Russian Mystique (On Hold)

One year later,

A bright, blue sky stretched over the city of Moscow, barely a cloud to be seen. It was a super nice day out and the birds were chirping and there was a crisp, cool breeze in the Russian air. Pavel walked up to the front door of the castle. It was the day for action and he had his plan set. He was still in his cover age (now 19) but he had a plan to reveal his true self to the young prince soon. He knocked on the front doors loudly.

Soon after a few minutes of waiting, Nikita, Mackenzie and Val answered the door. Val was 18 and Nikita was 17. They were turning into young men rather quickly...and both had very boyish looks. Mackenzie stood between them both, eyeing Pavel.

“It’s okay Mackenzie, you can hang back a little,” Nikita said.

Mackenzie shook her head. “Not a chance. You may be tougher, but your father still wants me around.”

“But Pavel’s a friend, I think that two of us can handle things…”

“Um, try the three of us!” Val laughed. “I’ve been working on my self defense too. I’ve been working with weapons. I’m quite handy with a dagger...and a bow and arrow...but my bow is getting fixed...but I have my dagger on me!”

“I’m sure you are, Valeri,” Mackenzie laughed. “Alright, I’ll stay back and keep a distance. But I’m still gonna remain close. Just for precaution boys.” She winked and walked off in a different direction.

“She’s cool. So that’s the warrior princess right?” Pavel asked. “Mackenzie Kane?”

“Yeah. She taught me some self-defence moves. If anyone tries to kidnap me...well...they don’t want to...” Nikita faked fighting an opponent, swiping out at the air with a few fisted jabs.

“Why? You got powerful fists now?” Pavel teased.

“You could say that.” Nikita smiled largely.

“He’s one of the best!” Val exclaimed. “My brother’s gonna make one fine king!”

“Well, let’s go for a walk. I have something to show you two.” Pavel stated. “It’s real cool. I came across it the other day.”

Nikita and Val nodded. They followed after Pavel, who led them all away from the palace and out into the kingdom - or city of Moscow. Mackenzie had vanished, but Nikita could feel her presence and he knew it was okay. He was safe. He’d never felt safer in his life in fact. Pavel led them toward a path that ran adjacent to a forest.

“So where are we going?” Nikita asked.

“Into the forest. The surprise is in there.” Pavel grabbed Nikita’s wrist and began to pull him toward the forest.

“Uh,” Nikita began.

Val tensed up. Something wasn’t right. He attempted to say, “Hey, Nikita, I don’t like this. We should head back to the palace. Maybe you can show us another time, Pavel…”

Overhead a cloud flew past the sun and bathed the land in darkness. The birdsong that was in the air stopped and the wind died. Everything became ominously still. Pavel and Nikita were on the edge of the trees, when Nikita yanked against Pavel’s hold.

“Pavel, let go! I don’t want to go into the woods. You know that I’m not allowed in there!! What’s wrong with you?” Nikita snapped and tore his arm free, halting in place. “Pavel? What are you--?”

Pavel smirked and shoved Nikita into the woods. Val swiped his dagger from a place on his leg and lunged for Pavel with it drawn. He attacked Pavel with it and they rolled into the woods with Nikita, who spotted them and hurried to help his brother out.

He picked up a tree branch and held it up like a bat, stepping toward the two, who were clutching tightly to one another and battling over the dagger. Naturally, Val was in kill mode, while Pavel was in defensive mode. Val spotted him coming toward them.

“Nikita, get out of here and get Kenzie!!” Val screamed. “I’ll hold him off!”

Nikita stood his ground. “No, Val, I’m not leaving you! You’re my brother!” Mackenzie I need you! I’m in trouble!

Where are you? Mackenzie’s voice sounded in his head.

The forest...the woods....outside of the kingdom. Hurry!

“Go! Please!” Val insisted.

Nikita remained in place. It was time his brother knew. Truth was, Mackenzie was on her way already. He’d called to her telepathically with his powers. “She’s on her way. I’m not going anywhere! I’ve gotta help you, bro!”

Val pinned Pavel on the ground and chanced a look at his brother. “What do you mean?”

“He’s a telepathic!! He’s got powers...and he has telekinesis too!” Pavel snarled, shoving Val backward and off of him.

Val crashed to the ground on his back. He was shocked. “Telepath?”

Nikita nodded. He gestured to the side ready to show him, - assuming that Pavel knew somehow - just as someone grabbed his arms from behind. He panicked and kicked backward, channelling Mackenzie’s lessons, but he met a hard chain-like object. He did manage to get free. In the chaos, he tapped into his telekinetic powers and managed to lift a few branches up.

Val shrieked, seeing what was happening. While he was distracted and shocked, Pavel jumped him from behind and knocked the dagger from his hand. It fell into the leaves. Nikita accidentally let the sticks fly at the man, who had ahold of his arm once more and then he tore himself free again and bolted from the woods, darting right into Mackenzie. They collided and crashed to the ground.

“Nikita! What’s wrong?!” she demanded.

“Kenzie, Kenzie, Pavel….Pavel! He has Val!!” Nikita gasped. “Pavel has my brother!”

“I’ve got him!” She whipped and motioned to a guard, who’d come with her. “Get him back to the palace safely. Warn Sergei!” Nikita was too shaken to do anything or fight. He was grabbed by the guard and his partner and herded back toward the castle. Mackenzie scrambled to her feet and dashed into forest.

She skidded in, but found no one there. She looked around and sighed. She looked down at her feet and spotted Val’s dagger, which was lying on the ground partially buried in the leaves. She snatched it up and looked into the woods. “I’m coming Valeri. I’ll find you!” She clutched the small weapon in her hand and raced in, heading deeper into the woods.

That’s when the bells went off all around the kingdom.


The same bright, blue sky stretched over the Zadorov castle in Moscow. The markets in the kingdom were bustling, with everyone going about their business as usual. Until the warning bell began to sound.

An intruder.

Or worse.

King Sergei looked up from the table where his council had gathered, discussing the harvest, as the bells echoed through the room. His ears were perked up and his heart began to beat rapidly in his chest. He would soon know what was happening. And it didn’t sound good. He instantly thought of his son.

It had to be Nikita!

Sure enough moments later the doors at the end of the hall were thrown open and several knights strode in. The demand for answers died on his lips as he saw what the last knight carried: Nikita. "Niki!?" the word flew from Sergei's tongue before he could censor it, and he hurried around the table to approach the group. "What happened?" The prince’s clothes were dirty and torn, tear tracks clearly visible on his face.

"An attack," one of the knights informed him. "Knights and guards have already been dispatched to apprehend the culprit, including Mackenzie who was there to lead the attack. She told us to get him inside the palace at once."

Sergei nodded in acknowledgment, then turned his attention to his young son. "Nikita, what happened? Where’s Val?"

"Pavel...asked to go...for a walk," Nikita began, sobs caught in her throat, making the explanation choppy. "I thought...he was just...being nice...but he kept insisting...we go...in the forest. Val warned me! He didn't trust him! But Pavel was a friend..." Her voice rose and became more sure as she continued. "I told him no, but he just...kept pulling. Val came at him with a dagger, told me to run. You have to go after him!"

"Rest assured, Niki, Pavel will not get away with this," Sergei told him, meaning to be comforting, but the boy kept shaking his head. “We’ll find Val!!”

"No! Val! I went for the guards, but he already grabbed Val!" Nikita was close to hysterical, new tears making their way down his face. “He wasn’t after me! He was after Val!!”

It only took a moment for the words to sink in to every one present in the hall. Sergei felt shock, and then intense anger. How dare someone take his second son!?

Notes

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!! VALERI!!!! :((((
Poor Nichy....he saved his brother, Zady though. :)


Next up: Misery and Sorrow and Not Fun Times