Jaw

Chapter 22

As promised, Silena wasn't allowed to stray from Zeke and Colt's side. The train ride to Quincey with the three of them was painfully quiet, the only sound in their too-small compartment being Colt's anxious breathing.

Silena cast him a worried look as they got off the train. He was flighty when they'd first met, but the boy was quickly proving he couldn't handle any sort of conflict. How did Zeke expect him to take over the Beast Titan when he couldn't stay calm witnessing an argument that didn't involve him? He'd said that he was trying to work on his nerves before he took Inheritance, but Silena had her doubts that he could.

Not that she had any right to judge.

Zeke's expression was inscrutable as he led them to the Tybur estate. Silena knew the way by now– could navigate with her eyes closed if pressed– but thought it was better to leave it to Zeke. She might step in if he took a wrong turn.

Instead, she busied herself with watching Colt's face. Despite his nerves, the boy was clearly enthralled by the grandeur just like Silena had been the first time she came to the city. If Zeke was any less sulky, he would be telling Colt to pick his jaw up off the ground– he looked like a tourist.

"Do people really live like this?" He whispered to Silena.

She was almost surprised he was speaking to her. Saying anything when Zeke was in a mood like this was risky.

It might not have been a good idea to reply, given the string Zeke hung from relied on him pretending Silena didn't exist. Nevertheless, Silena said in a likewise whisper, "You should see the insides."

Colt nodded solemnly. Even considering his inheritance of the Beast Titan, it was unlikely the Eldian boy would ever be somewhere as nice as Quincey again. It was a shame the experience was being ruined by the ill mood, but Zeke was the one giving them the silent treatment, not Silena. She glowered at his back.

They reached the Tybur house with no need for Silena's intervention. The family-owned guards at front– three today, instead of the two that were usually posted– stood at attention right outside the intimidating black gate. They straightened impossibly taller when the Warriors came into their view.

"Warchief Yeager," came the unison greeting, "Warrior Lehmann."

If Colt was offended by being ignored, he didn't let on. All that Silena could see on his face was nerves, which was fair. She knew she had been terrified the first time she came face to face with the guards.

Zeke didn't acknowledge them on any sort of personal level, sweeping his eyes over the house instead of looking at them. "We have a meeting with the head of house."

"Of course, sir. You'll have to be blindfolded. And anyone extraneous—" the guard gave a pointed look towards Colt. "Will have to stay behind."

Now Colt looked offended. But he retreated back into his shell when Zeke waved a dismissive hand and said, "Yes. Make yourself busy, Colt. Stay close– if we can't find you when we're done, you're getting left behind."

As if she had done it a million times (which she hadn't. Only once), Silena turned to be blindfolded. She held her hair out of the way as a dark strip of cloth was tied over her eyes, and relinquished her control to the person guiding her.

They were led into the Tybur house and, like the first time all those months ago, traipsed around the entire estate so they couldn't memorize the layout of it. Some of the rooms they went through were filled with chattering people, and while she hadn't much minded it the first time she went inside the manor, Silena was more self-conscious about it now. Having Zeke around certainly didn't help her nerves.