Chapter 24
After a year of peace
The OCS spent the day preparing the first wedding in the Cradle in seven years. Nuns raced around preparing the upper courtyard with flowers and chairs. Hanging jars filled with fairy lights. Camila and Serita busy moving the piano into the courtyard. The lower courtyard prepared for the reception party afterwards.
By sunset they gathered at the upper courtyard. The Golden hour lit up the sky, complimented with the orange fairy light jars scattered around. The OCS were dressed in their best armour, spit polished for the event. Superion stood at the helm of the group in her old warrior armour and hair tied back in single braid. Lilith stood beside her on the left, Mary on Superion's right. Jillian and her son dressed in matching blue and black suites, sitting in the front row with the Crew either side. Serita holding Hanna in her arms. The little girl dressed in pink dress, biting her Dusty merrily.
Beatrice stood waiting with her hands clutched behind her back. Dressed in white suit with cobalt blue tie and vest. A sword on her belt crafted in cobalt blue thread handle, silver hilt and tip. Beatrice sighed, boots tapping quietly.
Superion turned to her, looked her up and down then smiled. “don’t be nervous” she advised in a low whisper. “you are going to be fine”
Beatrice turned to her and smiled. “thanks”
Camila turned down the flowery walkway and began playing the classic wedding tune.
The OCS stood and faced down the walkway. Beatrice turned down the walkway and her smile broke wide at the sight of Ava. Her lover walked towards her in flowing white dressed with her Mother on her arm and a sword on her belt. Similar style to Beatrice’s sword, except instead of blue thread handle it was gold.
“my god” Beatrice whispered amazed.
For a split second, Beatrice’s eyes shimmered white. Both Mother and Daughter took noticed of the sight, but neither made any comment. Michelle escorted her daughter to Beatrice’s side. She pulled away with a gentle smile, then took a seat by Jillian and her son.
Ava looked over at Beatrice and sighed with a goofy grin. “wow” she whispered, eyeing her lover’s form in the well fitted suit. “you look amazing”
“So do you” Beatrice blushed
The Piano music came to a slow halt. The group took their seats.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of our Sister Warriors, Beatrice and Ava” Superion addressed. “Their dedication to each other as to God. We perform this ceremony with the traditional passing of the blades. You may remove your swords”
The ladies removed their swords, revealing their blades matched colours with their threads. The ladies thrust the blade in the ground and knelt facing each other.
“These blades are crafted through your love to each other. To protect one in another in the heat of battle. To fight for each other and the cause” Superion informed. She turned to Ava and asked “Do you Ava Silva, swear to protect and love Beatrice. Till death do you part. Through the darkness and light?”
“I do”
Superion nodded proudly, then focused on Beatrice. “And do you Beatrice, swear to protect and love Ava. Till death do you part. Through the darkness and light?”
“I do”
Superion removed a flask of holy water from her belt. Flicked off the cap and started flicking the water on the weapons. “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy spirt” She paused and glanced at Michelle. “In the name of the Old Gods” Michelle turned to her and smiled. “I bless thee blades and their owners. May the Gods light your way in the darkness times” she spoke, putting away the bottle of holy water. “You may trade the swords”
The couple took each other’s swords, Beatrice with the orange blade and Ava with the blue. They stood up, in one swift motion. Beatrice grabbed hold of Ava’s waist, pulled her pressed against her body and kissed her passionately. Ava wrapped her arms around Beatrice’s neck in reflex.
The entire OCS stood up and cheered.
The couple pulled apart, turning to their friends and family.
“Well done you two” Superion congratulated.
“Congratulations!” Mary praised.
“Yeah congratulations you two” Lilith spoke with a sniffle.
The married couple turned to Lilith grinning.
“Are you crying Lil?” Beatrice asked with a knowing grin.
“Of course not” Lilith scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I just got something in my eye”
“Sure Jan” Ava laughed. She turned to the Order and addressed yelling “ALRIGHT TIME TO PARTY!”
“You are ridiculous!” Beatrice laughed.
“Oh my love!” Ava grinned, sheathing her sword then wrapped her arms around Beatrice “I am your ridiculous!”
The remainder of the night was spent partying like the end of the world. Dancing and singing. At some point during the party, the newlyweds sneaked away. Leaving their daughter in the capable hands of their family.
On their honeymoon
In the isles of France, in a little cottage far from town. The newlyweds slept curled in each other’s grasp. It’s been weeks since they arrived in this little slice of paradise. Everything was going perfect till the second last day of their stay.
Beatrice fell under a flu. She claimed she was fine, but her body showed signs otherwise. Her skin burning up and itchy. On the last day she fell into fever sleep. Ava waited by her side hand and foot caring for her sick lover. Other Ava wasn’t concerned about Beatrice’s sudden sickness, in fact she felt her Tarask was almost excited.
So, in the middle of the night, under the light of the full moon. Beatrice tossed and turned into her sleep. Till she woke with a jerk, her eyes blazing unnatural white. She rolled off the mattress and fell to the ground. She groaned. Fire started to spark off her skin, slowly burning away to new Tarask skin underneath. She groaned and hissed, clenching her teeth down trying not to scream. She crawled along the floor to the bedroom door, pulling herself upright before shoving the door open. Stumbling into the hallway and heading outside. Leaving a trail of whisper smoke in her wake.
Beatrice’s scream merged with a Tarask’s howl. The sound startled Other Ava awake. She looked to her right and found the bed empty. Then threw herself out of bed and ran to the source. Transforming into her full Tarask form as she ran.
Other Ava stumbled to the outside garden. Before her a Tarask knelt in the ground, fist buried in the earth. This Tarask had silver tipped wings, spiked silver pattern running up her back to her head. Other Ava grinned at the sighting of this Tarask. “By the Gods” she whispered. The new Tarask turned to face her, revealing a silver light design of skull mouth over theirs. “You are beautiful my love”
Beatrice Tarask stood up and marched to Other Ava. She sniffled her scent uncertain, then grinned with a low pleased growl. Other Ava growled in response walking forward three steps.
Beatrice Tarask closed the gap, sniffling Other Ava’s scent, circling the Tarask. Soon she stopped in front of Other Ava, raising a clawed hand and cupping Other Ava’s face. “love?” the Tarask spoke uncertain.
Other Ava hummed with a sharp nod. “Yes, love” Other Ava leaned up and kissed her lover.
Bea Tarask growled in the kiss. She picked up her lover and teleported the pair, reappearing at the Cottage smashing her lover’s back pressed against the brick wall. The Tarask grunted, pulling away and leaving kisses trailing down her neck.
Other Ava grunted. She grabbed her lover’s biceps harder before teleporting them to their bedroom.
After sunrise the pair were back in human form. Slowly waking up to the carnage left behind from last night’s activities. The bed was nothing but broken stakes of wood, split mattress and torn sheets. The room was in disarray. Ava looked around impressed then turned to her lover. Finding Beatrice curled by her side, no longer plagued with the flu.
“woah” Ava sighed as the memory flashed before her eyes.
“yeah” Bea whispered, equally surprised. She pulled slowly away, sitting up as she looked around the room. Then focused on Ava with a surprised look. “Did we….did we do this?”
“think so”
“I am a Tarask? Aren’t I?”
Ava pulled herself upright with a small grin. “Yeah, you are. That’s why you were sick these past few days”
“How?”
“I don’t know maybe….” She trailed off, pulling away slightly as her mouth dropped. “oh” she whispered.
“What?”
“This is because of me…I resurrected you by turning you into a Tarask”
‘No complaints here’ Other Ava whispered. ‘You should have seen her, she’s beautiful’
Ava grinned. She took Beatrice’s hand into her own as she spoke “Other Ava says you were beautiful last night”
Beatrice blushed. “That memory is slowly coming back to me”
“Well I’ll happily recreate last night if you want a refresher” Ava chuckled moving closer, leaning in for the kiss.
Beatrice was about to lean in when she raised her finger and pressed it against Ava’s lips. “Now my love, since I have these new strengths. Will you teach me how to control these powers?”
“Yes”
Beatrice smiled, her eyes flashed blazing white. Beatrice suddenly pulled back with a low sigh and eyes widen with shock. “woah, I just heard her speak”
“What did she say?”
Beatrice looked to her with a tight smirk. She pulled Ava onto her lap as she whispered “how about we show you?”
“ooh kinky” Ava comment.
Beatrice kissed her lover, pushing her down into the remains of the mattress before climbing ontop.
The pair decided to stay an extra few days longer. Not just to repair the damages their other halves done that night, but to explore the new side of Beatrice’s Tarask self in the privacy of their little cottage. Neither woman didn’t want to stay too long away from their daughter. Despite the tempting urge to kidnap their daughter away from her aunties and grandmothers, taking her here. The newlyweds soon were on their way home once again.
To begin the next chapter in their lives.