Danse Macabre

Luka opened his eyes tiredly. His eyelid felt like lead. How long had he been out? His vision was blurry. He smelled mold. The room he was in was dark. He tried to move, but he discover he was bound in a corner. Forcing himself into a seated position, he spit the cloth that was gagging him from his mouth.

"n-nikolai? are you here...?" the young earl managed to choke out. He was terrified. Where was he. Suddenly a blinding light came from atop a staircase. Footsteps came into the room. A rather tall scary man stood in front of Luka. His smell was horrible. Smoke and alchohol. Luka didnt have much time to think. A hand closed around his throat. The young boy gasped for air, and was then hurled back to the floor. He heard a crunch as his nose broke. The warm blood stained his face

"i guess you arent that mportant to them Earl Donkov" the man muttered in lukas nativ russian "they wouldve been here with my money by now if they did. They know this harm is befalling you."

Lka knew some ribs were cracked from the blow, he could feel it. He coughs out blood, trying to speek "n-nikolai..s-save me...."

The man laughs mocking Luka and proceeding to kick him. The young earl yelps from the intense pain. Nikolai would come for him. He was sure of it.

Niko went to go check on Luka when he was no where to be seen Niko began to panic. How could he lose the kid he could lose his job if anyone found out. So without telling anyone where he was going he headed out to try and locate his master. He wondered about for a little bit before he heard a found a random building he walked over to it and crept in cautiously looking around to see if there was anyone in the shadows. Seeing no one he continued on his eyes darting left and right keeping his eyes open for the slightest movement.

He reaching a staircase he crept down the stairs so that he would not alert anyone that would be down there of his presence. His eyes adjusted to the light that is when he saw his master and another man. Niko glared as he watched the man kick his master he was unsure what he was going to do but he knew one thing he was going to try and save Luka.

He crept forward he wasn't ready for the man to be aware of his presence. Taking a deep breath he made himself visible to Luka but raised a finger to his lip as if to warn him not to make a sound. Then he leapt on the attacker and tried to choke him only to be flung back to the ground.

That didn't stop Niko however he swung himself back to his feet and punched the man in the jaw. Suddenly Niko felt something hard against his head and fell to the ground unconscious.

Lukas eyes widen as he saw his faithful butler walk in and a small smile appeared on the earls lips. Then he saw the two men go at it, terror struck him. He feared more for his butler than for himself. When he saw nikolai hit the ground the first time, he cringed, but then he got back up and luka felt somewhat relieved. Then the old man hit him, hard in the side of the head, and his butler fell to the ground. Luka was horror struck

"NIKOLAI!" luka sobbed "nikolai wake up..." the young earl inched his way over toward his butler and snuggled up against him shaking, as he watched the old man retreat up the stairs. "nikolai....its my fault you got hurt......" Luka wanted nikolais health more than his own. Without nikolai, luka would be helpless. He needed his butler. "the old man will die... i promise nikolai... nobody can hurt you. " Luka winced at the pain from speaking. His side hurt so bad he wanted to scream. So did his nose. He still found it hard to speak and breathe due to his windpipe almost being crushed moments earlier. None of that mattered now, Nikolai was hurt.

Several hours later Niko woke up with a moan he didn't remember where he was but seeing the dimly lit room somethings came back. He remembered he was trying to locate his master. Seeing his master he had found him but they were both stuck now he didn't see how they could escape. He groaned slightly as his head began to throb and he rubbed it gently.

When his eyes focused more he noticed that Luka was hurt worse then him he reached down and held his master's chin carefully as he examined Luka's nose. Just as he thought broken. Niko had forgot his wand at home in his rush to locate his master. Niko stood slowly stood to his feet and went to try the door he found that it was locked so he rejoined Luka on the floor.

"How badly are you hurt Master?"

Luka still pretty well bound, looks grimly up at his butler, forcing a smile.

"my side hurts, i think something there broke and i cant see all that well and my nose hurts.." he looks down tears streaming down his face "im sorry i got you into this nikolai... its all my fault you got hurt..." he avoids eyecontact woth the man. He had endangered his life. He hated being a defenseless child. Nikolai shouldnt have suffered for him. It upset him a great deal. Nikolai was too nice. Most people would hate a boy for endangering them so much. Most wouldve told him to grow up and fight his own battles. Not nikolai. It was strange. Nikolai wasnt like the other adults. Luka liked nikolai. Nikolai was his friend. The young earl rarely trusted anyone so this was peculiar. He found the quiet sobs commence. He had almost gotten his friend killed. Blood stained his nice green travelling cloak with the black buttons. He saw the blood on the ground beneath him, and on nikolais shirt. Luka felt pathetic. What sort of Earl was he?

Niko undid a few buttons of his shirt and felt down finding the hilt of the dagger he pulled it from it's sheath. Niko began to cut through his master's bonds as he listened to him explain his injuries. His own head began to throb but his only thought was to get his master free. Once Luka was free Niko sat down beside him.

"I still had a choice to fight or to even come looking for you so if it is anyone's fault that I got hurt it should be mine for I know I am not a strong fighter. Yet I couldn't bear to see you suffer and get bra up. That is all behind us now we need to find a way out before that guy returns or we will both be dead most likely.

Luka glances around the room grimly and nods. Nikolai was right. If they stayed put, theyd both die a slow, horrible death. He stands up and looks up the stairs, that was probably their best bet. The old man had probably passed out somewhere or something.

"Nikolai, up there. It may be crazy but its all weve got."