Home / Reborn / The Blood Curse / Chapter 41: Laying Low

Share

Chapter 41: Laying Low

Author: Tiffany Nyx
last update Last Updated: 2023-08-18 14:06:10
Layla opened her eyes slowly from a dreamless sleep.

It took her a moment to realize where she was since she wasn't by the fireplace anymore. As she sat up she realized Atreus must have carried her to the bedroom last night and tucked her into the soft blankets, but Atreus was nowhere to be seen. The sun was shining brightly through the single window, casting the room in the warm orange glow of late afternoon. She must have slept through the better part of the day.

Swinging her legs off the side of the bed, Layla stood with one of the blankets wrapped around her body as she was still naked from the night before.

Walking to the door of the bedroom she slipped out into the main living area. It took her a moment to spot Atreus sitting at the breakfast nook in the corner of the kitchen. His expression was moody and he seemed to be in deep thought.

As Layla approached, he looked up at her and his eyes softened slightly.

"Did you get enough rest?" he asked.

"Yeah, thanks. What ar
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 42: Dead Stars

    The next hour was spent locked in the bedroom of Atreus' cabin talking to both Mia and Layla's parents. Through painful apologies, Layla did her best to assure them of her safety. It took even more explaining to Mia; she had to lie to her friend once again about her situation. The only believable lie she could come up with is that she lost her phone and spent a few days without any service or means to contact people because she took a last-minute trip with Atreus to a remote vacation destination. Mia grilled her endlessly about how worried she'd been and terrified something horrible had happened to her. After another half hour of apologies and assurances, Mia finally let Layla off the line. Layla dropped the phone onto the bed and flopped back onto the blankets. Rubbing her eyes with her hands, she let out a loud sigh. At least that was done, but now she needed to have a conversation with a certain blonde-haired dream boat. Hauling herself off the bed, Layla walked into the ma

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18
  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 43: Before

    "Layla," a melodic voice whispered. "Wake up." Slowly, Layla opened her eyes, blinking a few times. She sat up, looked around, and was shocked at what she saw. Layla was sitting in a beautiful bedroom. A bright, yellow, heavenly light glowed through large ornate windows that prevented her from seeing anything outside. There, in front of the elegant four-poster bed Layla sat upon, was a luxurious vanity with vintage combs and turquoise hair barrettes scattered across the top. A giant antique mirror on top of the vanity showed Layla's reflection. But as Layla looked closer, she realized that it was not her she saw in the mirror. It was a beautiful woman with long silky black hair and deep blue eyes. The dress the woman wore was gorgeous. Midnight blue satin with silver embellishments across the bosom and long flowing sleeves. She watched Layla with a small smile on her face. "You're awake," she said, her face pleased. "I hope you don't mind me dropping in like this." Layla stoo

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18
  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 44: Ravana's Threat

    Layla shot out of bed with a cry. Her heart pounded hard against her chest as she tried to regain her bearings. To her relief, she had woken from the horrible nightmares that had tortured her through the night. No light shone through the window, so she hadn't been asleep all that long. With a loud sigh, Layla scrubbed her face with her hands. The images of her dreams were still raw and fresh in her mind. She pictured poor Alita's prone body in Atreus' arms as he raged over her death and the sounds of Atreus fighting for breath under Ravana's cruel grip. "F*ck," Layla whispered with a shudder. What was all that anyway? Layla wondered. Was it a vision from Alita? Layla didn't think she had the capacity to come up with those images on her own. It had to be Alita's influence. Layla's throat was dry and her heart was still pounding, so she slipped out of bed and walked out of the bedroom and into the main cabin area. She half expected to see Atreus brooding somewhere inside, but as

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18
  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 45: Until Dawn

    "If you want to see your precious Atreus alive again, you had better tell me where you are." Layla's heart stopped for a moment as fear overtook her. No. It couldn't be true, Ravana had to be deceiving her. There is no way he could have overpowered Atreus. Or… was there? Layla swallowed as her throat went dry and her heart began to thud against her chest. "You're lying," Layla managed to croak out. "How do I know you're not bluffing?" Ravana sneered cruelly at her. "I have no reason to lie. How else do you think I could have managed to weaken the shield he had placed on your mind? But, if you truly don't believe me, have a look for yourself." The visions that swirled around Layla projected an image of Atreus chained up. He was shirtless and his face was covered in sweat and grime. He looked to be in pain as he gritted his teeth, pulling at his shackles. "Atreus!" Layla called out, but he didn't look up at her. A second later, the image was gone and it was only her an

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18
  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 46: The First Chosen's Sacrifice

    Layla was alone once again, sitting on the bed inside the cabin as she waited for Ravana's return. Her nerves were shot and she was still unsure of the plan that Niniane had helped her devise. All she wanted to do was run away from it all, but she couldn't leave Atreus to face such a horrible fate. So she sat and waited with the stake tucked into her jeans, praying that their plan would work. Just as Layla wondered once again when Ravana was going to make an appearance the all-familiar sensation of her surroundings warped around her with inky black smoke. Standing, Layla looked around for Ravana's cruel face. He stood mere feet from her and watched her with his fierce amber eyes. Slowly, a smile lifted his lips, revealing his pearly white canines. He watched her silently, his eyes sidling up her figure with a slow purposeful gaze. "Your beauty… it never fails to enthrall me," Ravana said, his voice dripping with honey. Layla glared at him. "Save your bullsh*t." "Such a foul

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18
  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 47: The Sacrifice

    When Layla could see again, she first saw Ravana's dark smile and when she looked down, she saw her hand clasped tightly in his. They were still in Atreus' cabin at the moment just before Nolwenn had pulled her into the celestial garden. "Good choice, my dear," he said with a sneer as he transported them from the cabin. In the next moment, Layla found herself back in the audience chamber of Ravana's castle. Layla looked up at the stained glass mosaic of the sun on the ceiling then dropped her gaze and gasped. Right below it was a kneeling Atreus. He was chained down by what looked like iron chains with silver glints throughout. Layla could see how the chains burned at his flesh because his wrists were raw and pink with blisters all around his skin. "Atreus!" Layla called to him, going to move toward him when Ravana gripped her hand tighter, holding her back. Atreus looked up at her and the anguish that appeared in his eyes when he saw her, pierced Layla's heart with devastat

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18
  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 48: The Final Battle

    "Atreus!" Layla screamed. The ruby-inlaid dagger Layla had gotten from Niniane dropped from Atreus' hand before he crumpled to the ground. "Oh, God!"Layla ran to him desperately, a fleeting thought of how he'd managed to get the dagger running through her mind. Had he returned to the cemetery the night she was kidnapped to retrieve it? When Layla reached Atreus, his skin was still burning under the sun's unrelenting power. Ravana watched with a cold expression as Layla used all her strength to pull Atreus from the circle of light. Slowly, one tug at a time, Layla tugged Atreus' slack body until he was safe in the shadows. Turning him on his back, she dropped to her knees beside him and put her hands on his cheeks, trying to ignore the brutal cauterized wound on his throat caused by the dagger. "Atreus?" she sobbed. "Please, please don't go." Yet, the more that she tried to wake him, the more apparent it was that he was gone. His beautiful face, although covered with red blist

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18
  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 49: Broken

    Layla gritted her teeth, as resolve steeled her gut. She wasn't going to run. She was going to fight until the bitter end. Glancing around, Layla looked for the First Chosen's wooden stake. She spotted it not far from the skirmish between the three vampires who battled against one another viciously. She bolted toward it, keeping her eye on Ravana, hoping that he wouldn't spot her. She swept it off the ground and turned toward the conflict and watched, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Cairo and Ravana were exchanging blows and Niniane was standing on her feet with shaking legs. She bolted back into the fray without hesitation, trying to catch Ravana off guard. Ravana roared with rage when Niniane managed to strike him in the arm with the stake. He grabbed Niniane by her throat and with brutal strength, he threw her hard against the stone wall. Niniane slid down the wall unconscious. "Niniane!" Layal cried, clutching the stake to her chest. Just then, Ravana struck out

    Last Updated : 2023-08-18

Latest chapter

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 50: A New Day

    A couple of weeks later.Layla sat quietly on her towel, letting the sun kiss her skin. People chatted as they walked past and kids laughed and played, splashing one another with water. She sipped from the cold tropical drink in her hand and watched the waves clash with the shore in soothing rhythmic motions. That and the feeling of her toes in the sand made this moment completely perfect. With a sigh, she shook her hair from her shoulders and closed her eyes against the warm rays of the sun, basking in the peaceful energy of it all. "Girl, you're still nursing that drink?" Mia asked as she plopped down beside Layla with a huff. "Here I am with two drinks in my hand, thinking you might need a refill." "I will happily take that burden off your hands," Layla said with a grin, looking at Mia with a renewed appreciation for her friend. "Gimme." Mia laughed as Layla took the second drink and set it down beside her. "What's got you in such a good mood lately?" Mia asked suspicious

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 49: Broken

    Layla gritted her teeth, as resolve steeled her gut. She wasn't going to run. She was going to fight until the bitter end. Glancing around, Layla looked for the First Chosen's wooden stake. She spotted it not far from the skirmish between the three vampires who battled against one another viciously. She bolted toward it, keeping her eye on Ravana, hoping that he wouldn't spot her. She swept it off the ground and turned toward the conflict and watched, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Cairo and Ravana were exchanging blows and Niniane was standing on her feet with shaking legs. She bolted back into the fray without hesitation, trying to catch Ravana off guard. Ravana roared with rage when Niniane managed to strike him in the arm with the stake. He grabbed Niniane by her throat and with brutal strength, he threw her hard against the stone wall. Niniane slid down the wall unconscious. "Niniane!" Layal cried, clutching the stake to her chest. Just then, Ravana struck out

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 48: The Final Battle

    "Atreus!" Layla screamed. The ruby-inlaid dagger Layla had gotten from Niniane dropped from Atreus' hand before he crumpled to the ground. "Oh, God!"Layla ran to him desperately, a fleeting thought of how he'd managed to get the dagger running through her mind. Had he returned to the cemetery the night she was kidnapped to retrieve it? When Layla reached Atreus, his skin was still burning under the sun's unrelenting power. Ravana watched with a cold expression as Layla used all her strength to pull Atreus from the circle of light. Slowly, one tug at a time, Layla tugged Atreus' slack body until he was safe in the shadows. Turning him on his back, she dropped to her knees beside him and put her hands on his cheeks, trying to ignore the brutal cauterized wound on his throat caused by the dagger. "Atreus?" she sobbed. "Please, please don't go." Yet, the more that she tried to wake him, the more apparent it was that he was gone. His beautiful face, although covered with red blist

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 47: The Sacrifice

    When Layla could see again, she first saw Ravana's dark smile and when she looked down, she saw her hand clasped tightly in his. They were still in Atreus' cabin at the moment just before Nolwenn had pulled her into the celestial garden. "Good choice, my dear," he said with a sneer as he transported them from the cabin. In the next moment, Layla found herself back in the audience chamber of Ravana's castle. Layla looked up at the stained glass mosaic of the sun on the ceiling then dropped her gaze and gasped. Right below it was a kneeling Atreus. He was chained down by what looked like iron chains with silver glints throughout. Layla could see how the chains burned at his flesh because his wrists were raw and pink with blisters all around his skin. "Atreus!" Layla called to him, going to move toward him when Ravana gripped her hand tighter, holding her back. Atreus looked up at her and the anguish that appeared in his eyes when he saw her, pierced Layla's heart with devastat

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 46: The First Chosen's Sacrifice

    Layla was alone once again, sitting on the bed inside the cabin as she waited for Ravana's return. Her nerves were shot and she was still unsure of the plan that Niniane had helped her devise. All she wanted to do was run away from it all, but she couldn't leave Atreus to face such a horrible fate. So she sat and waited with the stake tucked into her jeans, praying that their plan would work. Just as Layla wondered once again when Ravana was going to make an appearance the all-familiar sensation of her surroundings warped around her with inky black smoke. Standing, Layla looked around for Ravana's cruel face. He stood mere feet from her and watched her with his fierce amber eyes. Slowly, a smile lifted his lips, revealing his pearly white canines. He watched her silently, his eyes sidling up her figure with a slow purposeful gaze. "Your beauty… it never fails to enthrall me," Ravana said, his voice dripping with honey. Layla glared at him. "Save your bullsh*t." "Such a foul

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 45: Until Dawn

    "If you want to see your precious Atreus alive again, you had better tell me where you are." Layla's heart stopped for a moment as fear overtook her. No. It couldn't be true, Ravana had to be deceiving her. There is no way he could have overpowered Atreus. Or… was there? Layla swallowed as her throat went dry and her heart began to thud against her chest. "You're lying," Layla managed to croak out. "How do I know you're not bluffing?" Ravana sneered cruelly at her. "I have no reason to lie. How else do you think I could have managed to weaken the shield he had placed on your mind? But, if you truly don't believe me, have a look for yourself." The visions that swirled around Layla projected an image of Atreus chained up. He was shirtless and his face was covered in sweat and grime. He looked to be in pain as he gritted his teeth, pulling at his shackles. "Atreus!" Layla called out, but he didn't look up at her. A second later, the image was gone and it was only her an

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 44: Ravana's Threat

    Layla shot out of bed with a cry. Her heart pounded hard against her chest as she tried to regain her bearings. To her relief, she had woken from the horrible nightmares that had tortured her through the night. No light shone through the window, so she hadn't been asleep all that long. With a loud sigh, Layla scrubbed her face with her hands. The images of her dreams were still raw and fresh in her mind. She pictured poor Alita's prone body in Atreus' arms as he raged over her death and the sounds of Atreus fighting for breath under Ravana's cruel grip. "F*ck," Layla whispered with a shudder. What was all that anyway? Layla wondered. Was it a vision from Alita? Layla didn't think she had the capacity to come up with those images on her own. It had to be Alita's influence. Layla's throat was dry and her heart was still pounding, so she slipped out of bed and walked out of the bedroom and into the main cabin area. She half expected to see Atreus brooding somewhere inside, but as

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 43: Before

    "Layla," a melodic voice whispered. "Wake up." Slowly, Layla opened her eyes, blinking a few times. She sat up, looked around, and was shocked at what she saw. Layla was sitting in a beautiful bedroom. A bright, yellow, heavenly light glowed through large ornate windows that prevented her from seeing anything outside. There, in front of the elegant four-poster bed Layla sat upon, was a luxurious vanity with vintage combs and turquoise hair barrettes scattered across the top. A giant antique mirror on top of the vanity showed Layla's reflection. But as Layla looked closer, she realized that it was not her she saw in the mirror. It was a beautiful woman with long silky black hair and deep blue eyes. The dress the woman wore was gorgeous. Midnight blue satin with silver embellishments across the bosom and long flowing sleeves. She watched Layla with a small smile on her face. "You're awake," she said, her face pleased. "I hope you don't mind me dropping in like this." Layla stoo

  • The Blood Curse   Chapter 42: Dead Stars

    The next hour was spent locked in the bedroom of Atreus' cabin talking to both Mia and Layla's parents. Through painful apologies, Layla did her best to assure them of her safety. It took even more explaining to Mia; she had to lie to her friend once again about her situation. The only believable lie she could come up with is that she lost her phone and spent a few days without any service or means to contact people because she took a last-minute trip with Atreus to a remote vacation destination. Mia grilled her endlessly about how worried she'd been and terrified something horrible had happened to her. After another half hour of apologies and assurances, Mia finally let Layla off the line. Layla dropped the phone onto the bed and flopped back onto the blankets. Rubbing her eyes with her hands, she let out a loud sigh. At least that was done, but now she needed to have a conversation with a certain blonde-haired dream boat. Hauling herself off the bed, Layla walked into the ma

DMCA.com Protection Status