One for Veah . . . and one for Elliot.
Veah takes her place on one side of Okami, and I tentatively sit down on the other side. The vial of poison grows hot in my hand.
What if she knows ?
There are two axes crossing over her back, and the blade of one is so close to me that it would be easy for her to just . . . slice right through me. Behead me. Dismember me. Whatever her murderous, bloodthirsty, nonexistent heart desires.
Calm down, Kaya.
I still have one trick left up my sleeve.
Because once Veah starts threatening Okami, we haveas Maiko saidsixty seconds before Veah’s head is on a platter.
And Veah ensured that if that did happen . . . we would be prepared for it. Because the power cannot pass onto Elliot.
The rest of the table don’t seem to be paying attention to us right now. They are focused on the center of the room.
Where there is the girl, blindfolded.
A deep, melodious voice announces, Watch now as the Magic is ingested. Previous research theorizes that it will take less than ninety seconds to work in full effect.
A waiter with trembling hands holds up a glass of blue powder to the girl’s lips.
The girl drinks.
The announcer’s voice continues, What will it be, ladies and gentlemen ? Which element will we see now ?
I notice that there is a slip of paper in front of me. In front of everybody.
Write down your guesses and the amount of money you would like to bet, and please hand the paper to your nearest server within the next minute.
They’re betting on death ? On this girl’s torture ?
Veah clears her throat. I have to focus.
Her eyes meet mine, and I nod. It’s time.
Veah’s voice is smooth. Her face is shadowed in the darkness, but her silver eyes are piercing. This is how it’s going to go, Okami-chan.
Okami’s smile curves with sinister delicacy.
I notice she is wearing a sky-blue kimono.
What will that look like covered in blood ? I wonder, and I hope I don’t have the chance to find out.
The vial is still tucked between my fingers, and as Veah begins to speak, I assess my options.
A. I can put it in her wine glass.
B. I can put it on her dessert.
C. I can shove it down her throat.
Well, C is out. I definitely don’t have the agilityor the lightning-fast reflexesto shove it down her throat and actually survive. So I’m left with putting it in her wine glass . . . or putting it on her dessert.
The dessert on her plate is round and soft and dusted in white powder.
So she might notice if I spill the contents of this vial all over it.
In this dark, she might not be able to tell the difference of the wine’s colour. She might not notice until she takes a sip, but by then . . . hopefully, it will already be too late.
Except the wine glass is in her hand.
Okay, I can still do this.
Beneath the table, I uncork the vial.
Veah says, I have the formula to the Wyvern.
Okami’s eyes flicker. The only sign that this is a surprise to her. And what, chimei-tekina megumi, are you planning on doing with that information ?
Selling it, Veah says. For the right price.
I see it : the soft twist of anger in Okami’s mouth.
To the Cais, she says, tapping a sharp nail against her wine glass. And why, my beloved, would you do that ? You are like a daughter to me.
Am I supposed to hold that in high-esteem ? Veah says under her breath. Because I’ve seen what you did to your actual daughter.
Okami’s lip curls. You are what I always hoped my daughter would be, Heaven Tanaka. You are mine.
You tried to kill me, Veah says, and Kaya. That day in the bathhouse, when you told us we would be safe there.
Ah, the samurais. Okami sighs wistfully. I was testing you, ai. I needed to make sure your skills were honed after all that time in the West.
Here’s a riddle for you, Okami-chan, because I know you love them so. There was a breach in the firewall. Your church burned down. And I am willing to sell the formula of your precious drug to your rival gang. What do I want ?
Okami’s face is still the perfect, pristine image of calm.
You want to be free, Okami whispers, using one finger to tilt up Veah’s chin.
That’s my cue.
It’s now or never.
My heart is pounding so loudly it drowns out everything else. My hand shakes just slightly as I tip the contents of the vial into Okami’s wineglass.
There is the softest sound of a slosh.
Did she hear that ? Sweat dampens my palms. She is still turned towards Veah, but she hasn’t reached for an ax yet. No one has noticed us.
In the center of the room, I realize the clock has finished ticking.
Ninety seconds are up.
The girl’s bones begin to crack. Jutting out from her skin, sharp against her pale flesh. A riveting melody of rot and ruin. Her head snaps back. Her fingers grip the bottom of the chair. In fascinated silence, the crowd watches.
Veah says, I do want to be free. But there is something I want more.
What, Okami breathes, gently, tenderly, is that ?
From the corner of my eye, I notice as the girl’s breathing begins to accelerate. As her eyes turn wild. The ropes that bind her splinterand snap altogether.
This isn’t susceptibility.
And it’s not death.
There are two possible outcomes now : Hallucination . . . or adrenaline.