Chapter Text
The training hall is empty, which is how Beatrice wants it to be. She needs to not think. All the readings and translating is making her feel irrational. She cannot stop thinking of how Ava calls her being as beautiful as if there is ever a chance.
Ava Silva, a person who came into Beatrice's life and Beatrice, does not know if it were a blessing or a temptation against her vows.
Beatrice positioned herself in front of the wooden dummy because this makes sense. Right, twist, left, and block. Training is much more comfortable, it is not hard to understand. It is straight to the point, the precision the technique the - then the dummy broke.
"You know, I don't think I will ever match you in combat," Beatrice hears from behind.
Beatrice turned around to see Mary leaning against the door, and there is that particular smile resting on her face. Beatrice knows that there is something that Mary has to say.
"Mary," Beatrice said as she gathered her poise and nodded at Mary.
"Cut the crap, lover girl," Mary shook her head as she walks towards Beatrice. "You can lose your cool with me, no one is around. You don't have to act that you have your shit put together, even though I know that you do."
Beatrice smiled as Mary shove her shoulder playfully. "I was just letting out some energy, sitting down for that long is not good for the brain," Beatrice explains as they began to circle each other on the combat mat.
"Of course," Mary said as she tried to land a punch, Beatrice quickly blocked it. "You don't have to explain it to me. I know how you get when you try to avoid a feeling you don't like."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Beatrice said as she takes her stance back. She kicked and tried to make Mary lose her balance.
"I was walking by, and I saw you with Ava in the study. You look at her like she was a passage in a bible. Like, you're trying to figure her out. It seemed that Latin makes much more sense to you,"
"It did," Beatrice answered as she stood at ease. "Latin makes sense. It is a language meant for this room, in the Vatican, and in the pages of books. While Ava is something - someone I do not understand."
"What's keeping you from exploring, curious one?" Mary teased.
"The fact that I am a nun?" Beatrice looked back at Mary bewildered. "And the fact that she's in a relationship with JC?"
"Really? JC? We all know that Ava is with him so she can feel normal, and we all know, Ava included that JC will not last. He saw Lilith, and Ava tried to explain. He said he will try to understand, and since then he was never the same,"
"Where are you going with this?" Beatrice asked.
"I'm just saying that Ava is holding on to him as long as she can to have that 'normal' life," Mary looked at Beatrice with sincerity.
"Then who am I to take that away from her?" Beatrice asked, tired from thinking all day, and exhausted from weighing over this conversation.
"I'm just saying that you should tell her how you feel," Mary said. "You both deserve that, at least."
"I'll think it over," Beatrice nodded as she resumed to take the position for combat once again.
"Alright," Mary said as she smiles softly at Beatrice. They sparred and teased each other with their tactics, and the conversation about Ava is forgotten.
-/-
Ava walks towards the study to meet with the sisters as per Mother Superion's order when she gets a glimpse of Beatrice reading as she walks. Ava cannot help but stop for a moment and looks at Beatrice. The way she walks with poise just exudes confidence and elegance that Ava cannot compare with anyone.
"Beatrice, wait up!" Ava exclaimed as she walks towards Beatrice, but Beatrice kept walking. Ava jogged to catch up when suddenly a flying stick came rushing towards Beatrice's side.
Ava pulled on Beatrice's arm on instinct, but they both lost their balance. Beatrice landing on top of Ava, and Ava right out laughed because of the situation.
"Sorry, there was a stick flying towards you," Ava explained as Beatrice looked at her disoriented.
"Are you alright?" Beatrice asked as she quickly got up and helped Ava to her feet.
How can someone stand up that smoothly from a fall?
"Yeah, a stumble is nothing. You should've seen me fall off a cliff, that was fun. Are you alright, though? Where's your book, anyway?" Ava asked as she looked around and reached down for the book.
"Yes, I am fine. I was just on my way to the study," Beatrice said and smiled. Ava looked into Beatrice's eyes, and it was too late until it was too late. She got lost in how Beatrice's eyes crinkled to the side, the way it curves down to meet her smile.
"I-uh, study, right yes, I am on my way there too," Ava said as she shakes her head, trying to rid her thoughts of how Beatrice says little, but her face is expressive. Ava tried to free of the feeling of how that smile tugs a bit at her heart, and yet it does not feel pleasant. It aches because a smile means something to her when that same smile is pointed towards everybody, not just her alone.
They walked towards the study, talking about the book Beatrice was reading, which Ava refused to give back since she knocked Beatrice down to the ground.
Once they walked in, Mother Superion tilted her head a little. Very intimidating, but she had a small smile forming on her lips.
"What took you guys so long?" Camila asked as she looks up from the book she is reading.
"Beatrice was just on top of me down the hall," Ava answered without forming her words correctly.
"Beatrice was on top of you?" Mary asked.
"Down the hall?" Camila tilted her head.
"We're in a house of worship, you could've at least have some little decency to do it in a room," Lilith smirked as she leans back to her chair.
"N-n-no, I meant she fell on top of me because there was a flying stick flying towards Beatrice, and we lost our balance because I pulled her arm a little too much," Ava tried to explain, but her embarrassment only fuels her rambling.
Beatrice held on to Ava's fidgeting hands, "What Ava meant is that she tried to stop me from getting hit by a stick that flew from the training hall," Beatrice explains as she squeezed Ava's hand to reassure.
Thank God for Beatrice, indeed a lifesaver.
"Very well," Mother Superion as she cleared her throat. They sat on the round table as they all give opinions about their mission.
"We all know that the wraiths have increased tenfold since Adriel has been released from his tomb," Mother Superion said as she looks around the table. Her voice is unwavering and robust.
"The only possible way we can do that is if we go from city to city, we only have one halo bearer," Camila said.
"The wraiths are the ones who make this mission harder, it is a diversion from getting to Adriel head-on," Lilith said.
"We don't even know where to start looking for Adriel," Mary said.
"I suggest that we make me as bait," Ava suggested, her words final as she looks around the table.
"You cannot possibly,"
"Are you out of your mind?"
"You want hell to come to get you?"
"That's a good idea,"
Ava hears them say all at once, but Beatrice stayed quiet. Ava looked over at her to see Beatrice watching her, with eyes that look calculating as if reading what Ava is trying to say.
"We do not know the manpower Adriel has with him. If he got Vincent to be his follower while inside his tomb, what else can he possibly do now that he is out of it?" Beatrice said as she looks at Ava. Ava does not know how to answer that question. She feels small with the way Beatrice looked at her like her suggestion should not be part of the equation, period.
"That is correct," Mother Superion broke the silence and the staring down that happened, which Ava is thankful for because she cannot look away.
"You have not trained to control your powers at will, you still depend on immediate danger for you to trigger the halo's power. We cannot have you as bait, for it is too dangerous. We cannot lose you," Mother Superion said as she looks at Ava pointedly.
"Well, Lilith thinks it was a good idea," Ava mumbled.
"Only because I want you dead," Lilith said with a smirk as she slightly kicks Ava's foot from under the table.
Ava glared at her, but before she can say anything else, Mother Superion began talking.
"Which is why I would want you to stay in Cat's Cradle and train with the sisters. You will go through the same training that the sisters went through. You will train with Lilith about how to handle the halo, Camila with mindfulness and tech, Mary will teach you how to handle weapons, and Beatrice will teach you hand to hand combat. I expect you to be in Cat's Cradle until you perfect it," Mother Superion said as she looks at everyone in the room.
"There will be missions in which you will get to go out, but other than that, you will stay here for your own protection," Mother Superion said with finality.
"Wait, Mother Superion, is it ok if I go into town? I have a business I'd like to attend," Ava asked.
"Bring someone with you," Mother Superion said as she continues to walk.
"But I kind of have to do this by myself," Ava tried to reason while following Mother Superion out of the study.
"But-" Ava suddenly stopped as she bumps to Mother Superion. Ava sighed as she knows there will be no arguments coming out of this conversation.
Mother Superion looks back at her, "You bring someone with you, or you will not go."
"Fine, I'll take Lilith," Ava said louder so the sisters can hear.
"Lilith? Are you sure you won't kill each other on the way there?" Mary asked as Camila cooed.
"Let them be, they're bonding," Camila said as she nudges Mary. Lilith rolled her eyes.
"If we do not return by midnight, release a search party," Lilith said. She then turned around at Beatrice, "I'll keep her safe."
Lilith walked out of the study and did not wait for Ava to walk beside her. So, Ava ran and jumped on her back.
"We shall go, my noble steed," Ava said and laughed as Lilith wriggled her off her back.
"So you do like me," Ava said as she walks beside Lilith. "If you didn't, you would have asked someone else to come with me."
"No, I'm just curious what you need to do in town," Lilith shrugs.
"Wow, you really can't admit it?" Ava guffawed.
"I said I don't really want to kill you, isn't that enough?"
"I'll accept that."
"Where are we going?"
"I have to talk to JC,"
"And you chose to bring me?" Lilith questioned. "You told us that he never acted the same with you when he saw me got taken by the Tarask what will he say now?"
"That you are fit to be the witch from Snow White?"
Lilith shoved Ava to the side, and Ava almost fell. "Hey!"
"Seriously, what do you plan on telling him anyway?"
"We'll see when we get there," Ava answered.
-/-
Ava walks in the new summer house that JC's friends are staying in. Lilith said she'll wait by the beach. When Ava looked around, there's a path of clothes trailing to the bedroom. Her instinct told her to follow it, and once she did, the bedroom door wide open, she saw JC being intimate with someone. The girl saw her, and she gasped. JC turned around and immediately scurried to follow Ava.
"Ava," JC said,
"No, it's ok. I am here to end things. We cannot work together, and we both know that. I'm sorry that I intruded on your moment, but I hope you're happy and content with her. Bye JC, it was fun," Ava said and smiled as she hurriedly walked away.
It did not hurt that Ava caught them, it hurts that it had to be this way. But something in her felt free like she did not have to carry a lie on her shoulders only to hold on to normal.
Ava ran towards the beach as she takes her shoes off. She likes the way the sand feels against her sole. She ran faster as she laughs because the wind felt gentle against her skin.
"Ava!" Ava hears Lilith call after her.
"Have a little fun, Lilith. We have until midnight!" Ava yells back as she jumps to a spot and lays down, feeling the sand with her hands.
"What happened?" Lilith said as she sat down beside Ava.
"I'm free," Ava whispered towards the sky. "I just have to accept that this is my new normal now."
"So, it went well,"
"Sort of, I caught him with another girl in bed," Ava shrugged.
"That's one way to rid of you," Lilith said and chuckled.
"Ok, Witcher," Ava said, but she laughed.
"What will this mean with you?" Lilith asked as she rolled her eyes.
"To find me as a halo bearer, I know it is not what makes me a person, but this is a new responsibility," Ava said.
"Alright, then we'll work together for you to do that part. I will train you, and I won't hold back," Lilith said as she too, laid down.
"You better not," Ava smiled as they laid there in silence.