Chapter 51
Back in the safety of the Cradle.
Cira Sandra remained unconscious until they were all in the safe arms of the Cradle. From then on, she did not speak. She only listened and watched as the family comfort each other. Telling the events that transpired before their union. The whole time, Hanna kept her hand in Persephones and her attention on Cira Sandra.
The Sister Warriors and the Crew gathered the remains of those they lost and took them home to the Cradle. Each were buried and a shared funeral service. Each Sister taking their turn to speak on behalf of their fallen. To share memories treasured with the rest of the group.
The entire service Hanna sat quietly. Gazing every now and again to the back of the room. Hoping Cira Sandra will join them in the church. She did not.
Persephone one side and her friends sat other side of Hanna. The group haven’t been apart since the attack few days ago. Neither girl liking the idea of being apart now. The Crew sat took their seats around the teenagers.
Persephone was growing impatient with Hanna’s wondering eye. She frowned with a low scoff and focused ahead. “stop looking, she’s not coming in”
Hanna hummed. “she might change her mind”
“She’ll burn if she enters a church” Persephone scoffed.
“Shhh” the Crews whispered.
“why would you say that?” Hanna whispered confused.
Persephone sighed, crossing her arms over her stomach. “You know I’m right, she’s not good”
Hanna sighed, shaking her head. “can we please talk about this later”
“why, it’s important”
“not more then them!” Hanna states serious. She turned her attention to Persephone and gave her a look that read she wasn’t fucking around.
Persephone scrunched her face at the look. Suddenly she got up and left the service. The Sisters followed her with their eyes, a disappointed gaze shared among them. A quick tap of Suzanne’s crane snapped their attentions forward and so the service resumed.
“what’s wrong with her now?” Kit whispered into Hanna’s ear.
Hanna sighed, disappointed in Persephone’s rudeness and her own. “She wanted to talk about Cira and I told her not here and” Hanna paused rubbing her neck. “They were more important right now”
“Dude why are you ashamed you’re right”
“Shhh” the OG Crew whispered.
“sorry” Kit whispered back. She turned to Hanna and dropped her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder. “as I said, you’re right”
Hanna nodded, but did not smile. “Thanks”
After the service.
Hanna followed the sisters outside. She took refuge past the door, down the steps to the courtyard and stood with back against the small stone fence that marked where the courtyard began and the walkway to inside the Cradle ended. She watched the Sisters go. Most went to training, others helped carry the coffins to the cript.
Past the crowds where the memorial garden for the fallen, was where Hanna spotted Cira Sandra. Her eyes twinkled with gold delight as she watched Cira pay her respects to the fallen sisters. She pushed herself off the wall and began weaving herself through the crowd to join her.
“Hey” she greater upon approach.
Cira smiled, turning back to see her. “Hey yourself darling, service over already?”
Hanna nodded. “They’re all being laid to rest now” Hanna answered. “Why didn’t you join us, we had a seat for you”
“My apologies, but Church’s and me don’t go well together”
Hanna frowned, her eyes dimmed as she wondered if Persephone was right. Because you’re afraid to burn?”
Cira’s head snapped to Hanna with an insulted look. “First of All!” Cira declares loudly. “I am not afraid of anything, I am fear! And second of all” Cira’s burst of anger subsided to something curious. “Why do you think that I’ll burn?”
Hanna huffed, shaking her head. “Persephone” she answered. She walked away three steps, turning her back on Cira. “She wasn’t impressed that I was focusing on the service instead of her and...” she trailed off for a moment.
Enough time passed for Cira to lean forward to hear Hanna better.
“I was waiting for you to show up” Hanna answered. She shook her head again. “I’m sorry for the comment, not everyone likes being in churches and that’s okay. I’m not going to judge” she turned back, a soft smile graced her face and her eyes started to bright with vibrancy. “I saw you paying your respects, thank you, I’m sure they will be thankful for the pray”
Cira smiled, pulling back with a gentle nod. “It’s uncommon for me to have strangers look out for me, now I have nothing to return for their bravery. Thanking them was the least I could do”
Hanna nodded in agreement. She pulled her attention from Cira’s gaze to focus on the memorial monument. “All these Sister Warriors are my aunties you know”
Cira hummed, she closed the gap between them, following Hanna’s sight. “I did not know that” she observed. “That’s a lot of aunties”
“Each one of them were here for my family and me since before I was born” Hanna advised. “When I come to the Cradle. I pay my respects when I arrive and when I leave. I talk to them, tell them what’s happening and hopefully my jokes make them laugh”
Cira chuckled. “I’m sure they would have loved that”
“I hope” she turned over shoulder and blushed at Cira’s proximity. Her gaze drew upward to her glasses. Cracked from the fight, but still held their composure. Hanna wondered, once again, what colour resides behind those eyes.
Cira turned to Hanna and performed a double take. “What’s that look for?”
Hanna cleared her throat. Composing herself. Her eyes turned back to silver as she asked “what colour are your eyes?”
“Why?”
“You always hide them”
“Eyes are the window to the soul and I’m not one to reveal all my secrets” she remarked, turning back to the flames. She sensed Hanna’s gaze refused to look away. Feeling those silver eyes stare at her with desire for answers. She sighed loudly and full of dramatic flare. “You can keep giving me that puppy dog eyes all you want, I won’t tell you”
Hanna’s smile twitched. “I’ll have you know my puppy dog eyes can make anyone cave”
“And I’ll have you know” Cira spoke, turning to Hanna with a devilish smirk. “I have impeccable patience”
“Wanna bet?”
Cira’s smile widen and her hand twitched. She turned away before the temptation to give up and just show Hanna her soul became too much. A smile vanished at that thought and it twitched, wondering how her friend will react to the truth. Will she run from her or will everything be fine. “How do you do that?” Cira asked, turning back to Hanna.
Hanna frowned confused, hitting her lip. “Do what?”
“When I’m with you, I feel free, unburdened. Like I’m finally becoming myself” Cira answered, in a lifting tone that showed how long she’s been holding onto This admittance. Her smile twitched. “I feel wild, powerful and I could take on the world as long as you were with me” she grinned.
Hanna smiled softly. “You know I feel the same way” she realised.
Cira’s smile was sweet and soft without any alternative agenda. A rare sight that made Hanna beam. “Enough of this” Cira suddenly declared, that made Hanna raise an eyebrow at her. Cira turned, offered her hand and suggested “we need to spar, can’t have the legendary trouble maker Hanna Silva be a slacker”
“Hey I’m not a slacker!” Hanna laughed.
“Maybe, but it is tough to be as powerful as me” Cira boasted proudly. Earning a hearty laugh from Hanna. “I am under defeated champion of the sword”
“Ha Not today!” Hanna laughed. She snatched the offer hand and dragged Cira racing to the training grounds. Hooping and howling with joy as they ran.
On the upper training grounds, they grabbed a stick each and walked onto the training matt. Positioning themselves for the fight. Hanna grounded her feet steadily in the matt, her stick weld in both hands, stick edge pointing to her spar partner. While Cira Sandra stood straight, with stick held in one hand and blade tip pointed.
Cira grinned and suggested playfully “it’s not too late to admit defeat”
“Absolutely not” Hanna grinned.
Cira laughed, she darted forward and so the fight begun. It was all in or nothing, they moved around the matt like a dance. Blocking each other’s attacks. Hanna slid on the matt sideways, darted forward and swung her stick. Cira’s stick knocked out of the way on collision. Hanna spined down the length of Cira’s stick, till she stood by side. Cira tried to swing her sword around to Hanna, but Hanna caught her stick mid-swing from underneath and forced it forward. Sending the weapon flying out of Cira’s hand. Hanna turned to Cira grinning smugly, with her stick held crossways against Cira’s throat.
Cira, her hands still positioned out, holding the air. Turned her head sideways to Hanna with, what she wouldn’t dare admit yet can only be described, heart eyes.
“Match 1 for me, care for another?” Hanna asked smugly.
Cira laughed. “Of course” she answered. She dropped her body backwards, tumbled out of Hanna’s stick and threw herself upright. Hanna sprinted forward. She slid underneath Hanna’s attack, slid along the matt to her stick, turned and faced Hanna again. Armed with her stick, she darted forward before Hanna could raise her stick against her.
Cira drove Hanna back to the edge of the matt. She waited till her feet stumbled onto uneven surface where gravel meets rubber. Cira kicked Hanna’s legs out from under her and she fell. Cira grabbed the girl by the neck last moment, hoisting her up while she pressed her stick to Hanna’s chest.
Hanna blushed as she was held up by Cira.
Cira smirked, adjusting her grip on her stick. “Draw, care for another?”
“Yes”
Cira dropped Hanna and wondered backwards onto the matt.
Hanna threw herself upright onto her feet without toughing the ground. She snatched the stick and the two sprinted to each other, resuming the fight.
When the evening came, the Crew retired to the roof tops. For private meeting. Sharing a bottle of wine. Ava dished out the wine between them.
“what a day” Ava sighed, serving the last of the wine and then herself. She plopped onto the tiles beside her wife, leaning up against her body. She raised her glass and announced “To all we lost”
“To all we lost” they toasted.
They took their sips, toasting the sky before turning their attentions on each other.
“Looks like there’s trouble in paradise” Camila comment. “What’s going on with Persephone and Hanna?”
“Yeah it was hard to miss that” Serita hummed.
“Honestly I have no idea” Ava groaned, gesturing wildly with her hands.
“I thought Captain tells you everything?” Mary asked concerned.
“usually she does” Ava answered. “But even she doesn’t know what’s going on with her girlfriend, they usually make up in a day or two”
Beatrice nodded in agreement. “I am no expert in relationship advice, things have changed since she was young. Sometimes it feels time is moving too fast”
Ava turned to her wife and smiled “lucky she has us” she comment. “I still recall the debates on who will win the fight, Wonder Woman or Supergirl”
Beatrice turned to her wife with a suspicious smile “I do recall your argument is they will date”
Ava shrugged cheekily. “Well yeah, they would”
“No hang on, version to date each other?” Serita asked curiously.
“Okay let’s not resume this debate” Lilith laughed. She took another sip of her wine, leaning back on her hand. “Perhaps one of us should talk to Persephone, see what’s going on?”
“Yes it seems she pissed off our daughter and Addams too” Mary agreed.
Camila offered her hand up “I’ll volunteer” she offered.
Serita took her hand and kissed it. “I will help”
Camila turned to her and smiled merrily. “thank you”
“Speaking of daughter, where did Captain and Cira go?” Mary questioned curiously.
“Training” Both Ava and Beatrice answered together.
Mary did a double take, took a drink and leaned back on her hands. “What, do you two have her GPS tracked or something?”
The couple laughed. “No, we just have awesome skills” Ava gleefully boasted.
Beatrice playfully rolled her eyes. “What she means by that, is our Tarask nature can sense where she is”
“It’s very handy” Lilith agreed.
Mary hummed. “I bet it is, are them two still training?”
“No” Ava laughed. “They still together, but I think they passed out about now” she comment. She took a deep swig of her wine then stood up. “I’ll take them to bed, I’ll be back soon and then we can discuss strategies and all that jazz” she placed her glass on the ground, then captured her wife’s head and kissed her passionately. Much to the playful teases of the Crew. She pulled back only an inch and whispered smiling “love you babe”
“love you, my love” Beatrice whispered back.
Ava pulled back giddy, an effect her wife has on her that will never fade, despite the many times she’s heard it. Ava turned away and walked for the edge. Her wings flew out from her shirt and she took off into the sky.
Ava landed at the girl’s feet. The girls in question were sleeping peacefully on the matt. Broken sticks laid sprawled around them and their heads facing each other. Lying close together, but not quite touching. Ava smiled with an amused huff, she cautiously moved to the matt. “okay you two” she whispered, lowering herself down, kneeling beside Hanna. “time to get you two to bed”
Ava reached out to her daughter and suddenly, a knife was pressed against her throat. She stopped and turned to Cira, finding the owner of said knife starring at her. “Nice knife you got there, mind putting it away for me”
“Ava” she whispered surprised. She quickly smuggling her knife back in the crock of her back. “My apologies, I’m still half asleep”
Ava smiled curiously “and your first instinct was to look after her?”
Cira Sandra gulped. She scurried away from the mother daughter duo and up to her feet. “I’ll let you two be”
She started walking away while Ava pulled herself upright. “Before you go!” Ava announced, stopping the girl in her tracks. “Will you do me one favour?” she asked. The girl’s attention twisted back to Ava. Ava smiled knowingly and continued “stay”
Cira frowned, turning around completely to face Ava. Hands holding her hips. “What makes you think I’ll leave?”
“You had that look in your eyes when I made the instincts comment” Ava answered. “Word of advice, it never ends will when you try to hide who you are”
“What?” Cira laughed. “What makes you think I’m hiding”
Ava tapped the side of her head near her eyes. “It’s the middle of the night and you are still wearing those. Hanna tells me you never take them off. She thinks you’re a rockstar”
Cira blushed. “Suppose I am in a sense”
“You are, but seriously rock star, take my advice. It never ends well when you hide” Ava informed. She lifted her daughter in her arms and held her close. “It never did me any favours, If I continued to hide then I wouldn’t have my family” she stepped closer, frowning at the way Cira looked at her. So serious, starring at Ava searching for her angle, to reasons beyond her simple words. “She trusts you, she cares for you and I know she didn’t share her angelic side with you until recently, but I doubt whatever you are hiding is going to make her run from you”
Cira shock her head, turning her head away from Ava. “running might be the best”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Maybe, maybe not” she turned back to Cira and smiled “but I doubt it”
Cira’s head snapped to her with suspicious glare “Why on earth are you so sure, you don’t know me”
“That is true, I only know of you, but I think that will change soon” Ava moved slowly past her to the Cradle. She stopped after five steps and turned her head back to Cira. “Are you coming?”
Cira looked at Ava and Hanna, then turned her back on them to the walls. It was tempting to leave. Hanna was safe after all, there was no reason for her to stay at all. The world was only one wall away and she could leave right now. She took one step forward and hesitated for the next. Something was holding her back.
Cira turned back to Hanna and Ava. She discovered where Hanna’s warm beckoning eyes came from. Ava’s gaze was soft and inviting, a gentle smile that gave the sense either decision she made, Ava will support. Cira turned to Hanna and wondered how the sleeping girl will react with her sudden departure.
Suddenly Cira sighed dramatically, a soft curse whispered on her lips and she walked towards Ava. “Fine, show me the way”
“Good” Ava comment pleased. “You haven’t slept in a while haven’t you?”
“I don’ need to sleep, it’s a luxury”
“Sleep renews strengths and if you two want to keep sparing, then rest all you can”
“If you say so”
By early morning Hanna stumbled her way down the hallway half asleep.
She didn’t see Persephone running towards her until the girl was standing in front of her speaking “Hanna, you’re awake, come with me?”
Hanna huffed, rubbing the sleep out of her two eyes, then dropped a hand and rubbed the sleep from her angelic eye. “what are you doing up so early?”
“making breakfast for you” Persephone announced. She stood firm and smiled sadly. “And before you try it, I want to apologies for my actions yesterday. How I treated you and the sisters was unforgivable on my part. Blatant disrespect because I was so focused on Cira-“
Hanna groaned, she tried to walk around Persephone, but her ex jumped in front of her.
“-which is why I am going to stop”
Hanna frowned confused. “did I hear that right?”
“I already apologised to the dead. The only way I see of making it up to you, is to stop trying to force you to stay away from Cira. I’m sorry for doing that, I still don’t trust her, but I trust you more” this last comment earned a small smile from Hanna. “If you want her to be friends, then be it, I won’t stop you!”
Hanna looked at Persephone surprised. Her ex wasn’t known for changing her mind for any reason, not hell’s fury or by Hanna’s request. She must of heard her wrong, but Persephone’s eyes insisted she heard her right. “Really?” Hanna said.
“Really”
“Why the change of heart?”
Persephone tilted her head to the side and smiled. “Because you were right and I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I slept good last night and the rest made me realised how much of a dick I’ve been to you and our friends”
“You are a dick sometimes” Hanna spoke. She took Persephone into her arms and kissed her forehead. Whispering proudly “but I love you anyway”
Persephone laughed. She threw her arms around Hanna’s neck and kissed her on the lips. “It’s going to be different this time, I promise”
Meanwhile Cira walked down the corridors, stretching her body as she walked. She spotted the couple ahead and stopped in her tracks. She frowned at the way Hanna laughed with Persephone. She watched them for a moment, huffed, then turned around and marched quietly away.
Persephone peeked around Hanna’s shoulder and watched Cira leave. She pressed her head hard against Hanna’s arm, the smile she couldn’t hide shown with pleasure for Cira’s fast departure. She waited till the girl was out of sight before she ripped herself from Hanna and exclaimed excitedly “Come on you, let’s get you that breakfast”. Persephone picked up Hanna’s hand and dragged her up the hallway.
Hanna frowned at the weird twinkle in that smile. A devilish grin on Persephone always told Hanna something was wrong, but her girlfriend didn’t want to talk about it. Hanna turned around and found no one behind her. She shrugged and followed her girlfriend.