Page 57 of The Tainted and the Tamed
Chapter 25
Murasaki
Besides being exhausted, Murasaki was walking differently this morning, and she was very sure that Ms. Tanabe could tell. That disapproving expression her face had briefly shown when she asked Murasaki to come speak with her said it all.
Ms. Tanabe knew exactly what she and Haruki were getting up to.
A million thoughts flew through Murasaki’s head as she followed Ms. Tanabe through the hallway. She’d never been invited to sit in Ms. Tanabe’s office before. She didn’t know if she was in for a scolding or—what other option was there? A warning? Did Ms. Tanabe even know Haruki was a vampire?
Biting her lower lip, Murasaki settled into a chair opposite Ms. Tanabe’s imposing desk. The heavy woodwork on the desk’s facade was partly responsible for the effect; the extreme tidiness of its surface did the rest of the work. When Ms. Tanabe folded her hands atop that disciplined surface, Murasaki felt her heart beat a little quicker.
“So,” Ms. Tanabe said, the softness of her voice doing little to take the edge off her words, “it seems you have become involved with the chairman.”
Should she bother denying it? Before she could decide, Murasaki found herself nodding and swallowing nervously. “Yes. That’s right.”
“And you are aware of his—condition?”
Again, Murasaki nodded.
“But are you aware that it is to become your own?”
This time, Murasaki remained utterly still. Of all the people she had expected to confirm this, Ms. Tanabe was not on her list. If it was true—if ingesting medicine laced with vampire blood would, in turn, make her a vampire—wouldn’t Haruki have told her? Or Dr. Setouchi, or even Momoko?
The straight line of Ms. Tanabe’s shoulders began to droop.
“That’s what I was afraid of.” The housekeeper’s eyes fell to her desk. “Setouchi Momoko has told me what happened. She was concerned that this was the case. You’re probably wondering why I’m speaking to you instead of her.”
“I was, yes.” Murasaki was, in fact, beginning to feel angry that Momoko hadn’t told her herself. Why leave it to Ms. Tanabe?
“Ms. Setouchi does not like to involve herself in vampire affairs—a wise policy. She trusts me to be discreet. You can trust that, too. But I need your word that what I say next will stay between us.”
“Of course, Ms. Tanabe.” A furrow settled into Murasaki’s brow. Something here was off. Was Ms. Tanabe privy to vampire affairs because of her position? Or was she—
No, she can’t be. I’ve seen her out in the sunlight.
Murasaki’s thoughts jumped back to the hallways. Ms. Tanabe always made so little sound when she walked. Had the nightingale floors squeaked at all on the way in here? Murasaki tried to remember.
“I’ll save you the suspense,” Ms. Tanabe said, the hard line of her lips finally softening. “I’m a dhampir—a half-vampire. My mother was still mortal when she gave birth to me.”
“I—see.” She didn’t. Vampires didn’t conceive. Haruki had reassured her of that weeks ago.
Had he made that up? Or was he also misinformed? Surely he knew Ms. Tanabe’s story—
“She was much like you at that time,” Ms. Tanabe said. Murasaki’s teeth clicked as her mouth shut, her entire body suddenly flushed with heat. How many times had she lain with Haruki already? More than enough for a child. What had she been thinking?
She was supposed to be dying. She wasn’t supposed to have a lover or a chance at bearing children.
“And the chairman—he knew this?” she managed to ask, a quiver in her voice.
“No.” Murasaki wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved by the response. “No one knows it. Which is why I must have your word that you will keep this secret. Naturally, it may not be a secret for long—but I must tell you the rest before you decide.”
“Decide?”
“The choice is simple,” Ms. Tanabe said, turning over her palm as though laying a tangible thing out before her. “Either you continue to take the medicine the Chairman has given you and eventually become a vampire, or you allow your life to take its natural course.”
Murasaki stiffened. “That isn’t a simple choice.”
“It’s very simple. That does not imply it’s easy to make.”
