You know, change isn't free, Kate. There's always a price to pay to get what you want.
It's only later—much later, after Carlos has been scattered to the four winds, after Seth knocks him on his ass in front of his people, after returning to the blood well and finding a large amount of Kate's blood but no Kate—that Richie feels the sharp, bitter irony of his words.
His price was Kate, or maybe just a future that included her. He can't place why she was so important to him; she was just a girl he only spent a handful of hours with, most of them holding her and her family hostage.
But he remembers seeing her for the first time, so tiny in that pool that bright summer day, water reflected gold like she was floating in pure sunshine. Seeing her climb out of the pool, watching him warily, and realizing that it wasn't just the water's reflection that made her glow—it was just her.
There had been the twinge of concern before that, though, when it looked like there was more blood in the water than it seemed her body should hold.
And he remembers a sweet, gentle kiss, freely offered, followed by a less gentle kiss, stolen.
She had felt like everything.
He sits in Malvado's office—his office, now—and broods. His throne is tainted, stained with innocent blood. His throat tightens with grief.
"I'm sorry about Kate."
The voice startles him out of his thoughts, due only in small part to the interruption itself and more to the fact that it's Santánico apologizing. He would never have pegged her as the comforting type.
He doesn't respond. She slowly steps further into the office, looking around with distaste written plainly on her face, until she's just on the other side of the desk.
"I know how much she meant to you," she continues gently.
Anger flares within him, scorching hot, to replace the sorrow. His words are a sneer that make her flinch and he's almost glad to see it. The spot in his heart where he thinks Kate should be is raw and tender, making him feel exposed, and he doesn't like Santánico poking at it.
"How the fuck would you know what she meant to me?"
"How the fuck could I not, Richard?" Santánico's anger matches his own. "Blood is the conduit of the soul, remember? Your head was full of her when I changed you."
He shouldn't be surprised, because he does know that, but—"It never bothered you?"
His intrinsic curiosity gets the better of him, and he has to know, wants to take in every bit of information he can in an attempt to know her better. Their connection had been forced, but it is still a connection, and Santánico means something to him, too, even if he's not sure what.
"I didn't love you, I just needed you for my own ends," she admits baldly. "You were at my side and Kate was far away. It was enough."
He wants to ask what she would have done with him once Malvado was dead, before he took the piece of the pie offered to him. But she's shaking her head, her long dark hair falling into her face, and she keeps speaking.
"Be better than them, Richard," she says softly, gesturing widely around her at the office. He knows who she means. "Be someone Kate would have been proud of."
This time, it's Richie that flinches. Santánico turns to walk away.
"She told me to burn in hell. She'd never be proud of me."
The admission is sour and unexpected, even to him, tearing from his throat like something filthy he needs to fling away. Santánico stops, facing him again. Richie is confused by the small, fond smile he sees playing on her mouth.
"I think I would have liked Kate very much," she murmurs. Her dark eyes find his. "I stand by what I said. It's never too late to change. To grow."
He lets her leave this time, her words rolling around in his head, joined soon after by the memories he keeps close, of Kate, of what he saw in her blood. He allows the two trains of thought to collide, to merge.
Everything has changed and he's already paid. His price was Kate, or maybe just a future that included her.
But he can honor her in his own way in that future.
He can. And he will.
NOTES: Her name is Kisa, but at this point, Richie still thinks of her as Santánico, so that's what we're going with. Let me know what you think!