Chapter 16

"Pardon"

"You thought, I - was - such - a - fool - to-believe - you" lucas poked her shoulder as he stressed every word.

"Sir Lucas. I have no idea what you are talking about" Layla pleaded.

"Don't act like a fool to fool me. I am aware of your sinister plans" Lucas glared at her.

Layla cowered under his gaze. "You want to know, what my power is? The power to differentiate truth and lie" he snarled.

" You mean....."

"Yes. That day when you denied you don't know Greek. I knew you were lying the whole time. Also..... Now too. You are hiding something" Lucas leaned dangerously close, his eyes searching her eyes for guilt.

What he said was indeed true. Layla did hide something from him as he questioned her about her powers. If this was his power, then Layla is in a greater disadvantage.

"Sir Lucas. I am sure you realised I played innocent. But I am not sure about my power myself" Layla explained.

"How long?"

"Excuse me?"

"How long has it been since you realised you had the element of water with you?"

"I am not quite sure what you are talking about. But I think there was puddle of water bubbling it's way out my palm when I was passed out in the dungeon" Layla shivered at the thought. Thinking back, all the cruel some experiment flashed before her eyes. And at the monster in front of her, it was no good.

"Well now you are obeying me! Mutt!" Lucas patted her hair.

"Mutt?" Layla was quite shocked at the new name, not that she expected it.

"yes, you are my Mutt. What! Are you not honored to be my Mutt?" Lucas asked.

"No. I am really honored to be your..... Mutt!" Layla chuckled nervously.

"Good boy" He ruffled her hair, turned and left.

"What was that? Mutt, ah really?" She scoffed.

_________

"You seem pretty close to Lucas" Jack pushed his hand into his pockets. He eyed Eren as he leaned on the table Eren was sitting.

Eren groaned and looked up at him, "And you are pretty talkative"

Jack chuckled. There was no one in the room, it was just them.

Jack turned Eren's chair to face him as he leaned closer to Eren. Eren trapped between the chair and him.

"Layla.... Quit acting will you?" Jack smirked.

"Excuse me? Wha-"

"I know you! Come on you know me too" Jack breathed.

Layla looked between his eyes for some kind of joke but he was pretty serious.

"Fine. I am Layla. Does that change anything?"

"yes.. Your life."

"My life, grow up! Could I have the honour to know why you suddenly recognise me as Layla now, not when we first met?"

"Well let's say. I am kinda losing my patience" He whispered close to her ear. Her breath hitched at his closeness and strong odor of snow. He smelt snow.

Layla gulped. Jack pulled away. He fiddled with her locks that grew till her shoulders.

"You should get a haircut, don't you think?" Jack said. Her ears turned red at the warm sensation of his finger over his neck.

Layla pushed his hand away. "I am done with your games. Now If you will excuse me"

Jack pushed her back down and trapped her again. His eyes with unexplainable emotion, "You sure are tough, aren't you?"

Layla got up pushing Jack away. She ran away from the room and made her way to the bathroom.

"What the... Heck is his problem?" She breathed, calming her racing heart. She felt her heart racing when those starry silver eyes gazed at her and his close proximity, they almost kissed.

"Damn. If it wasn't for his eyes.i would have done something....." She mumbled to herself.

She pushed herself to the sink and looked at the mirror. Her locks did grow till her shoulder, giving her the feminine look. "Ok let's do this!" She grabbed the scissors.

_________

"So it's just us, then!" Reki remarked. The group gathered around at their designated room 154.

"Yes. So we should be competing against ourselves" Eren sighed. He didn't like the idea of competing his own team.

"Ok. Let's do this. You will have a series of competition coming up. Archery, horse riding and finally a duel. So brace yourselves" Chris clapped.

"Well, it gets started tomorrow. So take this day off and have a good time with your friends" Chris left not before he glanced at Eren.

Eren aka Layla clutched her head between her arms. She was turning 11. The age of puberty. The age when her engine gets worked up and she feels shitty. The age when her secondary sexual organs start growing.

Too stressed about it, the finals was a cherry on top. Kay and Reki exchanged worried glances as they saw a bluish aura emanating from Eren.

"Eren are you alright?" Reki places a comforting hand but a little hesitant.

Eren slowly looked up and smiled, "Alright? Of course I am. Why would I not be?" and he covered his face into his arms.

Reki gulped and looked at Jack. He glared at him through his golden eyes. His eyes emitting fire.

"Don't look at me! I am out of this" Jack raised his hands in defence.

"Stressed about the game?" Kyle stood over the slumped figure in the table. Eren peeked at him from the corner of his eyes.

"Kyle? Really? You care? I am impressed." His voice muffled in his own arms.

"For goodness sake, I asked you a question didn't I?"

"yes I am. I just don't know how.... It's complicated" He sighed and cuddled into his own arms.

"I want to make a bet with you" Kyle crossed his arms. Reki and Kay flinched. Kay shook his head, 'Not a good time bro'

"Excuse me?" Eren got up and stood facing Kyle. Being the youngest in the group came with a disadvantage, you can't intimidate them even with your height nor your voice. Eren looked up at the tall Kyle who was probably 3 years older than her, the second youngest in her team.

"I said, I want to make a bet with you"

"oh I am done. I am not interested. Now If you will excuse-" Eren cut himself off when Kyla pulled him closer.

His side hugged by Kyle. His arms found its way around the trapped shoulders.

"Come on babes, do you think I don't know your little secret" He whispered closely into her ear.