Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 66: Hell Hath No Fury...



Word quickly reached the Fatherland of the assassination of the attempt on Bruno's life while in the streets of Saint Petersburg. While Russia was currently in a civil war, Saint Petersburg was considered a stronghold of the Tsar and his Loyalists, especially after the Siege it endured in the past few months.

After all, anyone even remotely suspected of having loyalty to the Bolsheviks, or even sympathy for that matter had been dragged from their homes and shot in the streets. Because of this, it was considered relatively safe. Or at least as safe as an area could be in a country currently embroiled in a civil war.

Still, in the middle of broad daylight, a man had shot the leader of the Iron Brigade in a botched assassination attempt. And this had generated many headlines. Luckily for Bruno a habit of his that was utterly detrimental to his health had ironically saved his life.

Bruno was, after all, a man who relied heavily on substance abuse to cope with his increasing PTSD. And it was because of this that he kept a pack of cigarettes and a flask of hard liquor on him at all times. This steel flask had taken the primary impact of the bullet, allowing it to just barely penetrate his flesh at a depth that was not lethal.

He had survived the attack on his life, and rumor had it the man had chased down his assailant and beat him half to death after having quite literally just been shot in the chest. The reality of the situation was that the would be assassin was already caught by Bruno's guards when the man vented his rage upon him.

But soldiers had a way of exaggerating things, and the tale which the soldiers spun was quickly over time morphed into something more myth than reality. Even so, the Wolf of Prussia had gained a reputation for being both "impervious to bullets" and ruthless in retaliation.

Of course, the would be assassin, after being discharged from the hospital was transferred into the care of the German Army's Foreign Intelligence division. Who did a number on the man in order to get the truth to him? The man tried his best to bite his tongue, but ultimately he gave up everything he had on his masters and their plans to eliminate Bruno from the chessboard.

Naturally, when the Kaiser learned that the French had dared to try to assassinate one of his Generals he was pissed. He had after all invested a significant sum of resources into Bruno's development as a general.

But the Kaiser's fury paled in comparison to that of Bruno's wife. Heidi was quickly alerted to what had happened. And when she did, she kept in contact with her cousin who worked at the German Army's Foreign Intelligence Division. The man kept her up to date on all the latest information gained from their victim.

And in the end, after he had divulged everything he knew, Heidi's reaction would have been terrifying had anyone witnessed it. The normally timid and submissive housewife had a haunting expression on her otherwise flawless face. One that conveyed an urge to personally flay the flesh from the bones of the man who had dared to try to take her husband away from her and her young children.

But she did not immediately respond to the words spoken by her cousin who was on the other end of the line. Remaining silent for a long time, long enough to provoke a response from the man she was speaking to.

"Heidi, are you alright..."

Heidi finally snapped back to reality, as she asked a question to the man, and in a way that deeply unnerved him.

"Hey... You once said that you would do anything I ask, right? After what I did for your sister, you said you owe me in more ways than I could possibly imagine, right?"

Despite having previously said these words, and with full intent behind them. Heidi's cousin couldn't help but feel something dreadful coming from the woman on the other end of the line. And it was perhaps because of this that his tone was filled with anxiety as he responded to her questions.

"Yeah.. Of course... So long as it is in my power, I will help you with whatever you desire... What exactly are you thinking Heidi? Isn't your husband resting in the other room after being injured? You should go tend to him rather than ask whatever it is you are about to ask!"

Heidi, of course didn't hear what the man had said. She was in a murderous trance, and because of this the words she spoke were filled with such hostility.

"Promise me.... Promise me that this man who dared to attack my husband... Promise me that his death will be slow and painful... I want him to suffer hell itself before you send him to where he belongs..."

Heidi did not wait for a response, and instead hung up on her cousin. Immediately shifting back to her normal loving and cheerful self as she rushed into the other room to tend to Bruno, who was lying in bed taking it easy after the doctors told him he was not going back to Saint Petersburg until after his wounds healed.

This was the Kaiser's orders, after all. And because of this, Bruno had no choice but to leave the Iron Brigade's affairs in the command of the Officer ranked directly beneath him. Bruno wasn't seriously injured, at least not enough to actually be bedridden. But for whatever reason those around him were treating him as such.

With Heidi coming in to change his bandage and disinfect his wound with alcohol. Not that it really needed such treatment.

"Are you feeling alright? Do you want something for the pain? I can fetch you some alcohol, or perhaps some opium, if you really need it!"

Bruno scoffed. Pain? The bullet had penetrated less than an inch into his flesh. Hell, when the doctor pulled it out of him, it was the bottom of it was quite literally visibly poking out of his flesh. It was a minor injury, one barely worth mentioning.

Why was everyone acting as if he was terminally fucking ill? Bruno, of course had no idea that Heidi had just ensured his would be assassin's death would be as slow and painful of a process as possible. Not that the sadistic psychopaths who worked as interrogators for the German Reich would really mind the extra effort.

It was an era before torturing prisoners for information was considered immoral, unethical, or illegal. Because of this, a very special breed of nut job usually ended up employed in such a profession. And they would enjoy every moment of it.

Still, Bruno didn't want to express how he was annoyed with the way his wife was babying him, and thus forced a smile as he shook his head assuring her he was alright.

"Heidi, I'm fine honestly. I don't know why you are all overreacting. This wouldn't be the first time I.... Nearly lost my life..."

Bruno was just about to say this wouldn't be the first time he died. But caught himself midway through. I mean compared to actually dying in his past life, a near death experience was nothing all that traumatic.

Of course, this was not exactly a response Heidi was looking for either. Her mood immediately becoming dark as she interrogated the man on when else he nearly lost his life.

"What? When? Where? Was it those yellow fucking bastards? Did they nearly get you killed in Manchuria? Don't worry honey, I'll make sure they pay for their sins!"

Bruno had never seen such a crazed side of his wife before. She had never actually used profanity in front of the man before. And because of this, he was taken aback as he grabbed hold of her hands and brought her back to a state of normalcy.

"I'm being hyperbolic here Heidi, relax, okay? Everything is fine! I'm fine! You don't need to worry so much."

Heidi once more returned to her usual self as she clung to Bruno and held him tightly. Saying things to him that were not necessarily reassuring to the man.

"I'm sorry honey, I over reacted just now... It's just after everything that has happened... After your injury... I've been worrying about what would happen if I lost you! If the kids lost you! I....

I don't know how I would go on without you!"

Bruno ultimately decided to treat this statement as if it was one of affection, and not something he should be worried about. Because of this, he pet the woman's golden hair and comforted her.

No doubt she was shaken up after what happened to him. And until now, he had done a poor job at easing her anxiety. Because of this, Bruno would spend much of the day in bed cuddling

with his wife.