Chapter Two: Birthday Tidings
Layla Anneliese Potter let out a soft moan as she slowly drifted into consciousness on the morning of her 16th birthday.
Every muscle, bone, joint and tendon in her body ached.
Gingerly sitting up, she winced as pain shot through her back and slowly got to her feet.
Stumbling painfully towards the door, Layla suddenly became aware that she wasn't wearing her glasses and yet could see everything with 100% clarity.
She moved silently through the hall and immediately caught sight of her reflection in the mirror upon entering the tiny bathroom.
Removing her nightgown for a better look, Layla's jaw dropped.
Her eyes were a deeper, more intense shade of emerald and almost seemed to glow with a strange inner light.
She had long, thick eyelashes, high cheekbones and a gently sloping nose that was placed perfectly over full, slightly pouty lips.
Her previously straight, shoulder-length raven-black hair was now two or three shades darker and fell to her waist in gently curling waves.
Her complexion was flawless and her hips were slimmer and dare she say, curvier.
Not a freckle, mole, pimple or scar marred her creamy flesh and Layla sighed happily.
She was beautiful.
Wondering what the hell was going on and if she had gone through any other changes, the newly-turned 16 year old suddenly felt a light tingling sensation behind her shoulder blades right before two large feathered wings burst from her back.
Layla gasped in awe, admiring her beautiful new appendages, which were a stunning combination of inky black, midnight blue and deep purple feathers with elegant swirls of silver and gold scattered here and there.
Suddenly, she heard a sleepy grunt from across the hall.
The merest thought had her wings quickly receding and Layla quickly pulled her nightgown back on before hurrying silently back down the hall and into her bedroom.
Flopping onto the bed, Layla sighed deeply and buried her face in the thin, musty gray blanket that the Dursleys had given to her for use as a makeshift bedspread.
"What am I?" the raven-haired girl wondered curiously.
Grabbing a large, leather bound book titled 'Creatures of Myth and Legend: A Guide for the Newly-Inherited Witch or Wizard', she started frantically flipping through the pages in a desperate search for answers as to what she had become.
"Demons...Drackens...Dragels...Drakes...Dryads...Elves...Fae...Kitiara...Kitsunes...Merfolk...Nymphs...Sarkany...Torvaks...
Vampires...Veela..." Layla murmured as she turned the pages.
Suddenly she stopped at a page with a sketch of a beautiful female with wings strikingly similar to Layla's own, the only difference being the colors and patterns of the feathers.
SHADOW VEELA
Shadow Veela, unlike their fair-haired, silver-eyed cousins, have dark brown to black hair, eyes ranging in color from steel gray to piercing jade to darkest black, razor-sharp claws and feathered wings in various colors, hues and patterns.
There are two kinds of Shadow Veela, dominant and submissive.
It may sometimes be difficult to distinguish between the two, however a dominant Shadow Veela's wing feathers will only have one or two colors while a submissive's wings may contain as many as five separate colors, depending on how powerful the submissive is.
Not much is known about Shadow Veela, but it is believed that, similar to regular Veela, they have a single destined mate, who they will immediately recognize upon their first sighting of said mate after receiving their inheritance and remain deeply attached to for the rest of their lives.
Unlike regular Veela, however, who are only able to mate with Wizards or other Veela, Shadow Veela, being neither Dark nor Light, are bound by no such restrictions, and therefore are free to mate with any species they may desire.
If said mate is also a magical creature, their creature half will also recognize the Shadow Veela in kind.
However, if, upon being told of the mateship, their mate should reject them, the Shadow Veela will enter a state of severe depression, during which they will slowly waste away, little by little, until Death finally takes mercy on them and puts an end to their suffering.
Currently, no Shadow Veela has ever lasted longer than three months after being rejected by their mate.
Shadow Veela have been classed as an internationally protected species by Ministry law since 1623 and it is considered a crime punishable by death to kill a Shadow Veela unless in cases of self defense.
The same protection applies to a Shadow Veela's mate, regardless of species, as well as any offspring they may have.
Layla closed the book, her mind whirling.
She just had to become a bloody Veela!
And not just a normal bloody Veela, either, but a freaking Shadow Veela!
A bloody submissive freaking Shadow Veela!
She groaned and buried her face into her mattress.
Fate truly was a bitch!
