Layla tempest

Picture Credits: Lisa Snowdon @ Lisa Snowdon Gallery

"No, I don't go looking for trouble. It pretty much seems to know where I am most of the time."

Age - 5059
Species - Tempest
Animal Form - Lioness
Bird Form - Kestrel
Birthplace - Thebes, Egypt
Element - Fire
Occupation - Leader of Clan Tempest and an FBi agent
Soulmate - Orion Tempest
Family - Brother; Kader. Son; Paris Tempest. Daughter; Malana Amara. Nieces; Diana and Artemis.History - Originally born a witch over 5000 years ago, Layla was a part of a fairly happy family and had a close relationship with her father and brother. Her relationship with her mother was not as perfect, but things could have been worse. What no one realised was their mother's thirst for power. Everyone had heard about witch Maya and how she had created vampires, but her mother wanted power as well and when she found Maya's old spellbook she began to put a plan into action.

Although she did her best to hide it, her husband found out and told her children, warning them that they were in danger. He didn't know all the details of the spell, but he had asked a vampire friend to turn them, hoping to save their lives. Javier trusted their father, but despite her differences with her mother, Layla couldn't completely believe him. She tried to fight the change, but was unsuccessful and the two children were changed into vampires. It wasn't long until they found out that their father's precuations were not in vain. Their mother performed her spell and drained the blood of her closest relavtives; her two children. Upon fleeing she knocked over a mixture of dragons blood and other ingredients. As they lay dying the dragons blood mixed with their own and seeped into their skin.

When they awoke they waited until they were strong before running away, and as they ran they slowly began to realise that they were different. Their mental and witch abilities were different, more powerful. Layla found she could control the element of fire, and after a lot of experiments they found they could change into an animal and a bird. Unfortunatly they were only limited to one form and one element.

Eventually they parted ways, each going their seperate ways and creating new Tempests. Layla enjoyed the high life, moving from court to court and soon became involved with a vampire lord called Aurek. For her it was just another game, more fun and more power but Aurek wanted more. When he asked her to marry him, Layla turned him down. A long time ago when they realised the implications of a new species in the power controlled Night World, Layla and Javier created a spell that interfered with the soulmate connection. It took them a few attempts, but eventually one worked and Tempests slowly began to only find Tempest soulmates. She knew that she would one day find one, and certainly did not want to be tied down to a vampire. Aurek had other motives, which she never did find out, and one day a vampire hunter attacked her with a wodden dagger tipped with copper. Of course the wood didn't kill her since she was not a vampire, but the copper did.

After her death, Javier took over running the clan and everyone prepared to get on with life without her. After 100 years or so they had managed to, but then a daughter of a lamia family showed signs of not being an average lamia. Studied and eventually abducted by the Tempests, the girl had Layla's eyes and upon meeting Javier, she began to remember everything. It appeared that Tempests were truly immortal, reappearing after at least 100 years as old souls. A few have been documented to have had several lives, where as some have never been reborn. It's unknown what causes someone to be reborn.

But this news did not strive well for the Tempests, some night worlders had been irritated by the actions of Tempests and others just did not like the power Tempests had. War broke out 500 years ago and lasted for about 200 years, ending in the death of Aurek, the leader of the Hunters. During the war Layla found her soulmate, Orion, but they seperated. Finding herself pregnant, she reared the child on her own, not even telling her brother. With Aurek dead they should have been safe, but there were still hunters around and she did not want to risk anyone targeting her son. Nor did she want Orion to interfere, after all he had left her during the war.

Soon Paris grew old enough to choose a Sect, and he joined Layla's Sect, High Priestess. Life continued on as normal and over the years Layla became involved in several private eye ventures, more recently the FBI.

Appearance - Her hair is the many shades of copper, which is quite ironic considering that is the material that can harm her. With a slender form, Layla is quite tall with long athletic legs that have been toned with plenty of exercise. Her skin is an olive shade, showing her original egyptian heritage. With a body that sings beauty and grace, Layla has curves in all the right places. Her eyes are an unsual blue-green colour, startling on a first glance. On her righr shoulder she has a tattoo of a black violet, the symbol of the Tempests.

Personality - Very strong minded, she is one bitch that you do not want to mess with. She has an opinion about everything and takes very few time to express it. When she needs to take over she does it very naturaly. She has a sarcastic nature and always expresses her emotions. If anyone steps in her way they better watch out. Her firey temper often scares people away from her. But her protective love for both Hakeem and the twins shows them what she is really like underneath her defences. She's independant and always hates it when she is forced to rely on anyone.

As the head of the Sect of the High Priestess, she usually gets her own way. But she doesn't mind getting what she wants through using a male of any species. It was her 'relationship' with a powerful vampire Lord that caused her death. She flirts with any male despite there species.

Talents - While her brother, Alexandros, is more into the witchcraft and spell casting, Layla's talents lie more in her physical power. Unlike her brother, her strength comes from her vampire powers and she is powerful in her mind as well as her physical strength. While she prefers not to use her shifter powers or her witch powers, she will use them if the situation asks for it. Age and wisdom add to her power, allowing her to reach out to different Tempests and find out what is happening to them and their location. This talent has grown from her use of fascination. In her spare time Layla works as a trainer for the FBI; a job which allows her to bring in a healthy income, keep active and means that she can juggle her job and the Clan.