Secrets and Sins

Chapter 16

~Beatrice~

Beatrice had a splitting headache. Not really surprising after taking a piece of timber straight to the head a few hours ago. Camilla and Vincent had needed to pick them up after Ava destroyed the van they had arrived in.

The Halo bearer was uncharacteristically quiet on the way back to Cats cradle but sat as close to Beatrice as possible without being in the sister warrior's lap.

Debriefing was set for tomorrow, most of the team required medical attention and Beatrice suspected that Mother Superior was shaken by whatever had happened when Ava lost control. So here Beatrice was, sitting on the edge of the bathtub in Ava’s bathroom, whilst the other woman fussed over her bleeding head.

“Ava it's clean enough, just put some butterfly stitches on it, it'll be fine.”

The Halo bearer didn’t respond, she just kept dabbing at the wound with an antiseptic soaked piece of gauze.

“Ava?” Beatrice caught her wrist, pulling it away from the injury.
“What’s going on, talk to me.”

Ava finally acknowledged her, catching her eye. The Halo bearer was schooling her expression to something akin to neutral. Hiding her feelings from Beatrice.

“Nothing, I’m fine.” Ava spoke, her voice careful and even.

The Halo bearer gently pulled her hand from Beatrice’s grasp and turned to wash off the blood in the sink. Beatrice stood up, ignoring the painful throb of her head.

“Ava.” She pleaded, placing a delicate hand on her back.

The younger woman flinched away from her.

“Sorry.” Beatrice said, moving her hand away.

“It’s okay.” Ava replied, finally turning to look at her.
“It’s just sore from...you know, what happened back there.

Beatrice nodded, standing very still while Ava reached up to place several butterfly stitches across the cut on her forehead.

“What did happen back there?”

Unable to hold her gaze, Ava looked away. Beatrice had only seen the Halo bearer this evasive once, and that had led to her to sacrificing herself to destroy Adriel. The sister warrior shuddered at the memory.

I have to get through to her, somehow.

Beatrice took her hand and led her into the bedroom, tugging Ava over to the bed.

“What are y…?” Ava started, surprised when Beatrice pulled back the covers and lay down.
“Come here.” Beatrice whispered, opening her arms.

Ava looked torn for a moment but finally obliged and climbed into them, pressing her face into Beatrice’s neck. For a long while Beatrice just held her, stroking a hand through the other woman's hair. She wanted the Halo bearer to feel safe, safe enough to express what was on her mind. Beatrice listened to Ava’s breathing relax as the adrenaline of the last few hours faded.

“When she…when she takes over. I go to this place, it's all empty darkness.” Ava broke the silence, her voice small.

Beatrice tightened her arms around the Halo bearer but said nothing. Letting the other woman know that she was there for her and was listening.

“Reya speaks to me there. She told me this time that ah...” Ava sniffled a little.
“That she would ‘have her champion’. That she could force it out of me. I think she has been planting the metal to make it happen.”

Beatrice let that sink in for a moment. Reya wanted to control Ava at any cost. The thought made her furious, but she was careful not to let her rage show. Ava didn’t need her righteous anger; Ava needed her support right now.

“When I saw you get hurt, I couldn’t control it. I was so scared Bea, so scared I had lost you.”

Ava choked out a sob, her tears beginning to soak into Beatrice’s shirt.

“Shhh, hey, hey. It’s okay. I’m here, you didn’t lose me. I’m not going anywhere.” Beatrice soothed, pressing kisses into Ava’s hair.

"Besides you did control it, you came back to yourself."

Ava continued to sob for a long while, Beatrice didn’t know how much time passed but continued her ministrations to comfort the other woman. Eventually the sobs faded to quiet breaths in and out. Just when Beatrice thought Ava had fallen asleep, the Halo bearer spoke again.

“Thank you, Bea.”