Chapter Twenty-Three:
If I Fade Away, Will You Forget I Ever Existed?
Dmitri
DAY SEVEN:
The air was frigid as the doors to the dungeons opened, and two guards dragged me out into the morning light. The castle staff, who had spent a week listening to my blood curtailing screams, finally got to see the full extent of what Joshua had done to me. Whispers echoed through the crowd of onlookers, and one of the guards barked to them to shut their mouths, making some people gasp and whimper. They dragged me inside the castle and to the same room for a week before, where Joshua, who looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks, was staring at the screen blankly from a chair he was seated in.
“It’s time to make your decision.” Joshua said coldly, turning to me as they softly set me down. A moment later, he slowly pulled the blood soaked gagged from my lips, waiting for my response. Blood spilled down my cheek from the corners of my mouth, pooling on the floor beside us. “Would you like to be treated like the prince you are, or return back to Andrew and be a slave for the rest of your life?” He whispered in my ear.
I let out a weak cough, bringing my swollen eyes up to his, “I’d rather you kill me now, then spend another minute with you...” I hoarsely croaked.
“I see.” He settled back into his chair, crossed his legs, and folded his hands on his chest in disappointment. He was quiet for a moment, “Everyone thinks I’m so evil…” he started, staring at the ceiling blankly, “but in reality, who was the one that made me this way?”
I fell quiet, struggling to keep myself awake as Walter called out, “Ready when you are, Josh!” Joshua sighed once, pinching the bridge of his nose once in annoyance as the screen flicked to life. He spun out of his chair and stood, patting his coat once before looking up to meet the murderous royal family.
“Joshua…” Andrew breathed demonically.
I peeked through my lashes at the crowd on the screen, which consisted of all three royal families, The Committee, Cavalries… Everyone I had ever known and loved, all in one room. The Cavalries looked as if they had been fighting a bloody battle ever since I was captured, and shook with both fear and anticipation to see my current status. “What a welcome; the whole clan of misfits, together at last.” Joshua snorted.
“I have had enough of this nonsense. Return Dmitri to us, immediately.”
“Can you stop bombing my country, then?” He scoffed sarcastically, “Because your efforts really haven’t accomplished anything besides extra bills…?”
“Where is he, Joshua!” Adelaide boomed.
“Your precious angel is right behind me, so relax. We will get to him momentarily,” he chuckled, pulling a flash drive from his pocket, “I created a beautiful family album of Dmitri and I’s time together; feel free to watch it whenever to relive the memories with him. I wanted you to understand, truly, just the kind of man I can be when things don’t go my way.” He plugged it into the computer, where it sent to Andrew, who glared deeper. It was the first time I’d ever seen pure and utter murder in that man’s kind eyes. “Well, let’s get onto the grand show!” Everyone began shuddering as the sound of my chains running along the floor erupted, but Joshua held his arm out like a show host. “Here he is, the valiant and noble, Dmitri Michael Mortimer!”
Walter shoved me into the light, which caused a few people to scream, and others to start bawling. Cerelia couldn’t contain her sorrow and wailed cries into Andrew’s side. He himself was so shocked he couldn’t move, as were The Cavalries. Riley burst into tears, choking on hysterical sobs he himself couldn’t contain. “This, is your punishment for defying me, you bastard child…” Joshua hissed, grabbing my face. He smacked my cheek to his, giggling. “Isn’t he so sweet when he isn’t fighting back?!”
“What, have you done…?” Andrew choked, shaking visibly.
“I have proven to you just how scary I truly can be…” he snapped.
“You have just started a war that you will never return from.” Ethan whispered.
“I am aware. But, I will be successful in mowing down your pitiful excuse of a country in my wake, starting with your beloved Cavalry!” Andrew gasped slightly, as did The Cavalries, as Joshua ripped a sword off the wall, with Cerelia’s desperate pleads echoing through the room.
I slightly looked to the guard beside me, eyeing the weapons on his belt. With the little strength I had left, and a small wiggle, I freed an arm, thanking the universe that these morons couldn’t tie a knot. I was still shackled, but if I could get one hand around that knife, I had a small chance at surviving this. In an instant, I whipped and grabbed a knife from one guards pocket, making them shriek in shock before I slammed it down into Joshua’s back. Everyone gasped as he and I both wheezed in agony, blood spewing from his lips. “See you… in, Hell…” I hissed as he hacked in pure pain, his body slamming into the intercom. The soldiers behind us went to grab me, but I summoned the strength I could and duct, smacking back into the door.
“Dmitri, watch out!” Andrew screamed bloody murder as I slammed my foot into one guard’s face, sending him into his comrade, and both crashing through the window. Joshua was choking gargled cries, blood spewing from his lips as I dragged myself up, slamming the shackles down onto the door handle before grabbing his hair. My broken arm cracked violently, hanging like a child’s doll limb as I ripped his head back and slammed it down on the keyboard.
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Everyone winced violently as I did it again and again and again, each time harder than the last. Whatever look I had on my face shook my friends and family to the core. Joshua’s mangled yelps became silent, but before I could finish him off, a hand touched my arm. I paused, then ever so slowly, dropped him. He smacked into the desk, slowly slipping down and to the floor. His blood left a trail across the mahogany, and pooled as it slipped from his back and broken nose. When I slowly turned to what I thought was another West Soldier, a gasp escaped my lips, the same as everyone else’s who watched.
Morgan glanced to Joshua with a sigh, shaking her head before turning to the screen. She switched off the camera as my strength finally failed and I slipped backwards. She snatched the remnants of my destroyed shirt, carefully laying me down on the ground in horror. “God, what did he do to you...?” She whispered, touching the burned and cut skin on my sides. I wheezed breaths in pain, choking on a mixture of blood and oxygen. “I have a way out of here for you, but you have to stay strong a little while longer, ok? Please, stay alive for me… stay alive for me…?” I breathed a sob, clenching my teeth together as she stood and delicately helped me up. She conjured a portal, which looked like it led to the forest on the outskirts of The West countryside. She walked me through the opening, then shut the entryway before moving to a horse that was waiting for her.
To my surprise Matthew was standing with the animal, his burning blue eyes full of horror as he looked me over. “Matt, I don’t know if he can…?” She murmured.
“We have to try. If Andrew sends anymore soldiers here, they’ll surely perish,” he whispered before looking down to me, “Dmitri, do you think you can make it home like this?”
“Maybe…” I weakly breathed.
“I know it’s asking so much of you, but it’s the best option we have. We need to get Andrew’s men out of this country, and the only way you’re getting out is in the shadows…?”
“I'm not dead yet, so let’s try…” I choked, hacking up a huge blood clot. They winced, but gently coaxed me up onto the horse. I yelped in utter pain, but assured them I was fine.
Morgan laid a blanket around my shoulders and offered a towel to wrap my shattered arm, which I took gratefully. She also procured a small tablet, which she instructed me to choke down. “It isn’t much, but it’ll numb the pain for the time being. It should get you home in one piece, at least.” She tried with a slight wince.
“Thank you…” I moaned tiredly. She pulled a thin necklace from around her neck, that had a little locket attached to it. She fastened it around me, then delicately kissed my good hand with tears that looked as if they would flow forever, “I want you to know how much I love you, my darling. I'm so sorry we can’t do more than this for you. If anything, please remember this; I always have, and always will, love you…” she stammered.
“I love you too…” I sobbed, clutching her hand desperately.
“Joshua can take every material item in the world away from us, but he will never take away my love for you or your brother. Be strong, my little soldier, and fight to live a happy life.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” I choked.
“We have to make sure Joshua doesn’t follow you back,” Matt whispered.
“That is the second time someone has said that to me. I will not lose you two, not again. It’s my turn to protect you…?”
“You need to protect your brother right now. You both are reunited, and you will prosper together. Don’t worry about us; we have a place to go. For now, you need to get going. The more time you waste, the less you have with the pain relief.” He whispered sadly.
“I love you… so much, it hurts to breathe…” I sobbed brokenly.
They both echoed my cries, and smiled smiles that would never leave my memories as long as I lived, “We will be together again, one day.” Morgan sang, kissing my hand again before she conjured another portal. The two stepped through and waved sadly as they slowly disappeared. I stuttered a soft sob in their honor, then took hold of the reins in my good hand and clicked, which made the horse take off into the cold night air.
╬
It took four hours, even with short cuts, for me to make it back to The North, following the path Matt and Morgan had set to keep me out of prying eyes. The ride was filled with deafening silence, except for the occasional sniffle or cough that escaped me. It was incredibly hard to breathe with the ribs Walter had broken yesterday, and I knew as soon as my mother’s pill wore off that I would absolutely lose consciousness from the pain. For now, my body held on strong, and I did everything possible to stay conscious through the trip. I was exhausted far beyond the physical world, and equally shocked that I was even alive at the moment, but I had more important things to worry about.
When I finally neared the castle, I could see that even though it was well passed curfew, blinding lights illuminated the grounds. Soldiers upon soldiers were racing throughout, trying desperately to accomplish whatever they were assigned to. Andrew was barking orders to Zachary, who was nodding repeatedly to assure he understood his tasks. The Cavalries were spread out amongst the building, extremely tied up in whatever they were doing as well.
The horse I was riding neighed softly, which caused the guards up in the towers connected to the main bridge to stand suspiciously. One was Jordan, who titled his head and leaned forward to try and see who was approaching, but it was too dark for him to fully make me out. “Who are you?!” He barked menacingly, shining his flashlight down as Kate whipped out a walkie talkie. Stiffly, I raised my good arm to the sky in a pose of victory, which made them both gasp in pure horror. “OH MY GOD!” He screamed bloody murder, racing down the steps as Kate sobbed in relief into her walkie talkie.
The castle commotion halted, and as soon as they received the message, The Cavalry bolted through the main doors with the royal family hot on their tails. Gwen was the first to hit the bridge, and when she saw me on the horse, she cried out and cupped her hands over her face. “GET SLANE, NOW!?” Zachary yelled to Ramah, who disappeared in a heartbeat.
Andrew was the first to make it to me, and ripped the horse to a halt frantically. The pill had finally begun to wear off, and the jerk of the horse made pain ricochet through my broken body. I yelped in agony, which made him freeze and begin moving more gently. “Sorry, sorry…” He whimpered, hesitantly pulling the bloody blanket off my body. He and The Cavalry shuddered violently, and Stefan even gagged a little at the sight of all the blood and wounds that decorated my skin, though I didn’t blame him at all for it. Andrew saw me clasping my broken arm and tsked, tilting his head to see how destroyed it was.
“Jesus Christ… How, how did you get home?!” Martha sobbed hysterically.
I kept my head down so they wouldn’t have to see my battered face, “I refuse to die at the hands of that son of a bitch…” I tiredly, and brokenly, whispered before my strength finally failed me. I slumped and fell towards the right, but Michael thankfully caught me. The sound of my bones crunching in his grasp made him hiccup in horror, but Slane arrived soon after with proper backup to escort me to the clinic immediately.