The Last Day
Days had passed with no change in the status at the Arc—Father Vincent had insisted upon hourly updates and after warning the Guard commander of what they expected, the man enthusiastically agreed. He and Mother Superion had decided to plan an assault on the Arc and he was hopeful that the Swiss Guard at the location would be willing to look the other away given how much he embellished the threat. They would be leaving soon.
During that time Bea had quickly taken to walking without her crutches, much to both Ava’s and Lilith’s dismay.
“What if you permanently injure yourself?” Ava asked her as they were walking to the armory, Bea still nursing a limp.
“I have to get back to training, Ava. We leave for Madrid in a few days, if we don’t get the call to go sooner. I cannot go on crutches.”
“You won’t go at all if you can’t walk,” Ava muttered.
“I know my limits,” said the sister warrior, “but I cannot afford to waste time not training at all. Besides, half of what I’m doing is physical therapy for my leg.”
“Bea…”
“Stop Ava, please.” She let out a frustrated sigh. “I hear enough of this from Lilith. I don’t need two overprotective super-powered guardians in my life. I’d rather not even have one.” She stepped closer to the young woman and put her hands on her waist. “I’d rather just have my supportive girlfriend back.”
She leaned forward and placed a light yet lingering kiss on the Warrior Nun’s lips. “Please stop treating me like a piece of glass. I promise you I’m not going to break.” She bit slightly on her bottom lip and tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck. Her hand came up and she gently pushed Ava’s hair back, barely brushing her fingertips along the skin beneath the shorter woman’s ear.
Ava closed her eyes as she gasped and shuddered, a tingle running down her spine. Bea leaned in close and delicately placed her lips on the same spot beneath Ava’s ear and smiling into her neck whispered to her. “Unless of course you want me to.”
Ava felt her legs weaken and had to take a step and grasp Bea’s shoulders to steady herself. She repositioned her head so that their lips could meet and gave her girlfriend a searing kiss, holding her head tightly and tangling her fingers in her hair. They stayed like that for a few minutes, their mouths and tongues fighting for dominance until the sound of a clearing throat made them jump apart.
“I would tell you to get a room but I happen to know for a fact that you already have one,” said Lilith, her arms crossed in front of her, a scowl on her face. “You’re out in public in a convent,” she scolded as she walked passed them.
They watched her go before they broke out in giggles and followed her. “Welcome home, Lilith!” Ava called out.
They arrived just behind her at the armory to find Camila, Yasmine and Dora already waiting for them. Camila fixed them with her brightest smile. “Hi! I’ve got new toys!”
Camila was in her element as she showed off the currently glowing stack of divinium weapons to her friends. The vast majority of the new weapons were daggers and knives to be spread out amongst the sister warriors for fighting against the wraith demons but there were some definitely new goodies that Ava was excited to see.
“So first, in limited quantities, we have divinium ammunition,” said the excitable sister warrior. “We did try to minimize wasteful usage so there isn’t that much ammunition as it can only be used once. This was all made from the leftovers from the other weapons and mostly just in case Reya sends any wraiths through the Arc before we get there. But over here I have some more personalized presents. I’m sorry Ava; I don’t have anything for you, seeing as you already have the Cruciform Sword and the Halo. And Lilith—we weren’t expecting you.”
Ava pouted while Lilith extended her claws while inspecting her fingernails. “I’m fine,” she said.
“For Yasmine,” continued Camila, “we have a light weight baton—I know that’s your favorite. It has divinium ridges for wraiths. You will also be getting some of the divinium ammo.” She handed the weapon to Yasmine who looked like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of the ceremony of Camila’s presentation.
“I think you’re enjoying this a little too much, Cam.”
“Hush Ava!” replied Camila. “Let me have my fun.” Bea turned to give Ava a smile as both women bit back laughs. Lilith rolled her eyes and shook her head but Ava noticed the small smile on her lips.
“Thank you Camila,” said Yasmine only a little awkwardly.
“For Dora, the only one to make a request,” the young sister warrior went on, “two—maces.” Camila was obviously unsure what to make of these weapons. They were about the length of the fighting sticks that Ava has seen the woman train with but slightly narrower with viscous looking spiked balls on the ends that were glowing blue. Camila handed them to the quiet sister warrior. “They were built to spec.”
“They’re perfect Camila,” she said, grinning at the young nun. “Thank you!” She looked around to notice everyone giving her confused looks. Dora sighed. “You just know that one of these days Ava is going to accidently summon an army of Tarasks that we’re going to have to fight.”
“That—makes sense actually,” responded Bea.
“Yup.”
“Makes sense to me.”
“She is completely undisciplined.”
“Okay,” said Ava, more than a little miffed. “What is this? Shit on Ava day? I’m right here.”
“Language,” said both Lilith and Camila at the same time. Bea gave her a little nudge and smiled at her.
“Of course,” continued Camila as if the exchange hadn’t happened, “we have divinium tipped crossbow bolts for me—nothing crazy there. But for Beatrice…” she trailed off as she turned back into the armory. “For Beatrice I have something special, especially considering you might not be well enough to engage hand-to-hand by the time we go after the Arc.” Ava shifted a little uncomfortably at the mention of Bea and the upcoming mission.
Camila turned around and presented Bea with a sleek, beautiful, brand new compound bow. “It’s just like your old one—remember the one you broke over that guy’s head a year-and-a-half ago?”
“Camila…” replied Bea. She looked awestruck at the weapon. “It’s—thank you!” She took it, almost reverently, from Camila and immediately began inspecting it. Her face was a mix of unbridled joy and awe.
“You’re an archer, Bea?” asked Ava, she had never seen the woman look so enamored with a possession before.
“A damn good one,” said Lilith, smiling at the sister warrior. “It was her preferred weapon for years until she broke it.”
“And of course,” said Camila, clearly enjoying Bea’s reaction, “a case of divinium arrowheads to go with it. Try to not to lose them.” Bea looked up from the bow and grinned at the young nun, pulling her into a one-armed embrace.
“Alright,” said Lilith. “You’ve all got your new toys. Let’s go see how you do with them.”
The last day before they were set to leave for Madrid came about far too quickly. The weight of the air inside Cat’s Cradle had grown heavy, making it difficult to breathe. Ava found herself wanting to get outside and into the sunshine as much as possible but there was so much to do. At one point late in the morning, she physically dragged Bea with her out of the building.
They were standing together looking out over the town in the distance, close to the same spot that she had found Bea after yelling at her following their first mission. The irony was not lost on her as she braced herself to pick another fight. “It’s beautiful out here, Ava,” said Bea. “But what are we doing?”
“Taking a moment to enjoy the wind, the sun and the sky,” answered Ava, her eyes closed and arms spread wide.
“Thank you for including me but you couldn’t have done this by yourself? Some of us are working on mission prep.” She tried to sound annoyed but Ava could hear the amusement in her voice.
“I need to talk to you,” Ava said, eyes still closed, “about your progress.”
“Ava,” said Bea sounding exasperated. “I thought we went through this.”
“Not as your girlfriend,” Ava clarified. “I’m talking to you as the Warrior Nun.” She opened her eyes and looked at Beatrice whose mouth was hanging slightly open as her eyes went wide. “I need you to tell me honestly,” she said carefully, “are you able to go on this mission? I’ve seen you move, Bea. Your limp hasn’t gotten any better and I know you’re uncomfortable at the best of times.”
“Have you talked to Mother Superion about this?”
“Yes,” Ava responded calmly. “She told me that if I wanted to pull you from this mission that I ‘damn well better be willing to risk your wrath myself.’ You know sometimes I get the impression that she’s more afraid of you than we are of her.”
“I don’t believe this,” she mumbled, almost to herself. “I’m fine, Ava. I won’t need to get in close to fight and if it comes to it I can definitely still defend myself.” She was getting visibly upset. Ava tried to remain impassive.
“Show me,” she said simply. Bea narrowed her eyes and they both adopted fighting stances and began to circle. She was able to move but not as gracefully as she used to. The hip was a very obvious weakness that Bea couldn’t help but advertise. Ava made a couple false attacks and feints, forcing the other woman to engage her left leg. The sister warrior winced more often than not and was in obvious pain, but her movements were crisp and quick. She was about to attack when Ava stood up straight and raised her hands.
“Dammit, Ava! What the hell is going on?”
“I’m sorry, Bea,” responded the Warrior Nun. “I had to check. I’m not going to ask you not to go. Just please promise me you’ll stay back from the fighting. You’re advertising that hip.”
Bea took a deep breath, very obviously trying to bring down the sudden adrenaline rush that her anger had produced. “You’re infuriating sometimes. Do you know that?” She sighed. “I will do what’s best for the mission,” she said. “And I acknowledge—in this case—that it might be better for the mission for me to stay back in support as much as possible.”
“That’s not a promise.”
“It’s all you’re going to get.”
Ava chuckled softly. “Okay.” She let out her own sigh. “I’m allowed to worry about you too, you know? We protect each other.”
“We protect each other,” agreed Bea and she stepped forward and pulled Ava into a hug. Over Bea’s shoulder, Ava could see Lilith and Mother Superion standing and watching a short distance away. She hadn’t noticed the older women. They both gave her approving looks and nodded before walking together back inside the building.
They were running slightly late to dinner and entered the dining hall hand-in-hand. Bea immediately saw Camila, Dora and Yasmine, this time along with Lilith, at the usual table. She smiled slightly to herself at the uncomfortable looks on Eileen and Rosemary’s faces at the sight of Lilith, who usually avoided large group settings. The two rookies had been completely intimidated by the demon warrior despite the fact that—Bea was pretty sure—she had not really registered their existence.
As had become the norm, the rest of the sisters in the room had taken seats and tables that encircled their own, as if they were all trying to remain as close to the epicenter of the Order as possible. Even Mother Superion and Father Vincent were present at dinner tonight, separated from the rest but still close by.
Bea couldn’t help but notice the unusual feeling floating in the room as she and Ava together made their way to their seats. It was stifling; a cloud of apprehension, dismay and resignation hovering over everyone. A squeeze of her hand told her that Ava felt it too. She pulled them to a halt about halfway across the dining hall. “You need to say something,” she whispered to Ava urgently, “they’re terrified.”
“Me?”
“You’re the Warrior Nun.”
Ava gave her a small smile. “I’m the resident goofball, Bea. I help them celebrate and relax after a successful mission. Maybe cheer someone up individually.” She gazed across the dining hall at the women in the room, Bea’s eyes following. She saw that they were starting to draw attention. “Look at them;” said Ava, “they need reassurance right now. They need leadership.” She looked back at Bea. “They need you.”
Bea snapped back to look at her. “Me?”
Ava smiled. “Yes you, you beautiful idiot. Come on. Up!” She guided and practically pushed the sister warrior up onto a bench.
“What?” Bea whispered loudly at her. “Ava! Stop it!” But it was too late. She was standing on a bench and all of the eyes in the room were staring at her expectantly.
She took a moment to clear her throat before she began speaking to the room with a crisp, clear voice. “I understand that you are all worried. Tomorrow, just like a couple weeks ago, we are going to risk an attack on the Vatican. The difference of course, as you all know, is that this time we will not be hiding it. We are going to finally destroy the Arc, directly defying church leadership and breaking our vows.” She paused for a moment, allowing the weight of what she had said sink in.
“I know that I am not the best person to talk to you about this—but I also know what this means to you all. You agreed to a life of service and obedience to the church. You signed up for a life of sacrifice. Tomorrow we go to attack that same church to try and save the world, perhaps sacrificing our own souls in the process. We are doing this because we know that it is the right thing to do—and because nobody else will.” She paused again and locked eyes with Dora. The sister warrior gave her a small smile and nodded.
“But I will not force anyone here. Defying the Vatican, breaking your vows and risking excommunication is not something that I take lightly. It’s a decision that everyone in this room has a right to make for themselves. Everyone needs to decide on their own relationship with God, and no one will here judge you if you choose not to go.”
The room was silent. Bea felt Ava’s hand entwine itself with her own as the pressure that had built up started to dissipate. All at once, Camila, Dora and Yasmine stood tall in their places at the table followed almost immediately by Eileen and Rosemary. Lilith raised her eyebrows and stood as well. And Bea watched in awe as one by one, each sister warrior rose in silence. On the other side of the room, Bea saw Mother Superion and Father Vincent were standing as well. The older woman was looking at Beatrice, a satisfied smile on her face.
They sat down to join their friends at dinner, the atmosphere already beginning to lighten and clear.
“Nice speech,” said Lilith, only a small hint of sarcasm audible in her voice.
“It was a nice speech,” said Camila, lightly slapping the older woman on the shoulder.
“Well done, Bea,” complimented Dora. “They needed to hear that.” Yasmine nodded her agreement.
“Thank you,” responded Bea humbly as she sat down. She turned to look at Ava as the Warrior Nun sat next to her. “Please don’t do that to me again.”
“What?” Ava asked with a grin. “You did great! Besides it was your idea.” The table stopped eating; the women all looked up—shocked that Beatrice would voluntarily give a speech.
“It was my idea for you to do it. That’s not the same thing,” she argued, although there was a small satisfied smile gracing her lips.