Butler woke with a throbbing headache and fought the urge to throw up. He was sitting on a cold, hard floor with his back to a wall. It took him a moment to realize he wasn't alone, that someone way laying with their head in his lap.
Artemis.
The boy was asleep and shaking slightly in the freezing room. He wasn't wearing a shirt and slept fitfully.
Butler looked around. It was dark, with only a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, offering minimal light in the small, dank space. There was a door up some stairs to his right, leading him to believe they were in a basement of some kind. There was some noise coming from behind the door, sounding like laughter and celebration.
He groaned and tried to move his stiff shoulders, the movement causing Artemis to stir. His eyes fluttered open and he took in a quick, panicked breath before sitting up and looking around. He wrapped his arms around himself and shuddered, blinking and shaking his head as if to clear his mind. He looked up at Butler once realizing he was there.
"Butler, what-"
"Don't worry. Stay calm, I'll get us out of this."
"Who was that man? He said you killed his daughter, that there was a fire… I don't remember a fire…"
"There wasn't one. He's just a deranged man, Artemis."
"He's going to kill us."
"He won't. I won't let him, I promise."
Artemis shook again. "It's so cold."
Immediately, Butler shed his suit jacket off his huge shoulders and draped it over his charge, swallowing him up.
"Thank you, Domovoi."
They sat together for a moment, both wondering what was to come but not wanting to alarm the other with their separate, dark thoughts.
Someone unlocked the door. Butler could hear the click of it. He stood with Artemis and put the boy behind him to separate him from what was coming.
The door opened and a large silhouette appeared in the frame. Clicking his tongue, the man slowly sauntered down the stairs. Once at the bottom, Butler could see his eyes in the faint light. They were black and cold.
"Gentlemen," he said. "Glad to see you're both awake."
"What do you want?"
"I told you. I want to destroy you…. What is the worst thing that could happen to you, Mr. Butler? To young Artemis? Think about it. Now multiply it. I promise you it will be worse than that. I promise you neither of you will leave here unscathed, if you leave at all."
Butler stood, frozen. There were few times in his life he was truly afraid, and this was one of them. He considered killing the man. He could do it, easily. But then what would happen to them? He knew the man had company upstairs, and he was sure they wouldn't let his captives go. Killing this man would be their death sentence. If he kept him alive, they would live longer, but at what cost? They would be tortured for his sick satisfaction, and they may not even get out alive.
"My name is Ritter. You will address me as Master Ritter, or you will be punished. Both of you belong to me. Artemis, come here."
Artemis circled his hand around Butler's right wrist in fear.
"No," Butler said.
"Excuse me?"
"No."
Ritter clearly clenched his teeth and closed his eyes as he let out a breath. "What a shame," he said. "Mr. Thomas!"
Another figure appeared in the doorway. With a bat. He tossed it down to Ritter, who caught it with ease. Mr. Thomas slunk away and Ritter turned back to his hostages.
Without warning, he lifted the bat back and brought it down on Butler's left shoulder. It hurt, but being the mountain of a man he was, Butler didn't let his pain show. He had to make sure this man knew he was strong, that he wouldn't just step aside so he could do what he pleased to Artemis.
Ritter tilted his head and dropped the bat. "Oh," he said. "You're tough as steel. Should I bring out the whip?"
Butler didn't respond, but inside he was fuming.
"What I mean is, should I bring out the whip on Artemis? Or do you think the bat will work on him?"
If looks could kill, Ritter would be a dead man with the way Butler was glaring at him.
"Let's make a deal. Let him come to me willingly now, or I will just hurt him more. I promise I won't harm him in any way... Yet. You wouldn't want to put him in danger, would you?"
Butler took in a deep breath, considering his options. He took Artemis's hand in his and squeezed. He looked down at his friend and tried to tell him everything would be all right without saying anything. He must have understood, because Artemis nodded and released his hold, stepping forwards to Ritter.
Ritter kept his word when he said he wouldn't hurt him, but what he did do was almost worse. The man raked his eyes up and down Artemis's body disgustingly and once he was close enough he cupped his hand to his face, caressing the side of his neck as well. Artemis shivered but this time it wasn't because of the cold. His other hand touched the young man's chest between where Butler's jacket opened up seductively. Artemis couldn't look him in the face, just wanting it to be over.
When Ritter brought his lips to Artemis's like he had during their last meeting, Butler wouldn't stand for it again, and he stepped forward to push Ritter away.
"Don't do that. Don't touch him," he growled. "Ever."
"Bit jealous, are we? Yes, I'm sure you are. No doubt you two have gotten it on before-"
"Shut up.'
"You'll have to learn to share, Mr. Butler."
Ritter grabbed hold of Artemis's wrist and pulled him towards him, bringing their lips together once more. Before Butler could react, Artemis took matters into his own hands and pushed away only to spit into Ritter's face.
Ritter was not amused. In fact, it pissed him off. He grabbed the bat again and slammed it across Artemis's face, breaking the skin. It would no doubt bruise. Artemis fell to his hands and knees in pain.
"You said you wouldn't-"
"That was before he forced my hand."
Butler was on the floor with his charge in a moment, his hands on his shoulders, trying to discern how much damage was done.
"I'll leave you for now, gentlemen. But I'll be back, and so will be much worse."
Ritter turned and glided up the stairs and slammed the door behind him. On instinct, Butler raced to the door and tried to open it. It was locked, as he expected, and he slammed into it with his bulk but it was no use. When he concluded that there was no way out, he turned back to Artemis who was now clutching at his face.
Butler knelt next to him.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"It is not your fault, my friend." Artemis brought his hand away from his face to find it speckled with blood. "I think he broke my cheekbone."
Butler didn't know what to do. What was he supposed to do?
He comforted Artemis, and himself in the process. The pair sat back down and Butler told Artemis to lay down once more and try to get some sleep.
