Heaven's Shadow

Chapter 14 | Chosen Trial

How did he know?

Eugene's fingers drummed the side of his leg. He watched the Ivion screen projected on the stage, filming the first years into the Church of Paradise. Remigius was the first to enter and sit in the first row of desks stationed on the tower's ground level. It had been a while since Eugene last saw the interior of the Church of Paradise; the fact the entire trial was broadcast was a surprise in itself.

His eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected Remigius's character to be like that. His miscalculation was beneficial he supposed.

Yet, how had they been so careless? Hell. He would freak out at them if he found out what they revealed.

"What's got you all upset?" Malachi's voice surprised him. He expected him to be busy for a couple more minutes.

Malachi's hair stuck flat on his forehead, slicked with sweat. His skin seemed paler from the stage lights, revealing an indecent amount in his tank top and ripped jeans. On his back was his guitar case. 

"There you are." Eugene smiled, straightening himself up instead of leaning against the stage wall. "How did it go?"

He wiped the sweat dripping from his face with the towel wrapped around his neck. With a groan, he stretched his arms out. "I'm exhausted. Let's go to the break room."

His smile vanished and was replaced with annoyance. "You know we can't. This is important."

"Is it? Let's just let the higher-ups do what they need to."

"We need to be there when the time comes." As much as Eugene wanted to sit in the tent, they had to watch the trial. The results were vital. Although he knew Malachi wanted nothing more than to plop onto a cushioned bed, he signed up for the role knowing full well the consequences.

"You do, not me. I'm done for today," Malachi huffed, jabbing his finger at his chest before his eyes trailed down to his hand. Eugene offered the plastic water bottle in his hand. "I'm thirsty, give me some of that."

"Let's head to the stands." He held onto Malachi's shoulder and led him. His shoulder radiated warmth. He could practically feel his Ivion pulsating through his skin. There was the slight temptation to neutralize Malachi's Ivion to be responsible, but Eugene enjoyed the buzz. "Where is your father?"

Malachi leaned into his touch and took a swing of the water, gulping down the entire contents and crushing the bottle. "You really want to sit with my family? You know what they think of you."

"I may not be part of a regal Zenith family like you, but I carry myself high enough not to care." Gabriel Sonnet didn't frighten him, nor did the rest of the Sonnets. 

Malachi passed his guitar case to one of the staff members running around the arena. After some quick instructions on where to put it, he turned back to Eugene with a raised eyebrow. It almost made Eugene laugh.

"They hate you, dumbass," he deadpanned.

"Everyone in the Heavens would hate us if they knew the truth," he replied with a smirk.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes, shoving him to the side, which stung a bit, before glancing up at the Ivion screens. "Shit—it's started already? Where's Remigius?"

"I thought you didn't want to watch."

Malachi didn't entertain him with an answer. The crowd bustled with energy. They climbed several flights of stairs to reach the Sonnet's viewing tower. The family resemblance of the Sonnets was laughable. A whole row of silver hair and amber eyes, save for Malachi's mother and a couple of distant cousins.