Unknown L (Book 1)

~~~ Secrets And Lies ~~~

It never found its mark however, an indistinguishable black shape soared through the corridor. It crashed into Kreleth, throwing him to the opposite end of the entryway and knocking him out cold. The dagger was feet away from him and free of any blood. The magic that had been freezing Sorence disappeared and he dropped L to the floor.

L winced at the pain that shot through her torso but she wasn't focusing on that. The dark form was rising from the ground, it turned around and L's jaw fell to the floor. Walter was standing in front of her and over Bryce, protectively, while he watched Sorence with clear distaste.

Walter bared his fangs at Sorence and gestured towards L, "Come to me, now!"

L didn't need telling twice. She rushed to get up but Sorence was too quick, he grabbed her by the scruff of the neck.

"She is coming with me, you loathsome bloodsucker. Your kind are the most detestable creatures on the entire planet. Frallica will undoubtedly wipe your lot out first."

Walter seethed at Sorence and moved one step forward. "L, when I say run, you run. Don't dawdle, don't look back, go directly to your cottage and wait there. I'll be along with Bryce momentarily."

His voice wasn't slow or smarmy like it usually was, he was suddenly calm and collected. His glistening fangs bared at Sorence, who was almost shaking in his fury.

"She is not going anywhere with you!"

The moment Sorence roared out the words, Walter simultaneously yelled "Run!" And he launched himself at Sorence faster than L could follow, ripping L from his grip. She didn't have time to watch what happened though, she was too busy running to the entryway.

She stopped by Bryce's body for a split second and knew he'd be shouting at the top of his voice for her to run as well. She reluctantly kept on running and reached the middle of the entryway. She spotted the dagger Kreleth had been holding, glistening on the floor. She made another split second decision and grabbed it before running out of the cottage, still clutching at her side.

The forest was chaos. Everyone was running around in all directions, descending from tree houses and packing up their belongings. They didn't have any idea what had just happened inside the Council cottage but they must have known something. L didn't stop to talk to anyone. Her breathing was laboured and the sharp pains in her chest told her something was very wrong. She reached the door of her cottage, sweating and panting. She tried the door but it was locked and she banged on it with every ounce of strength she had left.

A voice called out, "The code, what is the code word?"

Mr Worcester was forceful and L sighed when she remembered what they'd agreed on.

"Lewis! Now please let me in, quickly!"

L heard things being moved away from the door and the sound of the lock turning. The door swung open to show three wide eyed Worcesters. They pulled her into the cottage and locked the door behind her.

L collapsed to the floor, knocking over the small table next to the door and the dagger rolled out of her hand; the Worcesters were kneeling next to her while she tried to catch her breath.

"L! You're bleeding, oh dear! And something is poking out... um, is that a rib?"

L could hear Mrs Worcester's frantic words but her head was too frazzled to make sense of what she meant. Everything that happened in the Council cottage was replaying over in her mind. Her worry for Bryce was almost as intense as her confusion surrounding Kreleth and Walter.

"L, stay with us. If you fall asleep you might never wake up, you've lost a lot of blood. Is there a first aid kit here somewhere?"

L pointed up, "Bath... somewhere."