Serpent

Ohana Means Family, Blah Blah Blah

Layla stayed at the Cain's house all night. When it was very late, Katia gave her a spare room to sleep in. In the room was much different than anything Layla had been in before. Even Father Sheppard's room wasn't as nice as the one she stayed in. The bed was a queen and had silk blue and white sheets and a fleece blanket neatly folded on top in case she got cold. There was at least ten pillows that were all extremely comfortable. A desk with a mirror was next to the walk-in closet, and hanging over the chair of the desk was a change of clothes for Layla that were her size. After Layla had changed, she stuffed her old clothes under the bed. When she stood, she felt a cool breeze on her neck. Curtains were draped over large glass doors that led to a balcony over the frozen pond. The window next to the door was open, the baby blue curtains fluttering.

Layla went over to the window and closed it with an easy snap. So unlike the windows at the church, which took all her strength, Thor's hammer, and a blessing from God himself to close or open. She smiled and gladly crawled into the bed, almost instantly falling asleep.

When Layla woke up, the sun was just coming up. She quickly swung her legs over the side of the bed and looked at herself in the mirror. Her long, auburn hair was slightly tangled. Layla took a hairbrush from the desk and brushed her hair, eventually making it go back to its normal wavy state. Afterwards, she looked down at her bandaged hands. The tan wrapping was slightly stained with blood and seemed wrinkled. It was itchy and uncomfortable, but Katia had told Layla to keep it on until the next morning. Well, it's morning now. Layla ripped off the bandages and threw them in the trashcan. Her palms seemed worse. The skin was a reptile's, peeling and paler than usual, revealing her exposed raw pink. The cool air in the room stung them. Layla regretted taking off the wrapping.

She made her way downstairs, led by a delicious smell. She found her way into a side room, where she found Hugo standing and talking with who she recognized as Ciro and Cisco, the twins.

"Hugo!" She called out. Hugo turned and grinned at her. His face was bruised and still a little swollen, but he looked so much better. She went over to him, glancing at the twins.

"Have you met my brothers, Ciro and Cisco?" Hugo asked. Layla nodded.

"Nice to see you up and alive, niñita." Ciro said.

"Thanks for saving our hermano." Cisco added.

"Sí, gracias." Ciro nodded, giving Layla a grateful smile.

"Ciro! Cisco!" Katia's voice called from the kitchen. The twins left the room.

"How are you feeling?" Layla asked Hugo. He sat down on a cot, which was next to all sorts of medicine and used bandages.

"Tons better. Tía Katia is amazing." He looked up at Layla. "You're amazing, too. Thank you for helping me, Layla." Hugo said sincerely. She smiled and looked down at the floor, then back at him. "Oh, your hands!" Hugo gently took her wrists, staring at her palms.

"Yeah, they look gross, but at least they're not bleeding. Just peeling, and stinging." Layla pulled her hands away and helped up Hugo. "Come on, I think your aunt is cooking something." She helped him walk to the kitchen table, which some children were already sitting and eating. Hugo sat down slowly and thanked Layla.

"¡Fuera! Cisco Caín, sal de mi cocina!" Katia chased Ciro out of the kitchen, whacking him with a towel. Ciro laughed and sat down next to Paula, nibbling on a piece of bacon.

"¿Quieres un poco, Paz?" He asked her. She giggled and shook her head. Cisco shrugged and ate the rest of the bacon.

"Just so you know, Cisco is the funny one, Ciro is the serious one." Hugo murmured in Layla's ear. She smiled and nodded. "Paz, or Paula, is my giggly little cousin. Katia is my aunt, Marcos's wife. You already know he's my uncle."

"And the head of the family." Layla finished. Hugo nodded.

"Sí. Abran is my father. He's upstairs somewhere."

"Where is your mother?" Layla asked. Hugo got a somber look on his face.

"Rica Artiga Cain. She passed away when I was six." He said. Layla felt guilty again.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She apologised.

"It's alright. It happened a long time ago." He assured her. Layla looked away, at anything but her friend. She saw some pictures beside the window. She saw a much younger Abran holding an infant. A woman beside him was holding another baby. "Those were my parents when my older brothers were born. After them was my sister, Rosia."

"Where's she?" Asked Layla.

"Somewhere in New York. She's married to some rich guy, even though she's nineteen. My father was not very happy, but at least she is." He pointed to a picture of a young woman in a white wedding dress. "That's her."

"She's pretty." Layla said.

"She looks a lot like my mother. I think that's why Papá didn't want her to go, but what do I know." He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. Layla smiled a bit.

"You have a nice family. You're close." She said. Hugo laughed.

"Yeah, but we have the most craziest job." He said. Layla nodded. The dining room door opened, and Marcos and Abran walked in, talking in low voices. When Abran caught sight of Layla, he smiled and sat down next to her.

"Buenos días, Layla. How did you sleep?" He asked.

"Very well, Abran. Thanks for letting me stay the night." She gave him a grateful smile. He patted her hand gently.

"You helped my son. You are welcome here anytime, hija."

"Papá." Hugo rolled his eyes. "Stop being so formal." Abran smiled.

"Are you feeling better, Huberto?" Marcos asked.

"Lot's better, tío. Gracias." Answered Hugo.

"Eso es bueno, sobrino. You gave us all quite a scare last night. Although, Abran and I have bad news." He looked around the table, which was still noisy. "¿Puedo tener la atención de todos , por favor?" The table eventually quieted. "Katia!"

"¡Un momento!" His wife called from the kitchen. She came out, drying her hands on a towel and taking off the apron around her thin waist. "What is it, mi marido?"

"As all of you know, Hugo and his friend, Layla, were attacked on the street last night. As his friend claims, she didn't see any crests that prove it was the Habich family. However," Marcos gestured to Abran.

"I don't blame Layla. It was dark, and it was the middle of an intense moment." Abran continued, nodding at Layla next to him. "But according to security cameras, we found the attackers on another block, thanks to her description. They did indeed have the Habich crest on the back of their jackets." There was murmurs around the table. Katia smacked her empty glass on the counter.

"Why are they back? What do they want?" She asked. Marcos shook his head.

"I don't know. But they attacked my nephew and an innocent girl. Normally we don't get along. Pero esto es la guerra!" Marcos stood. The older people at the table nodded their heads solemnly, agreeing with whatever he had said. "I will speak to Norman tonight, showing evidence. In the meantime, Ciro, Cisco, please escort Miss Layla back home after breakfast." He went over to Katia, kissed her cheek, then left the dining room. Little Paula followed her father out, holding a glass of orange juice. Everyone else went back to eating, talking in low, concerned voices.

"What did he mean? 'esto la guerra?'" Layla whispered to Hugo. He folded a napkin in his lap, avoiding her gaze.

"It means the Cain family has declared war on the Habich family," he looked up at her, his dark brown eyes worried and angry, "because of us."