Killing Eve: Bloodline (15)

The fifteenth episode of a new Killing Eve adventure, published exclusively on Substack

            I'm pleased at the impact I had, crashing the house in Kensington Palace Gardens and demanding answers from Nikolai Dominik and his pals. I definitely seized the initiative there. Thrilling to see that silly cow Polastri so flustered. Even Fernandes looked  gobsmacked. Full marks, Balice. Ballsy move.

            But I have the nagging suspicion that the important questions remain unanswered. What exactly do the Dominiks want from Villanelle (always nice to see her, faithless bitch that she is) and why's she there? My concern is that the answers that I was given by Dominik and his entourage were neither accurate nor complete. The man himself is clearly as untrustworthy as he is corrupt. Sanctify, he claims, is an operation designed to siphon millions of pounds from London to the election war chest of Anna Volkonskaya. While all too credible, this plan is surely only part of the story. I pretended to buy it, but Dominik's clearly holding out on me, so I see no reason to honour my side of any agreement between us.

            A secondary irritant is a typically deranged article published in the Kremlin-friendly Golos Moskvy. According to the online edition, two Russian tourists, Andris Popov and Evgeny Chupkov, both avid fans of Victorian church architecture, visited the Poodlefaker nightclub to relax after a long day of ecclesiastical sightseeing. There, the article claims:

           ‘ ...they were subjected to an unprovoked assault by a gang of dwarfs. It is not known if these wicked creatures were acting independently or on the orders of NATO, but the attack left Popov dead and Chupkov so badly traumatised that he is unlikely to recover. In Britain, dwarfs are believed to have supernatural powers, including the ability to summon dragons and to become invisible.

            ‘In an act of blatant anti-Russian provocation the UK government has announced that the dwarfs in question are to be recommended for a gallantry award. Interviewed in the Daily Telegraph, Dave Gadney claimed that he and his fellow dwarfs had 'acted instinctively' to 'neutralise the threat', adding that they would all be appearing in a production of Snow White at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth (a provincial seaport) this December.'

            The thing I can't make sense of is why the Kremlin would want to send a couple of Second Directorate goons to kidnap the Dominik boy. Does the fact that Villanelle was there mean that Nikolai was anticipating something of the sort? What's the connection?

            Her thoughts are interrupted by a buzzing from her bag.

            'Balice it's Bili. Bili Ilieva.'

            'Hello Bili.'

            'Why you not ring me?'

            Balice stares at her phone. 'I'm sorry, Bili, I've been busy.'

            'You not miss?'

            'Um...'

            'We meet tonight?

            'I'd love to Bili, but-'

            'Eight o'clock at gym, then. We have date, OK.' 

---

         

---

'Tell us about Sanctify,' Eve says. 'We need to know the whole truth, if we're going to keep you safe.'

            Valentin shifts uncomfortably. 'I think I'm going to ask my father to do that. I've given him my word, you see.'

            Eve nods. 'That's fine. But tell me one thing. Whatever Sanctify is, are you taking part in it willingly?'

            Valentin frowns. He looks harassed and frail, older than his twenty-six years. 'I don't know any more,' he says, drawing the black silk robe around his narrow shoulders. 'I just don't know. I'll get my father.'

            They watch him climb the steps and go inside. 'What's wrong?' Villanelle asks, as soon as he's out of earshot.

            Eve closes her eyes. 'Don't you get it? Still?'

            'Get what?'

            'The way it makes me feel when that vile woman's literally all over you. And you let it happen.'

            'I didn't let it happen.'

            'You didn't stop it. You let her claim you like some sort of… trophy. She wants the whole world, and most particularly me, to know that she's had you. And could have you again.'

            'She couldn't. I made it clear I'm with you. You know I don't want her.'

            'Oxana, please. Please. Ask yourself. When something like that happens, how do you think I feel?'

            'You know I don’t-'

            'Yes, I do know, sort of, but knowing doesn't stop me feeling. It's not logical. It hurts. You hurt me.'

            Villanelle's eyes flicker. She touches her lip with her tongue. 'I'm sorry,' she whispers.

            Eve looks at her despairingly. 'You get jealous over literally nothing. Can't you-'

            'I don't get jealous. I just get angry when you...'

            'When I what?'

            'I get angry when you make me jealous.'

            'So imagine how I feel.'

            Villanelle stands there, unmoving.

            'Angel.' Eve sighs. 'You're so clever. So subtle. Be clever and subtle about me. You have my love. You have my life. Value these things.'

             Nikolai walks into the garden, followed by Valentin. As he descends the steps, he looks about him with the air of a man habitually worried about being overheard. 'My son tells me we have something to discuss,' he says to Eve. He glances with fleeting concern at Villanelle 'Are you all right?'

            'Fine.' She blinks. 'Itchy eyes.'