Disclaimer: I do not own the His Dark Materials Series.
A/N: Hi, everyone! I'm so very sorry for the long delay on this story. This story started in 2012 when I was a freshman in college, and I'm continuing it now while I'm in the first year of my master's program. It's amazing how far this story has come and long it's been going! Thank you to all that read and review this story. I'm happy you enjoy it, and I promise I'll update as much as I can!
Luxurious Lies
35.
Wavering Ways
"M-Ma'am?"
"Not now, Brother Louis."
"But, I think we're headed the wrong way… Didn't we just come from here?"
"I think you're still disoriented. Perhaps you need some more herbs?"
"I, I don't really know if…"
At that Mrs. Coulter leaned forward and put the back of her hand against his forehead, gazing into his eyes. His eyes softened, and with a smile, Mrs. Coulter moved to caress the side of his head. "You're going to be just fine, darling. Lean back and close your eyes. I've got everything under control."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Go back to the first place you ever visited in Trollesund and wait for further instruction. Those were the last words Lord Asriel had said before flying off with Serafina, Stelmaria tucked under his arm and that wild gleam nestled in Serafina's gaze.
It was all so very confusing. Everything happened so fast, and Lyra could only keep moving forward one step at a time, her hood up and Pan nestled inside her pocket as a mouse. It was well after a year since she had first come to Trollesund in search of Roger and the missing kids. So much occurred in that journey, and so much kept changing.
Serafina was bad. That Lyra knew for sure. She'd fallen in love with Lord Asriel and has been tracking him with no mercy. Not even Dr. Lanselius could understand or control her. Mrs. Coulter proved to be unpredictable during their time as runaways, and Lord Asriel had always been there for Lyra, even though he would likewise disappear for long periods of time. So, who in this world was she supposed to trust? Whose instructions was she meant to await, exactly? And when would all of this occur?
"Just keep walking," Pan whispered to her, nipping at her hand. "Go back to the docks. He was clear about that."
Clear… Something else could be clear, too. Checking carefully to make sure no one was looking, Lyra pulled off to the side by a stack of crates and pulled out the alethiometer.
"What are you going to ask it?" Pan jumped out and became an ermine. "Shouldn't we get to the docks first?"
"I wanna know who we can trust," Lyra answered, moving the hands to the appropriate symbols and focusing on the way the hands moved and flicked. "I expect we'll hear somethin' soon, but I've gotta know now."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Ma'am?"
She had him. Looking over at him, Mrs. Coulter saw the beads of sweat dripping down Brother Louis's face and the flush of his face. His terrier demon was whimpering, and the golden monkey moved over to pin her front paws to Brother Louis's chest.
"You listen very carefully, Brother Louis. We're heading back to Trollesund, and you're going to be quiet and not say a thing. Am I understood?"
"What?" He was breathing fast and struggling, gulping too. Mrs. Coulter smiled.
"Of course you'll run back to the Magisterium, and you'll tell them that I poisoned you and ran off. We've been going in circles for hours now, so it's plausible for you to have run back to Trollesund to alert the proper authorities."
"But, why would I do that when…"
"Oh, you don't have to." A flash of silver pressed lightly against Brother Louis's skin, and a moan escaped from his throat. "It's probably easier for me to just kill you, but I do have a heart, Brother Louis. We're both servants of the Church. Aren't we taught to show and exercise mercy?"
Mercy is a fool's toy. The golden monkey scrunched his nose and shrieked, wanting nothing more than to rip Brother Louis's nose off and tear off the paw of his daemon. He was angry, always so, so angry. But Mrs. Coulter was better than that. At least she was trying to be.
She didn't even know if this would work, really. It was quite a gamble. Brother Louis was an absolute idiot, but would he keep his silence? Mrs. Coulter imagined that he'd trip his way back to the Magisterium and blather about how she escaped and how she'd threatened him. That part was true. They'd believe him. But would Brother Louis guess about where she was headed next?
"Please, just don't hurt me."
"I won't, as long as you behave and do as I say."
This better work. The golden monkey was skeptical, of course. I don't know why we don't just kill him. It'd be so easy.
"Hush," she whispered to him, taking the reigns and urging the dogs forward.
Mrs. Coulter had come too far to turn back. She crossed the line the moment she ran with Lyra from Bolvangar, and it's truly a wonder she'd gotten out of trouble as many times as she had. But she did it, and now she had to reunite with her daughter and figure out what in the hell they were going to do next.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"What?" Fear flashed through Lyra as she snapped the alethiometer shut.
"She's coming for you, isn't she?" Pan was scared, too, his white fur fluffed up as he pressed against her.
She just didn't give up, did she? Lyra leaned back against the crate, feeling her head spin. Her life had been a complete and utter whirlwind since Mrs. Coulter took her away from Bolvangar. They'd been on the run, hiding, working with Lord Asriel, running away from Lord Asriel, visiting the Magisterium, and now here.
Something else was troubling her, too. The alethiometer had shown some good will. Usually the serpent came up somewhere when she asked about Mrs. Coulter, but this time there was none. There was the Madonna and the baby, like usual, and another combination of symbols…
"We'll be alright, Lyra." Pan stood up and urged her upwards, licking her hand. "Let's go back to the docks and see what happens. As long as we're away from the Magisterium and Serafina, I think we're safe."
"I hope so," Lyra sighed. Putting her hood up and ducking back into the street, Lyra really and truly hoped she'd be safe for just a little while longer.