Chapter 14:Intense
Light streams in causing me to blink slowly from my slumber, easing myself into a sitting position I look round the room. Bare walls full of peeling paint and random words from nobodies determined to lay their mark somewhere. But its the most secure I've felt in a while.
Twisting is difficult thanks to my abdomen and ribs but I place the pads of my feet on the cold tiled floor and push myself to a semi standing position.
To the left near the door is a tray full of porridge, an apple piece from what looks like a can and some underwear left below. This by any standard isnt a feast but excitement arises.
Once the meal is finished and I am changed the first job is getting ready to visit Lay.
Grabbing the frayed toothbrush from the bottom tray I get to business specially brushing my incisors incase fangs need to come out today. Call me an animal if you like but that doesnt mean I have hygiene like one.
Strutting to the door I yank it open and hit my face on a board. Jesus ow. I clutch my nose hoping blood wont spurt out any time soon.
I shift my glare to whatever ruined my simple morning. Emerald eyes peer down into mine with black hair discarded everywhere.
Of Fucking Course. Varian.
'Any reason your hovering outside my room perv?'
Humour dances around his pupils until he speaks. Varian narrows his eyes.
'Perv? You would be so lucky. I came to escort you to Laith he wants to_' 'Thats gonna wait. I am seeing Layla first.' Determined to cut off his sentence I jump in ensuring he wont be taking me anywhere yet.
Varian's eyes flash and harden as he spits out 'Laith wishes to see you so we will go there.'
Instinct kicks in as if sensing the battle for power, doesnt he know? Alpha animals dont follow prey.
So I call my power and feel it fill my eyes as my pupils become slits.
'Oh we will, will we?'
Varian raises his hand and the once invisible chemical I can now see, thanks to my power Im guessing.
'Oh Erza, your not in the wild now so calm down before I get a leash.' His smirk painted on as his eyes betray the seriousness of his threat.
Two can play at that damn game. I elongate my fangs and swish a tongue over them for effect. 'Go ahead. I bet your dying to see how that would go.'
Varian steps even closer his palm now splayed as the chemical swirls in his palm but a body gets between us.
'Jesus cant you guys get on for five damn seconds? Before you even say it I know your screaming No right now mentally Erza.'
Retracting my fangs and ensuring my power lies dormant I side step around Will and cross my arms.
'Layla okay?' I kick a loose piece of wall determined to avoid the awkward of the situation.
A heavy sigh sounds from Varian as Will pinches the bridge of his nose before responding.
'Thats why Laith wants you. She is showing signs of regaining consciousness.'
A dangerous spike of hopes shoots through me and before I register it I am sprinting down the hallway and the stairs three at a time.
In five minutes, I am bursting through the door of the ground floor and sliding down the hallway, bumping into multiple bodies that I cant be bothered to usher apologies too.
I slam into the reception desk and grunt in pain, as Abek looks up from his comic and tilts his head as if inquiring whats going on.
'Sorry!' But in an instant im slamming my feet down the medical ward and pull up to Layla's bed as a sweaty mess. But Im here.
Laith already sitting next to her bed looks amused at my entrance.
'Nice to see you up and running Erza.'
'Hehe...' I scratch my face as my shallow breathe starts to normalise.
Layla on the bed chooses that moment to groan.
My heart twists in my chest. But slowly her eyes flicker open.
Her conker coloured eyes are back sleepy but they are roaming round.
Tears blur my eyes and leak down my cheeks involuntarily, as every tension drains out of me.
Layla begins to move her head and furrows her brows in confusion to her surroundings. She leans forward, grasps the handle of the bed and pulls herself up. A hiss erupts from her throat as she realises her injury and one of her hand claps her clothes tightly. But true to form she fights through the pain until she is sitting semi upright.
Layla locks eyes with Laith before speaking.
'Hey sir, do you know where my friend Erza is?!' Layla looks panicked.
'The last time i saw her we were fighting those big creature things and with me injured she had to fight alone. Please tell me she is okay!' Laylas eyes fill with tears and she clasps Laith's hands.
Laith smiles and rubs her back affectionately before commenting.
'Hi Layla, I am Laith. Dont worry your safe and so is Erza. How about you look straight ahead and tell me who you see?'
Layla stops abruptly and looks straight at me.
'Erza?' Laylas eyes will with tears.
'Hey Lay' I force a smile as tears flow freely and with that I rush to her.
As I hold her in my eyes sobs shutter through me and Layla gasps out. 'E I am so sorry, i was so reckless and I could of gotten you killed for it. I just wanted to prove I am tough like you...I was annoyed at you for not hearing Varian out and I'm sorry!'
A wet chuckle sounds from me and I press her closer to my chest.
'I will never let anything happen to you again. I promise.'
Layla nods and I lay her back down clinging on to her hand. Looking around us we have an audience. Lin stands next to Laith wiping her eyes. Will smiles and has an arm slung around Varian who rolls his eyes as his bruised eyes reflect the light.
At this moment I dont give a shit about my dishevelled state, Layla is alive and awake. Nothing matters right now.
Layla wipes her face and Lin moves to introduce herself as she spoons Layla her porridge. I lean back in the chair and half listen to the conversation.
'Yea I would love to meet your daughter Lin! I could have a friend, no offense E!' Layla leans forward and grows more animated despite occasionally wincing at her injury.
Will slumps next to me as Varian dawdles nearby.
'Well Erza she is safe now...you sticking around?'
I dont get why he is asking if he can just read my mind but i respond anyway.
'Yes we will. I realised I cant spend my whole life doing nothing but expecting results..so guess I will have to see you more.'
I slouch in my chair as my ribs begins to throb. In an instant a familiar pair of black eyes his at my side feeling my side and startling the crap out me.
'You've pushed yourself. Dont.' Mara then proceeds to shove an IV in me, hopefully full of pain killers. She hasnt got the gentle touch thats for sure.
Will chuckles and Varian smirks. These two are seriously gonna annoy me.
'The great PP. Cant handle needles?' Varian and cups his chin clearly trying to look as obnoxious as possible.
Will answers for me. 'The great V brought by an injured Erza you mean?'
For the first time a vulnerability breaks Varian's mask as a blush erupts.
'Shut it Will.'
Huh? Blushing. Perhaps Varian isnt as black and white as I thought.
Varian slumps off in a huff and Will waves at me as he follows laughing.
Laith nods and goes too until its me and Layla.
'Erza?' Startled out of zoning out I turn curious to Layla's question.
Layla fiddles with her hands before continuing...she is nervous so I lean forward and clasp her hands.
'Layla you can ask me anything.'
Layla swallows. 'Erza I had a dream about you and other people.' Flashes of the dream flurry through my mind. The field. Kyran. Grayth. Uriel. Peter and Layla among them. Longing thuds through me. Now its me who is nervous.
'Who were those people?' Layla queries.
Forcing myself to find my voice I answer.
'Layla remember you asked about those friends I had...?' My voice is shaky.
Layla nods sharply.
'Well I think its time I told you the truth about them..and the biggest mistake I ever made.'
Layla does'nt move but her eyes betray her thoughts.
She is thinking I could'nt be capable of anything too horrific cause I am so nice to her.
If only you knew Layla.
If only you knew who I really was on the inside.
The deep despair that controls my every decision...
The corruption that has been there ever since that woman handed me to those men.
The anger. The sorrow. All the negativity that makes me the Purple Predator and not the Erza you know.
Why i got the infernal code name?
And why I will never be redeemed.
'Yes Layla, its time you knew where it all began.'
Please don't hate me after this Layla.
I cant loose you too.