Layla's POV:
The last few lectures have been about things such as werewolves, witches, and vampires. The Professor has also spoken in depth about the history of Draphend and its association with the supernatural. I am eager to learn more about these beings, hoping to find out more about myself as well as the Draven family. The night Mr Draven hired me he told me of the family's secret. They are vampires. He assured me I was in no danger as they fulfill their thirst for blood on animals. For some strange reason I felt at ease as soon as I entered the Draven manor. I willingly accepted the job and since then I have been reading and studying as much as I can on vampires.
Mr. Draven was truthful in the telling of how they fulfill their desire for blood. Vampires can shapeshift and go on hunts to capture their prey. There are even some studies that say there are vampire werewolf hybrids. Even though vampires have the need to fulfill their desire for blood they live their lives as regular humans partaking in earthly food and drink. It's all so fascinating.
The Professor's voice rings out in the classroom and I begin to jot down as much as I can as he talks.
Professor Hawthorne also has extensive knowledge in the study of past lives, dreams, and their meanings. I could learn so much from him that I hate when the class ends. After the lecture is over I slowly gather my belongings as people begin to leave. I really want to talk to Professor Hawthorne, I have so many questions. Suddenly someone leans against the table and instinctively I look up. It's the boy that was speaking to me before.
"You gonna take all day to pack up or are you staring at Mr. Professor to?" The boy asks with an arrogant smirk.
His arrogant attitude unnerves me and I have a feeling I'm gonna have an issue with this guy.
"Excuse me?"I reply in annoyance as I finish packing my things.
"We have the next class together so we can walk there together." The boy replies.
"Together? And why would we walk together? I don't even know you." I say doubtfully as I stand and look towards the front of the room.
The boy quickly stands in front of me blocking my view.
"Well my name's Kevin, you can call me kev for short, and I've noticed that you don't speak to anyone. You have a mysterious air about you that gives off a very unapproachable vibe." He says with a grin.
"Yet here you are kev." I reply sarcastically as I roll my eyes.
"Look, I really don't have time for this. I'm very busy." I say as I step past him and look around the room.
The professor is nowhere to be seen. He's already left. I sigh inwardly and throw my pack over my shoulder and turn towards the door.
"Well it looks to me like you have nothing better to do now so we can go." Kevin says triumphantly.
I roll my eyes and keep walking. I have a feeling he did that on purpose.
Kevin stays at my heels and I grow increasingly more annoyed.
"You know a lot of girls would love to be you right now." He says as he walks backwards in front of me striking a pose.
I glance around and notice all the girls glaring at us. I look back at kevin. He's your typical foot ball type with the attitude to match. Medium build, maybe six foot tall, brown hair, and brown eyes. He may be considered good looking to some but he's nowhere near my type.
"Well newsflash I'm not like your swooning fan club." I say as I glare at him.
Suddenly a group of girls surround kevin. I take advantage of the opportunity and slip away alone to my next class. After I leave this class I'll have to go straight to Lories school for lunch.. I will have to be quick so I can avoid kevin. This class is literature based and our professor talks alot about the works and pieces based on Draphend.
I begin to pack my things a few minutes early so I can slip out with the crowd. As soon as the Professor releases us I make a dash for the door. I walk as quickly as I can towards the campus gate. Once at the gate I feel someone grab my arm and spin me around.
I jerk my arm away quickly and see Kevin standing there with that same annoying smirk.
"Do not touch me!" I say in a firm angry voice and begin to walk away from him.
"What's the rush doll?" He says as he grabs my wrist again bringing me to face him once more.
I clench my fist in anger as the wind begins to pick up. Suddenly someone reaches between us and grabs Kevins arm firmly.
"I believe the young lady said not to touch her." I heard the voice say above my head.
I quickly snapped out of my rage and looked up at the man standing beside me and the wind stopped blowing almost immediately.
Kevin released my wrist and Professor Hawthorne pushed his arm back away from me before stepping between us.
"I suggest you make your way back inside." Professor Hawthorne says firmly.
"Yes sir." Kevin says as he grits his teeth and forces a smile.
Kevin walks away quickly.
"Thank you professor." I say calmly.
I begin to walk away in the direction of Lories school.
"Are you not returning to school today?" Professor Hawthorne asks with a smile.
I turn to him with a smile.
"I am actually finished for the day and I really need to get to Draphend Elementary." I reply.
"Oh you have a child?" The professor asks curiously.
"Oh no! I am a sitter for the Dravens." I reply quickly.
"Ahh the Dravens." He replies.
Professor Hawthorn begins walking in the direction of Draphend Elementary and motions me to join him. I glanced at the man walking beside me. He has short, messy like, brown hair. He is tall with a better than medium build. I've never been able to get close to him let alone get a good look at him. He has a gentle air about him and seems very familiar but I can't place where from.
"You will hear many rumors about the Dravens, but don't be sucked into the drama some people in this town like I create." He says calmly.
"The Draven family is very unique and special in their own way. Their family holds many secrets but rest assured you are safest when you are amongst them." He continues.
I look at him curiously.
"Mr. Draven spoke to me briefly regarding their...peculiar family. I've not felt threatened in their presence although I've not yet met Nicolae or Victor." I reply.
"Do you know alot about the Draven's professor?" I ask curiously.
The Professor chuckles a little as Lorie's school comes into view.
"The Draven's and I go way back and please call me James when where not in lecture." He answers as he sticks his hands in his pockets.
"I know everything about them and NIcolae and I are very close...I also know their family secret." He answers.
"Are you one of them too?" I ask as we stop in front of Lorie's school.
"Not exactly but that is a conversation for another time." He says with a smile.
I smile politely back at him and thank him for walking with me. After he turns to leave I make my way inside the building.
Layla's POV:After speaking to the woman in the front office and getting directions I head to Lorie's classroom. The door to the room is open when I arrive and I see other adult's standing inside. I step into the room and immediately hear Lorie's voice."Layla!" Lorie cries out excitedly as she runs up to me wrapping herself around my legs."Told you I would come!" I say as I ruffle Lorie's hair.Lorie looks up at me with a bright smile. The teacher claps her hands together and all the children return to their seats. Soon all the children line up one by one and begin walking towards the large open courtyard. Lorie is bobbing happily down the hall and I smile at the thought of making her day a bit brighter.Nicolae's POV:I stand and stare out the living room windows as the clock on the wall strikes two. Lorie will be getting out of school soon. I grab the jacket hanging on the rack as I head out the door. My father has left on
Nicolae's POV:Home. I begin to reminisce about what home was like for us all those decades ago. And before I know it we are back at the manor. Once inside Lorie and Layla head straight for the kitchen. Layla quickly prepares Lorie's snack and seats her at the table before returning to the kitchen.I walk into the kitchen and get a bottle of water from the fridge as Layla begins to wash up the dishes. I watch her for a moment and decide to find out just how much of her memory of me is lost."So little immortal one, where are you from?" I ask as I open my water bottle and observe Layla's reaction.She freeze's instantly upon hearing my words. I notice her reflection in the window and see her frown. I can sense a hint of unease in the atmosphere and I begin to step closer."Don't you know what your last name means?" I say in a teasing tone.Her stiff posture begins to loosen."Oh. Of course." She replies hesitantly.The room fall
Layla's POV:It's dark and the air is damp. I open my eyes and see a coffin before me. There are people surrounding me wearing all black attire and from the looks of everything it's around the 1800's. I'm confused for a moment as I try to figure out what is going on and where I am. I look around and realize I am inside a large crypt. I see the familiar face of Nicolae that I have seen so many times before. He walks past me and towards a coffin inside the large crypt. He slowly leans over the top of the coffin placing a gentle kiss on it as he lays something down.His face is tear stained and his silver eyes are brimmed with red. His expression is filled with pain and sorrow. I feel my heart tighten in my chest. It hurts me to see him in this much pain but why? And who is in the coffin. One by one everyone begins to leave the crypt until only Nicolae is left. He suddenly slumps to his knees and weeps into his hands. His whole body is shaking and I feel my heart twist in
Nicolae's POV:Layla and I stand in silence for a moment before she clears her throat. I reach out to push her hair back behind her ear but before I can she steps back and looks down."I will not harm you Layla so you can rest easy and I don't want you to be afraid of me." I say as I put my hand back at my side."I'm not afraid of you Nicolae." She replies softly."It just...there's things about myself I've never shared with anyone. I don't know alot about who I am or what I even am and to have someone pry into my soul...to go into the depths that even I dare not enter and try to forget is...it feels intrusive." She continues."I'm surprised you remember what actually happened. No one's ever remembered or been able to describe how it felt." I reply with a smirk."Then again you're not just anyone." I continue with amusement as I remove the small chain from my neck."I want you to have this. I have a feeling this will be more of use to
Layla's POV:I'm rinsing off the dishes when Lorie rushes in and hands me all her dishes before taking off again. I pour myself one more cup of coffee and head back to the kitchen table. After I sit down Nicolae stands and begins to gather up his papers from the table and I feel like I've disturbed him."I can take my coffee to my room if I'm bothering you." I say gently."No, I am done for the morning, and if we are to go out today, I need to start getting ready." He replies.I look at Nicolae standing across from me over the table only half hearing what he said. His hair falls beautifully over his shoulder and the loose fitting v neck tee gives me glimpses of his chiseled chest. He's wearing a pair of black slacks and my eyes begin to scan his body. I shake my head realizing that my face has gone hot."Where are you going?" I ask then take a sip from my cup."We are going to the town festival." He replies emphasizing the we in his sentence
Layla's POV:As we get the sound of music fills the air and as the festival comes into view Lorie gets increasingly more excited. As we head towards the booths and people that are scattered around the streets Lorie tugs on my arm."What is that?" Lorie asks, pointing to some cotton candy hanging in a booth as I let go of Nicolae and crouch down in front of her."That is cotton candy." I reply."Would you like to try it?" I askLorie nods her head at me and I stand back up and turn towards Nicolae to find him chatting with someone."Let's go get you some. We'll be back before he knows it." I say with a smile.Nicolae is nearly a head taller than the average person and would be hard to lose in a crowd. Then again he isn't an average person I think to myself as we make our way to the cotton candy booth. While I'm making our purchase for the cotton candy a few of Lorie friends from school come bounding over. The girls begin to giggle and
Nicolae's POV:"Shall we leave?" I ask."No, not yet." Layla says as she shakes her head."Do you have problems with that boy often?" I ask as I feel jealousy sting my heart."He doesn't know how to take no for an answer." She replies"Well that doesnt make me feel any better." I reply"Anyways, shall we go do something else." I say before she has a chance to answer."I think I'll go sit and watch Lorie play if that's alright." She replies as she starts to release my hand."That's fine with me lets go." I reply as I grip her hand and begin walking towards the play area."Um, if you want to go do something else you can." She replies."I am perfectly alright spending the rest of our time here with you." I say as we step up to a small bench inside the play area."I thought I was the one that was supposed to be doing the babysitting, not the other way around." She replies with a small laugh."This is far
Layla's POV:On the way back out of the dining room I notice Nicolae's coat laying on the floor next to the rack. I look at it suspiciously but go and pick it up anyways. After I hung it back up and straightened it out on the rack I heard a chilling voice behind me."So father gave us another play thing?" The voice says as I turn around."Who are you?" I ask trying to mask the surprise in my voice."You're bold, aren't you? You are standing in my house but yet you have the audacity to ask me who I am." The man says as he closes the distance between us backing me against the door.His hand is suddenly around my neck and his body is pressed into mine. A strong overpowering scent of cologne burns my nostrils and I feel like I can't breath."Hmm, I bet you taste delicious." The man says in a husky voice and my heart begins to pound in my chest.Nicolae's POV:I'm in the study going through a few books I