Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ The Keeper ~~

"Yes, that's my thinking... and the next time you touched him, L, it continued the transformation his body had already started. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I would never have thought to consider a transformation in him, and especially not one involving a Dragon. I was born after the Dragons were gone and they were already long-forgotten stories when I was growing up."

"So my Keeper abilities stretch to waking up dormant Supernaturals?" L asked sceptically.

No knowledge flowed to her when she thought it so if it were true then none of her predecessors had passed it on. Maybe her parents didn't even know.

"It would appear so," Bryce agreed and he looked deep in thought on the subject.

Edra looked almost proud, "Something else for you to look into and excel at I'm sure." She grinned, though it slowly faded and she sighed. "I'd love to stay and chat but I have more patients to check on. I'm glad you're still with us, L."

Edra gave her a warm smile and walked off towards the rest of the group. L could just make out some of the figures laid out on stretchers from where she was.

She didn't want to think about who they'd lost but it kept coming back to her and she reluctantly asked Bryce to tell her. He refused at first but L insisted. She wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it until she knew. He made her get comfortable and then told her about everyone that had been killed in the battle. He seemed to make a point not to mention Matilda and L was glad. She didn't need that. In the end, they hadn't lost as many as L thought they would, though the list still made her weep.

Creatures from every species had lost their lives, some L had known and others she'd never met, however, they were still part of the community and still had friends and family that mourned for them now. She promised to do something for them all. It wouldn't make things better or change their deaths but it would be a memorial to honour them in life and death.

Bryce sat with L while she cried and wiped her face when she was done; she didn't care that they were in public. She wanted to feel every emotion as raw as it came and she wouldn't hide her pain from anyone. They had also accomplished a great thing and it wasn't something to be brushed away or discouraged.

And now it was time that they lived their lives to the fullest. There were still Demons out there and enemies to be fought but the biggest battle was over. L's knowledge was safe and so was she, she could live out her life and explore her Keeper heritage without fear.

She was about to ask Bryce what the plan was going forward when Vadim, Maeve, Tern, Rashka and Katherine appeared before them. They all had some form of visible injury, mostly cuts and bruises, and a cast on Katherine's leg; she wouldn't look L in the eye while they stood there but L didn't take it personally. She turned her attention to Vadim instead, who didn't look as confident or businesslike as he usually did. He was still wearing human clothes.

"Edra informed us that you were awake and talking so we came to see how you're doing. And also to give thanks for what you did. You sacrificed yourself for all of us and we will forever be indebted to you."

Surprisingly, he bowed to her and the other members of the Council followed suit, including Katherine.

L beckoned to them, "Get up, you don't have to bow to me. I just did what I had to and I would do it again."

They stood up straight at her behest and Maeve moved forward to give L a careful hug. She whispered to L while she did so.

"I can't tell you how happy I am that you're alright. I don't know what we would have done if we'd lost you." She sniffled when she pulled back and L rubbed her arm soothingly.

"You would have managed after a while. I'm sure it would have been quieter, though."

She tried to lighten the mood and managed to pull a smile out of Maeve. Someone tutted beside L and she gave Bryce a smirk. Despite his disapproval at her words he couldn't help but smile and L forced herself to turn back to Vadim before she got sidetracked.

"I still don't understand how I survived the blast. Does anyone have any ideas?"

The Council looked between each other and shook their heads.

"We were hoping you would have an answer for that," Tern explained and he was rubbing a large purple bruise near his eye.

"Aside from the cut on your neck, you don't have a scratch on you. We saw the inferno that you and your friend created. Either one should have hurt you severely if not killed you, even with the fact that it was your own magic." Rashka went on.

She had a few scales missing on her face and she kept shifting her weight from one leg to the other like it hurt to stand for too long.

L reached a hand up to feel the small cut on the left side of her neck, it was healing up fine though she knew she'd have a scar. It was frustrating to not know how she had survived. If the Council didn't know and Edra hadn't said anything then maybe she'd never find out.

"We have things to discuss and arrangements to make but we'll talk more with you when we reach Lymasia. For now, you should keep resting. We'll be getting underway again soon," Vadim explained. His voice was light, as though he was trying to be delicate with L.

"I'll come back to see you soon," Maeve said.

She looked relieved and L waved to her before they walked away.

"What's Lymasia?" L asked.

She didn't have any knowledge of such a place and Bryce didn't seem surprised by that fact.

"It's the code name for another secret base. This one deserves a name and you'll see why when we get there."

"Why don't I have any knowledge of this base?"

L had recollections of the other bases from her Keeper knowledge and her own experiences, but this Lymasia was a mystery to her.

"Because it was created only recently. It's a gift from the Supernatural community to you. They figured you'd need somewhere to live that wasn't tainted with bad memories... someone also suggested..." He trailed off and proceeded to make himself busy with the fastenings of her hammock.

L was shocked that someone built a whole base for her, but Bryce's reluctance to talk distracted her.

"What? What were you about to say?"

Bryce looked tense when he turned back to her, his face pinched. "That... it would have been your resting place if things had gone that way. Now don't ever make me say that again."

L's heart stuttered and not in a good way. The pained look on Bryce's face actually hurt to see.

"I won't... so, how come you know about this place?"

Bryce didn't seem to relax but he did continue, "I was consulted on a few of the personal touches, since I knew you first... I believe the Worcesters were also asked about some of the details. Everyone wants it to be special, even more so now that they feel so grateful for what you did. I'd expect some presents coming your way as well."

L's eyes were wide and she waved her hands in front of her, "No, no thanks. I don't want any gifts or pledges of gratitude. Can't I make some kind of decree about it?"

Bryce let out an unexpected chuckle, "No you can't, that would be considered rude. Let them show you what you mean to them. You are the Keeper now, to them you're the saviour of the world."

L cringed visibly and Bryce laughed again. She liked that she'd cheered him up but her eyes narrowed.

"I don't even know how I survived the blast and Robbie was technically the one who finished the job. So I don't want them to think of me like that. I'm just L and they should treat me like any other member of the community."

"Yeah, but it was you who orchestrated and tried to sacrifice yourself for that outcome. So... good luck with that," Bryce replied with a snort and L groaned out loud which just made him laugh again.