[color=f49ac2]“E-Ethan!?”[/color]

“I’m glad you still remember my name. It’s been a while. In fact, I’m rather glad you called.” 

[color=f49ac2]“What have you done with Maisie?”[/color] Panic started to settle in that he had answered the phone instead of her friend, her heart began to race because this was not the phone call she had been expecting to have today. 

“Oh, she’s fine. [i]Well…[/i] it entirely depends on you my dear and what kind of choices you plan to make. Currently, Maisie is fine, and I doubt I will need her for leverage. Not when I know where your current weakness lies. With the Prince, now King of course can’t say I’m upset about his predecessor.” The sadist tone could be heard through the phone, there was a glee in his eye even as he sat miles away from her threatening over the phone. 

[color=f49ac2]“No, you wouldn’t [b]dare[/b]. You can’t… I. The rebellion is over Ethan, there isn’t anything else you can do.”[/color]

“Isn’t there? I have access to kill the new King; I still have people for my cause. I’m more than happy to spike that pretty little head of his and place it for all to see.” 

Iris could feel herself shaking as she held the phone to her ear, eyes wide at the idea of him killing Caspian. [color=f49ac2]“N-No. There’s no way you can. Ethan just stop… please.”[/color] 

“You remember Az, right? My wonderful little spy could hack into absolutely everything. The reason we got into Aspiria in the first place. He’s still very much alive, feeding me movements on the new King. I could list you all the meetings he’s been in, I could name the very heads of departments that he has been speaking with. In fact, I could name the very hotel you are currently staying at all thanks to Az who has been working tirelessly behind the scenes.”

Her tremors began to increase, gripping the phone until her knuckles were white as she tried to steady herself and not let herself fall into his trap. There was no way he could know all of it, Az was skilled but surely the security here was far tighter since everything had happened. Jacob wouldn’t let anything harm the newly made King. [color=f49ac2]“You’re lying.”[/color] Whispering out as she tried to sound strong, but even she could here the quiver in her own voice. [color=f49ac2]“You won’t hurt him. You can’t. This is all trickery.”[/color]

“[i]Is it?[/i]” Ethan remained calm even as the anger seeped through, the malice in his voice as a wicked chuckle was heard down the phone. “Oh, you must want proof. Let me see, right now you are currently in the Sunset Veil hotel, right?” 

Iris fell silent, her heart stopped for a moment as he knew her location and she recalled her conversations with Maisie wondering if she had mentioned this place at all. In her heart she knew she hadn’t, she knew Ethan was telling the truth. The fact he had access to information like this, that he still had Az feeding this to him meant he very well could be a threat to Caspian. The rebellion wasn’t as over. 

“I take that silence as a yes, but you know what I’m feeling generous. I’ll give you [b]three[/b] days to return home to me. I’ll be there ready to forgive you, maybe even rekindle things. In return I’ll gift you something. A promise that I’ll drop the rebellion and that I won’t harm the new King, I’ll give him a chance.” Ethan smirked down the phone, empty promises of course as he was still going ahead with his own plans, but right now he needed her back to get to the King. “Three days Iris, you uphold your bargain no one gets hurt. I’ll put a stop to the rebellion and my plans to kill the King, I’ll end it all upon your return.” Pausing for a moment knowing that she’d desperately do anything to keep him alive, but just in case he dangled yet another piece in front of his ex-girlfriend knowing that it would help secure her return. “This bargain also includes Maisie, but I can assure you she is well looked after and can’t wait to see you.” 

[color=f49ac2]“E-Ethan! [b]Wait![/b] No…”[/color] Iris was wide eyed as the line went dead, in a panic she keyed the number in quickly again whispering to herself please over and over wanting to hear her friends voice. Shaking her head as the sound of a deadline could be heard she threw the phone to the floor before leaning against the wall sliding down to her feet as she placed her head in her hands feeling completely out of her depth right now.