Cross the Seven Seas for You
Chapter XIV: Revelations
Alfred's hair stood up on his neck and back. Sheer terror was taking the best of him, as his legs started shaking, as well as the rest of his body. That voice, he could've recognized it anywhere, for it belonged to a man whom nearly killed both him and Matthew. Ivan Braginski. He was there, in that same room, probably sitting on his small throne he had made for himself, dressed in those light brown clothes and that eternal beige scarf around his neck. His dark purple eyes and pale blonde hair haunted Alfred's mind since he had thrown them to sea in a small boat, all beaten up and near death.
His brother was just as shocked and petrified. He didn't care about the blood that was slowly flowing from his nose due to the slap he received from Chikachev, one of the Russian guards.
Even though it was pitch black in there, Alfred heard the movement of someone tall standing up and walking down a small set of stairs to finally walk towards two horrified captives.
-Well, well, it looks like the two precious street urchins I used to know grew up… what a shame. It is less fun messing with someone when they're older, don't you think so, Al'fred?
Alfred wanted to sink into the floor at that very moment. The way his name was said, in the voice of a pure murderer, would just paralyze him completely to the point he could hardly breathe. A strong wave of heat invaded him on the inside, nevertheless making him feel as if he were sweating, which he actually was doing now.
He got forced back to Earth by a forceful tone.
-Are you even listening to me, you ungrateful brat?
He was going to answer back, but Ivan just made him freeze once more. It shocked him that he himself, Alfred Frederick Williams Jones, was being so intimidated. Normally, he'd always make his enemies tremble back on the Lady of Atlantis…
Ivan Braginski realized his "precious street urchin" wasn't exactly cooperative, so he walked calmly back to his seat. But at that moment, Alfred finally decided to speak up aggressively, trying to hold back his trembling voice.
-What on earth did you do to Arthur, you scum? Where is he?
Ivan looked at him, head resting on his open hand, and let out a long, demonic laugh that nearly made Alfred and Matthew weep.
-You have always amused me, Al'fred. Artur isn't here.
Those four words seemed to slam Alfred on his chest.
-You… you're lying! You killed him, didn't you? Speak up, already!
Ivan's frozen glare hit him deep inside his soul, and he silenced. Nevertheless, Alfred felt a furious fire burn in him.
-I am not a liar, Al'fred. Artur is not here.
-As if I'd buy that! "Not a liar", please! You already lied to me and my brother, and made our lives a living Hell! Don't you tell me that you're as pure as Holy water!
-When I say that your pathetic little friend isn't here, I mean it. And thank goodness for him, because otherwise he would be long dead, after the beating I would give him…
Ivan saw a tightly clenched fist inching closer at a fast pace towards his face, until it stopped. It was Alfred's, who just got caught by the four Russian men right before managing to hit Braginski. He got thrown to the floor and tied up, hands behind his back. Ivan looked a bit shocked, but calmed down as his guards forced Alfred back up, pushing him around.
-I see you grew close with that idiot. You do not know how much it crumbles my little heart to pieces…
He precised his words by clenching his hands on his chest, as if he were feeling intense pain.
-Pfff. You don't even have a heart, Ivan, scoffed Alfred, with a sly smile at his lips, what the hell are we doing here, anyway? And how the hell did you know where we were?
Ivan's face immediately became eviler, and he indicated to his men to get out of the room, which they did after tying Matthew up. He then walked back and forth, hands behind his back.
-Before I tell you anything, know this. Arthur Kirkland's father, when I was a youngster, killed my father in a sword battle. After that pathetic oldie returned victorious to the Queen, me and the rest of the crew were taken prisoners and sent to one of the most hostile prisons in all of Russia, under the order of Tsar Ivan the Fourth. That stupid fool thought that his son, the current ruler of Rossiya, would follow his father's wish and keep me chained to the day I die. You see, Tsar Feodor has been very close to me ever since I was born, and he swore to me that he would free me. And so he did, replacing me with a boy he has had killed that looked strangely like me. All of Russia thinking I died, he released me, and I promised him that, one day, what he couldn't obtain, I would obtain it for him. And that thing he desired was your tea-sucking little island.
-You really are a bastard, you know…
-Sorry, I haven't finished yet, Al'fred. Where was I? Oh, yes. And so, after secretly equipping me with loyal men and a ship, he sent me to sea, with a mission: to conquer England. But I also had another plan: to avenge my father. He was a good man, not like what others thought of him… and to do that, I wanted to kill your stupid little fuzzy-browed friend. Before being taken prisoner, I swore to him upon my soul that I shall kill the person he loved the most with this very sword, just like his father John did: straight in the heart. Do you get what I mean?
Alfred frowned. Arthur never told him he had a girl on his mind… I mean, seriously, him, of all possible men?
-You sound like one of those bloodthirsty fools that just end up killing themselves. And what do we have to do in all of this?
Ivan smiled at him, making Alfred shiver. That smile didn't demonstrate anything good.
-You are rather impatient, my friend. I had no intention of making you participate in this plan. You two just swooped in without warning.
-We swooped in? What the hell do you mean by that?
-You see, I sent a few of my acolytes to follow Kirkland, after he decided to form his own crew.
Alfred's utterly confused face paled. There were spies in their midst on the Lady of Atlantis?
-You're lying like a rug, Ivan, muttered out Matthew, finally capable of speaking after calming down.
-That is what you think. And guess who was with you since the day you mysteriously arrived?
The brothers looked at each other, not understanding anything. Was it Yao? Peter?
-Carlson and Sanders, they said in unison.
-I see you're not as stupid as I thought you were.
Alfred and Matthew nearly fell backwards. Their two good friends, Brendon Carlson and Jack Sanders, were spies? Russian spies?
-Wait one darn minute, Ivan; if they're not English, then what are their real names?
Braginski looked at Alfred with an amused glare.
-No one you know or heard of.
-Fine. But we still have no stupid clue what do you want from us.
-That's the simplest thing I will ever answer: you simply served as two small objects to catch Artur's attention.
Alfred's eyes narrowed.
-I don't quite get you there, Vanny…
-Oh, come now, Al'fred, don't tell me you hadn't noticed how much that idiot got attached to you and your brother? I just wanted to play with his narrow mind, that's all. Plus, now that I have both of you, thanks to my little friend, killing that fuzzy-brow will be easier than ever.
-Your little friend? You don't mean… Terence?
-Of course he means me, you faggot.
Alfred turned his head to where the voice came from. And, walking out of the shadows, was Terence Kirkland, with a look as evil as Ivan's.
-Terry… you do know you're betraying England?
-England, schmingland, chap! As long as that woman of yours will be queen, there's no way I'll fight on the English side. And I mean no way.
-But… but Terry! Your brother is going to get killed!
-My brother? So what? He was a little wretch the second he was born. And I could never care less if he'd be dead, sonny. In fact, Alfie, I'd actually feel de~lighted!
-But… but… you lost your mind, Terry? You're deliberately cooperating with a murderer!
-Enough, you two, cut in Ivan, growing impatient over their conversation, Terence, thank you for showing up, now leave them to me, da?
-Da, da, replied a vexed Irish, walking out of the room and closing the door after him. Ivan, satisfied, turned to the two brothers.
-Well then, now that you know just about everything you are allowed to know, I guess I have no choice but to execute the next stage of my plan. Chikachev!
The robust guard immediately showed up, with a grin worthy of a devil.
-Yes, chief?
Alfred noticed a quick understanding glare between the two Russian men.
-You know what to do, don't you, Chikachev?
-Da.
-W-What are you planning, Ivan? risked Matthew, whom sensed that something far from good was on its way.
-You see, my dear little Matvei, I only need your brother for the rest of my plan. You, you're only a useless and risky little thing to keep. I know you, and you're not as dumb as you appear; if you ever escape, it would be the end for me. Therefore, I have no other choice than to end your pathetic little life miserably. You already know too much.
-Over my dead body, Ivan!
But Alfred didn't have a chance to protect his brother from the humongous brute that got hold of the shivering Matthew, dragging him out through the door in such a careless way the frightened purple-eyed man was being shook like a useless rag doll.
-Come on, Mattie, fight back! For God's sake, beat him or something! MATTIE!
The heavy doors shut loudly behind them.
Notes:
Sorry for the late update, I'll try to make it up…
So we finally see Ivan… DUNDUNDUN!
And Terry? A traitor?
*yawns* I miss the action… this chapter, to me, just seems plain and dull. (T o T)
Well then, chapter 15 is on its way!