[color=f49ac2]“Ethan… you promised me.”[/color] Iris whispered as she pushed herself up from the floor feeling the tears already threatening to spill. All she had wanted was to keep Cas safe, to keep him out of it even as her heart yearned for her to be with him once more. [color=f49ac2]“I… I am here for you because you asked me too. You agreed to let this stop if I came back.”[/color]

“I never thought you to be so naïve Iris, did you honestly believe me at my word?” Cruel words left his lips as he paced towards her on the floor, his one good eye watching her closely. 

[color=f49ac2]“There was a time when your word meant something.”[/color] Sitting herself up from the floor as she pushed back the tears and found herself frowning at Ethan. The phone in his hands meant one thing and she knew what the photo of her meant. A new game was about to be played, one that she didn’t want to be a part of, one that she had run from because she knew Cas would be safer without her and yet she was now going to be another problem for him. 

“Funny how times have changed.” Twirling the knife between his fingers as he walked around Iris keeping her in place on the floor. “There was a time when I thought you loved me, when we were together…”

[color=f49ac2]“Is that what you want?”[/color] Swallowing hard at the memories, they had been happy once and fools of course but if that was what he now wanted, maybe it would mean that he would stop this obsession for killing Cas. 

Even with being back in the districts held against her will she still thought about him, wondered on if he was okay. Not a day went by without her heart aching and maybe that was why she had become so numb to the pain of Ethans abuse. Even if it had been better for everyone all round, she still regretted leaving him because she did adore him, and they had fought through so much. Hopefully he hated her, hopefully her abrupt leaving meant he would not care what kind of position she was in because she didn’t want him risking his life and getting caught up in Ethans schemes. [color=f49ac2]“He won’t care you know… that photo he will just delete it because I broke his heart.” [/color]

“Then why does your voice sound strained at that thought? Clearly [i]you[/i] are upset by the idea that he would hate you.” Ethans smirk grew as he leant down reaching out to touch her face only to watch her flinch from his touch. “I would very much enjoy the thought of reliving old memories together.” Humming softly as he leaned in pressing a kiss to her cheek his fingers running up her forearm before they slowly wrapped around her neck. 

[color=f49ac2]“Ethan… please.” [/color]

Letting go he pushed Iris back down to the floor before standing up to his full height once more, grinning to himself as he felt his phone go off which could only mean the King had responded. Opening it up to see the message he chuckled knowing that the King still had some care for the girl even if she claimed that she had broken his heart. “For someone with a broken heart he still asks about you. Hmmm, let’s see.” Tapping his fingers against the device he wondered on if he should even reply or let him wait for a response. Glancing over the small device he could see Iris huddled on the floor, not much fight left in her. 

[centre][i]Step down as King, or she will suffer. [/i][/centre]

Tilting his head to one side as he scrolled through previous photos on his phone, ones that he had taken before today because he had been biding his time. After selecting his photo carefully hoping it would be the one to get the message across. To panic the King into acting rashly because if one acted in panic, it meant he would have an advantage. So, the particular photo he chose had been one of Iris asleep on the floor in the room he had her locked in oblivious to what was going on, still in a particularly bad state like the previous but with a difference. Small pieces of torn clothing just about covered important areas of her body leaving things to the imagination, but also showing the extent of damage he had already been causing. 

[centre][i]For every day you are still King, Iris will pay the price. Time is not on your side. [/i][/centre]

Closing his phone, he sighed as he folded his arms knowing the message, he had sent was loud and clear and now all he had to do was wait. Wait for the King to be lured out to him so he could make the final blow.