Chapter 23
The return to Paradise Hotel didn’t come soon enough.
Today the weather could have been better. Rain settled in a few minutes after dawn. Transforming the day back into night. Adding the winters chill in the air froze everything the water touched. The Crew ran into the hotel, not just because of the rain, bursting through the doors before the hotel knew what hit them. It’s been too long since they last been in this home away from home. Time may have changed them, but not this sanctuary.
“Here we are!” Ava boasted, leading her Crew to the front counter with Hanna in her arms. “Time to party!”
“Just for a few nights!” Beatrice informed, readjusting the many bags on her back, most belonging to Hanna. “Then we have to return to work”
“Yeah and then the wedding” Ava hinted with a mischievous smirk “and the after party”
“please don’t call our honeymoon the after party” Bea groaned.
“No problem…fiancé”
“Can you all hurry up it’s freezing in here” Camila groaned, she pushed her soaked hair back, rubbing her the back of her scalp. The rain had seeped through her jacket and froze her skin. She readjusted the bag on her back. “Can’t wait for a hot shower” she sighed.
“Me too” Serita hinted.
Camila chuckled, turning to Serita grinning “No way, I dibs shower first!”
“You can’t call dibs, we haven’t checked in yet!”
“Just did it”
Serita huffed, shaking her head she gave up leaning forward and kissing her cheek. “fine, I get seconds”
“Now that you will have to fight me on!” Mary stated, shivering from the rain. “It’s colder then a witches tit in here”
Lilith lovingly sighed. She dropped their bags, blew fire into her hands and cracked her neck side to side. Her chest started to glow an angry red glow, leaking through her soaked black jumper. Lilith strode to her girlfriend’s back and wrapped herself around her girlfriend in one swoop. The warmth rising from Lilith’s core filling Mary’s. “Better?”
“Much better” Mary answered, leaning into the embrace.
“Well that’s what you get for riding your motorcycle here” Beatrice playfully chastised. She walked up to the motel bench, turned and leaned backwards on her elbows. Watching the couple hug. Especially amused at Mary’s snigger.
“I don’t trust those hooligans alone with it”
“They are nuns”
“I said what I said, I seen them eye my bike!”
“I doubt they will steal from you Mary, especially from another Sister warrior or let alone commit that sin”
Lilith hummed, readjusting her chin on Mary’s shoulder. “Perhaps they were more interested in you” a slight irritation in her voice as she comment.
Mary smirked, turning to face her girlfriend. “are you jealous?”
Lilith laughed. “Hardly”
“So Sweetpea, what do you think? Do you like it here?” Ava asked, turning her focus on her daughter.
Hanna looked around and giggled amused at the strangers around her and the place she was now in.
“I HEARD THAT!” Edith’s voice roared from the dining room. Followed by fast rapid beats of footsteps. “I KNOW WHO THAT IS!” her voice bellowed much closer.
“JESUS LOVE SLOW DOWN!” Dylan’s voice shouted.
Soon the flash of grey hair was seen in the crowd milling by the dining room doors. Edith pushed through the crowds sprinting straight for the crew with Diego on her tail. Dylan followed after, apologising to everyone her love barged into. Edith skidded to a halt just in front of the crew while Diego ran into Ava with arms stretched wide.
“Is this her?” Edith excitedly spoke. “The darling little girl you have been talking about?”
“Morning ladies!” Ava replied excitedly. “Edith, Diego, Dylan, may I present to you my sweetpea little girl, Hanna”
Edith squealed with delight. She didn’t take too much notice her lover’s exhausted jog or how the woman killed over onto her knees beside her. She clasped her hands together in front of her face and tilted her head a little to Dylan’s direction. “Darling isn’t this fantastic, another baby is in the house and it’s from my favourite customers!”
“As long as I’m not doing the two am diaper change I’m in” Dylan groaned, she pushed herself off her knees and wobbled. “Bloody oath I need to exercise” she groaned. She grinned at the crew while her lover took off to greet the new child with Diego. “Welcome back all”
“Great to be back!” Mary stated.
“Indeed” Beatrice agreed.
Serita pulled away from her girlfriend. Walking over to Dylan, extending her hand. “It’s good to see you friend”
“You too” Dylan congratulated, shaking her hand. “It’s about time you all showed up, my wife was beginning to worry”
“Was not!” Edith huffed. “I knew they would be back”
“And it’s not just the baby we brought along, we have news we want to share” Ava spoke.
“What is it?” Diego asked concerned.
Ava and Beatrice revealed their engagement rings to the family. Dylan and Diego cheered at the sight while Edith squealed.
“GOD HASN’T LEAD ME ASTRAY!” Edith screamed. “It’s about time you two got engaged!” she grabbed both ladies and held them tight. Holding them for a few moments, before tearing away and focusing her attention on the rest of the crew with a knowing smirk. “What about you two? Any more church bells calling for you?”
“It’s not our style” Lilith stated.
“Sorry to disappoint, but it’s true” Mary agreed.
“No not us” Camila sweetly replied.
“Just those two!” Serita informed.
“As long as you all have each other, it doesn’t matter how you display your love! Just cherish it with all you got!” Edith advised. “Now come, let us get your rooms sorted” she turned for the office and began heading that way. The others followed her lead, pushing through the crowds.
With much luck, the Crew were reunited with their old room.
While Hanna spent some quality time with her Uncle and her Great Aunts, the Crew retired to their room. This little temporary sanctuary hadn’t changed since the Crew were last here. The moment they walked into the room. An instant wave of peace came over the Crew, lifting the weight off their shoulders. The Cradle may be their home, but this cozy room will always have a place in their hearts.
“DIBS!” Camila yelled before she sprinted across the threshold and into the shower. Shutting the door behind her.
“Second it!” Serita stated as she carried their bags pas the kitchen and throwing them into the last doorway. She dusted her hands off and made her way into the kitchen. “Cocktails anyone?”
“It’s 10am” Mary quizzical smile.
Serita faced her with a sly grin. “So?”
“Fair play” and she ventured into the kitchen.
Lilith looked to the ladies left and right, then shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes. She joined them at the dining table, throw Mary’s bag and hers into their room as she walked. “This place hasn’t changed a bit”
“It’s kind of perfect this way”
“I agree”
“Like a warm bed on a stormy day” Mary comment.
“Couldn’t say it better myself” Serita agreed with a small laugh.
As the four continued to discuss their holiday. Beatrice’s mind drifted in a daze, starring dreamily at her lover. Her eye colour started to glow with vibrancy, her irises faded from black to white. She crossed the distance and captured her lover’s jaw with one hand and turned her head to face her. Till their eyes locked onto each other.
“Babe?” Ava whispered with a curious grin.
Beatrice didn’t respond. She closed the distance, kissing her lover’s lips. Another hand wrapped around Ava’s waist and pulled her close till pressed against her own. The drumming of her lover’s heart beat thumped rapidly in her ears. The taste of her lover and the earnest moan, only encouraged Beatrice to continue.
The others whistled.
“Get a room!” Lilith laughed.
“Can’t take them anywhere!” Mary chastised.
“Pft like you two are the ones to talk” Serita chuckled.
Mary rolled her eyes and with that, the ladies returned to their drinks.
Beatrice’s hand lowered slightly. She tugged Ava’s neck, pulling skin till something sharp burst from her fingertips and Ava pulled away with start.
“Ah” Ava hissed.
The glow in Beatrice’s eyes blinked away. Returning back to normal. She dropped her hands, starring at her lover, gaped mouth and concerned. “My Love are you okay?
“Yeah fine” Ava dismissed, she wiped her neck clean as the wounds vanished. Her smile dropped for a moment at the sight of blood on her fingertips. She huffed, wiping the tray blood on her shirt. “A little sharp nails never hurt anyone”
“I’m sorry”
“It’s fine” Ava reassured. She reached out and grabbed her lover’s hands. “We’ll continue what you started the moment these nosy girls are out of ear shot”
Beatrice raised her eyebrow confused “didn’t you start that”
Ava paused. “no love, you did it this time” she said.
“Oh, well in that case I will finish what I started, you have my word”
Curiously, Ava ran her fingers along Beatrice’s fingertips. She didn’t feel anything sharp, but the smudge of her blood freshly painted on skin. She looked down for a moment. Her lover’s nails were cut to the bone. She looked up and smiled. “I’ll hold you to that!” she stated. “Save me a drink before them lot drink all our booze!” Ava stated. She picked up their bags and carried them to their bedroom. Leaving Beatrice to wonder past into the kitchen. ‘that was strange’ she reflected to Other Ava.
‘Are you blind?’ Other Ava stated bluntly.
‘What!’ Ava hissed. “Shut up!” she retorted out loud. She turned the doorway and paused at the sight of Beatrice. She smiled, watching her lover trade a few jokes with their friends. Soon she turned away. ‘is she okay’
‘she’s fine, soon she’s going to be-‘
“Hey Ava get in here!” Serita shouted.
“Coming!” Ava retorted.
“That’s what she said!” Serita joked and a vast chorus of groans followed.
Ava snorted. She shook her head, retreating into the kitchen. ‘you were saying?’
‘doesn’t matter, we both know what comes next’
That night the family retreated to the bar. First for big family dinner, then came the singing and the drinking.
By morning Beatrice woke up to a small foot pressed against her chest and a migraine thundering harder in her skull then stamped of wild buffalo. She peered her eyes open with a low groan. The room was almost dark, peaks of morning sunlight poking through the closed blinds. She looked past her sleeping daughter and suddenly lurched out of bed. Ava was missing. “what?” she whispered confused. Slowly she tore herself from the warm mattress and tip toed into the lounge room.
T
here she was greeted with the sight of Mary sleeping sprawled on the couch and Serita laid upside down on the couch, reading the DaVinci Code. Serita tore herself away from her book and grinned at hungover Beatrice. “Morning Bea”
“Morning” she replied confused. “My head feels like a jackhammer”
“Sucks to be you”
“How come you aren’t hungover”
“Can’t be hungover if you are still drunk”
Bea nodded. “right, and the DaVinic Code?”
Serita shrugged as she turned back to her book. “Helps pass the time, it’s actually quite good”
“Good, where’s Ava?”
“With Lilith and Camila”
“And where are-“
“Will you two tone it down” Mary groaned, slowly pushing herself upright. One hand tugging the back end of the sofa while the other hand covered her face. “some of us are trying to sleep”
“Yeah Bea tone it down!” Serita laughed, raising her voice.
Mary sneered. She grabbed the first pillow in reach and pegged it straight for the spy. Serita laughed as she ducked her head out of the way. “Where’s the others?”
“That’s what I was asking” Beatrice answered.
Mary huffed. She looked around, then shook her head. “okay they couldn’t have gone far, first shower, then we’ll check the last place they been” She pulled herself off the mattress and stumbled for the shower. As she walked away, she noticed her phone sitting on the kitchen bench. Soft light of new notifications blinking in time. She picked up her phone and laughed at the new notifications. “I know where they are” Mary informed. “I’ll be back, get dress!” she ordered, then left for the shower with haste.
“Where are they?” Bea asked.
“You’ll see” Mary laughed as she closed the door.
Bea was about to question her further, when Serita’s calm cheery voice piped up “don’t worry they’ll be fine, I’ll keep watch over Hanna while you two give them hell”
Bea sighed. She turned on her heels and patted back into her room.
Down at the outdoor bar
The pair waltz onto the scene ready for anything their girls had caused in their absence. A drunken Kayoko wasn’t one of them. They stopped by the pool. Their respective girlfriends were swaying about with beers in hand, singing loudly and very out of tune. Camila backed them up with voice and the piano. Before the drunk band was Edith and Diego, merrily dancing to the beat. Dylan stationed herself at the bar, curled up on the seat with head and arms pressed against the table. A desperate effort to drown out the music.
Beatrice didn’t know how to react. “what the fuck?” she cursed confused.
Mary snorted, covering her mouth to block out her own laughter.
“it’s tough to be a god” Ava and Lilith sung. “but if you get the peoples nod. Count your blessings, keep them sweet, that’s our advise”
“great, great, great advice, great advice” Lilith stumbled, she attempted to drink her beer and spilled half on herself. She nodded, pointing to Ava with a drunken smile. “great advice”
“Be a symbol of PERFECTION” Ava shouted, throwing half of her beer out into the audience. “SORRY!” she yelled.
“it’s fine dear you missed me!” Edith laughed.
“Be a legend” the girls sung. “Be a cult, take the praise, take the-“
“wait wait wait” Ava interrupted confused.
“Wait?” Lilith laughed
“yeah” Ava replied. “What’s next?”
“I don’t know I’m just following you” she shrugged, taking another gulp of her beer.
“Cammy?”
“Collection” Cammy replied
“Collection!” the trio cheered and thus they continued to sing.
Beatrice turned to Mary and asked “Should we stop them?”
“Nah, let’s see if they finish the song”
Dylan groaned. She pulled her head up, facing them. “Please don’t” she begged “For the love of all things holy stop them”
“Hey man let them finish just one song”
“One?” Dylan groaned. “They have been singing it for three hours” she turned to the table and dropped her head back down in her arms.
“Alright party’s over” Mary grumbled. Mary led Beatrice across the dance floor straight to the stage.
Just in time for Ava and Lilith to screech, arm in arm. “SIGN UP TO GODS OF PARADISE, PAAARRAAADISE!” they clinked their glasses, spilled more and sculled the rest. Edith and Diego cheered. Even Dylan let out a relieved sigh.
“They’re all yours” Edith stated amused.
“Thank you Edith, I hoped they weren’t that much trouble” Beatrice spoke.
“Not at all, their entertainment made up for it” she stated. She grabbed Diego by the shoulders and escorted him back to Dylan. Together they each took Dylan’s side, escorting the Bartender away from the noise and chaos.
“Ava!” Beatrice called.
“BEA!” Ava shouted excitedly. Ava stumbled off the stage and ran for her warrior, straight into open arms. She proceeded to leave trail of kisses all over Beatrice’s face. Till she suddenly pulled away, bright eyed and grinning gleefully. “Do you wanna drink?” Ava asked.
Beatrice shook her head. Drinking was not an option today, especially how worse for wear her lover was. Barely standing upright in Beatrice’s arms. “no thank you, we’re taking you to bed”
“Okay” she answered. She turned to the others as Mary made her way on stage. “Time to go!”
“Boo!” the girls replied, then giggled amongst themselves.
“How did this happen?” Beatrice questioned, gesturing to her fiancé and her drunk friends.
“I was left unsupervised” Ava clarified simply.
“You were with Lilith and Camila”
“She challenged me!” Lilith shouted. “And I do not run from Challenges!”
“I too was left unsupervised!” Camila laughed.
“Right, off we go you two come on!” Mary coaxed. Camila tried to go for her drink, but Mary quickly dragged the girl away stating “No enough for you”. Once off the stage, she grabbed both of their waists, hoisting their arms around her neck. She escorted them to Beatrice and chuckled “This is going to be fun”
“I don’t see how this will be fun, they can barely stand”
“Well not today” Mary retracted. She started escorting the drunk ladies back to the room. Beatrice followed after her with Ava in her grasp. “Tomorrow when the Hangover kicks in, that’s where the real enjoyment will begin”
“I see your point”