Unknown L (Book 1)

~~~~ Coming Together ~~~~

L felt like she was about to throw up. Her head felt light, and she leaned against Robbie for support when Bryce moved to stand in front of them. The scorpion was definitely getting back up. It had come back to life and, after a few seconds, looked fighting fit again. But L was in no shape to go up against it, Bryce would be on his own this time. He was a good fighter, but he had all of them to protect, too, which hampered his abilities. 

L was starting to lose consciousness. She wanted to help him fight, but the room kept going dark. Her frustration didn't help. She thought she had begun to see things at one point, too. Balls of energy flying through the room and zapping the scorpion. It writhing on the ground again and then suddenly on its back. L was happy Bryce could take care of things, and the last thing she saw before losing consciousness was a long sword being driven into the scorpion's chest.

Dreams of scorpions and ladies with pincers for hands drifted through L's head in a jumble and a distant laugh played in the background. The scene she woke up to didn't make her feel any less puzzled. Her last memory replayed in her mind, and she half expected to still be at her house. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she knew for sure that she wasn't in the hospital. She was in a large room that was nicely decorated with a big bed and bright blue curtains.

There were people standing near the door, and Mrs Worcester was sitting on a chair by the side of L's bed, snoozing contently. L could feel a numbness in her leg, but she was reluctant to look at it. She attempted to sit up and was pushed down before she could. She looked around to see Robbie smiling down at her in relief.

"Sleep well? You've been out of it since yesterday. If it wasn't for Edra calming the situation, the whole base would have been frantic." He seemed almost amused, but L could see his worry underneath it. "Apparently, scorpion venom can be deadly even with magic, although she wasn't a real one, so I dunno how that works."

L smiled at Robbie as she relaxed, "I don't get it either... where am I?"

"In Edra's house, she refused to let you go to the hospital and said you needed protection as well as a comfortable recovery. Mum, Dad, and I haven't left since we got here. We're under strict orders to stay inside."

He peered to his mum and then his dad, who was in conversation with Edra, Vadim, and some of the other Council members. L realised that somebody was missing.

"Where's Bryce?"

Robbie shrugged and sat down on the edge of her bed. "I'm not sure. He said he needed to do something, but that was hours ago. He'll be back. He didn't leave at all last night, not even to eat or go to the toilet."

Robbie found this highly amusing, and L arched a brow at him questioningly, to which he laughed quietly.

"Well, you know why he didn't leave you. He needed to make sure you were alright. He cares about you."

L rolled her eyes and attempted to sit up, "No, he doesn't, at least no more than a friend would... and you stayed too."

Robbie helped her sit up this time and was still grinning, "Yeah, but we're family. It's different."

L didn't see how. She knew how Bryce felt, and that was the end of it. She didn't want to talk about it anymore, and luckily, Mrs Worcester chose that moment to wake up. Her eyes went to L, and she seemed surprised to see that L was awake. She immediately began to fuss, which brought the attention of all the Council members and Edra, who came to assess L.

She was pleased with L's recovery. "The numb feeling will go away soon, don't worry, and until then, you're staying right there."

L didn't feel like going anywhere else anyway. Her injuries had drained her, and she knew she'd have to endure a mountain of questions from the Council.