AN: I must say I'm a bit miffed at y'all. Two chapters in two days and how many reviews do I get? Two! Thank you, gab000 and lizdance for taking the time to review and to the rest of you… XP
Chapter 21: An Old-Fashion Q & A.
"Perhaps we should wait until morning. She hasn't eaten or rested since we picked her up. It has been a long day for all of us and…" Marcus started to say but, was cut off by Caius,
"I see no reason for further delays. Hunger and sleep deprivation will be the least of her worries if she doesn't cooperate during the interrogation. Hell, it might even help us get answers sooner."
Aro stood back looking deep in thought. His index finger tapping his chin, rocking back and forth from heal to toe on his feet, eyebrows knit together. After a few moments he finally spoke directly to me,
"While I do not wish to upset you so soon after your arrival I must agree with Caius. The sooner we can get the questioning over with, the sooner we can deal with what took place after the games, and the sooner we can move on to a brighter future together."
He turned to his brothers. Caius looked pleased and Marcus looked resigned, but both nodded.
"It's settled then. Demetri, take her to the interrogation room we have set up. Ladies, you seem to have the evening off. Enjoy your free time while you can. Brothers let us prepare." Aro started directing everyone.
I was grabbed yet again by the big oaf, blindfold in place, and let the dragging begin. At some point in the journey we took an elevator that led to a set of stairs. After I almost fell down them for the umpteenth time Demetri's patience was long gone. He not so gently threw me over his shoulder. I traveled the rest of the way bent in half with my face bouncing off his back and legs held tightly to his chest.
I hear the squeak of a heavy door being opened, then I'm unceremoniously thrown onto the ground, my hood falling from my head. I take in my surroundings and I wasn't prepared for what I see. I expected some high tech room filled with every form of electronic device known to man, but this, this was otherworldly.
I hadn't known much about medieval time. It was only referred to in fairytales and not the happily ever after type that people once told. But, I knew I stood in what can only be described as a dungeon, a true torture chamber. Torches lit the stone walls, casting eerie shadows, giving the whole place an creepy ambiance. Chains rained down from the ceiling, some puddle on the dirt floor. Whips, daggers, and other strange instruments hung upon a far wall. A small cage with spiky edges sat ominously in the opposite corner. The centerpiece of the room stood an old looking, long wood table. What caught my eye was the rope bindings. The table looked like it would give anyone that walked past splinters. Then there were the ropes connected to some sort of notched lever and rollers, all this was fixed onto the underside of said table. Evidently not just for restraining a person atop, but also to cause great pain by stretching them.
A true sense of dread filled me.
"The Kings decided to do things old world style." Felix chuckled making a grand gesture around the room.
I hadn't even heard him enter, being so distracted by my new surroundings. I swallow the bile that has risen into my throat and say,
"Here I thought we would all just sit around, having a nice cup of tea, and reminisce upon times past."
Hoping it came out as sarcastic as I meant it to be. Demetri scoffs,
"That smart mouth of your's won't do you any favors in this room, Isabella."
"I have nothing to hide. I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability. All this really isn't necessary." I say with as much conviction as I could muster while holding my head high and wave of the hand around to all the scary artifacts.
"Let's hope for your sake you speak the truth, my dear." says Aro as the three kings enter accompanied by Afton.
I thought it odd, that they brought him along, but didn't have time to focus on such matters.
"Remove your shoes and dress and hand them over to Felix." Caius barked his first order.
I take a deep breath, square my shoulders and strip to my skivvies in front of a half dozen sets of eyes. I knew I couldn't argue this time, I would not win and it would only prove more painful for me. I hand over my clothing.
Feeling my skin crawl as I sense their eyes on me, drinking me in like a fine wine. Deep breath, 'Show No Fear! Show No Weakness!' I chant inside my head. If I appear affected they will use this against me.
"Felix stand guard at the elevators no one is to set foot on this level. Demetri stand guard outside the door, if we need you we'll call. Afton if you would be so kind as to secure Isabella for us." Marcus says in a stoic tone.
Felix left with a disgruntled grunt, followed by Demetri, who looked just as miserable about missing out on witnessing my suffering.
Afton walked over to me grabbing a set of chained shackles that hung from the rafters and cuffed my wrist above my head. He then placed similar cuffs on my ankles.
I didn't struggle, I didn't complain, I complied, remaining silent, while maintaining a calm façade.
"Now step aside Afton. I wish to have Isabella in full view while we have our fun with her." Caius says in a jovial tone.
"Caius, this is not for your pleasure. We are here for answers not to fulfill any of your fantasies. I warned you before we came down. If I feel you are being unnecessarily harsh you will be forced to leave this room for the remainder of the questioning. Am I Clear, Brother?" Aro bellowed.
"Crystal, Brother." Caius retorts, but there is that malevolent glint in his eyes that says otherwise.
"Alright then let us begin. Isabella you are here to prove you are innocent of having prior knowledge to the hijacking and theft of Capitol property. We must also establish if you had any plans in place for attempting to flee the Capitol with rebel forces. You will need to demonstrate alliance to us is pure and not tainted in some way do to your absence. What say you?" Aro spoke in a firm voice that bounced off the wall in the room making it reverberate.
"I am true to my countryman. I had no prior knowledge of the hijacking. It came as a total surprise to me when I woke up in a strange place. I was told I needed to join or be treated as an enemy. I made no alliance with them. From the time I woke up right up until I left they were constantly monitoring me and ordering me around. They proved to be untrustworthy. They have many flaws I'm sure they'd like to keep hidden. Rumors of spies, strict rules that only applied to some, and enslavement, just to name a few. I did work with the Whitlock's. They knew how to make broadcasts and how to contact you directly. If it weren't for Jasper I might still be sitting in a room with those people while they over analyze and play games with other people's lives." I finished hoping my half truths weren't apparent.
"She speaks only part truths." spoke Afton.
Well Damn! How could he possibly know? I thought I was pretty convincing.
"Explain." Aro demands an explanation from Afton.
"She may not have know about the hijacking but works with those responsible, she is friends with them. She swore an allegiance to the people of Panem, not to King and Crown. How is it she knew about these supposed spies, rule breakers, and slaves? Only insiders would have information like that. She only came back for fear for her family." Afton replies.
Wait how does he know who I'm friendly with or that I pledged my allegiance to the people not a party. My brain starts working in overdrive trying to figure it all out.
"Isabella?" Aro says expecting my retort.
"What was I to do, shout from the roof tops I Belong To The Capitol. Yah, that would have gone over well. I needed them to trust me so I stated my loyalty is to Panem, isn't that the same as saying I support you all in a sense. You rule this nation not them. He asks how I know things. You keep your head down and your eyes and ears open and you'd be surprised at what you can find out(Edwards words from the roof top echo in my head), being a wallflower has it's perks. Of coarse I fear for my family, I never stop worrying about them throughout the games and my time away they were in the forefront of my thoughts. I wish no harm to come to them, but whether I'm here or elsewhere doesn't guarantee anyone's safety. I am back because I wanted to come back, no other reason!" I counter in a strong sure voice, thankful I can think fast under pressure.
Afton glared at me with such distain I almost cringed. After looking away he took on a look of distress, he had no retort. I studied him closely and only just noticed the wedding band adorning his left hand. He knows I didn't know about the escape attempt but, that I am working with my team. He knew of my pledges. He's the one with the inside source at D13 and I'm willing to guess, by the way he looks at me, I know who he is married to.
"What she says makes sense. She is a survivor, she used her wit in order to make it out alive. Should we expect anything less of her?" Marcus defends me.
"She covering something. I say we Rack her up or give her a good whipping, help loosen that tongue of hers." Caius adds.
"I agree with Marcus. However, I can also sense we are not hearing the whole story. Do you have any other proof Afton. Surely with your connections you should have something more tangible than arguing wordage's." Aro asked with a lifted eyebrow.
"As you know information is slow in coming due to recent speculations." Afton defended.
"Yes, it seems your contact isn't doing us any good, perhaps they've outlived their usefulness. Even our sweet Isabella who was supposedly being held prisoner knew of the suspicions back at D13." Aro pondered aloud..
"It's not her fault. Everything was fine until that group of misfits showed up in a stolen hovercraft with an unconscious victor and tied-up Capitol personnel. They created waves where there were none previously." Afton lost his composure and gave me the conformation I needed.
Confirming my suspicions with his little rant. I felt slightly more at ease, this interrogation is going far better that I could have ever hoped. That said, it didn't go unnoticed how Aro said 'supposed prisoner' Now how to convince them my word holds more weight than his, without divulging anything important?
"Carlisle will be joining D13's council. There are servants in all white with silver collars, they are actually slaves. Prisoners labeled traitors by D13, but I don't believe they are Capitol loyalist, I think they are victims of circumstance. They don't trust anyone anymore. D13 knows about the recent visit some of your engineers made back in District 12. They're looking to pin the sink hole incident on you, saying you caused it some how." I confess.
That got their attention. I'm sure the first two pieces of information didn't come as a shock but, the last bit did seem to peek their interest. Now I just need to discredit whatever intel Chelsea sends Afton way. Then the tables will be turned, in TEAM MOCKINGJAY'S favor!
AN: No blood or gore, yet(add maniacal laugh). Hope your not too disappointed. I'm still sad so few are leaving reviews. Cheer me up and leave some love. REVIEW!