Chapter 17
Reya watched the chaos from above.
She wasn’t too disappointed by their quick realisation Tarask blood is the cure. She was more pleased at the current amount of bodies filling their grounds. Forty dead sisters laid under strips of cloth to hide their bodies. The cold freezing their limbs. Their blood seeping through the cloth and tainting the frozen ground red.
The Angelic being known as the Surgeon crawled up to his master. He bowed then turned to the building. “Now?”
“Now” Reya stated. “Bring me the child”
The Surgeon bowed, then sprinted off the cloud and dove for the Cradle. Just before he could touch the field. Reya cracked her neck, raised her hand and sent a bolt of vibrant purple energy down from the heavens and striked the Cradle’s defences. Breaking through the barrier and allowing her follower to slip through before the shield healed itself again.
Inside Michelle heard the shield crack.
She turned fearfully to her daughter and Lilith, then harden her gaze and pulled out her sword. “Stay here!” she demanded, then vanished in a puff of light.
“Should we be worried?” Ava asked, shifting her attention to Lilith. Who stood beside her, preparing the fresh bags of blood for distribution. While Avasat in the corner of their makeshift hospital giving blood, under the strike guidance of Jillian.
Lilith turned to her and shrugged. “I would, but she is a capable warrior with thousands of years experience. If anyone can take care of any otherworldly problems by themselves, its her”
“I know, just doesn’t help the worry”
Lilith turned to her friend. She smiled, giving her a reassuring nod. “I know” she leaned down and kissed Ava’s temple. “she’s going to be fine”
Ava hummed, leaning her head forward and pressing it against Lilith’s chin. “I know”
Meanwhile on the other side of the room.
Hanna laid down on the bed playing with her Dusty. Her Mother curled protectively around her, with arm over stomach and other under head. A deep frown frozen on her face as she slept. Hanna’s mother wasn’t as sickly appearance as she was before. The works of the second transfusion performing wonders to Bea’s health. Still, the woman slept.
Descending from the rooftops was the Angelic being known as Raglan.
The creature slid in and out of the shadows. Working his way across roof beams without making any sound. The creature stopped directly above Hanna, watching the child below. It watched the child curiously for a moment. Then worked his way to the wall and slid down the bare brick surface straight for the child. The Angelic being took a grip of the bedpost and wall. His ring eyes focused on the child a moment before expanding outward. Yes there was people everywhere, but most were asleep and the few awake, but none were focused on him. He smiled. He focused on the child and lifted one hand up and pointed straight for the baby.
In one breath, Beatrice’s eyes snapped open and glared upward at the Angelic being. In another, Beatrice stood on her knees with her spear exstended and blade slammed into his heart. The same moment Ava appeared beside the bed in a burst of light with her sword in both hands and blade hilt deep within Raglan’s face.
He gasped. His hand still held in air barely away from the bedpost. He starred at both Beatrice and Ava, his eyes shifted to fury. Black blood dripped profusesly from his face and chest. Followed by a purple glow illiuminating inside his wounds. “vermins” he cursed.
“Bastard!” Ava cursed back. Her eyes transformed blazing white and a deep growl came forth. She ripped the sword out of his head. She grabbed the body and threw it off the wall, casting it away from her family. She stormed to the end of the bed and turned back to her lover. She met her lover’s gaze and when she nodded, Ava turned back to the withering body. Ava stormed forward, her Halo and her sword glowing bright. “Make peace with your gods!” both Avas commanded at once. Ava twirled the sword in hand, raised the hilt high and slammed the blade into the body. Raglan howled. Ava’s and the Halo’s powers adsorbed into his body burning him. Reducing flesh to purple ashes, floating around and slowly upward.
“AVA!” Lilith and Michelle voices shouted, racing to her aid.
Beatrice kissed her daughter’s temple, then hurried off the bed to Ava.
Ava soon released her sword, standing upright and stumbling backwards until Beatrice caught her lover. Ava stopped and turned to Beatrice surprised, then sighed deeply. With a calm breath, the glow from her eyes and sword faded. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, are you?”
“Fine” Ava turned back to the withering Angelic being, disgusted by the screams and the ashes floating in space. “Is that what I think it is?”
Michelle walked forward approaching the cloud of ash. She hummed intriduged as the last of his body dissolved, but with a short wave of her hand. The ashes purple ashes scattered and revealled a mist of gold. The mist didn't move like his ashes, it floated in places, sparkling in the Chapel's lights. It remained there for a moment, before disappearing into thin air. “An Angel” Michelle clarified. “Very much so, this is Raglan”
“Was”
“Hmm” Michelle stepped forward and blew a short breath to the ashes. Sending it floating up to the ceiling. The crew watched it float and continued to watch until the ashes disappeared into nothing. Michelle turned back to the others and explained “That is what happens to Angelic beings who betrayed the Gods and come here”
“They die?” Ava questioned confused.
“No, they are destroyed. Flesh and Soul at once” Michelle answered. “Seems Reya found a way to protect her cult, but once their blood is spilt”
“The bond is broken and the Old Gods curse destroys them” Lilith stated.
“Exactly”
Suddenly the roof started to shake. The couple grabbed each other’s hand out of instinct, turning to the roof. Lilith withdrew her claws and Michelle glared at the ceiling.
“It’s begun” Michelle growled displeased.
With majority of the OCS still sick from Raglan’s poison.
Those abled were focused to move their sick to the lower catacombs. An organised chaos unfolded as they ran for the lower catacombs with their sick sisters and bags of Tarask blood in hand. Ava held out the door for them, watching them pile in. The building shock as if repeatedly struck by heavy fists. Ava tighten the grip of her sword and the doorframe. Desperately focusing to keep calm in front of her family and sisters.
“These walls will protect them, but this door is their only hope!” Mother Superion advised. “I will keep guard”
“I’ll help” Jillian offered.
“In there, with the sick. Those that cannot fight must be protected and you are their last line of defence!” Mother Superion walked forward and grabbed Jillian’s face, kissing her passionately. She pulled back a second later, resting her forehead pressed against her temple. “protect them for me Jillian”
“don’t use my name now, it makes me worried”
Superion laughed “I love you too Doctor”
"Love you too" Jillian pulled away and headed for the door. She was about to head inside the catacombs when Beatrice raced over with Hanna in her arms and a rifle on her back.
“Keep her safe!”
Jillan nodded “of course” she spoke, taking the baby in her arms.
Beatrice handed her the rifle, then focused on her daughter. She ran a hand over her head, leaned down and kissed her head. “stay safe” she whispered. She pulled back and watched Jillan march inside with the rest of sick. Her next focus was on Ava. She watched her for a moment, then stride over and took the Warrior nun into her arms. Kissing her passionately in front of the sisters and the world crashing down around them. She pulled back, pressing her forehead against Ava’s taking a deep breath she stated “stay safe my love!”
“Always, I’ll see you on the other side!” Ava grinned as she pulled back.
“See you then!” Bea declared.
Ava grinned then turned to Mother Superion. Mother Superion smiled at her “Go, we have this. Tell my girlfriend if she doesn’t come back ill kill her!”
Ava laughed “you got it boss!” she turned and raced down the hallway.
Mother superion turned to Beatrice and smiled “She will be fine!” she assured.
“She will”
Outside the three Tarask gathered in the front yard facing Reya and five more of her Angelic children. Her children shared similar body appearance as Raglan, but twice the height.
“You ready for this?” Michelle asked her daughter, refusing to take her eyes off the intruders.
“Born ready, let’s show this bitch who’s boss”
“right behind you” Lilith agreed.
“This is your last chance Godless!” Reya declared. “I could destroy this city for the Death of Raglan….but I won’t”
Michelle raised an suspicious eyebrow at Reya.
“I only want one thing” Reya spoke. “The child, give us the child and we will set you all free”
“I’m not giving up on my daughter Reya!” Ava declared. “No matter what you say!”
“So be it!”
With a snap of her fingers the Angelic beings threw themselves at the crew. Camila and Mary led a group of nuns to the glass windows. Kicking open the windows and began shotting down a rain of divinum bullets from all angles. Two of the Angels growled at the bulletfire before disappearing in a flash. Ava growled, throwing back her head and transforming into her Tarask form. Vanishing in a puff of light and reappearing above Reya, flying straight for her. She swung the first strike and the two started to dance around the field trading blows. Michelle and Lilith were forced to fight the angels first before they could help Ava.
Meanwhile inside the other two Angels appeared in front of Beatrice and Superion. The Warriors withdrew their swords and advanced on the angels. Keeping them away from the door.
The chaos that ensured was unexpected.
Both inside the walls and out. The OCS had the numbers to fight despite the many still sick and dead, yet the strength of the Angelic beings was too much for the barely healthy warriors. Even Ava, with the strength of her Tarask and the Halo, struggled to keep up with Reya.
“I expected more from the Godless one” Reya laughed as she weaved effortlessly around Ava’s attacks.
“So did Adriel” Ava remarked, she caught Reya’s sword and locked the hilt, facing her blade downward. “And look where he is now”
“I’m not Adriel” Reya laughed. “When I want something dead” she pushed her sword through Ava’s sword. It split the holy blade in two like butter, running through before wildly swinging across, decapitating both Ava’s hands. Forcing the Warrior nun on the ground crying out in pain. “Death shall come on my blade”
Before Ava knew it, Reya’s blade was buried in her chest. She didn’t see the movement, but she felt the blade crip the Halo and her spine snap in two. Her Tarask form started to crumb around her. Ava's eyes buldged out of her skull as she fell backwards.
"no" she croaked, full of fear. "not now" she whispered. Despite the loss of her legs and the pain from her arms and chest. She felt the last of her powers work her body into overdrive.
Reya laughed, she knelt down beside Ava and explained, pointing to the blade of her sword. “You see this Ava?” she smiled. “This blade is constructed from the spine of All Mother. Now you see, All Mother, I believed she was always right, but then I discovered the truth and everything changed. I took her spine and her powers. I and my loyal children feasted on her flesh. Once an oridinary Angel, her puppet. Now I am a God and you my dear girl” she paused to cup Ava’s face with her bloody hands, delicate touch. “You, Godless one, are dead”
“not yet” Ava grunted. With her hand half healed, with bone exposed, she thrust it into the neck of Reya. Only for her bone to shatter it’s point upon impact. Ava howled at the pain ceasing in her arm.
Reya laughed “Oh is that all, well by all means Godless one, take the fast death” She forced the blade forward, slicing through the Halo, then ripped out her sword from Ava’s body. She cleaned off the blood, pushed back her hair and declared “Now if you will excuse me, its time I took Hanna home”
“No NO NO! REYA! GET BACK HERE!” Ava screamed. “LEAVE HER ALONE!”
Michelle finally ripped the Angellic she fought in half, turning to Reya before the body completely dissolved to ashes. She raised her sword and sprinted at Reya screaming a war cry.
“No” Ava groaned, she turned her head to watch the fight. “don’t….take….her” her strength started to disappear as her eyes became heavy. Darkness came and took over her mind. The Warrior Nun's body went lip. Her last breath exaled from trembling lips and her head rolled to the side. Her body blet out on the frozen coble, spreading outward into a circle.
The world faded to nothing, leaving one single thought in her wake and that thought was her family.