A Glimmer of Hope (The Avalon Chronicles #1)(46)

Layla’s stomach grumbled. “Apparently the answer is yes. I’d love a pie and chips. Steak and kidney, please.”

“Cod and chips,” Chloe said.

Harry promised he’d be back soon and left Chloe and Layla alone.

“I can manipulate metal,” Layla said.

“I saw.”

“I bonded with some spirits in a scroll. They call me an umbra. I’m essentially a superhero now. I’m going to get a cape and start fighting crime.”

“You appear to be taking it in good humor.”

Layla stared at her friend. “You’re not surprised. You’re not concerned or freaking out that I just melted a damn table.”

“Technically, you didn’t melt it.”

“Don’t start using semantics on me. Why aren’t you more . . . you know . . . weirded out?”

“Weirded? I don’t think that’s a word.”

Layla’s eyes narrowed in irritation. “Chloe Range, don’t change the subject.”

“I’ve had some experience with weird shit. My mum was a witch. Not a wiccan, a full-on witch with powers and everything. She knew how to curse people and do all kinds of crazy stuff. So I’m okay with what you’re doing, because you’re my friend and I want to be there for you. But also because I’ve seen the weirdness already.”

Layla wasn’t certain what to say to that. She still thought that Chloe was hiding something, but she couldn’t figure out what it might be. “Thanks for being honest.”

Layla noticed the slightest wince, as if those words had hurt Chloe, but the smile never left Chloe’s face. “My mum was insane, and probably evil. So, yeah, that was my childhood. So, back to you. You’re taking all of this okay?”

“I’m not sure how I’m taking it. I’ve spent the last few nights talking to spirits who live in my head. And last night I had a lovely chat with a demon. A demon who showed me a vision of your death at my hands.”

Chloe sighed. “I’m not going to die, and you’re certainly not going to kill me.”

“Everyone says I have to accept the demon. Or I’ll go insane. But how can I accept it if it’s just going to do evil things anyway? Whether I accept it or not, it’s never going to go away. I get to spend the rest of my extended life with a demon in my head. That was never part of my life plan, Chloe. Demonic entities were not meant to be living in my goddamn subconscious.” She shouted the last few words, allowing the frustration to get the better of her for the first time since she’d been taken to the hospital.

When Chloe didn’t say anything, Layla continued, “I heal bullet wounds in days now. Days. I can manipulate metal, and apparently, when this is all done, I’ll be stronger, faster, have better senses. I’ll be on the big screen soon alongside Spider-Man. The Incredible Terrified Woman.”

Chloe hugged her friend. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t do this to me, I did. And one of the spirits killed something while she was in control of me. Two somethings, in fact. Blood elves, she called them.”

Chloe’s expression changed to one of shock and fear. “Blood elf? Are you sure?”

Layla nodded tentatively. “Yes. Blood elf. Creepy, purple humanoids. They seemed to enjoy the idea of hurting me. I had to seriously hurt one to get out of my cell. When I bonded with the spirits, one of them had to take control of me, and she killed two of them.”

“Did you tell Diana or Tommy this?”

Layla shook her head. “I didn’t think they’d believe me at first, and I figured they had everything they needed. Blood elves. I’ve never seen anything like them. Gyda—the spirit in my head—she hates them, though, says they destroyed her home. She’s from a place called . . .”

“Nidavellir,” Chloe finished.

“That’s right. Is that something your mom told you about?”

Pure fear had taken over Chloe, and she looked back at the door. “Stay here. You need to tell Diana everything about the blood elves. I need to go make a call. I’ll be back later—just please tell her everything.”

Layla nodded, confused about why her friend was now terrified, but she wasn’t given a chance to ask as Chloe fled the room, just as Harry was entering with the chips.

The smell of pie and chips was usually enough to get Layla’s mouth watering, but she ignored it, more concerned about her friend.

Harry placed the chips on the remains of the table and glanced over at the door. “She was in a hurry.”

“Yes, and I don’t know why, but something strange is happening.”

Diana entered the room a moment later, a similar expression of concern on her face. “Harry, can you give Layla and me a few minutes? You can take your chips to the room down the corridor.”

Harry looked to Layla for confirmation.

“It’s okay. You can come back in a minute,” Layla assured him.

Diana waited to be alone with Layla before speaking. “Blood elves too?”

Layla nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t know how to. It felt weird just telling Chloe about the ogre. There was so much happening—I wasn’t sure who’d believe me. Chloe trusts you and Tommy, so I guess that’s enough for me.” She didn’t want to ask what Chloe was hiding from her; she didn’t want to force Diana to lie and thus end up resenting her for it.