Secrets and Sins Part 2: Finding Mary

Chapter 1

~Ava~

The wings were proving to be a problem. Ava loved the flying, that was…well…that was fucking awesome. No, the issue was rapidly becoming putting them away. According to the Halo, Ava should be able to blink them out of existence on this plane of reality, whatever that meant, but so far, they were sticking around stubbornly.

"Um Ava? I don't think you will be able to fit into the van…" Camilla glanced at her feathery appendages awkwardly.

They were heading back to the hotel after the battle at the sinkhole. Ava was a mixture of exhausted and elated, although underpinning it all was a layer of fear. She couldn't believe she had escaped death yet again. Though Reya was on the loose, Ava was still trying to feel hopeful, the portals were shut, the war was over before it started, and she had Bea. Ava looked over at the sister warrior with a smile. Bea was talking quietly with Sister Dora, both their expressions were sombre, her smile slipped.

Probably discussing casualties.

"Ava." Camilla spoke more sharply, trying to get her to focus.

"Oh shit. Sorry I wasn't paying attention. Let me try again." Ava closed her eyes, inhaling deeply through her nose.
"How's that?" The Halo bearer opened one eye just a sliver and let out a growl of frustration when she saw the nun shaking her head.

"Nope. You are still winged."

Can you explain again how I'm supposed to get rid of these fucking things?

"Ava, you need to calm your mind and concentrate. Just picture them gone and they will go."

"It's really quite simple."

I have been…they are still here.

"You aren't trying hard enough. You're too anxious."

Well wouldn't you be?! I just had the love of my life kidnapped and nearly killed, then I died and came back with a talking golden ring stuck in my back, and Reya is still out there, an actual divine creature, who wants me and my friends dead.

The Halo didn’t respond, which Ava was kind of glad about. The ancient relic was not helping with it’s condescending tone.

The ball of dread that she had been suppressing since Reya had disappeared started to become harder to ignore. It coiled up in her gut, making her feel nauseous. She was beginning to feel overwhelmed from the last 24 hours. Her heart rate started to accelerate; a panic attack imminent.

Through the storm of emotion, Ava felt a hand brushing hers, fingers interlacing, "Ava…take a breath, you're glowing."

The heat from the Halo was building between the Halo bearer's shoulder blades, reacting to her agitation. Ava opened her eyes to see Bea standing close in front of her, expression concerned. Vaguely she could see everyone else behind the sister warrior carefully avoiding watching Ava's breakdown, instead concentrating on loading their weapons into the van. She took a shuddering breath in, leaning into the other woman's space to bury her face into the crook of her neck. Bea free hand came up to stroke the blood and dirt matted hair at the back of Ava's head.

"You can do it, darling, I know you can. Just like we practiced. Clear your mind, relax." Bea whispered softly in her ear.

Ava pressed herself in closer, allowing Bea's presence to engulf her. She breathed in for 4 and out for 4, trying to focus on nothing but the warm embrace of the taller woman. Her body relaxed slowly, melting into the sister warrior’s. Ava let her mind wander as she tried to envision the weight of the wings just disappearing, there was a low swoop in her stomach, similar to dropping from a great height.

Bea flinched slightly in surprise before smiling against Ava’s ear, “You did it Ava. They’re gone.”

The Halo bearer sighed in relief, learning to control her new powers might be harder than she thought.


~Beatrice~

Beatrice stared up at the roof of their penthouse bedroom in the darkness. Ava was sleeping soundly, head resting on the sister warrior’s chest, and her right arm wrapped tightly around her waist. The poor woman had almost passed out in the shower they had shared on their return to the hotel. Beatrice had helped clean the blood and sweat and ash from the Halo bearer's body before tucking them both up right in the center of the huge king-sized bed.