Chapter 43

"Wake up little mouse," Basta was shaking her. Dafne wanted to keep on sleeping so she ignored him and kept her eyes closed. But the shaking just became more insistent, "Dafne, wake up."

"I am awake," she mumbled, "I want to sleep."

"I'll let you sleep," Basta said, still shaking her, perhaps to rouse her more fully. God, it was tortuously annoying. "I just need my jacket first."

At the sound of 'jacket', Dafne's eyes sprang open.

"Jacket?" she said, rubbing her eyes as she sat up to take in her surroundings.

She was on the couch and her brain jolted into gear, reminding her that this was the place she had insisted on sleeping last night. She hadn't wanted to sleep in the bedroom. Not with the bricks. She had told Basta this. He had offered to shift them but she had been too tired and taking the couch had just seemed easier.

"Yes my jacket," Basta said amusedly, "You're still wearing it."

Dafne looked down. Yes she had it. Jacket and keys. The keys she had pushed to the back of her mind, promising herself she would come to a decision about them later. But now Basta wanted the jacket back, the keys along with it.

"Can't I keep it? It's comfy," she said with a smile which felt so false. But she felt she at least had to try to keep hold of the keys, until she could decide what to do with them.

Basta shook his head,

"I'd let you keep it dear heart but there's things in the pockets that I need."

"Like your cigarettes?" Dafne said, playing dumb, "You don't need them. Smoking is bad for you."

Basta sighed with an undercurrent of annoyance,

"Is that something else you're going to start harping on about?"

Dafne shrugged. Of all the things she didn't like Basta doing, smoking was low priority.

"Well save it for later," Basta said, looking unimpressed by her noncommittal response, "I have to get going," he held out his hand with firm expectation, "The jacket little mouse."

What else could she do by relinquish it, keys and all? She couldn't object to him taking it. It belonged to him. So she peeled it off and handed it over.

Bye bye keys, she thought as she watched him pull the jacket on.

"Don't look so sad," Basta said, picking up on her disappointment, "If you like the jacket so much I can get Isolda to make you one. One that will fit you better. Would you like that?"

Dafne smiled faintly.

"Yes," she said, thinking however nice her own jacket would be, it was bound to lack the keys which made Basta's so enticing.

Basta was pleased though, thinking he had cheered her up. He bent down to kiss her.

"I'll arrange it then," he said, "You can go back to sleep now."

But by now Dafne was very awake and sure to stay that way. She didn't want to dwell on the keys however and looked around for distraction. She found one as Basta was heading out the door.

"Wait," she called after him, "Where's Silvio?"

Had he come in last night? Where was he?

"In the bedroom," Basta answered.

"Bedroom?" Dafne said, glancing over at the stairs.

"Yes. Where else was he going to sleep? On the floor?" Basta chuckled, "Not that he would have minded. But the bed was free. I slept in the armchair."

"Why?" Dafne asked, curious as to why he would choose the stiff uncomfortableness of the armchair to his bed.

"To be close to you," Basta replied.

Dafne felt a pang of guilt in the pit of her stomach. He had endured discomfort just to be near her and all she had been thinking about was the keys.

"That's very sweet," she said.

Basta smiled back,

"Well I'm glad you don't find it creepy."

Dafne furrowed her brow,

"Creepy? Why would I..." she realised something uneasily, "You weren't watching me sleep were you?"

Basta didn't answer. He laughed perhaps a little nervously.

"Sweet remember," he said, "See you later little mouse."

Dafne waited for Silvio to come down instead of venturing up to the bedroom. She wanted very much to see him and make amends but it was best to let him sleep. While she waited, she busied herself making a hearty (apologetic) breakfast for him, eggs, bacon and cooked tomatoes. She was just about finished when he appeared as if on cue, perhaps drawn by the smell.

He smiled at her, a sleepy smile but a smile nonetheless, as if she hadn't spoken to him so sharply the night before.

"Hey."

Despite the smile, she apologised anyway.

"Hey. I'm sorry I spoke to that way last night. I shouldn't have done that."

But he forgave her as easily as he'd smiled.

"That's okay. You were upset. Can I have some that?" he pointed to the breakfast she had piled on a plate.

Dafne laughed,

"You can have all of it. It's yours."

He accepted it with a delighted grin.

"I ruined your visit with Netta too," Dafne said apologetically as Silvio wolfed down the food.

Silvio shook his head, cheeks bulging, swallowed and said,

"You didn't ruin anything," he said, "You didn't make Orlanda show up. Nasty old cow!"

"Silvio!" Dafne admonished him with a laugh.

"Well she is," Silvio said, "It was none of her business telling Resa you were going out with Basta."

"I suppose not," Dafne said, "But Resa was bound to find out eventually," she sighed, "And her reaction would have been the same."

"Maybe she just needs time to get used to it," Silvio said optimistically, "I mean I thought it was really strange at first but now I'm okay with it."

Dafne shook her head doubtfully,

"I don't think time is going to change her mind," she said, "And I can't really blame her. Basta treated her pretty awfully when she rejected him."

Silvio shifted uncomfortably.

"But that's in the past," the boy said, swallowing his uneasiness, trying to appear reassuring, "Basta's different now."

"Well he is to you and me," Dafne said, "I'm not sure about everyone else."

"Do you think he'll decide to leave the village?" Silvio changed the subject.

Dafne shrugged, recalling Basta's words from last night,

"It's his decision. We can only wait and see."

By now Silvio had finished his breakfast. He pushed his empty plate aside solemnly,

"If he does," he said, "or even if he doesn't, do you think that we could take Netta with us?" he looked at her with hopeful pleading, "I know it will make it harder for us to sneak off but I don't think I could leave her behind. I really couldn't."

Dafne smiled. She was touched to see the depth of his caring for the girl. She shared his sentiment too. She wouldn't feel right leaving the girl behind, not her or Resa.

"Of course we can," she said.

Silvio gave a sigh of relief. She didn't know why. Had he really expected her to say no?

"To tell you the truth," she said as she collected his plate, he was smiling now, "The sooner we get Netta out of there the better."

Silvio's smiled disappeared instantly. Dafne winced, knowing she shouldn't have said anything. She had been thinking about Capricorn threatening to kill Netta if Resa disobeyed him. She didn't want Silvio knowing this but the remark had already set off alarm bells.

"Why do you say that?" he asked, concern springing into his voice.

Dafne shook her head, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.

"No reason," she said.

The boy was scrutinising her face. What could he see there? Obviously something that told him that she wasn't telling the truth.

"No, there is," he said, getting up, going over to her, "You know something."

Dafne shook her head, wishing he wasn't so close. It made it so much harder.

"No, no I don't," she said, hearing the nervous tremor of someone who couldn't pull off a lie with conviction. If she didn't sound convincing herself, how could she expect him to believe her?

Silvio took hold of her shoulders. He was normally shy about touching her but not now. Netta was his single concern.

"Dafne," he said, looking her straight into her eyes, into her soul, "Tell me!"

She caved.

"Capricorn threatened to kill Netta," she confessed, "If Resa tries to run away again."

Silvio drew back sharply as if winded.

"What?" he said in an almost whisper. She could see the horror dawning on his face, "Kill her."

"If Resa tries to escape," Dafne said, though this seemed to make no difference to Silvio. Only the first part mattered.

"But she hasn't done anything," he said, shaking his head, "She hasn't done anything to do him."

"It doesn't matter," Dafne said, "Capricorn just picked the one person most likely to get Resa to do what he wants. If I wasn't living with Basta, it probably would have been me instead."

"But it's not you," Silvio said, his voice hardening, "It's her. After all Netta's been through. He had her family killed!"

"I know that," Dafne said quietly.

"He can't," Silvio was shaking with impassioned anger, "I won't let him hurt her. I swear. I'll kill him if it comes to that."

He meant it, every word. The soft-hearted boy was gone. Here was a young man prepared to fight. The conviction in his voice troubled her. But the last thing she wanted was for Silvio to recklessly confront Capricorn. She knew with certainty he would lose. She was suddenly extremely afraid.

"Please listen to me," she said, "I know right how you're worried. I am too. We both care about Netta. But Resa cares about Netta too and she wouldn't risk her life trying to escape."

"How do you know," the boy said disbelievingly, "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know Resa," Dafne said without a trace of doubt or hesitation, "She wouldn't do that. Do you trust me?"

The boy didn't answer. He stared at the floor, his fury cooling into misery.

"Do you trust me?" Dafne repeated more firmly.

Silvio sighed, glancing up at her with sad dark eyes.

"Yes," he said softly.

"Then believe me when I say that Netta is safe for now," Dafne said, wrapping her arms around him, holding him tightly, as if she could shield him from the world, it's pain. But she couldn't. Not when they lived in this part of the world where there was pain and injustice aplenty. What she had said about Netta could be said for all of them. The sooner they left the better, "She's safe and we're going to take her with us. I promise."

Silvio nodded, breaking away from her a little too abruptly.

"Okay," he said in a quiet monotone. There was something off about it, his voice was usually so expressive, "I better get going. I have to wash a lot of cars today."

It wasn't just his voice which troubled Dafne. It was his exit, so soon after hearing such distressing news. Was he really going off to wash cars?

"Please promise me," she called worriedly after him, "Promise me you won't do anything foolish."

He turned around and gave her a smile. A big smile reminiscent of his usual smiles only today it seemed forced and only for show.

"I won't," he said and before she could say anything else, he was gone.

She was alone and in her solitude she cursed her stupidity.

Damn her tongue. Why couldn't she have said "yes Silvio Netta can come too" and left it at that? But oh no, she ended up revealing the sword hanging over Netta's head. To Silvio of all people. Now she was worried, worried despite his assurance otherwise, worried he might do something regrettable... fatal. And it would be her fault.

All her fault.

She considered running after him. She went to the window and looked out. The boy had been quick and there was no trace of him.

Now what was she supposed to do? Stay here and go mad with worry?

She knew Basta had forbidden her to leave the house alone but this was an unusual circumstance. He would understand, wouldn't he?

Oh sure he'll understand, said a voice inside her head sarcastically, you do realise you're going to have to explain why you felt the boy might put himself in danger, which means you'll have explain how you found out about Capricorn threatening to kill the girl. And the reason you found out was because you were talking to Resa about escape. Do you think he's going to be particularly happy that you were doing that?

Dafne dismissed the voice. I can't let that stop me, she thought, I'll just try to get back before he does... and try not to get into any trouble on the way.

She had no control of this, of course, but that didn't stop her from walking out the door.

As it turned out, she ran into trouble quite quickly. Trouble going by the names of Carlo and Enzo.

"Hey Enzo," she heard Carlo exclaim before she saw him and cringed, cursing her luck, cursing her useless horseshoe, "It's Basta's girlie. Hey! Hey! What's her name again?"

Dafne contemplated whether or not to keep walking, act like she hadn't heard them.

But she didn't get to decide because Carlo ran up and clamped his hand down hard on her shoulder.

"Hey Basta's girl."

Dafne sighed, realising there was walking away from them now. She turned to face him, brushing off his hand as she did. He was grinning at her with his gold teeth.

"Hello Carlo," she said, refusing to be intimidated by him. After all she had taught him how to hold a pen like he was a child, "I have a name you know. It's Dafne."

"Dafne," Carlo said, slapping his forehead with realisation, turning to shout over his shoulder, "Hey Enzo. Her name is Dafne!"

By now Enzo had almost reached them.

"Did you hear me," Carlo said when his companion didn't respond, "Her name is Dafne."

Enzo rolled his eyes,

"Yes Christ I heard you. The whole village heard you."

He eyed her with less enthusiasm than Carlo. She wondered if he still resented being made to hand out the paper and pens.

Carlo pouted,

"Well don't ignore me then."

Enzo decided to ignore this complaint too.

"I'm surprised to see you wandering around," he said to Dafne, "Word is Basta doesn't let you out of the house."

Dafne shrugged,

"Well here I am."

"Hey guess where we're going today," Carlo said. He didn't seem to see anything wrong with her being out here by herself.

Dafne shrugged again. She was sure she didn't want to know, especially when Carlo looked excited. She had seen him excited over the prospect of Basta going to town on Cockerell's face.

Carlo elbowed Enzo hard in the ribs,

"Tell her."

Enzo grunted with pain, immediately retaliating by slapping the back of Carlo's head.

"You tell her. You're the one with huge mouth, paper-eater."

Carlo went bright red. Dafne couldn't help smiling because she got the reference.

"Don't call me that!" he spat at him, "Mole-face!"

Enzo did have an eye-catching mole on his chin and he was apparently self-conscious about it.

"Don't call me mole-face!" he snapped, "Anyway Fiammetta said it makes me look distinguished."

Carlo snorted,

"She said that so you'd pay her more money," he shook his head pityingly, "Stupid mole-face."

"Do you want me cut your mouth open a bit wider so we can shove more paper down there," Enzo snarled.

"I'd like to see you try!"

Dafne wondered if she could slip away since the two were so preoccupied with each other. She began to move.

"Hey where are you going?" Carlo said, making her freeze.

"I just thought I'd leave you alone to kill each other," she said with big fake smile.

"But I haven't told you where we're going," Carlo said, ignoring the fact that Enzo was still glowering at him.

Dafne sighed. Maybe they would leave her alone once he did.

"Tell me then."

"We're going to the next village to photocopy that message," Carlo informed her gleefully.

"I don't why you're so excited," Enzo said with boredom, no longer looking like he was about mutilate him, "We're going to a library."

Carlo rolled his eyes,

"I know that," he said, "But then we get to hand the messages out and that means fun times ahead for us if they don't get the picture."

Enzo smiled a disturbingly knowing smile,

"Let's hope they don't."

They shared a laugh even though they had just been at each other's throats, the promise of mayhem bringing them together.

But Dafne didn't share their amusement. It repulsed her.

"Hey you want to come with us?" Carlo asked her, "See your plan in action?"

Dafne was too surprised by the invitation to speak.

Enzo answered for her,

"Oh brilliant idea," he drawled, "Take Basta's girlfriend out for the afternoon and see how he reacts."

A look of worry crossed Carlo's face,

"Oh yeah," he looked at Dafne apologetically, "Sorry you can't come."

I didn't want to go with you anyway, Dafne thought, I need to find Silvio. Speaking of which, it couldn't hurt asking if they had seen him.

"That's okay," she said, "I'm actually looking for someone. One of the boys. His name is..."

Carlo's face turned sly,

"Ooo, got a little something on the side have you? Sneaking off to see him while Basta's away?"

"Don't be stupid," Dafne said indignantly, "Silvio lives us. He's Basta's apprentice."

She said apprentice for lack of a better word. They probably would have sneered at 'adopted son'.

Enzo sneered anyway,

"I know that kid. Pretty shitty apprentice if you ask me. All I see him doing is wash cars."

"He better do a good job with my car," Carlo said threateningly.

Dafne brightened. This was the break she needed.

"So that's where he is now. Washing your car?"

"Yeah," Carlo said, "That's why we have to take Enzo's shitbox to the village instead."

"Duchess isn't a shitbox," Enzo growled.

Carlo winked at Dafne,

"He calls her that because she's a crappy old broad. So embarrassing going to raids in it. "

"You wanna walk to the next village?" Enzo threatened him.

"Nope," Carlo said smiling unapologetically.

"Then stop insulting my car. There's a reason yours needs to be washed. It has bird crap all over it."

"Well stuff like that can't be helped," Carlo said, "Whereas Duchess..."

"You better start walking..."

"Is a great car, great car. Oh how I wish she was mine."

Enzo sighed wearily,

"Just shut your big hole," he turned to Dafne, "See what I have to put with."

"Aw you love me really," cackled Carlo, "Speaking of love, why the hell are you with Basta?"

Dafne was taken aback by the question. But Carlo didn't give her time to answer.

"Because he's kind of a lunatic..."

"A psychopath," Enzo added.

"And he's got a temper on him..."

"Crazy temper."

"And all that superstitious garbage he goes on with..."

"Enough to drive you mad..."

"Amen to that," Carlo grinned, "So what is it about him? Do you just happen to dig bad guys? 'Cause you know I'm free if you ever..."

Dafne stared at him in disbelief.

"Carlo, you're such idiot," Enzo said in the wake of Dafne's shocked silence, "This is Basta's girlfriend. Basta's. We were just discussing how lovely he is. Do you really think it's a smart idea to hit on his girlfriend?"

Carlo shrugged,

"She's pretty cute."

Enzo rolled his eyes,

"She's pretty horrified at the moment," he pointed out, "Look at her."

"Um, I should really be going," Dafne said uncomfortably.

Enzo laughed,

"Look you've frightened her away," he said, "And she's probably going to dob you in to Basta."

"Don't do that," Carlo begged Dafne hastily, believing Enzo's prediction, "I was just joking around. I really didn't..."

The rest was drowned out by the blast of a car horn. All three of them jumped. They turned to watch a car pull up a little way down the street. Carlo and Enzo appeared to recognise it because they began to wave.

"Who's driving?" Enzo said through clenched teeth, "Nico? I'm gonna wring his neck. Scaring us like that."

Carlo scoffed,

"I wasn't scared."

"Oh please you jumped higher than her."

"I did not!"

Dafne tuned them out. She was more focused on the car, or more precisely who was about to step out.

This has turned into such a bad idea, she thought, I should have stayed in the house.

She had never seen the man who got out of the passenger seat. But it wasn't long before she discovered his name.

"Hey Pietro," Carlo called to him.

The man raised his hand in acknowledgement. He was dressed in black but it wasn't the regular uniform worn by Capricorn's men, it was a suit. But the man with him, the driver, he was wearing the uniform. He was younger than the Pietro and gave them a cheerful wave,

"Hey guys," he said, laughing, "You should have seen your faces a minute ago."

Carlo and Enzo exchanged dark looks.

"Come here Nico," Enzo growled, beckoning him with his finger, "I'll put the same look on your face."

But Nico stayed by the car and kept laughing.

"I don't think so."

"Fine, I'll come over there then," Enzo said, taking a threatening step forward.

"No you won't," Pietro said as he strolled leisurely towards them. "No fighting near my car."

Pietro was obviously a person with authority because Enzo backed down, even though he didn't look happy about it.

"Don't worry," Pietro told him with a smile, "You'll have plenty of time to get the brat back. We're going to be here for a while."

"Are you here for Monster Night?" Carlo asked him.

Pietro nodded. Now that he was closer, Dafne could take him in better. He had a handsome but fleshy face, a broad chest and large shoulders than made him seem slightly hunched over. All in all, he was an intimidating figure and he had just turned his gaze on Dafne.

"Who's this?" he asked. He smiled at her but Dafne didn't smile back, "Has one of you got himself a little girlfriend?"

Carlo and Enzo both laughed.

"No, this one's Basta's."

A look of surprise crossed Pietro's face and he seemed to stare at Dafne with more interest than before.

"Really?" he said with mild amazement, "Wonders never cease. That's one of his shirts you're wearing isn't it? How quaint."

Dafne didn't answer, pulling Basta's shirt more protectively around her chest. She didn't like his tone of voice. It was overconfident and teasing.

Her silence made Pietro furrow his brow in curiosity,

"Is this the mute one? I thought she was blonde."

Carlo chuckled,

"No she's not her. The mute one turned him down flat. This one can talk. Can read and write too."

"Ah an educated woman then," Pietro said, pouting slightly, "So why aren't you talking to me. It's quite rude you know. I'm one of Basta's friends."

"Well he's never mentioned you before," Dafne said before she could stop herself.

"Really? I'm a bit hurt by that," Pietro said though he didn't look hurt, just amused that he had provoked her into talking, "He was at my wedding you know. He hit on my wife's sister."

"She turned him down flat too," Carlo giggled.

"That was some shindig," Enzo said, "How is the little woman by the way?"

Pietro's expression turned pained,

"Don't ask," he turned back to Dafne, "Where's your man anyhow? Why has he left you alone with these low-lives?"

Carlo and Enzo seemed to take this as a compliment.

"We found her wandering around on her lonesome."

"Yeah, like a lost little lamb."

Pietro smiled,

"Well we better get this little lamb home. I can take her. I was heading there myself."

Dafne was not about to let herself be delivered to Basta's house by a man she had only just met. She had to find Silvio.

"Basta's not home," she told him, "And I don't need looking after."

"Well I do," Pietro said, "I'm a guest in this village so I'd like a little hospitality," he took hold of her arm, squeezing it in warning, a warning he was not going to take no as an answer, "We can keep each other company while we wait for loverboy to get home."

To be continued...

Pietro is in charge of Capricorn's northern hideout. Remember there are two. The action in Inkheart took place in the southern one. You'll learn more about him in the next chapter.

I had to bring back Carlo and Enzo they were my favourites and I get this gay vibe from them for some reason lol even though Carlo hit on Dafne. They have this inseparable love/hate thing going on.