I swear this chapter murdered me. This is where I got lost in my own plot. I know I will end up not enjoying the outcome but bare with me, things will pick up again soon.
Disclaimer: Nothing.
-Chapter 8 – Captured-
As it tumbled into the wicker, soaking the woven strands with her crimson essence said to be vile and repulsive, a whore to the willing men of Moscow, the crowd cheered and Boris smiled.
That leer remained etched on his face while his companions shuddered and left the scene. Another victim was being prepared and feminine wails rang in their ears. It was the day's long ritual. At the end of every month, the prisoners captured over the thirty-day period and condemned to death were slaughtered like animals for the crowds to enjoy, in a true barbaric fashion.
Rei felt even more disgusted by the vile city and how the emperor had chose to reign over the people. Back home, things were much different. They did not live in a false democracy nor were they slaves to communism. Alas, he knew that the world could never be as free as he once lived. Moscow was in dire need of real order but with the king, still breathing such a task of starting over seemed impossible to most and out of grasp.
He would achieve that peace and he swore it on his father's grave to either succeed or be buried in the corrupt soil along side his family and their premature tombs.
By midday, they browsed through the cold streets, casually stopping at different vendors all riddling the paths. In the market, where the roads seemed the busiest, they began discussing a plan of action.
''We need to infiltrate the castle before we act hastily. Right now, we are blind to the situation and barging in there, without knowledge would do us no good.'' Yuriy addressed the Chinese in his stern voice, spoken in a low whisper as glimmers of wisdom flashed behind his blue eyes, despite the good-natured expression on his face.
The shop kept them under a cautious stare and especially the tanned hands. They would have to be cautious.
Amber depths blinked at the sudden serious tone and contrary countenance. He quickly understood as he spared a glance at the scrutinizing glance focused solely on his stature and fingered limbs. A nod indicated his agreement and before they would arise more suspicion, they left the stand.
No one trusted a foreigner, nor their grubby fingers.
''How are we to gather information?'' Boris asked, walking last of the three from their row.
''We need someone on the inside. That's really the only way. I doubt anyone outside those brick walls would know the guards schedules or in which room exactly the Emperor sleeps.'' The fake aristocrat proposed, glancing back at his followers over his shoulder as they tagged on behind him.
Rei observed the crowds while they trudged through the slushy pathways. They were getting nowhere fast. All their thoughts left them no more advanced and only led them to one situation, their current state of mere proposals. It was indeed wise to think before committing an action towards the development of their goal but simple hypotheses would not suffice, not anymore.
He was torn from his reverie as another uproar shook the townspeople. Another large gathering formed around harsh yells and clattering hooves. Officers approached and pushed through the masses. People scattered when the higher-ranking commanders joined their peers. He understood but one word amid the ruckus.
''Thief!'' A woman shrieked, outstretching her arm and pointing it towards an individual.
It was a young boy, as white faced as them all, no older then a decade. In his hand, he clutched a fruit, half bitten into before it fell to the ground as his jacket hoisted him up by a policeman atop his horse. He youngling received a blow across his cheek as he struggled and was seated upon the saddle.
The officers dismissed the people still lingering as bystanders. His associate rode away with the child of mauve hair and ruby eyes that burst into tears and slammed his little fists into the heavy outer layers of his captor. He plead with his fellow town folk but their heads turned away and one by one, they blocked out his wails until they faded from their ears.
Yuriy sighed and each of his allies knew why. His fists were clenched so whitely that his nails dug into the bare flesh and little droplets of blood dripped and stained the already filthy snow. The sight hit a sore spot next to his heart when the kid was hauled away and no one dared speak for him. It was all too familiar in his mind.
Rei placed his hand atop the trembling shoulder and was met with a saddened smile.
''Once the Emperor is dethroned, little children like that boy will not be forced to steal for survival.''
Mid nod, Rei blinked as an idea struck him, hard. It was almost too perfect…
Could it work?
''Do you both trust me?''
They looked at him perplexed by the sudden outburst, eyes carefully trying to decipher the look of urgency etched into the sun kissed features. Silver orbs narrowed while opposing blue ones seemed to agree, hesitantly.
''What are you planning?'' Unconvinced, Boris questioned his abrupt motive.
''All I ask, is that you both trust me like On once trusted you and that you wait here.'' Rei smiled reassuringly and turned his back to them, heading for the populace, shopping in the larger market just ahead.
The Russians exchanged looks, each as unsure as the other before they watched their imposed leader shove his way amongst the sellers and buyers. A long moment passed as he completely disappeared into the depths of shoppers. They now knew for certain, he was planning something… but what?
They waited an instance longer before following his trail, eyes sharply looking in every direction. The Chinese was fast on his feet, agile enough to gain quite the distance away from them as he as well searched around. He was looking for a guard though and when one came into sight, the onyx in his orbs slit down into thin black feline lines.
Then a commotion sounded again.
Booming noises startled everyone.
Boots clattered and people were shoved aside. Yuriy led the way in a beeline straight for the familiar baritone screaming from the peasants. That repetition, over and over, louder and louder rang through his ears and in that instance, as his jog came to an abrupt halt, everything fell into place.
''Thief!'' A man yelled.
Then, realization dawned on Boris as well. The shrouded scheme became as clear as the immaculate snow, melting into water puddles, disgusting and filthy, like everything around them.
Rei stood, sneering at the officer in question who dismounted from his horse and unsheathed his sword. He pointed the tip at his neck as his fellow peace keepers scrambled to grab the accused hands and bind them in rope. Violently, he was shoved to his knees as the audience cheered for his arresting.
He looked up to the many faces, jeering at his bronzed skin and caught sight of his allies, stunned, wide eyed and almost glaring at him. His smile was apologetic, though it soon disappeared, painfully. Then, a loud crack resonated in the stillness. He fell onto his side in the snow, a pool of blood dripping from his mouth. The commander had backhanded him and a roaring ovation again, drowned out the shocked gasps of but few.
''Get on that horse, maggot!''
From the rear of the beast, galloping away, Rei looked back but found neither countenance anymore and spit his crimson distaste onto the pristine flakes, brown from the hooves taking him away…away to the castle.
His leer broadened and slyly, his incisors poked out from his lower lip.
Silence enveloped the forest. As if in rhythm, hooves thud through the snow in a steady pace. His head swayed back and forth and the tip of his hair, swooped up in the gust, whipped in the air in front of him. He reached out, with his bound hands for the end, dragging the long mane back to him.
It was ironic that, back to back with the commander, all it would take was one shift move to wrap his hair around an unsuspecting neck and choke the life out of him. Surely, that would endanger him when the dead officer would fall off the horse, most likely bringing the beast down in the process.
His imagination pleased him though, the concept of murdering his captor with but his fine locks of ebony, deadly and beautiful. He was undoubtedly bored with the voyage to the great walls of the palace but patience would be his virtue. This process would be dragged out for perfection. Revenge was always sweeter, then bitter when the calculations worked out flawlessly, no matter the number or years of days, it would take.
Vengeance was like wine, better when aged.
Then, they arrived. Rei took in a sharp intake and bowed his head, exhaling slowly when they passed through the gates. The last step of his plan urged for commencing. He blinked, looking up at the brick walls and the guards that stood watch. It was as he envisioned it all to be, it was the beginning of the inevitable downfall.
''You have no right to treat me this way.'' He muttered, loud enough for his subjugator to hear.
''Shut up.'' Came the vicious retort.
The stallion then stopped on command and he was being pulled down. New hands tugged on his shoulders, another guard, tall and burly, masked with a thick helmet as blonde pieces of hair poked out. He struggled, for the first time and shot back another comment.
''I am not a slave, nor a thief.''
The men laughed at him, one standing before him, looking down with a repulsive sneer and the other, holding his arms back tightly but he refused to wiggle any longer. He stopped and met the face of dominance with a mysterious, daunting grin.
''I have an invitation into the country.''
The moment stopped. Was the child truthful in his declaration? The officer pondered the statement, hand resting on his chin. There was only one thing he could reply with to possessing such a noble guest pass.
''Prove it.'' He challenged.
Footsteps downed out the first syllables that dared pass Rei's lips. The faces of the guards paled tremendously and they swallowed hard. One after the other, they knelt and he was dragged down forcefully to his knees. Their heads bowed while his remained high. The steps stopped and silence eerie and haunting engulfed them.
A throat rumbled and a deep, stirring voice spoken up in words drenched so thickly with a baritone accent that the Russian words were lost to him.
''Da.(yes)'' Was the only thing he caught, and spoken from the guard.
His arms were let free and a knife, as razor sharp as his teeth sliced through the knotted rope.
''Stand.'' A single English order was barked from this new man, tall in height and aged to just before the elder years.
Rei stood. He was held under a gaze like no other, as deadly as the most vicious of men but as lethally calm and collected, like a leader, or an advisor. But this wasn't the king, most likely an underling, the snakes, cunning and manipulative. He turned to his hand, gesturing his slow motion down to his pocket. Then, his fingers tugged on the parchment neatly folded and buried within.
The guard snatched it away and brought it to the man, unknown but powerful. The lord dismissed him with but a wave of his hand and ensued with opening this information, the reason why the foreigner was still smiling with ignorance and not a trace of cowardice. He was blind to the status and ranks of the male, veiled by his lengthy jade coat any representation of superiority.
He read over the contents he too halted when the enormous gates were pulled open and instead of cowering like the lower class, he smirked and waited. Perhaps that was why this nobleman was out in the court; why else would someone with such importance simply walk around outside the walls of the castle.
Rei expected a few soldiers to appear by the sounds of more mares approaching but to his surprise that number, meager to him was actually hundreds of armor-laded men and one led them, a short distance ahead of pace. The black stallion stopped when its reins were tugged and off came the warrior, perched atop the saddle, scabbard and rapier securely at his side.
The helmet, as black as his own mane was thrown off, revealing slate locks and hues of grays and blues all mixed, sweaty and damp. The militia halted in dozens of lines, as the metal clattered in the snow. They sat on their horses, backs straight and heads bowed like disciplined fighters, trained and orderly.
Another head bowed, the man with such respect and authority over his captors, acknowledged the clans leader as if he was a greater being then himself. The food chain kept expanding. Rei wondered who these people were.
''Your Excellency, welcome home.''
Metal-gloved hands clapped from behind the individual and hollered in their content. His hand rose above his head and with a fist raised high in pride; he smiled. His troops screamed victorious and lifted their weapons in triumph.
''Ukraine is ours.''
The last left clapping was, of course the royalty figure. His flattering gestures ceased when the armored noble advanced from his army, joining the other. His attention inescapably fell on the dark face. There were traces of curiosity visible in his scrutiny. He did not even need to ask and the older man, opening the invitation to quote its words, presented an introduction to him.
''Master Kai, this is Sir Kon of Japan, member of the Daimyo Tokugawa clan of the Eastern lands.''
Eyes, thicker then any blood, and richer then any red wine, focused upon him and this exposure, stern and cold like ice dropped into the said glass of liquor. It was as if they did not blink, the fast swoops of his lashes never once disrupted his stare, intimidating and harsh. He was a force to be reckoned with.
''Zdrastochye.(Hello)'' Rei simply kept his composure and smiled, offering his mediocre attempt at their language as his timid first words.
His plan was working…
-TBC-
I could have ended this chapter long ago but to compensate for my tardiness, I figured I would change the ending and swap the real version for the next chapter's introduction. You'll soon see. I promise it will be up faster then this one.
An update to where historically this story places; I have decided that this is more befitting to occur during the later 17th century into mid 18th. The Russian empire suppressed Ukraine during that time, but the dates are still unknown to me.
I had fun though with Rei and his murderous hair and don't worry, I plan on explaining why he was called Japanese and that long status that came with him. It will all make sense soon after I dig deeper into History again.