Story Notes: I love writing chapters like this. I had a lot of tries trying to write these, experimenting with how actions may play out. Muskar is very different from his brother and still cares about his family despite what has occurred. This was interesting to write and exposes the differences between them, despite being brothers. Please enjoy.
Chapter Summary: Muskar faces off against the man who betrayed him. Will Tintin reach them in time?
Suggested Music
1. Inferno - Ad Infinitum [I love this song. I couldn't stop listening to it while I was writing this chapter]
2. The Crown - Zayde Wolf [lyrics for this helped me write this chapter]
3. Heavy is the Crown - Daughtry
X
Muskar glanced at the view from the middle of the room, his eye's calling to the darkened horizon. Soon darkness would sweep across the land. He feared the darkness would claim him, never to let go.
"They're out there somewhere... Could Tintin be right? Maybe I have missed something.."
Muskar couldn't help but vocalise his thoughts so much he forgot his younger brother stood by the door. He turned to find Dymitr still standing by the door with his back turned to him.
"Dymitr?"
"Yes, Brother?"
"Is everything alright?"
"It is now,"
As Dymitr reached into his coat Muskar thought nothing of it.
"They are out there... But I highly doubt you will see them again,"
Dymitr turned to face his brother, raising a gun to Muskar's chest.
Dymitr... He couldn't form a sentence straight away.
Muskar stepped back in shock, swallowing several gulps down his throat unwilling to take in what was transpiring in front of his eyes.
"Dymitr... what are you doing?" Muskar asked shakily, raising his hands slightly.
"Something I've wanted to do for years, and no one will stop me... Not that reporter... and certainly not you,"
Muskar inhaled shakily, fighting back his tears of betrayal.
You ... You did this!
How could... How could I not see this?
"This is your doing?" Muskar stepped forward raising his voice. "How could you betray your family? Betray me." His voice broke at the end, unable to speak the phrase.
We're bound by blood .. how
His mind almost shut down at the thought of his brother being behind it all.
"That was the easy part. I've always lived in your shadow and it ends tonight,"
"Where is my family?" Muskar questioned quietly, trying his best not to allow his anger to rise.
Dymitr smirked, motioning for Muskar to move toward the balcony.
"Where is my family!" Muskar shouted, temporarily losing his well-achieved composure.
"You will never find them, neither will that Amateur... and Olek, that fool dared comfort me, but he's been dealt with too. Now if you don't mind .."
Muskar's muscles finally kicked in, and he rushed for the door, aware of the quiet laugh from his brother as the handle failed to give way.
No... I'm trapped. I should have listened to Tintin sooner.. Why didn't I listen?
Sweat quickly pooled on his brow adding to his pounding heart. All the energy he'd accumulated faded in moments. He tried his best not to cough as one thought remained dominant.. 'What is my brother going to do now? Muskar rested his head on the door as he gave up the struggle.
There's no way out now...
Olek and Tintin...
What did he do to them?
In all his years he'd never felt so alone.
"It's time we had a little chat, dear brother.."
X
Tintin's eyes flickered open to near darkness. As the clouds parted the last light streamed into the room lighting his surroundings and the struggling form of Olek Kaminski trying to get himself loose from the iron-clad bindings. The rope brunt into his wrists and ankles as he attempted to move.
Where's Snowy?
A clang echoed from outside the door followed by several sharp yelps.
Snowy!
He tried to shout but the gag prevented any action so he manoeuvred himself towards the door, starting to kick his feet against it. Barks sounded again, getting nearer and nearer until a head poked under the door, partly covered in what Tintin perceived as coal.
What happened to you?
Snowy! Come on, boy!
Tintin sometimes wondered if Snowy knew everything he wanted to say.
As Snowy tried to push his way in the door gave way.
It's not locked.
That's a bit careless, Tintin thought as Snowy's teeth made short work of the binding.
"Good boy!"
Tintin rolled over to Olek and started to quickly undo his bindings.
"Don't worry about me, go!" Olek exclaimed as he pulled his gag from his mouth
"Olek .."
"You need to stop Dymitr, just go I'll be fine,"
X
"This is madness, just stop," Muskar stated, trying his best not to sound like he was begging.
"I've wanted this for years and now I'm going to take it,"
"What do you want?"
Muskar couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.
"Simple, that crown on my head... I've waited for so long for a chance, When Araidna and Kristofor left for the lake, I couldn't resist that opportunity,"
This is about the crown.
How can you be so selfish?
Kingship isn't about power. There's so much more to sovereignty.
Muskar glanced into the barrel of the gun as he moved backwards, closer to the balcony.
"If you kill me, you get nothing,"
You would kill me over this? Why would you kidnap my ..our own family?
"That may be what you believe, but this gun isn't mine, it's Olek Kaminski's," Dymitr gloated, forcing Muskar to step back as he advanced. "I've had a long time to plan this. He'll be believed to be the instigator and I'll walk away with what I've always wanted. And your family well, they'll never see the light of day,"
After everything we've been through together?
Part of him still didn't want to believe this could happen.
"I should have listened to him.." Muskar vocalised thinking about Tintin. If he's intent on killing me.. what did he do to Tintin and Olek? There are good men.
"The reporter?" Dymitr smirked ... If you're waiting for him to barge in and rescue you he's going to be a while. so this ends now..."
No! I refuse to die like this!
Muskar shot forward, grasping his brother's wrist. The barrel aimed for the ceiling as he desperately wrestled to either disarm his brother or empty the bullets from the gun. They landed on the floor. Dymitir quickly rolled them over, getting on top of his brother.
In seconds Dymitr regained his dominance. It took every inch of Muskar's concentration to prevent the barrel from aiming at himself or his brother.
Youth gave Dymitr the advantage but Muskar refused to give in.
As Dymitr's finger pressed the trigger, he used every last piece of strength to push the aim to the ceiling, narrowly missing a bullet to the throat. A second followed as nails dug into his hand. The doors creaked violently followed by a series of shouts.
"Your Majesty!"
This proved to be a badly timed distraction. As Muskar attempted to shout, his brother utilised the opportunity to punch him hard in the stomach. He let go, immediately clutching his lower abdomen only for the pistol to come across his face, whipping him hard across his cheek. He collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath as an iron liquid filled his mouth.
"Look at you, a pitiful excuse for a king. So weak," Dymitr commented.
Muskar remained glued to the floor as Dymitr paced to the expansive balcony, opening the doors wide to breathe in the fresh air. As he tried to get onto his knees, blood dripped down his mouth. He gagged slightly as he attempted to wipe it away.
Dymitr turned and stared at the King.
The glare sent a chill right down Muskar's spine.
"Maybe a little accident will do the job just as well,"
Dymitr grabbed Muskar, pushing him back onto the floor.
"What good are you? You can't even fight back!" He shouted, grabbing Muskar's collar with both hands.
"No ... I will not fight you.." Muskar managed.
Dymitr shook his hand, pulling him to the balcony by his collar.
No. Not like this...
The image of Kristofor, Araidna and his grandson Wojtek flashed in his head.
No... I don't want to go like this.
As the cold air hit his face the banging of the doors faded in his ears and he assigned the blame ... upon himself.
This is all my fault.
Muskar and Dymitr had always been close but their parents put greater emphasis on Muskar as he was the firstborn, the one who would inherit the throne. Amid everything Dymitr had been pushed away.
I should have seen this coming.
I should have done something.
Soon it won't matter...
I've lost...
As he glimpsed the ground below, he prayed for a quick death
Yes.. another cliffhanger.