Secrets and Sins

Chapter 42

~Ava~

Ava gasped in a breath, her eyes flying open. She cried out, the memory of the horrible pain that had accompanied the loss of the Halo overwhelming her for a moment.

Am I dead? Again?

She didn’t feel dead, sitting up she glanced around, darkness surrounded her. Wherever she was, it reminded her of Reya’s place, Ava shuddered. Abruptly, a light flashed in front of her forming a golden circle that lay on the dark floor.

The Halo?

Ava stared at it; she didn’t understand what was happening. Giving in to the probably unwise urge that gripped her, she reached out, placing her hand tentatively on the metal, expecting to feel the scorching heat that normally went with the relic. Instead, it felt warm, pleasantly warm, like lying in the sun on a summer's day. The warmth slowly enveloped her, travelling up her arm and across her chest until it had spread over her entire body. She sighed, closing her eyes.

Well at least we have each other.

“We’ve always had each other.”

Ava flinched at the second voice in her head, only Reya had ever spoken directly into her mind, but this voice didn’t sound like the goddess.

What the fuck?

“Language.”

She opened her eyes, peering at the golden ring in front of her curiously.

Sorry, but am I talking to the Halo right now? And did you just scold me for my language! That’s like...super weird. How is this happening?

“Yes, I am the Halo. When you took control from Reya, we formed a bond.”

Ava laughed out loud, maybe she had finely gone insane, to be fair she had held out for quite a while despite all the fucked-up shit that kept happening to her.

Ohkaaay. But weren’t you blown up by the portal?

“I always exist somewhere, energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted.”

I still don’t understand, are you like alive, alive? Why couldn’t I hear you before?

“Yes, I am a sentient being, and you have hosted me well, but we never fully formed a proper connection until you removed me from Reya’s influence.”

Am I dead?

“I believe so, yes. But you don’t have to be.”

What do you mean I don’t have to be? Death seems pretty final, although I suppose I’ve already died once.

“Join with me again, bear me. I will bring us back to your world but remember your promise. I can never be blocked or turned off; I must be completely one with you.”

Look, The Halo…

“Just Halo is fine.”

Okay Halo, Reya offered me pretty much the exact same deal if I worked for her. I’m not really keen to jump back into that kind of relationship.

“Ava Silva, I want nothing from you. I just need a bearer; I need a way of existing in the mortal plane. We will be one yes, but you will still have control of your mind and your body. Just as I will not be your tool or your slave, but instead, your partner.”

There was a pause, Ava stared at the shining circle that her hand was resting upon, she still had her reservations, but this was a way of living, of being back with Bea, who was she to give up an opportunity like that.

Do you promise?

“Of course.”

Okay, but I swear to God if you betray me, I’ll have Lilith cut you out again.

"Fair."

Let’s do this.

Ava grasped the Halo firmly, feeling the familiar golden power coursing through her before settling comfortingly against her spine once more.

~Beatrice~

Beatrice had her head in her hands, pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes, she was numb, and her heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces. The battle, the healing, Ava’s demise, she was struggling to process any of it. Lilith was standing just behind her, silently. Beatrice kind of felt sorry for her, the former sister warrior had been in this position with her twice now, witnessing her breakdown.

I wouldn't know what to say either.

“Holy shit.” Lilith exclaimed suddenly from behind her.
“Beatrice, get back.” The winged woman grabbed her and teleported her away from Ava’s body.

“Wha...?” The word died on her lips when she saw what Lilith saw.

Ava was glowing, her whole body, every vein lit by liquid gold.

What the fuck?

The Halo bearer was slowly lifted off the ground by some invisible force and placed on her feet, she opened her eyes with a gasp before staggering slightly.

“Jesus, you didn’t tell me it was gonna be such a fucked-up feeling.” Ava panted, blinking rapidly.

Who the hell was she talking to?

“Ava?” Beatrice whispered, still not quite believing her eyes.

The Halo bearer’s gaze snapped up to her own. The sister warrior was surprised to see that her normal honey brown iris was ringed by a thin line of dazzling gold.

“Hey Bea, I’m back from the dead. Again.” Ava grinned sheepishly and opened her arms.

Beatrice ran into her hard, tackling her to the ground with her hug. She couldn't help the tears of elation and relief from rolling down her cheeks. Ava laughed; the sound was like music to her ears. The Halo bearer dragged her closer, pressing her lips against the sister warrior's, kissing her passionately.

“I can’t believe it! How? And your eyes?” The sister warrior pulled away and cupped her cheek, examining the other woman’s eyes closely.

“Well, it turns out the Halo actually has a consciousness and when I defeated Reya it, like, bonded with me? It’s a long story.” Ava answered, smiling at Beatrice’s confused expression.
“It doesn’t matter right now though, what matters is I’m here with you and we need to get out of this God forsaken pit.”

Beatrice chuckled and stood, pulling Ava to her feet as well, she interlaced their fingers. The Halo bearer squeezed her hand gently before giving Lilith an awkward wave.

“Hey Lilith, thanks for…you know.” She trailed off looking down at her feet.

Lilith just shrugged, “Yeah, um, glad you didn’t die. Or stay dead anyway.”

Ava huffed a laugh, her thumb rubbing soft circles over Beatrice’s knuckles.

“So how are we going to get out of here? I can try to teleport. Although I’ve never taken a passenger that far before.” Lilith offered.

Beatrice let go of Ava’s hand briefly, stepping forward to pick up the Cruciform sword from where it lay abandoned after the battle with Reya, “I suppose we could…”

A whooshing noise and Ava’s yelp of surprise interrupted her. Beatrice spun, sword in hand ready for a fight but just about dropped the weapon when her eyes landed on the Halo bearer. Ava was currently sporting two huge white wings, each feather tipped with the same golden hue as her eyes.

“What the fuck man? Some warning would’ve been nice!” Ava blurted out, flexing the wings clumsily as she stared at them; Beatrice just gaped at her.
“Sorry I was talking to the halo. I ah...I didn’t know I could do that.”
“But maybe I could fly you out?” She quirked an eyebrow at the sister warrior.

“Um?” Beatrice didn’t know what to say to that, still gawking at the Halo bearer’s new appendages.

“We will take turns carrying her out and when we are close to the surface, I will teleport us the rest of the way if we can’t go any further.” Lilith corrected firmly.
“Flying isn’t a skill you just pick up automatically and it’s incredibly draining.”

Ava pouted but nodded her acceptance.

“Okay let’s get out of here.”

~Ava~

Not that Ava would ever admit it, but Lilith was right, flying was way harder than she thought. The Halo helped to guide her movements and supplemented her energy, but she had still managed to crash into the sides of the sinkhole on multiple occasions, luckily not whilst she was carrying Bea. Once Ava had perfected her technique, Lilith carefully handed the sister warrior to her to carry for a while. The taller woman pushed her face into Ava’s neck and clung to her tightly, Bea was not finding the feeling of flying quite as exhilarating as the Halo bearer.

“Come on Bea, just open your eyes for a second!”

“For the last time Ava, I will not. Focus on what you are doing. If you drop me, I will haunt you forever.” Bea muttered into her neck.

Ava laughed, placing a kiss on the other woman’s head, “Fair enough.”

They reached the top of the sinkhole just in time, even with the Halo’s extra power, Ava was starting to fatigue. With one last sweep of her wings, they rose above the dirt edge, and she landed carefully on the cracked tar seal of the road. All was quiet on the surface, but signs of battle were everywhere, cars were flipped, scorch marks were scattered across the edges of buildings and the roads.

“OH! MY! GOD!” A voice shouted from behind them, they turned to see Camilla gaping at the from across the intersection.

The nun ran around the sinkhole towards them slamming into whoever was closest for a hug. It just so happened to be Lilith who froze in surprise. Camilla hadn't gotten out of the fight unharmed; a long split adorned the left side of her bottom lip, and she had a decent bruise developing on her cheek bone.

“I’m so glad you guys are okay! When the tarasks disappeared, I knew you had done it, but I had a feeling that something bad happened…” Camilla visibly shivered at the thought before grabbing Bea next for a tight embrace.

When the nun reached her, she stared open mouthed at Ava’s wings, “Can I?” She reached out.

Ava nodded with a grin. Camilla ran a hand over the soft white feathers, shaking her head with amazement, “How?”

The Halo bearer shrugged, “The Halo. It brought me back again.”

“Wow...Wait it brought you back again?” Ava grimaced; the nun pulled her into a firm hug.
“I’m glad it did.” She pulled away, beaming at the trio.

“How was the battle? Any casualties?” Bea asked, entwining her hand with Ava's yet again.

Camilla’s face fell, tears gathering in her eyes, “Some. It would have been way worse if you guys hadn’t closed the portal when you had.”
“Come on, we’ve got to get back to the hotel. Everyone will be so relieved to see you guys!”

Following the nun away from the sinkhole, Ava felt ridiculously happy. She had Bea, she had the Halo, they had stopped the war. Only one thing was left unfinished.

Where is Reya?

“She is not on this plane, I would sense her.”

Will she come back?

“Possibly. But you have me now, we will defeat her if she comes back.”

We will.