Hello, everyone !

I'm back with the ninth chapter !

Enjoy :)

Disclaimer : All rights goes to Jonathan Stroud

"This doesn't make any sense," Lockwood sighed. "nothing's make sense."

"Well, in this sketch, she looked pretty." George commented.

I stared at the sketch in silence. The three of us went back to our house after my somewhat eerie conversation with our visitor.

Elizabeth Maria. One of the last five agents.

Who knew she was Sebastian Harvard Lockwood's lover? And to think she became that kind of creepy visitor.

"You know, we're supposed to meet again at the evening." I said remembering something. "What are you guys doing by going to the cottage?"

"On our way to the museum, our Lockwood here suddenly got worried over you," George snorted. "he kept insisting to going after you, which we did."

A small blush crept on my cheeks and I coughed a little to calm my frantic beating down. "Oh. I see."

George snorted. "Obviously, I'm glad we followed Lockwood's worry."

"Um. Yeah. Thanks George." I gave a small smile. "Thanks Lockwood."

George nodded while Lockwood sighed in defeat. "I don't understand a single thing."

"Which reminds me," George munched a doughnut. "which type is our visitor? I doubt she's a type one."

I tapped my chin. "A type two?"

"But she talked to you." George said. "I mean, you did say so a few minutes ago."

"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled. "then maybe she's a type three."

"Or," George bit down his doughnut. "she's a hybrid."

I snorted. "Get real, George."

George shrugged. "If something weird as 'immigrant visitors' existed, why wouldn't a hybrid?"

"George, seriously, you're not helping." I glared.

"Let's review what we know," Lockwood sighed loudly. "so this Elizabeth Maria who worked with my ancestor, thinks I'm him."

"Why yes, Lockwood," George sang sarcastically. "apparently, your ancestor's lover wants to be reunited with you."

"I still don't see why she wants me dead." I said.

"Get your brain working a little," George drank his tea. "or should I say it for you?"

I glared at George. "Say your points, George."

George smiled. "Why Lucy, I think she wants you dead because you're our Lockwood's lover."

I choked on my tea. Blushing or not, I glared really hard at George. "George Cubbins, what in the earth are you saying?"

Instead of answering my question, George glared back at me and crossed his arms. "Why else do you think she wants you dead? Remember? She said lost love and reunited."

I bit down my words.

"And you know how similar our Lockwood looked with his ancestor." George huffed.

I drank my tea and huffed back. "So? What do we do now?"

"You know, there's something bugging me." Lockwood said softly.

"What?" George asked.

"I wonder why she has just decided to show up now." Lockwood stared at the sketch. "If she wanted to reunite with her so called lost love, she should have showed herself some time ago."

I blinked, George blinked, and the two of us stared at Lockwood. Who was just staring at the sketch.

"I think her source is somewhere near the night market, possibly the cottage. Whichever, we need to know why she just showed up now." Lockwood tore his gaze away and looked at the two of us. "Which means, we have to see our client."

George groaned. "I'm not having another broken heart."

I cringed upon hearing Lockwood's idea. The last thing I wanted right now was to see our client flirting with Lockwood.

"What?" Lockwood studied both of our faces. "You two look reluctant to go."

George and I said nothing.

"Does this mean I have to go alone?" Lockwood asked.

I quickly wanted to say 'no' but George kicked my leg softly.

"Go ahead, Lockwood." George simply said and shrugged. He kicked me again when I wanted to protest.

Lockwood narrowed his eyes towards George. "Now, why did you say that, George?"

George shrugged again. "Lucy and I definitely have problems by going to our client. I see you're completely fine with her. So why don't you go alone?"

Lockwood's eyes narrowed some more. "Care to explain?"

George shrugged again. "Obviously, our client chose you over me, and she doesn't give a care about me. I don't want to go to see her only to have her shrugging me away. And as for Lucy," George stopped and took a breath. "our client clearly dislike Lucy's presence near her. If that was the case, why bother with going to see her? Right, Lucy?"

Lockwood drifted his gaze to me. I drank my tea, trying to act as innocently as possible. "Yeah. You're right, George."

George gave a triumph smile. "Oh and one more thing, Lockwood," he said. "the last thing we both want to see is you and our client flirting."

At this, I choked on my tea again and Lockwood's face reddened a bit. George kept himself innocent and casually pour himself another cup of tea.

"I'm not flirting with our client." Lockwood said.

"Yeah, whatever." George rolled his eyes.

To my surprise,—and my inner happiness.. Scratch that!—Lockwood locked his gaze at me. "Lucy, you have to believe me."

I choked on my tea one more time and I decided to put my cup down. I cleared my throat to regain back my composure. From the corner of my eyes, I could see George's smirk.

He obviously was enjoying this.

I stared back at Lockwood and decided to be stupid. "What? What are you talking about, Lockwood?"

"I'm not flirting with our client." Lockwood said sternly.

George huffed in amusement. And maybe I was crazy, because somehow I enjoyed this. Though a part of me questioned Lockwood's actions.

"I don't know Lockwood," I shrugged. "doesn't seem that way to me."

I was really surprised when Lockwood groaned in annoyance. I blinked.

"Believe me, if I'm going to flirt, I'll choose someone else." Lockwood said, still kept his gaze at me.

O..kay, now why did I feel like I was going to melt?

Get a grip, Lucy, seriously!

"Someone else?" George asked innocently. "Like who, Lockwood? Lucy Carlyle?"

This time, I kicked George back a little harder. My face was red out of embarrassment. I glanced at Lockwood, and I saw him huffed in annoyance.

"I'm not going to flirt with Lucy." he sternly said and for some reason, my heart hurt. Like it was stabbed.

Okay Lucy, you were clearly exaggerating! Get a hold on yourself!

"Oh why not—"

"Could we just drop this and go to our client?" I cut. Both Lockwood and George stared at me.

"I thought George said—"

"I'm an agent, Lockwood. Whether I like my client or not, if I have to go to meet he or she, I'll do it. I didn't sign up as an agent just to back down when I dislike my client." I sternly said. "And don't listen to George too much."

George snorted. "Your very welcome, Lucy." he replied sarcastically.

I stood up. "It's getting late. Why don't we go and see her early tomorrow morning?" I suggested.

Lockwood smile and I could see a glint of—is that proud?—and amusement in his eyes. He stood up also and George followed. "I agree." Lockwood replied.

"Very well." I nodded. "Now let me take my bath."

"I'm first!" George burst out suddenly and ran ahead of me.

"Hey, George!" I protested. He shouted his reply, but I couldn't hear it. I huffed. "That is so unfair. I never been first." I mumbled.

Lockwood heard that and he chuckled. "George took a longer bath than you."

I smiled at Lockwood's reply. "Oh yeah. Forgot about that." But then I squinted my eyes back in annoyance. "But whenever he takes his bath first, he always carries that jar with him, and he always leaves it behind."

"Oh. Right."

"Do you know how eerie it is to have a jar with a type tree visitor inside, together with you, in a bathroom?" I asked dramatically.

Lockwood chuckled again. "Nope. Never been through that before. It is always you who take the second in line."

I huffed. "Then today, you get the second."

"Can I refuse?"

"No."

Lockwood sighed in defeat. "Fine."

I grinned at him. "Enjoy your first experience with the jar, Lockwood." I winked at started to walk away.

Only to have Lockwood's calling stopped me.

"Yeah?" I turned around.

Lockwood stared at me and smiled. "Do you know why I won't flirt with you?" he asked.

I blinked. Was that supposed to be a trick question?

"Ugh.. No?" I answered softly.

Lockwood's smile widened. "Because you're someone precious to me, Lucy. You are way more important to me than any other girls I can flirt with."

I blushed.

An agent blushed.

"I flirt with someone who I don't regard as 'special'," Lockwood continued. "but you're special to me, so I won't flirt with you."

Damn George and his first in line to take the bath., I mumbled inside.

Lockwood kept his smile, and there was only one way for me to hide my further embarrassment.

"Thanks for the honesty, Lockwood." I mumbled and ran away.

Though I was embarrassed, I felt happy too. I meant, Lockwood saw me as someone special to him! And just then, something struck at me.

I realized something. All those unhappy feelings when I saw Lockwood with our client.. Those blushes I experienced whenever I was with Lockwood.. The crazy heartbeat when Lockwood stared at me..

All of that meant something.

I had feelings for Lockwood. Unconsciously, I fell in love with him.

Done !

Um.. okay, so what do you think about this chapter ?

I'll be reading your reviews ! :)

P.S. : About three or four more chapters, and I think this fic will be done :)