"Or would, if you could not control them, but he would!"

-Douglas Steward, "The Atom"

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Soundtrack of the chapter: Brotherhood by John Dreamer

Media: Beautiful banner of Jasper by Nour

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Chapter Eight: Jasper Silverbird

"You could've killed her," Jasper scolded as he examined Cady. "What were you thinking?"

Zoroth shrugged. "Trying to save her?"

Jasper rolled his eyes. "Decanates, they never admit their mistakes."

Zoroth folded his arms across his chest. "What do you know about Decanates, Oracle?"

"Oh, more than you know." Jasper felt for Cady's pulse. "Plus, what on earth were you two thinking, waltzing into the Hall of Spirits like that? You two are suicidal."

"The High Priest of the Hall of Games sent us here. Do we look like we have a choice?"

"Then the High Priest is dumb. This is an impossible mission, to impersonate as an Oracle. No wonder your Ascendant is exhausted."

Zoroth felt suspicion rise again. This boy knew far too much about Walkers than an average Oracle. His eyes fell to the pouch in which Jasper had drawn his card weapon. But then again, for him to possess the Gilded Tarot, he must have descended from an ancient bloodline.

"My mother was a Walker," Jasper suddenly said, breaking the silence. "She died in the Great War, just like the rest of her kind."

"Oh." Zoroth was at a loss of speech. "I'm sorry."

Jasper didn't seem to hear him, for his gaze was transfixed on Cady. "And I never expected to find one alive, especially after sixteen years."

"Aren't you going to turn us in?" Zoroth asked.

Jasper tucked Cady under a thick quilt before he rose. "Do I look like an evil person?" He raised an eyebrow at Zoroth.

"A little," Zoroth admitted. "It's not every day we come upon an Oracle who doesn't hate Walkers. It's suspect worthy."

Jasper walked toward a tall cabinet and threw the doors open. He started rummaging through the curious assortment of dried herbs, humming a soft tune under his breath.

He grabbed a couple of sachets and a root with a peculiar flower. "For ten years I have lived alone, I have learned not to care for politics. I have nothing against Walkers. So why would I harm one in need of help?"

"Thank you," Zoroth said. "For keeping this a secret."

"I'm a Physician," Jasper said without even looking up, busy grinding the herbs together with a pestle. "I don't jeopardize my patients' safety."

Zoroth sat down, deep in thought. He watched Jasper roll up his sleeves, exposing his Oracle tattoo which glistened in the dancing lamplight. He wasn't sure if this Oracle was trustworthy. For all he knew, Jasper could turn them in to Raphine Sanguinis anytime.

Silence consumed them, save for the steady pounding of pestle against mortar.

He decided to give Jasper a chance. If he betrayed them, Zoroth will tear him into shreds and feed him to the sharks.

"However, what I don't understand is-" Jasper reached for a spatula. "-why was she willing to stay in the Hall of Spirits? Esvanira is huge, plenty of places to escape to."

Zoroth watched Jasper mix up the queer concoction with avid fascination. The mixture was now emitting little sparks. "She has her own reasons. She doesn't know who her real family is."

"I see." Jasper set down the spatula before emptying the contents into a large jar. "I don't want to pry too much. But what happened to her?"

Zoroth sighed. "Long story, really."

Jasper gave him an encouraging look, prompting him on. Zoroth took a deep breath and

narrated everything to him, from the moment Cady stepped into the Hall of Spirits to their encounter in the Darkling Woods.

*****

Cady's head was throbbing so hard, it threatened to split apart. She wanted to tear, to rip her mind into shreds, anything to stop the blinding pain. She heard voices talking nearby, but her head hurt too much to even register their words.

Ugh, what happened?

She cracked open her eyes. Darkness surrounded her, save the few flickering candles beside her bed. Cady moaned as she tried to sit up. Her hands flew automatically to her head. It felt like a swollen watermelon.

"You're awake!" The relieved voice of her Consort floated out from a corner. "Holy Valador, I thought you're going to sleep forever!"

There was a soft flutter and a thud as Zoroth landed beside her, his amethyst eyes shining like torches.

"Where am I?"

"Somewhere safe, I'll tell you when you're feeling better."

He yelped and leapt back as Cady pinched him hard on the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For knocking me out," Cady said. "Why on earth would you do that?"

"He tried to break your Walker bond by committing suicide." A cool voice spoke up and a tall figure came to view.

"He did what?!"

Adrenaline rushed through Cady as she grabbed Zoroth by the shirt. "How dare you Zoroth! How dare you! You are not allowed to die, you hear me? If you die, we die together!"

"I didn't want to you to." Zoroth sounded sheepish. "I thought that if I break the bond, the Oracles will never sniff you out."

Cady laughed, her voice decibels higher than normal. "You're an idiot, Zoroth. The biggest, dopiest idiot in the whole wide world." She shook him so hard, she could hear his teeth chatter.

The tall figure cleared his throat. In Cady's fury, she had forgotten the person's presence.

"Who are you? Why am I here?"

He took a deep bow. "Jasper Silverbird, at your service."

Cady squinted in the flickering lights, unable to make out the figure's features. He seemed to smile, she could feel it, and walked into the candle lights.

Dark curls fell over a sharp face like a curtain. Her gaze trailed from his inky eyes to his lopsided smile, taking in his every feature, allowing herself to marvel at his atramentous beauty. Clad in simple breeches and a faded gray shirt, he seemed to have escaped a medieval story and slipped into reality. She blushed before she directed her gaze at her thumbs.

"Cadence Gates, but please, call me Cady."

The boy--Jasper nodded in approval. "What a beautiful name, like the musician Star Cadence. Have you ever heard of her?"

Cady's face was close to the point of combustion. "N-no."

"Cady, are you feeling alright?" Concerned laced Zoroth's words. "You look sort of...contorted."

She grabbed her blankets and shoved Zoroth with them. "Shut up."

Zoroth was about to protest when Jasper ushered him aside. He nudged a stool next to

Cady's bed and much to her horrified delight, sat beside her.

"Give me your wrist," he said.

"Huh?" Cady was baffled.

"Please don't tell me you have a hearing defect," Jasper said beseechingly. "I said, give me your wrist."

Biting down a retort, Cady held out her right arm. He took it and pressed two fingers to her wrist.

"You're a Healer?" she asked.

Jasper looked at her from under his long lashes. "I prefer being called a physician, and the best in Esvanira."

"Is he serious?" Cady glanced at Zoroth for help.

Zoroth shrugged. "I think he's crazy."

"Stop your secret chit-chat. I'm trying to concentrate here." Jasper fanned the air around him.

Cady shot Zoroth a shocked look. "He knows I'm a Walker?"

Zoroth didn't reply, but he pointed at her bare arm. Her Walker tattoo was in plain sight, glistening like oil. Fear pierced Cady like arrows and she flung herself backwards, reaching out for the shadows, ready to attack Jasper.

Jasper didn't even bat an eyelid. "Relax. I already knew from the moment I saved your butt in the Darkling Woods."

"He promised he won't turn us in." Zoroth tried to placate Cady who had a cocoon of shadows wrapped around her like an armor.

"But he is an Oracle. Jesus, what did I land myself in?"

Jasper knitted his eyebrows together. "What's a Jesus? And maybe I am different type of Oracle."

Cady almost snorted. "Oracles are all the same."

Jasper suddenly leaned in, closing the distance between him and Cady, his eyes searching.

"What are you doing?" Cady demanded. "I-I'll kill you!"

His eyes blazed like the stars in the sky, filled with such ferocity, it took Cady aback.

"Look here, Walker. If I want to turn you in, I would've sat back, drank coffee and watch your Consort kill himself. I have no love for the politics of the Hall of Spirits. And I have nothing against you. So tell me again, why would I want to kill you?"

Cady let the shadows drop. They receded back in the corners, with much reluctance.

"I'm sorry. I-I didn't know whether I could trust you."

"Apology accepted." Jasper drew back. "You're going to need a lot of rest. Reeling in your Consort's shadow, that's the most ridiculous plan I've ever heard. It's going to take you more than that to survive in the Hall of Spirits."

"Do you have any ideas then?" Zoroth turned to look at Jasper, who now drew out a wooden box from a drawer.

He popped the lid. "First, we need to hide that."

Cady followed Jasper's gaze to her left arm. Her Walker tattoo gleamed, as lustrous as black oil.

Jasper took out a small transparent bottle which contained a brownish paste and a paintbrush. He sat down beside Cady. She felt the bed shift as he dropped his weight onto it.

"This-" Jasper shook the bottle. "-is made from Caestral flowers that the Detriments use to make face paint. It's not water-permeable and can last up to a couple of days."

Cady eyed the bottle and understanding sank in.

"It tickles," Jasper warned. "But try not to move too much."

Jasper dipped the brush into the gelatinous liquid and started painting over Cady's tattoo.

As warned by Jasper, Cady had to bite her lip to prevent herself from giggling and dodging the brush. She finally resolved to stare at Jasper's arm which moved up and down, bringing the brush to and forth in strong, steady strokes. The interlinked circles of his dark Oracle tattoo seemed to glide up his arms like snakes. Cady blinked.

She watched with great intent as Jasper transferred the brush into another bottle containing black pigment and traced the Oracle tattoo with great precision.

"You could be an artist." Cady complimented when Jasper set his tools aside and stood back to admire his handiwork.

"I paint sometimes," Jasper said, almost as if he was reminiscing.

"I bet your artworks must be pretty." The words were already out of Cady's mouth before she could stop herself. She flushed, beginning to get very annoyed at herself.

"Not really." Jasper clapped his hands together. "Well, this has been a very busy day. You two better get going unless you two have a death wish. I heard that they have plenty of torture devices in their dungeons."

Zoroth went forward to help Cady to her feet but she pushed him away, gently.

"Thanks, I can manage."

She clutched the bedpost with both hands, swung her feet off the mattress and with some effort, stood up. Her head wasn't spinning anymore, and she was grateful for that. Cady took a tentative step forward. So far so good.

Cady gave Jasper a grateful smile. "Thanks Jasper, for everything."

Jasper grinned and bowed, splaying his hands to the side. "The pleasure is mine, milady."

Zoroth rolled his eyes and Cady laughed. Since her arrival at the Hall of Spirits, she hadn't laughed, or even let her guard down. Somehow, this boy made her feel safe, like how Zoroth made her feel at home.

"On a more serious note though." Jasper strode forward and pressed a large vial in Cady's hand. For a brief moment their hands touched, and a spark shot up Cady's arm, almost dropping the vial in the process. "You need to drink this. Take one spoonful every dawn and sundown. It'll give you more strength to shape your shadow."

"And don't worry," Jasper said, reading Cady's thoughts. "It's safe for Walkers. You did a brilliant job not to consume Oracle potions, they drain you lickety-split."

"What about her tattoo?" Zoroth suddenly interjected. "What will happen after the paint fades."

Jasper's eyes glittered. "Come back here then, I will repaint the tattoo and give her fresh supplies of the potion."

Cady clutched the vial tight to her chest. "How can we ever repay you?" She didn't have any Esvaniran money, and the Halls never gave its students allowance of any sort. But perhaps she could sneak out and work in the towns to earn some money.

"My services are free. However, if you bring me back some herbs from the Hall gardens every time you visit me, that would be much appreciated."

Zoroth stole a glance at Cady, who chewed her lip. The Hall gardens grew a titanic variety of herbs that were harvested and stored in the apothecary, so much that even Eli couldn't finish cataloguing all. Sneaking in wouldn't be a problem, since there was a gaping hole in its fences. Perhaps Eli would never notice a few missing herbs...

"I will try my best. It's almost dawn, everyone will be wondering where I went," Cady said.

Jasper courteously opened the door for her as they stepped out of the little cottage. A glimmer of light had begun to seep out from the cracks in the sky, like pink threads wove on dark fabric.

"C'mon Cady, it's late." Zoroth ushered Cady.

As Zoroth took Cady flying, she cast Jasper one more look. "See you in two days!"

Jasper laughed and waved back. Zoroth's gigantic wings worked ferociously, speeding them back to the Hall of Spirits. With the morning breeze whispering in her ears, she found herself hugging the phial Jasper had given her. She smiled.

***

A/N

*punches fist in air* I've been waiting to post this chapter forever! Here be Jasper, the Oracle of the Darkling Woods! Any thoughts on our new characters? ;)

You know what to do *points to vote and comment button*

Burnt toast with Nutella,

Stef