Layla smirked, watching Lily's conflicted face as she rushed out of the village with the thief. Her anger and frustration had been easier to draw out than she had expected. The village people not treating her well just because of the person she was an unexpected convenience for her plan. Lily already had been frustrated, and all she had to do was add more to it. They already saw her as a dangerous witch there, and she knew how much it would conflict Lily. It wouldn't be long before she could take over completely, and she had barely even started.
The boy however... She didn't know what to think of Flynn. He was surprisingly loyal to a complete stranger that he had just seen damage a complete village. Anyone in their right mind would have agreed with the suggestion to go their separate ways. She was certain he was not just staying to help her. He wanted something from her... She let out a soft chuckle, eying Flynn through the image in the mirror. She didn't know what he was planning, but he could be a perfect pawn... The way it looked now, he could possibly betray her on his own, or perhaps he needed a little bit of motivation. Either way, she needed to keep an eye on the boy for now.
She turned when the door to the room was opened and Philip stepped inside. He stopped when he saw her, looking at her in surprise.
"You're wearing it..." he said, his voice sounding pleasantly surprised and confused at the same time.
Layla raised her eyebrow, then looked down at her dress, realizing what he was speaking of. It was the dress that Eudora had made for her during their short stay in New Orleans. After she had given Charlotte to Facilier, Philip had rushed off without her, not saying a word to her for the rest of the day as if she had betrayed him as well. Since she had gone through the trouble of letting the woman take her measurements and choosing the fabric, Layla had decided to take the dress.
"Yes, of course I am," She said, rolling her eyes. "What about it? Can't a girl wear a new dress?"
To her surprise, Philip smiled lightly and shook his head. She looked away quickly, feeling her heart skip a beat. She wasn't even sure why she had chosen to wear the dress. Just because she had done some bad things, that didn't mean she couldn't like a new dress. Even Jafar had commented on her dress, as if it was a crime to buy a new dress. She cleared her throat and looked back at Philip.
"Anyway... The reason I got you here is because I think Lily needs another companion."
Philip raised his eyebrow.
"You can already see everything she does and talk to her through her mind," he said. "You can already manipulate her and take over if she lets you. What would you need me for?"
Layla smiled and let out a soft laugh.
"Well I told you I would make good use of you from the beginning, did I not?" she asked, her eyes glinting. "I think our little girl needs a new friend... I'm sure you'll like her, Philip. She might remind you of someone you used to know... Just a lot weaker."
Philip looked in the mirror, staring at the girl that was walking down the path and bickering with her new companion.
"I don't think she is that weak," he said as he stared at her. "She never was."
"Oh please," Layla said, rolling her eyes. "I mean, she has a lot of spirit, and she's not as dumb as Charlotte was, I'll give her that. But that doesn't make her strong. She just needs to be broken. I could do it fast if I wanted too, but it is much more fun to watch it happen slowly. Could you imagine how she'd feel if one of her companions betrays her? Or... Possibly both of them..."
Philip turned his head to her with a snap and he glared at her as if she had just insulted someone he cared about.
"You're right Layla, she does remind me of someone I used to know," he said, his voice icily calm in a way that Layla hadn't experienced since she got him. "But she wasn't weak. And I really don't think you should underestimate her."
Layla laughed, stepping closer to him.
"Oh Philip," she cooed. "I think it's adorable how you are still hanging on to the past me. But I keep telling you that girl is long gone. And I think you like this version of me a lot more than you are admitting too."
"And why would you think that?" Philip asked, crossing his arms.
"Because... The old me would never have gotten this far," Layla made a gesture to the image of Lily. "I would still be struggling with my powers and doubting everything, just like her. I would never have known my true powers. My true potential..."
Philip shook his head, but kept his mouth shut. Layla narrowed her eyes at him, knowing what he was thinking. He still was not planning on giving up on her... Even though it was clear that there was no saving her. She didn't need saving, but Philip had hated her true potential from the beginning. She let out a soft, frustrated sigh and shook her head.
"If you like that weak little girl so much better than me, see this as a gift," she told him, giving a small shrug, looking away from him as she tried to push away that strange feeling growing inside her. "I want you to find her and convince her to let you join her. Knowing your charms, it wouldn't be too hard for you."
"And then betray her?" Philip asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Well... Yes and no," Layla answered with a light smirk. "Charm her. Make her trust you completely and tell you things that she never told anyone before. And as for her new friend... I'm sure you can find a way to get rid of him, or make her abandon him... Make her fall for you and have her wrapped around your finger. You've done it before, right? I mean, you met Aurora in the woods and had her wrapped around your finger within seconds. Shouldn't be too hard to do that again..."
"No."
Layla stopped talking and looked at him in surprise.
"What?" she asked, glaring at him as she dared him to say it again.
"You heard me, Layla," Philip answered curtly as he glared back at her. "I won't do it. I am not going to manipulate her and lure her into a trap for you. If you want her so badly, then go get her yourself. You're not like most villains that need others to do their dirty work, right?"
Layla stared at him as he spoke, not believing what he was hearing. Was he resisting her now? For two years he had done what she asked, and suddenly he pushed back. Not just by arguing, but completely resisting her command.
"You don't have a choice, Philip," she told him as she narrowed her eyes. "You know you don't."
"Yes I do," Philip answered, his expression dead serious. "Let me tell you something... Your magic might keep me with you and you can summon me anytime you need me as your little slave. But some of it was also at my own will. Because I haven't given up on you and I don't intent to. But this, I won't do. It was already bad enough that you dragged me along to lure that sweet innocent girl into a trap and I will not play your stupid games any-,"
His eyes suddenly widened as his words were cut off by a scream of pain. Chains appeared around him and he dropped to the ground. Layla smiled, looking at the doorway where Jafar was standing.
"Having troublle with this one, are we?" he asked with a soft chuckle as he made his way further into the room.
Layla shrugged, looking at Phillip who struggled against the binds that Jafar made appear.
"Sometimes they need a reminder of who they are dealing with," she said with a sigh, shaking her head. She lowered herself down in front of him, grabbing his chin and turning his head so he was forced to look at her. "I had been wondering why it had been so easy to break you and tie you to me. You never really were broken at all, were you? You were just still trying to be the hero and trying to save me." She took a pause and clicked her tongue. "You really don't want to do this for me? I thought you wanted your old friend back, and you won't even help me. Where do your loyalties lie, Philip?"
Philip had stopped struggling against the chains and glared at her. His eyes were filled with hatred, and Layla felt another tug at her heart. He had never looked at her that way before. Not even in the two years she had captured him and manipulated him.
"Maybe you're right," Philip said, his eyes locked onto Layla. "Maybe there is nothing left of you... Not here."
Jafar's laugh echoed through the room.
"Oh he finally understands..." he said with a grin, making his way over and joining at Layla's side, looming over him. "I thought it was clear that there was nothing left of the girl you knew. I helped her to become so much more than that. I helped her to become the woman she was supposed to be. You don't want to take that away from her, now do you?"
"There is something left of her..." Philip said, his eyes shifting towards the mirror that was still displaying Lily.
"Exactly," Layla said as her eyes darkened. "And you know I want to get rid of her, but you also know that I prefer to play the long game and I will need your help with this."
"The answer is still no, Layla," Philip said firmly, clearly not about to change his mind.
Layla sighed, slowly shaking her head with a look of disappointment in her eyes.
"Fine then..." she softy said. "I suppose you won't be willingly listening to me."
She stood up, glancing at Jafar who looked back at her with a devilish glint in his eyes.
"I can always hypnotize him..." he softy said, a small crawling on his face.
He already lifted his staff, but Layla raised her hand to stop him, shaking her head.
"No," she said. "That wouldn't be any fun..."
She turned back to Philip, looking at him as he lay on the ground and still struggled against his binds.
"Maybe we need to tell your wife where you are whenever you are not with her..." she softly said. "I'm sure she remembers me too. She was always so kind... I think she would find it lovely to see me again. And you know I am going to have fun with her..."
"Don't you dare touch Aurora!" Philip growled.
"But why?" Layla asked, crossing her arms and having an amused smile as he just glared at her. "Wouldn't it be fun to have her here with you at all times? Perhaps we can make her useful as well and you two can be a team.
She laughed softly as she saw the fear in his eyes. He knew she wasn't bluffing, and he knew she woud do something if she had to. She waited patiently for him to answer. As the emotion in his eyes shifted, she knew she had already won.
"Alright... Fine..." he brought out. "I'll do it. I will find Lilly and do what you say. Just leave Aurora out of it."
Layla smiled. Just as she had expected... She felt a small hint of jealousy that she tried her best to push away. Of course he did it. He loved Aurora. He loved her in a way that he never loved Layla, even if he did care about her. She swallowed, keeping her facade up.
"Good," she curtly said. "Then prepare yourself for your journey."
She made a gesture to Jafar and with a quick flick of the wrist, the chains vanished just as quickly as they had appeared. Philip scrambled to his feet and rushed ot without a word. He didn't even look at Layla anymore.
"Why do you still keep that boy around?" Jafar asked when they were alone.
"He's useful," Layla answered with a shrug, trying to keep her voice and face natural.
"Useful," Jafar repeated with a soft chuckle, then turning to face her and stepping close to her. "Are you growing soft again, my little Pet? Still having feeling for him?"
"No..." Layla said, but not feeling completely certain as he spoke. "Of course I don't have feelings for him. He's just a puppet and we need him."
Jafar put his staff forward, sliding the snake head under her chin before tilting her head up gently, forcing her to look into his eyes. He leaned forward, their faces only a few inches apart.
"Don't forget who made you, Layla," he said in a low voice, making a shiver go down her spine. "Don't forget who you belong to..."
Layla looked into his dark eyes as he calmly threatened her. She felt herself shaking, but she loved the feeling. That dominance... That power... Jafar always managed to make her heart race even when he was threatening her. It was easy for him to make others fear him, and she loved it.
"Philip is just a pawn," she calmly told him, not looking away from him. "Our target is Lily and he is perfect to charm her and make her doubt everything she ever was. When we dispose of her... We will see what happens to him. But we both know simply killing someone won't be any fun."
Jafar chuckled, stroking her cheek with his other hand while still holding his staff underneath her chin.
"That's my little Maniac," he purred softly. "This is exactly what makes you so strong... So powerful..." His eyes shifted to the mirror and a grin crawled upon his face, "You wouldn't mind sharing your newest toy wit me, would you? There is a lot more I can do than mind games and dreams... I could make her whole life a nightmare, and for all she knows, you have nothing to do with it."
Layla smiled, considering his question. She enjoyed seeing her suffer... and she was already starting to doubt herself. Watching her suffer physically might be even more fun...
"Have fun," she the said.
Jafar's grin broadened at her words.
"Oh I intend to," he softly whispered.
He kissed her, and then walked off, ready to set his own games in motion. Lily smiled, turning back to the mirror. Lily was talking to Flynn, but she could see an uncomfortable and conflicted look in her eyes. Clearly, she was sti thinking about what happened.
"Hang in there, little sis," she softy whispered, placing her fingers on the glass. "Things will get a whole lot worse for you..."
Author's note:
Took a short break, but I am back with another chapter! Still love writing Layla's side of the story. Poor girl struggling with feelings she thinks make her weak. And the feelings are not even mutual. Needless to be said, I think we can all agree, she might deserve better than Jafar ;).
Hope you all liked this chapter, and see you all next time for more adventure.