Chapter 9
Layla the Friend
"So your house burned down suddenly and now you need somewhere to stay?" Layla asked, her expression a mix of odd suspicion and confusion.
Amira nodded innocently.
"Riiight. And who's this handsome man?" Her eyes went over Lucian and stayed there considerably past the point of decency. "One of your other… servants?"
Amira kicked Layla in the shin and cleared her throat. "Ehm! His name is Lucian, and he was kind enough to escort me here."
They sat around a dimly lit table inside Layla's house. The table was rough hewn, the chairs little more than barrels.
Layla snorted. "Kind enough? You can't be serious."
Amira's eye twitched as she forced a smile.
Lucian could very obviously read the room. "I'll give you two some time to talk. Layla, it was nice meeting you. Amira, if you need me, I'll be down in the village." He excused himself and stepped outside. Before he'd even taken two steps away from the door, their bickering carried through the walls.
"Does he not know what you are? Who you are? What are you gonna do when he finds out? What if he tells people about your secret? What if he tries to kill you in your sleep?" Layla pressed.
"Shhh! What if he hears us?" Amira hissed, her voice carrying a sharpness Lucian had never heard before.
Lucian, who couldn't care less about gossip, walked down the hill into the village.
"Hey, stranger!" a familiar voice called.
He turned and saw the cow girl from earlier. She was in her early twenties, around the same age as Lucian. Her hair was long and brown, and her eyes were a deep brown as well.
"Did you find who you were looking for?" she asked as she walked up, basket of berries now completely full.
"Yes. She was… rather grouchy," Lucian said flatly.
The woman laughed. "Yeah, that's our Layla for you! She's kind hearted once you get to know her though. Helps run the orphanage, always giving a hand to the little ones."
'There's even an orphanage here?' Lucian thought.
"How's all this possible?" he asked.
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"The village. How come it's so peaceful here?"
"Oh! That's what you meant." She brightened. "Well, there are a few different theories. Everyone agrees that since No Man's Land is neutral territory, and this village sits perfectly between the human, demon, and beastman regions, it's become a natural place for trade and secret political meetings. As for why no one's ever invaded us? That's where people argue. Some think someone important lives here in secret, protecting us with their influence. But me? I think it's simpler. Everyone who visits is amazed at how peaceful it is here. They fall in love with it, and in the end… they choose to leave us alone. Some even stay to watch over us." She smiled like the whole world was sunshine.
Lucian stared at her blankly for a moment, the way a man looks at someone who has just explained that the sky is held up by kindness.
"Lucian," he said, offering his hand.
"My name's Bell!" She shook it firmly. "Say, Lucian, you look strong and capable. Do you think you could help me with something?"
Lucian glanced back up the hill toward Layla's house and figured he shouldn't return yet. "Sure. I suppose I have time."
"Great! Come with me!" Bell grinned, slipping her arm through his and pressing it snugly against her chest as she led him toward a smaller farm.
***
"He's down the hill with Bell. She'll keep him occupied for a while," Layla said, stepping away from the window.
"Bell?" Annoyance curled around the word.
"Yeah, the cow lady with the big knockers. She's nice, but boy does she like to yap." Layla laughed dryly and shook her head with annoyance.
"That's wonderful," Amira said through clenched teeth, forcing a smile while her nails dug into her arms.
"Uh-huh…" Layla's eyebrow raised and she narrowed her eyes doubtfully. "Anyway." Layla smirked at Amira's jealous face.
"What actually happened that brought you all the way here? And who is that guy? What is he to you? He's quite the looker, so if you don't want him…" She paused as Amira stared daggers into her. "Just asking." She threw her hands up.
Amira sighed, her anger escaping with her breath. She told the whole story, from the days the two of them split while on the run from the demons who chased them down, to before meeting Lucian, to the attack in the woods before they arrived. "Somehow, the demon hunters found me. I don't know how, but they did. So I burned the house down and threw their bodies in with it. I had to leave anyway. I was losing my mind in that cabin all by myself."
"Sounds to me like Lucian was the one who told them. The timing's too perfect. After you meet him, hunters show up at your door, and then he runs back to you right after? Way too much of a coincidence."
"It wasn't him!" Amira snapped, her hand slamming against the table.
Her voice rasped, low and dangerous. "If he wanted me dead, he had plenty of chances. Not once did he give me the thought that he would."
Layla raised a brow. "What's all this now?" She grinned. "You seem to care more about his opinion than anyone from your past. Do you… like him?"
"N-no! It's not like that!" Heat rushed up Amira's neck. "He's just fun to tease. Keeping him around is… interesting!" she insisted, desperately trying to cover her feelings.
Layla's grin spread wickedly. "You do, don't you?" She leaned close, their noses almost touching.
Amira's face was crimson. She gulped, realizing it was too late to hide.
Layla burst out laughing, falling back and kicking her feet. "Oh my! Demon Queen Amira Selvaron, the daughter of the Moon Sovereign Demon King, has fallen for a human!"
She rolled across the floor, holding her stomach. "Haaaah! This is too good!"
Amira stared at her lap, gripping her pant legs, face burning.
"Please, tell me what it was that made you fall for him," Layla said between cackles. "Considering you denied so many noble sons, and even the guy who was trying to become the next Demon King, that clown! All he had was his good looks. Which, by the way, if you hadn't rejected him, we wouldn't be on the run out here in the first place!"
She wiped her tears and took deep breaths, trying to calm down. "Oh, this better be good," she said, shaking her head and leaning in close to make sure she heard correctly.
"He…" Amira clenched her fists. "He said he liked my hair."
Layla collapsed again, laughing so hard she wheezed. "He likes her hair, everyone! Oh, if your father was alive to see you now!"
Amira's face burned hotter.
Layla finally dragged herself upright, grinning ear to ear. "Oh, Ami. What are we gonna do with you?"
Amira shifted in her seat nervously.
Layla's tone shifted, more serious. "How do you think he's going to react when he finds out who you are? Whose daughter you are? And…" she leaned in closer, lowering her voice, "what you like to do in your free time, Moon Witch."
"Shut up!" Amira snapped, cold and sharp. "You know I hate being called that."
Layla waved it off. "Can you imagine how he'll react? I wonder what he'll think of your hair then." She chuckled darkly.
Amira's expression softened with sorrow. "It won't matter. He's leaving after this."
Layla stopped laughing and tapped a finger on the table, leaning in, a strand of blonde hair falling loose from behind her ear as she shifted. "Why don't you ask him to stay?" she said gently.
Amira said nothing, staring down at her lap.
"You know, after you were made Queen, your brother said something to me," Layla said.
Amira looked up at her.
"He said he turned down the position of king because he knew you'd make a better queen. That you were a better fit. One that would make the people happy. He told me that if anything were to happen to him, I should do everything in my power to at least make you happy. He said you deserved it after everything you'd been through. So when you were framed for your brother's murder, and me and the rest of the elite guard snuck you out of the capital and into Atheria, they all thought it was for the best. That you could live happily in a place where no one knew you, somewhere you could start over. But I still remember the look on your face the day we got to that cabin. Like you'd been abandoned by everyone you loved. Even after everyone left to follow their own path and make a new life for themselves, I stayed by your side. That whole time I never saw you smile like you used to. And when you asked me to leave, saying you just needed to be by yourself, it broke my heart." Layla paused, realizing she was reminiscing too far. "But then you showed up on my doorstep with him," she pointed outside, "and you were wearing that smile I never thought I'd see again. From ear to ear. So if it's because of him, then you better do something about it."
Amira stared at her, her mood complicated. It seemed happy and sad at the same time. "Yeah," was all she could manage.
"Well, in any case, your old family's vacation house is just as you left it. The farmland needs some tending to, and the house itself needs a few repairs, but nothing major. I kept it up in case you ever decided to come looking for me."
"Thank you, Layla. You've always been like a big sister to me. That means more than you know." Amira's voice was soft, almost breaking.
Layla, clearly uncomfortable with sentiment, rubbed the back of her neck and slid a key across the table. "Yeah, well… whatever. Here's the key." A faint blush touched her cheeks.
She cleared her throat loudly. "So! Let's go find that hunk of meat and get you two settled for the night!"