Chapter 33

"Why are you not wearing your dress?"

This was the first thing Capricorn said to Dafne as she entered his bedroom. She was wearing a dress of course but not the one he had given her.

"It needed to washed," she said, the lie safer than the truth. The truth was that once she had shed the hated dress, she had kicked it resentfully under Basta's bed.

Capricorn looked disappointed.

"That's unfortunate. You looked so much more pleasing in it."

The last thing I want is to look pleasing to you, Dafne thought. Soon you'll have another poor soul to play with. You can dress her up how you like.

"But no matter," Capricorn waved his hand, "I thought you might like some company with Basta away on business."

He scrutinised her face for reaction. Did he know she knew about the girl? Did he know she knew the particulars of Basta's "business"?

She tried to keep her expression even, devoid of the surprise and hurt she felt. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of witnessing these emotions. She managed to pull her lips into a gracious smile.

"That's thoughtful of you."

You despicable, evil man, she was thinking as she said this, not even a man, you're a devil disguised as a man. You sent for me so you could have someone to amuse yourself with until your next victim arrives.

"I know," Capricorn drawled without a trace of modesty, "It's very thoughtful of me. But I'm in a generous mood."

Dafne didn't ask why he was in such a mood, if he was at all, because Capricorn indulged no one but himself. It would be more accurate to say he was high-spirits, awaiting his delivery with anticipation.

"How will we pass the time?" Dafne asked him, acquiescing to the fact that she was now stuck here until a sobbing girl was shoved through the door.

"I'm glad you asked," Capricorn said, "I have a little treat for you."

This filled Dafne with dread.

"I know you're quite the bookworm like Darius," he went on, "But have you ever read my story?"

"Inkheart you mean?" Dafne said, taken aback by the question, wondering where it was leading, "No."

"Good," Capricorn said, "then this will be a nice surprise for you."

He guided her over to his armchair,

"Sit," he said invitingly.

Dafne thought that meant to sit in the armchair but as she went to do so, he stopped her.

"No my dear that's my chair," Capricorn spoke patronisingly as if she was a child, "Sit down on the floor."

He wanted her to sit at his feet like a dog.

Her cheeks hot with humiliation, Dafne lowered herself down as he instructed. She took up a cross-legged position, making sure to pull her dress over her knees so that nothing of her legs could be seen. She didn't Capricorn looking at her legs or any piece of exposed flesh. Her arms, neck and face she couldn't help. Her dress didn't cover them. She would happily wear a sack over her head in Capricorn's presence so he couldn't gaze directly upon her.

With those eyes of his, cold silver eyes like Ferryman coins on a dead man's pale face. Yet this man was alive. She would much prefer him dead.

Capricorn went over to the writing desk and returned with a book. He passed it to her as he settled down in the armchair.

Dafne starred at the cover. Inkheart. She couldn't believe she was holding it in her hands. The book that Capricorn and Basta and others had come out of.

The last copy she had held had been Signor Orazio's, the one she had relinquished to Basta. She had known nothing of its significance then. She did now as she ran her fingers over the title.

Basta's life was in this book.

She wanted to read it. To flick through the pages and find every mention of him.

There was no more intimate way she could know him than to read the words his maker had attributed to him. The words responsible for his scowl, his temper, his knife, his devotion of Capricorn, his past, and what would have been his future if he had not been read out.

She went to prise the book open and remembered Capricorn. He had been watching her fascinate over it.

"Intrigued?" he said.

Capricorn reached to retake possession and she almost hugged it protectively to her chest in refusal. She had a sinking feeling he would not let her have it again, that this had been a onetime exception. But what was she going to do, run off with it? She had no choice but let him take it and mourn the missed opportunity.

"I'm glad you are because this is my surprise," Capricorn said as he opened the book at a marked page, "I want to show you what a fine job you've done of teaching me how to read."

Dafne realised his intention.

"You're going to read to me?" she said incredulously, "from Inkheart?"

She was amazed but also felt jitters of excitement. If she wasn't allowed to read Inkheart, having him read it to her was a small consolation.

"Just a piece," Capricorn replied, "A small part of my story. You see several years ago I had Darius read exactly what I'm about to read to you. I was having him read out maids and there was one I wanted in particular. She was my favourite. She didn't come out in the end, I'll explain why afterwards. I'll begin, shall I?"

Capricorn's reading voice was indistinguishable in tone from his conversational voice. There was no passion in it.

It wasn't a pleasant voice but the subject matter made up for this.

Dafne listened raptly as he enunciated each word.

Capricorn had many maidservants but there was one he favoured above all the others. She was a fair creature with wheat-coloured hair who attended to his every intimate need. She had done so since the tender age of fifteen, orphaned the same day she had come into his possession. Her father was a cordwainer of Argenta who loved his daughter dearly. When Capricorn demanded the girl, her father refused. But Capricorn was not to be denied. He sent his men to exact vengeance for this slight. One night they stole into the cordwainer's house. They tore the sleeping girl from her bed, clamping a hand over her mouth so she could not scream. While her parents still slumbered, Capricorn's faithful servant Basta set fire to the house. He had lit many fires for Capricorn but on this night the fire burned out of control. The flames burst out at him like a snapping dragon, burning both arms right up to the shoulders. From that day forward Basta wore long sleeves, ashamed of the scars he had been dealt that fateful night. Yet he was more fortunate than the girl's family, they perished in the blaze. The girl so consumed with loss, found herself unable to speak and spoke no longer for the rest of her days...

"Sound familiar?" Capricorn asked as he snapped the book shut.

"Resa," Dafne murmured. There was no other blond mute woman in Capricorn's service. But it couldn't have been Resa. She had been read into the book.

"That's right. Resa. She was the one who came out of the book instead of the girl I was expecting. Her name was Sabina, though it doesn't say that in here. Perhaps that's why Resa was summoned, because Darius couldn't specify the other by name," Capricorn shrugged, "I had never seen Resa before but she was just as beautiful and just as quiet. Compared to what could have happened, what Sabina might have come out looking like, a substitute was fine by me."

"Why choose that part to read to me?" Dafne asked him curiously.

"I thought you would appreciate the connection it has to your little friend," Capricorn replied, looking at her in mock pity, "Do you miss her? I bet you do."

Dafne didn't answer. She was pondering how she was going to make contact with Resa. They were in same house but they may as well been in different countries given the obstacles in their way. Well one obstacle in particular. Her name was Mortola and crossing her to get to Resa was as daunting as crossing over a mountain. Mortola made up her own rules, changing them for no one except this man before her.

Yes, this man. That was a thought. If Capricorn ordered Mortola to let Dafne see Resa, she would submit to this ruling albeit unhappily.

If she could just convince Capricorn...

She reached out and touched his pant leg in a gesture of subservience. He looked at little surprised.

"There isn't any way you can change that?" she said wheedlingly, "I miss her terribly."

Capricorn laughed, tipping her chin up with one finger.

"Is this you at your most beguiling? How amusing. I bet you would love me to let you see each other. But I'm not stupid," his eyes hardened at this, "When you two are put together, you're as treacherous as snakes. You'll plot and you'll scheme and make another foolhardy attempt at escape. And I don't want that. It would such a waste of beauty, having to kill you both."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dafne tried to say innocently but her voice faltered.

Capricorn leaned forward,

"Do you take me for a fool?" he said in a soft menacing voice.

Dafne shook her head, swallowing hard.

"Then I suggest you abandon this endeavour," Capricorn said, "Before I start taking offence."

Dafne cursed her foolishness. Why had she thought that was going to work? He had seen right through her.

Capricorn was consulting his watch with an irritated expression. Had he expected Basta and the others to be back by now?

His impatience made Dafne uneasy. If they didn't arrive, no doubt he would start taking his displeasure out of her.

"Would - would you like me to go?" she asked hopefully.

"No," Capricorn said to her disappointment, "Not yet," he stroked his chin thoughtfully as if trying to decide what they should occupy themselves with next, "What do you and Basta do when you two are alone?"

"Sorry?" Dafne said startled by the question, "Um, we... talk mostly I suppose."

Capricorn sneered,

"Talk? About what?"

"Nothing in particular," Dafne said evasively, "I, er, tell him stories."

"Tell me a story," Capricorn demanded, "One without a happy ending."

So Dafne recounted the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. She knew that story had an ending he would approve of.

"... and he led the children to the river where they drowned, just as he led the rats to the river to drown before them."

"How amusing," Capricorn said when she finished, "It's been a long time since someone told me a good story like that. In the other world, I had a minstrel. Coincidentally his name was Piper. Here I've only had Darius to read to me which is a great strain on my patience, listening to him stammer on. But now I have you."

Great, Dafne thought unenthusiastically.

"If I had been the Piper," Capricorn remarked, turning his attention back to the story, "I would have made better use of those children than simply disposing of them."

"You would have made them work for you right?" Dafne said, "Like Basta. He was ten when he joined you."

"That he was," Capricorn said, inspecting his nails with a smile, "Out of all the boys I've ever recruited, he's proven the most devoted, the most mouldable. He was, like you are, a fortunate find."

"He certainly doesn't mind carrying out your dirty work," Dafne said.

"Is that disapproval in your voice?" Capricorn said, looking past his fingers at her, "Or resentment?"

"I don't approve of kidnapping," Dafne said meaningfully, "Based on my own experience."

"I see Basta keeps you informed despite your disgust," Capricorn said, "Counter-productive of him really. But he never was the smartest boy, the most eager but not the smartest..."

He was about to say more but there was a knock on the door.

Capricorn smiled knowingly, rising expectantly from his armchair.

"Come in."

Basta, Cockerell and Flatnose shuffled into the room at what seemed like a reluctance pace.

All three were wearing the same sullen expression.

Basta's changed to surprise when he saw Dafne. He gave her a small smile but she didn't smile back.

She was still angry at him for going to kidnap Sara.

Only Sara wasn't with them. Not even being brought up the rear by Mortola.

There was no girl at all, just three serious-faced empty-handed men.

Capricorn's brow furrowed ominously.

"Well?" he said, his voice reverberating sharply around the room, "Where is she?"

The trio exchanged uneasy glances.

"Speak up," Capricorn snapped when none came forward with an answer.

"We, er, don't have her," Cockerell said, not daring to look his master in the eye.

"I can see that," Capricorn said impatiently, "Why don't you have her?"

"Boss, she's gone," Flatnose said.

"Gone?" Capricorn's voice became dangerously quiet, "What do you mean, gone?"

Cockerell nudged Basta in the ribs with a meaningful glance. He obviously wanted him to do the explaining. But Basta only glared at him.

"I'm waiting," Capricorn said in the same foreboding voice.

"Basta, tell him," Cockerell hissed through the corner of his mouth, "You're the leader."

But Basta still refused to speak. That was until Capricorn singled him.

"Basta," he said sharply and the man flinched, looking like a reprimanded child.

"Yes?"

Dafne jumped as Capricorn's hand suddenly grabbed the top of her head. She cringed at the pressure of his fingers.

Basta watched this unfold with a look of alarm.

"What are you..." he began to say, taking a step towards them.

Capricorn jostled Dafne's head in warning.

"Tell me what happened," he demanded.

"She wasn't there," Basta said hurriedly, the words spilling out of him, "We went to the cafe. She was supposed to be there. But she wasn't. We were told she had moved on north... with her boyfriend. They left a couple of days ago."

Dafne was too frightened of Capricorn and his current grip on her head to feel the slightest bit relieved at this news.

"They left?" Capricorn said to himself in an almost disbelieving voice, "They left?"

Basta was moving tentatively closer to them, eyes on Dafne as if he meant to pull her away while Capricorn was distracted.

But he froze when Capricorn flew back to him, the colourless eyes like a gaping vacuum.

"Why didn't you go after her?"

Basta didn't have time to answer because Cockerell jumped in eagerly,

"That's what I told him we should do," he said, "But he said no. He said we needed to check in first."

"Is that right Basta?" Capricorn murmured.

Basta was shifting uncomfortably on the spot.

"I didn't want you wondering where we'd gotten to," he said.

Capricorn nodded understandingly.

"I see. I see. You were only thinking of me were you?"

Basta looked at him hopefully, perhaps expecting mercy.

"Yes."

Capricorn's mask fell away, revealing his true displeasure.

"You idiot! What makes you think I want you to come back here and report failure?"

Basta withered under his master's vehemence. He uttered nothing more in his defence. It would have been unwise to do so.

Capricorn let go of Dafne's head, pushing her away in disgust.

"Get out!" he ordered, "All of you. Go after the girl like you should have done in the first place."

Cockerell and Flatnose beat a hasty retreat. Basta paused, looking at Dafne, trying to work out if Capricorn had meant her as well. Dafne struggled to her feet, even if he hadn't, she was going. There was no way she was staying here alone with him. Basta must have been thinking this too because he reached for her arm. Capricorn made no objection to her removal. He had thrown himself into his armchair, clasping the armrests with talon-like grip as he eyed them with the greatest distaste.

"Hurry up," he said in final warning as they were moving towards the door, "Get out of my sight."

Once outside, Dafne breathed a sigh of relief. Basta did too but then he raced to catch up with Cockerell on the stairs. He pinned the man against the wall.

"That wasn't very nice," he growled, thrusting his face close to the other man's, "Letting me take all the blame back there."

"Well it was your fault," Cockerell hissed, grimacing from the pain of Basta's grip, "You're the one who wanted us to come back."

Flatnose, who had made it further down the stairs, turned back,

"He's right."

"Shut up," Basta said, sending Cockerell flying into Flatnose. It was a good thing the latter was sturdy otherwise they both would have gone toppling down the stairs, "It's not like it's my fault the stupid girl took off."

Dafne had been making her way over somewhat warily. She hadn't wanted to get too close to their confrontation. She had an uneasy feeling that Mortola would probably turn up soon, drawn by the commotion. It was preferable to leave before she did. The alternate was suffering through her shrill disapproval as she kicked them out herself.

So she was relieved when Basta called to her, saying,

"Come on Dafne. We're going home."

They brushed past the two men who registered surprise at Basta's announcement.

"What do you mean going home?" Cockerell called angrily after him, "We need to go after the girl. That's what the boss said."

"So go do it," Basta drawled, "He didn't specify who had to go. I'm taking my maid home."

"The boss isn't going to happy with you," Cockerell warned.

"He's not going to be happy with you either. You know you aren't going to find that girl. She's long gone. Good luck though," Basta said, raising his hand in a parting wave, "Nighty nighty Cockerell."

"Do you believe that?" Dafne asked him as they were nearing the front door.

"What? About the girl?" Basta said, holding the door open for her, "Let me put it this way it would be a difficult task, one I'm not interested in undertaking at the moment."

"What about Capricorn?" Dafne asked, "Cockerell's right, if he finds out you didn't..."

"That's not for you to worry about," Basta told her, looking unconcerned himself.

"But why are you defying Capricorn all of sudden?" Dafne said.

She was confused. Where had this defiance been earlier, when Capricorn had ordered him to kidnap the girl?

"I'm not defying him. I'm delegating," Basta said, "I'm delegating the job to those two. They have nothing better to do after all. It's better for them to waste time on a wild goose chase than to waste time here shooting at cats. They won't tell Capricorn I didn't go. They know I'll come after them if they do."

"As long as they don't find her," Dafne muttered.

"They won't," Basta said, sounding confident in his prediction.

She was struck by his tone, it sounded like he was reassuring her.

It was strange having the man who had been supposed to kidnap the girl now assure her of the plan's failure. Now that he was no longer under the hostility of Capricorn's glare, he didn't seem too bothered by the outcome. But the whole affair was strange now that she had to time to process it clearly. It was a relief that Sara had evaded Capricorn's clutches but her sudden flight didn't make much sense. It had only been a couple of days since she had met the girl and she had seemed quite happy. What had compelled her to change her mind in such a short amount of time?

"I don't understand," she murmured to herself.

Basta heard her,

"What's difficult to understand? It's straight forward, the girl took off with a head start and we have no idea where she's heading except north. Maybe she's going back to that place she's from. Is that north?"

Dafne shook her head,

"No. But even if she is going back to Australia, I don't understand why she left all of a sudden. It's..."

She trailed off, a thought crossing her mind.

"Someone must have told her," she said, "That's the only explanation that makes sense. Someone must have warned her."

Basta made a disbelieving noise.

"Who would have done that?"

"I don't know," Dafne said, "One of the villagers maybe? The farmer she was staying with?"

"They all know better than to interfere with Capricorn's business," Basta said, "But what does it matter anyway, she's gone. Aren't you happy?"

"I am," Dafne said with a sigh, "It's just strange is all."

"I couldn't really care less what made her leave," Basta remarked.

"I would have thought you'd be a little curious," Dafne said, "Considering it got you into big trouble with Capricorn."

Basta shrugged,

"Not a lot I can do about that."

He reached for her arm, pulling her gently to a halt.

"Are you still mad at me?"

He gave her a hopeful pleading look.

"For going off to kidnap someone?" she replied, "Well yes."

Basta's face fell, as if he had been expecting a different answer. She didn't know why. He should know her better.

"I didn't have a choice little mouse," he protested.

Dafne shrugged off his hand. There was no way he could justify what he had been intending to do.

"Yes you did," she said, "But you went anyway. It's just a good thing that someone had the decency to warn the girl before you..."

She stopped, remembering something.

"You went back to the cafe that day. Why?"

Basta looked at her in surprise, surprise and something else. Nervousness?

"I told you I left something behind."

"What?" Dafne demanded, "You never told me."

Basta took a suspicious length of time contemplating his answer.

"It was, the book," he said, then nodded as if reassuring himself of the fact, "Yeah the book. I thought I'd left it behind but I didn't."

Dafne looked at him sceptically.

"The book? Are you telling me you really didn't remember putting it in your jacket before we left? That you went all the back instead of just checking to see if you had it?"

"So what if I did," Basta said agitatedly, not looking her in the eye.

"But you didn't," Dafne said, "I think you went back to see her."

Basta glanced up at her solemnly. There was no shock on his face, no outburst of denial, no sneer to dismiss her theory.

She knew she was right and it stunned her.

"I can't believe it. You told her," she said, her voice rising due her incredulousness, why had he kept this from her? "You told her about the kidnapping."

Basta's hand shot out to clamp over her mouth.

"Shh!" he hissed, glancing around worriedly, "Don't trumpet something like that out here, where someone could hear you."

Dafne peeled his hand away,

"But you did tell her," she said, dropping her voice to a whisper, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Why had he let her think the worst of him? Let her feel like there was no hope, made her think that there was no way he would ever go against Capricorn's orders?

"Why? So you could tell the whole damn village and get me into trouble?" Basta whispered back, shaking his head at her persistence.

"No one's around," Dafne said, waving her arm at the empty street, "No one except us. Just tell me. Why did you do it?"

Basta sighed, realising that she wasn't about to let the matter go.

How could she? It was momentous. He had done the right thing instead of blindly obeying Capricorn. She needed to know why.

He gave her an answer.

"Because of you."

Dafne blinked at him in surprise.

"Me?"

"Yes you. Why else do you think I would do it?" Basta replied a little exasperatedly, "You were upset with me about it. I figured that if I could make the girl leave, I wouldn't be able to kidnap her so then you wouldn't be angry at me."

Dafne was taken aback. He did it for me. He had cared enough about how she felt to foil Capricorn's ambition of possessing the girl.

Why had he kept it a secret? She didn't understand. Why would he conceal what he had done from her if she was his motivation?

"But why - why didn't you tell me," she stammered.

"Because I didn't know if the girl would actually leave," Basta explained, "She thought it was a joke when I first told her. So I had to threaten her a bit but even then I wasn't sure. I didn't want to tell you just in case I actually did have to go through it. You would have really hit the roof then. And I didn't want Capricorn suspecting something was going on. It was safer to have you clueless. I was going to tell you everything once we got home but you suddenly became a detective."

"Basta I don't what to say," Dafne said helplessly as she took this all in.

"Say thank you and stop looking at me like I'm scum," Basta growled, folding his arms.

Dafne broke into a smile,

"Thank you."

She threw her arms around him. He exhaled sharply as she did, stiffening in surprise, his arms unfolding to hang at his side.

"I don't think you're scum," she said.

I'm so glad you've proved me wrong. I'm so glad.

In her happiness, she clung to him tighter.

"Dafne," she heard Basta murmur, "It's lovely you hugging me..."

This made her blush.

"So don't take this the wrong way," he said, her ears now detecting the strain in his voice, "but you're crushing me."

She extricated herself apologetically.

"Sorry," she said to Basta. He was blushing more furiously than she was.

"You're dangerous you know," he said, covering up his embarrassment with humour, "You don't know your own strength."

"I'm only a little mouse," Dafne protested with a smile.

Basta laughed and smiled back at her affectionately,

"Dear heart you are one hell of a mouse."

To be continued...

If you're wondering, a cordwainer is a shoemaker who makes luxury leather shoes/boots. The poor guy probably had the misfortune of having Capricorn as a customer "I'll take the boots AND your daughter".