.

Son of Evil

~Erza Scarlet~

Stunned, his midnight orbs turned upward only to gaze into a pair of malicious crimson eyes as Gajeel ruthlessly towered over him. "Boy, didn't your mama teach you that it's impolite to stare at people? Do you need me to beat that attitude out of you?"

Icy fear seemed to constrict against his throat as his midnight orbs met those dangerous red ones. Immediately, Zeref submissively averted his widened eyes so that he was staring humbly at the shining white tiles of the hallway floor.

"Ha...hahaha! Look at him. Just look at him, Gajeel-sama!" The once frightened freshman chimed in with sadistic glee as he joined Gajeel. "He looks ready to piss himself!"

"Shut up, Riki." Gajeel hissed back impatiently as he turned to his shorter follower, his rumbling tone uncompromising as the shorter boy immediately paled. "You don't talk unless I ask you something, understand?"

As the suddenly frightened boy nodded vigorously, Gajeel once again turned to the ever quiet Zeref with disastrous humor.

"Geehee, now that's a Hell lot better." Dark satisfaction was evident within his voice before Gajeel tauntingly spat onto his cheeks. Wordlessly, Zeref coerced himself to remain still and kept his furious eyes onto the floor even as he felt the disgustingly warm saliva slipping down his burning cheeks.

"Remember to keep your eyes to yourself, asshole." Dangerously, the muscular delinquent leaned forward before hissing into his ears. "Unless you wanna see some stars, I'd be very happy to–"

"Leave him alone, Gajeel!"

An impatient and dangerous roar suddenly splintered the already sinister atmosphere, and turning his agitated eyes up slightly, Zeref caught the rage that gleamed within her eyes as Erza glared at his tormentors. "You two, get to class and leave the poor kid alone, now!"

"Oh, for fuck's sake, just relax for once, Titania-sama." While Riki tried to hide behind the burlier male, Gajeel shot the infuriated President a murderous glace as he retorted irritably. "It's not like I'm doing anything to him. I'm just having fun with the kid. See? No broken fingers, no bruised eye, not even a scratch–"

"Goddammit, Fernandez, cease pretending this is beneath you!"

Thrusting her head down the hallway to where Jellal was, Erza released a roaring command as fury flashed within her impatient eyes. "Either rein in your untrained dogs or neuter them if you yourself have not the balls to keep them leashed!"

What the–

"Scarlet!" With murderous rage, Gajeel snapped around to glare threateningly at Erza. "What the absolute Hell did you just say?"

But his fiery words were immediately silenced.

In fear, Zeref watched as Jellal, having almost reached the end of the hallway, ominously paused in his carefree saunter. His hands, once tucked casually within his pant pockets, suddenly tightened threateningly.

While Jellal did not bother turning around remained gazing into the distance, a soft but deadly whisper seeped from his irritated lips.

"What was that, Scarlet?"

At that moment, the atmosphere was suffocating and impeccably quiet as everyone froze in their spots. A familiar dread suddenly enveloped Zeref as Jellal slowly turned around with humorless golden eyes.

"Do not make me repeat myself again, Fernandez." Fearlessly, Erza narrowed her annoyed amber eyes as she courageously reciprocated the deadly glare that the infamous male was shooting her. "I said: either keep your rabid lapdogs locked in or neuter them yourself if you do not possess the manhood to keep them leashed!"

"E...Erza..." Lucy murmured anxiously as Cana suddenly advanced protectively in front of the President. "Oh...what have you started?"

Another dreadfully volatile silence dragged by as Jellal and Erza faced one another, fearless amber orbs gazing into unflinching golden green eyes. At that moment, even Gajeel stopped harassing Zeref as his attention turned to Jellal, awaiting for his leader's reactions to his archenemy's insulting words.

Are...are they going to fight again?

But then.

Jellal narrowed his golden eyes before he suddenly–of all things–turned away.

"Gajeel, leave him."

Immediately, shock exploded within his heart as Zeref widened his midnight eyes in numbing disbelief.

"W-what?" Gajeel stammered as he turned to his departing leader desperately, his once imposing red eyes widening in comical shock.

With a quick side glance, Zeref watched as even the Queen of Skywolf High blinked in curiosity from her archenemy's unfathomable response and unprecedented composure. By her side, Lucy and Cana seemed so surprised they barely knew how to breathe.

"B-boss?" Ignored by his leader, Gajeel again screamed after Jellal as surprise coated his every words. "Do you know what you are doing? She...she's protecting a wimpy little kid! If you back off, you are letting her walk all over you–"

"I said leave him!"

The sudden and ferocious roar that splintered the air made even Zeref flinch. Immediately, Gajeel stumbled back slightly as Jellal abruptly turned around.

Whatever composure that had once allowed him to condone challenges and insults was now gone, and those uncompromising golden orbs gleamed maliciously at Gajeel as he released an aggravated roar. "I do not want to fucking repeat myself, Gajeel...leave him be!"

"F..fine...alright then..."

But once Gajeel turned from his agitated leader toward Zeref, the fear within his crimson eyes sharpened into murderous hatred for one last menacing glare. "Remember this, kid. Remember what you did the next time we meet. Remember this, when I crack your skull!"

Then, he reluctantly stomped away as Riki dazedly and awkwardly trailed after them.

Remember...remember what? Confusion and faint rage lit his eyes as Zeref glared after them. Whatever the Hell did I even do?

Silence reigned unquestioningly in the hallway long after Jellal and his scoundrels left. Gradually, students of all grades and sizes vanished one after another in absolute silence.

It was as though the moment was revolutionary and that even a single word would shatter its sacredness.

After all, for the first time in history, the infamous Jellal Fernandez had actually deferred, in his own volition, to the demands of his one sworn counterpart, Erza Scarlet.

Did that mean the Queen was now finally unchallenged after all these years?

It was a historic moment for the Skywolf, or Sirius, High students that had to be respected.

When the hallway was finally free of any other students, Lucy finally broke the silence with a dazed whisper. "W-wow, what just happened?"

While her narrowed amber orbs remained burning at the corner around which Jellal had vanished from, her voice had cooled into a somewhat tired whisper as Erza questioned. "What do you mean by what just happened, Lucy?"

"Huh? No, no, I... No...nothing, I'm just curious, that's all. I mean...he actually listened to you...that Jellal, that Jellal actually listened to you...rather than fight it out." Lucy giggled nervously as she awkwardly brought a hand to her lips.

"As he should." The Queen growled, but even she seemed a little hesitant of her own words.

"W-well...yeah, if you say so. Of course, Erza." Lucy smiled before she released a deep breath, before her large brown eyes lowered to her white wristwatch. "Oh my, it's so late already! I guess I have to hurry to Precalculus now. Um, see you later, Erza!"

"Same here, Prez." Cana nodded curtly before she joined Lucy, who was nearly sprinting down the hallway. "Later."

"Oh, and I have to rush to AP World History too!" Levy chirped before she dashed away with the dramatic excitement that only a genuine bookworm would exhibit. "Mr. Weisslogia told us last week that we would have a very fun quiz on the ancient Nirvits today! Hope it's not over by now!"

"Goodbye and good luck, girls."

Slowly, Zeref tiresomely turned around as he released an inaudible sigh. Well then, time for me to get out of here too...

"Hey, are you alright?"

A melodious whisper suddenly sounded in the distance and immediately, Zeref turned around only to found that he had caught the attention of the renowned President within the school. Stunned, he watched as Erza approached him, a gleam of sadness within her eyes as her otherwise luscious lips curled in remorse. "That scoundrel didn't hurt you in anyway, did he?"

"W-what? No...no...not all all." Instinctively, Zeref lowered his head as Erza approached. "He didn't hurt me at all."

Anxiety swelled within his heart as he felt suffocated and displaced by the sudden attention. After all, it was so much easier for others to miss his shadowy presence rather than actually see him.

But in a matter of five minutes, he had suddenly miraculously attracted the attention of two of the most infamous, respected, and dangerous figures within the school. And he had no idea whether it was for better or worse.

"Really?" The Student President questioned softly as she stopped before him, those vibrant amber orbs appraising his diffident demeanor. It was only after a moment of silence that his midnight orbs slowly turned to her, before they suddenly widened in surprise.

Once, he had never thought it was possible. But now that he was so close to one of the two legendary figures within his school, Zeref couldn't help but realize how radiant and beautiful the Student President actually looked.

At least, she would have been radiant and beautiful were she not so tired.

And that was when he realized for the first time how excruciating it was for the esteemed Erza Scarlet to actually maintain order within the school and match the infamous Jellal blow to blow. It was a draining process even for her, to say the least.

His silent musing and an awful amount of gawking only led the Queen to reveal a small smile, even as those fatigued amber orbs blinked wearily. "I apologized for having encumbered you with what burden and animosity that should have existed solely between me and him...But fortunately, I suppose you do look alright. What is your name, if I may?"

"Zeref." A strange confidence suddenly swirled into his heart, and he released a soft whisper as his midnight orbs calmly met her expectant amber ones. "Zeref Dragneel."

"Oh, Zeref!" A gleam or recognition appeared within her vibrant amber eyes as her smile widened. "You are a junior like myself, yes? I remember seeing your name on many of the tests that I helped Mr. Igneel and Ms. Grandeeney grade. You are a brilliant student that my father is auspicious to have in his school, Zeref. As far as I can remember, I have yet to see anything below a 98 in any of the subjects I have graded!"

Turning his midnight amber orbs away, he dipped his head into a slow nod. "I thank you for your kind words, Erza-san."

"Oh please, just call me Erza. It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." The young woman smiled affectionately as she gingerly offered her hand, which Zeref slowly and hesitantly grasped. The gaiety within her eyes faded slightly as her voice lowered into a small growl. "If only that miscreant could be half as respectful and humble as you...Anyway, since you really do seem fine, please do head to class, Zeref. Please let the teacher know what you were with me and shall be exempted from any punishment for lateness. And do feel free to come to me if you have any questions and concerns... especially if those rascals ever try to trouble you again."

"Alright, thank you." With a curt nod, he indifferently turned away. Then, as though he suddenly consciously realized how rude and broody his usual demeanor appeared, Zeref turned around with a brilliant, disarming smile that was so reminiscent to that of his father. "I will see you later, Erza."

A sincere smile appeared at her lips as Erza nodded, her amber orbs somewhat enraptured by his strange shift in personality and suddenly heartwarming smile. "Take care, Zeref. Have a good day and don't be late to class!"

What an irony, I am already beyond late.

Merely a heartbeat after he had turned away from her smiling features, the pretentious gaiety within his impenetrable dark eyes faded and his visage became emotionless once more.

And not just to class either.

It was only when he finally disappeared around the corner and had long vanished from her sight that Zeref ominously ceased walking all of a sudden.

"If only that miscreant could be half as respectful and humble as you..."

Her saddened, melodious words echoed within his mind and, at that moment, Zeref suddenly found it hilarious.

He suddenly had an almost irresistible urge to laugh at the fact that Erza actually considered him an innocent and miserable bystander whom she could not protect from the most sadistic delinquent of his school.

It was there, in the desolate hallway without another living soul in sight that his tamed, innocent facade and dull, fearful black eyes finally evaporated into their true, sinister colors.

If only she knew...

Gradually, his lips rippled into a smile. A demonic smile fit for a heartless murderer.

If only she knew what I have done.

Absentmindedly, Zeref summoned a hand through his scorching cheek. While Gajeel's saliva had long dripped down his indignant cheek, a shiny and wet sheen remained, as if mocking his previous helplessness. Slowly, his midnight orbs turned to his hand, where a faint residue of the saliva gleamed upon his index finger.

Gajeel Redfox, was it?

A sinister smirk suddenly rippled across his lips as his fingers curled into a trembling fist, cracking his knuckle with a sickening crunch. Those impenetrable midnight orbs suddenly gleamed with a rare shade of murderous fury as he demonically mused to himself.

He will pay.

.

So his humanity was finally deteriorating, at last. Will Mavis be able to appear and save him in time?

I hope you like the chapter! Mavis will appear, at the latest, in 2 chapters. The goal is 35 reviews, if possible. Please do let me know what you think in that little friendly box below. Whatever you put in there, it won't bite, and neither will I. That's a solid promise. :D

Updated on February 2, 2017.