And I think of the church.
The pale golden bowl on the altar.
Where Veah’s blood once dripped, filling it. Sealing her loyalty.
Even if tomorrow we both survive, and I get to annul this marriage . . . I don’t want her to suffer like that again.
Heaven and hell.
This ends now.
My heartbeat becomes a drum, a battle cry. As I pass through the path between the guards, my hands begin to tremble.
I can’t die now.
Nobody gets to hurt my girl and get away with it.
The hallway lights are dim here. When I steady myself with a hand against the wall, I find it slippery with blood.
It occurs to me to wonder why Okami is here.
That beautiful, bloodthirsty ax murderer. Hiding.
A sense of wrongness descends over me.
And the ax . . . she drove it into the table between us, starting a war, when she could have easily driven it right into myor Veah’sheart.
It was almost like she was baiting us.
Almost like . . . she was setting a trap.
And just as it hits me that this is an ambush, I see her.
I lift Veah’s gun with shaking hands.
I don’t have to kill her. I just have to injure her.
Okami’s sky-blue kimono is now drenched in blood. Where did that come from ? In the time between the fight broke out and the moment I got here, something happened. But what ?
Heaven’s little bitch, Okami purrs. I was expecting you.
Call off the trade deal, I say.
Oh, with pleasure, Okami says, her eyes alight with vicious glee. She is standing in the middle of the hall. Weaponless, but unafraid. You see, though, I thought you were supposed to be intelligent.
Yeah, join the club.
What are you talking about ? I insist, still aiming the gun at her.
Shoot her. Shoot her now.
But there is something very, very wrong here.
She should be afraid of my gun. Or, at least, she should be afraid that she is cornered.
I am ready to hurt her. She sees it in my eyesso why ? Why doesn’t she run ?
Why is she standing there, smiling like she has already won ?
I destroyed any chance of that European deal the moment I brought down my ax, Okami whispers.
Then why ? Why would you do that ?
Tell me something, Kaya. How much do you really know about your precious Heaven ? How much has she told you about this life ?
I open my mouth, buthow much do I actually know about the girl I love ?
Stop it, Kaya. Okami’s words are poison. Veah told me to trust her. And I do.
That day in the warehouse with Imai, he asked me the same thing. How much do you really know about her ?
What do they know that I don’t ?
You see, Okami continues in that lush, musical voice, I think she has not told you everything. You have met her parents, have you not ?
I try to deny it, but
Oh, I have eyes everywhere, Okami says. And I do not appreciate liars. Do not finish that sentence.
I swallow down the words.
If Okami knows I visited Veah’s parents, she must have surveillance on them. She must be watching them.
The thought alone fills me with fear.
This has to end now, I think. But I don’t shoot.
Kaya, surely you must have asked yourself by now how it is that Veah got involved in this life. You saw her parentsnormal, law-abiding citizens. They know nothing of the truth. They do not their daughter is a Yakuza boss. How easy it is for her to lie, don’t you think ?
You made her pledge her loyalty to you, I hiss. You took her parents hostage. You tried to use drugs as a way to ensure her tie to you.
And I see where I went wrong, Okami admits. But I will not make that mistake again.
Still, I don’t shoot.
I should. I should.
What isn’t she telling me ?
Why was she so ready to let the European trade deal collapse ?
I say, Again ? You won’t get the chance to make that same mistake again.
Okami’s black eyes glitter with malice. Kaya, ai, there are things you will never know about this world. But know this : Wherever you go, wherever you hide, I am always there. I am always one step ahead.
This is serious stalker territory. What do you want from me ?
From you ? Okami laughs sharply. Nothing from you, although you are useful. It is Heaven I want.
What ?
I am going to let you have your happiness. I am going to give you precious, beautiful time where you will celebrate. You will think you have won. You will embrace each other with love. And then I am going to rip it away from you. I am going to take away everything Heaven has ever loved, and I am going to torture you until there is nothing left of you to scream.
Jesus Christ. Um. That was intense.
So know this, KayaI will never stop. Until Heaven is mine, this will not end. This is why I am giving you a chance. Leave. Leave now, and this will not happen the way I intend. Leave Tokyo city and never come back.
No ! I burst out.
Her mouth twists. A cruel smile. So be it.
This is starting to sound a bit like an obsession
Let it be known that I gave you a chance, then. When every bone in your body is broken, when you are begging me for your own death, remember this moment. Remember my mercy.
What are you
Something strikes the back of my head. My gun clatters out of my hand, spinning across the floor.
Now is not the time, karma.
I buckle to my knees, lunging for my gun, but