A Proper Family

Mother

The next morning came in London, Lyra awoke when sunlight peeked through her window reaching her face. She breathed in stirring, she was sluggish still getting over the remnants of the fever. Her head felt less fuzzy, she was more alert and aware like she had been in a soothing fog. Pan perked up as she rose to wake up more, she stretched a bit moving under the covers.

She weakly rubbed her eyes with the back of one of her closed hand, it took her a second before she thought back to the other day. Had it been a dream, she was in Mrs. Coulter's apartment once more. She remembers running away, then Mrs. Coulter had found her brought her here where she would be safe. Lyra wondered if anything would change being around Mrs. Coulter with them both now aware of their connection. Lyra's heart rate started to go up as she thought of her Uncle, he was now a criminal wanted by the magisterium. Would she see him again, he had lied to her all her life and left her. Lyra wanted to not care about him, however, her little heart couldn't help it. He was all the family she had known until now.

Glancing around the room, she noted it was quiet in the penthouse apartment. Save for the sounds of the servants preparing what Lyra would assume was breakfast and a tea kettle shouting out before being moved off the flame. Her bedroom was exactly how she had it before she ran, Lyra then remembered the Alethemoter she quickly glanced around the room before spotting her handbag on the dresser. Hoping Mrs. Coulter had not discovered it, she pushed the covers off her with Pan following as she reached the bag reaching inside opening it and finding the Aletheomoter still inside untouched. Lyra sighed a breath of relief, she then slowly backed up into her bed and sat down as she opened the gold alethiometer.

Turning her head to Pan "I wish it could work and tell me if he is alright" Pan looked on with his black eyes as a white ermine. "You probably need a certain way to figure it out, maybe there are books" he suggested as Lyra moved the dials and gears trying to will it to work.

"We will have to find out" Lyra told Pan closing it before standing up and putting it back in its silk pouch, she heard some footsteps in the hall coming from the living room. She quickly ran to hide the alethiometer underneath the cushion of the chair in the far corner of the room where she had hidden it before she ran away.

Lyra quickly then made her way back to her bed and went under the covers once more with Pan shooting underneath as well curling up against Lyra as she laid down once more. It was very comfortable, however, she hid underneath the covers as the footsteps drew nearer. Lyra then heard the door slowly open a bit, Mrs. Coulter peeking in seeing Lyra curled up underneath the covers.

Mrs. Coulter smiled softly at the sight, she softly and slowly made her way to the bed before sitting on the edge exhaling. Ozymandias leaping softly on the bed covers as well next to her watching with curiosity, Lyra had wrapped herself completely within the covers and fur blanket like a cocoon. Lyra thought maybe she could truly be safe inside here, Pan curled next to her both almost falling back to sleep being still sleepy.

Mrs. Coulter reached out her hand and nudged the lump under the covers, Lyra moved a bit, however, stayed underneath. Mrs. Coulter then leaned close to the covers and whispered "Lyra" seeing if she was awake. Lyra moaned a bit not wanting to wake up and deal with everything, especially afraid of how things would be now. Lyra was cautious, as Mrs. Coulter had been soft with her so far at the moment.

"Lyra darling, are you awake?" Mrs. Coulter rubbed the blankets where it was Lyra's side, Lyra moved slightly before from under the covers she mumbled "No"

Mrs. Coulter smiled at the response, hoping Lyra was feeling better if she was in a joking mood. Mrs. Coulter for some reason thought she would play along, happy that Lyra was feeling better and that she was talking all be it small.