Dinastiya Tested // 3rd Book of the Takaryev Trilogy

Chapter 14

The door to Artem's cell creaked open, letting in a sliver of light. A silhouette blotted out the light, stepped in, and closed the door. 

"Get away from me," Artem growled. 

Hilarion's voice shot back an answer. "Shut up."

"Why'd he move me, eh?" Artem asked. "Is Ravil here? Are you scared? Scared of him finding me?" 

"Ravil doesn't even know you're alive, much less that you're here. You're not getting out. He will never find you." Hilarion replied.

"You're lying," Artem's voice cracked.

"Oh, moy bedniy malchek," Hilarion crooned. "I've never lied to you."

"Ravil will find me," Artem said, almost as if to reassure himself. "And when he does, he'll send you to the grave." 

"Or he'll be killed." Hilarion offered a smirk.

"You can't just kill the president," Artem protested.

"Ah, but we can," Hilarion retorted. "I mean, look. We're torturing the prime minister, and we got old Krylov to kill Larionova. We can do whatever we want." 

"So is Ravil here or not?" Artem asked. "Paramon told me he was here. Being tortured."

"You really think I'm allowed to tell you?" Hilarion answered. "Takoy naivnost, moy bedniy malchek," 

"Zatknis," Artem murmured. "Zatknis..." 

Hilarion approached his son and put a hand on his neck. Artem flinched and tried to turn away. "I could snap your neck right here and now. Shame Paramon won't let me." 

"Get away from me," Artem whimpered. "You killed my mother."

Hilarion resisted the urge to flinch. "Ti bredit." 

"I'm not delusional!" Artem shouted. "You killed her," 

"Someone's been feeding you lies, moy malchek," Hilarion retorted. "Ravil, perhaps?" 

"No, it's you. You're lying to me, you killed her," Artem was beginning to ramble.

"I've never lied to you." Hilarion assured him. 

"Yes, you have." Artem growled. "You just did." 

Hilarion tightened his grip around Artem's throat. "Say it again, I dare you." 

"You're a liar," Artem gasped. "You killed her."

A punch to the side of Artem's head sent him reeling. His vision swam, and he lashed out with his feet, swinging from his chains and landing a hit on Hilarion's shin. 

Hilarion forced his son against the wall again. Their cold blue gazes mingled, exactly the same color. Artem shivered as he felt the chill of a knife blade against his stomach. Scared into relenting, he shut his mouth.

"If you move or say anything, this knife goes into your gut, and you'll spend the next hour bleeding out." Hilarion smirked, eyes flashing. "Feel like saying anything else, then?"

Artem cautiously shook his head. 

"Khoroshiye malchek." Hilarion smiled and ruffled Artem's dark brown hair, then departed from the cell.