It had taken some effort, but Jasper had managed to get the woman who was rumored to be at the head of a plot to assassinate him. It took careful planning, tracking, and a rather strong mixture to get the woman in the cage she now resided it. It was only big enough for her to sit down in, her knees pulled against her chest, or to stand up in, it was tiney, giving her no room to escape what ever torture he decided to bestow upon her.
The cage was settled in the center of a rather large room. The room contained what seemed like an endless supply of different torture devices. Jasper sat in a chair set several feet away from the cage, her leaned heavily back, a goblet in his hand as he looked at the woman. She was stripped of her armor and weapons in nothing but a simple tunic. He waited with the up most patience for her to awake.
Sinestra had woke to find herself in a cage in a room with which she was unfamiliar. Glancing down, she noticed her armor and weapons were gone. She began to look around for her wolf, Nightfang, which she was unable to see. However, she sensed his presence nearby, so she was calmed by that.
Glancing about the room, she noticed there were many different torture devices. This amused her greatly. She had a rather dark sense of humor, so awaking to something like this was actually quite humorous to her. It was after a few minutes that she noticed the man sitting in a chair across from her, and she grinned, eager to see how he would proceed.
Jasper didn't say anything, nor moved from his seat. He took another sip from his goblet leaned his head and ran a hand through his raven black hair. He seemed at such ease in a place that was clearly meant for much of the opposite. Finally he moved his eyes to the woman. His face calm, relaxed, and his eyes unreadable.
"Why should I not kill you?" He asked simply. He of course, had already planned exactly how he was going to do it, but he would let her speak her peace, he wasn't an unreasonable man, after all.
Sinestra started laughing. She knew it would probably irritate him, but she couldn't help it. The first thing he said to her was utterly ridiculous from her point of view. She responded in a calm and collected manner. "Why should you?"
Her laughing seemed to have absolutely no effect at all. His expression not changing, and his body still relaxed heavily against the chair.
"Well, there is the fact that, I simply can, and have the skill, and to some degree, I will enjoy it," He spoke before taking another sip from his goblet.
"So why have you been making plans to kill me?" He asked after a long moment of silence.
That caused Sinestra to laugh again. She couldn't tell if this man was mad or simply misinformed. "I'm afraid you must be mistaken. I take no interest in anyone's affairs other than my own."
"And I should simply take your word for it and let you go? Right? Jasper replied mockingly.
He set his goblet on a table lined with different bottles of all shapes and sizes containing liquids of all colors.
He finally stood, towering over the woman.
"Now you're just putting words in my mouth." Sinestra said with a smirk. "You have no reason to believe me, and I have no reason to expect you to believe me. It's only natural for you to be suspicious, is it not?"
She played with her hair as she talked, seemingly bored by this whole affair rather than concerned. If she hadn't been able to sense the presence of her wolf, then it would be a different story all together. "Though I must say, this isn't quite how I had hoped to spend my time."
"You seem to be having too much fun my dear," Jasper said with a chuckled before he moved over to the far side of the room. His strides confident and strong. He pulled a draw string and opened a curtain revealing what appeared to be a large looking glass.
"I know how people are with there pets, lets see how you like watching your dear doggy tortured," Jasper said with a dark laugh as he moved back to his seat. He snapped his fingers and the looking glass seemed to ripple before showing a different room with a larger cage and her wolf inside.
"I'm not exactly sure what you hope to accomplish, but I can assure you that torturing Nightfang won't get you anywhere." Sinestra said calmly. Of course, she was a bit concerned for her wolf, but she knew he could handle whatever this man would throw at him.
"Besides, as I've already told you, I have nothing to tell you." Sinestra said with a sigh. "If I desired you dead, I would have made it perfectly clear by now. I'm not really one for holding my tongue."
"We will see," Jasper said simply as he sat back in his chair, he picked back up his goble and watched the large looking glass as a hooded figure approached the cage with a red hot branding iron.
Nightfang howled as the stranger approached his cage, snarling and baring his fangs to try and intimidate this hooded figure.
Sinestra watched in silence, giving no indicators of what she might be thinking. Regardless of whether she wanted this man to leave Nightfang alone or not, there was nothing she could do about it. She had no information to give him, and he had taken her armor and bow.
Jasper looked at the woman.
"A cold one you are. No pleading, begging. That is what most people do, whether they be guilty or innocent, its like you don't care what happens to your precious little pet at all," Jasper spoke as he nodded. The hooded figure commenced to jab the heated metal at the wolf.
Nightfang growled as the metal was jabbed at him, yelping as it made contact with him. Sinestra jumped a little at the noise. "I still don't understand what you have brought me here for."
The hooded figure seemed to be looking through the looking glass for Jasper's next order. Jasper waved him off, the mirror returning to the reflective surface.
"So if I am to believe you, I would also have to believe someone has set you up. You must have made some powerful enemies, or, at least persistent."
Sinestra played with her hair. "Have you even bothered to look at me? Or my armor and weapon? There are plenty of people who would want me dead."
"Have you looked at your surroundings, I can guarantee there are plenty of people who want me dead. Ha, after all that is why you are here in the first place. There are probably more people that want to kill me than want to kill you. I am older, more powerful after all.
Still you seem neither guilty or innocent to me. Innocent people usually have more, I don't know, heart. Warrior or not your life rest in my hands," Jasper spoke before standing, walking towards her cage till he was a mere few inches from the bars. His hair wasn't pulled up in its normal fashion so several pieces fell into his face as he leaned in close, looking at the woman.
"What to do with you little bird, that is the question."
Sinestra grinned. This man kept saying that she had wanted to kill him, but wasn't providing anything as to why. "I'm more curious as to what evidence you have against me."
"Well you see, you are in the cage, so I don't have to answer your questions, that is how it works, little bird," Jasper said with a wicked smile, his fangs showing slightly.
"Really, I don't have to have evidence for anything. You are on my island, in my kingdom, in my palace, in my dungeon. I can do whatever I want to you, little bird."
Sinestra laughed. She had quite the bad habit of not being concerned for herself, or what would happen as a result of her actions. She wasn't afraid of torture, or death. "So you have nothing, then? Perfect!"
"I never said that either," Jasper spoke as he stepped away from the cage. He walked around the room, putting out the torches leaving the room in complete darkness.
"We will see you in a couple of days little bird."
With a sigh, Sinestra leaned against the cage. Her race was a race born of the shadows, so the dark didn't really bother her. She had at least decent sight in the dark as well, so she would still be able to make out movements and outlines. There was nothing to do now except sleep, she supposed, and so she slept.
Jasper left Sinestra for a long time, it could have been hours or days, she would have no way to tell in her little dungeon how long had passed. Finally he returned, but he didn't bother to light any torches. He was a creature of the shadows. The monsters that made things go bump in the night. He sat in his seat and began to peel an orange.
"You hungry?"
Sinestra straightened the way she was sitting before talking. "Quite. Not that it matters though, really. We both know how this works."
"Oh you are no fun at all," Jasper said laughing as he ate a slice of the orange, sighing in satisfaction. He was having fun, not as much fun as if she was begging or pleading, but he could tell she wasn't that type of woman but everyone had a breaking point. Everyone.
"I never got a chance to thank you for putting out those dreadful torches the other day." Sinestra said with a grin. "The dark is much more comfortable. I assume you can agree, considering you haven't lit them again."
She sighed and relaxed her body against the cage. "I do hope you've fed Nightfang, though. He can get a bit violent when he's hungry."
"I am not afraid of your wolf little bird," Jasper said laughing. His eyes seemed to have a dangerous glint to them. He leaned back heavily, looking at Sinestra.
"Pardon my bluntness but you are beginning to stink," He said, but it didn't really seem to be aimed towards her, it seemed to be more of a statement to himself.
He placed another slice of the orange in his mouth, remaining silent as if in thought.
Sinestra laughed. "That tends to happen when you're kept in a cage and haven't cleaned yourself."
One thing about having such a sensitive nose was bad smells could really get to him. Of course, he wouldn't show this, but he would have to do something about it. He stood without a word and left. A time later woman, undoubtedly servants at the palace came down, all carrying buckets of water in which they threw on Sinestra. The first several buckets were hot soapy water, almost hot enough to burn her skin. The last several buckets were clean cold water, freezing cold water.
Once the servants left Jasper returned, "Much better."
"Ah, how kind of you." Sinestra said sarcastically. "And here I was thinking you weren't concerned about it at all."
"Well a lady should be treated with some respect, don't you agree, I am a gentlemen though I doubt you believe me," Jasper replied as he once again sat in his chair.
"What to do with you little bird."
"I think you may need to get your eyes checked." Sinestra said, keeping her sarcastic tone. "I can assure you I am an elf, not a bird."
"Oh bitter isn't a pretty color on you little bird," Jasper said laughing, her comment seemingly amusing him greatly. Jasper pulled out what appeared to be a tiny slice of bread. He would feed her just enough to keep her awake and somewhat functioning, she would still feel like she was starving though. He tossed the bread into the cage, it was soaked in vinegar.
"Eat up little bird, need to keep your strength."
Sinestra ate the bread, slowly, pacing herself to make it last a while. Most people would probably have devoured it, but she was smarter than that. "Thank you. Such an accommodating host!"
"Well as I said, I am a gentlemen," Jasper said as he sat back and watched her, his face unreadable. Jasper stood after several long moments, one of the bottles in hand. He opened it with the up most care.
"But this isn't moving anywhere so," He spoke. He very carefully poured some of the liquid into a aspergillum.
"This is going to have to become a bit more unpleasant.... for you anyway."
"It can't move anywhere if it has no where to go." Sinestra said with a sigh. "And as I said before, I have nothing to offer. Feel free to do whatever it is you have in mind, though, if that's what will help you feel better."
"You could be more convincing," He said simple as he waved the aspergillum at her, droplets of the stuff being flung from it onto the woman. It would feel like acid on he skin. It would set her nerve endings on fire. It wouldn't leave no marks though, wouldn't actually injure her, so he would be able to keep it up for a long time.
"Most people who are innocent being accused of planning an assassination, facing there death would have a bit more conviction."
"I'm not afraid of death." Sinestra said. The droplets burned, and waves of pain flooded through her body, but she showed no signs of it. "Even so, I have done nothing wrong. What good is begging and pleading if there is no way for me to prove my innocence?"
"I didn't say begging or pleading was what I wanted, I said conviction, sincerity," He said as he stepped away, letting the pain build in her.
"If you were to instantly break down begging and pleading I would have known you were guilty."
As the pain intensified, Sinestra's body twitched slightly, but other than that she still showed no signs that it was affecting her as much as it was. "Well, I'm innocent, and that's all I have to say." She said, this time with a more serious tone in her voice.
Jasper knew she was in pain, he could hear her heart. She might be able to hold in and verbal and visual signs of her suffering, she could stop her heart from pounding in her chest as she suffered.
He sighed, closing his eyes, listening.
By the time he finally reopened his eyes the pain would finally be easing up.
"Give me your wrist?"
"I'd love to, but it's attached to me." Sinestra said sarcastically, holding out her wrist for him. She knew that no matter how she responded, the worst he would do would be torture her, which is what he was doing anyway. Therefore, she wasn't concerned with watching her tongue at all, so long as it wouldn't get her killed.
Jasper grabbed it, it grip gentle but firm, and if she were to pull away she would find it would be like an iron grip. He brought his mouth to her wrist, and bit. His fangs sinking into her flesh.
"Oh, so you're a biter?" Sinestra said, wincing as he bit her wrist. "I like biters."
Jasper drank some of her blood, but he limited herself, his point wasn't to kill her and she was severely dehydrated. He pulled away, releasing her wrist. Some of her blood remaining on his lips, a stark contrast with with pale cool skin. It seemed her blood gave him an insight. He paced, thinking. Was she telling the truth, he was beginning to think so, he still couldn't trust her though.
"I assume by your pacing that you're considering something." Sinestra said. "If it's whether I'm innocent or not, I've already told you I am."
"Just because you say it doesn't make it certain. Most people facing there demise will say whatever is necessary for survival," Jasper replied as he continued to pace. Even if he let her out of the cage he wouldn't give her back her weapons or armor not yet anyway. He still didn't trust her. He still didn't know what he was going to do though.
Sinestra sighed. "Well, we seem to be at a stalemate then."
"I know from your blood that there is at least some truth to it, but I don't trust you, so I am trying to figure out what to do with you little bird," Jasper spoke honestly.
"Letting me out of this damn cage would be a nice start." Sinestra stated dryly.
"I am considering it," Jasper replied, ignoring her tone with him. She was, after all, talking to the ruler. He didn't take it personal, he had lightly tortured her.
"Or if not me, at least my wolf..." Sinestra said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I am much more concerned about releasing your wolf than releasing you," Jasper said as he finally stopped pacing and crossed his arms.
"Well, I'm not really in a position to make demands, now am I?" Sinestra said, shifting as much as she could in her cage.
"Even though I don't think your guilty doesn't mean I don't think you are a danger. Me being hyper vigilant and suspicious of people is what has helped keep me alive for so long little bird. He picked up a pair of shackles, they looked rather light in weight but had runes all over them. He then moved to the cage, pulling a key from his pants pocket her opened the cage door.
"Hands please."
Sinestra held out her arms with a sigh. "Very well."
Jasper put the shackles on the woman, they were only tight enough to ensure she wouldn't be able to slip them off. They were light and the chain connecting her two wrist long enough to give her plenty of motion.
He knew she wasn't lying about being connected to the assassination plots that had surfaced, but he did kidnap her, and lightly tortured her, that could make anyone bitter.
"My name is Jasper," He introduced himself simply.
Sinestra grinned. "Sinestra. A pleasure to meet you." She said with as much sarcasm in her voice as she could.
"Remember little bird, I can still put you back in that cage, remember little bird, I still have your little pet, you tread carefully, I can be temperamental," Jasper warned as he made his way to the door.
"You're no fun." Sinestra said. "Try lightening up a little."
"Being no fun is what has kept me alive for over a thousand years little bird. I have someone close that is trying to assassinate me, which is a difficult feat, so they are both strong and confident, it is no time to lighten up little bird," Jasper said as he lead her from her from the room, holding the door open and waiting for her to exit.
Sinestra exited the room, turning back to talk before even looking around. "A thousand years? That's far too long for me. I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
A wicked smiled crossed Jasper face, "Oh trust me, you get creative," He spoke before the smiled faded as he pointed to a set of stone steps ahead. They were clearly in a dungeon. It was pitch black, well would be for humans, no tortured or light. The air was moist and cool, they were surely under ground.
Sinestra assumed he was telling her to begin ascending the stairs, and so that's what she did. It would have been quite difficult if she didn't have the level of sight in the darkness that she did, but for her it was easy. "So tell me, Jasper. Why would anyone want you dead? You're such pleasant company."
"I know right?" He spoke before pausing for a good while.
"I was worse, when I was younger, before I settled down and was satisfied with being a king. Back when I wanted to be among the gods. I made many enemies. Most of them dead now, but not all. I also left a name, some people just want the challenge of taking me down so they can wear it as a title. Whatever there motive, that does not concern me," Jasper finally spoke as they reached the top of the stairs. It was still dark, and it was clear they were still in the dungeon, now they the walls where lined with torches so human eyes could make there way along the passage ways.
"You've put a lot of care and thought into this dungeon, I see." Sinestra said, casually observing her surroundings.
Jasper walked the maze like halls with total confidence. It was clear he knew the layout of the tunnels.
"I put a lot of thought into everything I do. Even kidnapping you was planned out to a tee.
It seems you have made some strong enemies for someone so young, you should be more careful," Jasper spoke as he led them to another flight of steps.
"Perhaps I seem young to someone who has lived over a thousand years, but I would say 213 is a good age." Sinestra said with a sigh. "But anyway, I don't think I gave made any enemies that intent on killing me. Perhaps it was merely someone who knew who I was and was trying to save themselves."
"From a human's perspective that would be a pretty good age, but there lives are but mist in the wind, gone in moments," Jasper spoke as they turned down several more hallways, this level lit even better than the one below. before finally stopping at a door.
"I have never met someone who has spread malicious rumors about someone they felt passive towards. Especially rumors that, could very easily get them killed."
"You haven't spent much time around humans lately, have you?" Sinestra said. "Most are scum who would do anything to save themselves, even it means ruining someone else's life."
"I don't have many human enemies, but either way, there was enough of that rumor and planted evidence that I kidnapped you," Jasper said as he pulled out a key and opened the door, which opened up to one last flight of steps before opening out to a beautiful rose garden.
"I would avoid getting stuck by any of the thorns here, if I were you, just a word of caution. Actually, you must be very careful here, you were probably more safe in your cage little bird, but I know it was not the most comfortable. If you feel strange at all, you must immediately find me, or you could very well die."
"Understood." Sinestra said. "So what I've gathered so far are your hobbies are torturing people, and growing deadly plants."
"I have many, many hobbies. You become a man of many interest and nearly innumerable amount of talents once you get to be around my age," Jasper replied as he led Sinestra out of the gardens up to a pair of grand french doors. Two guards stood on either side, standing perfectly still almost as if made of stone.
"Oh, I'm sure." Sinestra said. "Unfortunately for me, there's not much I take an interest in other than archery."
"You are still young, the older you get, the more interest you will gain," Jasper replied simply.
"When I was younger I was only interested in poisons, so I understand," He added after a moment.
Sinestra shrugged. "People tend to be more interested in things the are good at, for sure."
"I think its a mixture of both natural adeptness to the skill as well as what you are interested in. One also becomes good at what they do a lot," Jasper replied as the guards opened the doors and he waited for the girl to walk through the opening.
Sinstra walked through the doors, still paying no mind to the scenery around them, but instead turning her head back to look at Jasper. "Occasionally. There are some things you can't be good at, no matter how much you try."
Jasper followed in after her. The room was opulent. A large fire place, exquisite art and wood work. The room was large and it was clear no expense was spared. He motioned to two large arm chairs that sat in front of the fire place.
"Take a seat."
Sinestra took a seat in the chair on the left, crossing her legs once she was seated and leaning back slightly to get comfortable.
"Its nice to see you are making yourself at home," Jasper spoke as he sat in the chair beside her. With a slight snap of his fingers the fireplace lit with a purplish flame.
"So a shadow elf, one doesn't see many of those around."
"Many of us like to keep to ourselves." Sinestra said. "I find that dreadfully boring."
"I have ran into others of your kind before. It comes with being so old," Jasper spoke, staring at the fire calmly.
"But it is clear you are different than most shadow elves."
"I'm probably the most fun, you don't have to say it." Sinestra said with a grin. "Fun for me may be synonymous with annoying for you, though."
"Why would you say that?" Jasper asked as he looked away from the fire and to Sinestra, his hands templed in his lap.
Sinestra shrugged. "Some people can't take a joke. Others don't get sarcasm. Sometimes people find those traits of mine... less than desirable."
She looked over at him, making eye contact. "You seem to be fine, however."
"Well, one can't really live as long as I have without at least developing some sense of humour. Life is just one big joke after all," Jasper replied flashing a rather dazzling smile, exposing his fangs.
"Glad to hear it." Sinestra said. "I'm fully aware that if you hadn't had a sense of humor, I could easily have gotten myself killed earlier."
"And if I found you annoying I could have simply held you in your cell until I figured out what I wanted to do with you, or until you simply died," Jasper added raising an eyebrow as he once again looked at the fire.
"Speaking of which, if you have only captured me, and I am not the one who was planning your assassination, which I assure you I was not." Sinestra started. "What will you do now? That means there's still someone out there, plotting, waiting."
"And that is exactly why I can't just let you go. If they think that I think you are the one, they will relax and make a mistake," Jasper said with a sigh before looking over at Sinestra again.
"Thirsty?"
"Indeed I am." Sinestra said, shifting a little in her seat. "You know, I could help you catch the person who's plotting against you."
With another snap of his finger a servant came into the room, standing beside Jasper's seat waiting for an order.
"Wine, that is all," Jasper spoke.
The servant disappeared without a word.
"How would you help?"
"Well, if it was someone who was able to plant enough evidence for you to believe it was me, I would have to know them in some way." Sinestra said. "It wouldn't be too hard to track them down, I shouldn't think. However, I would need my wolf, my bow, and my armor."
"I can't have you leaving here. It will not only alert the person or people planning my assassination that I know you aren't the one. It could also be dangerous to you," Jasper replied simply. The servant walked into the room shortly after, placing a bottle on a table that sat between the two tables as well as two glasses.
The servant poured wine in both glasses, it was a deep red, before standing straight and waiting for further command.
"That will be all," Jasper said, the servant taking his cue to leave.
"I don't like waiting around, I'd rather confront the problem." Sinestra said. "But that's the difference that kept you alive so long, and will surely cause me trouble one day."