Chapter 4 #3
Tensing, Kira glanced to her right to find Jarek engrossed in the contents of an actual-to-goodness physical book.
"When you apprehend the types of criminals we do, you learn to embrace the element of surprise,” Jarek commented, not bothering to glance up from the antique he was perusing.
Kira was a little taken aback.
With the advent of space travel, physical books had become a rarity. Most humans preferred to consume their entertainment via personal computer devices like scrolls and tablets rather than allot precious space that could be used for other necessities. Like food.
Nowadays, only the very rich or those colonies who avoided technology collected books.
She had assumed it was the same for the Tuann.
To Kira’s untrained eyes, the book Jarek held looked positively ancient.
The pages were yellowing and coated in some substance that gave them a matte sheen.
She suspected it was to protect them from further degradation.
The book’s cover and binding looked equally worn with dark splotches that she thought might be stains marring its surface.
“Though I’ll admit, the number of times you’ve fallen prey to the tactic is a touch concerning.” Jarek lowered the book to fix unnerving silver-colored eyes on Kira. “Not going to ask where you are?”
Ignoring the protest in her body, Kira pushed herself up to sitting.
She winced as her bicep throbbed.
Funny—she didn’t remember taking any blows to it.
Pushing the irritant out of her mind, she glanced around with little interest. “I already know where I am. This is a cell in the Inquisitor’s Hold.”
She had guessed that even before opening her eyes. The cold, hard ground and chilly air had been a dead giveaway. The sight of smooth stone and a drab ceiling had only confirmed her suspicion.
“I take it this isn’t your first visit then,” Jarek guessed with a knowing look in his eyes.
“I can neither confirm nor deny.”
She suspected the security would be better than last time though. The inquisitors wouldn’t want another jail break.
Jarek’s quiet chuckle told her he was on to her game. “The Inquisitor’s Hold is where we keep our prisoners.”
“Is that what I am now? A prisoner?” She looked Jarek over. “Does that make you my jailer?”
“If it makes you feel better.”
“It doesn’t.”
Nothing about this situation made her feel good.
She wanted to be with Roake. Not stuck here playing hostage.
Kira scanned the cell, finding it interesting that despite the presence of a bed in the corner she’d been left to wake on the ground.
Someone—Sariah, she was betting—held a grudge.
“You looked like you were having a bad dream earlier. Want to tell me about it?”
Kira glanced up to find Jarek’s probing gaze on her. “Now, why would I want to do that?”
Jarek wasn’t her friend. He wasn’t her confidant either. He was a stranger who’d sought to kill her best friend. In Kira’s experience, people like that never really changed. Not their core selves anyway. At least not easily and not without a ton of hardship to spur their growth.
She was betting if given half a chance Jarek would try to finish what he started—destroying what he viewed as a threat.
In this case, Jin.
“You realize I’m not your enemy.”
“You’re Jin’s enemy; that makes you mine.”
Jarek shook his head, exhaling a soft, pitying sigh. “You don’t understand.”
“You’re damn right I don’t.”
That would never change.
“You hate me for what I tried to do, but have you ever considered that I may have had my reasons?” Jarek’s expression was open and earnest. “You consider the soul-bound a friend. It’s admirable how protective you are.
But then, you’re very young. And so is he.
There hasn’t been time for either of you to experience the full horror of his condition. ”
From the way he spoke, it sounded like he thought that would change.
Jarek set a hand on the stack of books that Kira hadn’t noticed by his side.
“These are accounts of the soul bound going back thousands of years. In them, not a single one maintains their sanity for longer than a few decades. I’ve read the records of what happened next.
It’s not something you want for someone you profess to care about. ”
Kira’s gaze darted to the stack of books, curious in spite of herself. There was a lot of mystery surrounding what Jin was. These books might contain answers. Even now, when his circumstances had changed.
Suspicious, Kira frowned at Jarek. “You talk like you think Jin is still a danger. He’s not.”
He was Tuann now. Any threat of insanity should be gone.
“Is that what you think?” Jarek probed.
“It’s what I know.”
Jarek considered Kira before giving his head a tiny shake. “The crucible of life has a way of impressing on us the most enduring of lessons.”
Kira frowned, her gaze following Jarek as he rose. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll leave the books for your edification. There’s also an account from the last Tuann to kill an Osiri. I think you’ll find the contents interesting.”
“Hey! You never answered my question!” Kira called as the door to the cell opened and Jarek stepped outside.
The inquisitor glanced back at her. “Everything is so simple to you.”
Kira rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a fool. Nothing is ever simple.”
But it wasn’t that complicated either. For Kira, it boiled down to sides. Jin and Kira’s—and anyone who meant them harm.
“You can try to escape but upgrades have been made to prevent further prison breaks.” Jarek nodded at someone out of sight. “I suggest you settle in. You might be here awhile.”
The door to the cell reformed, fading back into stone within seconds.
“You could have at least told me if Jin was okay,” Kira complained.
Would that have been too much to ask?
With a muffled groan, Kira picked herself up off the floor, taking a moment to stretch out the kinks before settling onto the bed and lying back to stare at the ceiling.
Jarek had gotten one thing right. This was going to be a long wait.