I might only be an engineering and math major, but I’m not a child genius for nothing. Chemistry is one of my strongest skills. All I need now is a lab.
And to get away from Bastian.
You know, I say, as Veah begins to cross the dance floor, slicing her way towards me, you could have a little more manners. My girlfriend is more of a gentleman than you are.
I have a hard time believing that, Bastian hisses against my neck. The most deadly assassin in Tokyo city is a gentleman, is she ?
That’s right, I say, ramming my head back into his nose.
He lets out a shout of pain. His grip tightens, until I can hardly breathe.
Better luck next time, he whispers.
Right before I ram my knee between his legs, I ask him, How do you know all of that, anyway ? About Magic and the four elements ?
It is only meant to be a distraction. My knee is already moving, colliding
Just before I drive my kick home, right where the sun doesn’t shine, he says, Because I made Magic.
To anyone else, that might sound ridiculous.
I made Magic.
Except from what I saw tonight, I finally understand what that means.
I saw what it did to Pierce with my own eyes.
And I need to know more.
But it is already too late to stop myself ; I hit him, hard, between his legs. He doubles over, gasping, but before I can ask him what he means, if he is truly behind all of this, Veah is there.
My knight in shining armour, I say.
Let’s go, Princess. Veah unsheathes a small dagger, and I realize she is going to kill Bastian here and now. We’ve got a few minutes before Okami hears about this.
Wait, I say, but then I pause.
I only have a moment to realize the floor is wet.
Gasoline, Veah says, grinning. As soon as we get out of here, all I have to do is light a match.
She really is going to burn down a church for me.
I think I might be in love.
Veah aims her knife at Bastian, but I hold her arm back. Stopping her. We can’t, I say breathlessly. He just told me he’s the one behind all this. He said he made Magiche is the creator of the Wyvern.
From on his knees, Bastian groans. Trying to crawl away.
Veah’s eyes harden as she looks down at him. Then he deserves to die, she says, and she brings down the blade
No ! The music throbs in my chest. Right now, the dark-eyed, handsome boy looks so pitiful on his hands and knees. But that’s not why I need to save him. He’s the maker of the Wyvern. He’s the reason for all this. We should take him hostage. We should use him as leverage against Okami.
Veah shakes her head slowly. When this place burns down, Okami isn’t going to know who did it. We won’t get in trouble for itat least for a few days. But that’s enough time. If we have Bastian, she’ll know who threatened her. It’s too dangerous.
Please, I say. She doesn’t have to know yet. We can keep him a secret.
I can’t explain why, because Bastian has given me absolutely no reason to even like him, or trust him, or even believe that he’s not lying, but
But I see myself in him. The loneliness that comes with being too smart.
The prodigal childabandoned.
So I set my jaw, and I see the moment Veah finally relents.
And I will never forgive myself.
Because in that moment of weakness, as she is looking at me, she is too distracted to notice the bullet before it hits her.
She doesn’t even make a sound as she buckles.
Something like wrath explodes inside of me.
There is a sword in Veah’s hand, but as she sinks to one knee, her grip loosens. Before I can think twice, I am clutching the sword with both hands.
Facing the man who just shot Veah’s leg.
Guns, I hiss, are illegal in Japan.
Never mind the fact that there is a gun in my back pocket.
I swing the sword.
It doesn’t kill him, but it does ruin my appetite. Once he falls, and I am sure he’ll no longer be a threat, I let the sword clatter to the ground.
Veah is still on one knee, but she rises unsteadily. Her face is pale, and her leg is shaking uncontrollably. I’m fine, she tells me.
You’re fine ? I repeat incredulously.
Bastian is still trying to crawl away. I borrow Veah’s katana and hit his head.
When did I become so violent ?
I kind of like it.
Yes. I’m fine, Veah says, touching the wound on her thigh. Her fingers come away bloody. We need to go. Come on.
Before I say she is absolutely not going anywhere without medical help, I am interrupted by the sound of arguing, louder than the music.
I told you I would kill more people than you would, you piece of shit, I hear Mai say. I want my money. We had a bet.
What if I paid you in another way ?
Tell me that doesn’t mean what I think it means, or I’m going to cut your dick off right now.
I’m calling your bluff. You had too much of a good time to cut off Ren Junior.
Ren Junior ? More like Princess Sophia.
Princess Sophia ?
Hello ? I holler, over the vibrating song. We have a situation here !
Does it call for Viagra ? Mai shouts. Because then I’m sure Ren will finally be useful for something !