The captive dangles upside down, swinging from side to side. I gently push her, keeping the swing going, letting her feel the same helplessness I once did. I ruminate on how to make her talk. The distant waterfall roars faintly through the forest.
I lean in close. "Do you even know who I am?"
She averts her eyes. "You're... Ling Yue. The blue demon."
I growl. I hate it when immortals call me that.
I study the tips of the two poison-tipped arrows in my hand, turning them slowly under the sunlight. "Ah. First off, a cheek for a cheek. Let's see… which one was yours? Oh yes, the one with my blood on it."
I flick my wrist. The arrow whizzes past her cheek, grazing it just as it had grazed mine. She screams and claws at the wound. "The poison shouldn't have been this strong," her voice trembling.
"Really? I used your own arrow against you!" I tilt my head, amused. "Oh, right — my blood. It's deadlier than your green poison. Serves you right."
"It stings more than the fire tendril! Give me the antidote!"
"I told you, when I'm through, you'll think Long Yan was gentle. So, who sent you?"
She shakes her head defiantly, tears streaming down her face and dripping from her brow.
I pat her down, no hidden dimension tucked in the sleeves. Huh, guess Long Yan's robe really was specially tailored. In her pocket, I find a ninja star. Folded behind her belt is a miniature crossbow. And just because I can, I press on one of the fire burns my companion had left earlier. One of the boils pops with a hissing sound. Oops. "Speak."
She whimpers in pain. "No one sent me. I told you. I was just admiring Master Long Yan."
"You're seriously still running with that story? If you're admiring him, why did you shoot at me?"
"It's because… he was paying attention to you. Do you know what it takes for him to notice anyone besides the Phoenix Empress?"
Either this girl was delusional, or she was a compulsive liar.
"Since you shot at me while I was just trying to eat, it's only fair you feel what I felt."
I pull out a flask of water from my mystical satchel and drink it slowly in front of her. She licks her lips, eyeing the flask.
"Oh, you must be parched, especially with that poison coursing through your veins."
She nods, opening her mouth for a sip. With a straight face, I tilt the flask and pour the water just out of her reach, watching it soak into the dirt.
I pluck out two luscious apples from my satchel and bite into one with a satisfying crunch. "Mmm. Sweet and crisp. If only I had someone to share it with..."
I dangle the other succulent apple just out of her reach. "Ready to talk yet? You look famished."
She nods, mouth open, eyes wide like a baby bird waiting to be fed.
"Nah-uh. Information first."
She bites her lower lip, gaze flicking away, though it keeps drifting back to the apple.
I finish mine and toss the core near her face so she can enjoy the scent of the sweet, fresh fruit. "I guess I have no one to share this with after all." I take a large bite of the second apple. Her stomach growls.
"Someone sounds hungry..." I hum.
I hold her waist to stop her from swinging while waving the half-eaten apple, the juice drips onto her face. Then I let the apple core drop, close enough for her to catch a full whiff of sweetness.
"You know if I keep you hanging like this any longer, all that poison in your face... it's going to permanently damage your beauty. Such a crying shame."
Beads of sweat form as she clutches her face in panic. "All right, all right. The Phoenix Empress sent me," she blurts out.
I raise a brow, giving her an unimpressed stare. This one needs to work on her lying. She clearly hasn't had the misfortune of meeting the real Phoenix Empress.
"You know what? That gives me an idea. Maybe I should bring you to Zhen Hua and tell her you said she sent you to assassinate me. I wonder how she'd react?"
She clamps a hand over her mouth. "No one dares speak of the Phoenix Empress' real name."
I run a hand down my face, foot tapping. "Tell me the truth or I'll drag you to her."
She starts to stutter. "The truth is… it was… Master Long—"
I slap her across the face. "Don't you dare speak of my master's name!" My voice cuts sharper than steel. "Lie about him, and I'll carve your lies into that pretty little face of yours."
She clamps her mouth shut. Her face flushes, guilt rising in her expression.
I sigh, flicking my hair back. "You know what? I'm getting bored. You're not giving me any answers. Maybe I'll just leave you. Let your beauty rot, and the wolves eat you alive. I should find Long Yan and look for another lead."
I turn on my heel and strut away, not bothering to look back.
"No, please, don't go!" she cries. "I don't know who sent me. It was… an anonymous letter. Said he'd give me a shooting star if I brought back proof that you'd been taken care of."
It's about time she confessed. Only one scoundrel I know would trade a shooting star for my blood. I'm going to do more than just wring his scrawny neck when I get my hands on him.
"Here!" she cries. "Take the letter as proof I'm not lying!" She twists, dangling, a trembling hand reaching into her breast pocket. I snatch the note from her, skim it, and tuck it into my satchel without a word. With a flick of my hair, I turn and walk away.
"You can't leave me here!" she shouts. "I gave you what you wanted!"
Guilt gnaws at me—my master's stern face shaking his head in silent reprimand. For Ocean's sake! Why did he give me a conscience?
"Fine," I mutter. "You're lucky I have a good master."
I pull the ninja star from earlier and fling it at the rope. It slices clean through with a sharp snap. She crashes down with a loud, undignified thud.