“Are you sure?” Jane asked, confused.
“Yeah, I'm just not up to it today,” I said slowly, minding my words.
“You're right. You have been progressing exceptionally well since you found your ability. You deserve a well earned rest,” Elane said kindly.
“Are you okay with this?” I asked, turning to Sam.
He nodded, not meeting my gaze.
“Hey,” I said, sweeping his hair back and placing both my hands on either sides of his face. “You'll come over later right?”
He pulled one side of his mouth up. “Of course, one of the pleasures of living next door.”
We had pulled up in my driveway now and we were out front of my house, so I said goodbye to Elane and Jane.
“Tell James, Fredric and Hunter I said I'll see them tomorrow,” I said to Jane and Elane.
“Okay, sure.”
“I'll see you,” I said softly to Sam.
I kissed his cheek and got out of the car.
I started walking towards the front door and grabbed my keys out. I could hear the SUV was still pulled up behind me and I turned to look at the car.
What were they doing? I wondered to myself.
Just then the backdoor opened and Sam jumped out of the car with his school bag over his shoulder, closing the door behind him.
“What are you doing?” I asked, shocked.
The SUV reversed out and Sam kept walking towards me, stopping right in front of me. “I just couldn't leave you alone,” he explained, his expression looked heartbreakingly sad.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him through the front door with me. We walked up to my room, chucking both our bags on the floor. He went and laid on my bed comfortably and I turned my computer on.
“I'll be back in a sec,” I said, grabbing some jeans and a shirt.
I turned to look at him and he nodded stiffly. I sighed and walked into the bathroom to get changed. I came back out and he hadn't moved. Something was definitely wrong. I walked over to him and carefully laid down next to him. “Sam, I know something is wrong,” I said slowly, turning so I was laying on my side, one hand on his chest.
“Is that so?” he said unemotionally.
“Yes. Now, I want to know what it is.”
He didn't answer which meant something was really wrong, but I didn't have the faintest idea to what it was.
“Sam,” I said, grabbing his hand in mine.
Still no answer. “I'll go ask James then, I'm sure he'll tell me,” I said, getting up.
He grabbed my wrist as he sat up and stopped me from walking away. “If I tell you, promise me you won't over react,” he said, still holding onto my wrist as he looked up at me.
“I promise okay. Can I have my wrist back?” I asked.
His grip was starting to hurt now.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, releasing his grip and all the blood rushed back to my hand.
“So,” I pressed, putting my hands on my hips in front of him.
He took a deep breath before answering. “The guests who are coming... they do not yet know of how powerful you are.”
“Is that all?” I asked, not knowing how this was a bad thing.
I looked at his face and he looked down at the floor.
“There's more isnt there?”
He nodded. “They… may try to kill you,” he mumbled.
I nodded my head and tried to stay calm. He finally looked me in the eye because of my shocked silence.
“It's okay though, I won't let them hurt you and it is most unlikely,” he rushed out, trying to reassure me.
I was still ridged and staring at the wall, my eyes wide.
The thoughts of what could happen to the Archers and Bales because of me, ran through my head once again.
“Lays? Layla?”
“Yeah,” I managed to gasp out.
It felt like I couldn't breathe, like my throat was thick with guilt and fear.
“You're going to be okay,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist, holding me closer so his head was against my stomach.
“But will you be okay?” I asked, cradling his head in my arms.
“Of course,” he said with a laugh. “We all should be fine.”
I somehow could hear that he wasnt sure himself, but I would have to try to think that too, just to ease the tension.
Being powerful sucked.
****
It was time to meet the covens that would either destroy or help me. Hunter and Fredric were in the front seats, it was silent throughout the Mustang this afternoon as we drove to the Archer house. Sam, James, Elane and Jane had left at break to meet with the covens and explain to them. They told us before they left to stay in the car until they called, but they said we wouldnt have to stay in the car for long.
Hunter pulled the Mustang up out front of the huge security gates to the Archer property. We were sitting for about three minutes in the tension filled car before my phone went off.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Drive in now. When you walk inside make sure you walk slow,” Sam said on the other end of the line.
“Okay,” I said.
The line went dead and I put my phone away. “Let's go guys,” I said to Hunter and Fredric.
Hunter started the car and it roared to life. He drove up to the gates and slowed while they opened for us.
Further up the driveway I could vaguely see at least 5 expensive cars in the courtyard when the trees thinned out, none of which were the Archers. This meant the covens were definitely here.
The Mustang slowed to a crawl behind one of the cars out front of the house which was a skyline, then we all got out.
“Sam said we walk in slowly,” I told them nervously.
They both nodded and walked on either side of me, pretty much squishing me between them, but I felt safer this way and less vulnerable. We walked through the living room and we could hear voices coming from the office so we headed that way. I was shaking in my shoes, but I kept my jellow legs moving forward. We rounded the corner and saw a crowd of about fifteen people sitting and standing around the room. They all saw me enter the room slowly, and all I could hear were murmurs all around me run throughout themselves.
“Lays,” Sam said.
He signalled for me to come over to him. He was dressed in black jeans and a long sleeved grey shirt that stuck to his hard built body well.
I walked slowly towards Sam, taking his hand in mine while Fredric and Hunter went and stood by James near the doors like security.
“She is powerful,” one person said.
It was a short man who looked like he was in his mid-thirties. His dark blonde hair was cut short, but it suited his gruff features.
“Yes, it radiates from her. I see why they would want her, she could do much damage,” another man said.
This man was tall and thin with young features and black short hair.
“But surely she will come in handy,” a familiar voice said.
I searched around for the person who had said it, and found it was Lucas; the one I danced with on Friday night, he was one I remembered well.
“Hello, young Layla,” he said, smiling once he had noticed my gaze rested on him.
“Hello Lucas,” I said curtly.
“If we were to destroy her, the Dark covens would surely not be able to attack,” someone said.
I heard a growl rumble through Sams chest and he tightened his arms around me. “You will not touch her Herron!” Sam snapped.
“Calm yourself young Samuel. I was just saying if we were-”
Sam cut the man Herron off.
“You are not and never will. Do you hear me?” he spat in disgust towards the short red haired man.
“Okay, okay. It was just a suggestion, but I can now see she is your amator. My apologies,” the one named Herron said in defence.
“Well, we could train her. If it comes to a fight,” a woman suggested; she was short and had light blonde hair, she loo
ked in her mid-twenties.
“We have already started doing that, and she has been doing very well. But I guess further training couldnt hurt,” Jane said from somewhere behind me.
“It's settled,” Elane said.
“The Resah are upstairs in the guest room, since there are only three of you. And the Fengral are in the guest house outback with the outsiders because there are thirteen of you altogether,” Jane said.
I didn't know there was even a guest house because I had never seen it before.
Some of the people left the room but some stayed and came over to me.
“Young Layla, this is my coven; The Fengral,” the charming Lucas said.
I looked past him and there stood two males and three females, they stood up straight with their arms behind their backs like commandos.
“My son, Drake,” he gestured towards a younger version of himself; jet-black hair, yellowish eyes and slightly more built. “Heather,” he nodded towards a short blonde haired girl who looked young. “Jesiah,” he said.
I looked towards the dark skinned tall male with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail.
“Fern and Bailey,” he introduced.
The last two females were young as well, not as young as us but young. Their dark hair was tied back in buns and they had very beautiful fragile faces.
Looking at these people or beings as everyone puts it, made me still wonder how can we go around unrecognized. Sure we all dress like casual people, but dont humans notice the way Supernatural beings look, they're not perfect but they are different, it's impossible not to notice.
I snapped back to the present and watched the Fengral members bow their heads, their faces still expressionless. I was half expecting them to salute me, but I'm glad they didn't. It would have freaked me out.
“So I heard your coven is bigger than ours young Samuel,” Lucas said, looking at Sam.
I hoped this wasn't going to be a my coven is bigger than your coven competition.
“We do not class family as a coven,” Sam said in reply.
“But it is true, you now have nine members. I think your coven is the biggest out of all the Supernatural covens in the world,” Lucas said, impressed.
“Like I said; we do not class family as a coven,” Sam replied, tightening his arms around me once again.
“Lucas, let's go set up,” Fern said, her voice was so soft yet her expression was so hard.
Weird.
“Yes, we shall,” Lucas said to his coven without turning away from Sam.
“Goodbye, Samuel. Layla,” Lucas said, finally turning away and walking away with his coven.
“Bye,” I murmured.
We watched them walk out of the office and eventually I heard the backdoor open.
It was very strange the way Sam acted around Lucas.
“What was that about?” I asked, once they were definitely out of hearing range.
“It's nothing,” he said, looking at me inconspicuously.
“Doesnt seem like nothing,” I grumbled.
I didn't understand why he doesnt just tell me these things.
I sighed and pushed his arms away.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
I could tell he was hurt by the thought of me leaving.
I was just about to answer but the gate receiver went off. I looked back at Sam and he looked as confused as I was.
“The next covens aren't supposed to arrive until tomorrow,” he said.
I got up and went over to the receiver. Sam wasnt far behind me.
“Who is it?” I asked into the speaker.
“Please, let us in. Were badly hurt, we had a collision with Some Dark covens,” someone answered into the receiver.
I looked towards Sam and he stared at me before pressing the open button for the gates. He searched my face for a second, worriedly.
“I'm sorry my love,” he said gently, running the back of his hand down the side of my face.
I sighed and took his hand in both of mine, kissing it gently. “I'm sorry too.”
He nodded and I held his hand in both of mine as we walked to the front door. Sam opened the front doors up, and a blue jeep had pulled up in a hurry with four people inside. They had started jumping out, and I could see some of them had patches of bright red blood on them, and others had torn clothes.
One of them was really hurt and his friends were trying to get him out. He looked young with long honey blonde hair streaked with tinges of red from blood.
I stared at him in horror.
Who could have done this? I thought to myself.
“Steven,” Sam said, watching two of them carry him inside the house.
“Take him to the bathroom,” Sam ordered. “Straight ahead, first door on the left in the kitchen.”
“Andrew, what happened?” he asked the last guy in front of us.
“On our way here we had a collision with the Sephil and Frester covens,” the one called Andrew said, and he sounded out of breath.
His dark blonde hair was in disarray and he had blood splotches on his blue T-shirt and jeans.
“Frester?” Sam asked, surprised.
“Yeah, they got us just outside of the Forestville boundary. We made it earlier than expected and some people needed help on the side of the road, we pulled over and it was a trap.”
“Huh, we better go help Steven,” Sam said, signalling to inside the house.
“Yeah,” he agreed, nodding his head and walking in the door as Sam and I followed beside him, me clinging to his arm.
As we were rushing to the bathroom where Steven was being paid medical attention, Andrew looked at me warily.
“Who's your friend?” he asked.
“We'll talk about this later,” Sam said, walking into the bathroom where Steven, I presumed, was yelling and thrashing around.
The two guys who carried him in here were holding him down as he laid on the long fold-down bench, it ran the length of the West wall.
I had to say that they were all very good looking and probably only a few years older than us, or even our age.
I couldnt quite make out what Steven was saying, but it sounded like a lot of cussing and a whole lot of profanities.
“Whats wrong with him?” Sam asked.
“He's got a broken leg, a couple of broken ribs and a lot of cuts that are going to need stitches. I think he might have to go to the hospital,” one of the males said.
“No. Were going to have to break the leg back into place. If we go to the hospital then they will question us,” Sam said, examining Stevens injuries. “Lays you're going to have to heal him before he loses too much blood.”
I nodded bravely and went to stand over Steven with Sam beside me.
“Wait, you can heal this?” the one named Andrew asked confused.
“Yes,” Sam answered, distracted.
“Alright, let him go on three,” Sam ordered, his irises already black. “Three,” he said darkly.
The other two males backed away and Steven was still cussing, but he couldnt move, it was if he was glued to the bench as Sam held his hands over him.
“Brace yourself,” Sam warned everybody.
I knew what he was about to do so I covered my ears. That didnt help, I could still hear the ear-splitting bone cracking sound from his leg.
Steven tried to get up but Sam was stopping him with his ability, so all he could do was swear about god.
“Alright Lays. Try to heal the big ones, don't tire yourself out,” Sam said to me cautiously.
I raised both my hands in front of me and saw the light come from them, then I placed my hands over Stevens leg. I pushed energy out towards him and felt the bone heal rapidly under my hands. Then I worked on his ribs, which took a bit more energy than his leg because they were more delicate. Lastly, when I could feel myself weaken slightly, I healed all of the deep cuts over his body. When I was finished Steven had stopped yelling and was now breathing steadily.
By the end of it I didn't feel as tired as I usually did, actually, I didnt feel tired at all so I hoped that meant I was developing my ability more and pushing my limits.
“Okay, you should be fine now,” Sam said, his irises returning to the beautiful light green.
I could see the black fade away and die down in his eyes, but his concern and worry was still there.
Steven sat up slowly with a groan, holding his ribs and gritting his teeth.
“I feel… sore, but I'm not in much pain anymore,” Steven said.
He looked up at me, gratitude in his eyes. “Healer,” he said with a nod.
“Yes, also an energy absorber,” Sam said.
“Thank you,” Steven said gratefully.
I nodded with a little smile.
“This is your amator?” one of the males asked with slight curiosity.
He looked like he was a lady killer, he was about my height, black hair and he had rugged handsome features.
“Yes, she is. Layla this is Markus, Steven, Andrew and Cameron. They are the Rafire coven,” Sam introduced us.
“She is powerful,” Steven said, and he was already on his feet, washing away as much blood as he could in the sink basin.
“I know,” Sam simply answered.
“Well leave you to clean up,” I think the one named Markus said with a smile, he was definitely a ladies man.
Any guy would kill for his smile, and any girl would love to be killed by it.
“Yeah,” everyone agreed, heading out the door.
“Layla,” Steven called.
“Yeah?” I asked, turning to look at him.
“Thank you again.”
“It was my fault, you dont need to thank me. You're helping me by being here, so it was the least I could do,” I explained kindly.
He nodded, and I turned back around to Sam and we walked out the door, closing it behind us.
17. Preparation
Things were getting more difficult, it was harder for everyone around me to be safe, especially my loved ones. I just hoped they wouldn't come for my dad. He has finally been a good dad for the first time in years, and it really has made a big difference in my life. But I knew the peace was too good to last. Three months of peace was all I could have, and in that time I had been through a lot.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 31