"So from what I'm understanding is that Lyra is being held by her mother and a man. Who threatened your mother and attacked you in order to get a knife you retrieved for him" Mary exclaimed after sipping from her tea in her office with Will sitting across from her.
"Yes, he stole Lyra's alethiometer. We went to get it back however he refused only to agree that if we fetched a knife for him he would exchange it for the alethiometer. Only when we went to get the knife, we found out how important the knife is and that it shouldn't fall into Mr. Latrom's hands. So Lyra and I snuck into his house to get the alethiometer anyway, we didn't plan on Lyra's mother suddenly being there. Lyra and her mother fought while the man kept demanding the knife, he threatened my mum. Lyra's mother wouldn't let her go and all I could do was run away and leave her behind'' Will seemed frantic as he retold the events of what had happened, his guilt seeping through about not being able to escape with Lyra.
"Will…..I'm so sorry all that happened to you" Mary looked to Will sympathetically with concern in her eyes.
"I'm such a terrible friend" Will muttered, keeping his head down in thought upset.
"No. Don't you say that. You tried so much to help Lyra….Sometimes there's only so much we can do….Did Lyra mention her relationship with her mother much?" Mary comforted Will feeling for him and Lyra, bewildered by the circumstances and how fate brought all of this together and was connected.
"No, she only ever mentioned her father. He…." Will seemed to have a sudden dark look upon his face as he hesitated.
"He….what Will?" Mary pried concerned even more so for Lyra.
"He killed her best friend"
Mary could only gasp with no sound, as what she remembered Lyra telling her was explained in a new horrific detail.
"Oh Lyra…..she had told me her best friend just died. I would have never imagined her own father would have been the one responsible…...and her mother. Lyra refused for me to call her for help when she visited me, I knew there was trouble at home. I didn't want to pry….oh my we need to call child services" Mary was extremely worried for Lyra, the girl had been chased with a cause by a policeman and seemed to have some trouble at home. Now Mary knew more, she felt she needed to help.
Mary then reached for her cellphone upon her desk.
"Wait no!" Mary stopped at Will's shout, Will had his hand out to stop her reaching out as he turned to meet Mary's eyes once more hesitantly.
"How much did Lyra tell you about where she's from?"
Lyra appeared to have sweated right through her pajamas, as her fever worsened another hour passed. Her hair was moist from sweat and she kept shivering every minute, she snuggled into Marisa even further. She could feel Lyra's skin was scathingly hot and her shivers, all Marisa could do was shush Lyra every time she moaned and whined through her sleep.
Lyra's breathing started to get more difficult and labored as if she was short of breath, Lyra started lightly wheezing every other breath as her chest tightened.
Marisa's patience on not acting to help her child was waning thinner and thinner the worse Lyra seemed to get as time wore on.
"Carlo!"
He quickly entered the living room at Marisa's loud booming commanding voice, he could see upon her face she was becoming unnerved by waiting to see her gripping Lyra towards her protectively.
Boreal could see now how worse the girl has gotten, she was clearly sweating through her clothes and her hair was damp. It wasn't boding well, he quickly checked his mobile to see if there was a message from his medical contact on what was taking so long.
"She's getting worse!" Marisa snapped protectively at Boreal clearly worried for her daughter, she needed immediate assistance now.
"I'll call my contact again, I am sorry it is taking so long. This is ridiculous" Boreal quickly reassured Marisa not wishing to anger or upset the woman to fall out of her good graces.
"See to it that you do, if they don't arrive soon. I will be forced to take Lyra myself for help and we don't want to draw attention to ourselves"
"No we don't want that, people will begin to ask questions. You don't have any documentation for yourself or Lyra. The government in this world would be all over you and would take Lyra away. Let me look after you two, my contact will be here soon" Boreal tried to convince Marisa speaking quickly that he was the best bet, that he was reliable and he wanted to prove it to her.
Marisa kept a hard look upon her face as Boreal then stepped into the hall to place a phone call to his contact, while all Marisa could do was hold Lyra tight for the time being.
Lyra shifted within her arms moaning as she laid her head against Marisa's shoulder for comfort. Marisa looked down upon her ailing child, she felt helpless.
They were in a different world, she found Lyra and she was in her arms however was ill. It dawned on her that she hadn't the faintest idea on how to comfort and or care for Lyra as her mother.
Lyra was deteriorating and if she didn't receive medical help soon, Marisa would be left with no choice but to venture out and find Lyra some help regardless of suspicions.
Lyra then began to become antsy within Marisa's arms as she began to moan more as if more uncomfortable.
Marisa snapped into action the minute Lyra began to gag, her face with sweat upon it and her stomach lurching. She nearly carried Lyra to the restroom straight away blanket and all passing Boreal in the hall.
Lyra couldn't hold it in as she threw up all over Boreal as they passed him, some of it getting upon his shirt.
He frantically called after Marisa as he was still currently on the phone with his contact. Boreal exclaimed in surprise in reaction to it before nearly gagging himself from the smell. He quickly shouted through the phone that if his contact wasn't there within the next thirty minutes there would be hell to pay before hanging up. He then took off upstairs to change out of his shirt quickly.
Marisa had just made it to the restroom with Lyra before the girl now slightly awake was throwing up once more within the loo upon the floor. Lyra's stomach lurched as she heaved, Marisa held her upon her lap on the cold tile floor.
Marisa moved Lyra's hair from her face as Lyra threw up, Lyra felt downright awful her body ached all over. Lyra cried from muscle pain as she struggled gripping the loo in a death grip, Marisa held Lyra against her and soothed her whispering sweet nothings and reassurances in her ear.
"It's almost over, you'll be alright sweetheart….I'm here"
Lyra felt so exhausted and weak from it all, once she finally emptied her stomach of everything into the toilet she collapsed back into her mother. Marisa quickly flushed it away and started to clean Lyra. The golden monkey who had carried Pan gently placed him down on Lyra's lap before getting a cold wet flannel for Marisa.
He handed it to her as he watched on as Marisa wiped and cleaned Lyra's face and surprisingly Lyra let Marisa mother her and take care of her. Lyra relaxed at the heavenly touch of the cold flannel upon her face and then eventually upon her forehead. She kept her eyes closed for the most part because of the headache and exhaustion she was experiencing.
Lyra whined from her stomach pain and exhaustion, confused and clearly out of it. Marisa's face softened as she heard her, she cleaned Lyra's face with another wet flannel while she held her daughter within her arms.
"Sssshhh it's alright, let mama take care of you…...Come" Marisa then made moves to lift Lyra with all of her strength, it was difficult however she managed with Lyra half leaning on her. Marisa brought Lyra back into the living room and laid her back upon the sofa. Marisa reassured Lyra that she would be alright, that she would make everything better. Marisa internally worried if she had the power to do so, she prayed to the authority for strength and for her child.
Once Lyra was somewhat settled back upon the sofa, Marisa covered her once more with the blanket. Only this time Marisa hadn't sat down with Lyra for she nervously paced and glanced out the windows looking for Carlo's so called medical contact to arrive to help Lyra.
Marisa hated waiting and sitting around, she stopped for a moment as she glanced towards Lyra sleeping upon the sofa. A wretched sad look passed over her face as her inner turmoil bubbled to the surface as her motherly instincts told her she needed to do something.
It was when Carlo emerged from upstairs with a fresh shirt on that the doorbell finally rang out, Carlo quickly clutching his phone in one hand before placing it into his pocket. He opened the front door greeting the doctor and ushering him into the house.
Marisa could hear the muffled voice of an apology of being tardy, something about their car breaking down and getting it repaired.
"Right, where is the patient?" the doctor asked as he glanced inside the rest of the house.
"In here, come quickly" Carlo then showed him towards the living room where Lyra was in a deep sleep having some trouble breathing and Marisa stood by her side waiting for the doctor.
Underneath the sofa the golden monkey took Pan within his arms cuddling him close keeping quiet and out of sight. As soon as the doctor was in view Marisa flashed a small smile more of a grimace upon her face as her anxiety peaked as well as eased at the doctor's arrival.
"Hello I'm Dr. Chase Richards" doctor Chase held out his hand to greet Marisa respectfully, seeing her waiting for his arrival.
"Thank you for being here, Dr. Richards. I would have preferred it to be sooner you see my daughter has not been feeling well. I'm awfully worried"
"Yes, Mr. Latrom had told me over the phone. I'm going to need to examine her to determine what is ailing her. Is there any information you can tell me that might help?"
Marisa then moved slightly out of the way revealing Lyra to the doctor who was lying still asleep upon the sofa, she then sat upon it near Lyra's leg's where there was space. Marisa then bagan to hurriedly spout off information hoping to help the doctor figure out what was wrong with her child.
"She's just recently vomited, she's been sweating for hours and her forehead's been warm since this morning"
The doctor then kneeled at the couch going down to Lyra's level placing his doctor's bag upon the floor next to him. Noticing the sweat profusing from Lyra's forehead listening to Marisa he quickly opened his bag reaching in for his thermometer and taking Lyra's temperature.
Marisa watched the man like an overprotective hawk, every move he made while Boreal stood watching the man as well with his arms crossed waiting. Boreal saw how concerned Marisa was and how she fawned over the girl it made jealousy surge through him, he kept it at bay as he kept his patience.
The thermometer beeped momentarily causing the man's face to scrunch up very concerned at the reading, he quickly then put his thermometer down.
"Try waking her" he then instructed Marisa who then gently shook Lyra in attempts to wake her.
"Lyra" Marisa's eyes widened as more seconds went on and Lyra's eyes did not open.
"Lyra!" Marisa began to become alarmed when Lyra still failed to stir, her heart began to jump. Boreal stepped further in the room at Marisa's insistent grave worried voice as Lyra failed to wake.
"Her temperature is dangerously high. We need to get it down now or Lyra will be in danger. Do you have a bath?"
"Upstairs!" Boreal shouted as he realised the severity of the situation, seeing the doctor and Marisa greatly distressed.
"Quick. Come help me carry her" Boreal stepped into action he needed to help Lyra for if something happened to the girl that he could have prevented. His power over Marisa would fade and he would be made her greatest enemy ranked higher than Asriel.
Marisa could only watch as they lifted her child up carrying her off the sofa, she was immensely worried as her heart jolted within her chest. It was akin to the moment she had seen Lyra within the intercision machine at Bolvangar about to be severed.
Boreal and Dr. Richards quickly swept Lyra up carrying her hurriedly and carefully towards and up the stairs as Marisa frantically followed the men keeping up on their heels as they carried her child. The golden monkey quickly emerged from under the sofa crying out in despair knowing desperately that Pan and Lyra could not be apart, he cried out as he ran to keep with Marisa as they ran up the stairs after Lyra, Boreal and Dr. Richards.
They barged open the upstairs bathroom door as they carried Lyra into the room, Lyra began to feel the distance between her and Pan and cried out scared and frantic her eyes still closed.
"Pan!" Lyra cried as Marisa reached the bathroom doorway, seeing Boreal and Dr. Richard placing Lyra within the empty bathtub leaving her pajamas on. Lyra was beginning to freak out, seeking out her daemon scared feeling that they had been separated from each other at a distance; their connection strained.
"Pan!" Dr. Richards quickly turned on the tap running freezing cold water within the bathtub, he placed the drain stopper so the bathtub began to fill. Marisa quickly reached the bathtub going down upon her knees to be by Lyra's side, her hand reaching out for Lyra in an attempt to comfort her only to not be able to. The golden monkey hid behind the bathtub out of view holding Pan close, petting him desperately trying to soothe him.
"Lyra...mama is here, you're alright" Marisa tried to reassure her fever hazed daughter calling out through the noise of Lyra struggling within the bath as Boreal and attempted to restrain her.
Lyra continued to struggle within the bathtub even more so as the cold water began to fill up around her, fever ridden she wasn't fully aware about what was happening. Lyra had tears running down her cheeks, all she wanted was her daemon she wanted him close. The cold of the water was reminding her of bolvangar, her mind brought dark memories of it to her forefront.
"No!" Lyra thrashed within the bathtub as if to fight to get out, Dr. Richards attempted to stop Lyra's movements as she splashed some water out of the tub onto the tile flooring.
"She needs to soak her head in the water. She needs to stay still until her fever goes down. If her temperature doesn't decrease soon she'll need to go to hospital!"
"Lyra, stop!" Boreal grunted as he and Dr. Richards still attempted to keep Lyra still, who cried and fought them both. To Lyra she was dreaming that she was back within the intercision machine in Bolvangar, Pan next to her in a separate cage where she couldn't touch him.
"Pa..Mmm...mmo...Mother…...Mother!" Lyra then cried out desperately, calling out for the one person she wished would save her.
"She's your daughter….Our child...She needs her mother!" Asriel's voice insisted pleading with her.
"Marisa, look at her...Please just hold her" Asriel's broken voice begged as baby Lyra's cries echoed in her memories.
Marisa's heart dropped to her stomach as an overwhelming feeling took over her as she then stood up quickly before moving Boreal and Dr. Richards out of the way away from her child.
Marisa without a thought climbed into the icy cold water of the bathtub and reached down shifting Lyra within the water. Marisa then laid down placing Lyra on her lap on top of her holding her close. Her body shook at the cold, however she paid it no mind for she had one thing on her mind.
Holding her child.
Marisa lulled Lyra's head to her shoulder where the water level was currently. Lyra gasped in shock at the water, however at being in her mother's arms sensing her touch bagan to calm down within seconds.
Marisa brushed her thumb upon Lyra's cheek lovingly with care.
"Mama" Lyra said softly relaxing.
Marisa froze as she heard the very word she never thought her daughter would call her.
Marisa at that moment didn't care that Boreal and a stranger were watching. Marisa Coulter shed a tear as Lyra stilled within her arms.
Lyra needed her and she was never going to let her go.