Chapter Seven

Looking at the file before her, she wasn’t sure what to do. She had this feeling that she didn’t want to know the truth but she also had craved this love of her life, the sense of belonging somewhere. 

Looking up at Theo, she gave a small smile and walked over to the table right next to them, placing the file down.

She opened it to find her pictures, two to be exact- of her as a baby and recently updated ones. That meant that someone had to have recently updated it. 

“Does everyone have a file like this?” She asked Theo without looking up.

”Not a confidential one,” he spoke softly. That made her glance at him. His face was hardened, and he seemed…uneasy.  She cocked her head to the side. 

“Why are you really here Theo? And now you’re helping me, what is this?” Layla asked. 

He watched her back as if thinking of what his answer should be.

”I couldn’t sleep, and I told you I saw you slip in here,” he matched her gaze. 

There was something stormy in his eyes, that made her feel electrified. She hadn’t realized how intense his gaze was. 

“I see,” she said looking back at the file. 

Inside was her name and date of birth. When it came to parents, she paused. 

“Nyx x human male (Jonathan)” she read softly. 

A small noise sounded from Theo’s throat, “Nyx,” he repeated, “that’s…not possible?” 

He questioned. 

Layla didn’t know how to process this or what to make of it, but she simply said, “I’m possible from the looks of it.” 

She glanced over at the portraits of the many demigods who had been recognized for what they did at the Academy, and wondered what this meant fully. Now that she knew for sure, she could feel this cold slick feeling coursing in her veins. Almost like a midnight breeze. It gave her chills but comforted her at the same time. 

Turning the page, she stumbled upon a page that had nothing written on it except for:” Prophecy: ‘When night bright flame, Elysium will awaken.” Layla paused and frowned, but her breath hitched as she looked at the next page and discovered the photos of her home after the fire. 

Theo looked at it too with a pale look on his face. 

“What does this mean, “ she asked him. 

“Maybe if this is your home, then that means that you may have awakened, and caused it. And in doing something you woke up something here,” he told her. 

He continued,” Elysium has felt different since you arrived. Everything feels more alive and more…ancient. Like there is old power coursing through here. Maybe it’s why I took notice of you when you arrived.” He said. 

Layla stared at him, thinking about what he had just said. So she wasn’t insane for feeling drawn to Theo. He had felt something like that too. But there felt as though there was more, more left unsaid. 

She could feel the tension now. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from his. 

He reached over to grab the file, and his hand brushed her fingers lightly, but there was a spark, a heat that coursed through her at the contact. 

Before she realized it, she was pulling her hand back, breathing heavy. Theo looked at her with a look of surprise, but also…expectancy? 

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle you-“ he started. 

“It’s fine!” Layla shouted. The Hall was so quiet that even a whisper seemed like a shout to her. 

Theo opened his mouth to respond, but his eyes shifted behind her shoulder. 

She looked back quickly, turning her back on the files and Theo, following his gaze. 

The shadows shifted and seemed to breathe, and she felt a presence. One that she had felt and seen before. 

Damon emerged from his dark ink shadows, walking towards the table they occupied. His jaw was set with an intensity that Layla didn’t understand. She didn’t know him well, but she could tell that he was angry. 

Her breath hitched again and she found herself unable to look him in the eye. Turning back to her files, she noticed that Theo had been watching her, and watching Damon. 

Damon approached, “Want to tell me what’s going on here?” He purred. 

“I couldn’t sleep and wandered here to find out some things about myself. Theo tagged along,” Layla said while she pretended to examine a page she’d already read before. 

She didn’t understand why he was questioning them- or rather her- and she didn’t know if that meant he would tell that they snuck in. 

“I won't say anything to anyone,” he added, as if he’d read her mind, “but do you have any idea what this place is hiding?” He reprimanded. 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Theo asked challengingly. 

“It means that neither of you should be here, especially at night. It is kept locked for a reason,” he replied. Layla noticed that he was staring at the papers before her. 

“Then why are you here?” She asked before thinking. If she could she would have slammed her. Hand over her mouth for speaking without thinking first. 

Theo smirked and Damon’s jaw clenched even harder. She couldn’t help but notice how strong his features were, even in the dim light and surrounded by darkness. She noticed how long his lashes were, feminine, but not. 

“I’m here under orders,” he said flatly. 

Her ears perked a bit, “Orders?” She asked slowly. 

He crossed the space and stood behind her with his arms folded across his chest. He answered with a curt nod. 

“House of Hades has me under orders to watch you. Not protect. Watch.”

Layla stiffened at the words. “Watch” she repeated. 

Theo stood abruptly in front of her, causing his seat to scrape against the cold dark wood. 

“Well, you’ve watched enough. We’ll find our way out soon. Thank you,” he said to Damon. 

For a minute, they stared at each other, facing off with Layla in the middle, unsure of what she should be doing or feeling. If she didn’t know any better, she would think that they were fighting over here and vying for her attention, but that would be absurd right? 

Damon made his way around the table, lining himself up with Theo, standing a mere inch from his face. 

“What is a son of Zeus doing following around the child of Nyx?” Damon asked. Again his hands were crossed over his chest. He had this natural look of haughtiness that stayed with him all the time. 

But what he said stuck with her, that she was a “child of Nyx”. This confirmed what she thought. That somehow he already knew. But what did he mean? 

”Our parents' ancient old issues have nothing to do with anything as far as I’m concerned. But what I don't understand is why it matters to you that I’m with her?” Theo tested. 

The air suddenly was thick and almost unbearable. There was tension that was soon to boil over between the two, and Layla wasn’t sure what to do about it. Before she knew it, powers were surging. Damon‘s shadows had stretched over the three of them. Theo’s eyes looked as though they were holding back lightning themselves and the sound of thunderclouds overhead made her jump in her seat. 

Before someone could blow anything or anyone apart, Layla got up. She noticed that the Hall was responding to the magic that both boys were releasing. The books seemed to float lower and lit candles were blowing out slowly one by one. The Hall was shutting itself down. Something had told it that there were unwanted visitors. 

Layla approached, putting herself between the two of them. Something told her to place a hand on both of them. Partially to separate them, and another to do whatever her instincts were telling her to. 

Before she realized it, shadow and light emerged from her body. Then they collided in a flashing blinding light. 

The air got warm and then quickly cooled. 

Both Theo and Damon looked at her with wide eyes. Her hands were still placed on both chests. She didn’t know that she had closed her eyes shut for a second, but when she opened them, she along with the file and both boys were no longer inside the Hall. They were now outside the door, with it locked as if no one had ever gone in. 

She lifted her head, looking at both of them with equally large eyes, matching their surprise. Then she felt it. The heaviness and the feeling of overexertion. And then it went black.