Laila (Reborn Trilogy, Book I)

Part 1. The Girl and the Angel of Death.

II

Next morning, Laila attended her classes as usual. She put on her favorite jeans, a Metallica T-shirt and black converse, tied her hair with a ponytail and outlined her beautiful purple eyes with black liner. At school, people stared at her more than ever before. After the previous day's incident, they didn't expect to see her return for several days, or even weeks, though she was there now, with her ethereal frame and pale skin, which seemed to have gained a different glow.

—What is she doing here?— They all began to whisper.

What none of them knew, not even Laila herself, was that now she had a kind of vigilante, a bodyguard from another realm, who would be in charge of her safety from that day forward. During literature class, her teacher introduced a new student to the group, he was a young guy, of about sixteen or seventeen, with dark hair and very light eyes; it was evident that it was foreign, who immediately made eye contact with Laila, that gesture made her blush noticeably, especially the half smile he gave her.

—Guten Morgen— the young man said, in a deep voice, dragging the letter R a little bit— my name is Luzen Krauss and I come from Germany, I hope to become good friends with you all.

He kept smiling, in a way that would become his trademark. Seconds later, the whispers started here and there, Luzen's eyes scanned through a sea of ​​new faces, quickly locating Ashley next to Anthony, and her friends Edward, Elizabeth, and Matthew, the culprits of Laila's death. His upper lip rose imperceptibly and a low growl came from him, though no one noticed it. To calm his increasing rage, he thought to himself that they would get what they deserved. He would take care of punishing them, in his particular style.

—Luzen, there's an empty space next to Laila, go sit there, please— the teacher said, and pointed to the seat.

—Okay—he moved confidently toward Laila.

Being so close to him, Laila had the same feeling of warmth and happiness she felt during her brief encounter with that angel of death just twenty-four hours ago. After sitting down, Luzen turned to look at her and smiled, a soft expression on his face.

—Have we met before?—Laila asked, frowning.

—On another life, perhaps—he whispered.

—On another life? —She looked at him in confusion, but Luzen just kept smiling, not answering her question.

At that moment, Ashley approached them, breaking the small, warm atmosphere that was beginning to grow between them. It was as if she had suddenly lost all interest in Anthony, and now had her hungry eyes on Luzen, who, on the same time, couldn't stop looking at Laila, but he ended up doing it, reluctantly, upon the bubbly blonde girl who introduced herself with strange friendliness, though Luzen already knew her true nature.

—Hey Luzen, my name is Ashley— she gave him a perfect smile and extended her hand, shaking his —I welcome you to the school, I am the head of the class, so if you need anything, do not hesitate to ask me—she winked at him.

Seeing Ashley, Laila's expression changed to a nasty grimace; She was not only the class  leader, but the instigator in the attacks on other kids throughout the school, not just Laila's. Luzen felt her discomfort immediately, so, turning to Ashley, he spoke in an unusually cold tone, which Laila recognized instantly. It was the same one he had used on her when they met.

—Thank you... but no thank you—he replied and both girls stared at him—I don't need anything from you, you're just a spoiled and insecure brat who takes advantage of her status by stomping on the other's already low self-esteem. On those you consider inferior to you —he said in a low tone—though you know what? You are the insignificant one here, same goes for your little group of friends. You are nothing but soulless vessels — he looked at Ashley in a way that made her tremble—so you better think twice before going after Laila again. You don't want to meet an angel of death's anger—he murmured, glancing at Ashley.