[Author’s Note: This episode is from Karkov's perspective.]
Rin showed no emotion and remained very still.
“I told the truth initially when I said he was dead,” Karkov clarified, though it sounded a bit defensive.
Something about Rin’s silence bothered him. Whether now or earlier, he clearly had lied to her after their agreement. Yet she hadn’t exploded in anger or accused him of deception or tried to use the sphere on him. This was what disturbed him. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
When she finally spoke, Rin’s voice was quiet, almost resigned. “Then I return to my earlier question, which is once more applicable. Why? Even if you couldn’t bargain, he surely was worth more alive than dead.”
“I told you before. I did it for you. For love.”
“Do you really hate me that much?”
There was an unexpected sadness in Rin’s words, and Karkov studied her face. “It would make sense. You killed my lover, so I killed yours.”
“That’s what all this was about? Revenge for something which occurred thousands of years ago? Even after burying me alive for two centuries, you still harbor some petty grudge?” Her contempt was palpable.
“No, I said that would make sense. It’s not the reason I did it, though. I never held that against you. Truth be told, I was relieved when you killed her and wondered what took you so long. I was beginning to think you didn’t care anymore. The reason I killed Darrouil was entirely unrelated to that or any other feud between us, great or small. I simply wanted to spare you the pain.”
“You have a very odd way of sparing me pain.”
“You have a very odd way of causing yourself pain. I saved you from having to kill your own love.”
Rin’s face twisted in pure malice. “Don’t worry. I’m happy to kill my own love.”
“Me? You still love me? Why didn’t you just say so, my dear? We can renew our vows and live happily ever after. And I do mean ever.” Karkov stood and did a little jig to illustrate the point. This had the desired effect, and Rin struggled to keep from laughing. Her expression returned to normal, and she sighed.
“Sit down, you schmuck. I don’t love you or hate you. You are to me as a human is to you.”
“Ouch.”
“I simply will do what I must do. As for Daryl, I do not love humans.”
Karkov burst into laughter. “I think your last attack on our humble Capital made that clear. Do you have any idea what the body count was?”
Rin shrugged, and he smiled knowingly. “But you do love him, deny it as you will.”
“Think what you wish. I expect you’ll have an eternity to mull over such things, between the pangs of agony.”
“There will be a ‘between’ pangs? You’re losing your touch. I expected nothing less than nonstop hell-fire.”
Rin looked at him. “Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed. I aim to please.”
“Yes, but can you deliver?”
She held up the sphere meaningfully, but Karkov ignored her. “You don’t deny it, then?” he asked.
“Deny what?” Rin clearly was taken aback by the sudden accusation.
“That you were going to kill your love.” Karkov dismissed her brewing objection with an impatient wave of his hand. “Or whatever he is.”
Rin shrugged. “Probably. I hadn’t decided.”
“So, this whole thing …,” he gestured expansively, “was part of an actual plan? You sent him to meet the most dangerous man in the world because you really thought he could help?”
Rin gave a snort of naked derision. “He did, didn’t he? You’re here and I’m here, so mission accomplished. And ‘most dangerous man in the world’? You have a rather high opinion of yourself.”
Karkov shrugged. “Someone has to.”
This elicited a chuckle, and he decided to press the point. “Admit it, you sent him here in the hope that he wouldn’t make it to your rendezvous. Did you even have a plan if he did? Don’t bother answering. I’m sure it was a ridiculous one.”
“I told you, I hadn’t decided.”
Karkov gave her a skeptical look, but she was absentmindedly gazing at a shelf on the wall. After a few moments, her attention returned to him.
“Yes, I was going to kill Daryl. It was getting too complicated, and he eventually would have gotten in the way.”
“You couldn’t just give him the old heave-ho, take back your CDs, change your phone number?”
“That never works.”
“No, I suppose not.” Karkov gave Rin a sidelong glance. “And you just were going to kill him?”
“What else would I do?” she snapped. “Besides, why do you care?”
“Well, he was working for me.” Karkov covered his mouth in chagrin. “Oops, did I say that out loud. I guess maybe you’ll have to encumber a human now. Would that qualify as breaking your vow?”
To his surprise, Rin barely reacted to this. “I see. So I was right earlier. It all was a game. A game with a very sad ending for you.” The threat felt half-hearted, almost obligatory.
“And what would you have done, knowing that? Would it have changed his ending?” Karkov prodded.
“Does it matter? He’s dead.” Rin suddenly seemed very tired. She put the sphere away and sat down, not the reaction he had been expecting.
“But if he wasn’t dead?”
“Why does it matter so much to you?” she grumbled.
“Indulge me.”
Rin shrugged. “Thanks to you, we’ll never know.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true,” Karkov considered. “I’m just curious whether you’d break your vow over something like that.”
“What vow? You’ve mentioned this ‘vow’ several times. You probably think you’re being clever, but you sound like an idiot. I really have no idea what you’re talking about. What nonsense has filled that tiny little head of yours?”
Karkov smiled. “The vow you made long ago never to create another immortal. Sree told me about it.”
Rin glared at him. “Is there anything this sister of mine didn’t tell you?”
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, would I?”
“If I’d known I was on conference call the whole time, I would have been more careful what I said to her. Who can I speak freely to if not my own damned sister?”
Karkov offered his most winning grin. “Why, your devoted husband, of course.”
Getting no response, he adopted a wry expression. “Well I’m no expert on relationships, but if you wanted somebody to speak freely with you probably shouldn’t have killed her.”
Even now, Karkov wasn’t prepared for the venomous glare he received. Fortunately, it passed as quickly as it appeared. With a defeated air, Rin looked away.
When she spoke, it was in a cold but calm voice. “Why does this supposed vow interest you so much? So what if I did make such a promise to myself? That has nothing to do with you or anyone else.”
“I wonder if, given ample motivation, you’d create a new immortal just to destroy him.”
“Create one? You want to know whether I would directly encumber a mortal?” Rin scowled, though with little energy. “I’m not sure what the point would be, but why the hell do you care?”
“Just idle curiosity, I suppose.”
She gave him an icy stare. “Then you should have kept him alive to find out.”
Karkov chuckled. “Yeah, I probably should have.” Was her reply a tacit acknowledgment of the vow, or had Rin simply grown tired of arguing? He waited a moment, but she said nothing.
“He didn’t, you know.”
“Didn’t what?” Rin’s reply was distracted. She clearly had lost interest in the conversation and was engrossed in her own thoughts.
“Didn’t work for me.”
Her attention returned to Karkov. “Are you lying?”
“Why would I lie? He’s dead.”
“Same reason you did before. One or the other is a lie.”
“I wanted to see how you would react. But no, he didn’t work for me. Not per se.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Per se? What the hell does that mean? Was he a scum-sucking traitor or not?”
“Not,” Karkov replied emphatically. “Buuuuuut, I did guide him to you.”
“No, Sree did that. You’re not Sree. Let me explain the difference. She asked me to encumber her but I did not wish to. You begged me not to but I very much wish to. In fact, I want nothing more.”
“No, before then. Originally. I’m the one who sent him your way,” Karkov explained. To his disappointment, Rin didn’t appear at all surprised. He had savored making that revelation for some time.
“Well that makes sense, I suppose. I always suspected that was how he found me, though he seemed unaware of it. But why? What could you possibly gain from it?” There was a quiet hurt in Rin’s voice.
Karkov shook his head sadly. “You really have a low opinion of me.”
“Couldn’t get lower.”
“Well, it’s not all about me. I found him alive in the wreckage after your rampage.”
“It hardly was a rampage. I simply took a stroll through the Capital. Sure I had to quiet a few barking dogs along the way, but you had inadequate leash laws.”
Karkov smiled. “Why did you spare him, I wondered. Why of all these kids, was he the one you let live. I tried to ask him, but he had no answers. Nonetheless, I did discover something important. You stripped and toyed with him. In fact, you almost fucked him.”
Rin shrugged. “But I didn’t.”
“Probably because you were in a hurry.”
“Does that bother you?” she inquired coquettishly.