The boy is tall, probably over six feet, with pale skin and black hair and full, rose-coloured lips. He is classically beautiful, and the first thing he says to me is, My name is Ren. It’s nice to meet you.
The girl grins impishly at me. I’m Maiko, but you can call me Mai.
There’s really just the small, tiny matter of . . .
Who the fuck are you guys ?
Maybe these are my nurses ? Although, honestly, neither of them are dressed that way. The boy has a dangling earring in one ear, and he is wearing fitted silk pants. The girl has a septum piercing and white streaks in her hair.
Like hell these are my doctors.
The girl tilts her head. What, Veah didn’t tell you about us ?
She elbows the boy. Ren.
Was she supposed to ? I ask hesitantly, but it appears neither of them are listening.
What a fucker, MaikoMaisays. She has some nerve, not telling people about her best friends. I mean, it’s not like we’re her favourite people in the world. I think we’ve bailed her out of prison like, seven times.
We’ve never bailed her out of prison, Ren informs her. That idiot just slaughters the police and breaks out herself.
Mai shrugs. Semantics. We’re her best friends.
I have to take a step back. Best friends ? Veah never told me anything about these people. Maybe this is a trap. Maybe
Relax, Ren says, holding out his hands in a calming way. We’re not an ambush. He shoves Mai. Look, you’re scaring her.
No, no, it’s fine, I say breathlessly, backing up until I hit the glass.
You’re such a prick, Maiko tells Ren. You terrified the poor girl. What did I say about casually threatening to murder people ?
I’m sorry I’m a better assassin than you.
If you were a better assassin than me, I’d be dead. And then who would you bicker with on a daily basis ?
Well, since pretty much even a pigeon is more intellectually stimulating than you . . .
Fuck you. I hope you find a pigeon and fuck it, too.
Bestiality ? That’s low, Mai. Even for you.
Your tiny dick would probably fit perfectly inside it anyway.
How many times do I have to tell you my dick isn’t little ? And that’s offensive.
Mai crosses her arms. Until you prove it to me, I’m just going to have to believe otherwise.
Somehow, I get the sense that she’s flirting.
And maybe he is, too.
The girl pries her attention away from Ren. Sorry about that, she tells me. We’re not an ambush, I promise. We know about Project Basilisk is . . . the Wyvern, the Drakon. I swear we’re not here to murder you.
The dragon thing again.
What about the Wyvern ? I ask, narrowing my eyes.
You know, the meth lab in the church.
No, I definitely don’t know. I blink at her. The meth lab in the church ?
It’s where they’re making the Wyvern, she says, and the glint in her eye fades. She is solemn now. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It’s bad.
Ren is serious now, too. It’s the newest thing they’ve got. But it’s different this time. They have a trade deal with Europe, and they’re going to mass produce it.
What are they talking about ?
I can’t let on that I have no idea. It seems like they both think I’m already aware of everything.
And the Drakon ? I ask.
The firewall, Mai says. In stories, you know how there’s always some dragon in a cave, who’s guarding the riches ? Well, the Drakon is an online barrier. The strongest code in Asiathe world, maybe. And it’s guarding the recipe to the Wyvern.
But what’s the Wyvern ? Cupcakes ?
Why does it have a recipe, and . . . what’s so secret about it ?
Finally, Ren scans the room. Where’s Veah, anyway ? I thought she was here with you.
No, I say, wavering. She said she’d be right back.
They both exchange a glance.
Honestly, I feel overwhelmed with all this information. Why didn’t Veah tell me any of this ? And why is there a meth lab in the church ? But I can’t ask what I really want to ask, because then they’ll know I’m completely clueless.
I say, How did I get to Tokyo ?
Ren grins. She called me, and I chartered a plane to Orlando, Florida. I wanted to take a Disneyland stop, but I guess you’re more important than me, because she got pissed.
Maiko sighs. You were an idiot for asking her to go to Disneyland when her tokubetsuna mono was literally dying. Considering we’re her best friends, you should know that when Veah gets pissed off, she has a tendency to murder anyone in a ten-mile radius.
Dying ? I say.
Dying ? Ren scoffs. Disneyland is more important than that. Why would I give up the chance to see Mickey Mouse ?
Maiko aims a sharp strike to his shoulder, and Ren winces.
Anyways, considering the way she looked at you, we figured you already knew everything, Maiko finishes. I mean, she did pretty much make an enemy out of all of Tokyo city when she was sent for you.
Sent for me ?