Hi,

I'm new to the world of Inkheart fanfictions...so...

Please review, as I don't know whether i'll continue this story

If i get nice reviews i'll definitely carry on

No flames pleaseee

x RoRo x

Chapter 1

Orpheus smiled as he surveyed his prisoners. His return to his own world had paid off - with a few well chosen words he'd brought an army from the Inkworld, and it had taken less than a week to hunt down those he wanted.

Bound and gagged. It made him smile.

Darius and Fenoglio, each looking equally nervous. That awful book woman, Signora Loredan, struggling against her bonds - the same was true of that disgusting boy, still in the wrong story - Farid. Resa, the bird, limp and helpless - since the stillbirth, she had looked lost. The Bluejay, looking scared for his family, hatred etched on his face. And finally the two birds that he had come for. The treacherous, betraying Fire-Dancer - and the little witch.

'Well, this is pleasant,' he grinned, his eyes fixed on Meggie. 'You've grown up into a right little slut - obviously take after your mother.'

Both Dustfinger and Mo struggled hard at this. Orpheus laughed. The 18 year old Meggie was beautiful, anyone would be idiotic not to admit it. She was glaring at him - it made him snort more.

'And you, Fire Dancer. You meant so much to me. I gave you my heart, and you tore it into a thousand pieces. You betrayed me. But you'll get your comeuppance. Don't get excited though, I won't be sending you to your wife just yet.'

Usually so brilliant at hiding his emotions, Dustfinger felt the tears prick his eyes. He hadn't mentioned Roxane for a year - when the Piper had driven his sword into her, he had vowed never to speak of her again.

'Ah, I see I've hit home. What you did was cruel. You left your daughter - your beautiful, wonderful daughter, alone. First she lost her sister…then her true love…then her mistress and best friend…soon after, her mother…and finally her father. You left her all alone.'

Brianna…the thought of her hurt the Fire-Dancer just as much.

'Death may have made you young again, how old do you look now? 20? And it may have wiped away the scars from your face - but it also scars you forever. You'll be glad to know you're going home of course.'

Dustfinger's eyes widened.

'You and the girl,' he glanced at Meggie.

The thought of returning to the Inkworld made Dustfinger shudder. There were people there he cared for, still, those who had good in them. Brianna…the black prince…the strolling players… but try as he might, he could think only of the darkness. Roxane, Violante, Cloud Dancer, all dead…The Adderhead, Piper, Milksop, ruling Lombrica with their dark ways.

He wondered whether Meggie was thinking of the same things. He gasped in pain as Orpheus dragged him up and hit him hard in the stomach. He pulled out the gag, smiling.

'So, my friend, what do you think?'

Dustfinger said nothing. He looked at the people he had begun to call family. Farid looked as if he were about to cry, Resa too. His eyes fell on Mortimer…his eyes begged. Protect her…they said…look after my daughter. He nodded, and Mo gave the slightest, weak, resigned smile of gratitude.

'Well, we'd better get on with it,' Orpheus pulled Meggie up too. 'Elinor, Farid, Mortimer, Resa, Fenoglio, Darius…see, I even took the effort to learn your names… I apologise. Goodbye for now. See you soon, or not.' He pushed Dustfinger forwards, and a leering soldier grabbed Meggie. The remaining prisoners struggled and tried desperately to break free.

'You,' he pointed at one guard, 'after I'm gone, put these two - ' he nodded to Darius and Fenoglio, ' - on a one way trip to somewhere they won't come back from. Desert island or something.'

'And the rest, master Orpheus?'

Dustfinger snorted at the title, earning himself a punch in the ribs.

'Do what you want with them,' he sneered, 'but make sure the bookbinder feels it.'

With that, he walked from the room, followed by several soldiers.

Meggie was thrown to the floor by the man holding her, and she winced as Dustfinger was kicked to the ground.

Orpheus stepped into the shack. It was small, the soldiers waited outside. He grinned down at his prisoners.

It embarrassed Dustfinger slightly, that Meggie looked as defiant as a lion, and yet he himself was terrified. He was in pain, as well, the soldiers had not treated him well on the journey.

Orpheus bent down and took off their bonds.

'You remember this place, Dustfinger?'

'No,' he lied.

'Basta told me about it, before you killed him. It was where they found you, weak, drunken, sobbing in fear. When Capricorn wanted you. He said that you cried when he dragged you from it, his knife tracing your skin.'

'Lies,' Dustfinger snarled - though he wasn't entirely sure if they were.

Meggie stiffened, she had always hated Dustfinger for his betrayal, for selling them to Capricorn. She had never thought what it must have been like for him. Owing his disfigured face to the man chasing him - dragged from his own world - being forced to leave everything he loved behind. And she knew what a coward he was, it would have worse than death for him.

'Now, I'm just going to go and check these words are perfect,' Orpheus mused, more to himself than anyone else, 'and don't bother trying to escape, this shack is surrounded by my men.' He strode out, slamming the door behind him.

Meggie slowly began to cry, and, usually terrible at sympathy, Dustfinger awkwardly put his arm around her. Before long she had buried her head in his chest, sobbing. He held her against him, feeling odd electrical sparks lighting between them…what could it mean?

She was still leaning against him when Orpheus kicked the door open.

'How touching,' he sneered, but Meggie didn't look up. Dustfinger stroked her hair, whispering soft words to her…some of them were even fire words.

'It'll be alright,' he murmured, and Orpheus laughed.

'Not for you it won't. Now, we're leaving.' He unfolded the paper in his hands. 'The Inkworld will be much better now. Only two extras from another world, rather than entirely populating it with book obsessed old women and stammering readers. Not to mention a mad man who thought he created the whole thing!'

And he began to read.

'The manor house was the largest building in Ombra, but for the castle. The latter was now held by the Piper, after the Adderhead banished the Milksop.

The manor held the Adderhead's friend and loyal servant, Orpheus. When he came back from the other world, he brought with him two slaves…both wanted in Lombrica. However, the Adderhead spared them, and Orpheus was permitted to use them for whatever he wished.'

The air seemed to swirl, and Dustfinger clutched Meggie. They had to stick together now, they were all each other had.

The first thing that Meggie saw was Orpheus's new bodyguard. He really was huge, built entirely of muscle, and he leered down at Dustfinger and herself. She rolled over, and saw that Dustfinger seemed to be unconscious. Panicking, she shook him.

'There's no point, it'll be around an hour. I read a little something earlier, thought I'd send him off for a little more pain first,' she spun around and saw Orpheus, he was looking overly happy with himself.

'What do you mean?' She demanded.

'I just thought I'd plant a few memories in his head…make him pay for what he did to me.'

'What kind of memories?' She clutched Dustfinger's hand.

'Well, I thought Roxane's death would be a good one. And then perhaps the moment that he found out about Rosanna's death. When he was killed by the nightmare as well. The moment that he discovered Resa had a husband…oh yes, he will regret ever hurting me.'

'Please!' Meggie begged, 'let him go!' She wasn't sure why she said it…only that she knew Dustfinger had been through enough pain in his life. 'Do it to me instead!' she pleaded, thought she knew it was too late to change.

She felt Dustfinger tense, his hand clenching around hers. Orpheus grinned like a child at Christmas.

'No…not her as well…please…' Dustfinger's voice was ragged and harsh. Meggie felt tears spring to her eyes - she knew what memory he was seeing. She knew, because she had been there when he said the words the first time round. The image of The Piper holding Roxane swam into her own mind.

'Take me…kill me…just please…not her…' She remembered him begging, the first time she had ever seen him do so.

'No, NO!' Meggie felt the tears stream down her face, as she remembered Dustfinger's face as his heart broke.

The bodyguard had to hold Meggie back as she lunged at Orpheus. No one should cause such suffering…and the sight of him laughing…she struggled, fighting…but how could she ever break free?

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