Dave gets ambushed in the bathroom by Drake and Horvath. The story branches off from there.
Prologue – Balthazar's Last Fight
This is how it happened
I'm up against the bathroom wall. Horvath stands there, towering over me, barely breaking a sweat. There's a smile on his face and a look in his eyes that sends shivers down my spine.
His assistant, that magician Drake stands by him.
Then Balthazar is there.
They are fighting.
Drake is down.
Horvath slams Balthazar away and one his gloved hand touches the mirror surface. The mirror ripples.
Balthazar fights but only for a few moments.
He is trapped. Horvath laughs, victorious.
He walks to me and kicks me straight in the face. My nose cracks. My neck creaks as my my head hits the wall. Horvath has his foot logded in my neck. He applies pressure, "The only one who can save you from that trap...is...right...here".
With the last three words, he presses down on my throat, increasing pressure, "I should kill him, of course"
I can't breathe.
Balthazar is screaming. Suddenly Horvath eases up the pressure and lifts his foot off my throat. He walks over to the mirror. Balthazar and Horvath are talking. I'm barely conscious.
"...I always wondered why Morgana had those sex slaves around..."
"...then there's no need for him to die, Horvath, please listen..."
"...No...look at him...he's all flesh and bones...he'll never survive...waste of my time..."
"...it's what you've always wanted...a pr..."
I black out. I remember Drake's whiny voice complaining. I remember large hands lifting me up and carrying me with way too much ease. I remember feeling safe in those arms. I had no idea how wrong I was.