Chapter Two: Her Ardent Knight

Sam came later in the night. Layla had heard when he arrived. She was lowering her body into the hot bath she had prepared when suddenly the door to her room was flung open and loudly shut behind whomever had walked in. She hardly registered the hiss that escaped her throat when her body sank fully into the water. She dove immediately into the warm, soapy water, holding in her breath underwater. "Layla! Layla!" She heard the distinct sound of Sam's voice in her bedroom. "Layla! Where are you?" His voice was frantic and impatient as he called her. Layla bit down hard on her lips to keep from sloshing the water in the bathtub. She didn't want him to notice she was in the bathroom. She appreciated his concern for her welfare, but it was high time he realized his concern only spelled more trouble for her and didn't do much to help. She prayed that he should leave quickly, as it was getting harder to hold her breath underwater. Adrenaline pumped in her veins as she continued to sense his presence in her room. What if she died from asphyxiation? Well, wouldn't that be better? Her subconscious mind questioned. "What the hell are you doing in her room?"  That was Vicky's voice. There was fury etched in her voice upon finding her son in Layla's room. "What have you two done to Layla again?" Sam demanded, his tone accusing. "I asked you a question," Vicky returned. "I forbid you from associating with that girl. Keep away from her, Sam. You heard me?" "Why are you two so heartless? Why do you always treat her inhumanely?" Sam cried. "Sam!" Donkor growled from the hallway, stepping into the room. Vicky shifted to the side so he could enter. Donkor walked up to meet Sam, scowling. The two males were matched in height, and they both stared down at each other until Sam was forced to lower his gaze. He couldn't, as that would imply he was challenging his father. Donkor was visibly pissed. His hands were shaking by his sides, and he balled them into fists, resisting the urge to pummel them into his son's face. Sam felt frustrated.  "Don't test my patience, son," Donkor warned, seething the words through his teeth while glaring at Sam. Sam puffed through his nose and stormed out of the room. He pulled his t-shirt off his head and tossed it aside as he reached outside, stripped the rest of his clothing off, and morphed into his animal form with a furious growl. His wolf was a huge black wolf with eyes as dark as his fur. He darted off into the night, letting out a howl. Back in Layla's room, Donkor and Vicky gritted their teeth in annoyance. "It's all that girl's fault," Vicky accused. "Where the hell is that slut to begin with?" Donkor stormed out of Layla's room, hissing sharply. Vicky dashed after him, closing the door behind her with a loud thud. Layla surged to the surface immediately; they were gone, coughing and gasping for breath. Her hands clung to her throat while she struggled to catch her breath again, panting. She gulped in the air and pushed herself out of the water with shaky legs. Her legs felt rubbery as she stood, and they wobbled at first beneath her weight. Being on the verge of choking to death underwater made her feel dizzy, and her head reeled momentarily before everything then righted itself. She tiptoed to her bedroom and changed into her white cotton nightgown. She donned the clothes quickly, not waiting to dry off her skin or her hair. She grabbed her coat from the wardrobe and draped it over herself, moving frantically towards her bedroom window. Her bedroom was at a precarious height, but she would rather have her legs broken than endure another beating from Donkor tonight. Sam had riled him up by rising to her defense again, and if Donkor ever caught sight of her tonight, she wouldn't live to moan over the pain. She pushed the window aside, wincing as the humidity of the atmosphere hit her face. The degree of cold was always heightened at night, but she could care less about how freezing it was tonight. She threw her legs over the window pane, braced herself for the fall, and lunged out into the night. Her breath almost escaped her as she fell, crashing into a masculine frame. Her heart raced at first at the thought of being caught in the act and the torment that awaited her, but it calmed when she realized who it was. "Are you crazy?" Sam hissed in her ear, rolling her off himself in such a manner that his body towered over hers. He had seen her from the distance he was in while she hoisted herself up on the window and had moved in at a sprint to brace her fall before she broke her neck. A sharp wince escaped through his lips as he braced himself on his arm. Layla shifted from beneath him, guilt and heat creeping at the same time up her face as she realized she had hurt Sam and that he was naked. She turned her face immediately away from him and set a distance between them. "Are you trying to kill yourself?" She resisted the urge to turn back and give her response, so she answered over her shoulders instead. "No, I'm not, and if you would excuse me, I have to go." "Where?" "It's none of your business," Layla quipped and began to move. "Layla, sto..." She swiveled in a flash and clamped her hand over his mouth, her eyes wide.  "What are you doing?" She seethed in his face. Sam tore her hand off his mouth. "I should be asking you the same."  His voice sounded hoarse as he watched her. It took a minute before Layla registered; she was standing before her naked stepbrother, a few steps away from where Donkor and Vicky were.  "My clothes are on the porch. Don't leave." Layla shook her head. "Layla!" His voice raised impatiently, and he immediately lowered his voice, his eyes darting to the side of the house where their parents were. "Please." Layla bit down on her lips nervously, and her shoulders sagged as she conceded. A ghost of a smile flashed on Sam's face, and he was off in the twinkle of an eye to get himself covered up. Layla retreated farther from the house, needing to keep her distance from it. Their house was a quaint three-story manor, nestled at the foothills of Pikes Peak in the rugged wilderness of the rocky mountains in Colorado. With its weathered stone exterior, its backyard overlooked winding paths that disappeared into the dense pine forests that stretched for miles around the property. The air was always filled with the crisp scent of pine needles and the distant sound of rushing creeks. Layla moved deeper into the forest, bulging her eyes to see through the darkness. She held in her breath as she continued to walk, having no idea where she was heading. Her mom had always warned her to keep away from the woods when she was alive. Then, she had been young, but even now that she was older, she had no idea what lurked beneath them. She had never had the chance to explore them; her life took a plunge overnight to endure abusive parents. She hugged her coat closer to herself as she gained distance from the house, the dim light of the moon above being the only source of light around. The area was scantily populated with houses, which were located at distances even farther from where their house was. It was eerily quiet around there, besides the noise from the crickets and night animals shuffling about in the dark. "I thought I told you to wait for me." Layla jumped, clamping her hand over her mouth to muffle her gasp. Her eyes were wide in fright as she watched Sam. "I'm sorry," she murmured a quick apology, lowering her gaze. "Did he hurt you again?" She shook her head. "Don't lie. I know he did." "Then you shouldn't ask me about it." Layla met his gaze as she spoke. "In fact, you should stop caring about what happens to me." "How can I not care?" Sam barked. "I can't stand and watch you being maltreated by them." Layla closed her eyes briefly, needing some reprieve. She knew he meant well with his gestures, but why didn't he get the point? He was as incapable of helping her as she was of herself. "Please, Sam. Don't get involved again. This is my problem, not yours. Why do you care?" Layla yelled at him. "Because..." Words caught in Sam's throat as he watched her, and a myriad of emotions flickered across his face.  He ruffled the back of his head and sighed. "I have to protect you, Layla," he answered, the real reason hidden beneath the lilt in his voice and the flash in his eyes.