Discover L (Book 2) | Complete |

~~~ Cold Hard Truth ~~~

She couldn't control the hurt, the anger and the futility of everything she felt. The vision stopped moving in front of them and all that could be heard were L's sobs. Nobody tried to stop her or calm her, Bryce held her and Robbie looked like he wanted to say something, but they all knew there was nothing they could say to her that would change how she felt or make her feel better.

They let her ride out her anguish in near silence, Bryce rubbed L's arm and L was grateful to have him there. Several minutes passed like this until she finally felt her emotions starting to calm. They would never really go away but she could feel a weight starting to lift. Admitting to herself that she was still angry at her parents, that she was still hurt they'd left her despite knowing everything, it felt like an odd sort of relief.

L took a few deep, steadying breaths, she wiped at her eyes and nose, earning a light chuckle from Robbie. He was smiling sadly when she looked up at him.

"Not sure Keeper clothes were designed to withstand snot."

L felt the corners of her mouth tug up, it wasn't a smile but it was as close as she'd get for now.

"Are you alright?" Bryce asked, his voice laced with worry.

L nodded, glancing up at him, "I think so, it's just overwhelming, that's all. My emotions got the better of me but I'm okay, we can keep going."

L said the last part louder and the Jötnar resumed the vision without a word. L stared at her parents, drinking away their sorrows, though their eyes were now scanning the bar intently.

"This is the place Adrian said, isn't it? I don't hear anyone telling stories of Giants now."

The sniffle was still audible in L's dad's voice, which he quickly tried to cough away.

"Yes, he said the stories were told not two nights ago. Someone was in here boasting about seeing a Frost Giant in the mountains. It's not the first time stories have come out of this area either."

"One is likely to be living close by then, it must be one of the last still awake. We need to find out who claimed they saw it." 

The pub was rowdy, filled with music and raucous chattering, even L struggled to differentiate between the voices and what they were talking about. The door to the pub opened minutes later and a figure in a thick, white coat traipsed in. Nobody batted an eyelid at yet another newcomer, and L's parents were too busy searching for the sound of Frost Giant gossip. L's dad got up to grab another round of drinks, and in his absence the newcomer to the pub decided to make themselves at home in his seat.

L's mum looked ready to tell them it was taken when the words escaped her, she made a face like she could smell something bad and she backed up out of the booth. She knocked into someone but they just ignored her and pushed on by. L's mum didn't take her eyes off of the stranger, her face was twisted in contempt and L understood why. She could also smell that scent and her face twisted in anger and concern.

"You'd leave now if you knew what was good for you." L's mum threatened, her hands flexed and thick claws formed from her fingertips.

The stranger cackled from under their hood, "I don't think so, you and your partner will be coming with us."

"Us?" L's mum turned around in alarm, it soon became clear there was more wrong in this bar than they knew.

Half of the pub's occupants turned towards L's mum, leering menacingly at her, not a drunken stumble in sight; they hadn't been what they first appeared.

"Blasted Demons!" L's mum cursed.

L's heart began to quicken, there had to be at least a dozen Demons in that bar and all of them had to be higher level hybrids. It was just her parents against all of that, trapped inside the pub while the snow fell thick and fast outside. L's dad suddenly sped over to stand beside his wife, he also had claws now and in one hand he held a weapon the Menehune had given them.