For Tian, came the forceful reminder, and the twinge of the wound on her other arm. That night, while waiting for the others to arrive, she had thought a dozen times that Tian wouldn’t make it. With the seconds stretching around Tian like death itself, Adeline had thought to try anything—thought about blood. She had found Tian’s knife and cut her own arm. She had come as close to pressing her wet wrist to Tian’s lips when she stopped herself from the ridiculousness, and then the others had arrived.
“Pek Mun was supposed to see my mother the day after she died.” She was throwing caution to the wind, but she needed to seeChristina’s reaction while she had her close and distracted. “They were supposed to talk.”
Christina’s jaw worked. “I know.”
Adeline grabbed her wrist, catching the needle a breath away from pricking her skin again. “You knew?” Christina’s gaze was heavy. The butterfly bled there, only half finished.
“I don’t know about what. She just said your mother called.”
Adeline scanned her, trying to decide if she was lying. “I think Pek Mun set that fire.”
“Then you’re crazy.” Christina tried to pull away, but Adeline tightened her grip.
“Pek Mun is the only one who knew where we lived. She knew more about my mother than the rest of you.And—” Her speculations about her mother forcing Pek Mun into a choice would get nowhere with Christina, but last night she’d realized something else more damning, more tangible. “Her mother is in bed with Three Steel.”
“No. Her mother pays…” Christina seemed to realize what Adeline had, when she went through Anggor Neo’s list of brothels yesterday, unable to sleep. “The Crocodiles.”
Who were, of course, in league with Three Steel now. And wasn’t it suspicious that Pek Mun had called up the White Man so easily? That she’d known his politics, could so easily tell his men what to do? “Her mother’s brothel is on the list of places with these girls with magic. It’s the most recent one.”
“Mun and her mother haven’t spoken since she joined Red Butterfly. What her mother does has nothing to do with her. Mun has done nothing but make sure the Butterflies are safe.”
“She’s made sure we’reweak.” She had lost Christina already, but she couldn’t stop. She wanted to lash out at someone and this was what she had left. “She won’t choose a successor, tells everyone not to fight back unless it’s her personal problem, then she can do anything she wants. Tian told me—how the Boars took over one of ourstrips and she didn’t even want to fight them for it, when we havefire—”
“Did Tian also tell you that Mun joined Red Butterfly because of her?” Christina interrupted. “Tian ran away from her mother’s brothel at fifteen and Mun followed because she was worried for her. She could have stayed home. She was meant to marry someone, she wouldn’t have minded, she didn’t have to be doing any of this.”
“She can have it, then,” Adeline said abruptly. “Pek Mun, since she’s so dedicated. She can be Madam Butterfly. I’ll support her. Whenever she’s ready.”
It finally clicked for Christina. “You’re only saying that because Tian got shot and you saw the envelope. Right? You’re only saying that because you’d rather things happen to Mun instead.” When Adeline didn’t respond, Christina really did wrench herself away, leaving the tattoo unfinished. “Go. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
Instinctively, Adeline went to check on Tian’s room. Only this time, as she was about to pass by, she heard Pek Mun’s voice from within, and thenTianspeaking, sounding like she’d been dragged through sandpaper but alive nonetheless. “You have to go talk to her.”
Adeline stopped short, hovering by the door as Pek Mun’s reply came. “That can wait.”
“No, it can’t. This is important. Three Steel is doing something dangerous—” Tian’s voice hitched. Pek Mun said something scolding, to which she replied: “You act like I’ve never been shot before.”
“Youhaven’t.”
“Three Steel is using girls with magic, Mun. Your mother is on Anggor Neo’s list. You need to find out what’s happening there.”
“You know it’s not my business anymore.”
Adeline pressed closer, vindicated. But at the same time, sheremembered how hopeful Tian had sounded, thinking Pek Mun would finally join the cause. She couldn’t find it naive anymore, having seen the full force of Pek Mun’s will when she truly did want something done. Of course Tian would want her on their side. Of course Tian couldn’t give it up, if that was the overwhelming attention that Pek Mun had given her since she was a child. Even now, Tian’s voice threaded between pleading and anger.
“Please. Someone just tried tokillme for Fan Ge, and you won’t even scratch them.”
“That’s not what happened and you know it. You were just in the Ox’s way. And there’s a piece of skin downstairs that tells me he’s not going to be a problem anymore.”
“Fine, fuck the Ox. Fan Ge’s been telling people he wants Adeline. I want the bastardsdown.” A mumble. “Kick him in the balls.”
“You’re still not funny.”
“I’m just saying, do you think he tattoos his—”
“Tian.” What a bitch, Adeline thought. It was a valid question. “Even if he wants Adeline, he’s not going to try anything this open unless we’re stupid enough to give him the chance. So we don’t give him the chance. Problem solved.”
“What do they want with her?”
“Tian.”
