In the darkness, Huey Laforet was standing on the roof of a building.
He was fairly high up, but the sharp spire of Ra’s Lance in the distance was higher.
Looking out over the city lights from a rooftop somewhere in Manhattan, the man smiled quietly.
Was it because things were unfolding as he’d expected, or because he was pleased at some unanticipated development? No one knew what that smile meant.
After he’d spent a while taking in the view, he spoke over his shoulder to Salomé Carpenter, a man whose hair was sprinkled with white. “How are the preparations going?”
“Smooth as butter, sir,” the leader of Rhythm responded courteously. Then he asked a question of his own. “Still…are you certain about this? The man from the House of Dormentaire is one thing, but using both of your daughters as ‘decoys’…”
“Chané and Leeza both agreed to it.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I haven’t told them about the entire plan, only that I want them to be decoys. Of course, they have been informed of the mortal danger involved,” Huey replied evenly.
Salomé’s eyes shone. “And they were satisfied with that? Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but it’s rather hard to imagine them being in agreement. Emotionally, Miss Chané’s and Miss Leeza’s personalities are polar opposites.”
“Oh, that isn’t true. Recently, they both seem to have begun integrating emotions to which they aren’t accustomed. If we’re lucky, deepening their involvement with each other may catalyze a change.”
“Splendid…! I’d expect no less of the ultimate masterpieces you and Renee Parmedes Branvillier created! They were raised as humans, but they’re practically as uncomplicated as homunculi. Whatever emotions they ultimately acquire, I imagine they’ll be fine samples for the homunculi Rhythm produces!” When Salomé had finished his excited rant, all expression abruptly left his face. “By the way. Which one do you intend to present to Madam Renee?”
“Frankly, I haven’t decided yet.” Huey’s faint smile didn’t even flicker. “I may change my answer depending on how this incident affects the emotional integration I mentioned earlier. If circumstances call for it, I could give both of them to Renee. Breaking my promise and giving her neither is also an option.” His words were cold and wily, striking a contrast to his tranquil expression.
“I see…”
“Well, it all hinges on the results of this experiment.” Huey took a rather large jar out of his jacket pocket.
Inside was an eyeball.
As he watched it squirm, attempting to return to its owner, Huey went on. “After all, she seems to be in town as well.”
At that, Salomé dipped his head courteously. “I see. I can’t afford to disgrace myself in front of my venerable leaders… I’ll return to put the finishing touches on the preparations.”
“Yes, please do. I’ll get a little more fresh air, then join you.”
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For a few minutes after Salomé left, Huey walked around the roof, gazing at the city. He didn’t seem to be taking the air so much as observing the heavens, with the scattered lights of the town as stars.
“……”
Sensing someone behind him, Huey turned around.
A man was standing in front of the door that led from the roof back into the building. There was no telling how long he’d been there. He seemed to blend into the faint light from the moon.
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“Hello there. It’s been a long time.”
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The man greeted Huey as if he were an old friend.
Huey looked at the other man’s face, then shrugged and returned his greeting. “Yes, it has. I thought you might be in town.”
However, as far as Huey was concerned, this was no friend.
“Scheming again, Fermet?”
He was a mortal enemy who had tormented and killed the woman Huey loved.
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“My, what an awful thing to say. I’m not one for scheming. That’s your specialty, isn’t it?”
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With an unpleasant grin, Fermet quietly stepped forward. Passing Huey, he set a hand on the rooftop railing and gazed out over the city. A finger twirled around his thick bangs as he went on with audible amusement. “I don’t feel that I’m plotting anything. I’m just bringing about the things I want to see. Would you call it a ‘plot’ if a child dropped candy in the dirt so he could watch some ants?”
“If the candy were covered in insecticide, yes, I believe I would.” Even though the man who’d killed his lover was standing right behind him, Huey’s tone didn’t change.
Fermet shrugged at the jab, but maybe he couldn’t argue with it. Instead, he changed the subject. “And? That Elmer fellow isn’t in town, is he? I doubt it.”
“I really couldn’t say. It’s impossible to predict what he will do.”
“I ran into him on a train once, on my way to this very city… What an awful time that was.” Fermet shook his head, looking extremely put out.
The quality of Huey’s smile changed very slightly—so subtly that even he didn’t notice it. “Our lives are long, and paths will cross. No doubt he’d suggest a smile to celebrate the twist of fate.”
“……”
Imagining the face of a certain immortal, Fermet tsked softly. “Well, that’s fine. If he does come, I’ll just make myself scarce. After all, I’m only the audience.”
“The audience?”
“Yes. I’m just here to watch.” The same nasty smile Fermet had worn earlier returned to his face. “You’ve spent several years setting up this experiment. Will it bear fruit, or will it all end in vain? How will you react when it happens? What will bring despair to the sweet little children you’ve forced to participate, and what will give them hope? I can’t wait! Oh, I’m looking forward to it! Just fantasizing about it has me all excited!” Fermet said with twisted glee.
Still smiling, Huey shook his head. “You haven’t changed.”
Keeping his back to the other man—he asked him a question.
“Were you smiling like that when you stabbed Monica?”