Unknown L (Book 1)

~ Actions And Reactions ~

The blouse was cream and loose fitted, with long sleeves that cuffed at the wrists and a high neckline. L was surprised that she liked how the outfit looked and felt on her. She glanced at her trainers, knowing despite her lack of fashion sense, that they wouldn't go together. She wondered if Matilda had thought of footwear when she'd put the clothes together.

She looked back into the bottom of the bag to see a pair of dark brown boots. L blinked in surprise. She was sure they hadn't been there the last time she'd looked. She shrugged it off as the least weird thing to happen around her and pulled on the boots.

They came up to the middle of her calves and completed the outfit perfectly. L couldn't get over how comfortable she felt. She noticed a small pocket in the blouse and deposited her parents' note into it before she made her way back downstairs one last time.

She watched Matilda turn to look at her, and her dark green eyebrows rose. Her expression was unreadable for once.

"Wow, L... you look so, so..."

"Ridiculous? Absurd? Out of place?"

"No! You look so... real, like you belong in those clothes. I don't know, I can't explain it you just look... familiar, somehow."

L gave Matilda a soft smile, "Thank you, for the clothes and for looking after me."

Matilda got unnaturally excited at that and squeed loudly.

"You're so, so, so welcome, I just can't believe how great you look. It's amazing what a new outfit can do for you. I bet your walk through the village will be much more interesting now. Maybe you'll catch someone's eye."

She winked at L, who had to stop herself from gaggint. She didn't want to catch anyone's eye, especially with what she was about to do. But she didn't react negatively, and instead, she smiled as she followed Matilda through the house.

Matilda turned before she reached the front door, and she was still grinning.

"Be careful on your walk, won't you please? I don't know who will be coming by later, but if nobody else does, then I'll be straight back! We can find some more fun things to do!"

L tried to keep her smile passive, although she was screaming inside for no more make-up or other uncomfortable things.

"I can stay an evening by myself, you know? I have been alone most of my life, and it doesn't bother me."

Matilda creased her brow, "We don't want you to be alone. You don't have to be alone anymore. I'll be back if nobody else comes by!"

She reached forward to hug L and headed out of the front door. L watched her skip away and tried to ignore the feelings Matilda's words had evoked. She didn't like lying to Matilda, and technically, she was going for a walk. It just wasn't the only thing she was planning to do.

She made sure the house was secure and then headed out. There were dark clouds overhead and the cold bit at L's face, but the clothes seemed to insulate her against it.

She walked casually down the paths she knew pretty well now. She needed to make sure nobody noticed where she was going. She tried to act natural to those who did see her, but it didn't help that some of them were gawking at her- she blamed the clothes.

Once she neared the big cottage, she ducked into the bushes beside the path and crept closer to the side of the building. The main doors were closed, but L knew that going that way would attract too much attention anyway. Her plan didn't require the front doors, and she moved around the side of the cottage, seeing her chance in a tree close by.

She took a run at it and managed to grab the lowest branch quite easily, swinging herself up and starting to climb. She kept an eye on the height of the cottage and gauged where she needed to be, moving from branch to branch with ease. They were a lot thinner the higher she got, and L was grateful for how small she was.

It was a few seconds later when she finally reached the right branches. They stretched across the entirety of the roofless cottage, and if L set herself just right, she'd be able to dangle low enough to hear everything in the Council meeting below.

She inched her way across the correct branch with her legs hanging on either side. She laid herself down carefully, and the branch dipped lower through the non-existent roof. L could see figures below. They were gesturing around with their arms or sat motionless. She could make out each member of the Council and noticed that Matilda was present. She must have headed straight there from L's cottage.

Once L's ears had adjusted to the sounds, she could make out Archie's voice cutting through the others. She could spot him easily from above, with his green tail swishing behind him.

"It is not that dire yet. You will be putting enormous strain on everyone should you let this become common knowledge. We all know the panic that would ensue. It is not worth the risk until we know for certain."

L was lost. She leaned closer to hear better just as Katherine's voice rang out. She sounded like she was holding back the urge to growl every word.

"It's not for us to decide, Archie. They have a right to know, just as I would want to know if things were reversed. This Order was created to keep all species informed of the latest developments. This is secretive and wrong!"

"It is not wrong if it is in the best interests of the community and those that lie beyond. You just want to go running into hiding with your tail between your legs."

L felt a cold shiver when Walter's smooth voice floated up to her. He sounded more sinister than the last time L had heard him speak.

There was a sudden loud snarl, and L watched Katherine lunge towards Walter. She was stopped short by an invisible force, and Vadim moved to stand between the two of them.

"Stop your bickering. We do not have time for this. I know you both have fears for your own kind and those of your kin, but we've been through this so many times. We don't have sufficient evidence to pull everyone into full-scale panic, as Archie has stated on countless occasions. This is exactly what Frallica wants. If we tear ourselves apart, then she doesn't have to.

"She can swoop in and take L without a fight. You do remember that she is the centre and most crucial part in all of this. A young girl who knows nothing of how truly important she is to thousands, if not millions. She is in more danger than any of us... so remember that the next time you're attacking each other."

L felt like her eyes had were about to pop out and her heart was racing. Bryce said he was supposed to have been brief, but she didn't realise how much the Council didn't want her to know yet. She watched Katherine back away from Walter, and they all turned to Vadim.

"I fear that L may know more than you think, Vadim. She doesn't admit it, but there's an aura around her that wasn't present days ago. I think Bryce may have told her more than he said he would." Maeve informed them, and she sounded more amused than annoyed.

Vadim looked like he was nodding, though L couldn't tell properly from her angle.

"I had a feeling he might do that, in which case we must speak to him when he returns. Has there been any word from him?"

Kreleth moved toward Vadim now, "He is on his way back and says the news is promising. He should arrive within the day."

L felt surprise override her confusion, Bryce was on his way back from wherever he went, and he had good news. Had he gone to rescue the Worcesters without her and saved them after all? She didn't know if she would be more angry or relieved if that was the case.

She watched Vadim turn his staff over and over in his hands, "I want a full report when he does return. He needs to be informed of everything that has happened, and then he can help assess how L should be told."

There was an uproar of voices at that point, and L couldn't make out anything they were saying.

"Sounds like they'll be arguing all day," said a voice right by L's ear.

She'd been so focused on the meeting that the mere sound made her jump so hard that she nearly fell off the branch. If it wasn't for an arm reaching out for her and pulling her back, she would have plummeted down what must have been thirty feet or more.