Rejected To Be Your Second Chance novel Chapter 47

　　　~Layla~

　　"Wake up, child. Open your eyes" I squirmed, unable to take a deep breath as I reached out and grabbed the sheets. They wrinkled under my hold, and my legs were kicking and pulling as I tossed in the bed.

　　"Open your eyes," that raspy voice said again, but I didn't want to. I was in bed. Did that mean that there was someone in the room? Was someone watching me? Terror filled my body, and my eyes shot open as I inhaled my first deep breath and flew up, but I wasn't in the bed. Looking around, I didn't see any walls. The hanging lights were gone, and behind me wasn't a bed; there was nothing, in fact. It was all grass-covered ground and big tall trees that reached towards the sky.

　　I looked down and saw that I was wearing a white lace top with linen pants and no shoes. The grass tickled the soles of my feet, but touching the earth was calming, and I felt the energies flowing through my body.

　　"Welcome," a cottage appeared from nowhere, with a chimney from which smoke was coming out. The door was wide open, and on the stove, I saw a teakettle.

　　The woman was older but beautiful, With white hair and wrinkles under her lips and eyes. She exuded a calming warmth.

　　Her blue eyes looked straight into mine, and I could feel her confidence from miles away.

　　"Who are you?," I Asked. She walked over with her hands clasped in front of her.

　　"I’m Analise," she reached out her hand and cupped them into mine.

　　"I’m Layla," she nodded her head and smiled.

　　"I know who you are, let’s go inside," she said and looked around as if searching for something or hiding from it.

　　Without giving it a second thought, I walked into her cottage, and the door closed behind us.

　　I saw plants and vials filled with herbs and dried flowers hanging about the house.

　　"Are you a witch?" I asked with furrowed brows. Analise shook her head and poured water into two cups that had been prepared.

　　"Here you go," I blew on the tea, and the smell of rose immediately swept up my nose. It was delicious. The fact that I was drinking tea handed to me by a stranger in her home was weird and unlike me, but I trusted her. I couldn't explain how; I just felt it.

　　"Why am I here?"

　　"Because I needed to see you, to talk to you."

　　"Why aren't we meeting in person? Because I'm guessing that I'm asleep right now."

　　"Yes, you are. I'm conversing with your subconscious, but you will remember everything once you wake up."

　　"Nathaniel told me that he came from the first line of Emberclaws," I said.

　　"That is what he has been told, but it is not the truth." She looked up at the wall where there was a clock.

　　"It’s time for you to head back, but please, Layla, do not trust him, and whatever you do, do not show him the powers you hold."

　　"What if I already have?" I asked in a whisper.

　　Her eyes widened, and she pursed her lips.

　　"You are the key, Layla. You are the one he has been waiting for because of the powers you hold. You are strong, stronger than he is, but do not let that fool you because he has years of training behind him as well as a pure bloodline. You need to practice in silence and not show him anymore of what you hold."

　　"What do I do if he asks? We practice together." She smiled and grabbed my hand as we stood. "Then you play dumb. I will meet you again, but until then, stay safe." She leaned in and gave me a hug. As we pulled back, I grabbed her arm.

　　"Why can't we meet in person? I can come to you,"

　　"Meeting me is the last thing he wants you to do, but fear not, I have my ways around rules I do not like." She said with a devious smirk.