Chapter 7

"Layla..."

Layla's eyes did not move from the spot on the carpet.

"Layla." Victor repeated a little louder, his yarning almost breaking into his voice.

She still refused to move. So Creed moved to her. Easing himself from his seat, Victor edged over to Layla, watching as she shuddered at his approach. His shadow fell over her and she cringed, but remained in place. Victor knelt down in front of her, reaching out to touch her face.

Layla cringed away.

Victor hesitated, but tried again, attempted to stroke his fingers across her cheek, managing it, but Layla tensed, pushing herself back against the doors as she tried to move away from him.

She still smelled the same. So clean. So innocent. He knew that would change, but for now, it was beautiful.

He purred unconsciously, the noise scaring Layla and she ducked to one side and away from his touch.

Victor's eyes followed her as she slunk across the wall away from him, until she hit a corner. She sunk down and curled up, watching him over her kneels.

He growled, following her on his hands and knees. He looked like a tiger. His blonde mane fell around his face and shoulders as his eyes bore into Layla's, glowing and burning a deep amber.

She tried in vain to push herself further into the corner, but found herself trapped.

Layla squealed as he grabbed her ankle and pulled her from her hiding spot. He dragged her almost under him, trapping her chin between his index finger and thumb, squeezing as she wiggled, her eyes tight shut.

"Look at me." He growled his voice demonic and his breath hot against her face.

She still refused.

"LOOK AT ME!" He yelled at the top of his lungs in her face, his teeth snapping together. He'd almost deafened her with his yell and she panicked as he head shook with the noise. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face.

Their eyes met and Layla reeled from the madness she saw in the burning pupils of his eyes.

She wriggled and cried in his grasp, blinking and turning her eyes away. His grip was far too strong and he continued to hold on, desperate for her act to the way she did to him the day she was born.

In a last ditch attempt, Victor leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers, their noses touching once more. But she didn't understand. She didn't remember that moment Creed had held on to for so long. She continued to wriggle, trying to move her face from his. She didn't like being this close to him. She just simply didn't like him. There was something mad and wrong about this man and she, even at the age of six, could tell.

Her hands had been grasping at his wrist, trying to move his hand from her chin, but when she failed to move his hand, she began beating at the side of his head, at his arms, anywhere she could.

She was sobbing now, the tears wetting his face too as he kept her close. Suddenly, realising it was futile, Victor released her. The moment she was free Layla crawled away, cowered behind the sofa as she cried.

Victor leant against the wall, sighing as he felt his chest tighten. Inhaling deeply, the tightening in his chest increased and his anger returned. Spinning, he put his fist through the wall behind him. His claws unsheathed themselves and he began clawing at the wall and the sofa.

Getting to his feet, his kicked out, hitting the coffee table. It's flew across the room and shattered against the wall.

"BIRDY!" He roared, still panting in anger as she rushed into the room, Burns right behind her.

"What happened Boss? Where's Layla?" she panicked, her heart sinking when she saw the state of the room, and no Layla. Creed pointed to the sofa and growled.

"I want the glow." He snarled at the blonde woman. "Now."

"Boss, I have to get Layla to her..."

"NOW! What part of that aint ya gettin' frail?" he roared again.

Burns nodded to Birdy and passed her, quickly grabbing Layla from behind the sofa and rushing her from the room.

"You'll be ok Layla. I wont let him near you now." Burns whispered into her hair.

The little girl continued to sob.