The Chimera (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 2)
Chapter Nineteen: Knowing Thy Enemy

“So how does this work?” Ashley finally asked, breaking the suffocating silence that had been lingering between them.

Still sitting on his bed, Ethan rested his left elbow on his thigh and his hand supported his chin. He studied Ashley carefully, his dark eyes causing the hairs on her back to stand. Ashley had every reason to be afraid of him. Despite his chiseled lean build and him looking about her age, Ethan was the guy who took down Vladimir and Arius almost effortlessly; Ashley needed to be careful around him.

“Ethan?” she said, holding her hands together.

Ethan’s lips curved into a smirk. “Well, as with any deal, why don’t we start by presenting our demands... or wants.”

“And what is it that you want from me? I mean I know you said I would be useful to you. But that isn’t very specific.”

“You make a valid argument, little mermaid,” Ethan replied, reminding Ashley of the new nickname he had given her. “As I’m sure you are aware, you being the first half-breed of your kind implies that your magical signature is also the only one of its kind. I am not going to give all the details but...”

Ashley’s eyes opened wider when she saw it for the first time. Around Ethan’s neck was a silver necklace. Ashley couldn’t see its end because it was beneath Ethan’s tight black T-shirt. Ethan had raised his hand to touch it but immediately halted his motion.

“All I can say for now is that I am looking for someone,” said Ethan, his face staring towards the window near Ashley. “If it so happens that I replace this person here in Ravenhill then your unique magical signature might prove useful in a... certain spell.”

Overwhelmed by quivers of anxiety, Ashley placed one hand over the other.

“What spell?” she asked, her unease darkening into fear.

Ethan slightly tilted his head and only gave her a half-smile.

“Right, you’re not giving me all the details,” Ashley said with a sigh. “And what happens if this person isn’t in Ravenhill?”

“Then I leave,” Ethan bluntly answered. “And you’ll probably never have to see me again.”

Ashley raised her head to face him. “At least tell me if I might end up dead after this spell is complete,” she sternly said.

“It is a possibility, yes.”

“And here I thought you knew everything,” Ashley pointed out. “How can you not know the outcome of a spell you plan on casting? Unless...” Ashley leaned forward. “Wait... Not only don’t you know the outcome... You also have no idea of what this spell is, do you?”

“Quite the deductive one aren’t you, little mermaid?” Ethan said, his voice sounding heavily impressed. “You are quite right. Nevertheless, I do know that magic is unpredictable and despite the intention, it always comes with a price.”

“Richard once said the same thing,” Ashley stated and rested her arms on the study table near her. “He said he learned that from you.”

Ethan sighed and darted his eye away from Ashley. “How quaint. And speaking of my brother, there is one other thing I want you to do for me. I already know that you, he, and your merry band are tirelessly plotting my permanent demise. And I also know that your plan involves the god of fear...”

Ashley was about to speak up when Ethan raised his hand.

“Kindly allow me to finish,” he said, still facing away from her. “Honestly, so long as your scheme doesn’t hinder my plans, I could care less about what you choose to do with your spare time.”

There it was again, Ashley thought.

“You really don’t care that someone is planning on killing you?” she asked, in a surprisingly frustrated tone.

The corner of Ethan’s mouth curved into a grin. “I was seven years old when the first attempt on my life was made, and for millennia, countless others have tried to destroy me. My being here- speaking to you- is a testament to their folly. Although I have to admit, excluding the one who killed me, this might be the first time someone conjures up a plan that might actually destroy me.”

Ashley’s hands folded into a fist. She couldn’t tell whether Ethan was being serious or just mocking her. Either he was so confident that no one could kill him or he just didn’t care. The one who once killed him. Ethan was a dark creature so he must have died once.

“Let me get this straight Ethan,” Ashley said, shutting her eyes slightly. “What you’re saying is... we can continue trying to replace a way to destroy you and...”

“And I wouldn’t care,” Ethan finished. “But I am sure you understand the difference between trying to replace a way to destroy me and actually coming to destroy me. If by chance the latter were to become a reality then be sure that I will retaliate.”

Ashley’s nerves shook like throbbing violins as a sudden wave of realization coursed through her body.

“Tell me, Ethan... You want to die, don’t you?” she asked.

Ethan leaned a bit forward to her. “I am already dead, little mermaid,” he said. “And I assure you until I have fulfilled my purpose I’ll not allow myself to be destroyed. I do however sense a familiar feeling in your aura, ” said he, his lips curving into a smirk on one side of his face. “Ah, so that’s it... When did it happen?”

“What are you talking about?” toning down the aura she was projecting.

“You know exactly what I am asking. You have willingly sought the sting of death before, haven’t you?”

Ashley remained quiet and couldn’t maintain eye contact with Ethan. The painful, dark memories of the past were forcing their way into her mind and she found herself constantly blinking, blocking them away. Her nails dug through her palms as she tightened her fist. Images were appearing at the back of her eyelids; images she had buried years ago.

Ethan clapped his hands together and brought Ashley back to reality. “Alright, enough talk about death. Why don’t we get back to our deal? I have made two demands and now it’s your turn.”

After taking in a short breath, Ashley slowly calmed down. “Um, first I want you to give me your word that no one else in this town will be involved in this plan of yours. This is just between you and me.”

“And the one I am searching for,” Ethan added, lifting a finger. “Also, expecting no one else to get caught in my plans might prove impossible. You see, in order to replace this person I have to ask around and do some research. Little mermaid, I am sure you’ve noticed by now that while I am a man of my word, I also have a way of playing around with them. Be sure to take care of how you make your demands. I might just replace loopholes or you might just end up constraining me.”

Ashley gathered herself. How could she have forgotten? Finding loopholes in deals was how Ethan managed to make sure Vlad had met his end. The turn the conversion had made earlier must have shaken Ashley a bit but now she had to get her bearings straight.

Be careful, clear, and precise with your words she thought to herself.

Ashley cleared her throat and drew a deep breath. “I will rephrase myself. Give me your word that you will not, in any way, purposely or intentionally harm anyone in my family or any of the normal humans as you carry out this plan of yours.”

“By normal humans, I assume you mean the ones unaware of the supernatural,” Ethan commented.

“Exactly”

“And what about your human friends?”

Ashley’s eyes shot up. Ethan just revealed to her a loophole he could have exploited. It was a crazy thought but was Ethan trying to help her make the best of this deal? Either way, Ashley found herself unsure of how to respond.

With a smirk, Ethan sighed and said, “Might I suggest something? After we’ve concluded with the terms of our agreement I want you to go give your precious comrades a message. I am giving them the opportunity to get out of all this for good. If they choose not to meddle in my affairs then I will consider them as part of our deal. At least this way, their fate will be in their own hands, right? Of course, this also extends to your non-human friends as well as any future parties that might get involved.”

Ashley was genuinely amazed at how much Ethan could think things through. She hadn’t even thought of what might happen in the future or even how long Ethan’s plan would keep him in Ravenhill. Maybe this is why she wished Robert was there with them.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “You seem puzzled about something.”

“Why are you helping me?” Ashley asked and Ethan raised his eyebrows. “I mean, you could have used my friends as a loophole but you didn’t.”

“I just don’t want to waste my time spilling unnecessary blood,” Ethan replied. That’s what he said but even though his face remained expressionless and though his tone held no emotion. Ashley had a strange feeling that perhaps Ethan never enjoyed shedding blood altogether.

“Your suggestion seems fair. I’ll talk to my friends.” Ashley said.

“Well, that’s one demand out of the way,” Ethan said, sighing in relief. “What’s next?”

Ashley bit the inside of her lip. She wasn’t sure of how Ethan would react to her next request and held her hands together in an attempt to stop them from shaking.

She looked straight at Ethan and said, “The curse that you placed on Richard. The one that prevents him from going back to the ocean... I want you to lift it.”

Suddenly, a dark seriousness lurked in the depths of Ethan’s eyes. Ashley reflexively pushed her chair away and moved backward when he stood.

Ashley stretched her hands defensively as Ethan continued coming towards her. She gritted her teeth together. Ethan’s expressions were cold and distant, his motion graceful yet threatening. He stopped when Ashley’s back leaned against the wall and was so close that Ashley’s hands were slightly pressed on his chest.

“Out of the question,” he said, his voice low and terrifying.

Even with her breaths becoming short Ashley managed to say, “It’s either that or no deal. I know that what I am asking is huge but to be fair, making this deal with you would mean putting my life on the line.”

A frightening grin appeared on Ethan’s face. “And what makes you think that I can’t make use of you using force?”

Ashley’s chest was rising and falling rapidly. “Because I don’t think that’s who you are.”

Ethan’s irises glowed blood red, shifting into a deep midnight color. “Oh, little mermaid. You haven’t the faintest idea of what I am.”

“You’re right. I don’t know,” she said, her lips trembling. “Then tell me.”

There was almost no space left between him and her.

“I assume you’ve already heard stories of the Chimera,” Ethan said. “What more could you possibly want to know?”

“I want to know who Ethan is”

Ashley saw a change in Ethan’s features. The glow in his eyes faded and the furious lines that had almost formed on his face disappeared. All that was left was an astonished expression; one Ashley had seen on him the night she thanked him for saving her.

Slowly moving away from her, Ethan said, “Richard is never returning to the ocean and that is final.”

“Why do you hate your brother so much?!” Ashley asked, still feeling her heart ramming against her chest. “For fifty thousand years you have tormented him; punished him for a crime even he doesn’t know. What happened to you fifty thousand years ago? How did you become who you are?”

“You mean what I am,” Ethan replied, sitting on top of the study table. “Tell me something, little mermaid. Even if I did tell you, what is that you hope to achieve?”

In all honesty, Ashley wasn’t sure. Perhaps she was just stalling just to provide enough time for Robert to escape; assuming he knew Ethan was already here. But part of her genuinely wanted to know.

She soon found the right words to say. “Growing up, I was always fascinated by the stories my mother would tell me. Stories about the merkingdoms, magic, and of course; about you and Richard.”

“Your point,” Ethan briskly said.

God, he could be so annoying when he wanted to.

“I always had many questions whenever she mentioned you. When Richard told me his side of things I was left even more curious. I’ve always wanted to know your story and now I have the chance.”

“You really are a strange one, aren’t you?” said Ethan, gesturing his hand towards the chair Ashley knocked over.

Ashley walked to it, picked it up, and took a sit.

“I don’t know what your motive is but if you’re going to engage in a long-term deal with me then maybe it wouldn’t hurt to know of my origins. That way you’ll have a clear picture of what you’re dealing with.”

“Long-term deal... Does that mean you’ll agree to lift Richard’s curse?” Ashley asked, her voice getting excited.

“It means I’ll give it some thought,” Ethan replied. He took off his leather coat and threw it on his bed. “Until then, our deal will not be in effect.”

“Alright,” Ashley nodded.

Ethan let out a weary sigh. “Besides, it’s not like I’ve anything better to do. So, where do you want me to begin?”

“The very beginning,” Ashley quickly answered.

“Hmm... That was quite a long time ago,” Ethan replied with a smirk.

“When you fought with Vladimir, he said you were the one who killed his family,” Ashley said. “That was seventy thousand years ago, right? It means you were alive long before Richard was born. How long exactly are we talking here? Even Richard says he doesn’t know how old you are.”

“In the supernatural community, it is common knowledge that a dark creature’s power is in direct proportion to their age. I see. So you wish to ascertain how powerful I truly am.”

“No... I...”

The thought didn’t even cross Ashley’s mind. In Ethan’s eyes, everyone was an enemy looking for ways to defeat him, she thought.

“It’s quite alright, little mermaid,” Ethan said with a grin. “The most efficient way of ensuring victory over your enemy is by knowing them.”

He looked out the window and said, “If I’m to start from the beginning then mentioning my parents would be critical.”

“I know that Magnus Thane was your father but Richard never said anything about who your mother was.”

“That’s because he has no idea who she was. My mother lived in a time long before Richard was born. Her name was Marina Thalassa. And concerning how old I am-- let’s just say that the realms have been cursed by my existence for exactly one hundred fifteen thousand seven hundred seventy-three years.”

...

Talk about respecting your elders.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don’t forget to leave a comment and heart :-)

LOTDC INFO:

The power of dark creatures increases as they age. But ′age′ might not be the right word. Dark creatures are immortal and never age so the right way to put it is the more time they spend in the darkness the stronger they get. However, as we saw with Vladimir, dark creatures eventually begin to lose themselves to the darkness. This is why older dark creatures are considered terrifying and deadly. But as we will continuously see, being an old dark creature doesn’t necessarily guarantee omnipotence.