Chapter 6
“You know what” Camila sighed, walking back to the table and flopping sideways on her chair. Directly in front of Beatrice and the Baby. She moved herself forward to the table. Resting her arms on the wood. “To be honest I thought there would be more books on the subject of raising children”. She pulled up one hand and held up her chin. Her other hand pointed to the two books between them and the one in Beatrice's hands with a curious smile “I’m still surprised by the amount we found”
Beatrice sighed, looking up briefly to face Camila, then down at the book in her hands. “I’m not sure if this is helping me understand”
“Yeah, seems to be a disturbing amount to it” Camila answered. She picked up one of the two remaining books and started to read. Her eyes widen after the first paragraph. “Damn this is terrifying”
Beatrice sighed. She dropped the book, then clutched her hands together. “All the more reason this place isn’t safe for a baby”
“True” she agreed, lowering the book. She briefly turned to Hanna, watching the baby play with her toy dusty rabbit. She reached over into the basket. She played with the rabbits head, causing Hanna to laugh. She chuckled, then turned back to Bea. “I think this will work”
“I hope so”
Mary walked around the shelves unnoticed, she raised her eyebrow at the pair. “What’s working?” she said and they jumped suddenly, turning to face her and shielding Hanna. She couldn’t help, but smile at their reaction. “What are you doing?”
The girls sighed relieved, sitting back down at the table.
Mary walked between them, taking a beeline straight for Hanna. “Hello little one” she reached into the basket and picked Hanna and the toy rabbit into her arms. She cradled the child in her arms, hopped onto the table. With one hand she used the toy to distract Hanna while her gaze turned to her friends with a mischievous smirk. “What are you two doing here?” then turned back to the child.
“Just a bit of studying” Camila answered.
“Quite a bit” Bea sighed. She crossed her hands to her hips, paused, watching Mary play with the girl. “How’s Ava and Lilith doing?”
“Oooh Ava’s getting her ass beat” Mary laughed.
Hanna giggled in agreement.
“Oh yes she did, your mother is getting her ass beat”
Hanna laughed.
Mary laughed too, she used the rabbit toy to bob Hanna’s nose before she turned to her friends. “She’s fine” Mary said. “Lilith will drag her back for a lunch break”
“That’s generous of her” Camila stated surprised.
“She’s in a good mood” Mary answered. She gave the rabbit to the child, then reached over and picked up a book “so” she started. A quick read of the book’s cover. She turned back to her friends, curious “Did these help? I mean I’m a little rusty when it comes to looking after kids, but I get the basics”
“I am none the wiser reading them” Bea admitted. “Just more cautious and aware of how unsafe this place is for a child”
“Fair, want a hand securing the armoury?”
“Yes”
“Then we better get a move on” Mary declared. She hopped up from the table, following Beatrice out of the Library while Camila grabbed the basket and a few books before chasing after the pair.
In the armoury
Camila was installing a new safety lock on the outer door while Mary secured the gun racks and Beatrice added more bars to the walls, closing up the gaps. Hanna sat on the table closest to them, yet her attention was on everything but them.
Serita walked into the room just as the rest of the sisters came piling in for lunch. She spotted the crew and stormed to them. “Hey girls!” she greeted upon approach. “Seems you three are hard at work, I take reading raising babies 101 went well”
Camila turned to Serita and smiled. “Just nearly finished actually”
“Well its looking very secure”
“You know these gun racks are well overdue for tightening up” Mary comment mid using a screwdriver. She pulled the screwdriver back, grabbed hold of the rack and shook. It didn’t move. She pulled back please, then started the next one down while saying “These could have fallen over long before today”
“Well good timing then” Serita chuckled. She turned to Hanna as she spoke “So Captain, are your shipmates working right?”. She frowned at Hanna’s attention drawn somewhere else. Not to her or the rest of the girls, not even to the nuns mulling around them. No, her attention was ten feet in the air close to the roof at the back of the dining room. “what are you looking at?” she asked, turning her head between the blank space and Hanna with a questioning eye. “Hanna?”
The little girl briefly turned to Serita, giggled, then turned back to the empty space with a deep frown.
“Sweetie?” Serita called.
Camila raced over, looking between the baby and her girlfriend. “What’s wrong?”
Serita hummed. “I don’t want to alarm, but do you find this odd?”
Despite Serita’s low whisper, Beatrice heard her loud and clear. She stopped her screw driver and turned her head to the ladies and the child. She watched them whisper to each other. She turned to the girl and followed the baby’s attention to the high corner in the room and found nothing but a dark bodiless shadow. Her bones chilled and constricted suddenly, as if someone walked over her grave. She starred at the space. Just like Hanna, unable to turn away, but unlike the girl, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her staff. Ready to unleash hell if that spot of darkness morphed into something unhuman.
“Hey GIRLS!” Ava’s voice called excitedly from the other side of the hall. They turned to face her. “I HAVE RETURNED VICTORIOUS!” she yelled, staggering toward them with Lilith following up the rear, amused.
“You won ONCE out of twenty rounds!” Lilith remarked with a low chuckle.
“Against you I won!” Ava stated, stopping short and pointing to her friend. “It’s the little victories my friend and I’m going to enjoy it!” she turned and proceeded towards the rest of the crew. “Besides it’s not everyday I win a fight against you”
“I suppose you can enjoy this one moment”
“Thank you”
Hanna giggled cheerfully for Ava, watching her approach. A gush of wind hit her side. She stopped and turned to the right. She turned upward and saw a Wraith descending straight for her. Mouth wide and howling. Hanna watched the spirit and began to cry.
Camila and Serita turned to her and immediately started to comfort the girl.
Beatrice’s attention snapped to Hanna then gazed upward, storming over. She ripped out her spear, unsheathing the double ended blade. At the same time, Ava’s eyes turned up and she screamed “HANNA!” before chasing after. Beatrice stepped forward and thrust the spear upward into the Wraith’s mouth.
Camila ripped Hanna from the table and dove away a few steps, shielding the baby with her own body. Serita jumped in front of Camila’s back, drawing a knife in hand to protect both of them from the Wraith. Lilith and Mary took off running to them.
“Did I get it?” Beatrice asked. Despite not being blessed with sight like Lilith and Ava, she managed to catch the Wraith in the mouth. The spirit thrashing on her divinum blade, desperately trying to free itself.
Ava threw herself in front of the others, screamed a war cry and sent a blast of energy directly at the Wraith. Burning the creature till it faded to nothing. She let out a deep fearful gasp and turned to her lover. “Bea” was all she spoke before she stepped forward and brought the girl into her arms. She rested her head on Bea’s shoulder, turning to the others as they approached. Her child held protectively in Camila’s gasp. She starred at the child full of worry. When they were close, she reached out and grabbed Hanna’s arm. She sighed at the contact. She pulled away from Bea and took Hanna into her arms. Hanna took a moment to realise she was in Ava’s arms and once she did, all her tears ceased. “its okay sweetpea, its okay” Ava reassured. She felt an arm wrap around her waist and a hand laid over her trembling palm. She turned to Beatrice and lean into her touch.
“how the heck did that get in?” Lilith spoke confused.
“No idea” Mary advised.
“Maybe the osmium is failing, the Wraiths can sense the Halo’s energy signature” Camila queried.
“Hope not, what else could dampen the Halo's presence?" Serita comment.
Ava shook her head. “It’s not the Halo”
“Then what is it?” Beatrice asked.
Ava shook again. “third strike” she whispered. She turned to Hanna and stated “The Wraiths are after Hanna”
Footsteps mixed with a cane’s tapping drew close at a fast march. The crew turned to their left to find Suzanne, Michelle and Jillian storming towards them. Pushing through the gathered crowds of sister warriors.
“What is the meaning of this!” Suzanne stated. Her fury faulted at the sight of the baby in Ava’s arms. “Ava?”
Michelle starred at the baby and Ava wide eyed and mouth open. “Ava?”
“Ladies” Ava begun. “This is my daughter, Hanna”
“Daughter!” Jillian shouted surprised.
Suzanne almost dropped her cane and Michelle’s legs gave out. She stumbled forward before quickly regaining her strength. Then with perfect sync, the girlfriends gave Beatrice a narrowed suspicious gaze that read ‘you got her pregnant’. Strong enough to force Beatrice eyes widen terrified at the three, taking a step back, she shock her head gently as if to say ‘no’.
Ava smiled briefly at their surprise. “Yeah I know shocking, I wanted to introduce you three to her better, but we don’t have time. Follow me!” she grabbed hold of Beatrice’s hand and began leading her lover away past the surprised three elder ladies. The Crew following after them and slowly, the others followed behind them.
“What’s going on my love?” Beatrice asked confused.
“I don’t know, all I know is Hanna isn’t safe here”