Heaven's Shadow

Chapter 5 | The Infernals

Whoever that guy was, Yun wanted to throttle him.

Alright, that was a bit extreme. He wanted to snap his wrists because god, his hands wiled around to places they shouldn't.

Remigius was the one who said it was fine if they met up later, but Yun didn't feel, quote unquote, fine. He didn't realize that the friend he had mentioned before was a total creep! Just why was he so, so—

"Who was that?" The words spilled out the moment he marched over to him. "Is that the friend who invited you?"

He didn't know why the hell Remigius had his narrowed-eyed look. Was it because of their argument earlier? To be frank, what Remigius had said was cold, but Yun knew he didn't mean it like that. Surely Remigius knew that Yun knew what he meant. Right? 

Impassive as ever, Remigius stared at him. "No."

"What do you mean 'no?' Why was he... he was—" Yun shook his head, trying to shake the image of the guy snaking his hands around Remigius as if he—god, he really didn't have the words for it. "What's his name?" 

"Eugene Sallow," he replied, and it was then Yun noticed the glass in his hand as he swirled the sparkling alcohol. "I met him just now. He's a third-year."

Eugene Sallow. The alarms in Yun's head blared, and his hands itched for something. Perhaps a duel? 

"Sallow?"

Yun hadn't even noticed Aston behind him with Maven and Sonya trailing along. The slight sneer in his tone pleased him.

"What about him?" Yun asked.

"He's odd," Aston mumbled, grimacing across the room with eyes wandering.

"He's involved with some, eh... strange rumours?" Sonya elaborated. "It's all hearsay, I'm sure, though he isn't part of the Zenith Database."

The Zenith Database. It contained records of all the origins of Ivion and the families attached to them. Basically, everyone could be searched in the database, minus a few exceptions—Yun himself. It would make Yun a hypocrite to be suspicious of Sallow, but his dad told him to trust his instincts, and Yun did not like this guy! 

"There are plenty of Zeniths that aren't registered. It isn't anything to be ashamed of," Remigius said in a cold snap which shouldn't have warmed Yun's heart, but it did. Though to Sonya and Aston, it sounded like a harsh defence for Sallow.

"I never said it was something to be ashamed of," Sonya said, hands raised. 

Remigius appeared ready to shoot back, and although Yun would love to see him defend his honour, he appreciated Maven stepping in, more inquisitive than wary. "Has he done anything to warrant skepticism?"

"Nothing crazy. It's just the small things add up, you know?" Sonya twirled one of her braids, puckering her lips. "Just things he's mentioned to others and his odd group of friends. They always sneak out to do who knows what ."

"Headmaster Angelo wouldn't allow anything suspicious in the academy," Maven said, "I'm sure Eugene Sallow is merely odd is all."

"I don't trust him." Yun was positive that something was up with Sallow. His gut seized up remembering how Sallow had pressed his body against Remigius's, and sure, maybe it was in a friendly way, but Yun just couldn't explain why he hated the sight so much.

There was no way someone acted like that from a first meeting! 

Remigius didn't appear to think the same. "You haven't talked to him. How could you know what he is like?"

"Didn't you hear what Sonya said?" Was he really defending him? "She just said—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Aston suddenly pushed past them with his eyes aimed at someone.