Emperor of Destruction [EDITING]

xxv.

XXV

I overslept the following morning. By the time I woke up, it's 9:20 on the dot. I raced to get out of bed, noticing the empty space next to me where Silas was originally lying. Disappointment washed over me when I realised he had left me like a one night stand.

It didn't matter anyway. He didn't matter. Why didn't Clementine wake me up? I haven't missed a single day which explained my great attendance, but that doesn't mean I want to miss a day of learning. Mr Devonport would have my head for dinner when he found out I skipped his class. We're two months into this school year and I still couldn't figure out why he hated me so much.

I didn't want to leave my bed. His smell lingered on my bed sheets and pillows. Leaving my bed now would feel like I'm leaving my home.

The door opens and just as I think Clem's about to turn around the corner, Silas pops his head in. He looks visibly pleased when he sees that I'm awake. My head tilts to the side as I inspect his outfit of the day, not uniform, because he wasn't wearing his. Curiosity gets the best of me. "Why haven't you changed? You know we have morning class, right?" I ask, sitting on my knees on the covers of my bed, with arms crossed and a tilted head like a clueless puppy.

His eyes scans my body, as if he were jogging every inch, detail and curve into his memory—engraving it so that he'll never forget. His eyes narrowed then darkened, landing on the many scars on my body. He saw my body countless times already. This was the only time he seemed to have an issue with the scars. Before he just let it go. I expected him to ask me about it, when his mouth opened, "We're not going." He simply stated in a calm voice.

"We're not going." I repeated his words, tasting the words on my tongue. "We as in plural?" He slowly nodded. I continued, ignoring how good he looked in casual clothing. "We as in me and you?" He nodded again, confirming my suspicions. My mouth gaped open once realization finally struck me like a wrecking ball. "You want me to skip!?" I gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth. I'm too loud. Had I been any louder, the warden would barged in and gut me like a fish.

He neared closer. My eyes didn't waver from his approaching figure. He took his hand out of his pockets, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His eyes weren't on mine, but on my lips. I frowned. He grinned, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I talked to your teachers. They're fine with you missing one day after what happened last night under their supervision." He told me with a shrug. "I'm stealing you for the day."

Stealing me?

I asked a question that kept me up for most of the night. "Did they find the guy?"

His face remained stone cold. "No." He said. Something tells me there's more to the story than what he's leading me on to believe. I don't push it. For some reason, I'd rather not know who the boy was and what his motive was. Silas looked me up and down in my sleepwear. "Change. We're going for breakfast." He instructed.