Chapter 6
LAYLA
Proving yourself to people who hate you and want to have nothing to do with you is the hardest thing. They boycott you and make you feel like shit.
Being told that I was going to be the next high priestess before everyone was traumatizing, I had just recovered, I was nearly killed by my father, and the people that he killed were trying to make me the next High priestess.
I followed Mystic after she made the announcement, of course, the people were mumbling and whispering amongst each other. Some even questioned the oracle’s authority, I can’t blame them even though I feel the same way.
“That doesn’t make sense, why would the oracle want me to be the next high priestess after everything that I had done to this pack, after turning my back and choosing the wolves?” I blurted
“When you become the high priestess, you ask her why she chose you” she grunted
“Aunt!” I called, halting in my steps and so did she, she turned around and looked at me “Are you going to reject the offer again” she grunted, glaring at me.
Trust me when I saw it looks could kill, I should have died by now.
“No, I just need time to wrap my head around the whole idea, I don’t even have what it takes, how do I even prove myself?” I muttered.
“That is up to you, you have until tonight to wrap your head around it, training starts the day after tomorrow and if you are still not worthy enough after three months, even if you have mastered all the spells, I will kill you myself!” She grunted and walked away
I needed a minute to clear my head, to be sure I was worthy enough to become the High priestess, when I rejected the offer I did because I wanted to please Damien and be with him but now what reason do I have not to?
It’s my mother’s legacy, Raven’s Legacy, and a way to protect these people from whatever they will face in the future.
Was I ready to be the person my mother aspired for me to be?
Will I be a true leader and guide these people?
I had so many questions but there is one thing that I am certain of
They saved my life, even when I turned my back on them, they rescued me, protected me, and treated me till I got better.
It was time I repay their kindness.
“I will be the High Priestess, what do I need to do?” I asked standing before Mystic and the other older women.
They turned to each other, I couldn’t tell what they were thinking, but they all seemed to understand each other.
“You have to learn spells, you have to learn to talk to the oracle, you have to learn our ways but before then, you need to prove yourself, and as Mystic said, if you do not satisfy us, we will kill you” Greta, one of the older women said to me.
I nodded in agreement, little did I know what I was getting myself into.
They hated me, it was obvious and I knew it would take almost forever for them to accept me but I needed to prove to them that I was on their side and I was worthy enough to be called one of them.
I walked through the same path every day and there were these three girls Sally, Ariel, and Beca who made life more unbearable for me.
“Oh if it isn’t the forbidden child” Sally, the sassy one blurted.
“Poor child, no one loves you, you should have stayed dead!” Ariel muffled
“You are shameless, you have the nerve to come here, do you think we would take you back after you turned your back on us?” Beca blurted, she seemed to be their boss as she always led them.
I tried to ignore them but they never let that happen, they bullied me every day and there was no one stopping them.
“Why not crawl back to where you came from!” Ariel snarled
“She can’t her father tried to kill her, don’t you remember, she is a child that shouldn’t exist” Beca blurted
I exhaled and just took it in.
“I really hate your guts, to think you have the right to live when Raven is dead, how dare you!” Beca grunted
Oh, I forgot to mention, Raven and Beca grew up together, Beca and Raven were inseparable since birth and so I have heard and now I have to face her almost every day of my life as she reminds me of my painful mistakes and past.
“Can’t you just die?” Her horrifying voice rang in my head, so loud, my heart began to thump really fast.
I gulped down and tried to walk away but Ariel and Sally blocked my path, I lifted my head to gaze at them confused.
“Can you please just let me go? I am trying all that I can to atone for my sins” I muffled.
Beca chuckled, I noticed she squinted her eyes and made some signs to the girl, they hurled him, pinned my hands behind me
“Why are you doing this to me!” I screamed
SMACK!
“Who asked you to speak, you have no right to speak and no matter what you do to atone for your sins, you will never be able to bring back the people who died because of you!” She grunted.
As I bent over with Beca’s words flowing through every nerve in my body, I felt a very cold breeze gush over us. It struck like the wind of a storm, it blew my scarf away and also knocked the girls off their feet.
“Bullying someone not as strong as you and also, Three against one, isn’t that unfair, what difference does it make between you and the Red Moon wolves that attacked us and killed your best friend” A lady muttered softly as she emerged from the dark.
“Don’t you dare talk about Raven and how dare you compare me to those filthy beings, I am nothing like them!” Beca yelled.
“If you are not then, how do you explain the situation?” The lady rasped.
Beca chuckled and walked up to her “Hey Sally, watch your mouth, the next time you cross my path, I’ll remind you why I am your senior” She snarled and walked away.
The lady rushed toward me “Are you okay?”
“You shouldn’t just sit back and watch them treat you unfairly, its not your fault that you were born from your father and you never asked for any of this, so next time, try to defend yourselves or Beca won’t stop bullying you,” She said to me.
The lady carried me to my chamber, she dressed my wound and served me a bowl of hot meal “You should get some sleep” She said to me.
“I am Layla” I muttered with tears in my eyes.
“I am Sally,” She smiled and left the room.
It felt nice to have someone that doesn’t glare at me, Sally was warm and I liked that. I ate the meal she offered and lay in bed to sleep.
Over the night I felt very cold, too cold, it was almost as though I was through into the sea, naked.
I turned and turned until I could feel the water in my mouth and I slowly opened my eyes from whatever dream I was having except I wasn’t in a dream.
Opening my eyes, the room was filled with water and I was the only one in it, the water was up to my chin, the windows were closed and there was no way out.
“Help!” I screamed