Where Shadows Lurk and Darkness Dwells

3

London,Term of the Yellowtail - Monk's MoonSwan's Pace, Sojourn of the Nightshade, at the Locust PassRun 306 after the First Cataclism

The man's face seemed to have darkened even more, the shadow of thunders gathering in his eyes. Tired, he looked, and oh-so-lost, something Song YiJun would never have associated to the portent that was Zachariah Hart, the head Hunstman in their Covenantant. But Henrietta's death had played them a hard blow, and no one stood untouched by it. Zach was her husband, it was only fair he should be the one most affected.

And yet, it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair the man chose to disregard YiJun's pain, the heartbreak that kept clawing at his chest, tearing him apart, threatening to destroy him if he just happened to place his foot wrong, or take an unexpected breath, or looked the wrong way. It wasn't fair he was robbed of the right to mourn, to suffer, having to endure this torment in silence for respect of the grieving husband of a human YiJun had loved more than life itself.

And how he'd loved Henrietta Hart - passionately, selflessly, with a love that burnt like coals, slow embers that warmed his entire existence. He'd never acted on it, never even addressed the subject - his love was his and his alone, he'd nurse it secretly in his chest. It was no one's business, not even Henrietta's. But of course, how could he expect anything to be kept secret, inside the walls of this Academy? How could he expect that the people who lived with him twenty-four-seven failed to see through his pretence? After all, he'd noticed Simone's long, dreamy stares had moved past his brother to focus on YiJun himself. How could he expect others not to realise the feelings he'd nursed for Henrietta?

But Zach was being unreasonable, he was being petty and selfish. So he was hurting, he was shattered, but did that give him the right to lash out like this? Towards someone who was just as distraught, of all people? Why was he nursing his jealousy, when they should have come together to celebrate Henrietta's life and sustain each other through her death? Why did he insist on making her his, only, a belonging he refused to share with anyone else? What right did he have to that? Henrietta had been Doyen of their Covenant, she was theirs as much as Zach's. And she wasn't something someone could possess.

"You're being-" YiJun attempted to say, but Zach's raised hand tied his tongue into silence."You have no right to be there. And you have even less right to mess with her grave. I don't want your sticks of incense nor your talismans. And I sure as hell don't want your fucking flowers on her grave, especially when you replace mine with them. Carnations, Drake? Henrietta loathed carnations! She liked daisies, the wilder the better!"

"I put the carnations there."

Both YiJun and Zachariah turned surprised countenances to the right, where a winged armchair sat in front of the fireplace. Staring from within it, a red-eyed, puffy-faced Simone watched them.

"The daisies were wilted, they looked dreadful, so I replaced them with the red carnations. It's not true she didn't like them. She used to say they reminded her of ballerinas in their tutus, delicate and feminine. She did like carnations."

Zachariah lowered his head in contrition, letting out a loud sigh. YiJun bit back the retort sitting on his tongue - so it was fine if Simone did it, a crime if it had been him? And why was that?"Please, let me know when you do something like that," Zach muttered and Simone's face crumpled.