Chapter 12
Later that night.
Ava was tucking Hanna into bed. Draping the leather jacket over her daughter’s sleeping form. Beatrice sat upright in bed sharpening her staff blade.
“All the blankets in the world and she won’t sleep without my jacket” Ava laughed. She leaned over and kissed her daughter’s head. “sleep well sweetpea” she whispered a soft pray, before pulling away from the cote.
“Perhaps because it has your scent” Bea advised. She looked up at her girlfriend, angling her head towards her. “She loves her mother”
“Aww guess she does”
“She’s not the only one”
Ava turned her way and grinned. “Why wouldn’t ya”
“Okay I change my mind”
“No you don’t!” Ava laughed skipping over and throwing herself on top of Beatrice’s body. Her head lying on Beatrice’s chest.
Bea sighed, shaking her head “no I don’t” she agreed. She returned to sharpening her knife around Ava’s head. Ignoring the puppy dog eyes staring up at her. “Are you going to watch me all night?”
“Only till you finished sharpening your blades. Why? Am I distracting you?”
“Yes”
“Sorry babe can’t help it, you make such an adorable face when you work”
“I do not” Bea scoffed.
“Do too” Ava insisted, raising a finger and tapping Beatrice’s nose. Causing the woman to look down at her. Ava grinned before she launched forward and stole a kiss from Beatrice’s lips. Then pulled back, resting her head on Beatrice’s chest. Smiling as the woman was stunned for a moment, blushed as she returned to sharpening her knives. “Have to hand it to you babe, seeing you go Daddy mode was quite sexy”
Beatrice blushes “Darling!” She shrieked.
“What! It’s true!”
“Not in front of our daughter”
“our daughter is asleep”
Bea looked to her right, surveying the sleeping child before turning to Ava. “True, but she is still asleep in this room”
“Well...we could always change locations” she paused, her smile widen up at Beatrice. Realising right now what her love called Hanna.
Bea looked up at her lover confused “My love?”
“You called her our daughter!”
“Yes?”
“I love it when you call her that”
Beatrice chuckled. “I can’t deny it my love, she’s a special one and she reminds me so much of you”
“Well wait till she can walk on her own, she’ll have your badass ninja skills nailed down before preschool”
“Hmm it will be good for her to learn self-defence”
“She’s going to be the most badass kid on the block”
“And the most protected”
“Yeah poor kid” Ava laughed, snuggling into her girlfriend. “What’s the bet Aunty Lilith is going to cry on the first day of school”
Beatrice paused mid-stroke, turning to her lover with a suspicion gaze “Are you sure you are talking about my long best friend Lilith”
“The very same”
“I doubt it, but what’s the price for the winner?”
“How about this?” Ava offered, she leaned up and kissed Beatrice. Pulling back a short breath and whispered just above Beatrice’s lips “and this” she grinned as she kissed her lover again.
“I think” Beatrice spoke between breaths. “That’s. reasonable” she flipped Ava over, discarding her knife. She pulled back, running her hands through Ava’s hair. “I’ll raise your bet and say all our friends will be crying messes on the first day our Hanna goes to school”
“And first day of high school”
“And the last”
“And college”
“And when she moves out into the world”
“Yep, they won’t know what hit them”
Meanwhile outside.
In the dark of night at the bottom of Cats Cradle’s hill.
Michelle stood tall with her back to her home. One hand by her side and her other resting flat against the hilt of her sword. The cool winter night air kicking at her cloak. She peered left and right then glared straight ahead. Straight at the mass of darkness ahead of her. “I know you are here Reya! Come out!”
Reya’s voice chuckled. The shadow morphed. Floating closer before taking the form of Reya. “Now now don’t be mad”
“Oh I am beyond mad Reya” Michelle spoke calmly with anger in her eyes and venom on her tongue. “How long have you been spying on us?”
“Since the child stepped foot into this realm”
“Why?”
“Why do you think” Reya’s scoffed.
Michelle sighed shaking her head “She’s an infant”
“Who will grow into something much worse”
“Don’t you dare!” Michelle threatened.
“Don’t push me Michelle!” Reya barked back, taking a step closer. “It’s her or this world, that is the only choice you got!” She took two more steps closer and was met with Michelle’s sword tip pressed against her stomach. She frowned at the weapon’s intrusion, then gazed up with a raised eyebrow. “Really?” she comment, gesturing to the sword. “After all we have been through together, it has come to this”
“I am not trading away my grandchild!”
"She is not your flesh and blood!”
“That is not your decision!” Michelle growled, her eyes flashed blinding white. “I will tear every single angel apart to keep my family safe!”
Reya’s anger faulted at the intensity of Michelle’s rage. It took her longer then she liked to recover. When she did, she raised her head higher and set her shoulders relaxed. “Then this world will become your tomb”
“Tell your all mother I am sorry”
In a flash of movement Michelle raised her sword and strike Reya down. Just before the blade collided with flesh, the woman vanished into dust. Behind her, appeared Faith swinging her own sword for Reya. The two hilts of the swords collided and locked in place. Just inches away from slicing each other’s throats.
The two friends starred at each other shocked.
Michelle dropped her sword and stumbled back from her friend. “FUCK!” She howled into the night. Her voice carried through town like a raging tsunami.
Faith sighed, almost throwing her sword aside. “Fucking hell that was close!”
“We almost had her!” Michelle growled as she started to pace.
“No doubt it’s her” Faith sighed, shaking her head. “Back from the dead and that smell”
“Tsk you noticed”
“How could you not” Faith sheathed her sword, shaking her head. “For once, can you please get yourself a sane girlfriend”
“How about two?” Michelle grumbled.
“Perfect it will make it easier to live my life” She exclaimed. She paused and watched her friend continue to pace. With another sigh she walked forward and caught her friend. “It’s okay my friend, we’ll get her” she promised. “You have my word”
“I trust you my friend” Michelle replied, slowly turning to her friend. “It’s her I don’t trust...that smell”
“There is only one thing that cast that smell and if she truly did it...then she will be dead soon”
“We just have to prolong the enviable”
“Exactly! Now come, let’s secure this place and drink until the Old Gods cast light over the new day” Faith spoke happily. She wrapped her arm around her friend and guided her friend up to the Cradle. “She will be safe my friend”
“Perhaps it’s time you met my granddaughter”
“Sure, but if she hatches I am leaving you to it”
Michelle’s laughter beloved, bringing back that merry grin of hers. “Scaredy cat”
“Hell yeah”
The two walked in arms up the steep slope. Determined to win.