"I'll kill her." Mari said with an alarming conviction. "I'll hunt her down myself and end that miserable woman's life."
"Mari, don't say hasty things like that." Yuuri said in a soothing tone, putting his hand on her shoulder. She shook her head with a grimace.
"I'm so tired of this… Of people thinking they can take advantage of us without consequence."
"Even so, she's far too strong for you to take on. If you think about it, without her, I wouldn't be here right now." As Yuuri said this, Mari's grimace deepened. Of course she knew that, but as if she could ever think of that woman as anything but an enemy. Not when she now knew that woman was responsible for turning her brother into an assassin, and a pawn-like servant.
"Revenge should come at a later date," Viktor spoke now, and Mari looked up to the prince to see him laying out empty scrolls of paper and quills on the table in front of them. "After the two of you are safe, preferably."
Reluctantly, she nodded, reaching up to grip her brother's hand. To think, in the irony of it all, she would be calling the prince an ally in her mind. So many things had happened in the course of a few hours since she last spoke to Minako. Enemies one day, friends the next perhaps. Was this what Minako had foresaw when she bade Mari to seek alliance with the prince? No, surely not; surely neither of them could have predicted any of this, much less Yuuri returning from the dead. But who would she be right now to hold on to her reservations about Viktor right now? Even if it was foolish, Mari made up her mind; she would trust him.
"I'm no master of plans, let alone of the escape variety, so I was hoping you might be able to provide us with some insight over my idea. If that's alright with you." He added the last part hastily, and Mari realized he was still treading on egg shells around her. But he had every reason to. She nodded and sat up, glancing towards Yuuri briefly before reaching towards the parchment and quills in front of her.
"The tunnels down here… where do they lead out to?" Mari asked. "How many people know that I'm here? And who knows about…" She trailed off, and Yuuri cleared his throat.
"A few maidservants and one of my trusted knights know about your presence here. So far, no one knows about Yuuri, aside from a single knight."
"I see… so all we really need to do is leave this wretched excuse of a castle. No offense."
"None taken." Viktor said with a small laugh. He began to tell her of the castle's hidden passageways, used especially for escaping sieges or possible hostage situations. They were much smaller than the hallways Mari had traveled in on her way to this room, but several of them ran underneath city, extending nearly as far as the city's gates. Because they were mostly unknown of, save by the royal family, patrols were not especially prudent in those areas; they were pretty average.
"If all that's truly needed is an escape route and a time, why did you call upon me?" Mari asked. Viktor looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"I'm not sure I understand…?" He said, his tone leading into a question.
"You don't need me for an escape plan as simple as this." Mari pressed on. "You of all people should know your knight's rotations, let alone with one of them on your side. Why call upon me?"
Viktor's expression shifted now to complete bewilderment.
"With all due respect… You're Yuuri's sister. How could I not let you know what's going on?"
Oh.
She couldn't help the bemused chuckle she let out, more in disappointment in herself than surprise at the prince.
"My apologies, your highness. I don't… give you enough credit." Could anyone blame her, though? Nobility acting out of the kindness of their heart… it was an experience wholly unfamiliar to her. "Why don't we go over possible escape routes once more, then?"
"The closest exit to us that leads outside," Viktor said. "Is within the castle's dungeons."
Yuuri and Mari were both silent, having shared a mutual look at their reluctance to ever venture down to that place before.
"When this castle was built, it was anticipated that if our family was ever held hostage, we would be put into our own dungeons as some form of mental punishment. That escape route was made to ensure that the royal family would be able to flee the city if the need ever arose."
"What should I do once I leave the city?" Yuuri asked, and Mari clasped her hands, looking down at them.
"In order to not arouse suspicion, I have to return to my post as soon as possible, but rest assured I will see you to safety little brother. But right now, my biggest concern is finding you a safe place to stay, but you can't stay in this terrible city. It's too dangerous."
She bowed her head in thought, thinking of her connections. Minako was out of the question, and as much as she wanted to bring Yuuri home to their parents, him staying in the city was far too dangerous. Could she find some place safe and secluded for him? It was too uncertain, but did they have a long enough window of opportunity to wait for an idea to come up? The longer Yuuri stayed in this castle unprotected, the sooner he would be discovered.
"I might—" An unexpected voice chimed in, and Mari turned around to find that the guard who had escorted her in began talking. His helm was removed now, held under his arm to reveal short shoulder-length blonde hair. Once all the attention of the room turned towards him, he looked away in feigned apathy.
"My family lives out on the countryside a few miles from here. He might be able to lay low there." The guard said flippantly.
"Yurochka," Viktor started. "You realize you don't need to help us, right?"
"I'm already in this too deep." The guard, Yurochka, said. "I'm sure you've all realized that the longer he stays here, the more likely he is to be caught. And when that happens… I'll surely be implicated. I'm doing this to help myself out first."
"I see… that's kind of you. Thank you." Mari said genuinely, and the young man huffed but bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement.
"Really, we can't thank you enough." Yuuri followed, and to this the knight scoffed.
"Like I said." Yurochka put his helm back on, leaning against the doorframe. "This is about me, not you. I'm not helping you. But you're welcome either way."
Mari saw Yuuri smile, and couldn't help but to mirror this expression
"I need to send a letter to my family and let them know what's going on." Yurochka continued eventually.
"Are you sure they'll be alright with all of this?" Viktor asked, his face still unsure of Yurochka's conviction. The young knight nodded once, turning their direction.
"I'll tell them he's a friend of mine. I'm sure they won't mind. My little sister, at least, will appreciate the company.
"So we'll give it a week's time." Viktor nodded, hand to his chin. "In the meantime, I think we all should have a well-deserved rest. Lady Katsuki, I can send another messenger for you once the time has come. With all due respect, my father doesn't know that you're here, and I'd rather it stay that way."
"No, I understand." Mari said with a shiver. "And no more of that formal nonsense. You can call me Mari."
The prince laughed and waved his hand.
"Well, if you insist. But then you have to call me Viktor as well."
"N… No, no way. You're the prince." She insisted.
"Then I guess we're at a standstill." He smiled and shrugged his shoulders, to which Mari let out an exasperated sigh.
"But my point still stands; we must rest before doing this. Even if it seems simple at first glance…"
"…Luck has never been on our side." Yuuri murmured. Mari's demeanor quickly turned dour as she realized the truth in that statement.
"I can prepare food for the upcoming journey, but please, allow Yurochka to escort you out."
"Of course. And one more thing, your high—… Viktor."
Viktor raised an eyebrow as he waited for Mari to speak.
"Thank you. Know this; before I had many doubts about you—I was sure you were a dangerous man who would rather see my downfall than help me. I wasn't sure what others saw in you, like my brother for instance."
"Wow, ouch." Viktor winced, and Yuuri pulled a face at his sister.
"But." She reached up, grabbing her brother's hand and quieting his worried expression. "I see now that I was mistaken about you. While you seem like a flamboyant and eccentric man, you're still trustworthy. I can see why god deigned for your mark to match my brothers; you're not a bad man. I want to apologize for my sternness up until now."
"Thank you, Mari. It means a lot to me that we can finally be friends." He said with a smile, one that felt genuine.
Mari looked to Yuuri, tears frosting her eyes for a bit, before going to hug him.
"I'm going to miss you, little brother." She said.
"It'll only be a week." He replied, hugging her back tightly.
"Yes, but it feels like you've been gone for an eternity. I'm just so glad you're safe and sound." She said, sighing once before letting him go. "After this is all over, you're going to let me spoil you a little, okay?"
Yuuri laughed shaking his head playfully.
"I'm not a little kid anymore."
"I know."
"I'll be fine for one more week." He said, and Mari nodded once more.
"I know."
It was a few more moments before Mari told herself she needed to report back in with her Manor Lord. Tomorrow, she told herself as she was escorted out, she would wake up to her normal routine. Nothing will seem different. Perhaps days shall pass, even a week and she'll find that this was nothing but one of her self-indulgent dreams. It would be cruel, but it would explain her weak mind. But perhaps, she'll wake up to find that…
…All of this was reality. It was her reality, it was happening, and she had to do something with it.
"Am I a bother to you, Minako?"
Six days had passed, leaving only one evening of respite before it all finally happened. The church had just been emptied of mass, leaving only Minako and a handful of priests and priestesses milling about, save for Mari of course. Aside from the fact that she was known by many to be an acquaintance of Minako's she was a knight at that, making people to wary to approach her and ask her to leave. Minako, mug of water in hand, sat down next to Mari.
"Of course not, child. Here, drink. Something is on your mind." Minako handed the mug over to Mari, who took it gratefully as she leaned back and looked up to the ceiling.
"When isn't there something on my mind?" She asked, not expecting an answer. Minako hummed in response, leaning into the pew before speaking again.
"I have not seen you since we last spoke about the prince. I take it he didn't execute you?"
"No, no he didn't." Mari said with a dry laugh. "You were right, Minako."
The latter arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, I can readily admit that you were right all along. Your wisdom is impervious."
"Well I wouldn't quite say that, but if you insist." Minako put a hand over her mouth as she laughed. "But I'm glad nonetheless that your meeting went well."
"It did. Tomorrow I will return to the castle speak once more to speak with him."
"Is this is a good thing?" Minako asked, to which Mari nodded. "Then why do you not look the part? You seem glum. What's on your mind, child."
"Minako… I," Mari hesitated. So badly… so badly she wanted to tell Minako everything—the woman had been like family to she and Yuuri since they were children. She deserved to know just as much as the next person. But would telling her implicate her in something larger than the both of them?
"It's best you stay out of this, for now. But soon we'll get our happy ending."
Minako sighed deeply, simply looking down at Mari as the younger lady avoided her eyes.
"I know that in time you'll come to me when you're ready." She laid a gentle hand on Mari shoulder before standing. "Know that I'll always be a shoulder and an ear. I know you'll do great things, Mari."
Mari sighed as the former began to walk away and attend to her duties.
"I hope so."
Yuuri tugged at the straps of his cloak nervously, pulling it closer to his form as he let out a deep breath. In an instant, Viktor was there with his hands over Yuuri's comfortingly.
"Are you nervous?" Viktor asked, to which Yuuri nodded. They had yet to leave Viktor's room so far, waiting for the knight named Yurochka to come back and report that Mari was here and waiting for them. It was night time, the best time to leave under the cover of darkness, but still Yuuri could not help his anxiety. No one knew of his whereabouts, let alone that he was still within the castle, yet he could not help his paranoia.
"We'll see each other real soon." Viktor continued, and Yuuri nodded once more as he leaned forward and placed his forehead against Viktor's chest. The latter adjusted so that he could wrap his arms around Yuuri's shoulders as he placed his chin on top of his head. For a long time, the two of them simply stood there in silence, content in merely enjoying each other's presence. Then the bell came. The bell rung and Viktor paused as he listened for Yurochka's knock—three times, a pause, and then a fourth one to signify that it was indeed him. Viktor broke from Yuuri with a small kiss to the top of his forehead before cracking the door open to see Yurochka.
"Lady Katsuki waits, and your father is asleep." Yurochka said in a low tone. Viktor nodded, gesturing for Yuuri to follow as the knight lit a candle and began to lead the two of them down to the basement. Viktor had seldom been down to these floors—the week prior had been his first time in who knows how long. He wasn't even sure how often his father used these tunnels, let alone the dungeons that they were about to head to.
Once they got to the dungeon doors, Viktor stopped as Yurochka fished out the keys. He noticed absentmindedly that Yuuri had grabbed hold of his hand, clenching it tightly though he looked on with an tempered stare. He could only imagine the trauma that took place beyond those doors, and a pang of anger and deep regret flash through as he saw how strong Yuuri was to mask his emotions so well. But there was vulnerability in that strength, and Viktor could do nothing for the grudge and resentment he felt for Yuuri's captors—himself, in ignorance, and his father, willfully.
"Watch the step." Yurochka said as he held the door open. Yuuri gave Viktor's hand one final squeeze before stepped forward first, much to the latter's surprise. But still, he followed diligently, with Yurochka holding up the flank. The stairs smelled damp and it was as dark as Viktor pictured this area of the castle to be, but luckily they did not have to linger near the cells for too long.
"Here, let me lead." Yurochka said with a hint of impatience as he moved forward with his candle raised. The dungeons were empty; reserved mostly for criminals who Viktor's father deemed "reprehensible, vile, or too dangerous to be held in normal lock up." Past the main wall of cells was an area for the warden or main knights on watch to rest. They went into that room, and waiting there with a candle in hand was Mari.
"Yuuri!" She set down the candle on a nearby table and ran over to hug her brother with the same fervor as a week ago.
"Mari, I missed you too." Yuuri said as he hugged his sister back.
"We need to hurry," Yurochka said offhandedly once they parted. Yuuri shared a look with his sister as she nodded and stepped back for Yurochka. Careful, so as not to make too much noise, he lifted the table back and slide back the rug underneath it. There laid a trapdoor.
"This is as far as I can take you." Yurochka said, gesturing to the abyss-like darkness of the door. "I have expected duties, and the king has not been lax with our work since your little stunt. The path from here is straightforward; don't make any turns and you'll be fine."
"Thank you, Yurochka, for everything." Yuuri said with a light bow. Yurochka made a noise like a scoff as he shook his head and turned.
"Don't thank me." He said, and then proceeded to wave towards the trapdoor once more. Yuuri smiled, nodding as he began to descend to the ground below. Mari followed carefully as she held a candle in her hand, and Yurochka immediately closed the entrance behind them. Pinpricks of candlelight shone through the door's edges until the rug, followed by the table, covered it once more.
"Straight forward he said." Mari mumbled as she looked past Yuuri to the dark hallway before them, with no visible end in sight.
"Straight forward." Yuuri repeated as he began to walk. The corridor was dark and smelled faintly of mold and rat droppings, so Yuuri used that as his excuse to make little conversation. In truth, however, it was his surmounting anxiety and premonition that kept him taciturn. It seemed he was not alone in this; while his sister was never the loquacious type, she was oddly quiet as well. Here and there she would make remarks about people from his past—a familiar sounding name, Minako, their parents whose faces he could not recall—but for every break in the conversation, there was minutes of silence.
The hall seemed to stretch on for several miles, and Yuuri was beginning to wonder if they'd somehow gotten lost. As Yurochka had told them, they'd made no turns, but was the city always this big? Finally, the seemingly endless tunnel was coming to an end. A wooden door, rotten and falling apart at the hinges was coming closer, and Yuuri jogged a bit to reach it.
"Is that the exit?" Mari asked with exhaustion clear in her voice. Yuuri didn't answer, instead trying the door.
"It's locked." He commented, but Mari scoffed as she stepped forward.
"Please, it's practically made of twigs." With one swift kick, the center of the door was in shambles on the door. Yuuri huffed and looked to his sister indignantly as she pulled her foot back, but with a little bit of humor.
"I was going to do that." He said.
"You faltered. Here, hold this baby brother." Mari passed the candle to him with a sly grin as she began to move away jagged edges of wood out of the doorframe until it was safe to slip through. Yuuri followed after her, eyes adjusting to the moonlight that shone through the broken windows and falling roof of the building they'd entered.
"An abandoned, nondescript shack." Mari noted, looking around and stepping up to what used to be a fireplace, but was now a soot-covered pile of bricks. "This is perfect. No one will be paying attention to this place."
"Where do we go from here?" Yuuri asked, and Mari nodded as she reached into her cloak and drew a piece of parchment. As she opened it, he saw that it was a crudely drawn map, obviously of parts of the city and the countryside.
"From here, we keep walking. We need to find a way past the city walls, but once we do that there should be nothing to worry about."
Click, Clack, Click, Clack…
Yuuri turned in unison with his sister, hand at his hip as he heard a tapping noise from far within the hallway they'd just come from. It was too loud to be a mouse and immediately he saw the faint glow of a candle, too far and too bright to make it out. Was it Yurochka come to help them, somehow? No, this person had come too suddenly and too close, as if from one of the hallway's many branches and turns. Finally they came into view, between the pieces of broken wood, lit in the candlelight of their hand was the face of a woman.
Specifically, a woman named Lilia.
"You!" Yuuri drew the sword from his hip, immediately channeling dark energies to fill with aether. His throat ran dry and his hands held a slight tremor, but he tried to keep his calm. He should have known she would come for him eventually. Behind him, he could hear Mari suck in a breath as she backed away; she had no weapon with her, but Yuuri still found safety in numbers.
"It all makes sense now." She stepped forward, out of the doorway and into the house, and Yuuri stepped back, keeping ample distance for swordplay. She set the candle in her hand down on a dusty table, seemingly paying Yuuri no mind as she brandished her familiar rapier in her other hand.
"What makes sense?" Yuuri heard Mari ask, and he cursed silently that his sister was walking into that woman's mind games.
"Everything has become crystal clear." She smiled now, a rueful thing, directed at Mari. "I got the wrong witch. I jumped to conclusions, which is my mistake. I trusted the king's word as he announced it, that a heinous and powerful magic user was being put to death. But the poor painter boy was put to death for falling in love. Tragic, it truly is, but this saddening love tale does not help me."
"Mari, pay her no mind!" Yuuri said, holding his sword with conviction. "Leave us be! How did you even find me?"
"Brazen fool! Whose magic do you think is running through your soul? Don't forget who your maker is. You are a walking waste. I had so much trouble resurrecting you—your soul refused to take once again to your lifeless corpse. I poured so much of my magic into your rebirth, only to have it squandered in an empty vessel! I shall take back the magic that is right fully mine,"
She pointed her sword forward—not at Yuuri, but at Mari.
"And I shall have the obedient servant I trained for."
"Don't get cocky. You're outnumbered here, or can you not count." Yuuri spat.
"Ha! You amuse me. Tell me, did you forget who your master is?" With her hand held up to her side, she began to clench her fist, and Yuuri realized too late what she was doing. Like a noose around his neck, his scar began to burn and constrict him in a pain that felt carved right down to his very sword. He nearly dropped to the floor had he not used his sword as a brace, clutching his neck in agony.
"Yuuri!" His sister was at his side, a hand to his back as she tried to help him.
"I'll kill you, you dirty witch." Mari said through gritted teeth. Yuuri tried to tell her to run, that Lilia was stronger than she seemed, but no words could escape his throat. All of his effort had to go to pushing down the pain. Mari gasped as Yuuri used every ounce effort towards standing up straight, sword held precariously. All the magic quickly left his blade, and he used what little power he had to bolster his will, holding up the steel sword in defiance.
"You… are outnumbered." He choked out, and Lilia laughed, shaking her head.
"No, child. You are outnumbered."
There was a sound behind them, from within the house—like wood breaking apart, and then a deafening creak. Yuuri turned towards the sound in shock. A door was opening, and a set of heavy clanging footsteps were entering the house.
A single lone knight stood, bearing his sword in a defensive stance. Had it not been for his stature, Yuuri might not have recognized him.
"Yurochka?!" Mari asked in shock, and indeed the knight responded to his name with a flinch.
"You… No." Realization began to dawn him; the boy's sword was not turned against Lilia. But against him.
"Why?" He asked as Yurochka stepped forward.
"I told you, I wasn't in this to help you. I have to help myself first. I have to help my family first." He responded, trying and failing to hold a tone of resolve.
"We trusted you… How long? How long have you been deceiving Viktor and us?" Yuuri asked, to which Yurochka shook his head.
"I genuinely wanted to help him. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. Blame that witch. She tracked you and found out you were hiding and playing house with Viktor and came to me for answers, once she found out I was the one knight in on his little secret. I never wanted for something like this to happen, but I have to protect my family."
"Have you learned nothing? Never turn your back on an enemy!"
Yuuri gasped as searing pain shot across his back in a line, a hot blood burned his skin like fire. He fell to the floor, magic already spent from resisting Lilia as he began to bleed, and his sister followed in shock, trying to clutch his soaking wound.
"Enough with the chatter." Lilia clenched her fist, and Yuuri crumpled against the weight in pain, blackness creeping at the edges of his vision. "I haven't the time for this pettiness."
"Comrades!" Yurochka raised his voice. "I found the intruders in here."
"No you don't, you bastard!" Mari bolted away from Yuuri's side, intent on tackling Yurochka, but his reflexes were quick, for more honed as he'd been a trained knight for much longer. Before she managed to get her hands on him, he landed a kick to her midsection and she fell back, falling to the floor next to Yuuri.
"M-Mari! How dare you." Yuuri tried once more to get to his feet, and Yurochka stepped back in shock. But before he could continue, the sound of multiple footsteps began to fill the house.
"On your guard, men." One of the knights shouted, spears raised. Suddenly, the weight of that coiling pain around his neck was lifted, and he looked up only to see that Lilia had disappeared back into the entrance. Knight began to surround him and his sister, lifting them up roughly beneath their arms. His wound ached and he grew weaker as more blood spilled, but now he could concentrate his magic towards the slash in his back.
"Any sudden movements and I'll gut you like the pig you… wait a second." One of the knights shoving Yuuri forward stopped briefly, pushing roughly before taking a sharp inhale. "By god… You're the executed witch…"
Yuuri glared daggers up at Yurochka as a few of the other knights stopped to get a look at his face in confirmation. Yurochka cleared his throat.
"That matters not. Simply bind them and get them into the carriage, we don't have all night here."
"Yessir." The knights said obediently.
"At least last time you gave me the farce of telling me what charges I was captured under. Not this time?" Yuuri asked sarcastically, and earned a slap across the face. The gauntlet of the hand that hit him left a nasty cut from his cheek to his nose, but he ignored it, staring on impassively as they forced him and his sister into the back of a prisoner carriage.
Silently, with the moon and his sister as witness to this grave injustice, done not just once, but twice, he waited as the carriage took off. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be executed twice, because surely no other fate awaited him.