Dangerous Games - Chapter 15 Preview

Ashford’s accusation hung in the air, no one spoke, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

‘Ashford, Ashford, why do I recognize that name?’ Ethan thinks to himself.

“We didn’t kill anybody.” Joe states, breaking the silence.

“And we didn’t steal a necklace.” Ethan adds.

Which was technically true since it was Silverblood’s wife, Laura, that killed Clermont and gave Ethan the necklace afterword.

Ashford studies them both before speaking, “Hmm, neither of you seems to be lying, but it doesn’t change the fact that one of you has the necklace, and I would like it back.”

“What makes you so sure we have it?” Joe asks.

Ashford waves his finger and tsks, “Now that would be telling.”

“Even if we had this necklace, why would we give it to you, you just said someone named Clermont owned it?” Ethan questions.

The fake smile on Ashford’s face falters for the briefest of moments, Ethan could see he was losing his patience. Ethan then suddenly remembers where he recognized the Ashford’s name, it was in the papers Silverblood’s beta, Charles, had handed to him the day after. He was one of the men who owned the necklace before Clermont, but why would he want it back now?

“That necklace and I have history, so I would have it back, NOW.” Ashford demands.

Ethan and Joe say nothing.

Ashford clicks his tongue, “I was hoping we could do this painlessly, but I guess not.”

With that Ashford slowly reaches into his jacket with two finger and calmly takes out a black glove. Confused Ethan and Joe watch as Ashford puts on the glove and starts brushing it down his jacket as if trying to remove dust. Still using his ability; Ethan watches as magic begins circulating around the gloved hand, warning him something was coming.

“Joe!” Ethan shouts in warning, as Ashford outstretches his gloved hand toward them, and two streams of electricity shoot out from it.

Thank to Ethan’s warning Joe was able to avoid Ashford’s electric attack, Ethan having seen it coming was able to doge as well. Joe kicks the chair he had been sitting on at Ashford while Ethan picks up and throws his. Ashford stop Joe’s chair with his foot and easily leans back to avoid Ethan’s chair, only to realize the chairs were nothing more than a distraction meant to give them time to get close.

Ethan and Joe had both seen how powerful witches could be and had both simultaneously concluded that there was no way to beat Ashford straight on. So, using the chairs as a distraction they both closed in, to attack. But despite catching him off guard, Ashford still managed to deflect and dodge their blows. Regardless Ethan and Joe continued their assault, refusing to give Ashford a moment to recover. As they continued to wear him down Ethan and Joe began to land some blows, but by taking some of the hits Ashford began being able counterattack as well.

Growing tired, Ashford is able to deliver a blow to Joe’s jaw that knocks him back, Ethan uses Ashford’s body as leverage to jump up and deliver a blow to the side of Ashford’s head with his knee, disorienting him. Ethan looks back at Joe, they both new it was only a matter of time before Ashford gains the upper hand. Ethan uses his eyes to guide Joe’s gaze to the spot behind Ashford, Joe nods in understanding and then launches himself at Ashford just as he’s recovering.

With his second-hand free Ashford is easily able to overpower Ethan and knock him back, he sees Joe coming toward him and raises his gloved hand at him. But just as he’s casting his magic; Ethan who had recovered faster than he expected grabs his arm and pulls. The stream of electricity meant for Joe misses and burns a line across the wall as Ethan continues pulling his arm. Joe uses this opportunity to duck behind Ashford and puts him in chokehold, by wrapping his arm around Ashford’s neck and squeezing as hard as he can.

“E-E-ENOUGH!” Ashford shouts.

Ethan watches as a surge of magic rushes through Ashford, with his body now filled with magic Ashford grabs Ethan, who had been still pulling back his arm, and swings him across the room slamming him into the one-sided glass. cracking it. He then reaches back and manages to get a hold of Joe flip him off his back, throwing him on top of the interrogation table.

Having had the wind knocked out of them Ethan and Joe struggle to get up, Joe rolls off the table and on to his knees while Ethan manages to stand. But just like how they didn’t give Ashford and chance to recover, he wasn’t going to give them a chance either. Lifting his gloved hand; Ashford shoots two streams of electricity at Ethan and Joe causing them both to yell out in pain as the electricity burns through their bodies. Ethan falls to his knees besides Joe, both trying to catch their breath as Ashford looks down at them. His appearance haggard and his own breath heavy, Ashford looks at the two of them in disbelief.

Tasting blood in his mouth Ashford spits it out and narrows his eyes at Ethan and Joe, “You two are the first to make me bleed in a long time. I must say you really caught me unawares, a mistake I will not make again and that you will suffer for.”

Ashford then once again brushes his gloved hand against his jacket and then raises his hand and begins electrocuting Ethan and Joe again. Ethan and Joe let out guttural yells as they wreath in pain from electricity surging through them. Ashford then stops, not from mercy but from uncertainty, something about Ethan and Joe’s screams felt off.

Shrugging the feeling of uncertainty aside, Ashford smiles, “For being human you both are quite the fighters, but no more games, where is the necklace?”

To Ashford confusion Ethan and Joe begin to laugh.

Ethan looks up at Ashford with a strained smile, “Sorry, but we’re not fighters we’re thieves and we only fight when there’s something to steal.”

Confused but what Ethan was saying Ashford looks over at Joe as he sits up and holds up something in his hand. It was the piece of paper that Ashford had put up on the wall to soundproof the room, that’s what Ethan had guided Joe to see earlier. Joe had grabbed it when he got behind Ashford, the chokehold was just to keep him distracted as he took it off the wall. Ashford’s eyes widen in realization as door behind him burst open and Port Iron police officers flood in with their weapons ready. Ethan and Joe, who were already on the floor, get on their knees and put their hands behind their heads. Ashford, who had instinctively moved back as the police came in, looks over at Ethan and Joe from across the table with smiles on their faces.

“Get on the floor!”

“Get on the floor now!”

The police shout at Ashford.

After a brief moment Ashford begins to clap his hands and laugh, causing the room to go silent and Ethan and Joe to worry.

“Bravo, well played, you two just keep subverting my expectations.” Ashford says with a smile ignoring the police officers. “But you’re forgetting one thing, I’m an apostate and I couldn’t give a damn about council law.”

Using his gloved hand Ashford snaps his fingers and produces a small flame, recalling how Sera did something similar Ethan instantly realizes what Ashford intends to do.

“Joe, table!!”

Ethan and Joe rush toward the table and are barely able to lift it in time to cover themselves as Ashford detonates the fireball at point blank range.