He blinked. “What?”
“You gave me the idea. Back in Toronto. When you said I should start cultivating relationships with newspapers by selling off those corrupt INHUP names. So we could more easily release any information we got from Tácunan Law.”
“Yeah . . .” He frowned. “What about it?”
“Well, I thought about it a bit. I’ve been building a good relationship with an editor from the Washington Post.” She hesitated. “And then I realized I could do something like this.”
She showed him the email she’d been preparing, just in case.
He looked at the email, and his eyes widened. “I wondered why you wanted Pat and me to go to that café. There were so many people and reporters. You’d been trying to keep a low profile . . .”
Nita smiled slightly. “There’s a reason for everything.”
Kovit was silent a long moment. “Why didn’t you tell me what you planned?”
“I didn’t want to mess up your big day with Pat.” She looked away. “And I kind of hoped I’d never have to use this backup plan. For obvious reasons.”
His mouth pressed into a thin line, and his eyes were not quite looking at her. “What happened to discussing plans beforehand?”
She bowed her head, guilt twisting in her chest. How quickly she slipped back into old patterns when she wasn’t thinking. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have told you. I’ll do better.”
“Do you have other plans I don’t know about?” he asked softly.
She shook her head. “No. Just this one.”
“Did you think I would veto it?”
“You still can.” Nita put her phone away. “I haven’t done anything yet. I won’t press Send until you tell me it’s okay. This is your life we’re talking about.”
He closed his eyes for a heartbeat, shaking. Finally, he pulled away from her and looked down at the email.
“If you send this . . .” His voice caught. “Pat will be in as much danger as me. If the mobs find out we’re related, even just that she knows me . . . it paints just as much of a target on her back as on mine.”
“Not just as much,” Nita said, though she’d thought something similar when she’d first crafted this plan. Perhaps that was the real reason she hadn’t talked to him about it—because at its core, it endangered his sister, and Kovit wouldn’t want to do that, even to save his own life. “It’s still a crime to hurt her. Many people won’t want to deal with murder charges.”
“And many won’t care about the consequences.”
“Perhaps.” Nita met his eyes. “But Pat can take care of herself. And besides, she’s your sister. Do you really think she wouldn’t do anything she could to help you?”
He bit his lip. “We can’t make that decision for her.”
“She’s already said as much. She said she’d do anything to help you when I spoke to her.” Nita inclined her head slightly. “But you know her better than me. Do you think she’d take this risk?”
Kovit hesitated, then looked away. “She would. I know she would. But that doesn’t make it right. I can’t . . . I can’t let my sister share my fate.”
Nita let out a long breath, then grabbed Kovit’s chin and turned him to face her. “Kovit. You’re going to die if we don’t discredit the list. We can hide, and we can fight, but we won’t make it. We can’t go small. We have to go big. You’ve already admitted Pat would do this to save you. I’d do anything to save you. Why won’t you let us help you?”
He blinked watery eyes and gave her a soft smile. “Because I’m not willing to trade my life for yours or hers.”
Nita made a frustrated sound. “Please, Kovit. It’s not a trade. It’s just a risk. She hunts unicorns, for fuck’s sake. You really think associating with you is more dangerous than unicorn hunting?” Nita arched an eyebrow. “High opinion of yourself, huh?”
He snort-laughed, then was quiet for a moment. “Do you really think this plan will work?”
“I don’t know.” She tilted his chin up with one finger. “But I’m not going to sit here and let you die. And I think it has a chance, so I damn well want to at least try.”
He pulled away, and stared down at his fisted hands, his whole body still shaking from fear or adrenaline or someone’s pain on the street, Nita didn’t know.
Finally, he whispered, “Okay.”
“Okay what?”
His voice was heavy but firm. “Send it. Let’s try.”
Nita’s body slumped in relief, and she put her hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed. “You’re making the right choice.”
“No, I’m making the selfish choice.” His smile was small and bitter. “But I don’t want to die.”
Her chest tightened.
“You won’t,” she promised, but she was scared she was lying.
Kovit held out his hand, scrolling through the email, taking one last look at the pictures included in it. All of them taken by Nita as insurance when they were in Toronto. Kovit and his sister hugging in the train station, the two of them smiling and laughing as they chatted. A link to the CBC news segment of the café’s anniversary, with Kovit and Pat figuring obviously in the background chatting. And also the pictures of Kovit’s sister talking on the news, the banner underneath advertising her status as an INHUP agent. And lastly, just now, Nita copy-pasted the link to Kovit’s entry on the Dangerous Unnaturals List.
She didn’t say what their relationship was, didn’t draw any conclusions. Just commented, interesting that an INHUP agent is so friendly with a zannie.
Finally, his finger rose, hovering above the Send button. He held Nita’s gaze for a moment, and she saw the fear and guilt battling there together for a moment before the resolve won out and he pressed the button.
She let out a breath as he put the first nail in INHUP’s coffin.
Twenty-One
THEY SAT TOGETHER for a little while, backs against the concrete barrier as Kovit tried to gather himself, wiping his eyes ferociously, as if he could wipe away all the evidence of his humanity. But the more he swiped at them, the redder they looked, and the more broken and human his face became.
Nita just sat next to him, quietly leaning against him for support while he put himself back together. There wasn’t much else she could do.
When he finally took a deep breath and stumbled to his feet, Nita rose with him.
“Ready to go back to the Airbnb?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“I think both of us could use some sleep. We’ve had a long day, and the flight wasn’t ideal for rest. Things will look better once you’ve had a nap.”
He didn’t seem convinced. She linked her arm with his, just to feel his warmth and signal silently to him that she was there, she wasn’t going anywhere. He leaned in, almost as though he was using her as a crutch, even though he didn’t put any of his weight on her, and they headed back.
The return walk was tense. Kovit kept glancing nervously at people, as though expecting them to jump out at him at any moment. His eyes darted around with an almost manic fear in them, and he kept clenching and unclenching his hands.
“Relax,” Nita whispered to him as they crossed the bridge. “The post only just went up, most people won’t have seen it yet. And even if they did, no one would think to look for you here.”
He nodded sharply, but his body remained tense and concerned.
Just in case, though, she bought a pair of sunglasses for him at a stall. With them on, he blended in better, his ethnicity more ambiguous.
When they returned to the Airbnb, Nita double-bolted the door behind them, and Kovit finally let the tension drain from his body.
Fabricio was still tied up on the couch, and he looked up when they arrived, his hair mussed from the nap he presumably had while waiting for them. He tilted his head. “Can someone untie me so I can go to the bathroom?”
Kovit snapped his switchblade out and approached. To Fabricio’s credit, he didn’t flinch at the sight, des
pite everything that had happened to him. He held very still while Kovit cut the duct tape, his whole body tight with tension. Once he was free, he thanked Kovit, went over to the kitchen, put on the kettle, and then went to the bathroom.
Kovit flopped onto the couch where Fabricio had been and put his head in his hands. “What now?”
“We rest.” Nita’s voice was gentle. “Nothing important is happening until tomorrow.”
“But we should . . . I don’t know. Do something?” He sighed. “Do you have any more ideas for what to do next?”
“Maybe,” Nita admitted. “I’ve been thinking on the way back. But nothing will work until the article about you goes online. We need to wait for people to start talking about why an INHUP agent was meeting with you on such friendly terms.”
“When will that happen?”
“Everything I sent is easy to verify, so . . . soon?”
“How soon?”
“Let me check.” Nita pulled out her phone, and sure enough, there was a response from the reporter.
I’ve confirmed the identity of the INHUP agent and zannie through multiple sources. That cafe event sure was popular! Do you have any information on why the two of them were together, and why they seemed so close?
All I can tell you is that INHUP knew about the two of them and looked the other way, Nita replied. I’m sending these pictures out to other sources tonight, so if you want the scoop, you have the rest of today to publish.
She looked up at Kovit. “Not sure. Hopefully this afternoon.”
He nodded and stared down at his hands.
Fabricio exited the bathroom. “What’s this afternoon?”
“Nothing.” Nita’s response was automatic, hiding information a second nature to her.
His tone was skeptical as he went into the kitchen. “Nothing, huh. Doesn’t sound like nothing.”
Kovit swallowed and looked away, and Fabricio looked between him and Nita. “Something happened.”
Nita admitted, “Kovit went up on the Dangerous Unnaturals List.”
“Ah.” The kettle boiled and automatically turned off with a pop. “I see. I’m sorry, Kovit.”
Kovit jerked slightly. “No, you’re not. You’re happy I’m going up on the list. One more monster who the public will righteously kill.”
“Hardly.” Fabricio looked through the cupboards absently. “The list is a scam. The worst monsters have always been able to find a way to buy their way off the list. Just like everything else.”
“But it’ll get rid of me,” Kovit responded.
“So?” Fabricio raised his eyebrows at Kovit as he pulled out packets of tea, and a large bag of maté.
“So that will make you happy.”
“You don’t know me very well if you think that,” Fabricio said placidly.
Kovit blinked, a confused frown forming on his face. “What does that mean?”
Fabricio sighed, clearly not wanting to talk about this. “There are very few things in this world that would make me happy. Your death really isn’t one of them. Would I be relieved if I never had to worry about you hurting me again? Sure. But would I be happy? Not particularly.” His lips pressed into a thin line, and it looked like he was debating saying more before he decided against it. He turned to Nita and asked, “Would you like some tea?”
“So you can poison me with chemicals you found in the bathroom cupboard?” Nita snorted. “No thanks.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not the one who uses poison here.”
“Nonetheless.”
He shrugged. “Would you like something, Kovit?”
Kovit quirked a smile. “Is it actually poisoned?”
Fabricio rolled his eyes. “No. I’ll drink out of it too to make you feel better, if you want.”
Kovit was silent for a long moment as he watched Fabricio before he said, “All right.”
Fabricio turned back and pulled two cups from the pantry. One was a regular mug, which he plopped a tea bag into, and the other was brown and looked more like a little gourd than a mug. He put a metal straw in the gourd with a filter on the bottom.
“What is that?” Kovit asked.
“Maté. I love it, but it’s an acquired taste,” he said, filling both cups with water. The maté cup looked to be ninety percent leaves, ten percent water. No wonder he needed a straw with a filter to drink it. “I figured you’d probably prefer the mint tea packet.” He tilted his head at Kovit. “You’re free to try the maté, though.”
“Is it bitter?” Kovit asked.
“Very. But I’m sure there’s sugar here somewhere.”
“That’s fine. I’ll stick with the mint.”
Fabricio held up the mug to show Kovit and then took a sip. “Good enough?”
Kovit smiled slightly. “I’m satisfied it’s not poisoned.”
Fabricio brought it over to Kovit, holding it carefully in his bandaged hands. Kovit took it and just held it. He looked down into the depths of the tea and finally cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
“You’re not supposed to say that until you’re done.” Fabricio’s voice was light. He seated himself across from them, bringing a thermos full of water with him to refill his maté cup.
Kovit finally looked up. “Why are you being nice to me?”
“I made you tea, that’s all.”
“But why?” Kovit put the cup down. “I’ve hurt you.”
“Yes.” Fabricio sipped his maté. “I recall, thanks.”
“So, why are you being nice to me?”
“Would you prefer I be mean to you, Kovit? Scream and run around the room flailing my arms?”
Kovit snorted softly. “No.”
Fabricio sighed and put down his cup. “Fine. You want to know why I’m being nice to you? I’ll be blunt. I don’t want you to hurt me anymore. I figure if I treat you like a human, maybe you’ll treat me like one.”
A bitter smile crossed Kovit’s face. “So it’s all fake. You’re just pretending I’m human to manipulate me.”
Fabricio gave Kovit an disgusted look. “You are human. I can’t pretend something that’s already true.”
Kovit blinked. “Pardon?”
“I’m just pretending you don’t scare the shit out of me, and I’m trying to pretend what happened in Toronto was a bad dream so I can function normally around you.” Fabricio picked his maté back up and held it close. “But I’m hardly pretending you’re human. That’s just a fact.”
“I’m a zannie.” Kovit’s voice was soft. “Not many people consider that human.”
Fabricio shrugged. “You said you grew up in captivity in the black market, right? No offense, but I don’t think you exactly met the most exemplary side of humanity over there.”
“I met plenty of people who weren’t part of the black market too.” Kovit’s eyes went dead. “They didn’t consider me human either.”
Fabricio’s lips quirked. “Ah. Well, if you treat people as less than human, then you shouldn’t be surprised when they treat you the same. You dehumanize them as much as they dehumanize you.”
“So what? You think if I’m nice, they’ll be nice back?” Kovit’s smile was deeply amused. “You’re living in a fantasy world. I eat pain, and that scares people.”
“Sure it does. But lots of people are scary—terrorists, fascists, racists. That doesn’t mean they’re not human, much as some people might wish.” Fabricio’s eyes met Kovit’s. “You’re a sentient, thinking being. You choose who you hurt, and if you hurt someone.” Fabricio made a frustrated noise. “You’re not a fucking avalanche mowing down everything in its path.”
Kovit looked down at his cooling tea. “I think you’re vastly underestimating people’s fear of what I am. I suspect the average person would much rather die in an avalanche than meet me.” Kovit gave him a small smile. “But I appreciate the thought. And the tea. Thank you.” Kovit rose. “I think it’s time I slept some of that jet lag off now.”
Fabricio raised his eyebrows and sipp
ed his tea as he watched Kovit vanish into the bedroom.
Nita stared between Fabricio and Kovit, uneasiness growing. She could see, clear as day, Fabricio’s plan. Humanize himself to Kovit, make himself a real person so Kovit wouldn’t be able to bring himself to hurt Fabricio again.
But Fabricio didn’t understand Kovit’s rules, didn’t know how carefully Kovit had crafted them to keep himself sane, didn’t understand that by twisting and breaking them, Fabricio might inadvertently destroy the glue that had held Kovit together for the last decade. Glue that had started melting when Kovit killed Henry and hadn’t had a chance to properly re-form.
And if that glue melted apart, Nita had no idea what would happen to Kovit. But she didn’t think it would be good.
Twenty-Two
NITA STARED AFTER KOVIT, but didn’t rise.
“That was very well done,” she admitted, looking at Fabricio. “You’ve learned how to pull his strings quickly.”
Fabricio smiled slightly. “I’m good with people.”
“Good at manipulating them, you mean?”
He shrugged. “Isn’t that what all human interactions are? We want people to think certain things, behave certain ways. Believe us to be certain types of people. For example, I imagine you could have hid the fact that Kovit went up on the list from him. Well, for a day or two. But you didn’t want him to think you were lying or hiding things from him. You wanted him to think you were honest and forthright, so you told him when you found out.” He sipped his maté. “Isn’t that a form of manipulation too, then? You wanted him to see you a certain way, so you behaved accordingly.”
Her eyes narrowed, but her palms sweated at the truth of his words. Were her actions truly so transparent? “Not all human interactions are as calculated as you seem to think.”
“No? Perhaps not consciously. But every interaction you have, every decision you make, all of that is subconsciously determined by who you want people to see you as. Or what you want to hide. Or how you want people to perceive others.”
“Maybe in some interactions, but certainly not in all.” Nita’s voice was steady, even as his words burrowed into her mind like weevils. “Some interactions aren’t that complicated.”
When Villains Rise Page 14