The fact that Iris had lunged for him and the gun had taken Ethan by surprise, he couldn’t have imagined she would go so far like that. Protecting the monarchy by doing so, gripping the gun tightly as they fumbled with it, battling to win out as they fought over the gun. A part of him didn’t want to hurt her, deep down he had cared for her. There had been something there regardless on if he wanted to admit it or not, moments ago he had debated shooting her for standing in front of the Prince protecting him. A part of him knew he would have pulled the trigger, his mind had twisted with the war and the rebels, her father had been a somewhat bad influence with it all.
As they fumbled, he found himself getting angrier, the part of him who didn’t want to hurt her pushed aside as he felt her nails scrape away the skin of his hand in an attempt to grab the weapon. Hissing he tried to push her away, feeling blood blossom from his scratches his eyes flared with rage, growls emitting from his mouth as each moment passed, he sounded less human.
BANG.
It was as if time slowed down as the sound of the gun firing once more filled the air. Struggles from both Ethan and Iris stopped as they looked at each, horror struck faces as they weren’t sure if either one had been shot from the struggles of the gun. Although whatever emotions or adrenaline that had spurred the pair on seemed to have worn off and Ethan went white, blood blossomed his thigh as whatever bullet had been fired had grazed him. Nothing fatal, it looked like a bad scratch, but none the less he had been shot and it had been her fault.
Within minutes Ethan had registered that she had shot him, that it was her fault he now felt a pain on his thigh from the bullet. “I. Can’t. Believe. You.” Each word left his mouth cold, the words dripping with venom. Anger flowed through him as he lurched forward at Iris pushing her down to the ground with force as his fingers locked around her throat.
The sound of her head hitting against the floor made her cringe, tears formed in her eyes as she was unable to push off Ethan who had pinned her to the floor. For a brief moment she wondered if this was how she was going to die, in the road where no one would care, her body would be left, and no doubt rotted by the time someone would stumble upon her. Is this really it? Though before she could even think morbid thoughts the hand around her throat suffocating her brought her to reality, fingers tightening around her windpipe as each breath became a struggle. “E-Ethan…” Barely choking out her words as she began to thrash, though flailing limbs were met with his firm body that held her in place in some sort of vice like grip.
The idea of being able to overpower him had been silly, not a well thought out plan on her behalf because if she had even managed to wrangle the gun from him, he could have easily taken it back. Plus, would she have had the heart to pull the trigger? Even in self-defence? Already she could feel the pounding her head from the impact of the cold floor, dizziness washing over her from the lack of oxygen, but she tried to fight. Tried to push against Ethan who was not letting up. “..P-P.. le.. ease.” Managing to choke out as her hands gripped at his arm in some sort of bid to pull his strong grip around her neck. Though as the time passed colour was draining from her, it almost looked as if she was turning grey from the lack of oxygen to her body and only then did she feel his hand drop. Panting on the floor she was unable to regain herself so quickly, there was no way she could fight right now not anymore. Though she could still feel it, the hand that had been around her neck moments before draining her life. The feeling still remained, and she touched her neck wincing at the pain from the simple touch.
“Just know Iris, I could have killed you just then. I can’t believe you shot me.” Although she had directly pulled the trigger, the fumble she had caused for the gun had wounded him and it had sent him into a frenzy. Had Ethan not seen the colour drain from her he probably would have killed her, shooting a glance towards Thomas at the Prince he growled as he raised the gun once more towards Iris whilst looking Cas in the eye, “Now. Are you going to come quietly? I have one bullet left and I’d happily shoot it at her, or you if you'd prefer. Get in the car.” Hissing his last words as he nodded his head towards the vehicle waiting for Cas to get inside before he would drag Iris in with him.