Secrets And Sins Part 3: Happy ever after

Chapter 39

***Hey guys, I'm away for a week so may not have an update for you during that time... I'll see how I go. Thanks so much for the comments and the votes, happy reading...***

~Ava~

Mary was limping, and it was so subtle Ava wasn't sure if she was seeing it at first. But, every time she turned to walk back down the hall, there was an obvious hitch in her first step.

Ava frowned, watching as the other woman passed her in the tight hallway, her head bowed as she brooded. Mary pivoted at the other end of the hall and began her trek back towards the Halo bearer once again with a lame step. Ava needed to stop her before she hurt herself further.

"Mary...?"

If Mary heard her at all, she gave no sign and the Halo bearer was forced to step forward, blocking Mary's path instead. Still her friend ignored her, and for a tense moment Ava wondered if Mary was going to walk straight into her, but then she halted.

"Move." Mary growled without looking up.

Ava swallowed but held her ground. "No."

Dark dangerous eyes rose to meet her own. "Ava, I swear to God if you don't get out of the way..."

Instead of complying, the Halo bearer lurched forward and wrapped Mary up in a hug. She held her tightly waiting for Mary's inevitable shove backwards, but it never came. Sure Mary stayed tense, rigid in Ava's arms, but she just stood there, silent in the embrace.

"Ava..."

She could hear the fear plainly in Mary's voice. Ava's heart clenched, she couldn't imagine what Mary was going through right now, not knowing what state Lilith was in, especially after their fight. What if she lost her without fixing them? Ava tightened her arms.

"I know."

Mary finally sunk into her then, letting out a long trembling breath as she buried her face in Ava's shoulder.

The door to the surgery opened and Ava let Mary go, but stayed close just in case. Bea was standing before them, her pristine white shirt now stained crimson. She looked tired and worried.

"How is she?" Mary asked, her voice rough with all the emotion she was trying to hold back.

"The surgeon removed the knife and sewed her up, but now the divinium is out," Bea smiled slightly, and some of the weight Ava could feel in her chest eased, "Lilith is healing normally."

"Thank God." Mary muttered, sagging in relief.

"There's something else..." Bea's smile faded, a flicker of something that looked very much like contained fury crossing her face. "The knife had the OCS seal on the butt of the handle."

Mary immediately went deathly still beside her, but for Ava the realisation was slower. "The OCS..." she said, "but that means..."

Bea nodded at Ava's words but, her eyes watching Mary closely. "We think she went to the Cradle first."

"Those motherfuckers." Mary's murderous tone made the hair rise on the back of Ava's neck. "I'll burn the Vatican to the fucking ground." She turned suddenly, making a beeline for the door at the end of the hall.

Ava reached out to grab her, but Bea got there first, catching Mary by the wrist. "Mary, no."

"Let go of me Beatrice." Mary's voice was low, dangerous, and Ava felt a surge of protectiveness towards her fiance. She loved Mary but wouldn't hesitate to put her down if she tried to hurt Bea.