Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ And So It Begins ~~

Snarls ripped from their throats, noises of eagerness by the looks on their ugly faces. L readied herself to run, she hoped her speed, coupled with her knowledge of the streets, would work to her advantage. 

She didn't get the chance to run, however, because someone else stepped out of the shadows in front of her. They surprised L, despite her being highly sensitive for anything else that might be lurking around. This new stranger stood facing the creatures, so she couldn't see their face, but she could tell this stranger was male.

The way he stood and held himself, the way he was dressed, and then the beanie hat she noticed on his head. The familiarity rushed back to her, and she realised it was the guy from outside Eileen's house. L didn't do or say anything as the guy took a step towards the white things. They had stopped moving when he appeared, and the moment he stepped into a pool of moonlight, they growled loudly.

The strange man didn't seem fazed.

"She's not going with you. Tell your... client... not to send you again. Otherwise, you won't be getting away from this next time."

The stranger's voice was stern and menacing, but the creatures didn't seem to care. They snarled viciously at him, and L felt shivers spreading through her entire body. Every instinct was telling her to run, but L felt rooted to the spot. She couldn't help it. She wanted to see what would happen next. 

"You don't speak for us, puny weakling."

"Step aside before we tear you apart."

Both creatures had grating voices. L felt like someone was running their fingers down a chalkboard. However, the stranger's reaction was what caught her attention the most. He was laughing quite loudly and not a fake laugh just for show. He sounded genuinely amused.

He looked over his shoulder at L and winked mischievously before shifting his gaze back to the things in front of him.

"I heard your whole species was stupid, but I didn't quite believe it. I suppose I should give you encouragement to run away now."

In the next moment, the stranger reached for something inside his jacket. L couldn't see what it was until he held it down by his side.

It was a silver knife, what she thought might be a dagger, she'd only seen them on TV and in museums. L didn't understand what a dagger was going to do against these things. They looked strong, and this guy was outnumbered. But as L peered around the side of the man, she saw that the creatures were backing away and watching the dagger in alarm.

L felt more confused than ever. She watched both of the creatures turn heel and run off into the fog. The stranger in front of her kept watching until they disappeared completely. Then he turned to look at L. He seemed amused by something as he put the dagger away in his jacket. L just felt more confused than she ever had. She watched the stranger stare her up and down.

L narrowed her eyes and jumped down to the side of the headstone, putting some of it between her and this stranger.

"I don't know what you're staring at, but you better stop right now. Who the hell are you, and why are you following me?"

It was the only explanation for why he would be outside the Smith's when she arrived back and why he was in the cemetery at the same time she was. She also had a sneaking suspicion that he had been the figure she'd seen in the street the night before.

The stranger raised his delicate looking brow in surprise and suddenly chuckled.

"Some thanks I get for saving your life. Maybe I should have left you to the mercy of the Grimlocks instead."

"Grimlocks? What in the world is a Grimlock?"

L was barely managing to grasp the fact that those things were real, and then she had to deal with this guy. She just felt like punching him as hard as possible and finally making a run for it. He wouldn't have the chance to pull out his little dagger.

The stranger, however, just kept smiling as he took a step back away from her. He held his hands behind his back in some kind of good faith gesture.

"Yes, Grimlocks, that's what those things were. They're supernatural bounty hunters, and they were here to take you away. I stopped them and saved you... now I'm getting the third degree."

L furrowed her brow. Nothing was making sense anymore and she nearly wished she had stayed in bed earlier.

"Supernatural? Are you on something? What would bounty hunters want with me? I'm not worth anything to anyone."

It hurt to admit this out loud to a total stranger, but it was true. She wasn't worth any money to anyone, and she didn't have any family that would want to steal her away. She had a split second twinkle of hope that maybe her parents were trying to get her back, but then why would they send monsters like that after her? And why would this guy say he had saved her from them?

"Ahh, you couldn't be more wrong. You are worth so much more than I could ever explain... ah, we have to get you off the streets just in case more dangers are making their way here. You're definitely not what I expected, though."

He added the last part like an afterthought. L scowled at him. How could he have expected anything about her?

"Just what in the hell is going on?"

The stranger gestured for her to follow him.

"And so it begins..."