The Elites

Chapter Seventeen

Something about the woman that pushed Ashton and me all the way back up to the attic was familiar. I wasn't sure if she reminded me of someone or was someone I'd briefly encountered somewhere down the line; she was Hispanic looking with long jet black curly hair and cat-like features. Nevertheless, I wasn't bothered to ask her anything; I'd already tripped over my own feet several times as the stairways got narrower and I felt like asking questions would lead me to a face plant.

According to Ashton Lara had been kept behind with Violet while he'd been sent down below. If Lara had actually made the choice by this point, why were we being re-summoned?

The attic door was already open when we got there. I was half tempted to turn around, knock the woman sideways, take whatever weapon she had on her and charge in for a second try at killing Violet. The woman hadn't tied Ashton or me up, and technically there was nothing stopping us from kicking out backwards and sweeping her off her feet - literally.

But at the same time both of us knew that if Violet heard a disturbance from us she wouldn't hesitate to kill Lara - or whoever else she had up there with her - on the spot. It was probably best that we did what we were told this time. I'd already got people killed through my recklessness. It'd worked twice, but not a third time.

When we stepped inside I instantly had to thrust out an arm to stop Ashton from legging it forwards to where Lara had been tied up and gagged. Violet stood over her, seemingly unarmed - but then, you never knew with her. The only other person in the room was the familiar woman who had walked us in.

"Your wife was uncooperative, Ashton," Violet said in mock sadness. "I brought your boy in and she hurled herself at him after clear instructions not to. Maybe it's the American in her."

"Is he okay?" Ashton said, his tone cool but strained. I'd dropped my arm as he'd relaxed slightly. Violet didn't answer, but Lara shut her eyes tight. It was hard to read her thoughts when she had her mouth covered with tape. She nodded shortly, but what was readable told otherwise.

"There's been a change of plan regarding him," Violet went on. "Instead of her choosing, she now gets to choose which of you chooses."

I somehow got the feeling that this was always what Violet had wanted. Whether Lara had launched for her son or played by the rules, I figured that this would be a dream of a game for Violet to see play out. The choice between the husband and the ex... not quite in the typical way, but in some sort of the sense.

Violet reached down and tore the tape from Lara's mouth. The rip echoed in the barren attic as she gave out a small yelp of pain. She started to shake her head furiously, bowing it as she kept her eyes closed.

Violet gave a heavy sigh. "I talked you through this, Lara. I expect you to choose."

Lara remained silent in terms of words, but short whimpers has started to escape her sealed lips. All Ashton and I could do was stare down at her, knowing that any sort of interference would disrupt it all further. And even if we wanted to intervene, what could we do? What was there to do to possibly make any of this better? I only hoped no one watching in the hall below - which they undoubtedly were - would try to climb the stairs to help us. That would never work either.

"What will it be?" Violet said, started to lose her patience. "I see this choice as fairly easy, myself."

"You're asking me to choose who to put the burden of murder on," Lara muttered savagely. "Whether they're the ones that do it or not, they'll feel responsible."

"Well, you wouldn't choose your own husband, would you?" Violet teased, enjoying every second. Lara looked up from the ground and into Ashton's eyes. Somehow the pale icy blue of hers looked sadder than I'd ever thought would be possible. I wanted her to choose me, and I knew that part of her would have if she absolutely one hundred percent had to.