Unknown L (Book 1)

~~~ Coming Together ~~~

"Edra's back!" L called upstairs. "Maybe now we can get some answers." She muttered the last part to herself as she walked over to the door.

She was about to unlock the locks when someone pulled her out of the way with incredible speed. L scowled as she almost lost her balance and turned on Bryce when he steadied her.

"What is your problem?! It's Edra. You said we could open the door for her!"

L was so frustrated she barely noticed that Bryce's hand was pressed against the small of her back. He raised a finger on his other hand to his lips and faced the door when a knock sounded. All three Worcesters were suddenly present in the hallway and stood together. Another knock sounded, louder this time.

"Bryce, it's me, let me in."

Bryce made no move to open the door. He didn't say anything either and just stood staring, his face fixed in concentration. L watched and waited, attempting to comprehend what was happening. The knocks steadily grew louder, and Edra called again.

"Bryce! We need to talk, it's important... I found something you need to see."

L was about to say something, but Bryce pressed his hand gently over her mouth and gave her a piercing look. Her brow furrowed, but she stayed silent, waiting and listening to her own racing heart. Why wouldn't Bryce answer the door? It was a few more minutes before the knocking came again, and Edra called out so loud it felt like L's ears were being assaulted.

"Bryce! LET ME IN! We must talk, this is no time for games! Do as I say!"

L eyed the door suspiciously. She turned her heat sensing ability on just like Archie had taught her and looked through the door. The figure on the other side had all the markings of Edra. The heat signature was correct, but something was off.

L's vision returned to the room. Bryce's hand was still on her mouth, but he wasn't looking at her. He was staring at the door, and his lips were moving. No sound came out. L had a feeling he was using a spell, and it was confirmed when she heard a yelp from the other side of the door.

"That was rude of you, Brycathlen. How dare you treat a Grand High Witch that way!"

It was Edra's voice, but at the same time, it had warped, and a cackle-like laugh followed. L felt her guard go up. Whoever was outside of the door wasn't Edra. Who would pretend to be her and how they could manage it so well? She pulled Bryce's hand from her mouth and took a step back so that she was standing protectively in front of the Worcesters.

Her Werewolf claws were out, her senses were all tuned in, and she was ready with the magic she had learned. She would protect the Worcesters at all costs against whatever was cackling outside of the door.

"If you're not going to let me in, then I'll find my own way. We have all the time in the world." They drawled.

L didn't know what they meant by that, and she didn't want to know. Whoever or whatever it was still had Edra's voice, but it was tainted with something sinister. L shuddered at the sudden whispers outside of the door, and Bryce backed away until he stood right in front of L. She looked up at him as he peered over his shoulder, and her earlier annoyance had disappeared, replaced with caution and curiosity.

L lowered her voice as much as she could manage and went up on her tiptoes. She still barely reached his shoulder.

"Who or what is out there, and how did you know?"

He smiled a little at her, and L saw the old, comfortable Bryce again.

"When we get through this, I'll explain. For now, I need your full concentration and every skill you've learnt so far, okay?"