I own nothing.
Chapter 30: Dinner with the Devil
When we walked through the double doors, every man was standing at attention. Capricorn met us at the door, and took my arm.
"I am very glad that you could join us tonight." He said with a false smile on his lips.
"You didn't have to go through all this trouble." I said.
"It's not every day that we have such an important guest, and may I say, you look ravishing." He said as we reached the front of the church to a small mahogany dinner table. There were three places set, Capricorn at the head, Basta, who was also standing at attention, at the right, and one for me on the left. I looked around at all of the men's faces and saw fear in every one. He must have told them about me. I concluded. I then looked at Capricorn's face. Like Dane, he could mask emotions, but like Dane, showed that hint of fear in his eyes and his jugular was stressed. He pulled out my chair for me and I sat down. Once I did, the rest of the men followed suit.
"Wine?" Capricorn asked.
"I don't drink." I calmly stated. He poured himself a glass.
"You have no reason to fear me." I said as I took a sip of water. Capricorn almost choked on his wine, and Basta's eyes widened.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"You are very good at masking your emotions. But it is only natural for the body to become tense when afraid." I began, trying to be polite.
"You seem to have a particular talent at outwardly calming your body, but no matter how skilled you are, you can't control your veins." I continued. He looked very confused.
"The vein on your neck is stressed and your pupils are constricted." I explained.
"You are so observant. Remarkable." He said in amazement, but I saw him slowly relaxing his stressed jugular in his neck. He learns fast.
"I suppose that after seeing the ages, you would know these things by know." He said as a salad was brought out.
"If that is true, then you must be far more observant than me." I said as picked up my fork. Once again, he almost choked on his wine, but Basta was not fazed by this news.
"Didn't Basta tell you? I just became what you call 'immortal' yesterday." I said as I began to eat my salad.
"No he failed to mention that bit." He said with a bit of a bite, directed at Basta, who looked a bit like a beaten dog.
"While we are on the subject, Basta tells me that you don't know all of the conditions of your stay here." Capricorn began.
"Your brother," He continued, but I cut him off.
"He is no brother of mine. He told that lie to get me on his side." I said bitterly.
"Well, he requires that you die once a day, and that you work as a maid here. I feel as though that is far below you. He may be immortal, but I won't have people telling me how to run my own village." He concluded.
"No." I said.
"What?" He asked, surprised that I would dare to oppose him.
"I don't want any special treatment. And did you think for a moment that he sent me here for a specific purpose? The way he thinks, he'll only see two outcomes from my stay here, one being that I would gain strength, endurance, and toleration to pain and the other being that I would be so broken down that I would have to join him." I said as I stared him down, using his fear against him. I knew that I already had a bad standing with the men here, and didn't was to anger then more by receiving special treatment. Not to mention that I'd be bored more often than not.
"I forgot to mention that he will visit in six months to make sure that his demands are being kept and to offer her to join him again." Basta interjected. His eyes darted back and forth, trying to determine the winner of this power struggle.
"He seems to think that I'll cave. Don't you want to prove him wrong?" I added.
"Alright." Capricorn caved. We ate in silence until the plates were taken away and the main course was served.
"Have you always lived in this part of Italy?" I asked to change the subject.
"No, I am new to this world." He responded
"What do mean by that?" I asked. He picked up a book that was next to his chair and handed it to me. I took noticed of the tittle on the spine.
"Inkheart?" I asked.
"I figured that you would be more likely to believe and understand if you were to read it, to put the pieces together with that exquisite mind of yours." He said as he began to eat.
"Alright then." I said skeptically as I put the book down.
"So when did you come to this 'world' as you put it?" I asked.
"Almost eight years ago." He replied.
"Did you come here with Dustfinger?" I asked.
"You could say that." Basta answered with a laugh. I had almost forgotten that he was there.
"How do you know Dustfinger?" Capricorn asked.
"I am currently sharing a room with him. Don't you remember, he walked me here?" I replied.
"I can find you another room." He said turning his attention to his meal.
"That won't be necessary." I said.
"Oh." He said, obviously thinking that I was easy, if you catch my drift.
"You forget that I am only thirteen, Capricorn. If he tries anything, let's just say," I began turning to Basta.
"Basta, has had a taste of what will happen to him." I finished. Basta shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"What do you mean by that?" Capricorn asked.
"I think that I'll spare Basta his dignity." I sympathized. I saw Basta's whole body relax.
"I'll take your word that it was painful." Capricorn said. There was just small talk for the rest of the evening until dessert.
"I am going to be out on business from noon tomorrow till the next day. I'll have Mortola make you some maid's cloths. Just wait till she is done making them, or till I come back to make a final decision. Until then," He said as he put Inkheart into my hands.
"Read that and if you finish it, Basta will get Darius to find you some books to read." He said with that cold smile of his. He escorted me to my room.
"I would be delighted if you could join me for breakfast." He said as he opened the door. I walked in and turned around with a question on my lips.
"Nothing as formal as tonight." He added as he closed the door. I placed the book on the table, took off my heels and changed back to the black skirt and white blouse. Moments later there was a knock on the door.
"Kid, you decent?" Dustfinger called from the other side of the door.
"Come in." I answered. He came in but stopped short when his laid eyes on the book.
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