The Lies We Tell
By RippleInThePond
Chapter 14: Lost and Found
Two months had passed and Lyriel had searched nineteen states, starting on the east coast, but she had failed to find Metatron. Dean and Sam were exhausted from searching the approximate 10 cities in each state that had contained auras similar to Metatron's.
Bobby had long since erected the wards from the book that she had given him as a peace offering. The wards kept out everyone except for Cas, Lyriel, Sam, Dean, and Bobby. Bobby had been quite pleasantly surprised when a vampire whose nest had been destroyed came looking for vengeance― he had erupted into flames.
Shadowfax had grown rapidly, advancing past the size of the average housecat to the size of a small panther. They had all been floored when he began to communicate with them telepathically, his soft voice echoing in their heads.
Lyriel sat on her giant pile of velvet pillows, her eyes closed as she meditated, her grace searching over the auras in a fraction of the cities of Michigan. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open and she scanned over a map of Michigan before finding the last two locations with potential auras, placing stars over top of them.
Lyriel carefully rolled up the map after blowing on the ink. She stood and stretched, her back cracking loudly. She groaned, rubbing the back of her neck and she trudged out of the room, carrying the map of Michigan in her hand.
She plopped onto a chair in the kitchen, dropping her head onto the table. Bobby walked up behind her chuckling. "Tired?" She nodded. "I am so exhausted." Bobby raised an eyebrow. "You aware that you've been sleeping this whole time, right?" Lyriel picked up her head from the table. "I'm not sleeping, I'm meditating, using literally the very essence of my being to search the cities. I'd like to see you do it."
Bobby raised his hands, relenting, as he walked towards the fridge. "You want any food?" She groaned. "Oh, God, yes." Lyriel froze, her eyes widening as what she said caught up to her. "Those boys are bad role models. I've been tainted." Bobby snorted as he gathered up the ingredients to make sandwiches for the both of them.
Shadowfax, approximately the size of a German Shepherd now, trotted in, his sleek, black fur shining, his eyes twinkling with his feline grace. He walked up and laid his head on her leg. "Milady, you need rest." Lyriel tipped her head down to look at Shadowfax and ran her fingers through his fur. "I have rested, Shadow."
His eyes narrowed. "A nap is NOT resting." "I can't rest like that. I have to find Metatron. I have to stop this stupid blood-bath of a war." her anxious desperation seeped into her voice and Shadowfax purred, calming her nerves. "You aren't going to find him any easier through exhaustion. Lady, please take a real break." Lyriel sighed, relenting at their insistence. "Fine."
Lyriel turned just as Bobby placed a ham sandwich with various fresh vegetables on the table in front of her, his own in his mouth. She hastily picked it up with glee, biting into the sandwich with delight.
After completing her sandwich, Lyriel thanked Bobby and walked towards the door to the basement, but Shadowfax stepped in the way. "Where do you think you're going?" She smirked, raising an eyebrow. "I was going to go to actually sleep. My bed is much comfier than any of Bobby's."
Shadowfax tilted his head towards her in doubt before stepping to the side and letting her pass. As she opened the door and walked down the stairs to the safe room, Shadowfax followed her his claws clicking against the floor.
The door of the safe room creaked as she opened it, the iron hinges rusty and old. Lyriel cringed at the shrill sound, waving her hand to oil the hinges. Lyriel walked over to the bed and curled up on top of the thick pillows, throwing a fuzzy throw pillow over herself. She squealed as Shadowfax jumped up onto the bed, jostling the mattress. They curled up against each other and Lyriel closed her eyes as her exhaustion caught up to her, falling into a peaceful sleep.
Five days passed and Lyriel had not fought their demands that she rest. Her grace had regained much of its original strength, her exhaustion leaving her. She sat on the roof of Bobby's house, a wicker basket filled with food at her side. Shadowfax laid next to her, basking in the sun as his fur shined. Storm clouds rolled in the distance.
Lyriel turned as a car roared up the driveway. The Impala pulled up in front of the house and Lyriel picked up Shadowfax before flying up to the car, leaping off of the roof with the map in her hand.
Sam stepped out of the car and Shadow leapt on top of Sam, pushing him to the ground. He hit the ground with a grunt as Shadowfax licked his face. "Dude! You're back!" Sam spluttered at the spit and pushed Shadowfax off of his chest. "Ugh, gross." He wiped the saliva off of his face.
Lyriel chuckled and handed the map to Sam as he stood up. "You're finally back! Took you long enough. I don't know why you insist on driving for hours on end with no rest instead of having Cas help you." Dean groaned. "Because it makes us constipated! And how could you possibly have another one already?" She snorted. "Dean, I've been done for days." He pointed a finger at her accusingly. "No, no. You just want to work us to the bone."
"Nah, I need you functional." Sam sighed. "We will leave in two days, but we need a break. Even if only for a short time." Lyriel nodded. "Yeah, I have been taking a break since I finished that one." She gestured to the map in Sam's hand. "Not that Shadowfax or Bobby would have left me continue. I was running myself ragged."
Lyriel summoned the basket from the roof and walked into the house, the wicker basket swaying in her hand. Dean and Sam followed silently, Shadowfax beside them. They settled into the living room and Lyriel pulled out strawberry shortcake from the basket. Sam opened the map of Michigan and groaned. Dean leaned over at the noise and groaned as well. "Oh, come on, Lyriel! There are so many in this one!"
Lyriel glared at him over her cake. "You think that I don't know that? I'm the one that had to go through every single city." Dean backed away from the map. "No. Nope. Not gonna do it. Baby can't take that many more miles." He wagged his finger. "No."
Sam and Lyriel snorted, both of them aware that Dean would do it anyway. Lyriel raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you're going to throw a tantrum, you can take my job." She threw a strawberry at his forehead, nailing him right between the eyes. Dean scowled as Sam chuckled, scanning the map.
His eyes narrows and he beckoned Lyriel closer. She walked over and he pointed to a cluster of cities. "This has never happened before." Lyriel nodded. "I noticed it. I don't want to jinx the possibility, but I honestly think that he is in Michigan."
Dean sighed. "What will you do when you find him?" Lyriel's face hardened, her eyes cold with anger. "I'm going to make him talk. He is going to tell me the truth about that false prophecy. Then, Michael can have him." Dean shuddered. "I kind of pity him." She glared at him. "Don't. Don't pity him. He deserves every single punishment he will receive."
Lyriel took a bite of her cake and the boys stared at the map. She swallowed. "If and when you find him, call me like we discussed. Don't approach him. Don't underestimate him. He may be a scribe, but he is in no way weak." They nodded and Lyriel stood, pushing the basket at them. "Eat. I lost my appetite."
She walked towards the basement and Shadowfax padded after her softly. The stairs creaked like an old tree blown by the wind as she took each step. When she reached the safe room, she created a small bath with foamy, hot water.
She slipped in and her eyes closed, her body relaxing. She felt herself be lulled to sleep by the heat and Shadowfax's soft purring. The world faded to black as she fell into a deep slumber.
The scene was formed by soft-edged wild-life with vibrant blues, greens, and reds drawing her eyes to every small detail within her dream. She turned around and Chuck stood behind her. "Papa?" He nodded. "I've heard about your little mission. You're searching for Metatron, correct?" She looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to be informed. He touched his chest as if offended. "Hey! I'm still in the loop!"
His face softened into concern for her. "Don't lose yourself, sweetheart. I know that the Winchesters are unaware of the strength of your anger, but I do know. I know that it burns like a flame within you. Don't let it consume, or you will find yourself becoming that which you fight."
She sighed and sat down, a bench appearing beneath her. "I know. I know that my anger could be catastrophic, but Dad, I'm so angry! I'm hurt and confused. We trusted Metatron and he tore us apart. I'm angry at him! I'm angry at my brothers for their betrayal. I-I… I'm trying to let it go, but it hurts." She gave a shuddering sigh. "I'm pretending that I'm okay in front of everyone, even Michael. I'm pretending that their 'I'm sorry's' are enough, but they aren't! I feel so lost Daddy."
Her voice cracked in anguish and Chuck sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her as he pulled her into a hug. "I'm so scared. I don't want to have to end this war." He sighed. "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not up to us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." Lyriel snorted. "Lord of the Rings, papa? You didn't even quote it right!"
Chuck smiled. "Maybe so, but it got you to stop crying, didn't it?" He squeezed her before standing and pulling her to her feet. "Good night, my dear." He kissed her forehead and the dream world darkened as she fell into a peaceful slumber.
Four days passed since Dean and Sam had returned and they had left after resting to check the designated cities in Michigan. After Lyriel's dream, she had found a weight removed from her shoulders from confessing the stress of her burden. Bobby had left to investigate a poltergeist hunt in New Jersey, leaving Lyriel at the scrapyard with Shadowfax.
Lyriel was sitting on Bobby's couch in the study, curled up with a book of Persian mythology as she pet Shadowfax who was laying on her feet, his eyes closed in bliss. He purred, nudging her hand whenever she paused. Lyriel chuckled in amusement before setting the book aside.
Lyriel pulled Shadowfax into her lap, running her fingers through his silky, onyx fur as she began to sing softly.
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You have come to journey's end
Sleep now and dream
Of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls-
The phone rang, disturbing the tranquil air. Lyriel sighed before picking up the phone and answering without checking the caller ID. "What?"
"We found him."
She bolted upright and Shadowfax yelped as he fell off of the couch, landing on the floor.
"Where?!"
"The Welcome Inn, Mackinaw, Michigan. We're in room 17."
Lyriel clapped a hand to the side off of the couch, grabbing Shadowfax's fur before flying to the address. When she arrived, Dean slapped the phone shut and held the amulet out to her.
"You weren't kidding when you said it would have a response. The damn thing got so hot I could barely hold it and we were still two miles out!" She grabbed the amulet tentatively, hissing at the heat. "Oh, he is definitely her." She tipped her head forward and looped the chain over her head. When it rested on her chest, she looked back up at them.
"Stay here. We'll be back soon."
Lyriel walked out, Shadowfax on her heels. "Lady, don't lose yourself to the vengeance." She shook her head. "I will not. I swear. I refuse to stoop to his level of depravity by wallowing in my anger."
They walked through the town, the amulet burning hotter. As they stepped in front of an old bookstore, the amulet suddenly turned as cold as ice. She stiffened before slowly turning to look at the building.
The brick was old and dirty, chipping away from the weather. The windows were filthy, as if they had not been touched in years. The metal railings that led to the door were rusted along with the hinges on the door.
The sky darkened as if it could feel her anger. She slowly walked up the steps, anticipation crawling up her throat as if it was choking her. As she stood before the door, she thought that her lungs had stopped working as she felt as if she couldn't breathe.
She rang the doorbell and, after a few moments, an old, dirty, withered form of a man opened the door. His hair was gray and frazzled, his clothes messy and unkempt. His hands were wrinkled, dirt under the nails that were far too long. Out of his mouth came a voice so disgustingly sweet that it was grating. "Who are you? Do you need anything?"
Lyriel's eyes narrowed in disgust and disbelief at the state of his vessel, her astonishment at finding him becoming secondary―a man had given his body so that Metatron could inhabit it, and it was being desecrated and mistreated.
She flared her grace and Metatron's eyes widened in fear as he attempted to flee. She roughly grabbed his shoulders, pinning his wings. With her grace, she threw him against the wall. Like a panther on the prowl, she slinked up to him as Shadowfax followed gracefully. When she stood in front of him, she placed the amulet around his neck and he fell to the ground when she released her grace, his strength sapped by the amulet.
"Hello, Metatron. Long time no see."
Hello my dears! I beg of you to not murder me for having not updated for so long! I had tests and, to be quite honest, I was a bit stuck. You other writers understand; you know what you want, but not how to put it into words. However, I have now completed the next chapter. I was going to wait until Friday to post the chapter, but then I remembered that my birthday part is then, so TADA. You get it today. Squee! I'm going to be a year older!
Anyways, I hope that you enjoy the update! Please review. Constructive criticism is loved and so are raves! Flames, however, are not welcome. Thank you to all of the people who have stuck with me. Thank you to Gabriel's Wings - Love Squares, tmittens11, and hectatess for reviewing my last chapter. I love you guys! Also, please check out the poll on my profile.