This Love Only Brings You Pain (COMPLETED) ✓

Eleven

A flash of purple. The ringing in Ava's ears barely allowed her to register the sounds of swords clashing against one another, along with the screams of sister warriors and mutilated enemies. There was a catastrophic storm of explosions, smoke fizzling into the air like steam drifting elegantly off a hot chocolate.

Another flash, this time the familiar aura of Lilith's portal, her cheekbones streaked with mud and dried blood. Camila was beside her, dressed in her combat gear, clinging to the other girl's waist protectively. Mary ran past the pair, blasting her shotguns as a knight in leather armour and another nun dashed after, circling her in a defensive stance.

Then there was Beatrice.

Except this time, there weren't in a cave or on the battlefield, but locked in the warrior's room, whispering sweet nothings and sharing brief kisses.

"I love you," Bea whispered, caressing her face delicately.

"I love you too."

Then there was nothing. It was only Ava, halo-less and trapped in an endless pit of snakes, whose poison she was no longer invincible to. The last thing she heard was darkness, before she was sent into paralysis once more.

"NO!" 

Ava sat up in bed, the stench of sweat unbearable. She was almost a hundred percent certain she had peed herself, but didn't want to check for fear that her friends gathered around her would poke fun; especially Lilith. The brunette slipped out from beneath the covers, which were in fact Beatrice's covers, and padded into the en suite.

She switched on the tap, setting it to a lukewarm temperature before discarding her undergarments and stepping underneath the stream of water. All she think about was Beatrice; how it was her fault the older girl had gone missing, the kisses they'd share in her dreams, the non existent confessions of love, her aroma of lavender and citrus fruit.

She's gone. She's gone.

Your fault. Your fault.

Gone.

Gone.

"Just shut up," she yelled at the taunting voices, slamming her fist against the tiles. "Please, be quiet! It's not my fault!"

All your fault.

She's dead!

Dead.

Gone.

Forever.

Tears streamed down Ava's cheeks, hot and salty, reminding her of the failure she was. Of the failure she'd always be.

••••

"Do you always take your hostages out for pizza?" Beatrice wandered aloud as the waitress departed after taking their orders.

The demon, who'd shapeshifted to look like a fourteen year old girl, smirked as they placed their menu flat on the table. "Why yes. It's a little tradition of mine."

"Oh." The nun straightened her posture, smiling as the waitress returned with the Coke and her coffee. "I thank you kindly."

"It's Rylan," the demon answered, to which Bea raised a brow. "My name. It's not as cool as my demonic alias, but I need to blend in. Adriel will never look for a child."

"What's the deal between you two?" the nun asked as two steaming plates of pizza arrived.

Rylan bit into the melting cheese and puree extravaganza. "I'm the one who stole his halo back from Heaven. But I refused to give it back to him, so he murdered my hatchlings and took it."

"How did he leave hell though?" Beatrice pressed further, picking at a slice of pepperoni. "That's what I don't get."

"The halo acts as a key to hell," the child explained. "He made it into the time period of Areala de Cordue, but a tarask followed. He slayed the beast before inserting the device into her so as to save her life. But she plotted against him as she knew he was not an angel."

"I see." The nun hummed, drumming her fingers against the counter. "And that's the true?"

Rylan held up their arms in mock surrender. "I may be a demon, but we're on the same side. I want revenge for my hatchlings."

"Very well. To the house it is," Beatrice murmured, placing a five euro note next to their finished meal.

••••

"Do you think we should call a paramedic?" Mary asked, peering at the sight of the halo bearer splayed across the kitchen table, defeated. "She's never been this quiet before. Or worried. Not that I'm complaining about the silence."

"Beatrice should go missing more often," Lilith agreed, smiling slightly. Her comment earned her a forlorn look from Camila, who had been anxiously pacing about as well. "You know I didn't mean it like that, Cami."

Her girlfriend patted her arm at the show of remorse. "I know. I'm just trying not to join her on the table there, because believe me, it's really tempting." 

Mary rolled her eyes. "Here we go. I'm gonna have a phone on standby in case someone breaks down into a depressed psycho seizure."

"Don't make jokes," Lilith warned. "It's a serious situation. Though I do think having a phone would be wise."

Just then, the doorbell rang. The pair cast each other a suspicious look. Was is Beatrice, running from her kidnapper? Or had Mother Superion chosen this moment to deliver a message?

The half demon gestured for Mary to answer it, saying she was going to guard the two women sprawled on top of the dining table. Mary stealthily stalked towards the door, gun in hand as she opened it just a crack.

"Bea?" she gasped, overcome with joy. It was then that she noticed the old woman besides her friend. "Who the fuck is that?"

"Language," Beatrice scolded, cracking a tiny smile. "Mary, meet my kidnapper."