Page 33 of This Ravenous Fate
Her muscles tensing and her senses sharpening, Layla shoved the door open. Cold air seeped out of the room, cutting straight through the atmosphere around them. Layla’s eyes went to the huddled form in the corner. Shirley Redfield. Blood coated her arms up to the elbows, and she clutched her knees to her chest while she rocked back and forth among the scattered remains that Layla could only assume were her parents. Her hair was black, but Layla could see the blood matting her curls. The rank smell told her it was more than a few days old. She wondered how long this girl had been hiding, scared out of her mind.
Layla placed a hand over Elise’s gun and lowered it. Surprisingly Elise gave no pushback. She actually stepped closer to Layla, expression bright with alarm and eyes wide while she watched Shirley.
“Shirley,” Layla said gently.
Shirley lifted her head. Her face was ashen, lips pale despite the blood splattered across them. She opened her mouth to speak, but her body convulsed and she clamped her mouth shut.
“You dance with Giana Taylor, right?” Layla asked.
Shirley nodded. She released her knees, and the damage became more obvious. The dance costume she wore was white, but the only indication of that were small white spots near her shoulders and hips. Scarlet splashes of blood covered the rest of it, causing the jeweled feathers on the skirt to stick together.
Layla stepped slightly in front of Elise. She extended her arm, her fingers brushing over Elise’s waist. The slight shudder that rolled through Elise’s body almost made Layla turn around. Whatever the reaction was, Layla wanted to see it. But she gnawed on the inside of her cheek and focused on Shirley. “Can you please tell us what happened?” she asked.
“I don’t remember.” Shirley’s voice trembled. “I was working, and Theo came to visit like he usually did. I know that day was special because the club got a delivery for new costume materials and there were posters about a new Harlem clinic being put up. And then Theo said he liked me a lot. It was like a dream.” Shirley’s breath caught. “I think he drank from me. But he said it would be okay and that as long as I stayed conscious, I wouldn’t turn.” She wiped her eyes. “I don’t feel like myself anymore. I haven’t left my room in I don’t know how long. I don’t remember much. I want my parents.” Her voice broke and more tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’m afraid I hurt them.”
Elise shifted behind Layla. She tried to whisper something in her ear, but Layla moved away from her and toward Shirley. This girl was so young. Layla had seen Theo in this exact same position only a few days earlier, but his life had ended in a manner so heinous andviolent, Layla was determined to prevent the same thing from happening to Shirley. Even though the life thrumming through Shirley’s veins was more decayed than lively now. All the hell that was bound to come for her now as a reaper… She didn’t deserve it.
Shirley went to wipe her tears again, but smeared blood across her face. Layla reached forward and dried Shirley’s cheeks with her sleeve. “You don’t have to go through this alone; I can help you. I was in the same position as you a few years ago, and I have found my way. Do you trust me?” Layla asked. Though Layla’s heart ached for the dissipating humanity barely strung as a whisper between them, she remained strong, her voice firm in the face of Shirley’s fear.
Something broke in Shirley’s eyes. She lifted her brown gaze to Layla’s and nodded. The moment their hands met—Layla’s squeezing around Shirley’s—relief crashed through her. Elise had left the room already. Layla was so wrapped up in making sure Shirley got out okay, she didn’t notice when the younger girl’s eyes went bright, a sheen of untamed desire lighting her brown irises. She didn’t realize the reaction was a direct response to Elise until Shirley lunged forward, hands outstretched and fangs bared.
Elise’s gun went flying as Shirley’s hands clutched her throat.
A sharp gasp left Elise, her eyes going wide while the reaper’s fingers dug in.
Layla sprang up and slammed Shirley into the wall, holding Shirley’s arms tight to her sides so she couldn’t move. “Shirley. Look at me.”
Shirley stopped hissing after some time and concentrated onLayla. Her eyes were so hollow, so lost, Layla thought she was too far gone. She wanted to tell Elise to go and find safety while she took care of Shirley, whether that be putting her out of her own misery, or locking her up until she calmed down. But Layla couldn’t stomach either of those options. Her fingers tightened around Shirley’s wrists the more the younger girl tried to fight back.
“You’re safe.Shirley,” Layla gritted out with the effort to keep Shirley back. “We’re here to help you.” Shirley let out a shriek so loud the entire room seemed to shake with it. Being so close to her, Layla’s ears rang, and it took more will than the strength she held Shirley back with to keep herself from retreating and covering her sensitive ears. “Shirley. Look at me.”
Shirley fell silent. Her glazed-over eyes focused on Layla and her body relaxed. She whimpered, eyes finally settling back to their original brown color. “I need help.”
“I know. I’m going to help you,” Layla said gently. She released one of Shirley’s arms and lifted her wrist to her mouth, sinking her teeth in. “Take some of my blood. It will subdue you for a bit so you aren’t so volatile. I’ll take you to my lair, and you can calm down there. Okay?” The longer the silence spread between them, Shirley pondering Layla’s offer, blood continued to drip down her arm.
Finally, after a moment of consideration and deep breaths, Shirley nodded. She lapped up a few droplets of Layla’s blood and soon after Shirley finished, the cut began to stitch itself back together. Only moments later, Shirley’s eyes dulled. She no longer trembled in Layla’s arms, and when she looked at Elise, Shirleyremained calm. No more feral cravings controlling her from the inside out.
Layla passed a lingering look over Elise, confirming that she was safe. “We’ve done enough for today. Go home. I need to go with her.”
Elise opened her mouth as if to protest, but nothing came out. In the time Layla had taken to calm Shirley down, she had picked her gun up. Layla saw the handle peeking out of her coat, but Elise made no move to grab it even when Shirley moved between them. She nodded reluctantly and followed them out of the apartment.
Layla couldn’t be positive, but she thought she saw a hint of surprise in Elise’s eyes. As if that one image she had of Layla had cracked and the light that shone through stunned her. Layla was glad to be parting ways with her for now. She was tired of being judged by a Saint.
17
Seeing Layla be so gentle with that newly turned girl surprised Elise. She once knew Layla to be kind. As a little girl, she would save her dessert to split it with Elise and help her discard her vegetables when their parents weren’t looking. But surely that Layla was dead. The last image of her before going to France had been one of blood and vengeance, with Layla’s hands wrapped around Elise’s throat. Layla’s gold eyes, lit with a furious fire that demanded to be fed, were all that filled Elise’s memories, no matter how much she tried to recall their younger days. A summoner of death and darkness—for a long time, Elise assumed that was all Layla had become.
But after seeing Layla with Shirley, Elise had other thoughts.
More than anything, Elise wanted to kick her shoes off and soak in a hot bath the second she got home. But her father beckoned her into his office and demanded that she update him on her day.
“And the reaper, has she behaved?” Mr. Saint asked once Elisefinished her report.
“Layla? Yes. Talking to Theo’s parents was actually her idea,” Elise said.
“Hmmm…” Mr. Saint paced his study, his arms crossed while he thought. A cigarette hung out of his mouth, smoke puffing through the side of his lips while his arms remained crossed. “I’m sure she’s told you more nonsense than truth,” he muttered.
Elise blinked. “Maybe. But there seems to be more at stake for her.”
