Chapter 16

Household Tales

by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Snow-White and Rose-Red

THERE was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose-trees, one of which bore white and the other red roses. She had two children who were like the two rose-trees, and one was called Snow-white and the other Rose-red. They were as good and happy, as busy and cheerful, as ever two children in the world were, only Snow-white was more quiet and gentle than Rose-red. Rose-red liked better to run about in the meadows and fields seeking flowers and catching butterflies; but Snow-white sat at home with her mother, and helped her with her house-work, or read to her when there was nothing to do.

The two children were so fond of each other that they always held each other by the hand when they went out together, and when Snow-white said, "We will not leave each other," Rose-red answered, "Never so long as we live."

They often ran about the forest alone and gathered red berries and no beasts did them any harm, but came close to them trustfully. The little hare would eat a cabbage-leaf out of their hands, the roe grazed by their side, the stag leapt merrily by them, and the birds sat still upon the boughs, and sang whatever they knew.

No mishap overtook them; if they had stayed too late in the forest and night came on, they laid themselves down near one another upon the moss, and slept until morning came, and their mother knew this and had not distress on their account.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They had brought Lyra back to her flat over the occult shop where she had lain in bed and cried for three days. Jim, Sophia and Dean had taken turns trying to comfort her. Encouraging her to eat small bits of food, drink tea and cooling her face, grown puffy and hot from crying, with compresses. On the third day, Lyra and her parents had assembled with their Celtic coven in the oak grove near Jim's cabin for a Wiccan funeral ceremony.

Dean and Sam had attended. There was no body to bury so everyone stood around a small empty hole in the ground in which the family and friends placed Katie's athame and chalice wrapped in her ritual cloak. Some people placed herbs in the grave and poured wine onto the earth.

Lyra looked thin and tired. Her beautiful dark hair hung straight and looked shiny in the sunlight but framed her face, a bit too pale and drawn, with dark circles beneath her eyes. The coven asked the Goddess to guide Katie's spirit to 'The Summerlands': to everlasting peace and contentment. It was a nice ceremony, thought Dean. Not full of flowery words and sentiments the way some funerals can be and not held in a somber, formal church. Deep in the forest, surrounded by bird song and sunlight, the coven spoke of returning to the Earth, to the Mother Goddess and eternal creation.

Looking at Lyra, Dean's heart was heavy thinking of the overwhelming weight of sorrow he'd feel if he ever lost Sam. Dean couldn't begin to imagine her loss.

oo00oo

Dean knocked twice on the door to Lyra's apartment. He heard soft footsteps on the other side and the door swung open. She looked better. Rested. But still had the drawn look of someone in deep sorrow.

"Hi," he began shyly.

"Hi," Lyra replied. "Come in."

As Dean entered the apartment he saw moving boxes stacked in the living room. Piles of books ready to be packed. Through her bedroom door he saw clothes piled high on her bed. They hadn't spoken about her plans after Katie's release. He only knew what he'd come here to ask her.

"You're leaving Salem?"

"Yes. Dad and I are done here," Lyra replied with finality.

Dean took a deep breath trying to compile his thoughts.

"Crystal and John will be taking over the shop downstairs," Lyra continued. "Dad is going home to Scotland for awhile to be near the family there."

"And you?" Dean's voice wavered slightly. The uncertainty in his eyes made Lyra's heart swell.

"I made a deal with my mom." Lyra smiled sadly.

"A deal?"

"Yes, she agreed to come help kill the demon if I would agree to work with her in Rome."

"Oh," was all Dean could manage. What had he expected? That she'd actually want to stick with him?

Seeing the disappointment register in Dean's face Lyra caressed his cheek softly. Placing a long kiss on his soft lips. Dean's arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close to him.

Drawing apart finally, Lyra continued a little breathlessly. "It's not that my mother wouldn't come to help, to free Katie. It's just she thought our plan was crazy and she would only agree to it if I promised to apprentice under her in Rome. If we all came out of this alive."

"Apprentice in Rome…" Dean repeated the words letting them sink in.

"I will become a much stronger witch. Rome is a powerful place mystically and my mother's work is quite…uh, high end. She is exclusive with the Vatican."

Of course, thought Dean. Why the hell would she want to tour around with him and Sam in the backwater counties of America chasing God knows what with 12 gauges and half-assed plans?

"Dean," Lyra clasped his face in her hands. "I will never forget my promise to you. I'm going to Rome to gain strength and experience fighting demons. When you need me, when you are ready to confront the demon that killed your mother I'll be here for you. I promise. Just call me. Okay?"

"Sure," Dean nodded pulling away from her embrace. "I'll call you."

The cliché words rang false, he felt the need to get out of here. He felt in over his head, like he was drowning.

"Dean, don't go yet. I mean it. I will come back and help you. I'll be a stronger sorceress by then. I promise."

Dean nodded silently but continued to back towards the door.

"Wait," Lyra grasped his hand. "I have something for you."

Dean smiled slyly as she led him into the bedroom.

oo00oo

Dean floored the Impala as they whipped past the Salem city limits sign.

"Wow, working for the Vatican." Sam stated next to him.

"Yeah, she says it's pretty lucrative and she wants to strengthen her powers as a witch." Dean looked darkly at the road ahead. He'd been in a bad mood since returning to the motel Lyra-less. He'd said very little to Sam as they packed the car and had only started explaining the situation as they'd begun to drive.

"Well," Sam noted,"she'll be a good friend to call on when the time comes to confront our demon."

"Yeah," Dean admitted reluctantly. He pulled the card from the front pocket of his shirt handing it to Sam. On the back of the tarot card was a lengthy, presumably European, phone number. Sam flipped it over to see the face of the card.

It was a picture of a guy wrestling a lion to the ground. 'Strength' was printed beneath the image.

"Huh," was all Sam said.

Dean pressed the gas pedal further as the engine responded with a roar. The Impala's red tail lights speeding away as they headed West.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

THANKS FOR READING! Hope you enjoyed! sirannon