Chapter Nine

LAYLAS POV

After Layla and her friends finished breakfast, she walked out of the dining room thinking about what she was going to be doing in her classes today.

She sighed as she readjusted her bag on her shoulder. She was still exhausted, but she didn’t want to miss out on any coursework that might be available.

As she made her way across campus to her class, she ran into Professor Vale.

“Good morning Layla,” he slithered out.

“Good morning Professor,” she replied.

“Are you on your way to class this morning?” He asked. Something about the way he said it made her skin crawl and she felt that he had more to say.

“Yes, sir I am. Is that a problem?” She asked.

“I think that you should be resting. After the show in class and whatever happened last night,” he said with a look at her, “I think you should take time off. We don't want you to lose yourself now do we?”

She could feel that this wasn’t out of concern, but was more than a suggestion. He was TELLING her not to come.

“What about my coursework?” She asked.

“I’ll make sure that Theo and Damon get it. Seems that they have taken quite an interest in you,” he stated as he began to walk towards the building.

She stopped and sighed. It seemed there was nothing that she could do to change his mind.

She turned and ran smack into the chest of Theo.

“Sorry- I didn’t see you,” she said. She muttered.

“It’s ok, it was my fault,” he said quickly, readjusting his backpack.

“Are you coming in?” He asked her.

“No Professor Vale told me to go rest. No class for me today. But he would make sure that you and Damon had my work for me.” She told him.

He nodded and shifted on his feet.

“Don’t let any of this discourage you. If anything I think that watching will be good for you this year.” He said.

Layla nodded as he listened to what he said. But she honestly couldn’t even focus. It seemed that her tiredness was catching up with her. For a moment she was glad that she wasn’t going to class.

She cleared her throat, “ It’s no worries. I’ll be there. Wouldn’t want to miss it,” she said with a smile.

“Just don’t forget to get my homework and such. I don’t want to be behind in the first week. I’ve already done enough during this week,” she said as she made her way past him and began walking back to the dorms.

She didn’t wait to hear his response. She just wanted to be in her blankets warm and sleeping.

And she got the feeling that Vale really didn’t care about the way that she was doing.

—————————————————————————————

2 WEEKS LATER

Preparations and finishing touches were in full swing the morning Layla woke up. She could hear people talking and laughing outside her window as they walked to different parts of campus. Today was the Convergence, and she could only watch.

She groaned as she rolled over and grabbed her phone from her nightstand. The time was 9:30. She hadn’t meant to sleep in this much, but she had stayed up later the night before, watching as Theo and Damon went round for round, practicing for today.

She lifted the comforter off her with a stretch and got out of bed, putting her feet in her slippers. She rolled out her neck and shook her hands out, she'd slept on them again.

Her skin felt prickly as she looked out the window, opening her curtains wide. The sky was darkened. She had remembered that Theo and Damon told her about the eclipse that would take place at noon today. Damon told her she might feel the effects. But she didn't expect to feel them like this. And the eclipse wasn't even in full effect yet. Something felt off but she couldn't do anything about it. Not when she didn't know what it was. She shrugged.

She walked over to her closet, deciding she didn't need a shower as she hadn't been sweating through her sleep. She had taken a bath last night as well.

Finally had a night of alone time after weeks of coursework and finally getting away from the prying and watchful eyes of Theo and Damon. They were always hanging by her side now. Even sitting with Layla at her table with Perse and Javi.

This of course caught the attention of many and even more so from the females. But she had also been watching them train and prepare for the convergence, taking in how their powers flowed from them. They were breathtaking to watch and she couldn't lie a big part of that was that she could watch them as they moved shirtless.

Sweat clung to them as they circled on another and traded blows. It was as if they were dancing. Perfectly in sync with one another and reading one another.

Layla shook the scene from her mind as she pulled a hoodie over her sports bra. She paired it with sweatpants. She shoved her feet now into her runners, stepping into them with a wiggle of her foot.

She couldn't believe she was thinking of them in this way now. She had developed an interesting friendship with them over the last couple of weeks. It was mainly because they always stayed around even when she told them they didn't have to be. She didn't know why they stayed around. And the way they looked at her. Gosh, she couldn't help but turn away from them.

She again gathered herself and grabbed the knob, throwing the door open. She didn't have class yet so she would go straight to the arena area. She could bet Theo and Damon were already there, practicing.

The walk was quick as the building was right next to her own but she took a bit of her time. She basked in the odd light and dark. The air smelled a bit wet as though it might rain tonight. She wondered if it would.

She finally reached the arena, walking through a long hallway to make her way to the other side. She observed that there were two pressboxes. One was reserved for the Olympians. With a-what she learned was a celestial metal- throne front and center, with the best view in the house.

She knew that was reserved for the King of the gods. Zeus.

A shudder ran through her back, making her shiver with chills.

She continued walking until she came across the room she knew they occupied.

Opening the door, she spotted Damon and Theo checking their forms and preparing to lock into a practice duel.

They halt at the sight of her, smiles instantly lighting up their faces. She couldn't help but smile at both of them but the intensity of their eyes made her have to look away. She couldn't help it.

“Good morning sleeping beauty,” Damon purred. He held his arms out wanting to draw her in. Layla wasn't a big hugger but their arms were safe. And strong.

She quickly hugged Damon and moved to Theo his arms just as equally warm and safe. She quickly stepped back after.

She could feel them vying for he attention and interest, but at the same time, she wasn't sure that she wasn't making it up in her head. Their glances lingered a bit too long, and their touches were gentle. But she didn't know what to do with both of them. She felt as though she was attracted to both of them but she knew she couldn't string them both along. She wondered at the end, who she would pick. They both had her attention.

“We were just making sure we were ready. Well be up next before we know it,” Theo said patting his knife on the side of his thigh.

“Itll start before we know it and hopefully end just as quickly,” Damon replied, “I'm sick of waiting on these Olympians.”

Layla nodded. She was ready for this to be over too. She had such an uneasy feeling about this day.

“You'll both do great,” Layla said slapping both boys' arms.

Deep chuckles filled her ears as she looked and saw Dr. Thalia walking towards them. She stiffened wondering what it was this time she was going to tell her, but instead she turned to Theo.

“Youre needed,” she told him, waving her hand

Theo stops, running a hand through his hair.

“Ok I'll be there in a second,” he tells her.

“No, now. It is father who calls,” she replied sternly.

He looks over at me nervously and then glances over at Damon with a curt nod.

He begins to turn and calls out, “I'll be out for our duel Damon,” and he stalks off with Dr. Thalia. Before the door shuts behind them, she shoots a look at Layla.

Layla shakes her head and turns towards Damon.

“Looks like it's just you and you huh,” she says and turns to look at the fighting arena in its full scope. This room is level with the press boxes, overlooking the arena.

It’s almost like a Colosseum, with rows going from the bottom of the arena floor.

She grabs onto the railing before her and leans as she takes it in. The sky is continuously getting darker, taking on a weird hue. She doesn't like it because of the feeling it sends through her body, but she doesn't hate it. Feels like there's a corner of warmth hiding in the dark.

“Unless you have to go too, being a child of an important god or whatnot,” she chuckles.

“I do not,” he says with a sigh.

She watches as he relaxes beside her taking in the arena himself as if for the first time.

“There's only one person in the house of Hades anyway, me, and there's not much for me to do. Maybe if my sister were still here,” he said.

“Sister?” Layla asked, her attention piqued.

“Yea I have a sister. She's two years older. And if she was still here she would have had me still practicing in the workout room with her,” he told her.

“I see. So strict older sister,” she laughed.

He nodded and laughed as she glanced up at him. He looked so carefree away from his shadows. She would really see his striking face now and admittedly it made her heart thump.

“Something like that. Not so much strict, just…intense,” he says meeting her gaze.

She looks away quicker than she means to, showing she was caught studying him. She nods, “ I see.”

She notices something moving in the pressbox across from them, noticing figures occupy it.

Theo catches her eye from inside, standing beside a giant man, with eyes as stern and stormy as his. They're an intense blue just like a ghost of Theo's. His hairs long and white with a golden crown pushing it away from his face. He's a hulk of a man. She feels the weight of those eyes when they cut to her, feeling intense pressure. The shivers are back and nearly make her crumble.

She sees another god standing to the left of him and feels Damon stiffen next to her. She notices he's watching the figure beside who she knows to be Zeus and Theo.

The man has the same dark features as his son. Stonelike, and still as he stares back towards his son and then shifts those dark hazel eyes to mine. He nods and moves to take his seat ending the scrutiny of his eyes.

She takes a big shaky breath and releases it as Damon pushes off the rails they leaned on.

He glances at his watch, “It's almost show time. You might want to get to the box with Thalia. And be careful, Zeus and everyone have their eyes on you,” he said heading towards the door with a squeeze of her arm.

She nodded watching him stalk off. His posture being that of more intensity.

She turned to leave as well heading back to the hallway, finding the pressbox she and Thalia would be in.

“Glad to see you found your way here,” Thalia cooed.

“Wasnt too far,” Layla replied.

Thalia showed a small smile. We're in for a treat. The minor god and goddess have all had their turn. Now for our main Olympians,” she says, hands outstretched to the arena.

“Come sit!” she said with a cheery pat on her hand patting the seat next to her.

Layla walked over and sat down with a sigh, waiting for the main convergence to begin.