by Red Phoenix
He nods and leaves. I wait a while longer, appreciating the physical challenge of extreme heat. When I have had enough, I leave the sauna and find Thane sitting on a bench, cooling off.
“Well, that was intense…” he says in a hoarse voice.
I grin. “We’re not done yet, moy droog.”
I walk to the next door and open it for him.
“I’m weak and can barely move.”
“You will feel invigorated soon enough,” I assure him.
We walk into the next room with a large natural pool in the center. The water is crystal clear.
Taking off my chapka, I place it on a shelf and walk to the edge. “This is the best part! The water is ice cold.”
He walks up beside me to stare at the water and shakes his head.
“You must embrace the full experience, moy droog.”
“Fine,” he mutters.
Staring at the crystal blue water, he builds up his courage before saying, “Fuck you, Durov,” and jumps in. He resurfaces, sputtering from the intense cold.
“Well done!” I say proudly just before I do a cannonball, splashing him with more of the freezing water.
The painful shock of the icy water instantly revives me. In that moment, I go from feeling lethargic to my body fighting for its life.
It is a feeling like no other!
I swim to the edge and pull myself out of the icy depths, helping Thane out.
I never feel as alive as I do right after the plunge.
I slap him on the back and shout, “Life!”
He starts laughing. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he is flying high on the endorphins, just like I am.
I throw him a towel, then take one for myself to dry off. Wrapping it around my waist, I tell him to follow me.
“There’s more?”
“Da. It’s time for a massage.”
“Thank God…”
I lead him into the last room where two men are waiting for us. The room smells of cedar and sharp notes of eucalyptus.
Lying down on the wooden table, I instruct Thane to do the same.
When the man approaches Thane holding a bundle of oak leaves and twigs in his hand, Thane mutters, “Oh, hell. I realize what that is.”
“Enjoy, comrade. After the high produced by the plunge, I always find a good venik massage relaxing.”
“You would…”
I smile to myself when I hear Thane grunt as the man begins beating him with the venik. I have instructed them not to take it easy on him because I want my brother to experience the full banya.
I sigh in contentment as the venik strikes my back, bringing renewal to my skin and soul.
I leave the place feeling fully restored, but the real value of a banya is the bonding experience—it has bonded the Russian people for generations.
I am proud that Thane has embraced the experience, taking it like a Russian. I feel closer to him now, which will be important in the years ahead as I navigate the complexities of this unwieldy inheritance.
As we walk back to the vehicle, I explain, “Normally, we would have used the sauna at least two more times, but we still have a five-hour train ride ahead of us.”
“What now?” he chuckles. “Bear wrestling?”
I can’t hold back my excitement and tell him, “We are going someplace only a few people in the world have seen. It is impossible to get a permit, especially on such short notice. Unless you have the money, of course.”
“Good Lord, how much did you spend?”
“I’ll never tell.” I place a finger to my lips and grin.
I leave Igor with the vehicle while Thane and two of my men join me on the train. The sun sets as we begin the long trek to Yekaterinburg. I planned to relax and enjoy a lavish meal, but I find I’m too excited to eat.
Although I planned to keep it a surprise, I start prodding Thane with questions. “Where do you think we are headed, comrade?”
“The obvious answer would be a vodka tasting at a dungeon filled with willing submissives of every size, color, and shape.”
“I like the way you think, moy droog. But you would be wrong.”
Thane stares at me and smirks. “In all the years I have known you, I’ve never seen you this excited.”
My restraint suddenly bursts, and I’m unable to keep it a secret any longer. This has been a childhood dream of mine.
“We are going to the salt mines under the city of Yekaterinburg!”
The excitement in his eyes disappears. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I assure you I’m not.”
“Why a salt mine? Are you planning to use your cat o’ nines on me, then salt my wounds afterward?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Actually, I hadn’t considered that.”
Thane suddenly looks concerned. “Durov, why would you spend ungodly amounts of money to visit a salt mine?”
I snap my fingers and one of my men hands me the photo I have held on to for years. “Look!”
Thane stares at the picture of the colorful cave. “Did somebody paint this?”
I shake my head. “It’s completely natural.”
“How is that even possible?”
“These swirls of color are layers of the mineral carnallite, which can be yellow and white or even red and blue. They cover the walls of the abandoned salt mine, moy droog, and date back millions of years.
“It’s like a famous artist painted it,” Thane states in amazement.
I nod and smile when I tell him, “God.”
Thane chuckles to himself but continues to stare hard at the photograph.
“If you needed proof there is a God, this will do it, moy droog.”
Thane looks up from the picture. “How do you know about this place?”
I smile as I remember my teacher, Gospozha Donkova. “I had a teacher who told me about it. I have wanted to see it in person ever since.” My smile grows wider. “And, now, because of my inheritance, I can.”
Thane glances back at the photo. “I have to admit, Durov, if this is real, it would be worth any price of admission.”
I grin in satisfaction. “We are going to spend the night there. I’ve also invited a few friends that I’d like you to meet.”
Thane hands back the photo. “I look forward to meeting them.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “It is time you learn more about me.”
I sit back in my seat, a sense of self-satisfaction washing over me. Now that I’ve shared where we are going, I can finally relax enough to eat. I wave at the waiter to begin our meal.
He bows and leaves the train car to inform the chef.
I stare out of the window, looking at the brilliance of tonight’s full moon. It casts its white glow over the snowy peaks, bathing it in a magical light.
Suddenly, I hear a far-off rumbling.
I look at Thane in concern, wondering if the train engine is about to explode. The sound quickly builds in intensity as the train car starts to shake.
As I’m watching the waiter enter the car with a tray in his hand, I realize what it is and cry out, “Avalanche!”
The waiter glances at me. I watch in horror as a wall of snow breaks through the glass and he disappears in the wall of white.
I turn to Thane, unable to hide my fear.
My two men jump in to protect me with their bodies just as the lights go out. I’m thrown violently against the side of the train car as the force of the avalanche pushes it off the rails. Soon, the car begins to fall down the side of the mountain.
The car fills up with snow as it rolls over on itself. The impact slams me against the window again. I feel it break and my back explodes in pain.
When the train rolls a third time, it launches me out of the train car and I fall into the darkness. The moment I land, I am swept up by the snow and carried along with it. I try desperately to swim with the avalanche as it rumbles down the mountain, but the speed and power of it quickly overwhelms me.
I
cry out just before a wave of snow envelops me. Remembering my training in school, I take a deep breath, expanding my chest as I thrust my hands upward, hoping to buy more time.
The snow settles around me, hard and unyielding like cement. I let out my breath and slowly take in another, grateful to be alive, but it feels as if I am breathing through a heavy cloth.
Having experienced waterboarding as a child at my father’s hands, I know to breathe slow and shallow, and I am thankful that my instincts kick in.
I fight for every fucking second, hoping for rescue. But, as time ticks by, I can tell I am slowly losing consciousness.
I feel my mother’s presence and call out to her. I’m heartbroken when I see her lovely face. Instead of welcoming me into her arms, she is grieving.
The sight of her tears stabs at my chest.
A deep chill creeps through my body realizing that if I die tonight, the inheritance will automatically transfer to my brother Vlad.
Our entire family is doomed…
My heart aches knowing I’ve been a fool. The moment I heard how much money I had inherited, it went straight to my head. My very first thought was how I could use it to entertain myself.
Those riches were not meant for me.
I was given that responsibility to right the wrongs of my father and protect the generations to come—I finally understand that now.
I suffer profound sorrow knowing that I have failed. I look at my mother and beg for her forgiveness. “I’m sorry, Mamulya.”
She looks at me with sympathy as tears stream down her face.
I close my eyes, stricken with grief. I acted no differently than any other idiot at twenty-one—even though I had a higher purpose.
I can’t die like this…
“With great power comes great responsibility…”
The truth in those words haunts me now.
My breathing becomes even more shallow as my short supply of oxygen begins to run out. Realizing that rescue is not coming, I pray to God for my family’s sake.
“Lord, give Vlad the wisdom and focus I did not have.”
My sweet Tatianna suddenly fills my vision. Her eyes are sparkling and her sweet laughter fills my heart with the warmth of the sun.
“Anton, can you hear me?”
My comrade’s voice is faint and far away. I try to ignore him, but the bastard won’t stop talking.
“I’m digging you out. Hang on!”
Tatianna smiles at me as she takes a step back.
“Don’t you dare leave me, brother!”
Tatianna disappears just as I feel multiple hands clawing at me as they clear the snow.
The moment the air rushes in, I take in a breath and groan.
“Hang in there. We’re digging you out as fast as we can.”
It takes the concentrated effort of several people to dig me out of the tightly packed snow. Even with so many hands, it takes time to free me.
When they finally pull me from my snowy grave, my limbs are lifeless and I collapse beside it, breathing hard.
I try to catch my breath, but the cold air burns my lungs. I stare at Thane, struggling to stay conscious, but my vision starts to blur.
I watch his lips move as he barks out orders, but I can no longer hear what he’s saying.
My gaze moves up to the night sky. I stare at the full moon as a feeling of profound peace envelops me. I don’t resist it as I sink into the cold darkness.
I open my eyes, I see Thane staring at me with relief.
“Good, you’re awake.”
I nod groggily, then look down to see I am hooked up to an IV and covered in thick blankets. It takes a moment for the memories to come flooding back, and my heart begins to race.
I try to sit up, but then gasp when I feel a stabbing pain in my back.
Thane forces me to lie back. “It’s okay. You were injured in the avalanche, but you’re going to be all right.”
“How…bad?”
“You were impaled by shards of glass, but the hypothermia slowed your metabolism and reduced the bleeding. Thankfully, no vital organs were injured, so the doctors say you should heal quickly.”
“How…” I swallow, finding it hard to speak. “…did…?”
He finishes my sentence for me. “How did I find you?”
I nod.
“Your fist was barely sticking out of the snow. I wouldn’t have seen it except for the ring on your finger. I caught a glint of the moonlight reflecting off the metal band.”
Thane pauses, tears welling in his eyes. “I was sure I’d lost you…”
I look down at the gold ring with the Durov dragon etched in black stone. It was my grandfather’s ring.
I know it is a sign and a feeling of destiny washes over me.
I look up at Thane. “Thank you…brother.”
Thane clasps my hand, fighting to hold back his emotions. I can only imagine how he felt when he found I was missing.
“Unfortunately, many lives were lost in the avalanche,” Thane informs me. “Including your two men.”
I close my eyes, the guilt of their deaths weighing heavy on my soul. Their final act on this Earth was to protect me.
“Blyat…” I groan as I drift out of consciousness.
When I wake up again, my head is much clearer, but I am burdened with guilt.
I look over at Thane, who has not left my side. “How did you survive, moy droog?”
“Somehow, I was one of the few who wasn’t thrown from the train. Thankfully, it hit a huge boulder and came to a stop before we went over the cliff. Everyone who remained inside made it out alive.”
I shake my head, realizing how close I came to losing him, as well.
“I’m sorry, comrade.”
He looks at me oddly. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. It was an accident.”
“You are wrong.”
Thane furrows his brow and says more firmly, “Nyet.”
I burn with shame when I admit, “You were right. We shouldn’t have been on that train. This is my fault.”
Thane leans in close. “There is nothing wrong with visiting a place you’ve dreamed of seeing since you were a boy.”
I shake my head. “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
“I never meant—” he starts to protest.
I hold up my hand to stop him. “It is true, moy droog. I understand now. Not only must I spend this money with purpose, but I must also protect myself at all costs. I do not have the luxury of dying.”
For the first time since the accident, Thane’s expression softens. “Now, that is something I can stand behind.”
Acceptance
Two days later, after being discharged from the hospital, I send my comrade back to the States. Then I head home with Igor.
I am broken by the accident and need time alone to recover. Instead, I find my four brothers waiting for me when I arrive at the mansion.
Staring at the four of them is like looking into a mirror. There is no mistaking we are related because we are all carbon copies of our father.
Rather than showing sympathy for my near-death experience and the loss of my men, they greet me with fury.
“What right do you have to decide our future?” Vlad demands.
I find it telling that he is unconcerned that I almost died. I suspect a few of my brothers would have preferred it if I had. I stand straighter in response, despite the sharp pain caused by my injuries. I refuse to show any sign of weakness in front of them.
“You decide your future, not I,” I snarl.
“Bullshit! You have our financial lives in your hands.”
I narrow my eyes. “No. You are the ones responsible for providing for your families.”
“Does that mean you plan to rob us of the stipend?” Andrev demands.
I huff with disgust. “No one is robbing you, Andrev. Explain how I can steal something from you that you do not own. The inheritance is mine, and the stipends come from that
inheritance.”
“So, you do mean to stop it?” my youngest brother Pavel cries out.
“Don’t do this, Anton,” Timur warns me.
I shake my head, appalled at all four of my brothers for acting like helpless babes. Being a sadist, I feel an urge to rile them. “You are all able-bodied men. There is no reason you should live off the teat of my inheritance when you are capable of work.”
Andrev’s face grows red as he shoves me in the chest. “Don’t insult us, whipping boy.”
I react without thinking and sock him in the jaw. The pain in my back is excruciating, but I watch with satisfaction as he drops to the floor.
When Vlad rushes me, I stand my ground with a smirk on my lips. I am happy to teach him the same lesson.
“Stop!” Timur yells when Vlad pulls his fist back.
To my disappointment, I watch my older brother lower his arm. However, his gaze still burns with rage.
After Pavel helps Andrev back on his feet, the idiot goes for me again.
“I could take you—and all three of them—at once. You know that, don’t you?” I warn.
Looking at each of my brothers in disgust, I tell them, “I find your actions strange when I am the one in charge of the money. Instead of groveling at my feet the way you did with Father, you choose to attack me instead.”
Timur suddenly looks remorseful, then glances at Andrev and Vlad. “Anton is right. This is not how family treats each other.”
“I do not consider you family,” Vlad states, spitting at my feet.
“Good to know where your loyalties lie…brother,” I reply with biting sarcasm.
I turn to Andrev next. “Do you have something to add?”
“If you do this, you will not only be hurting us but our children. Mother would not approve. Family always came first with her.”
I deeply resent him bringing up our mother when he defended the man who killed her.
“You do not have the right to speak of her,” I growl. Turning to all my brothers, I yell, “None of you do!”
Timur, who has always been the most reasonable of my brothers, addresses me. “You will always be my brother, no matter how you treat us. But, I am begging you, Anton. Do not forsake our families in your need for revenge.”
My eyes narrow. “This is not about revenge, Timur. This is about the four of you becoming men. You have been coddled like children and look at what it’s done to you.”
