Layla
I woke up in a bed in a very dark room that was filled with the same sweet smoke smell that reminded me of the purple smoke. I looked around for a light switch but found none. Before I could stumble or rather tumble off the bed, I heard footsteps.
Flaming candles all around the room came to life and blinded me after the intense darkness.
"You're awake, that's good I was worried they went overboard." A guy said.
Blinking a few times, the guy in question came into focus. He was tall with dark hair and eyes as dark as night. Handsome but the kind of handsome that is trouble and danger rolled into one.
"Who are you and where am I and what did you do to my grandmother?"
"So many questions all at once. Well, first your grandmother is safe at home as I do believe that is your top concern and second, you're in Nutt and I am Prince Loki but you can just call me Loki. Sorry about the dungeon room but I believe for now it is best that you stay here until you accept that this is your home now."
"What! You're insane if you think this place will ever be my home."
"You have a lot of fire and spirit. I like that and this is your home since you will be my bride."
"What?!"
"Ok, clearly you jumped off the crazy train. I am 17 way too young to be married and when I marry it will be because A: I want to. B: I love the guy I want to marry and C: not because some crazy prince says so."
"A, well then A: you will learn to love me B: you are not too young you're an Elf not a Human and C: you have no way to fight me see the purple smoke around you. It makes your powers freeze so you cannot use them. It works best on Light Elves but affects Dark Elves too but I made sure all my people had taken the antidote to this clever little potion. And since you are both light and dark, I had to let them double the strength of the smoke."
"What? How it is not possible."
"It is very possible."
"But for now, sweetheart I must leave you. You will find clothes and such in the closets and toiletries in the bathroom that is behind that door. Pleasant dreams."
With that Loki prince of darkness left and I was alone.
Dominic
I had no idea why Granny wanted Alex to come but she knows things, she gets feelings and no one, not even my parents questioned her.
"Alex, the look can you come over to Layla's house as quickly as you can."
"What is wrong? No, tell me when I get there, I am on my way, see you in a bit."
"Bye"
"Granny, why do you need Alex? I know he is Layla's boyfriend sort of but he is human."
"There is more to him than meets the eye Dominic and I want him here because Layla and all of us need him."
Tempest
I was listening to all of this but not really taking it in., My mind was racing. My best friend was missing and that purple smoke made her magic useless. I was so scared for her what did they want with her and what did Granny mean by there is more to Alex than meets the eye.
Alex
Walking up to Layla's house I knew she was not there. My uneasy feeling was right, something very bad happened walking into the kitchen through the back door. I saw Granny sitting by the kitchen table and she looked so weak.
"Granny what happened."
"Alex, thank you for coming. They took my Layla but you already felt she was not here."
"I did Granny but how did they take her?"
"Wait time out I don't understand what is going on here."
"Dominic, I'll tell you in a bit just wait ok"
"They have Dark druids Alex, they used a purple smoke that made are, powers freeze."
"What? No, that is, granny it can't be there are not that many Dark druids out there. Most are imprisoned and the few that are not, only one has the power to do what you describe."
"Yes, I am aware Alex you know who she is I take it."
"Yes, but how did you know granny?"
"I am old and wise and powerful Alex not much goes by me. Layla is your destined is she not."
"Yes,"
There was no point in hiding it.
"Then can I trust you will use your great power to find her and bring her back safely?"
"Wait, what great power and what is destined?"
Tempest and Dominic said both with a look of absolute confusion on their faces.
"Yes, Granny you know I will not rest till I find her. And to answer your questions Tempest and Dominic I am not the human you took me for but rather a very powerful Druid young though I may be, I am very powerful. And what granny means is Layla and I are destined to be together. She is like my other half; our souls were bonded together since our birth."
"Okay did not see that coming did you, Dominic?"
"No, but how did we not notice that you are a Druid."
"Simple I did not want you to. I want you to get to know the real me without the power plus I did not want the destined thing to scare Layla off. Being as I am the first guy that asked her out."
"Okay, that is definitely a discussion for another day but the first thing is first, we are going to go find Layla and bring her back, so let's go what we are waiting for."
"It's not that simple Dominic, first I need you to take me to your home."
"Why?"
"Because I need to speak to the king and queen. But first, we will go by Tempest and my house so that we can get clothes and everything we will need on our journey."
"Ok then we better go but we cannot leave granny here alone."
"We aren't, granny will be staying at my parents' house. They will be delighted to have her as their honoured guest."
Tempest
Standing in my room stuffing clothes and toiletries and everything I can think of into a backpack I figured that this is the weirdest night of my life.
My best friend's boyfriend turned out to be a powerful druid and I am on my way to my boyfriend's house to see his parents who in reality are not very fond of me actually scratch that his Dad hates me his Mom, well his Dad doesn't let her do anything without his says so including who she likes and doesn't like. Waiting outside my bedroom door like a good little prince is Dominic. He stayed so that granny and Alex could go to his house to get his stuff as he calls it and to drop off granny at his parents' house.
"He should be back soon, right I mean time is wasted here."
"He will be back; something tells me he is not going to stop until he has found Layla."
"I am so scared for her, what do they want with her, what if they hurt her or at worst kill her."
"Baby, no don't think like that."
He says while coming into my room and wrapping me in his arms.
"We will find Layla and she is smart and strong. She won't go down without a fight, you know that."
"I do, but if anything should happen to her Dominic, a part of me will die too, she is the sister I never had, she is my best friend. Part of me."
"We have to have faith in her and Alex and ourselves we won't stop until we find her."
A throat clearing from the door made us both lookup.
"If you are ready, we should go now I mean I can wait downstairs and give you two a minute but time is really of the essence and time is different in Nutt."
"Nutt! What you're saying Layla is in Nutt!"
"I will explain at your house."
Layla
Standing alone in the dungeon room I realized I never felt so alone. I knew Granny and my friends would do anything to find me but would they look in Nutt and if they did come, how would they rescue me if this horrible purple smoke made our powers useless.
I wanted nothing more than to sit down and cry but then I felt something I haven't felt in a long time. I felt the way I use, to feel when my mom and dad comforted me if I was sad or scared.
"Never give in to fear Layla, you are stronger than that. Never give up, the sun always shines on the horizon."
That is what my dad always said and it felt like he was talking to me right at the moment I felt so alone.
"Right Layla you can cry or you can fight which is it going to be"
Asking myself that question and talking to myself made me feel like I was insane but maybe we all have a little crazy in us.
Making the decision that I was not going down without a fight I look around the room it was a dungeon alright just with pretty furnishings lovely canopy bed the likes I always dreamed of with sheer purple draping and a bedspread that had beautiful purple rose on the bed was made of black wood as was everything else.
I walked over to the dressing table and opened the drawers. The top one had underwear all lace and satin in every colour you can think of but I saw most were darker shades the bottom one had jeans and T-shirts in. The closet had dressed in, jackets, jerseys, scarfs and shoes, high heels, ballet flats you name it, it was in that closet. I saw right through his plan to shower me with beautiful things thinking that would make me weak-kneed and starry-eyed.
"Well over my dead body am I going to marry the prince of darkness."
I say this out loud just to make a point.
"First thing is first Layla you need to take a shower."
Grabbing a fresh pair of jeans, underwear, a t-shirt and a warm sweater I went to take a shower even though the bathroom had the loveliest bath ever, baths you take when you are safe and the fact was, I was so not safe.
Alex
Walking up to Dominic's house I could feel the tension in the air. Dominic and Tempest were even more worried now than they were before I told them Layla was in Nutt.
But I also sensed that Dominic did not like being at home. Taking the lead Dominic led us up the path that led to a massive Victorian-style home. I could see why the Light Elf king and queen picked this house to be their 'castle'.
It was grand and big and white with a big wrap-around porch and lavish gardens. I know that because even though it was in the early hours of the morning the garden was filled with lights.
Dominic stands at the front door looking like he would rather have us anywhere else but here.
"Welcome to my home."
Tempest walks in first and I follow what I expected. I am not sure about Beautiful Victorian furniture and drapes and carpets but as Tempest and I stood in the front hall looking around at the inside of the house it became crystal clear why Dominic didn't want to be home. The interior of the house was beautiful if you like super modern furniture and accessories but, where Layla and granny and Tempest's parents' houses were simple compared to the grandeur of this palace their houses were warm and inviting and comfortable and filled with joy and love. Dominic's house was cold and stark.
"My parents will be in the meeting room, follow me."
He led us through a door and down a short hallway and opened a door on the right-hand side.
Entering the room, I could see why he called it the meeting room it was a room with stark walls and a long table with lots of chairs sitting at the table were Tempest's parents I recognized them from pictures in her house and Dominic's parents sitting at the head of the table the rest of the Elf's present I did not know. All talk stopped when we entered.
Dominic
Standing in the meeting room, I felt bombarded with emotions from my girlfriend, friend, and everyone else's. It was hard to concentrate but I knew Alex needed to talk to my parents for what reason I did not know but I knew he had to for Layla's sake.
"Dominic, what is the meaning of this? I told you to stay with Mrs Summers till we could get her to a safe place."
"Dad?"
"And why did you bring a human to our house? Are you out of your mind?"
I felt my anger rise. My father always had a way to make my anger rise he didn't even give me a chance to explain but before I could say anything in my defence Alex jumped in giving my father no choice but to shut up.
"Your Majesty, I mean no disrespect but if you will please shut up, I would like to answer the questions you asked your son but did not give him the time to answer."
The look of shock on my dad's face was priceless really it was
"Firstly, if you were actually paying attention, you would have noticed I am a Druid and not a human, as for Layla's grandmother she is safe with my parents and will remain there until we bring Layla back home."
"A Druid in our town, how is this possible?"
"Simple really, we have gotten quite good at hiding what we are, we blend in with humans better than most. I asked Dominic to bring me here because I noticed from the shouting, we could hear from the outside that you are all still wondering why Layla was taken."
"Well, it should be obvious your majesty the king of the Dark Elves has a son a few years older than Layla and Dominic am I correct? Also, Layla is a very powerful Elf; she has none of the Light elves' or Dark Elves' weaknesses and all their strength. Also, your majesty, you know what happens when the elves' binding ceremony is done."
"GOODNESS NO PLEASE NO IT CAN'T BE NOT THAT!"
My Dad turned as pale as if he saw a ghost.
"Yes, your majesty, the two elves' power combine and they both become stronger and I am thinking that the Prince of the Dark Elves is pretty powerful but if he had Layla's power as well."
"He will be unstoppable, we will all be destroyed."
"Yes, well lucky for you Layla is mine and he will have her over my dead body."
"You're still a mere child. Unless she is your destined? A druid and an elf that has not happened in centuries."
"Yes, she is and a mere child I may be to you your Majesty but powerful I surely am."
"What do we have to do to stop this, how do we save Layla?"
Both Tempest's Mom and Dad wanted to know. They love Layla like she was their own daughter. I saw that in their worried looks.
"Well, Dominic, Tempest and I are going to Nutt to find Layla and bring her back the best thing or the only thing we can do now is to make sure the Dark elf prince doesn't force her to marry him."
At this statement every one of the adults started shouting, some in shock, some in outrage but for once my Dad seemed to know that someone other than him came up with the best plan.
"SILENCE ALL OF YOU!"
"You are asking me to send my only son to Nutt and with him, a beautiful young female elf not only that but they are Light elves, it will be like walking into the lion's den."
Hearing my Dad call my girlfriend a beautiful female elf made my skin crawl knowing that my dad had somewhat of an eye for wondering.
"They will be safe. I am quite powerful even though I may not look like it."
My father looked at Alex and I saw it, an understanding passing between them like two forces of nature colliding and both of them realizing that they are not going to defeat each other at that moment.
"Alright they can go but swear an oath to me you will make sure they come back alive and unharmed."
"I swear,"
"How are you getting to Nutt? Only Layla's mother and my mother had the power to create portals and they are both gone from us?"
"I can make a portal that is easy magic. It is a simple spell but if you can give us any help about what to expect that will help a lot. Because if I am correct, we only have time till the lunar eclipse. That is when Dark Elves are at their strongest. I believe the Dark Elf prince will want to marry Layla on that day or night. That gives us only a few days to find her."
Layla
After a very short shower, I decided to see if I can leave this dungeon room. The better I know the layout of this horrible place the better my plans for escape.
The purple smoke was thick on the floor every step I took sent it up in spirals. Everything about this place and room and absolutely everything about the dark prince made me furious.
Trying to open the door was quite a workout. I pulled, kicked, punched (which only gave me cuts on my hands) and I even tried running at the door but the only good that did was knocking me flat on my backside giving me a bruise the size of Mount Rushmore. Standing up, running my hand tenderly over my new huge bruise and finally giving into cursing I heard a voice that shocked me into silence because it can't be possible, that person cannot be here.
"YOU SAID YOU NEEDED HER NOT THAT YOU PLAN TO MARRY HER."
"BE QUIET OR YOU MIGHT FIND THAT I MIGHT JUST LIKE YOU A BIT LESS."
The anger in that voice sure shut her up faster than anything ever has.
Standing at the far end of my dungeon room I saw the door open up and what do you know my day got worse.
"Wendy what are you doing here, how are you here?"
"Well look what the cat dragged in."
"Wendy dear you should be nicer to your future queen."
Loki said this with a smile but there was a clear warning in his cold black eyes.
"Yes, baby I am sorry how could I forget."
It took me all of 2 seconds to realize I was right. Wendy is the wicked witch and she was born into the wrong family now it made sense why she never dated anyone for long, she was dating the Prince of Darkness.
"So, you two are dating, that does not surprise me. Just a few questions. If you will, you don't have Wendy's mark and why did you kidnap me to force me into marriage if you are already dating Wendy. And Wendy, how can you do this to your parents, your friends and your people."
"Still asking so many questions sweetheart,"
"I am not your sweetheart," (I come to realize that these two have the sort of thing one will definitely brand as toxic they like to hurt each other and make each other jealous)
"Really not that it is your place to know Layla but my parents never really understood me and the light elves well let's say my loyalties lie elsewhere. And."
"And as for not bearing her mark, there are ways to get around that."
"So, you really don't care about Wendy do you, if you did then you would have let her kiss you and given you her mark or have you forbidden her to kiss you because she would give you her mark if she had a choice."
"Well, beauty and brains aren't I lucky you don't miss anything do you sweetheart, Wendy why don't you leave me and my bride to be for a few minutes I will be up shortly."
Everything about Wendy made it clear she would like nothing more than to burn me where I stand.
The look of the prince of darkness and his warning earlier made her leave but the look she gave me before closing the door behind her was one of pure hatred.
"She has her uses but not marriage material."
"You know I will never marry you and I am not going to take part in your sick game with Wendy no matter how much I dislike her."
Walking over to stand in front of me he looks at me with a smile that is both charming and evil at the same time. Tracing his finger along my cheek made me feel even worse when he leans in and whispers in my ear.
"You will marry me willing or not on the night of the lunar eclipse and if you were willing it would not be so much fun to make you willing as for Wendy she will be leaving again by morning and then it will only be you and me."
With that, he leaves.