Bury all your secrets in my skin

13. Remission

Ava wound her way through the narrow alleyways of the village's back streets, shooting nervous glances over her shoulder every thirty seconds. She couldn't help it, she couldn't understand how getting everyone to leave her had been so easy. Not that she had been the one to convince them...

"You what!?"

Ava winced tugging Lilith a few feet further from everyone else. "I need to stay... Could you just trust me?"

"Oh, I do trust you... to do something stupid!" Lilith hissed absolutely unimpressed until understanding dawned on her face. "You've found her?"

"Shush!" Ava quickly darted a look towards the other grim looking sister warriors to make sure they hadn't heard, lucky for her they seemed to be just out of earshot. "Look, I have a lead okay... but I can't exactly explore the lead with company."

"I bet you can't..." Lilith rolled her eyes.

"Lilith, would you please just get everyone to leave, please... PLEASE?" Ava was begging now. "I promise I'll be careful."

Lilith's expression was torn as she searched her eyes, her disdain for Ava's request obvious in the tightness of her jaw.

"But I swore to protect you..."

Lilith bit the corner of her lip, and Ava softened. "I know... but she needs me. Only me."

Resolve crumbling, Lilith's sigh was defeated as she gave in. "Fine. But you contact me regularly or I will come and find you."

Ava nodded solemnly and Lilith stormed off, dark mutters trailing after her.

Despite her feelings on the matter, Lilith had somehow persuaded the tactical team to leave their Warrior nun behind. It was an impressive feat, and even as she watched the three nondescript black vans drive away, Ava still couldn't fathom how she had managed to do it.

"Ava..."

A much too large hand caught her wrist pulling her both to a stop and out of her spiraling thoughts about her team. Ava looked up into the fathomless black eyes of the young man Bea was currently piloting, wondering if the glimmer of sadness she could see was her imagination and if not, who it belonged to.

"We're here." Bea added, somehow her accent was still there despite hijacking the man's vocal cords to speak.

Ava nodded and looked up at the sign for the inn. It was old, she couldn't make out the name, all she could see was faded purple paint peeling from the hand-painted bunch of grapes decorating the center of the rotting wood. This building was nondescript and certainly well away from the beaten path, a perfect hiding place. She followed Bea inside, the dirty glass doors swinging shut behind her, and stayed close as the dozen or so slightly unsavory patrons glanced in their direction.

The innkeeper raised a suggestive eyebrow when Bea asked for a room, looking between them with an unsettling smirk. Ava kept her eyes trained on the stained bar top, watching as a small wad of cash was slid towards the innkeeper's hand.

Where the hell did Bea get money from? Ava doubted very much that wraiths had pockets. It had to belong to the man she was possessing.

Ava's eyes widened.

She enslaved him AND she stole from him...?

No. Ava wouldn't allow her mind to go there. This was Bea, her Bea, and her Bea would never hurt an innocent person... right?