Disclaimer: I do not own American Horror Story or any of the characters. I only own my OC.

A/N: Thanks for those who have followed and added this story to their favorites! The next chapter will be about Layla arriving to the academy and meeting more of the Coven characters. I think after that maybe I'll do one or two more extra chapters before we finally head into the Coven story-line with Zoe's arrival. I just want to establish Layla's relationship/friendships with the other characters, especially with Madison given the "friendship" they are going to have as the story goes on. As you guys will come to find out more as the story progresses, Layla is more on the reserved side right now due to how she was raised and the abuse she had to endure because of her father. That's why she's gonna bond with Zoe rather quickly when she arrives because of her shy demeanor. Zoe was also really reserved when she first arrived. Those two will get along from the start. However, Layla grows into her own person based on the obstacles she faces later on in the season. Which is something I can't wait for. Badass Layla is gonna be super awesome and fun to write. ^.^

P.S. Episode four of AHS Apocalypse has me excited for when this story heads into Season 8. Which is something I plan to do because I mean...why not? xD It's gonna be super interesting adding Layla into the whole apocalypse drama involving Michael and the witches. Plus throughout the story I'm gonna add a few hints or I guess you can call them Easter eggs that definitely relate back to Season 8. One of those Easter eggs involves the weird "dreams" that Layla has and then the other is the whole issue with Layla's grandmother. In my mind I picture the actress Rebecca Ferguson as the face-claim for Layla's mother Katherine and the actress Susan Abigail Sarandon as her grandmother Rosaline. As you'll read in this chapter Katherine sort of explains why she was afraid and grew distant from her mother. It's why she's afraid of Layla being a witch. Katherine won't go into full detail on why but you guys will get an idea based on what she does say. What her grandmother did relates back to Layla's own strength, magic wise and why she becomes a central character in Season 8. It's gonna take awhile until we get into Season 8. We still have the Coven story-line to cover first. But I just wanted to let you guys know what you're in for later on. ^.^ This is gonna be a bumpy ride.


"It's not that I want you to go, it's just that I don't want you to stay." ― Derek Landy, Mortal Coil


Chapter 2: Say goodbye to normality

When Layla woke up she found herself laying on her living room couch.

Now that she had regained consciousness again, Layla started to think that maybe everything prior had all been a dream. A very weird realistic dream. It's not like she didn't have weird dreams in the past.

She did.

In fact, Layla had weird dreams all the time. Although to be fair half of the time most of the dreams she had she couldn't fully remember what they were about. However, before today the last weird dream Layla did remember thoroughly involved her being in some underground building. It was dim lit and she also wasn't by herself. She could tell there were other people there with her, she just couldn't see them. Despite having dreamt that, Layla highly doubted that weird dream was anyway near related to the one she just had.

That way of thinking immediately went down the drain the moment Layla laid eyes on her mother. The older dark haired woman was currently sitting across from her, and Layla knew automatically based on the solemn expression her mother had on that she didn't just have some weird dream.

This was reality. This was Layla Bradshaw's reality now and the reality was that her mother confessed to her being a witch. An actual freakin' witch.

Before today Layla just thought that witches were fake. They were just something seen only in movies such as the Harry Potter series and even in TV shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Never in a million years did Layla think that witches were real. Layla always thought that there was no such thing as magic. She was a logical person after all. She had to be with the way she grew up. But after today...Layla wasn't so sure anymore. Everything was beginning to fall apart.

What was her life? Layla's breathing started to get heavy after thinking this. She sensed a serious existential crisis coming on.

Seeing her daughter's breathing pick up again made Katherine act quickly. She carefully slid the cup of tea she had prepared for her across the living room table that was between them. Katherine doubted the warm soothing beverage would make all of Layla's panic go away, but at least it was something.

"I made you some herbal tea." Katherine told her as she tried keeping her own voice steady. It wouldn't help if she too let her panic get the best of her. "I figured you'd want some after what just happened."

Layla gladly accepted the tea. She wasn't thirsty by any means but she drank it. Besides in her mind she thought what good would it do to deny a cup of tea? She always preferred tea to any other beverages, even coffee.

It didn't take long for Layla to finish her cup of tea. Normally she wouldn't finish the drink with one go but this moment was like no other. She had basically chugged the whole thing down before setting the cup back on the living room table. The warmth of the tea didn't even bother her throat. Layla just couldn't find it within herself to be affected by how warm it had been. The shock of being just the information prior had taken all of her attention. And she was always one to let her nerves get the best of her. That was one of the downfalls of being raised with the kind of abusive father she had.

"What you said before..." Layla spoke up. She sounded uncertain, clearly unable to finish that sentence at first. It took a brief moment before she was able to pull herself together. "It's the truth, isn't it?" She finished saying as she pulled on the sleeves of her jacket. This was something Layla often did during times of shyness, embarrassment and distress. This time being distress. Although Layla now knew none of this was a dream she was clearly scared to hear her mother's confirmation on everything.

"Yes, it is." Katherine once again told her. Despite the petrified look her daughter had on she continued talking. "You are a witch, Layla. Your grandmother..." She sighed, not entirely pleased with what she said. She corrected herself. "My mother has similar abilities as you." Katherine stressed the word abilities with a tone that resembled dislike. Actually it was dislike. A very strong dislike against that word and what it tied to. However, fear also lingered there and it wasn't difficult for Layla to sense it.

Layla kept her gaze steady on her mother when she said this. Realization started making its way as her eyes widen a little. The seventeen year old had only meet her Grandmother Rosaline a few times in her life when she had been younger. The last time she had seen her grandmother in person was when she was thirteen years old. It's now been four years since she's seen her. Mainly that had to do with her mother not letting her visit.

With the past visits that had happened most of those time the interactions Layla had with her grandmother were odd to say the least. Her grandmother would always tell her she was "special" and that her "time would come". Whatever that meant. Layla's mother would always say her grandmother was a bit loopy because of her age and the various medications she now takes. Therefore, Layla always chalked it up her grandmother's behavior due to her being old and not knowing what she was saying. Except now that she knew her grandmother was a witch, her odd way of behaving made more sense.

Layla inhaled and exhaled, processing what her mother said. Her grandmother had the same abilities as her? Hearing that just freaked her out even more. That meant her grandmother had the power to feel everyone's emotions. Even her own with the few amount of times she had visited her. That was not only strange but also nerve-racking. Had her grandmother sensed how much she freaked her out? Layla gulped. Without a doubt she did. Layla couldn't help but feel extremely bad now. She once again pulled at the end of her sleeves. "You mean she was able to move without being seen and..." She couldn't finish saying that last part on the account of her guilt and shock she was feeling.

"To sense other people's emotions. Yes she's able to do that. Teleportation as well, or as it's better known as Transmutation." Katherine told her daughter doing her best to not let her voice break. That was proving to be quite the challenge because she never wanted to have this conversation with her daughter. But alas here she was doing that. Katherine felt a lot of things in that moment. Feelings that her daughter was sensing for herself as well. An action that deeply frighten Katherine. This just brought back memories from when she used to live with her mother. She lowered her gaze towards the floor with what she said next. "Although Pathokinesis was her main ability."

Layla was sadden to see her mother avoiding eye contact with her. However, what she said made her frown and furrow her eyebrows. "Pathokinesis?" She repeated, curious. Despite being freaked out with everything that was happening she also felt intrigue.

Layla had never heard that word before. She's heard of the word Empathy before. Which just meant to understand the feelings of another person based on their behavior. Layla had to admit she was good at studying people and getting a hunch at what they were feeling based on their behavior. Except she always thought that was just her inner psychologist and anthropologist in her. She never would have guessed it was because of this power that was hidden inside her. Now the question that lingered around her head was Empathy the same thing as Pathokinesis?

Katherine found the strength to look at her daughter again. "It's the ability to manipulate the feelings you are able to feel from those who are around you." She explained to her in unease. "My mother is able to do that. Or at least was able to. With her old age she's not as strong as before with her abilities." Katherine explained to her daughter. She felt relief saying this to her.

Katherine felt a lot of things towards her own mother. Hatred, fear, but strangely also love. It was strange because Katherine knew that if it had been anyone else they wouldn't have loved their mother. Not with the things Katherine saw when growing up. Despite not being one hundred percent clear on what exactly her mother had been doing, Katherine knew it was bad. Very bad. But even at that, Katherine couldn't stop loving her mother. She had grown distant over the years sure and refused to let her get close to her own daughter, but the love Katherine had for her mother was still there, buried deep inside. Fear though always won over. As it was taking over again because the unfortunate reality set it. Her daughter was now a part of that witch world she never wanted her in. Katherine's heart felt like breaking all over again.

"I-I-I don't understand." Layla stuttered making Katherine drift away from her glum thoughts. "How did we even get to have these...abilities." It still felt extremely odd to say that. Abilities. It was if she was saying she was some kind of comic book superhero. When Layla had been little she had always wanted to be a superhero. Like the ones she would read in comic books and see in movies. Those movies had always been a distraction from the abuse she suffered daily at the hands of her father. And funny enough her favorite superhero growing up had been Scarlet Witch. Layla always thought her character was cool since she had the power of telekinesis, and amongst others that involved mental manipulation. But Layla wasn't a superhero. She was a witch. And not like Scarlet Witch. Layla was an actual witch.

Katherine knew that was a question her daughter was going to ask sooner or later. Luckily she had the answer for her. Not that she was gonna like telling her but it was the truth and her daughter had a right to know. "Our family line originates all the way from Salem."

That certainly was something Layla was not expecting to hear. Then again what exactly was she expecting to hear? "Salem?" She repeated, shocked. "As in the Salem witch trials?" She blinked several times. "Are you serious?" When she had been younger she had been taught about the Salem witch trials. They were sad as they were gruesome. Layla never liked thinking about that time in life because of all the pain those women must have felt. It was just unbearable. She was never one for violence and treating someone with unfairness.

Katherine could understand her daughter's reaction. For a brief moment there she remembered the time her own mother had told her this when she was around Layla's age. Even though she was never revealed any witch abilities (something she was thankful for), Rosaline still told her the truth. Katherine nodded her head. "Yes, I'm serious. From what I remember your grandmother says there has been witches in our bloodline since then. Though not in every generation and the number has fallen down a lot." When she saw the bewildered expression her daughter had on, Katherine felt sighed."Your grandmother would be better at explaining this but for obvious reasons she can't."

Her mother was right about that. Her Grandmother Rosaline was way into her years now. She was always on some kind of medication and she suffered major memory loss. Layla doubted she would even be able to recognize her anymore if she went to see her at the nursing home she was in located in Nevada.

"Did he know about any of this?" Layla asked, heavy detest could be heard in her tone of voice. Her eyes had taken a hard route and this just made Katherine more nervous.

It was rare for her daughter to get mad. Really mad. When she did though she looked a lot like her grandmother and Katherine didn't like that. Of course Katherine knew right away who Layla was referring to. There was only one person who her daughter held that kind of voice towards. Katherine shook her head. "No, your father never knew." She said feeling her heart rate pick up mentioning the man who she held in high regards. Despite everything he put her and her daughter through, Katherine was very much still in love with him.

Layla grimaced feeling a sense of warmness and devotion coming from her mother when mentioning her father. How her mother still cared for him she'd never know. But the last thing she wanted was to have a full conversation about her father. For Layla her father was now just some stranger. She decided to change the course of the conversation away from him.

"This is why you never like talking about grandma. Because she's a witch." Layla said lowly. Her green eyes were now returning back to their usual softness.

"Yes." Katherine answered honestly. "I never liked the idea of my mother being a witch. Not only is it dangerous but it's just awful." She gave her daughter a hard stare. "Nothing good ever happens when you're a witch. It's a burden you unfortunately will now have to deal with. Especially with the ability you have, and I'm not referring to Transmutation. Although that one does have its dangers I'm more worried about your other ability." No matter how much she wanted to fight the tears from forming she couldn't. She gave her daughter a broken expression. "Having the ability to feel other people's emotions made my mother an outcast. She called it a gift but I never saw it that way. I could see how much it affected her as a person. It's a curse Layla and it's one you have to carry now."

Hearing her mother say this caused Layla to let out a small gasp before she felt her own eyes start to tear up. It wasn't the whole outcast part that sadden her. In her eyes she was already an outcast. It was the part where she would have to feel other people's emotions constantly that caused her distress. If she went out in public and every-time she was around people she'd start to feel all their emotions at once like when in class...Layla had no idea how she would be able to handle it. She'd lose it...she'd really lose it. And she knew teleportation again when in public would be a huge no no. Layla groaned inside. Yet another ability she had to learn to control. But how was she gonna do that?

"I did not want this for you, Layla." Katherine suddenly spoke out softly. Seeing her daughter cry hurt her. She felt like a failure for letting this happen to her. "I never wanted this for you. I hoped, prayed even that you wouldn't one day just wake up...cursed. But you did and I blame myself."

Layla felt more and more tears escape her when she mother said this. "Why?" She asked. Even though her abilities technically came from her mother's side of the family, Layla didn't view this as her mother's fault. How was she supposed to know Layla was gonna get the short end of the stick? Genetics at times can be such huge trolls.

Katherine gave her a short shrug. Guilt ate away from inside her. "I'm your mother. Aren't I always to blame for every wrong doing that happens in your life? The abuse from your father and now this..."

Layla hated that she brought up her father. She did that herself but she didn't want to have that man in their conversation anymore. Layla steadied her voice as she wiped her cheeks. "What that man did is over now and how were you supposed to know this would happen to me?"

Katherine still felt immense shame. "It was a risk I knew was there but I decided to take it. I thought that maybe it would skip you like it did with me. If only..."

Layla quirked an eyebrow at that. "If only what mom? I mean, the only way you could have prevented this was if you never had me."

Katherine lowered her gaze when her daughter said this. Layla took notice to this right away. Her stomach dropped and her heart ached. "You wouldn't have done that...would you?"

This time Katherine did not look her daughter in the eye as she spoke the truth. "If I had the knowledge of some how knowing you would have been stuck with these abilities..." Katherine trailed off not finishing her sentence but Layla didn't need the sentence to be finished. She knew exactly what her mother was trying to say. That hurt Layla. It hurt her to the core.

How could her mother say that? Perhaps she viewed it as a mercy thing but Layla didn't. Not entirely. She felt like crying her eyes out again...in fact she was close to. Except she didn't. Layla kept her outward appearance as unaffected as possible, though on the inside it was the complete opposite. As she was trying to figure out what to say to mother after telling her that, Layla sensed something else within her. It was fear but it wasn't the same type of fear she had felt before.

"I sense that you're afraid and it isn't just because I'm a witch." Layla announced keeping her voice surprisingly steady. She narrowed her green eyes at her mother. "What else are you afraid of? What aren't you telling me?"

Once again Katherine was taken back by how much Layla was acting like her grandmother. She shakily responded. "You're right I am afraid of something else."

It hurt to see her mother be so scared and because of her. She never wanted anyone (especially her own mother) to be afraid of her. Layla softened her exterior. "Well, what is it?"

Even though Katherine wanted nothing to do with Rosaline anymore, she was still her mother. Her buried daughter emotions were coming out again to the surface. "I know I never liked talking about her before and now you know why. Layla, you have to understand that your grandmother is a very complicated person. I don't mean to say she's bad person, not entirely anyways." She added causing Layla to look at her with a worried expression. "There was just a point in time when I was around your age that I noticed she started getting into some serious stuff and..." Katherine sighed. "Let's just say she made some mistakes in the past. Mistakes that even now I don't know what exactly they were, and I don't want to know. They frighten me too much and I'm never one to ask about her past with magic." She sorrowfully admitted that last part to her daughter. Memories of her teen years clouded her mind of her mother performing odd spells all over their home. Katherine shook her head lightly. She wanted more than anything to make those memories permanently go away.

"What sort of mistakes?" Layla couldn't help but ask anyways. She was beyond confused and curious. What could her grandmother have done in the past that was so frightening? According to her mother anyways.

Katherine didn't even want to go into detail with that because truth be told she didn't even know the full story. Just what she saw and she didn't want to add more drama with what her daughter was going through and what she was about to experience soon enough. "Like I said, they were mistakes that I do not want to get into. They're not of importance anymore."

Layla then understood why her mother had been feeling that way towards her. "You're afraid I'll end up like her." She concluded solemnly. "To be like the witch she used to be."

Katherine just wiped at her eyes again before giving her an unreadable expression. That was enough of an answer for Layla. Katherine then told Layla the information that would cause her to react. And it was something Katherine wasn't looking forward to. "Layla, you can't stay here anymore.

That caused panic to arise in her again. Layla looked at her with shock. "What...but why?" Her voice shook. "Are you kicking me out?" Layla never thought her mother would be capable of kicking her out of their own home. That just wasn't the kind of person her mother was. "Mom...what are you saying?" She asked her with wounded eyes.

Katherine had to remind herself that this was for her daughter's own well being. "I'm sorry Layla but what I'm trying to say is that you need to be somewhere were you can be taught to control your abilities. I can't offer you that sort of guidance or knowledge." Katherine prepared herself with what she was about to say next. "Your grandmother told me about a school in New Orleans. A boarding school."

A boarding school? And in New Orleans? "What are you talking about? You called her? How was grandma even able to tell you anything? She's almost completely senile." Layla said in disbelief. Despite everything she had learned about her grandmother and how powerful she used to be as a witch she now was in a state of mind that needed to be watched over twenty-four seven. How in the world was her mother able to get an actual valid response from her?

"No, I didn't call her. This was something she told me a while ago. I never thought it be information I'd share with you but obviously circumstances have changed." Katherine replied. "And as your grandmother told me there's this school in New Orleans for girls like you. Girls who are witches and are starting to come into their abilities. They'll teach you there." And hopefully put you on the right path. Katherine thought to herself.

Layla couldn't help but let out a witty remark. "What you mean like Hogwarts?" She asked incredulously.

Katherine gave her a motherly look that made Layla retreat back. "This isn't a joke, Layla. You need to go there."

Layla became quiet, growing serious again. "So you're shipping me off to some boarding school in New Orleans?" She asked, beyond hurt at this point.

"It's for the best." Katherine said in a way that sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than her daughter.

Layla wanted to argue but by the looks of it she knew it would be pointless. Her mother was set in stone with this decision. Layla felt close to crying again. She had never been away from her mother before. She had always been with her (and her father up until the divorce). How was she supposed to leave her mother behind just like that?

Even though they didn't have the best mother daughter relationship, her leaving was not going to be an easy transition. At least for Layla it wouldn't be. Not to mention Layla viewed herself as the glue. She was managing on keeping things together. Her mother was the adult but more than often Layla felt like she was the one in charge of things. Katherine suffered through major periods of depression randomly and at times she wouldn't even want to get out of bed unless Layla was there to encourage her. The divorce was still affecting Katherine and in Layla's mind she was the only one who could help her. She was the one who reminded her to take her medication and made sure the house wasn't a complete mess. Layla didn't want it looking like it did when her father had been living there.

Layla found it hard to even think about leaving her mother. Except here she was...being told she was being sent away...and by her mother no less. Her voice wavered when she spoke. "Are you at least taking me?" Despite the distressed emotions she was feeling, she tried her best to sound hopeful. If she were to leave then the most her mother could do was take her to New Orleans herself. Let her spend more time with her before she had to leave.

Katherine gave her a deep frown. However, before she was able to reply another voice rang out.

"No, I'm sorry to say she's not my dear."

Layla jumped a bit when she heard that unknown female voice. She was even more shocked when she turned towards where the voice had come from. Standing near the entrance of her house was an unfamiliar older woman. She had red hair and her fashion style matched the sophisticated aura that surrounded her. Layla could practically feel it as she continued to study the older woman. She wore vintage cat eye glasses that made her stand out more. Although her hair and fashion sense did a pretty good job at that. Not that Layla was judging. To each their own when it came to style. Plus it seemed like this woman was doing an amazing job pulling it off.

Layla's eyes widen even more when she saw the two albino men dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses. They were standing behind the red haired woman. This made Layla's worry increase. "Who are you?" Layla asked mainly addressing the question to the woman with the red hair. She was the one Layla was the most curious about and she figured she was the one in charge out of the three of them. Just how long had they been there? And how did they enter her house without her hearing the front door open? Layla concluded it must have been from some type of magic. Transmutation as her mother had told her about.

"My name is Myrtle Snow." She earnestly introduced herself. "I'm here to escort you to Miss Robichaux's Academy."

Escort her? It was then that Layla saw the two suitcases that were on the floor next to woman named Myrtle and the two men with her.

"I packed your stuff already. Enough for now. I'll send the rest of your stuff later." Katherine said lowly automatically making Layla stare at her again.

"I'm leaving now?" Layla asked, her voice rising. "But-but it's too soon!" She exclaimed. Layla figured she'd leave in a few days (maybe weeks) but not right away. "Mom no, I can't just leave now. What about school?"

"Don't worry about school, I'll handle that." Katherine said as if it was no big deal.

To Layla though it was a big deal. This was her senior year. The year she was supposed to graduate and then go to college. She was gonna apply to a university here in Los Angeles and major in Forensics! Stay close by and keep an eye on her mother to make sure she'd be okay on her own. Layla couldn't just leave and forget all that. Just because she was a witch now didn't mean she could forget about her human life just like that...right? However, Layla was gonna learn that was exactly what that meant.

When she made no move to get up the two albino men behind Myrtle started to make their way towards her. Layla started to panic and she leaned back against the couch. Fear was plastered on her face. The last thing she wanted was to be touched. She hated being touched by anyone (especially men) because of what her father put her through.

It didn't take long for Myrtle to realize something was wrong with the girl. She raised her hand and Layla saw how the two men automatically stopped their walking. Instead Myrtle offered a hand for her to take. Reliance practically radiated off of her.

"Come along dear." Myrtle said in a soft tone of voice. She gestured for Layla to follow her.

Despite sensing that she could trust her, Layla was still nervous to get up. "But why can't my mom take me?" Layla asked, completely heart broken. When she asked this question and got no answer from her mother, she turned towards her direction. "Mom?"

Layla expected for Katherine to answer her but to immense disappointment Katherine wasn't even looking at her anymore. She was staring on the floor, completely ignoring her.

She was so sadden by this that Layla didn't even jump when a gentle hand squeezed her shoulder. She looked up and saw that it was Myrtle. Normally this would be the part where Layla would fight off the touch and run away but she got such reassurance from the older woman that Layla didn't do such things.

Myrtle gave the younger girl an earnest look. "Long goodbyes only make things harder my dear girl." She quietly told her.

That saying hit something within Layla. The teen looked at her mother for a few more seconds before she finally made the life changing decision to get up from the couch. Although it didn't seem like it was a decision because she knew there really was no choice. Either she left willingly or she'd be taken. Although she was thankful that Myrtle was making the process less traumatizing.

As she got up, Layla no longer tried getting her mother's attention as Myrtle lead her to the front door, with the suited men following carrying her belongings. Nor did Layla look back when she was close to exiting her house. She didn't do any of that. No matter how much she wanted to.

Layla, however, did take one of the photos that were on the counter being fully leaving. It was photo that only had her mother and her in it. A photo that she cherished and that would forever be a reminder of the mother that just sent her away as if nothing.

As Layla got in the car with the people that were taking her to her new life in New Orleans, she wondered if she would ever see her mother again? A feeling in her stomach told her she wouldn't. At least not anytime soon.

As the car drove off heading towards the train station where Myrtle said they were going to take, Layla couldn't help but cry as she thought about her mother. Despite the growing distance between them the lingering feeling of her mother being afraid of her was still there. However, there was another feeling Layla felt from her mother before she left that really made her want to breakdown.

That feeling being relief.

Her mother had actually been relieved seeing her leave. And that hurt Layla...that hurt her a lot.