Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ Coming Together ~~

L shook her head. How could she ask a question like that? L felt so annoyed at herself and Edra now that she didn't even feel like getting into a memory of her parents at this point. She just wanted to leave.

She gulped the rest of the juice and was about to get up when Edra moved closer. She kneeled by L's chair and looked her directly in the eyes.

"I should have phrased my question better, I apologise... I meant, did you ever get into a dangerous situation, something scary that you might have buried deep down?"

L snorted at the question, "If I've buried it deep down, how would I know that it happened?"

Edra's brow creased, and she stood up again. "I'm sorry, I'm trying to be delicate with this, but erm... were you ever attacked by someone or something?"

L felt blown over by the question, and she shook her head quickly. "No, never... except my run-in with Sorence when I was little, but he didn't manage to harm me. Why would you ask something like that?"

Edra pursed her lips for a moment, and Bryce stood up.

"What is it? What are you thinking?"

Edra glanced down at L, then back to Bryce. "Memories can be blocked for a number of reasons, usually it's something traumatic but in the case of Keepers it can have a deeper effect. L's mind is blocked, stuck. Something has happened that's stopping her from being able to use her Keeper abilities the way she was meant to."

L rubbed at her temples, "I didn't go through anything that I haven't already told you. Maybe it has something else to do with these spells my parents put me under?"

Edra whipped around at L's words, "What spells? The one to keep you a secret?"

L peered at Bryce, and she shook her head, feeling as confused as both Bryce and Edra looked.

"No... the one that Bryce told me about, a tracker or something so I could be found at the right time and how the duplicates kept coming back to me. He said it was made by my parents, through my birthmark or whatever it's supposed to be."

Edra leaned down suddenly and clasped L's chin, looking deep into L's eyes. L felt particularly uncomfortable, but she stayed still while Edra examined her. After a few awkward moments, she took a step back.

Surprisingly, she was smiling. "I see now, that was the missing piece I needed... I will be right back."

L watched Edra walk out of the room without another word, and then she looked to Bryce, holding her hands up in the air.

"What's going on?"

Bryce was still looking towards the door Edra had left through.

"I have no idea, but Edra is a highly intelligent woman. Her mind works faster than even that of Elves. We'll know when she comes back."

He sat back down in his chair and stared out towards the window, his fingers playing with the fabric of the armrest. L watched him for a moment longer and then turned away. Something was bugging her. She needed to say it while they actually spent any time together.

"Why have you been acting so weird recently? I get that you have things to get done, but you're so different now."

She could see him watching her from the corner of her eyes.

"I didn't know I had been acting weirdly, and I told you I would be disappearing for a while... I was still checking in, though. You might think that I haven't been around, but I have, in my own way."

L wanted to add that he didn't check in with her, but she knew that sounded petty. Besides, she didn't even know why she wanted him to.

She shook her head instead. "So, why are you here and not laying low somewhere else?"

She turned to look at him when he didn't answer straight away, and he was still staring at her with an unreadable expression.

"Because Edra asked for me, and you don't say no to the Grand High Witch. Plus, she's also agreed to help me find the other traitor."

L was suddenly reminded of the strange figure by the wall, and she deliberated for a moment before she told Bryce about it. His expression slowly darkened throughout her recount, and when she finished, he stood up from his seat.

"What we're doing here will have to be postponed. I need to leave to look into this. Wait here, please, I have to speak with Edra."

L shook her head and stood up quickly. "I don't think so, I'm going with you."

Bryce stared wide-eyed. He might have been expecting her to argue but not to demand to go with him.

"No, you're not. It's too dangerous. You were out cold on the floor, not ten minutes ago... stay here, and I'll be back soon."

"I'm not staying here, Bryce!"

"She's going with you. We both are. This is far too important to sit here twiddling our thumbs."

Edra had appeared out of nowhere. She was wearing a long, sky blue cloak, and she somehow looked even younger than before she'd left through the door. Bryce didn't look fazed by any of the changes, though. He was still shaking his head at her words.

"No, she's not. It's dangerous. We have no idea who it is or what they're capable of. You and I can deal with them. L, just wait here, please."

L was surprised by the pleading in his voice, but she couldn't do what he wanted.

"I'm not staying here, I can look after myself now, and I can help. Isn't that what I'm supposed to be training for?"

Bryce looked like he was searching for the right words, and he wasn't about to get help from Edra, who was beckoning for them to follow her. L fastened her cloak and followed Edra out of the room without looking at Bryce. He looked dumbfounded, but by the time L and Edra stepped out of the front door, Bryce was with them, fully dressed and scowling darkly.

Edra peered over at him and seemed to be trying to hide her amusement.

"Do you not think that I am strong enough to keep L safe, Brycathlen? Are you not strong enough?"

Bryce looked out into the forest and gave it a withering look. "I know you're strong, far beyond my understanding, but neither you nor I are all powerful. Something could still happen."

"That's true of everything in life. Anything could happen to L at any given moment, even Norm things... You can not wrap her in cotton wool her entire life. You were the one to tell me how strong and smart she is. Or would you like to explain to her what the real problem is?"