Chapter 15

Author's Note: Hi guys, this is the first of the rest of the old chapters I've edited and am now reposting. The first few paragraphs are new though. Lol to all the reviewers for the last chapter, thinking Dafne was crazy stupid for taking Basta's knife. Blame her poor judgement on mental trauma. You can see in this chapter that Dafne's no hardened warrior maid by any means. Anyway enjoy, I'll have more chapters reposted soon (I sound like a broken record sorry).

As quietly as she could, Dafne set the tray laden with Capricorn's dinner down on the ground outside his door. After glancing around furtively for a moment, she reached into her pocket and brought out Basta's knife. She opened it with a click which sounded loud in the silence hallway. Paranoid, she looked at the door. Surely the man inside wouldn't have heard it, wouldn't come to investigate the sound. No, she told herself, turning her attention to the blade. This was the first time she had opened it, the first time she had even dared to take it from her pocket.

It had been in her pocket when she delivered Capricorn's lunch to him earlier that day. She had been so nervous, nervous about being in his presence again, nervous about what she was concealing. The lunch tray had been noticeably trembling in her hands. As soon as she entered the room, she felt completely out of her depth. She had no experience handling a weapon and though a knife seemed straight forward to use, it took a certain mentality to drive it into a person. But even if she did find it in herself to attack Capricorn with the knife, try to kill him with it, what if he overpowered her. She knew he was strong, strong enough to have no trouble strangling her.

He could turn the knife on her, or discard it to strangle her again. She had halted halfway in the room with those frightening scenarios playing in her head. She looked worriedly over at Capricorn in his armchair, perusing a men's fashion catalogue. Even while engaged in something trivial and harmless he gave off an aura of danger.

"Dafne," he said, without looking up from the catalogue, making her jump, the tray rattling noisily, "Stop dawdling. Put it in the usual spot and get out."

Dafne had nearly tripped over in her haste to comply. She fled her master's room, feeling foolish for even entertaining the thought of taking this man on. But once outside she had found herself cursing her lack of nerve. Was she just going to allow herself to be a victim, to allow herself to be strangled and whatever else? No. She had to pluck up her courage, steel her resolve for the next encounter. She had a knife and she had to be ready to use it. Otherwise the risk of stealing it from Basta had been for naught.

Basta would no doubt be furious when he discovered his precious blade missing from its holster. She hadn't considered his wrath when taking the knife but she had worried about it afterwards, expecting him to hunt her down. To her relief, he hadn't made any appearance. Perhaps he hadn't noticed the theft. Perhaps when he did, he might not suspect her. Perhaps he might assume the knife to have fallen from the holster by accident without his notice. She hoped he was that stupid. Otherwise she would be in a lot of trouble. If she wanted to use the knife, she had to use it soon. That was why she had opened the knife up, to study it, to prepare herself to wield it.

The blade was smooth and spotless. She ran her finger up its length until her finger rested on its tip. Without even pressing too firmly, she could tell how sharp it was. So sharp it could pierce flesh easily with little force. Dafne imagined Capricorn sitting in his armchair, preoccupied with his catalogue. She imagined herself busting through the door, racing over and burying the knife in his chest before he had time to react. Yes, if she had the element of surprise and she was quick, she might just do it. She might just kill Capricorn.

She jabbed the air with the knife. She could feel the power of the blade but her swipes felt clumsy and amateurish. Disheartened, she stopped. Doubt began to creep in again.

You foolish girl, a voice resembling Capricorn's sneered inside her head, do you really think you can kill Capricorn. You're completely inexperienced and weak. You don't even know the proper place to stick the blade in. If you try this, you're going to fail and Capricorn is going to kill you.

Dafne gripped the handle, trying to shut the voice out.

She had to try. It was that or endure Capricorn tormenting her.

She stared at that blade as if it might spout a voice and egg her on. But the blade was silent and she went on gazing at its immaculate surface not knowing what to do.

Suddenly she felt a presence and her heart leapt. But she was too slow to react as an arm shot out from behind her. A hand clasped over her mouth, muffling her cry of surprise. She was pulled backwards against an unknown body. Her eyes darted back wildly, trying to glimpse her ambusher. Her nose caught the familiar scent of peppermint. She no longer had to guess.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Basta said in her ear, "That was a dirty trick you pulled on me, little mouse. Taking my favourite knife like that. Just when I was feeling all sorry for you too."

For emphasis, Basta tightened his grip briefly. Dafne flinched. The hand clasping the knife hung lamely at her side. She seemed to have lost control of her whole body.

"If I were you, I'd give it back while I'm still offering you the chance," Basta continued, "Come on now," he crooned, "give it back to Basta."

He squeezed her again. A warning.

Dafne let out a sigh. Her whole body seemed to sigh. She relaxed her grip on the blade, enough for Basta to take it from her.

With the knife back in his possession, Basta loosened his hold on her like an uncurling python.

Dafne whirled around to face him. She scowled at him. He smiled back, a hard smile of victory. The knife had already disappeared from view, returned to its holster.

"Oh don't look at me like that, little mouse," he said of her expression, "With a blade like that, you would have only ended up cutting yourself anyway."

"It was none of your concern!" Dafne hissed at him, "You should have stayed out of it."

"Stay out of it," Basta growled, smile gone, "You stole my knife to try to kill my boss. That makes me involved. I just saved you from entering into a very sticky situation."

"Well don't expect any gratitude from me," she spat.

She went to leave. He grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him.

"Don't speak to me like that, you idiot," he snarled, "I'm not the one in the wrong here. Do you know what would have happened if you'd gone into that room waving a knife around? You wouldn't have come back out."

To her surprise, he released her. She backed away until she was out of arm's length. Basta gave a somewhat weary sigh.

"Come on, little mouse. You know what I'm saying is the truth. Besides, you're no killer. You know that. You don't have it in you."

Dafne shook her head vigorously in denial of her folly,

"You're wrong," she told him, "I could have done it. If it wasn't for you, I would have, I would have..."

"Died," Basta finished with appropriate gravity.

Dafne slumped to the ground. Basta was right. And she was so much of a coward that she couldn't help but feel relieved by his intervention. No matter how hard she tried to be brave, to emulate Resa, she was just too... afraid.

How pathetic she must look right now. In a heap, on the floor outside her tormentor's bedroom.

She glanced up at Basta. He was still watching her. He looked a little uncertain now. He was probably wondering what to do with her.

She put her hands over her eyes to block him from view like a shield,

"Please stop looking at me," she murmured, "You have your knife, just go away."

There was a brief silence before she heard him say,

"I can't do that, little mouse."

Dafne lowered her hands. Basta was no longer looking at her but at Capricorn's door. He was frowning, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

Panic gripped her. Was he thinking about revealing what had just transpired to Capricorn? She shouldn't be so surprised. He was Capricorn's loyal right hand. Why should he even hesitate to rat her out?

She meant nothing to him. Nothing.

But she found herself pleading to him nonetheless.

"Please Basta. Don't tell Capricorn any of this! He'll do something awful to me. Something terrible. Please don't tell him."

Basta looked at her in surprise. Perhaps he hadn't been thinking about that after all.

"I wasn't going to tell him," he said, the insinuation seemed to irritate him, "If I wanted you to meet a grisly end, do you think I would have gone to the trouble of stopping you?"

"I don't know," said Dafne helplessly, "I thought..."

He came and knelt down to her level. She turned her head away from the intensity of his narrow-eyed gaze.

"You don't like me much, do you little mouse," he murmured, his voice soft but not absent of its usual threatening undertones, "Well, you're not the first. You're all the same you women. You write me off as a complete bastard. But let me tell you something…"

He reached out, took her face between his fingers, tilting her head so she was forced to look at him,

"I could be a lot worse. I could take any woman I wanted. Against her will," his thumb brushed against her cheek, she inhaled sharply at the unwanted sensation, "But I don't. I could punish you for taking my knife. But I won't. I could throw you to Capricorn's mercy. Hell, you've caused me enough grief, you and Resa both."

He withdrew his hand from her face and rose slowly,

"But I'm not going to. Because, believe it or not, I'd much prefer you alive to being dead."

Following Basta's speech, Dafne, at a loss over what to do next, remained locked in her huddled position. Meanwhile Basta stayed where he was, leaning slightly over her.

A little while passed before he spoke again.

"I suggest that if you want to avoid trouble, you'll take Capricorn his dinner now," he nodded towards the discarded tray.

Dafne rose to feet shakily. There seemed little point than to do what he advised. She retrieved the tray and instead of carrying on, she found herself turning back to him. She felt like she needed to say something but words evaded her. But it didn't matter. He beat her to it.

"I'm coming in with you," he said. This surprised her but she didn't question it. She just nodded and knocked on the door.

"Enter," came the dreaded voice from within. A single word filled with the airs of command and arrogance of its speaker.

And with Basta close behind, Dafne did as the voice bid.

Capricorn was sitting on the end of his bed when Dafne came in. He was still clad in his suit, his arms folded. This was usual as it was Dafne who undressed him every night as Resa had done before her. It was not inability or laziness which prevented Capricorn from simply doing this himself. It was the fact he relished the humiliation felt by those he forced to do it for him. To Capricorn, it was all about power.

"You're late," Capricorn said, inspecting his nails. This trivial occupation did nothing to mask the menacing softness of his voice. Whatever he was doing, whatever illusion he gave, Capricorn was never off-guard.

Dafne bowed her head in apology.

"I'm sorry. There was a… delay in the kitchen."

Capricorn looked up from his nails to remark, "Is that right? How unusual."

Then he smiled at her, that hollow, mirthless smile. Capricorn never smiled for the enjoyment of it. He only smiled at the machinations of his own thoughts. Dafne knew he was neither fooled by her excuse or had anything pleasant in store for her lateness.

However, he didn't press further. He just waved her forward before turning his attention to the guest idling in his doorway.

"Basta. I wasn't expecting you at this hour."

Basta made a similar bow to Dafne's.

"I'm sorry but I have something to report," he told Capricorn.

"And is it so urgent that it cannot wait til morning?" Capricorn replied, his eyes flicking briefly back to Dafne as she set the tray down on his bedside table.

"I just thought you'd like to know right away," Basta said before adding, "But I can come back later if you want."

Capricorn shook his head, "No, no, you're here now. There's no point in sending you away."

He stood up, rising like a cobra from its basket and just as intimidating. He beckoned to Dafne with his hand. Very reluctantly she came, knowing it was a sign that he wanted her to begin undressing him and she dreaded Basta or anyone else witnessing it. It was humiliating and unnerving enough as it was.

However, she didn't have any choice. Basta had taken back her only means of defence. So she did what she was expected and Capricorn held out his arms as she removed his jacket before moving onto his tie. Undoing it, she felt intense repulsion, remembering its predecessor tight around her neck, choking her. She would now have a phobia of ties from that terrifying experience.

Capricorn watched her at her task, undoubtedly enjoying her discomfort.

Then he turned to Basta.

"What is it?"

At first, Basta did not answer. He seemed distracted by what Dafne was doing. It took a moment for him to register that Capricorn had addressed him.

"Well, I visited Signor Laterza like you asked," he began but his attention was not fully committed to what he was saying. He was still focused on Dafne who was now unbuttoning Capricorn's shirt.

"Signor Laterza, yes," Capricorn prompted as Dafne slid the shirt from his body.

"He's still refusing to pay the tribute," Basta said and to Dafne's relief, he averted his eyes to stare at the floor, "He also said he wants his daughter back and if that doesn't happen, he and his sons are going to come get her themselves."

Capricorn appeared unfazed by news of such dissension.

"Well," he murmured, almost to himself, "How unfortunate for Signor Laterza," his next words were directed more purposely at Basta, "Give him one last warning and if he still feels that way, have Cockerell and the others torch the farm. Spare any animals that can be of use."

Dafne halted in the middle of untying Capricorn's shoes. She starred up at him in shock. He had just condemned a family to death, without a second thought, as if it were nothing. And Basta. He just nodded his head like an obedient little dog. There was no hesitation. He did not question his orders. How could this be the same man who had "saved" her from barging in here with a knife? How was she any different to the Laterza family? Why did her life mean more to him than theirs?

"You've stopped Dafne," Capricorn whispered in her ear, "Is something wrong?"

From Dafne's point of view, everything was wrong. But she wasn't about to admit that to the man responsible. She shook her head, found the voice to utter "no", and went back to his shoes. She slid one off, then the other. She straightened and unwillingly reached for his belt. By the time her hands clasped the buckle, Capricorn had turned back to Basta and was saying,

"Was there something else, Basta?"

"Er, yes," he said in the same distracted tone as before.

Please don't be looking at me. Please don't be looking at me, Dafne thought. Her back was turned to him so she could not be sure.

Capricorn's pants then fell to the floor in what seemed like a deafening silence. Capricorn stepped out of the folds for Dafne to gather them up. He seemed to not have the slightest care, any trace of embarrassment of being left standing in his underwear while Dafne fetched his silk pyjamas off the bed.

Basta, on the other hand, was acting if he was the one almost naked and his eyes were desperately darting around the room to find something other than his master to focus on.

"I've just spoken with Orlanda," he said pointedly at the ceiling, "She told me that Resa is now able to move about by herself."

The mention of Resa made Dafne falter in her haste to cover Capricorn's nakedness. Basta's news gladdened her. She couldn't help smiling as she was buttoned the final button of Capricorn's nightshirt.

Even Capricorn himself appeared pleased with the news. Resa was his favourite after all. Compared to Resa, Dafne was an inferior substitute.

"Is that so?" he said, smiling to himself as he rubbed his chin, "My Resa is something of a miracle, isn't she? Was that all, Basta?"

Dafne was in the process of retrieving Capricorn's nightgown when she noticed that Basta's eyes had fallen on her. She gave him a quizzical glance as she returned to drape the gown over Capricorn's waiting body. She finished tying it at the waist and stepped back, her more than uncomfortable task completed. She was now free to focus on what Basta was saying,

"I was just thinking that…" he said, sounding unsure of what he was saying or quite how to express it, "That since Resa will return to work soon, I was thinking that maybe I could…"

"Spit it out Basta," Capricorn cut in irritably, now dressed he had swept over to his armchair, "You're beginning to sound like Darius. I don't have all night."

Basta look a breath. His next words fired out of his mouth without pause.

"I wanted to ask you if I could take a woman to be my maid. I was thinking of Dafne since you won't be needing her after Resa resumes her duties."

It took Dafne a moment to register what he had just said. It took her another moment to recover from the shock of it. Then she found herself yelling at him,

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She didn't care where she was. Or about Capricorn who was looking unperturbed by outburst except for slightly raised eyebrows. She didn't care. She was furious. Basta was requesting to have her become his slave. His. Slave.

Glaring at him as she was, she could see that Basta looked uneasy. But he was not looking at her, but at Capricorn. That made her angrier, that she wasn't even worth paying attention at this moment.

"What am I to you?" she cried, "Just something that can be passed around without any thought spared to how I feel about it?"

Basta turned to face her, still wearing the same strained expression.

"Calm down, little mouse…"

"No! I don't want to be your maid!"

"Basta," Capricorn said, regarding the man as he leaned back in his chair, "I can't give you the girl if you can't even control her."

Basta sighed deeply. He began making his way over to her.

Dafne drew herself up like an cornered cat,

"Don't touch me!" she spat.

That did nothing. He came and grabbed her by the arm. She struggled. He dug his fingers in, she cried out. She glared him through seething eyes, seething teeth. Their eyes locked and Basta used her captured attention to tell her in a frighteningly rational voice,

"I think you've forgotten just exactly who I am, little mouse. You're making me look foolish. And if you don't stop this now, I'll hurt until you do."

I'm such an idiot, Dafne thought miserably, I've gotten into this situation with Basta how many times? And it's going to be me who backs down. I know it. He knows it. I'm angry but he means what he says.

And that was that. She stopped. And when Capricorn said, "That's better, now bring her over here," she was pulled over to stand before him.

Head inclined to one side, he stared up at her with fathomless eyes. A shadow of a smile darted across his lips, almost too quick to catch before it vanished. He raised a hand, gesturing with long thin digits,

"Closer," he said, "Kneel down, girl."

More humiliation. Wasn't he already satisfied? She resisted the demand recklessly, remaining where she was.

Capricorn's gaze flicked to Basta. He was hovering at her side, still clasping her arm. There was no need for words. Basta understood the meaning in his eyes. He placed his free hand on her shoulder and pushed down hard. The strength of the force overwhelmed the resistance in her body.

Down she went, down towards Capricorn. She dropped onto her haunches. Once she reached this position, the pressure on her shoulder yielded but the hand stayed where it was, perched like a bird. A bird that could, in a split second, sink its talons into her.

But for the moment she was more concerned with the danger presented by the man in front of her.

"Well now," Capricorn said, "That was quite a fuss you made," he reached out, taking hold of her face in his hand, tilting it this way and that as he pleased. It made Dafne recall the first time he had inspected her.

"Are you sure you want this one, Basta?" he said. He did not wait for Basta's reply, "From the looks of things she despises you. But you're used to that. You make things difficult for yourself. You always have. I remember what you were like with that minstrel woman, what was her name? Dustfinger's wife."

The mention of Dustfinger drew Dafne's attention away from the presence of Capricorn's hand on her face. Dustfinger had a wife? At the same time, Basta's grip on her shoulder tightened. She looked up at him out of the corner of his eye. He had the pained expression of someone punched in the stomach. Dustfinger's wife, whoever she was, was obviously an unpleasant subject for him.

"Surely you must remember the woman's name, Basta," Capricorn went on, "You spent enough time pining over her."

Capricorn didn't seem at all bothered by the discomfort he was causing Basta. He seemed to be deliberately mocking him. From the looks of it, not even Capricorn's most loyal servant escaped the man's scorn. However Basta himself felt about it, he obeyed and supplied the name.

"Roxanne," he said.

His head was hung and his voice was barely above a murmur. But Dafne heard it and all the melancholy in it. It matched the overall despondency of his figure.

Capricorn snapped his fingers,

"Ah, that's right. The lovely Roxane," he sneered, his whole face filled with scorn, "You made a spectacle of yourself over that one. I could have given you any snivelling peasant girl you wanted, but oh no, she was the only one for you. You were convinced of that. You should have seen him," he turned to Dafne, "My right hand. A trained killer. Trained by myself no less. Reduced to a pathetic lovesick boy. It was humiliating. And all for naught, because in the end," he looked at Basta, "she didn't even come close to choosing you."

Capricorn leant back in his chair, his hand slipping away from Dafne much to her relief. He sighed and threw open his arms in an expansive gesture,

"But I forgave you, didn't I, Basta? I am not usually a generous man, but you, I forgave."

"I'm thankful for that," Basta murmured. He raised his head. There was a horrible look of something like adoration on his face, "I'm grateful for everything you've done for me."

Capricorn drummed his fingers on the armrest. The sound put Dafne on edge.

"Yet you continue to ask of me," he said, "You ask me for this girl who has made her feelings for you quite clear. Am I to understand that you've simply failed to learn your lesson or is there something more, something which has not been revealed to me?"

"Of course not," Basta replied hastily, Capricorn's words seemed to have incited a nervousness he seemed unable to shake, "I just thought that after Resa returns, you may have no further use for her."

"Is that your way of saying she's useless to me, Basta?" Capricorn said.

"No," said Basta vehemently, "No, that's not what I meant…"

Capricorn raised a hand, bringing Basta's protestations to a halt.

"Perhaps, but it's precisely what I meant. Something must be valueless to me before I relinquish it," he turned to Dafne, "Do you know what I do to useless people?"

Dafne looked at him wide-eyed. She knew the answer. The horrible answer.

"You have them murdered," she said, her voice sounded small like a child's, a child speaking of something fearful.

The bluntness of her reply seemed to please Capricorn. He smiled and nodded.

"Clever girl. I set them free in my own particular way. However, when it comes to you..."

He leaned forward so that their faces were just centimetres apart. At such proximity, his eyes were twin pits each threatening to swallow her. His hand raked through her hair, his fingers tearing through the strands like a harsh comb. She winced.

When he next spoke, his voice had dropped to a conspiratorial whisper,

"I enjoy your suffering so much that I want to prolong it as much as possible. Which raises the question, if I give you to Basta, do I think you will suffer enough for my liking?"

If he had the answer, Capricorn kept it to himself as he withdrew back into his armchair. He bought his head to rest on the crutch of his hand. He surveyed both of them for a moment.

"Basta," he said finally.

"Yes?" Basta snapped to attention, looking eager. Eager to serve.

"Before I consider your request," Capricorn said, "I want the matter of Signor Laterza resolved. Is this understood? Report back to me as soon as you've dealt with it."

"Of course," Basta said, nodding. His mood had brightened considerably.

"And if fire is needed," Capricorn went on, "have your apprentice, Silvio isn't it? Have him do it."

All the buoyancy fled from Basta's face, replaced by disconcerted surprise. It was an expression, which mirrored Dafne's.

"Silvio?" Basta said, "I'm not sure he's… he's ready. It's usually Cockerell who…"

"What good is the boy if he can't light a fire," Capricorn said. His tone was hard, unnegotiable, "if he can't do it then he's of no use to me. And I think I've made my feelings for useless people quite clear."

Basta nodded. A different nod than the one he had given Capricorn before, not one of willingness but one of resigned submission.

"He'll do it. I'll make sure of it."

"Good," said Capricorn, "Leave us now."

Dutifully Basta went. But before he did, he spared one look at Dafne. She met his gaze and glared. He didn't glare back. He actually looked quite grim. Any thoughts of him vanished as Dafne's attention was drawn back to Capricorn.

"Well," he said to her, his words filling her with dread, "since this might be our last night, we might as well make the most of it."

To be continued...

Cliffhanger though older readers will remember what happens next.

Yes Cappy peruses men's fashion catalogues. They have pictures and he can't read at this point. I can imagine him flipping through it and going "I like that, I wonder if they make it in red". Bwahaha Cappy's hilarious.

On to reviewer's comments:

Skyridge: Lol twice. That scene was incredibly fun to write. Poor Dafne but I enjoy torturing her so. Well yeah the maids are supposed to not like him. It's in the book that they avoid him but he doesn't avoid them. Poor Basta. Lol Pietro has so many names doesn't he. You're welcome about the review. I'm glad I cheered you up. It's about time I returned the favour because your reviews always put me in a good mood when I read them. You better find your muse though and give me more to read. Lol so Fiona is technically a cute weapon. Oh I found another actor who could be Basta. Kit Harington from Game of Thrones. He does this forlorn pout how I imagine Basta looking when he's sad. Ciao mamma (that's mother in Italian, get it)

TheKaylester: I'm glad you enjoyed Capricorn being evil. I enjoy writing him evil. Yeah Dafne pretty silly doing that. Basta himself called her an idiot in this chapter lol. I hope you enjoyed Cappy in this chapter too.

Ziliverina: Lol yeah it was never going to work which is why it was good Basta turned up when he did. But he got his knife so now he can hurt people again, though not Dafne, he went easy on her. Yeah I know, Cappy's story about his parents is pretty lame (not that you would say that to his face). I would say Basta is probably in his late twenties early thirties. He's been in the human world for 9 years so if he was like 18 when he was read out he would be 27 now. Dafne's younger, she's in her early twenties. I assume Cappy to be middle-aged and looks like the actor Mark Strong only more gaunt.