Secrets and Sins

Chapter 8

~Ava~


I need to lie down. I really need to lie down.

Herself, Bea, Camilla, Mother Superior, Vincent and Yasmine were seated around the main strategizing table of the OCS, talking. Ava felt like she had been sitting there for hours, she was exhausted, and wounds ached horribly. It had gotten to the point where Bea was answering all questions directed at Ava, basically summarizing the last few days the Halo bearer had been in this world. Ava could feel Bea glancing at her, she could feel the worry oozing from the sister warrior.

Fair enough, I look like shit.

Ava had caught her reflection in the window when they had entered the room, the circles under her eyes were so dark she looked skeletal. Her skin was pale, her face slack and posture slumped and lifeless.

“Mother.” Bea interrupted yet another conversation speculating how Ava had returned.
“Ava and I need to rest. We’ve been travelling for 36 hours straight. I promise as soon as we’ve rested, we will report back for briefing.”

Ava had never been more grateful in her life. For a moment Mother Superior looked like she might argue but then her eyes fell on Ava.

“Okay Beatrice, you and Ava are dismissed.”

Thank God.

~Beatrice~

Beatrice was basically carrying Ava by the time they reached the Halo bearer’s quarters. After the debacle with Shannon’s old room and Sister Crimson, the newest Halo bearer’s quarters had been moved to a different part of the convent. Only a handful of people knew exactly which room it was for safety reasons, it was slightly bigger than the standard nun’s dwelling and had its own bathroom.

She helped Ava over to the bed. The Halo bearer was now very much on the verge of collapsing.

“Ava?” Beatrice started gently.
“I need to change your bandages before you sleep.”

Ava let out a disappointed groan and reached down to the hem of her T-shirt attempting to pull it over her head. It was apparent that Ava was too weak to remove it herself.

“Can I…” Beatrice tripped over what she was about to say, face reddening and cleared her throat, “Can I help you take it off?”

Ava looked up at her, a slight mischievous glint in her eye. It was a testament to her exhaustion that the Halo bearer didn’t tease the sister warrior and just nodded instead. Beatrice quickly removed the shirt, trying not to appear bothered by the whole ordeal. It wasn’t like much of Ava’s skin was on display, her body was mostly covered with bandages.

Which I have to unwrap and rewrap.

Beatrice gulped nervously.

As she went to work unwrapping Ava’s torso, the other woman slumped forward so her head was on Beatrice’s shoulder. Once she had removed all of the wrapping, Beatrice pushed Ava back into an upright position so she could stand to get a small bowl of water and cloth to clean the wounds. Hands shaking, she tried not to look anywhere but the wounds themselves.

“Bea.” Ava’s whisper startled her slightly. “It’s okay, you can look. I…I want you too.”

Beatrice looked into Ava’s eyes for a moment, checking for any doubt. There was none to be found, just trust and love. Taking a deep breath, Beatrice looked down and allowed herself to take in Ava’s form. It wasn’t like she had never seen Ava in just a bra before, it was just the first time Beatrice had ever allowed herself to look and accept what she felt. The Halo bearer was all toned muscle and soft curves. A couple of freckles dotted the front of her shoulders and chest.

“You're beautiful.” Beatrice breathed, in awe of the woman in front of her.

Ava flushed slightly, Beatrice watching with interest as it travelled down her neck to her collarbones and dusted across her chest.
Eventually Ava broke the quiet.

“Sorry to rush you Bea, but I’m about to fall asleep.”

“Right. Yes. Okay.” It was Beatrice’s turn to blush this time.

She finished wrapping Ava’s wounds quickly and helped her lie back on the bed. There was no point trying to get a shirt back on her now. Besides Ava was already snoring softly, her face soft and serene after the long journey. Beatrice unlaced the sneakers Ava was wearing and slipped them and her socks off before tucking her under the covers of the bed.

Pressing a feather light kiss to the other woman’s forehead, Beatrice grabbed her duffel and shut herself in the bathroom. She desperately needed a shower. Beatrice stood under the hot stream of water for a long time, letting it ease the muscle knots in her back and shoulders.

She couldn't decide if it was appropriate to sleep in the bed with Ava now they were back at the convent. Beatrice agonized over the thought as she dressed and dried her damp hair. When she emerged from the bathroom and saw the sleeping Halo bearer lying on her side looking oh so comfortable, Beatrice made her decision.

~Ava~

“I don’t really remember much from the other side.”

Ava was standing at the front of the same strategizing room that they had been hustled into when they had arrived yesterday. She had been given the floor to brief the team on what she had found out about Reya and the Holy war.

The inner circle was looking at her expectantly, well, all except Bea. Ava felt warmth pool in her stomach remembering how she had woken this morning with Bea spooning her in her bed. Their legs tangled together, and Bea’s arm wrapped tightly around her, the sister warrior’s fingers interlaced with her own.

I want to wake up like that every day for the rest of my life.

“But Reya did give me a warning.” Ava could feel the room tense.

“Three omens will herald the start of the war. Fire, Water and Earth.”

There was a long pause.

“Not vague at all.” Camilla was the first to break the silence.

“Sister Camilla.” Mother Superior warned, “I’m sure Reya has a reason for her taciturn.”

“So, she sent you back to help us fight the war and deliver her message?” Yasmine spoke up, looking thoughtful.

Ava nodded; the room dissolved into conversation as the group discussed the information she had provided. Ava caught Bea’s eye; the sister warrior was frowning at her as if she didn’t quite believe Ava had told them the whole story. Of course, Bea could see through her, Ava sometimes wondered if the sister warrior knew her better than she knew herself.  She shot the other woman with what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

They don’t need to know. She doesn't need to know. I have it all under control.