Unknown L (Book 1)

~ Actions And Reactions ~

L had thought about them every night before going to sleep; they were the only people she'd had any long term connection with before she met Robbie. Her thoughts always returned to the same questions: Who could they be? How did they look the same every time? Were they of some importance to her current situation? Clearly, Vadim thought so, and L considered seeking him out herself to find out why.

It was the morning of the fourth day of Bryce's absence when L discovered why she hadn't been allowed to the meetings. Matilda called in with her usual excited attitude and a big, lumpy brown sack.

"I brought you some clothes! I noticed you didn't have too many in that bag of yours. I thought it might be nice to have a few choices... see how they look on you. If not I can find some human clothes for you!"

L was dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a holey t-shirt, which she guessed were what Matilda meant by human clothes.

She hadn't expected Matilda to arrive so quickly after Maeve had left or that she would come for a game of dress up. L couldn't turn Matilda down though and watched as she started to pull the clothes out of the bag, laying them out delicately over the sofa.

"They're exactly your size, and I'm sure they'll look wonderful on you. You just have to try them all on and give me a twirl."

She was grinning from ear to ear, her green face more excitable than ever when she spoke. L groaned internally and walked over to look at them.

It was all dresses, all in fabrics that made L search for a price tag. They looked like the robes the Elves wore but also looked nothing like them. L hadn't really examined clothes before. She just grabbed whatever she liked the look of that would fit her. These were different. They demanded to be admired and touched. L found herself feeling the fabric of one of the dresses and glanced over at Matilda, who was still grinning.

"These are all for me?" She frowned when Matilda nodded, "They're too elegant. I usually just wear jeans, t-shirts and hoodies. I'd look ridiculous in these... I never, ever wear dresses."

L had flashbacks to her numerous arguments with Eileen before she'd left.

Matilda's smile didn't falter. Instead, she shook her head.

"Nonsense, you'd look beautiful, and there's always a first time for everything. Vadim asked me to look in a trunk they have over at the Council cottage. I found these inside and I don't think I've ever seen clothes like them before. They're exquisite. You should try them on first before you pass judgement."

L frowned as she looked back at the dresses, wondering why they couldn't have some pants and a t-shirt sitting in that chest.

She shook her head, "I can't try these on right now, I'm going out to talk to the Council to ask what's going on."

Matilda's smile disappeared, and she shook her head more vigorously. "No, you can't go over there right now!"

L raised her brow in surprise, "Why not? Vadim said he would answer more of my questions, and it's been days now. Maeve only knows so much, and whatever else she does know, she won't tell me. I need to know more, I'm going crazy just stuck here."

Matilda's lip seemed to waver at this point, and L thought she might have accidentally offended her somehow. However, the next moment, she moved forward and took L's hands in hers, her expression diminished.

"You can't go to the Council. There's horrible trouble going on. They're constantly arguing. That's why I've been spending so much time away from it all, I can't bear it, hearing my friends snipe and bicker endlessly." She whispered every word as though someone might hear and punish her for telling L.