehead she figured it couldn't get much worse. But her neck, shoulders and arms had hand shape marked bruises, cuts and dirt on them as well.
"If my arms look like this, I don't wanna even see my chest or legs." She mumbled. She wondered what Dustfinger thought she looked like, and the thought of him thinking she looked like a deformed creature made her heart break. She was almost glad that he didn't show up when she called. "He doesn't need to see something ugly like this."
The maid had taken the mirror away (clearly seeing Ann becoming upset) and returned again except this time she held a small basin with water and a cloth. Then, very gently she cleaned Ann's face and arms.
"Why are you doing all of this?"
"Because I told her too."
Capricorn appeared at the doorway, watching Ann and her shocked expression.
"That's enough Mary; I'll take it from here."
He shooed Mary away and took the cloth and starting cleaning where Mary left off. Ann, feeling to close for comfort next to the black jacket leader, slowly tried to ease away from his gentle cleaning, but his cold voice stopped her dead.
"Hold still. You're already hurt enough but I am not past the point of forcing you to be still. Besides I highly doubt you would be able to make it to the door even with four days of rest."
Ann looked at him disbelievingly. Not only from his harsh words, but at the fact that she had slept for four days!
"And why not, do you think, won't I be able to make it to the door? You said so yourself I got rest for f-four days!"
He chuckled, another trait that she never saw that often unless it was evil. Much like his gentle side, which she found out he only really shows around her.
"Because my dear, with several broken ribs, bruises, cuts, and a fractured wrist, I think that you would be in so much pain by getting up, that you will collapse. Only hurting yourself further.
Capricorn accidentally pressed a bit too hard on a bruise, causing Ann to gasp and shift a little.
"W-what happened to Basta?" Ann asked, hoping the knifeman somehow didn't manage to get back up and make a run for it. She also wanted to know if he was somehow let off the hook and wandering around.
"He is being taken care of. Other than that he is none of your concern any longer."
"What about Dustfinger? He was with me when he saved me from Basta. He's not hurt is he?!"
Fear rushed through her at the thought of her friend and family being hurt. Capricorn felt the familiar pang of jealousy shoot through him at the sound of Ann's concerned tone for the fire-eater. He almost struck her like he had done back in the church, but looking at her left cheek (the one he hit) the feeling of physical rage passed.
"Don't worry; your precious fire eater was not harmed in his quarrel with Basta. Although now he is sitting back in his cell."
A sigh of relief escaped her lips when Ann heard Dustfinger was alright. But, as she recalled Capricorns words as to that he was 'back' in his cell, guilt rushed through her. He finally had the chance to escape, but he risked being captured again for her sake.
"It's all my fault…"Ann whispered.
The tears from the earlier pain of her side were nothing compared to the pain she was feeling in her chest from heart ache. Somehow she kept managing to hurt those that cared and loved her and her them. Nothing was just so simple any more as it was when she was younger. How you could brush things off and be naive child you wanted to be. But those years for Ann were long gone. She hadn't been able to be carefree for two years.
Capricorn, surprised by the girl's sudden change of emotions, was shocked when he saw Ann's lowered head, shoulders shaking in sobs, and her clutching the bed sheets tight enough for her knuckles to turn white. He felt pity for the girl and decided that the only way to win her affections was to be comfort her when she needed it the most. That being now. So he gently grasped her chin and managed to catch what she was saying before she cut off.
It's all my fault
"Ann, none of this is your fault my dear."
"Yes it is. If it wasn't for me, Dustfinger would've never been captured, neither would have his friends. He wouldn't have been tortured in the church for disobeying you for my sake. And…" She let out a small sob. "He would've been able to escape when Basta attacked me. Instead, he saved and took me to the church to get help."
Ann was overwhelmed by her sadness and launched herself at Capricorns chest to cry into his shirt, not caring that this man was the main cause of her misery.
Capricorn on the other hand, though enjoying Ann's closeness, finally understood just the kind of pain he had managed to inflict on the girl that he claimed to care about. Not just physically, but mentally as well. He was the main cause for her blaming her self and beating herself over the pain that he started.
Once again he made the girl in front of him, clinging onto him; face him, with her emerald eyes staring at his silver, colorless ones. He could see that she was trying to be strong, but her will had taken a beating since her stay at the village. But it has also strengthened her in a way, forcing her to fight. That was why Capricorn adored Ann.
"Why do you think that all of this pressure should lie on your shoulders? Dustfinger made a choice to bring you to the church. If he hadn't I'm sure you could've been harmed much worse than you already are now. Even though I hate the man that you so adore, if he hadn't made that choice and many others, we both would've lost you…" he hadn't meant to say 'we', but it was too late to take it back now.
"It's just…" Ann took a deep breath and collected herself. Then, she smiled at him, surprising him for the millionth time that day.
"Ya know, I know I've told you this before, but you're always," she struggled with a word. "Softer when I'm around and no one else is. It's kinda nice. I just wish you wouldn't hit me so often." She instinctively reached up and stroked her left cheek; the purple seemed to stick out even more to Capricorn than the others.
"But I suppose that's my fault. I constantly get you angry all the time. I guess you could say I'm like a caged bird that sings songs cause its what I do. I just wanna 'fly'.
Resembling herself to a bird, made Ann laugh softly, but Capricorn seemed to become cold and looked away from Ann.
He remembered the night he came into Ann's room and kissed her on her forehead, thinking of her like a caged bird that only sang sad songs. Hearing Ann call his name softly, struck him out of his reverie.
"A-are you okay?" Ann thought that she had somehow managed to anger the black jacket leader. When she saw his hand rise, she closed her eyes, expecting pain on her facer, but as she slowly opened them she felt something soft instead.
Capricorn slowly and softly stroked Ann's cheek, a look of sadness on his features.
"I am sorry." He said lowly. Then before he did something he would regret, he stood up and looked down at Ann.
"I think its time you got something to eat. Seeing as the last you ate was yesterday at noon. Would you like the maids to bring you something, or dine at the church with me?" Even though Capricorn knew there was a slim chance that she would say yes to the latter, he still thought he should try.
Ann thought about it.
"Well, I really don't want any of the maids to have to fuss over me so…I guess I'll eat with you."
Joy spread through Capricorn
She was actually 'choosing to be near him!
But as Ann tried to stand from the bed, he saw how her legs were shaking and before she could fall, caught her. He yelled for the maids to bring her clothes. (Walking around with only bandages to cover was not something Capricorn wanted the others to see.)
Once she was dressed, he picked her up once more, but she yelled out anyway from the odd angle that her wrist and ribs were feeling.
"OWWWWWW! Damn this hurts!"
He chuckled at her colorful language, even if it was from the pain. It seemed as though the Black Prince never taught his daughter the proper way for a woman to act. But growing up with the Motley Folk, it was no surprise. And 'her' Dustfinger didn't seem to mind the way she talked, so he couldn't imagine the man teaching her anything proper.
Seeing that Ann had situated herself, Capricorn took her to the front of the church and sat her at the small table that was next to his throne. Then he ordered for his and her food to be brought out. Ann couldn't help but think what Dustfinger was fed in his cell or if he was fed at all.
Capricorn noticed, after there food was put in front of them, that Ann was merely staring at her food, her utensils sitting next to the steaming plate untouched much like her food.
"Is something wrong? Do you not like your food?"
"No! The foods fine, I…I was just wondering if Dustfinger was being fed." Capricorn had to resist the urge to roll his eyes in front of Ann. Leave it up to her to still think about the fire eater even after all of the nonsense was taken care of.
"Yes, as much as it kills me, your fire eater is being fed. He is given food three times a day. (Bread the size of a golf ball counts!) Now eat."
Even though Ann's worries were relieved, she couldn't help but notice Capricorn calling Dustfinger 'her' fire eater. She was about to ask him about it, when the front of the church doors open.
Capricorn, who seemed to have been expecting this, stood up. His figure towering over his men and Ann.
"Ahhhh, the entertainment has arrived. Men, I've thought about how well you have all served me and decided to give you all a very 'promising' gift."
The men who appeared from the opening of the door, walked in, dragging someone along with them. Once they stood at the center of the floor, they dropped the unfortunate person. A loud groan echoed from the figure.
Capricorn looked down at the man.
"Basta, how nice to see you again. Did you enjoy your time in the crypt? You look a little thin."
Ann gasped as Basta looked at his leader with dark sunken eyes, pleading with mercy.
"Stand him up, seeing as he no longer bows down before his Lord." Capricorn ordered. The men went to stand Basta up, but accidentally dropped him, earning another low, painful groan. But once they grabbed him, they forced him to stand. Ann couldn't believe that the man before her was the man who hurt her four days ago.
Basta was pale. He no longer looked like the young, energetic knifeman she knew. No, instead the man in front of her was weak, tired ghost like. His once dark hair even looked ashen, as if he aged in years not days. He also looked as if he hadn't eaten while he was in the crypt. Ribs were standing out through the mans ripped and torn shirt. Ann even noticed that his left arm hung limp at his side.
"Now, I know many of you have suffered through Basta's beatings. Am I correct?"
Cries and 'boo's' rang in Ann's ears.
"I assumed correctly. Now, Basta has been cruel to you all, these years. And seeing as how you all have been tortured by him, I think you all should get your share of beatings. Do you agree?"
Roars and cheers were the response.
The black jacket leader looked down upon Basta.
"Who's first?"
A large black jacket came up. Ann remembered him by the mans name of 'Steel Toe. The clanking of his heavy metal boots explained the name enough. Basta was brought to his knees, forced to stare up at his comrade. He made no noise, complaint, or response to what he knew was to come. Ann thought he looked close enough to be considered dead.
Then, suddenly, Steel Toe raised his leg and kneed Basta in the face. A loud crunching noise could be heard all the way to the back of the church where Capricorn and Ann sat. Basta's cry at the pain made Ann flinch.
When Basta tried to get back up and speak, blood gurgled from his mouth and nose, dripping onto the already crimson floor.
"Nicely done Steel Toe! Who else? Come on, many of you I know wish to cause this man in front of me pain." The man taunted, raising his arms and gesturing for others to come. And came they did. One after another walked up to their brother black jacket and beat him until it seemed the knifeman would've preferred death to the punishment he was receiving. And every time one of the struck, cut, or kicked Basta, Ann would flinch and look away while Basta's grunts and shouts of pain reached her ears.
Then, Slicer, one of Capricorns most brutal men, walked up to Basta, his knife in his hand gleaming and waiting for blood. That was all Ann could take.
Capricorn on the other hand could only sit in his throne and watch as Basta received punishment after punishment. He reveled in the blood dripping from his pale and boney body. It was true what was said, revenge was sweet. But all to soon the sweetness turned bitter as Ann rushed past Capricorn and down the small set of stairs to where Slicer was about to cut open Basta. She jumped in front of the bleeding man and stopped Slicer from progressing any further on his intentions.
"Ann, move aside and allow Basta to receive what he so likes to hand out." Capricorn said lazily, but keeping an eye on Slicer's knife.
"Yea. Movie it girly!" Slicer was getting impatient, waiting for the girl to move and let him have some fun.
"No! This is wrong! Can't you see he can't even defend himself? Please, just leave him alone. He's been beaten for long enough. Too long in my opinion. Just…send him back to the crypt or something. Just please, enough of this." She knelt down and tried to help Basta up, but the mans pride would not leave him. So he pushed her weakly with his one good arm.
"Get away from me wench. I don't need your help. You're the one that got me into this so leave me alone!" He tried once more to push her away, but Ann wouldn't stop trying to help him.
Capricorn watched the two. Part of him was confused that Ann would help the man who had caused her so much pain. And another part of him instantly turned to anger when Basta's only good arm shot out and caught a hold of Ann's hair and pulling her back, causing her to yell out and hit the ground. But Ann would not give up. She shakily stood up and walked over to Basta and then suddenly smacked him across the face! Basta's eyes growing wide as he gently cupped his now red cheek.
"Im trying to help you, you idiot! I know its my fault for you looking like you do know, but I wasn't the one who joined up with Capricorn in the first place! He's treated you like crap before, like leaving you in a cage to your death for the Shadow. You're the dumbass who came back to him and went on the stupid mission to find Dustfinger's friends. So don't you even dare say that everything that goes wrong in your pathetic life is my entire fault. You have a choice in what you do, and you chose the life of a black jacket. But," Ann stopped and made a quick glance at Capricorn. "for this," she gestured to his bruised and battered appearance. "I'm sorry."
Basta looked away, knowing her words were true, but refusing to admit it.
The atmosphere in the church was no longer blood lusting, but rather dull, and the black jackets no longer felt the excitement to hurt Basta.
But Slicer, furious at his loss of an audience as well as his loss of his fun, pushed Ann aside before she could move in front of him again, and used his knife to make a long deep gash across Basta's face. The scar ran from his left ear to the end of the right side of his nose.
"Now you and Dirtyfingers can compare scars together, seeing as you always loved to taunt him about them. Have fun 'Scarface'." Slicer walked away grumbling, leaving a howling and writhing Basta on the ground to grab his face in pain.
Capricorn was in rage! He had planned of this to have his revenge on Basta and to have Ann see the 'fun' as a way or getting back at Basta for what he had done to her. But all he had gotten to see was a few of his men torture Basta, and a bloody carpet.
"Mortola, get in here now!" Capricorn yelled.
The evil looking woman came walking slowly into the room; her face as usual was one of scorn and hatred at every person she saw.
"What do you need, My Lord?" She spat out the words venomously.
"Get him cleaned up and bandaged. We don't want to arrive in our world with such a ragged looking black jacket. Appearances are going to one thing that will first strike fear into those we will torment."
The vile woman's eyes almost seemed to pop from their sockets.
"You mean, we're going back?! When?"
"Tomorrow."
"NO! I will not fix this excuse for a man. Because I am not going back to that god-forsaken place."
Capricorn, who was taking his leave, turned back to face the woman he hated to call a 'mother'.
"What do you mean 'I'm not going back'?
"This world has so much more to offer Capricorn. It has guns, cars, and money! Oh so much money. You could easily become a ruler here! Why go back to a world where filth is everywhere you step? Where peasants crowed the streets in their filth. I'll tell you why! You're a coward! That's why your own father—
Mortola was silence and grasped her neck gagging. Capricorn had used his dark powers to silence the woman, choking his own mother.
"If you know what is good for you woman, you will hold your tongue. You wish to know why I changed my mind about this world? It's because this power I have now is weaker here. I can feel it. Plus, this world bore's me now, with its constant control over the law, how the people have rights. I grow tired of having to move place to place al because I killed some insignificant person!"
He released Mortola and she fell to the ground gasping. Her two closest maids assisted her to stand before she smacked them away.
"If you do not return with us Mortola, then you will no longer have a life to live. Its your choice.
She scoffed, "You would kill your own mother?"
Capricorn chuckled. "Why not? I killed my own father didn't I?
He walked over to the silent girl who had not moved from her spot besides Basta. She had managed to tear a piece of her shirt and gave it to Basta to soak up the blood from his face. He took it and grumbled out a 'thanks' but Ann wasn't paying any attention to him. The only thoughts that were running through her head were the ones that she hoped to come true ever since she arrived in this world.
We're going home!?
Alright you hoodinannies, time to R&R, you know what to do! I really appreciate those who have reviewed so far, you guys really make my day and make me what to try extra harder at Updating. Please review. I'll give you a cookie!!