Unknown L (Book 1)

~~~ Secrets And Lies ~~~

She could barely breathe let alone speak but Robbie caught what she said and was rushing off. No sooner had he left than there was a knock on the door, whoever it was didn't wait to be let in and smashed the door down. L squinted through bleary eyes to see Walter standing in the doorway with Bryce over one shoulder.

"We must leave. I don't care if you've packed. We have to go now, all of you, we will administer medical attention to L on the way."

Robbie was back now and he ignored the scene around him. He kneeled down next to L and opened up the first aid kit.

"L isn't going anywhere until I've done this. If she loses anymore blood then she'll pass out, or worse and I won't let that happen."

He was applying cotton pads over the wound and L flinched when agonising pain ripped through her torso.

"If she passes out it will be a while before she is at risk of dying, believe me, I'm an expert in blood loss. But if the Demons who are soon to be arriving here get their hands on her, it won't matter. Now come along!" Walter sounded more urgent than ever.

L panted out a breath and nodded to Robbie, "He's right... we have to leave. Someone grab my blanket, and flute... upstairs, that's all I want... with me..."

L checked that the note and photo were still in her boot while Mrs Worcester ran off upstairs. For the first time L noticed that the Worcesters all had bags ready. She smiled at how well they were doing with the situation and inched herself up into sitting, with Robbie's help.

In her dazed state she somehow spotted something on the floor nearby. It was a letter, addressed to her, it must have fallen off the table when she'd knocked it. She scooped it up and folded it into a pocket of her cloak just as Mrs Worcester returned. She tapped her bag to let L know the items were secure.

Walter was flapping his arms, "Time to go, we must get moving as fast as you are humanly able."

Robbie and Mr Worcester helped L out of the door to see the chaos still enveloping the forest. It was starting to lessen however, now that most of the inhabitants had already gone. Walter was leading the way with Bryce carefully positioned over one shoulder and he kept looking back at L.

She didn't seem to find his glances creepy anymore, just questioning and strangely concerned. She gave him a nod and he returned his gaze to the task ahead. They made their way down a path and then another until L realised where they were headed, this path led to the meadow that Gart and Lort frequented.

The meadow was deserted all except for the two Ogre brothers who looked lost and confused; their eyes were wide when they came to meet the ragtag group.

They saw Bryce and their heads tilted in unison.

"What's the mess?"

"We going somewhere?"

Walter was about to reply but L called out first, "Yes, we are! We need to get... out, fast. Will one of you help me? I can't walk... have to be quicker."

Gart moved towards her and she caught a look of surprise on Walter's face.

"I was going to request their help, this is not a task I can manage alone. However, we cannot wait for any of the others. You are the priority here... they will find us eventually."

Gart picked L up off the ground and she felt a little relief that she could relax into him. She was also very glad the brothers didn't ask too many questions. They just accepted her words, though she had a feeling they might not have left if Bryce wasn't with them. But she was grateful that they were going too and there was no strain for them when they began to run.

The Worcesters weren't as fast but they managed well enough. After a few feet, Lort had to carry Robbie, who was struggling with the run in his cast. They headed straight over the meadow. Lort had mentioned that they wouldn't be looked for this way. Walter circled back behind them but when L asked what he was doing, he said something about hiding a scent and she didn't want to know anymore about it.

It took maybe an hour or more to cross the meadow. L had never been able to see this side but it entered into more forest area.

"Not connected. Just normal forest this time."

Gart informed her when they took a quick break for the sake of the Worcesters. L peered towards the forest they'd left behind. She couldn't see anything through the trees, but she could still hear the sounds of fleeing villagers. She hoped everyone would get out in time.

Her thoughts turned to those she had left behind; Emilia, Illiana, Maeve, Matilda, Folen, Vadim, everyone she'd met and formed some kind of friendship with, she had no idea what was happening with them. She saw Illiana's little face and hoped Emilia was back to herself and got the two of them out safely. L felt some information trying to seep out, but she forced it away. She distracted herself by controlling her breathing and focusing on the journey that could be ahead of them. 

"Where... are we... supposed... to go, now?" 

The pain in her side was getting more unbearable, and she had a feeling she'd be losing consciousness very soon. She needed to make sure everything was under control, especially for the Worcesters' sake.

Walter moved to stand between Gart and Lort and kept his voice low.

"There is another base. It's quite a distance away, but we can and will manage it. We'll have to travel quietly and bring no attention to ourselves. Having humans here will help with that... we'll have to be very, very careful. I won't be able to fight Demons and protect you all with only the Ogres as assistance..."

He adjusted Bryce on his shoulder and looked to L. "I will do my best, however, to get us all there in one piece, mostly. We should depart. I'd like to avoid as much daylight travel as we can."

L wanted to frown at his attitude, but she didn't have the energy. She could understand what he meant, and she knew he was risking himself to help. She took a look back at the forest base one more time and felt someone move close by her.

"All that remains back there is treachery, deceit, and Demons. We must move on."

Walter's voice lingered in the air for a moment, and L nodded, turning her head away just as they began to run.

They headed into the trees with Walter leading the way, and Gart and L brought up the rear. While L watched them, she noticed that Walter didn't seem fazed by Bryce's extra weight, and she wondered for the first time just how many special abilities Vampires possessed. The event in the Council cottage had changed something in her.

She still mistrusted him and everyone else, more so now; but she didn't feel creeped out by him anymore- he had saved Bryce's life and hers. Maybe she'd been given the wrong impression of Vampires and had held it against him without cause. She hoped if they made it to the next base, and it could stay calm for more than one day, then she'd get the chance to find out.

According to Walter, the journey to the next base was going to be a long one. They had barely reached the other end of the forest when the cotton pads on L's side were soaked through. Walter was insistent that she get the wound re-wrapped, explaining how her scent could be easily tracked through her blood.

Robbie quickly moved around to apply clean ones when L began to cough uncontrollably. She briefly saw the red liquid coming out of her mouth, and seconds later, everything went black; all she heard was someone familiar calling out her name while she descended into the darkness of her own mind.