Chapter 61

Author's Note: Yay the start of the new chapters. I know there was some M stuff going on at this point last time but I decided to get rid of that. It wasn't progressing the story and it wasn't the right time to have it. Anyhoo, enjoy the new stuff. Dante is my new favourite character at the moment. He's so cute *pinches his cheeks* aw yes you are cutie-kins! Oh, I'm sorry there is no Basta is this chapter. If you've read the book, you'll obviously know he was in the church during this time. Instead we have Dafne, Dante, Darius and Dusty (4 D's)!

Three days later, in the early morning, Dafne and her roommates were greeted with the unpleasant surprise of Mortola as she opened their bedroom door. Her appearance startled them all since it was always Orlanda who unlocked the rooms. Mortola glared impatiently at their apprehensive faces,

"Don't just stand there gaping you lazy lot," she snapped, "March yourselves off to the kitchen at once! Except you..."

She pointed at Dafne who had been rather expecting to be singled out. Mortola always seemed to single her out. She had singled her out to give her reading lessons. She supposed that was what Mortola wanted her for. Their lessons were always in the mornings.

"Come with me."

Dafne grudgingly obeyed, trotting to keep up with the old woman as she hobbled at an aggressive speed through the house. As it turned out, a reading lesson wasn't on the agenda as Mortola took her a room with a guard standing outside the door. Dafne recognised the room. It was Darius' cell. She also recognised the guard. It was Dante. He grinned rather sleepily at her.

"Hey Dafne."

"Hi," Dafne replied automatically, much to Mortola's irritation.

"Stow that chitchat!" she said sharply, turning her eyes on Dante and making him grimace, "You, open the door!"

"Yeah, um, okay," Dante said. The old woman obviously made him uneasy because he nearly dropped the keys as he fished them out of his pocket.

Mortola rolled her eyes at him,

"Idiot!" she turned to Dafne, "I expect you're wondering why you're here."

"Yes," Dafne answered.

"Silvertongue's daughter was delivered to us last night," Mortola informed her smugly, "Which means Silvertongue will be very much in the mood to read for our master this morning."

This piece of information didn't exactly come as a surprise to Dafne. Basta had left in the middle of dinner last night because he had wanted to wait for Dustfinger at the village boundary. But Dafne still pitied the girl even though the arrival of her and the book were good news for Basta. Capricorn would be in a better mood now had Silvertongue, the last Inkheart copy and leverage to force his new reader to read. But Dafne doubted he would be so happy as to give her back to Basta, despite Basta's vocal optimism to the contrary.

"As this is case," Mortola went on, "He will need appropriate books, ones with treasure in them..."

"Shit," Dante swore under his breath as the key he had tried was the wrong one.

Mortola whirled her glare on him,

"Hurry up you imbecile!" she snapped, causing Dante to jump. She turned back to Dafne, "Since you apparently know so much about books," she paused, eyeing the bruise on Dafne's cheek with a sneer, "You will assist Darius in choosing the best ones."

Dafne nodded. She heard the sound of a key in the lock followed by a sigh of relief.

Dante hurriedly moved aside so Mortola could open the door herself. Dafne didn't make out Darius until Mortola shoved her inside and slammed the door closed once more.

"D-dafne?" the man stuttered in surprise. He was standing nervously in the middle of the room with his hands clasped together.

Dafne noticed how frail he looked. No wonder, he had been purposely starved as punishment for Monster Night. He had had his books taken away too, but now they were back, ready for them to sort through.

"Hello Darius," she replied, full of deep sympathy, "I'm here to help you pick out books for Silvertongue."

"O-oh," Darius bobbed his pale head with a faltering smile, "O-of course."

He shyly beckoned her over to his collection,

"I w-was thinking T-treasure Island," he said.

"That's a good one," Dafne said distractedly, her attention still on his sickly form, "Darius, would you like some chocolate?"

Darius regarded her through wide eyes,

"S-sorry?"

Dafne reached into her pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar. Basta had given it to her last night, saying he didn't want her starving since Mortola only fed the maids enough for "sparrows to live on". Dafne had resisted devouring it then and there, deciding she would eat before her lesson with Mortola to give her energy. Only that hadn't happened as she was now here with Darius, a man who looked like he needed anything at all to eat a great deal more than her.

She held the bar out to him,

"Here. I know they've been starving you."

Darius' hand strayed uncertainly towards it,

"Ar-are you s-sure?"

Dafne smiled,

"Of course. But only if you give me a piece."

Darius nodded eagerly,

"Y-yes, yes," he said and as soon as he unwrapped it, he snapped two pieces off and handed them to her.

"I only asked for one piece," Dafne said, pleased as she popped the first piece into her mouth.

Darius didn't reply. He was biting into the chocolate at frantic speed. Soon all that was left was an empty wrapper.

Poor Darius, Dafne thought as she chewed her second piece, you really must have been hungry.

Darius glanced from the wrapper to her, looking embarrassed,

"S-sorry, it's just been so long since I've had chocolate."

Dafne smiled,

"I really like chocolate," she held up her empty hands, "That's why mine's all gone too."

She laughed, causing Darius to laugh a little. She was pleased to see he seemed less on edge now, a little stronger too.

"Let's get to work shall we?" she said, turning to appraise the books with more focus than before, "We have Treasure Island..."

"I was thinking The Hobbit as well," Darius said.

Out of the corner of her eye, Dafne saw him surreptitiously lick his fingers. Her lips curled in amusement.

"Smaug's treasure. Good idea," she said. Another title caught her eye, she went to pick the book up, "What about this one?"

Darius quickly lowered his fingers as she turned to show him,

"Tales from the Thousand and One Nights," he nodded, "Yes that will do."

"Well that makes three," Dafne said, gathering up Treasure Island and The Hobbit as well, "Will that be enough?"

Darius shrugged,

"Who knows," he said, moving to pick up a book, "King Solomon's Mines," he added it to the pile in her arms, "Better to be safe than sorry."

Dafne adjusted the books in her arms with a sigh,

"You're right," she conceded, scanning his collection again, "Can you think of any more we could..."

"Hurry up and open the blasted door Abatangelo!" a voice shouted outside the door, causing them to jump.

"I'm trying to!" Dante complained, "There's more than one key on this chain. Hell if I know what the others for. I only guard this door."

"Then you should memorise which key you need, shouldn't you brat," the other voice snapped.

Dafne looked at Darius. He had gone very white. Could he recognise the voice like she could?

"Hey I have better things to memorise than a stupid... Ah, this is the one!"

The door opened. Cockerell shoved Dante out of his way to limp purposefully into the room, noticing Dafne with surprise.

"Well if isn't Basta's mistress pussycat," he glared at her and she glared back, "What are you doing here?"

"Helping Darius choose books for Silvertongue," Dafne growled, nodding at the books in her arms, "Obviously."

Cockerell sneered, turning his gaze on the more intimidated Darius,

"Seems like you're all set then. Good. The boss is impatient to have you get over to the church," he jerked his head towards the door, "Come on Stuttertongue, let's go see what a real reader can make of your books."

Darius nodded shakily before looking at Dafne almost hopefully. Cockerell seemed to understand such a look.

"No, pussycat isn't coming to hold your hand. The boss didn't say anything about bringing her. Just you. So get moving Stuttertongue and bring those books with you!"

Sadly Darius held out his arms for the books. Dafne handed them over, giving him a reassuring but ultimately pitying smile.

"Bye bye pussycat," Cockerell called as he limped from the room with poor book-laden Darius in tow.

Dante peeked his head in with a grin,

"I guess I can leave now there's no one to guard right?"

Dafne shrugged as she made her way out of the room,

"I suppose so."

Dante rubbed his hands together eagerly,

"Awesome. What are you doing now?"

The question took Dafne by surprise,

"Huh? Oh, I'll be heading back to the kitchen I guess."

She supposed that was where she was supposed to go.

Dante shrugged,

"Suit yourself. I'm gonna go catch some rays."

He took off, leaving her wondering if he had actually wanted her join him. Dante was a little strange that way.

More strange was the fact that she was on friendly terms with other men in the village besides Basta. It had just sort of happened as a result of being friends with Marietta and Giosetta. They had brought her into their social circle and none of the men in it seemed too bothered about it. Nero and Massimo didn't make as much of an effort as Dante to talk to her, but they both treated her nicely. While Dafne treated them in kind, she still found it a little unsettling to be in their company.

They were still criminals even though Nero and Marietta squabbled like an ordinary couple and Massimo and Dante squabbled like ordinary siblings. She supposed Basta was technically still a criminal too but with him she at least knew he was trying to change. She saw nothing in the other three to suggest they wanted to turn their lives around. They seemed perfectly happy with the way things were. So did Marietta and Giosetta. They never seemed to show moral objection to what their partners did for living. Perhaps they found it more easy to accept than Dafne. She never raised the issue with them, thinking each to their own. She was just glad to have friends who made daily servitude a lot easy to bear.

Dafne began making her way back to said friends. They had probably returned from serving breakfast by now. Nearing the kitchen, she caught sight of a familiar figure. It was Resa, carrying the tray which must have contained Capricorn's breakfast. She must have been heading back to the kitchen from his bedroom. They regarded each other in surprise. Then Resa smiled, recognising their good fortune. They were alone, with no Mortola in sight. Dafne glanced around. Yes definitely no Mortola. Here was their chance to talk. Her heart soared a little when Resa beckoned her closer. Dafne hurried over. Resa pointed to a room a little way down the hall.

The laundry room.

Dafne nodded.

"Good idea."

They would have privacy in the laundry room. It would allow them more secrecy than standing in an open hallway Mortola could walk along at any minute.

"Do you want to go first or should I?" Dafne asked a little shyly after Resa had closed the door behind them. She hadn't been alone with Resa for a long time and they were still not technically friends, at least for the moment.

Resa pointed at Dafne. You first.

Dafne took a deep breath,

"Okay, um, Basta," she began, there was no other starting point, "I know you don't like him..."

Resa agreed as her mouth set in a solemn line.

"Which is completely understandable," Dafne said quickly, "Given the way he's treated you in the past..."

Resa pointed at Dafne then held up two fingers. You too.

"I know. He's done wrong to me too. He brought me here. I'll never forget that. But I've seen a side to him you haven't seen. He's sweet and caring..."

Resa's brow furrowed in a telltale sign of disbelief.

"I know that's hard to believe. He really only acts that way around me. The rest of the time he's... well..."

Resa scowled and mimed a knife.

"Yes like that," Dafne said half amused half uneasy by Resa's accuracy, "But in spite of the angry persona, Basta can be kind. You know about what he did for Claudia."

Resa pointed at Dafne then tapped her head. Dafne could usually interpret Resa's gestures but not this one.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand."

Resa reached into her pocket for her paper. She scribbled a message and handed it over.

It was your idea. He didn't come up with it himself. You made him do it.

"Yes I asked him to," Dafne agreed, "But he chose to do it instead of saying no."

He wants to impress you, Resa wrote in reply.

Dafne sighed,

"Maybe. But it still shows he can do a good thing."

When you ask him to, Resa replied.

"It's not just when I ask him to," Dafne said, "Do you remember the girl Capricorn wanted a little while ago? The one who got away?"

Resa nodded.

"She ran away because Basta warned her about what was going to happen if she didn't."

Resa stared at Dafne in disbelief.

"It's true," Dafne said, "He did," she smiled, "He saved her from Capricorn."

Still looking incredulous, Resa hastily jotted down one word.

Why?

"Because I figured out what was going to happen to her and I got really upset at him," Dafne explained.

Resa nodded in understanding,

So he did it for you, she wrote.

"Yes. But the point is I didn't tell him to do it. He made that choice on his own. He chose to do the right thing. I know he can change for the better Resa," Dafne's expression matched the conviction in her voice, "I know he can. He'll do it for me because he loves me."

Resa looked at her with solemn indecision. She wasn't ready to accept Dafne's claims. But she at least wasn't going to reject them either.

"I love him back Resa," Dafne said softly, "I know it's crazy but I do."

Resa nodded slowly but there was worry on her face. Worry she penned into words.

I just don't want you to get hurt.

"I know you don't," Dafne said, touched by Resa's concern. It felt good to know that the woman she cared so much about still cared for her as well, "But that's the risk I'm taking."

Resa let out a small sigh and nodded. Dafne knew she wasn't happy but she was accepting. That was enough. Dafne looked into Resa's face pleadingly,

"Resa, can we please be friends again?"

Resa smiled and reached to brush Dafne's hair behind her ear. It was a tender maternal action. Yes, she mouthed.

Elated, Dafne pulled Resa into a hug. She heard Resa laugh, a tinkling almost ethereal laugh coming from the mouth of a woman couldn't speak. Dafne laughed too. She was so happy to be friends with Resa again.

"I forgot to tell you," she said after the embrace, lowering her voice even though no one else was within earshot, "Basta's promised to leave the village with me."

Resa's eyes widened in astonishment. Dafne grinned.

"When Capricorn gives me back to him, we're going to slip away."

Resa fumbled to quickly write,

Basta would really leave Capricorn?

"I believe he would, for me," Dafne replied, reaching to touch Resa's cheek, "And you're coming with us."

Dafne hadn't discussed this with Basta but she was sure she would be able to convince him. She wouldn't accept no for answer. She couldn't leave Resa behind, not the woman who shared her deep longing to escape.

Resa smiled before a small frown wiggled its way onto her lips.

I would make escape harder for you.

Dafne shook her head even though she knew Resa was speaking the truth. On their own she and Basta could leave the village without suspicion and it would take awhile before it came to light that they weren't coming back. This would allow them to get a good head start over the men who would inevitably come after them. On the other hand Resa's absence from Capricorn's house was bound to be discovered much more quickly. They would risk losing the aforementioned advantage by taking her with them. But Dafne wasn't going to abandon Resa just because of this.

"I'm not leaving without you and that's that," she said firmly, "Okay?"

Resa's brow crinkled, showing her reluctance. But there was longing in her face too and this longing won out in the end. She nodded.

Okay.

The two women smiled at each other. A moment later Resa tore her gaze away to look at the door. Dafne understood.

"Yeah we should probably get back. We don't want Mortola thinking we've snuck off together."

Resa turned back to Dafne. She laughed. It was a victorious laugh and Dafne joined in. Mortola had failed to keep them apart and now they were friends again. They would be beat this place together.

Resa gave her hand a small squeeze before letting go to point at herself. She mimed walking with two fingers. Then she pointed at Dafne, held up her palm in a stopping gesture then mimed walking again.

Dafne understood.

"You go. I'll wait then follow."

Resa nodded with a smile. Then she opened the door with a reluctant sigh and disappeared.

Dafne waited, listening to her footsteps fade. She forced herself to not smile. She couldn't enter the kitchen looking happy. Mortola or Orlanda were bound to suspect something if she did.

After what she judged were several minutes, she left the laundry room.

She heard Orlanda's voice as she neared the kitchen.

"There, submerge them in that," she was ordering someone, "It will cool the burns."

Dafne entered to kitchen to discover that someone was Dustfinger. She caught sight of his horribly red hands before he plunged them into a bowl of water.

To be continued...

Yay Pietro's family have a surname. It's Abatangelo. It means "priestly angels" which I find funny 'cause they are criminals.