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Chapter 42: A Threatening Proposal

A week came and went without an incident. The maids were still shy of me, but the men were beginning to adjust. The men had begun to see me as a regular maid. I would have begun to feel normal if I was not murdered night after night. I would not have noticed that it was Christmas if the maids did not have to make a huge feast and hang decorations. Something was bothering me though, Dustfinger had not returned. He had promised me that he would be back for Christmas and I had begun to worry that he had not returned.

When I came down in the morning with all of the other maids to make breakfast, Resa was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps she is worried about Dustfinger too and made herself sick. I thought to myself. I simply went on with my work peeling and cooking potatoes. Once I had finished the potatoes by myself I began to grab a large stack of plates to take over to the chapel, but Mortola stopped me.

"He will be taking his breakfast in bed this morning." She instructed as she thrust a tray into my hands. I was about to protest but she interrupted me.

"I won't have idle hands! Now go!" She demanded. I hurried off questioning why she would send me. She did not like me at all. She had been breathing down my neck for the past week and fussed over every mistake. She only had two tones with me, annoyed and angry. Normally she would have sent a more experienced maid and she has made it very clear that I am not that. I could only conclude that this was of Capricorn's design.

When I came to the stairway up to Capricorn's room Basta was standing guard. He was strait faced and was far more respectful than normal. I could only wonder what Capricorn has in store for me. I ascended the stairs and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Capricorn instructed from the other side of the door. I entered and begun to set up his breakfast on the small mahogany table in center of the room. Capricorn was at the mirror in his bathrobe holding up a black suit and a red suit.

"Which one? The red is more festive but the black is far more traditional. Today is a very important day after all." He asked as he turned around to show each one to me.

"Yes. Keeping the men's spirits up with a large holiday party must be very important." I said as I was setting the table.

"Yes. There will be a grand feast, but it won't be for the holiday. Why should I care about the holidays of this world when I have bigger and better things to do?" He hinted.

"Please excuse my rudeness but just say what you mean to say so I may leave." I said as I grew impatient. He turned back to the mirror.

"So which one?"

I sighed and said" Wear the black one. If you wear the red you'll blend in with the walls of the church."

"Thank you my dear." He said as he handed me the red suit.

"I am not your dear." I said as I put the suit back into the closet.

"Not yet, but you will be tonight." He said as he turned around to give me a knowing smile.

"I thought that I made it very clear that I would never marry you." I reminded him.

He opened the door and yelled "Bring them up." To Basta who was at the foot of the stairs.

"Who?" I asked.

"My assurance." He answered as he removed his bathrobe. I turned away out of decency so he could put on a pair of pants.

"Ahem." Capricorn cleared his throat.

"What?" I asked with my back stilled turned.

"Am I supposed to dress myself?" He asked.

"A grown man should be able to dress himself." I retorted.

"And shouldn't a woman be more loving to her fiancé?" He countered as he buttoned his shirt. At that moment two men barged dragging two people. My heart sank when I saw who it was, Resa and Dustfinger. I knew what was to come next. History was repeating its self once again. Once again I would have to choose. I sank down into one of the chair struggling to breath.

"I believe you understand the situation, darling." He said as he placed one hand on my shoulder, and placed a small red velvet box on the table. All I could do was stare at that box, that box that contained something so small, but was so huge. It offered freedom from death, and the confinement of my life. And if I rejected this tiny huge box, history was going to repeat itself.

"Sorry." Dustfinger interrupted.

"But I don't understand. Kid, what's going on?" He asked. I took a moment to take a breath before I could reply.

"I have a choice Dustfinger, the same choice." I cryptically explained.

"Sorry. Still not getting it." He said.

"I have to choose between marrying Capricorn…" I trailed off.

"And what? What's your other choice?" He asked, but I saw in his face that he already knew. I looked up at him and did not say a word, but he understood.

"I get it. If you don't do what he says, I'm a dead man." He said. I nodded in reply.

"And you couldn't kill them, could you? Not again. You would never be able to forgive yourself if you did that again." Capricorn said as he lifted my chin so that I was looking at him.

"So, who's it going to be?" he whispered. I hardened my heart, and saw the way out. No one would die and I would not marry Capricorn. I was going to do what I should have done last time. I stood up and stared at him with the fire of anger in my eyes. His hand fell away and I could see fear in his eyes. He knew I was completely different from how I was moments ago.

"Fool." I spat in his face.

"Do you really think that this would work? You probably think that you are genius, smarter than everyone else, that no one could compete with you. You are wrong. I am no simple minded buffoon. I can see the giant gaping hole in this trap." I lectured.

"And what mistake did I make?" He asked.

"Threatening to kill them. That was your mistake. You made a promise you can't keep." I answered.

"And you think that I can't kill them?" He laughed as he snapped his fingers. The two men grabbed Resa and Dustfinger. I didn't blink an eye.

"I never said that you couldn't, I'm saying that you won't." I taunted as I sat back down and folded my arms.

He placed his hands on the arms of the chair, stared me in the eyes and breathed" Oh really?" With the snap of his fingers the men each pulled out a revolver and placed them to the temples of Resa and Dustfinger. I didn't blink. I didn't turn away. I had to stay strong.

"Yes. You won't, and you know it. I can see it in your eyes." I answered.

"Prepare." Capricorn instructed. I could hear the clicks as the guns cocked, and I smiled.

"And do you want to know why, Capricorn?" I asked, taunting him. He was about to instruct them to fire, but he stopped himself. He stood up and gave me a quizzical look.

"Enlighten me." He said with a mocking bow.

"I hardly know those people. I knew Dustfinger for a whole of two and a half days, and Resa a week. Why should I throw my life in the gutters for their sakes? What have they done to deserve that? Nothing." I began. I was lying, but he was falling for it. That was how he thought. I stood up to say my next piece.

"You would kill them in an instant, without any hesitation what-so-ever. But I'm not like you. I value a human life. That being said, I may not know them very well but if you kill them, if you lay a finger on them, you will regret it because not only will you have lost a maid and the man who had dedicated his life to finding the one man you want, but you will also have lost the miniscule chance you have of marrying me. And once that is gone, I can guarantee that it will never return." I explained.

"But, if you let them go, if you are merciful, your chances of ever marrying me just might increase. I can tell you right now, because of this little stunt, your chances are second to none and you need all of the help you can get." I finished. I could see the wheels turning inside of his head. I could see his calculations behind his eyes. I saw him go over it again and again, coming to the same conclusion every time. I had left him with no choice but to let them go.

"So… who's it going to be?" I whispered in his ears. I saw his jaw clench and anger in his eyes.

"You are very lucky I am a forgiving man." He said with a bit of a grimace. The two men looked very confused as to what had just happened. I picked up the small red velvet box and placed it in Capricorn's hand. I then walked over to Resa who was trembling. I placed an arm around her to comfort her and lead her out of the room. Dustfinger and the two men followed close behind. When we reached the bottom of the stairwell we heard a loud crash that sounded like a pot being smashed against the wall. The two men looked at each other and then up the stairs.

"I would leave him to cool down for a while, but by all means go up there and get your heads bitten off." I advised the men. Once again they looked each other and the nodded. They brushed past us and ran up to Basta who was a little further up the hall. We didn't stay to see what would happen next. Dustfinger and Resa needed some fresh air.

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