Secrets and Sins

Chapter 5

~Beatrice~

It was exactly 12 hours after she had brought Ava back to the apartment when things started to go wrong.

Getting there had been uneventful, well, except for getting Ava up the stairs to the apartment's old door. There had been lots of pained gasps and groans from Ava. All Beatrice could do is murmur encouragement as they battled their way one stair at a time. Ava let out a relieved sigh when they finally arrived at the door, it’s faded blue paint peeling.

Once they were inside,  all Ava wanted to do was sleep, so Beatrice helped her into bed and lay beside her. This tim,  Ava didn’t move closer, too exhausted from the walk home, so Beatrice carefully scooted towards her and took her hand. She wanted to be closer but was aware of Ava’s injuries.

When Beatrice next woke, the sun was just starting to set, and she knew something was wrong. Very wrong. She was so attuned to Ava’s breathing that the Halo bearer’s quick and shallow breaths must’ve been the reason she stirred.

“Ava?” Beatrice reached out to touch the sleeping woman’s arm. It was feverishly hot and damp with sweat. She sucked in a sharp breath.

Infection.

Beatrice untangled herself from the covers on the bed, her mind racing. She had to find a solution and she had to find it quickly. The halo must still be recharging after whatever had happened to Ava on the other side. Beatrice couldn’t count on that to heal Ava, not at this stage anyway.

She needs antibiotics. Now.

But how would she get it, Beatrice wouldn’t be able to go into a pharmacy and just ask for some, she had no prescription. Wracking her brain Beatrice had an idea. Camilla could forge her paperwork to get some drugs, surely. Beatrice grabbed her phone off the bedside table and sent the text. Now, all she could do was wait for the call.

Beatrice looked over at Ava, the younger woman's gorgeous face was tense with pain, a little wrinkle had formed between her eyebrows. The sister warrior reached out and smoothed it with her thumb. She winced in sympathy when she felt the burning skin under her hand.

Beatrice flinched when her phone rang, she had been so focused on smoothing her hand through Ava’s hair. Though it was wet with sweat, the caress seemed to comfort the other woman, her face relaxing slightly.

“Hello?” Beatrice answered urgently.

“Beatrice? What’s happening?” Mother Superior replied.

“I need to talk to Camilla, Ava needs medication desperately.”

“Slow down and explain to me exactly what’s going on.” Mother Superior's voice was patient but firm. She would not be hung up on again.

Beatrice took a deep breath, she then quickly and concisely explained what had eventuated during the last two days. Her voice was measured and professional, like she was debriefing after a mission. The only time Beatrice’s voice wavered was when she described Ava’s current condition.

“Thank you for the update. I will fetch Camilla, and I will wire you some funds for Ava’s treatment.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Beatrice let out a relieved sigh.

“No problem, we need the Halo bearer’s testimony from the other side.” Mother Superior answered evenly.
“Oh, and Beatrice, try not to worry yourself too much. If anyone can survive this it’s Ava, she’s far too hardheaded to let a little infection put her down.”

Beatrice smiled at that. She hoped Mother Superior was right.

A few moments passed while she waited for Camilla to get on the phone. While she waited, Beatrice went back to carding her right hand through Ava’s hair, it helped quell the growing sense of dread building in the sister warrior’s chest.