" Who are you? ", Grace asked leaving Layla stunned.
" Layla "
" What family do you hail from? Speak ", Grace asked in a demanding tone. Who did she think she was?
" I don't have to answer that ", Layla replied bluntly, " Excuse me? What did you just say? "
" You weren't deaf the first time I said it so do me a favour and don't make me repeat myself ", Layla replied already fed up. Grace was no one to Atticus so Layla didn't hold back on her. She had a sharp tongue and she wasn't going to let it go to waste!
" Do you know who you're talking to? I'm the heiress to the Oasis faction ruled by the Owens so you better watch yourself bitch ", Grace hollered.
" Wow, I've been called worse by better and the Oasis thingy, never heard of it and I wasn't really in the mood to learn about your origins so keep it to your self.
' Smack '
Layla retorted only to receive a hard slap from Grace causing her to bleed from the corner of her mouth. A maid who witnessed the scene was so shocked that she suddenly blurted out, " You dare to touch master Atticus's slave?!?! ", but she quickly covered her mouth realizing the mistake she just made but it was to late.
Grace was dumbfounded by the maid's sudden shriek but she soon later smirked after a sudden realization. She was just a slave?? This is good! I can easily harm her without any setbacks.
" You're just a lowly slave and you really have the guts to talk to me as you please, in the future don't blame me for not being kind", she then turned and left the gazebo, heading towards the house.
" Layla are you all right? ", Lyra quickly realized she had failed at protecting Layla.
" I'm fine, it just stings a little no worries ", she replied but Lyra easily knew she was lying, she looked around and quickly spotted the foolish maid from earlier.
" Quickly, get a towel and first aid kit. Take them to Miss Layla's room immediately!! "
" Yes young lady ", the maid stuttered then rushed off quickly to complete the task.
Lyra then returned her focused to Layla who had remained quiet, her green eyes dark while her nails dug through her palm. Lyra cursed in her head, she became careless and let Layla get hurt. Her brother won't be happy at all.
++++
Atticus walked towards Layla's room and noticed the commotion. Some maids stood at the entrance of the room watching what was going on inside.
" Oh my, her lovely face! "
" Be quiet, don't let them hear you "
" But I ... ", the maid wasn't able to finish her sentence as she had noticed her master coming over with a very unfriendly expression. They quickly greeted him before scurrying away from the entrance of the room.
Atticus simply ignored them and walked into the room only to find the seen of ointment being applied in Layla's face. He stared quietly but the look in his previously calm eyes had changed. Who dared to touch his slave, in his own territory? Of course no one would be spared! His grip on the door frame tightened and soon the wood crumbled in his hands.
Everyone in the room was frightened. Atticus was really mad!!
" Who did this " he asked but the room remained silent. No one dared to speak.
" Lyra!! ", he snapped, " Who the hell did this, tell me now "
She was hesitant at first but not replying was equivalent to a severe punishment so she had no choice, " It was lady Grace, master ", she finally spoke thinking he'd reprimand her but he didn't say a word and just left the room. Knowing what he was planning to do she quickly chased after him and Layla soon followed suit.
Atticus kicked open the doors of the room and they flung open, Grace who sat on a sofa sipping juice was startled and immediately stood up with the drink in her hand. She smiled widely failing to notice his obvious anger. Was he here for her? Ofcourse he was!
" Atticus what are you doing here? ", she asked sweetly. He remained silent and walked towards her with all the patience in the world. She was suddenly caught of guard as he grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward causing the drink in her hands to fall and shatter on the ground. He then dragged the petrified Grace out of the room.
" Atticus what are you... ", she was cut short as Atticus threw her to the floor of the living room. She looked up only to be met by his murderous gaze.
" How dare you... "
" Do you know your mistake Grace? ", he asked not wanting to listen to her ramblings. He stood before her with his hands in his pockets, his lean, tall yet muscular figure could be seen through his loose clothes. The man's grayish black hair swayed to the side. The extremely handsome man's temperament looked cool but same could be said for his eyes.
Those were the eyes of a murderer.
Grace shivered from his intense gaze. She looked away and looked at the people around who witnessed the scene. That's when she caught sight of Layla who stood beside Lyra with a neutral expression on her face. It must be her! Yes, she's the reason why this is happening, Grace thought.
" I made no mistake ", she replied while staring at Layla.
" You come into my house uninvited and you dare cause trouble, you're even so daring to touch what's mine ", he said coldly his gaze never leaving Grace making her tremble.
" Don't tell me you're referring to that slave slave of yours ", she finally looked Atticus in the eyes but her gaze soon wavered under his cloud glare. The hatred she felt for Layla was immense but she dared not say more.
' Smack '
Her face began to swell as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
" Did you just slap me? ", she asked in disbelief, she'd never been slapped before and her first had to be the worse. She couldn't take it anymore and screamed, " You hit me because of a filthy whore like her? How dare you touch me! ", soon she was slapped a second time.
" Atticus you shouldn't ", Lyra spoke, " Let's not make an enemy out of the Owens, it's... "
" Silence, that's enough, the Owens already made an enemy out of me once one of their descendants dared to step into my territory and harm what belongs to me ", he said, " So they can come at me however they want ".
Grace and the others around couldn't believe what they heard, he'd dare to wage war against the Owens for a mere slave?
They couldn't help looking at Layla who had no emotion written on her beautiful face but her previously dark eyes lit up.
" Layla ", he said calmly, " Come here "
She didn't disobey and obediently went to his side, he didn't look at her once and simply said, " Pay her back ten folds "
Everyone eyes widened, including Grace's. She couldn't believe what was happening but she soon did as he signalled some guards to hold her up and gestured for Layla to start.
" You want me to slap her? "
" As much as it pleases you ", he said making Grace panic, " Don't you dare! You'll pay dearly if you do ", she said hysterically as Layla moved closer to her.
" Don't touch me you filthy... "
' Smack '
' Smack '
' Smack '
Layla continuously slapped Grace on both cheeks not caring about what she said. She'd never been a saint and wouldn't forgive so easily, she was true to her emotions and didn't hesitate slapping Grace in the slightest plus, it was an order from her dear master, wasn't it?
So she didn't stop letting out all her pent up frustrations onto this young lady's delicate little face. Ruining it completely!
Atticus looked at Layla's face noticing her satisfaction and grinned.
" Was it to your liking? "
" Very much, thank you master ", she said as the two smiled happily. Everyone in the room was petrified. Why were these two so twisted?
" Get her out of my sight ", he waved his hands and the guards carried out a swollen faced Grace.
" Let me go, you'll pay!! All of you, will pay!! ", she screamed and scratched at the guards like a lunatic. Soon the room was silent, and everyone left back to their various work stations leaving the three in the room.
" A- Atticus, I'm sorry ", Lyra bowed not daring to look him in the eyes. He walked closer causing her to flinch. Was he planning on punishing her? but her her surprise she felt his gentle touch on her head.
" You did good ", he said as he patted her head, he then took Layla's hand and walked up the stairs. Lyra touched her head and smiled.
++++
He led her to the second floor towards her room, he closed the door behind him and faced her. She sat awkwardly on the bed under his persistent gaze. Why is he staring at me? she thought.
" Does it hurt? "