This plan will fail without her, Mai hisses back. I know Okami better than anyone. The second she sees Ren, he’s dead. It can’t be anyone else. And me . . . you’re right, and I hate it. It has to be her, or this plan goes to hell.
Then damn this plan to hell, Veah growls.
No ! I say. Too loudthe Italian Mafia once again look at me with confusion. I lower my voice. I can do it, I press. Seriously. Okami once told me she had a special plan for me.
I hesitate. Although, the next day, she did send Japanese samurais to murder us in our sleep.
Veah seems to sense that pause. Her grip on me tightens. No, Kaya. I won’t risk losing you. If this blows up, I . . .
I want her in prison, I say. I want her behind bars for what she’s done. And I’m going to poison her, even if it means dying myself.
Mildly, Ren says, Speak a little louder, Kaya. I’m not sure the entire world has heard you yet.
My face is probably flushed right now. It’s settled. Not even you can stop me, Veah. So when do we do it ?
Maiko smiles grimly. Right before dessert.
I’ll give it to the Mafia. They really know how to eat.
There is Italian food combined with Japanese food, and it is absolutely heavenly. Chicken alfredo, sushi wrapped in a thin, crisp layer of seaweed, lasagna, and something Veah tells me is called yakitori.
A fitting last meal, if this doesn’t end well.
As one of the gruff, heavily-tattooed members of the Italian Mafia passes by our table, he winks at me and says, Adoro quando le ragazze sanno come mangiare.
When he’s gone, I swallow a bite of grilled chicken. Um, what did that mean ?
Ren laughs. He said he would really like to bend you over and fuck you.
Veah stands up so suddenly the glasses clink, lightning rage in her grey eyes, the tattoos on her knuckles paled from her fists.
Mai’s eyes roll skyward. Sit your murderous ass down, Veah. He said : ‘I love it when girls know how to eat.’
Once the seven courses of dinner are served, and I am so full I might spontaneously combust, the waiters shut off the lights to the entire banquet hall.
Did I go blind or are the lights gone ? Ren asks.
In the dark, I hear Mai say, You’re a moron.
How did that answer my question ?
If you don’t shut up, I’m going to stick a hot poker in your eye sockets and then you’ll really be blind.
Ren says, Why ? You like the idea of being my nursemaid ? I’ve always wanted to act out a hospital fantasy. You know, where you spend your days pining by my bedside wishing for me to get better.
You’re disturbed.
That’s no way to talk to your blind, sick, wounded patient.
If you were ever my patient, I’d cut off your life support.
Well, if you were ever my nursemaid, I’d sue you for malpractice.
You can’t sue me for malpractice if you’re dead.
I can if you kill me.
You say I killed youhaunt me, then.
From beside me, Veah’s laugh rasps out in the dark. Wuthering Heights. Good one, Mai.
Mai’s voice is pleased. Thank you.
I can’t believe I’m surrounded by Mafia who know classical literature.
Even though I can’t see anything, I feel it as Veah’s hand skims my thigh. She whispers, Don’t worry. This is part of the show. They’re setting up the display now.
The display.
They’re going to force someone to take Magic.
Pierce Nakamura’s face flashes in front of my mind.
We can’t let this happen, I say hurriedly. Earlier today, VeahI sawI saw
Veah squeezes my knee. I know, Kaya. But we need this to happen. While the rest of the Mafia are distracted by the display, this is the time we use to pull off our plan with Okami.
We’re just going to let some random person die ?
They volunteered, Veah tells me. No, it’s not okay, butwe have no choice.
Volunteered ? I hiss. This indistinguishable black is starting to scare me now. Veah’s hand on mine makes me feel safe. More like the Yakuza paid them off. They probably have no idea what they signed up for
We can’t do anything about it. Veah’s tone is resigned. This planit’s hanging by a thread as it is. One wrong thing, and it’s over. They volunteered, Kaya.
In the dark, my voice is pleading. Soft. Barely a breath in her ear.
Please, I say. Is there anything we can do ? I don’t know if I can watch that again, see someone else follow the same fate as Pierce. Can we at least try, to save whoever it is ? When we’re done ?
There is a heartbeat of silence. My breath is held.
But then there’s lightlanterns, piercing the dark, floating in the air. Fire dances within them, gilding the elegant design of the room in mysterious shadow.
Right in the center of the room, there is a person tied to a chair.
The show is beginning.
And dessert will be here soon.
It’s time for the plan.
I’ll try, Veah whispers into my ear.
What ?
I’ll try to save them, when this is done, she tells me.
And I want to say it, to whisper itI love you, toobut then Maiko slips something into my palm. A vial.
The poison.
Good luck, she breathes.
Veah takes my hand, and she is nothing but a silhouette edged in the firelight as she leads me towards Okami’s table. Weaving through the room, moving like silk and shadow between both the Yakuza and the Italian Mafia alike.
Okami’s lips are bloodred, curving into a smile when she notices us.
There are two empty seats on either side of her.