Silas continued sketching, his pencil moving effortlessly across the page, completely unbothered by Ezra's frantic squeaks. It was as if he existed in a different world entirely, one where Ezra's suffering was nothing more than background noise.
Ezra, now in his unfortunate gremlin form, ran around in a panic, clutching his tiny webbed hands to his chest. His stubby legs moved clumsily as he tried to process the sheer horror of what had happened. "Fix this! Right now!" he croaked, his voice high-pitched and unnatural.
Silas finally sighed, setting his sketchbook down with an almost exaggerated slowness.
He stood up, looming over Ezra with an air of complete indifference. The height difference was terrifying—Ezra barely reached his knees. From this angle, Silas seemed even more ethereal, his sharp features flawless, not a single scar or imperfection marring his skin.
' Why does he look so beautiful?' Ezra thought begrudgingly before shaking his head. 'No, that's not the point!'
Ezra tilted his oversized gremlin head up, his big, watery eyes glaring in outrage. "Change me back! Please," he croaked, trying to sound firm despite his ridiculous voice.
Silas barely spared him a glance, instead twirling the rings on his fingers, the motion slow and deliberate. For some reason, the simple gesture carried an air of menace, his entire presence shifting into something eerily dangerous.
"Listen up," Silas said coolly, his tone devoid of its usual laziness. "You do not touch me without my permission, and you do not order me around." His eye, usually half-lidded with boredom, sharpened into something darker, making Ezra swallow hard.
A tense silence stretched between them before Silas finally sighed, his previous amusement returning. "Since you asked nicely, I may as well turn you back," he mused, flicking his fingers once more.
The air shimmered again, the glamour dissolving as quickly as it had come. Ezra gasped as his limbs stretched, his skin returning to normal, his voice no longer a series of mortifying croaks. He patted himself down, making sure everything was back in place before shooting Silas an exasperated glare.
Silas smirked, clearly pleased with himself settling back on his bed as if nothing had happened . " See, that wasn't so hard ,was it? "
Ezra scowled, crossing his arms as he huffed in irritation. "You're insufferable."
Silas didn't even look up. "And yet, you keep talking to me."
Ezra sat on his bed, still glaring, his mind racing with ways to get back at him.
' Just wait, you spoiled bastard. I'll get you back.I'll wipe that smile of your pretty face .'
Silas, as if sensing his thoughts snapped his fingers causing Ezra to flinch . But nothing happened .
He chuckled . " Relax , I'm not that cruel."
Ezra exhaled sharply, shooting him one last glare before muttering under his breath, "Thank you."
Silas gave a satisfied hum, his pencil gliding effortlessly over the page. "Much better."
Ezra flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
'I'll find a way to get even.'
He left his room after that, not risking annoying Silas any further—who knew what he'd be turned into next if he pushed his luck? Something worse than a gremlin, probably. Ezra shuddered at the thought.
Wandering through the hallways, he kept his head down, his mind still lingering on the absurdity of what had just happened. The cool air of the academy corridors did little to soothe his irritation, but at least he was back in his normal form.
' That beautiful bastard , I should get my revenge soon. '
Gritting his teeth as he walked past down the long curling stairway , he caught the sound of voices spilling from an open door ahead .
Curiosity piqued, Ezra slowed his steps, inching closer to the doorway, careful not to make a sound.
He peeped through the door surprised to see Octavia arguing with someone whom he could not quite see .
Ezra leaned against the wall just outside the doorway, straining his ears to hear more. Octavia's voice was sharp, edged with something that sounded dangerously close to desperation. The person she was speaking to, however, was calmer—colder.
"I've mentioned it before. I don't want anything to do with them," the voice responded, low and firm. "Please, leave me alone."
" Why ?" She shot back, her voice raising slightly .There was a rawness to it, a vulnerability Ezra wasn't used to hearing from her.
Ezra furrowed his brows, curiosity gnawing at him. 'Who is she talking to?.'
He shifted slightly, trying to get a better look inside without being noticed. From his angle, he could only make out Octavia, her posture tense, fists clenched at her sides. The other figure was hidden in the shadows, their back turned toward the door.
"I made my choice, Octavia," the voice finally said, their tone devoid of emotion. "And so have you."
Before Ezra could process what that meant, he saw Octavia move—she reached forward, grabbing the other person's arm,before they shook her off .
Ezra barely had time to react before the figure turned, stepping out of the shadows—and that's when he saw them.
His eyes widened.
Because standing there, face impassive, was Eli.