Book of Shadows

The day after the strange event that occured with Layla was totally peaceful. No one spoke about it. No one questioned Layla about her past. Riven had forbidden it. Layla would talk about her past when she was ready. He didn't want to pressurize her.

Layla wondered about the pain of the previous night. She knew it wasn't ordinary. And she was convinced now that she wasn't human. The question now was, what was she? There was no one to ask. She had no parents. Going to the human world to ask Madame Parker was out of the question.

She then made up her mind to look for answers herself. She was sure she would get answers from Riven's library.

It was a bright afternoon and Layla sat in the library with Caleb and Alex. Riven had already left in the early hours of the morning. Apparently he had an important meeting with the Ancient Shifters and he left her in the care of the shifters she had grown comfortable with.

She was dressed in a beautiful blue blouse that hugged her slender body and black ripped jeans. That morning, Riven had commended her looks, much to her surprise.

"You look so breathtaking my love".

Each time she remembered his words, a goofy smile graced her lips and she blushed out of sheer happiness.

Right now she sat on the couch with a mountain of large books set before her and she had one opened on her legs, browsing through the pages.

"Why do you need so much books anyway?",Caleb asked after watching her for a while.

Layla grinned at him. Apart from Riven, Caleb and Alex were the only shifters she had grown comfortable with. She always folded up in the midst of other shifters, especially Cade. But with Caleb and Alex whom she considered her big brothers, she was her chatty chirpy self.

"I like to read",she said softly. "I've always been fancinated with historical books".

"You must have been at the top of your class in school",Alex commented without thinking.

Layla suddenly became saddened. Her vibrant gray eyes became dull and she looked away. "I never had the chance to attend school".

Alex closed his mouth, wishing he never spoke. Riven had warned them never to bring up issues concerning her past and yet with his big mouth, he just did.

Caleb noticed Layla's sad expression and he glared at Alex. Lifting his hand, he whacked the shifter hard on the back of his head.

"Hey what was that for?",Alex whined and placed his hand over the spot Caleb hit.

"Think before you speak. You're making Luna sad",Caleb said with a pointed look. He was indirectly reminding Alex of Riven's words about bringing up Layla's past.

Layla chuckled lightly. "It's okay",she said quietly. "I know everyone is curious about my past..."

"Of course not Luna",Caleb lied. "The truth is, we don't care what happened in the past. All that matters is that you're safe here. With the Alpha. With us".

Layla smiled at him. "Let's drop the Luna thing",she said. "It sounds off to me. Layla's fine"

"The Alpha will surely skin us alive if he hears us addressing you without your title",Alex said and shuddered dramatically.

Layla laughed genuinely. "Riven doesn't have to know".

"You're the best Layla. I'm glad to be your best friend",Alex said and was whacked behind the head again by Caleb.

"You're asking for your death if the Alpha should hear you calling yourself her best friend",Caleb chided.

"You're just jealous",Alex said and grinned smugly.

"Me? Jealous of what?",Caleb asked in annoyance and a playful bickering began between both of them.

Layla watched them with a smile and shook her head. They always managed to make her day. But she was already missing Riven and it was noon already. She longed for his presence.

Her eyes suddenly fell on that black book she saw the other day. The one about book of shadows, or something like that. She leaned forward and pulled it out of the rest books. The book was heavy and thick, with a thick black leather cover. She tried to open it but it wouldn't budge.

"Strange",she whispered. The book wasn't locked or glued together. She could see it through the pages. There was a purple coloured stone at the front cover and she wondered if it was what held the book together.

She grabbed hold of the stone and pulled hard and it cut her palm. She winced and held her injured hand. The stone was awfully sharp. While she looked for something to wipe the wound, drops of her blood fell on the book and disappeared into the leather cover.

Not seeing something to wipe her wound, Layla looked up at the bickering shifters and cleared her throat.

"I need help here",she said and raised her palm up when she had their attention.

Caleb flew out of his seat instantly. Riven would kill him if he found even a tiny scratch on his mate.

"What...how...what cut you?",he stuttered.

Layla showed him the book while Alex ran out quickly to fetch some wool to wipe the blood. When Layla tried the book again, it opened. She was clearly perplexed at the whole thing.

"How did you do that?",Caleb asked.

"Do what?"

"Open the book. That book has been shut tight for as long as I can remember".

Layla looked down at the opened book. The title was also written on the first page.

Annabelle Hale;this is my book of shadows.

Book of shadows. What did that mean?

She began to flip through the pages and her mouth dropped open in awe. It was a book of spells. Magic spells, healing spells, invisible spells, spell of curses, teleporting spells, spells of the past, spells to break a curse...

"So many spells and incantations",she said softly.

"Yeah. That book belonged to the world greatest Sorceress",Caleb said.

"What happened to her?",Layla asked.

"She died",Caleb replied and shrugged his shoulders.

Layla noticed one incantation that caught her attention. Her lips moved, whispering the words that were written.

'høra mphera sø phiødum'

"I don't think reciting it is a good id....",Caleb began to say when the book suddenly fell at his feet. He looked up and instantly went pale.

Layla was gone.

She literally disappeared into thin air.

...

Riven rounded up the meeting with the Ancient Shifters quickly. The rogue attacks were becoming severe and the necessary precautions to hold them back had been taken. They also discussed the possibility of Layla being a Sorceress or a shifter. The leader of the Ancient Shifters wanted to conduct a ritual with Layla's blood to find out what she truly was but Riven was having none of that. He would figure out what Layla was himself.

Now he just wanted to return to his mate.

The meeting ended and Riven was up on his feet instantly. He walked briskly out of the temple, his hands crossed behind him. Cade and Henrietta walked behind him.

"Any news Henrietta?",he asked over his shoulder.

"It has just been two days Riven",Henrietta said and shook her head. "Give me a little more time".

"I don't have time on my side",Riven snapped. "I need to know what my mate is before other creatures gets wind of it"

"I'll try my best",Henrietta said finally.

Riven arrived at the mansion and met chaos. The shifters all cowered as Riven stepped into the house. He looked around, wondering what could have caused such unsettled atmosphere.

And suddenly he knew. He couldn't sense Layla's presence in the house. His eyes whipped around and rested on Caleb and Alex who had their heads bowed in terror.

"Where's my mate?",Riven asked in a low dangerous tone.

"Alpha...I....we were just... in the..li.. library",Caleb stuttered as he tried to explain. "Luna opened...the...book of shadows..."

"WHERE'S MY MATE?",Riven roared and his eyes began to flicker.

"She...she disappeared Alpha",Caleb's voice came out in a whisper.

And Riven's eyes turned red in rage.