Chapter 3
The sting of last night's rejection burned in Meggie's eyes as she stood before Capricorn and his men, primped and preened like a doll they've yet to outgrow. Dustfinger slinked back in the corner of the church, silent but ever watchful. She refused to so much as glance in his direction, in fear of humiliation blooming on her cheeks. For once, morning came all too soon.
She could feel Capricorn's scrutinizing stare boring into her. It made her want to rip out her bobby pins, tear off this white dress that barely reached her fingertips, and disappear into thin air. She could do neither.
"You are a pretty little thing, aren't you?" Capricorn said at last, a smirk unraveling on his lips.
Meggie could feel her fingers tremble, but she never dropped her gaze. She wouldn't be a coward. She couldn't. She owed her father at least that.
"My men seem to agree," he continued, as he looked towards the Black Jackets. "Tell me something, have we been unkind to you? Have we not fed you and accommodated all your needs? Does your new room suit you?"
His tone was pleasant, but she knew it meant danger. Capricorn did not feel emotion. He didn't care whether or not she was happy. A menacing glint sparked in his eye.
Meggie suppressed her fear and lifted her chin slightly. "I want to go home."
The room erupted in dark laughter. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cockerell nudge another man in amusement.
"Brave, too, hm?" Capricorn's voice echoed off the walls, but his smile had disappeared. He gazed at her coolly. "Unfortunately, little witch, this is your home now. We haven't even had you read for us yet. All in good time, my dear."
"Ah, yes," he persisted, encouraged by her silence, "It's a sad thing when a father won't fight for his daughter. I suppose he's just…forgotten about you. Good thing, too. Silvertongue isn't necessary any longer. He's freed from his burden, and in turn, free from you."
He rose from his chair and crossed the floor toward her. There was blood in the air. Dustfinger watched with a knot in his stomach.
"Poor Meggie," Capricorn reached out and cradled her cheek in his hand. She turned her face away, but he grabbed her chin roughly and forced her to look him in the eye, "all alone in the world. We can be a family to you."
She could smell the wine on his breath, and hear the threat behind his words. His touch made her queasy. "But we do not allow," he said, knives in his voice, viciously shoving her away so she stumbled back, "dead weight."
Dustfinger had to restrain himself from jumping to help her, to hold her while she regained her balance. But if he did, it'd just mean trouble for both of them.
"Mark my words, you will read to us someday soon. But until then," Capricorn settled back into his chair, Basta at his side, "we expect you to behave like the other women in this village. At 17, you are not a child, and therefore, you shall do the duties women are called to do."
The men grinned sinisterly back at her. He couldn't possibly mean…? Meggie's heart froze.
Capricorn nodded, a smile snaking it's way onto his mouth. "That's right," he said softly, so they could barely hear him, "I'm afraid you'll be putting your brand new bed to use."