The dining room felt heavy with tension that night. Renzhi sat at the head of the long table, his jaw locked tight, eyes fixed on nothing. Every few minutes his fingers clenched around a glass until it shattered in his grip, shards scattering across the polished wood. Lianhua glanced over with concern. "Darling, what's gotten into you? Are you okay?"
Renzhi muttered the same answer each time. "I'm fine." His mind stayed locked on the Shadow Reapers, on the fact that the gang still breathed, on the party he would have to attend where he would be forced to shake hands with their leader. The thought made fresh rage surge through him, and another cup cracked under his palm.
Rin kept the table from total silence, chattering nonstop about school and friends, her voice bright and endless. Eric sat beside her, eating quietly, offering only short nods when spoken to. Mei picked at her plate, stealing glances toward the kitchen door.
