Shadow

Chapter 28

We go to bed after getting dinner and packing what we will need while we are there. I will be there for a couple of months so I make sure I have what I need for the time I will be there. I wake up early so I can get things done and get to the airport early, that way I can get Tilly on the plane and not have to worry about my stuff. Making this easier for the two of us.

I walk out of the airport for a moment and stop by to see my parents. When they see me Jason walks over and I look at him. My smile falls into a frown and I look at my mom. She gives me a small smile and I shake my head. I should have known that she would have done something like this.

"I am leaving. I should be back in three months or so."

"Will you at least let Jason go with you?"

"No, we need time away from each other."

My mom pulls me aside, "Leyla... he was worried about you while you were missing."

Like hell he was, I bite my tongue, "mom, please it's complicated."

She looks at me for a moment before dropping the subject, "fine. Just call us every night so we know you are alright."

"Deal."

I say goodbye to my parents and just look at Jason before I leave. I get to the plane and smile when I see Tilly. We get on and leave. The Shadows will know when we land and have a car waiting for us. It shouldn't be too bad. Tilly looks around before looking at me.

"What does your mom think?"

I look out the window, "that we are just having problems... that something happened and it is over."

"I hate to say it but I told you to end it before you got too close."

"Yeah... I know."

"Leyla, what did they do exactly?"

I look out the window as I tell her everything they had done to me, "Jason stopped most of it before it got worse... if he didn't get me out of there that night you came I don't think we would be here at the moment."

"Leyla-"

"No point in staying in the past, right?"

She lets out a sigh and the plane lands and I look at her, "I think they will be happy to see you alive and well."

"I am Zillah, after all, one of the best they have had."

"I never did care for that name. It wasn't the one you were given at birth but the one they gave you."

"I had to have a new start, it would have been harder to have the name and look of someone who should have been dead."

We get our things and get off. We walk out of the airport and I open my umbrella as we walk to the car waiting for us. I love the rain. I wonder who will be in the car. When we get in I bow my head and smile at the figure across from us. No doubt it is Zoella.

"Zillah, we are happy to see you have recovered."

"It is a pleasure to see you again Zoella."

All I can see of her face is the smile that spreads across it, her hood covering the upper half of her face. Tilly gets in and bows her head. She greets Zoella with the same greeting and we head to the headquarters. I have missed this place.

"My parents would like me to try and get Zilly and Co. to join the company."

"I am sure you can easily talk Kyrell into agreeing to it... you are like a daughter to him."

The car stops and I climb out, the people waiting for our arrival ready to take our things in and hold umbrellas for us as we walk in. We go straight to our rooms to clean up a little before going to the dining room for dinner. It would be rude to look a bit messy.

"My dear Zillah, it is nice to see you."

"Kyrell, it is a pleasure to be here."

Kyrell smiles at me as I sit down and as we eat I talk to him about what my parents want. I make sure to tell him the good that can come from it. It will be nice to go home with the news of him joining us. Giving my parents something to enjoy from me being gone for so long. As he sits there and listens I watch as a person comes in late.

"I will let them know tomorrow that we will join them."

I smile at him, "thank you."

"Zillah, I would like you to meet one of the best we have. Airell, he seems to have trouble being on time but he is the best we have... besides you of course."

Airell bows his head at me and I smile. His brown hair and brown eyes are beautiful and the first thing you notice about him. He seems to look at Kyrell when he said that I was not below him. Something that will lead to problems. Unless he didn't think I was Zillah.

"Zillah, I don't think I have heard her name before."

"Think of the meaning, it means Shadow," I smile at him.

"You are too small to be her."

I smile as I pick up a knife and fling it across the room, "why can no one ever get my size right... they think I am bigger than I am."

"Zillah, did you have to put another hole in the wall?"

I give Kyrell a small smile, "sorry, got too excited."

I stand up after I am finished eating, walking out, "if you don't believe me, you can meet me in the training room tomorrow morning at five."

I go to my room and go to bed. I wake up at four and get dressed. I head straight to the training room and get to work. It feels nice to be able to do this, I don't have to worry about someone seeing me and wondering how I know what I am doing. It is also a good chance to let off some steam. Something I haven't really been able to do lately.

I turn around with a smile on my face, "you should try the other doors... they don't squeak when you open them."

Airell looks at me for a moment, "they say the Shadow was just like the original."

"To a point." He comes at me and I quickly get him down. With my foot on his chest, I smile down at him, "a word of advice... never underestimate your opponent."

He smiles up at me, "Okay, how long do you plan on being here before you get breakfast?"

I look at him, "I am done here... I have more important things to do than spend all day practicing."

"Let me take you... maybewe can get to know each other better."