Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Red smoke fills the air, as a strong wind kicks up debris, making it even harder to see. She makes her way through the fallen sisters, having her own mission in mind, dodging and weaving through the chaos. She turns a corner just to have a fist come flying towards her face, she steps into the left, grabs the arm of a possessed sister and uses their momentum against them and flips them over her shoulder, grabbing a divinium dagger strapped to the now unconscious nun. Choosing to stay armed as she makes her way towards the gate, the heart of the fight, where many possessed nuns and sister warriors alike fight to get to the man in the middle, who stands calmly, as he calls another wave of wraiths to the fight. As she makes her way closer a hand grabs her, stirring her away into a dark corner.

“We need to get you out of here,” the woman said, pushing her against the wall, so they wouldn't be seen. Even with the darkness masking her face she could recognize that voice anywhere. “I know you want to fight but it’s a losing cause.”

“But-” an argument dies on her lips as the grip on her arm tightens. She looks at her fully taking her in, to notice she was bleeding by her abdomen and gashes litters her body, her white button up stained red, her usual perfect bun a disarray and her breath comes out laboured. “We need to stop your bleeding.”

As she reaches out a hand stops her, the other making its way to hold her cheek, she turns her head towards it seeking its warmth. She straps the dagger on her thigh, ready when she needs it. She closes her eyes and just breathes in, trying to calm her racing heart as she was taught to do. Deep breathes in, holds and out. She continues the cycle until her heart calms down a touch, still beating rapidly from the adrenaline.

She knew that the end was nigh, it was a losing battle, it was hard enough to be ambushed, but to fight against your sisters, your family, unable to control their own actions as the possession takes hold was cruel. This was supposed to be a nice vacation, to see a long distance family. She was excited to tell them about her new adventures, but instead they lay still; even the best of them couldn’t hold on any longer, her family was left on the floor bleeding, trying to fight against their own.

“I can’t lose you,” she whispers, finally breaking out into sobs, the weight of seeing her loved ones die finally comes crumbling down on her. “Please, let me help you.”

“It’s too late for me,” the woman truthfully answered back, not one to sugar coat things, rubbing her thumb on her face, she stares intensely at her, like she was trying to breathe her in, memorizing her face, remembering each freckle that scattered across her nose and cheek, each glint in her teary eyes. “But I know how I can save you.”

Before she could utter a word Beatrice drags her through a dark hallway; not many people knew was there as only a selected few was made aware of it, and to where it led, the room that houses the Arc.

They made their way towards the hallway, getting farther and farther from the fight. She wraps her arm around Beatrice’s torso, limping their way into the room, but was making their way swiftly inside, knowing each second was precious and they had no time to waste. Beatrice turned to lock the door making sure what was outside stayed there, keeping them safe and buying them some time. The room was brightly lit, with high ceilings and an array of computers and wires attached to the Arc, monitoring its energy, still waiting for something or someone to pass through back into their world.

“You can come with me,” she begged Beatrice, pulling her closer to the Arc, at this point she was almost holding Beatrice’s entire body weight as she lost more blood getting weaker by the second. Eventually she pulled her down to the floor, sitting on the steps. She couldn’t hold her forever, but still wanted to keep her near. She nestled her face into Beatrice’s blood-caked hair trying to calm herself down, she was known to wear her heart on her sleeves and Beatrice knew her like the back of her hand, after all she once knew someone like that, impulsive, reactive and extremely loyal.

“You know as well as I do that I am not welcomed there.” Beatrice replied through heaving breaths, placing her hand in the centre of her chest. “But because the Halo blessed you, its power recedes in you, you are part of that realm and it will welcome you back, as if you never left.”

“But I can’t just leave you here,” she sobbed, holding her tighter. “Please come with me.” She knew Beatrice was right, the realm picks and chooses who can enter and who can leave, but she was anything if not stubborn. How can she just leave her here to die? Why can’t she take her with her into the Arc, saving them both, after-all they are all they have left.

The door rattled, and the screams of the wraiths can be heard through it, they were running out of time and they needed to act quick or both of them would end up dead, having no more options Beatrice swiftly turned around facing her, biting back against the pain that riddled her body and cradled her face, the scene all to familiar.

“We don’t have time, you need to pass through.” Beatrice whispered trying to calm her racing heart, after all the last time she sent someone through the Arc, someone she loved, no, loves, she never made her way to her, she was gone, lost forever, in a realm she could not follow, no matter how many times she tried.

“Be free, Thea.”

“No, no please,” she begged, covering Beatrice’s hand that was cradling her face. “Mom, I can’t leave you here, let me stay, I’ll fight with you till the end.” She knew her words fell on deaf ears, after all it was her life or Beatrice and she knew her mother would pick her over and over again in a heartbeat and she knew she would have done the same, but it doesn’t hurt any less.

The locks on the door broke open and the possessed came trickling in, gaining on them by the second. Her heart pounding against her ribcage, she was scared, of course she was. Despite her training shivers ran through her body, she was about to lose the last of her family, she was about to lose her mom, the person that stood by her side no matter what, who trained her into the warrior she is today, she was her rock, her person, she held her tighter trying to cherish whatever time they had left.

“In the next,” Beatrice kissed her forehead and leaned against it. She pushes her through the arc and whispers as she passes through “I love you.”

The last thing Thea sees is her mother crying through the portal as the wraith gained on her, having lost another loved one to another world, but still knowing it’ll keep her safe, as it did to Ava, or what she hope has healed her and free her from her duties as the Warrior Nun, finally living the life she deserved. Beatrice can only hope it’ll do the same for her daughter.

With that she passes through, into an unknown world, not knowing what awaits her.

-

Until next time!

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Lights fill her vision, she tries to blink them away, her head pounding and body aching. She feels the grass pricking her exposed skin, as the morning dew soaks in her clothes. She can hear birds chirping above her, as she finally gets her bearings. She sits up and sees a forest with the sun peaking through its leaves, to her left familiar mountains covering her view. Why would there be mountains and a forest in a desert that was supposed to be Reya’s realm , Thea thought. She picked herself off the floor, dusting her knees as she went. Was Reya’s realm anything that your mind desired? After all this was her happy place, not just hers, but her mother’s . 

Oh god , her mom, she’s alone dying for a world that was never kind to her. No, not dying, fighting, she refused to believe she died, she’ll find a way back to her, she promised. But she can’t help the thoughts that were flowing into her mind, like water from a broken dam.

She fell back on her knees and let out guttural sobs, shaking her whole body, not caring who heard, after all everyone she loved were dead, fighting for a cause that now took both her mothers, and every other sisters who fought for their fate.

She was never one to believe in the God her mom almost dedicated her life to, but she was on her knees begging to whatever deity exists, hell she even prayed to Reya, to keep her mother safe, at least until she was able to make her way back to her. She cried, prayed and screamed until her throat hurt, she pounded at the ground until her knuckles bled, she tried to let the world around her hurt as much as she just experienced. 

Every thought, every tear and pained breaths, she poured it all out.

And after a short while of letting everything around her feel what she was feeling, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to reel in her emotions, and calm her racing heart. Even though she recognized her surroundings, this was still Reya’s realm, several unknowns to factor in, and she couldn’t do so with a clouded and chaotic mind. 

Once she deemed herself calm, she took another look around her surroundings and noticed a small dirt path behind her, knowing in her world it would lead to a small town in Switzerland. If this truly was a replica of her happy place then this path should lead the same way, so with that in mind, she stood up, no longer caring if she looked presentable enough and made her way down the familiar path.

After an hour of walking and carefully analysing her surroundings to see if anything was a miss, she finally made it into the small town where many people were wandering about. With a quick look at the town clock located near its centre, it was 4 in the afternoon. 

She quickly made her way towards Bar La Vasseur, looking for a place of comfort. As she was growing near, she noticed a couple people handing out pamphlets, near the entrance of the bar, she went to grab one and noticed Adriel’s face plastered in the middle of it. She stood still, why would FBC be in Reya’s realm handing out pamphlets? This didn’t make any sense, she surveyed her surroundings and noticed more people scattered about handing out the same pamphlets. She crumples the pamphlet and throws it in the trash, continuing her way to the bar.

She knew her mother spent most of her time in this small town while she was carrying her, but decided to see the world, now that she had someone to see it with. They did go back here when she was 5 trying to create new memories, but the skeletons in the closet were too much and even though Beatrice tried to not let it affect her, Thea would always catch her crying every night they stayed there, praying to a God she no longer believed in.That’s when she made a promise to herself to always make her mom laugh, because to her there was nothing better than seeing her mom happy.

She stopped near the front, her eyes starts to well up with tears, the memory of her mom still fresh in her mind, she pressed her back on the left side of the tree located near the entrance of the bar, trying to composed herself, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, now is not the time, if you want to get back to her you need to know why you’re here, Thea thought, bracing her hands on her knees. As she was trying to compose herself, she felt someone walk past her, but by the time she opened her eyes she only got a glimpse of a woman with a brown collared shirt and a bun. Thinking nothing of it, she steps inside soaking in her familiar surroundings.

The place was already packed, with many patrons nursing a drink, some were already dancing, the rays of the sun that came through the window, reflecting anything it touches, became their disco ball. She pushes her way to the back and heads to the bar, hoping someone would have some answers for her.

Only to stop in her tracks, her divinium necklace softly beaming under her shirt, as she sees a person that she’s only seen in photographs and only heard stories about. There in front of her, laughing while mixing drinks, was Ava. 

Why was she here? Did Reya’s timeline not affect her, if so why didn’t she find a way to get back to them? Was she dead? Did entering the portal damaged her body, and now she was in the afterlife, looking at her dead mother? So many questions raced through her mind, all of them left unanswered. 

She turned away from the bar and instead headed to the washroom, nerves wrecked. Out of any possibilities, seeing her dead mãe was not on that list, in fact even meeting her was entirely out of the question. 

Thea stared at herself through the mirror for several minutes trying to find out where exactly she is, cause at this point, she doesn’t think she’s in Reya’s realm anymore. If she was in Reya’s realm that would answer why Ava was there but why would Adriel’s weird cult followers be there as well? She tried to backtrack and see if she had missed anything on her walk into town. She splashed cold water on her face, washing away the grime and dried blood. She didn’t want her first time meeting her mãe with her covered in blood and most importantly covered in her mom’s blood. She scrubbed her hands clean where most of the blood can be found, she scrubbed them until they were raw, because she could still feel the warmth of it as she was trying to keep her mom alive. 

Her breath quickened and a sob escaped her mouth, no matter how hard she tried to keep it in. She clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm keeping her grounded. She needed to focus, but fuck was it hard, she just lost everyone she loved, and not even 10 feet away from her was a person that she has mourned for her entire life without even knowing, the person that made her mother the happiest yet was also her greatest downfall.

Thea took several minutes to compose herself, finally deciding on a singular question that will determine where she is. She unclenched her fist only to see angry red crescent marks on her palm, almost breaking the skin. She made her way out the washroom and turned to the nearest person she could that didn’t look intoxicated

“Tut mir leid, was ist das Datum?” Thea asked in fluent German, after all her mother spoke many languages and she wanted to do the same. 

The lady in question looked at her in confusion, with just her luck Thea managed to ask one of the few people that didn’t speak German what the date was, so she repeated her question in English hoping to get an answer. 

“July 20 2020!” The woman screamed over the beat of the music, finally understanding her question, without a beat the woman turned away from Thea and went back to dancing. 

Thea’s theory was correct, she was in fact in the past, not Reya’s realm, but that wouldn’t make any sense, as far as she knows the Arc was a portal connected directly to Reya’s realm, no other dimension, and Jullian has been monitoring it since it was made. Maybe it short-circuited, having been open for 18 years can wear out a machine. With one of her many questions answered she headed to the bar, she at least wanted to meet her , before deciding what to do.

“What can I get you kiddo?” Ava asked with a wide smile on her face, wiping her hands on a bar towel on the table.

Thea blanked, she was totally unprepared for this, no matter how much she fooled herself into thinking. This was her mãe that she heard stories about, she was a legend, yet here she was bartending in a small town, in the midst of total strangers. I mean granted she was in hiding, but it still completely blows her mind.

“Hey, you okay?” Ava asked, worry lacing her tone, as she noticed how pale the girl looked, as if she just saw a ghost. She stopped wiping the bar and leaned over the counter. “Have a seat, you’re looking a bit pale. If you want something, it's on the house!”

Ava’s voice broke her out of her bubble, realising she looked like a fool just standing there, so she took Ava’s offer and sat down by the bar in front of her. “I don’t think you can decide that.”

Ava laughed, glad the woman in front her had a little more life in her. “It’s okay, our manager is my best friend,” She leaned in closer to Thea and whispered. “And also my roommate but don’t tell Hans that.”

“I don’t think I have too, I think he knows,” Thea whispered back, talking to Ava felt like talking to an old friend. “But I’ll take you up on your offer!”

Ava pumped her fist into the air, glad she made a breakthrough. “What can I get you then?”

“I’ll have a Cuba Libre.” Thea quipped, already knowing what the next words that would come out of Ava’s mouth.

“Good choice,” Ava grabs the ingredients needed to make the drink. “I happen to make a spectacular Cuba Libre!”

Thea watches her make the drink, tossing the rum bottle in the air and catching it in the most inconvenient way ever, making those around them cheer in joy. And without a moment to spare her drink appeared in front of her, with Ava dramatically bowing and saying thank you’s.

She sips her drink and Ava wasn’t lying, she does make a spectacular Cuba Libre. Honestly she didn’t think the first time she was meeting her mãe was her giving her a cocktail. And looking back she was glad it was in the house because she didn’t have any money on her, but that’s a problem for later, for now she just wants to get to know her mãe.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around here before,” Ava stated after she finished pouring drinks, she stopped in front of Thea and leaned on the counters. “You do look familiar though, I’ve seen those eyes before.”

Ava was on the right track, Thea was almost a splitting image of her mother, from the eyes down to each freckle on her face, however she was told her personality was a little more like Ava; stubborn, loyal and impulsive.  

“I mean you’ve only been here a month,” Thea quipped, sipping her drink. “How do you know if I’m not from around here?”

Ava squinted her eyes in suspicion. “How do you know I’ve only been here a month?”

Thea panicked but kept a calm resolve, she forgot that to Ava she was a complete stranger, a stranger that shouldn’t know everything about her. But Thea was quick witted and immediately countered, barely missing a beat.

“I come here in this town every 2 months or so, I’m from the next town over. This place is more like a getaway spot, if you know what I mean.”

Ava nodded her head in understanding, still not completely convinced, but she’ll let it slide, discreet remember . “You got a name then, not stranger?”

“My name is Thea You-” Thea stopped, maybe stating that she had the same name as Beatrice wouldn’t be the smartest move. “Just Thea.”

“Well, Just Thea, the name’s Ava.” Ava stretched her hand out and Thea took it without any hesitation.

Warmth suddenly overcame her whole body and a sense of familiarity, like this sudden warmth has been with her forever. She hears Ava softly gasps, she guessed the feelings were mutual. She gave Ava’s hand a soft squeeze and finally let go, briefly breaking their connection.

“You said earlier that I look like someone you know,” Wanting to distract Ava and also herself. “May I ask who?”

A beaming smile made its way to Ava’s face. “You look like my Beatrice!”

Thea smiled, they might not be together yet in this timeline but they were so obviously in love, they showed it through actions and not just words and Thea had always hope to have a love like theirs, there was always a give and a take, they were both willing to sacrifice themselves just so the other could live and at the same time they were both willing to do what it takes to get them back.

“Who is your Beatrice you speak of?” Thea asked, wanting to know what her mãe thought of her mom at this point in time.

“She’s the roommate and best friend we were talking about,” Ava answered, her voice nice and light, her eyes looking far away like she was lost in a memory. “She’s also the manager!”

Thea laughed lightly. “Just your best friend? Also I gathered she was the manager you did lump them together earlier.”

Ava blushed, her whole body turning red. “Why would she be anything else?” She quickly started fidgeting with the bar towel, her eyes darting from side to side trying to find a patreon that needed help, perhaps to distract her from Thea’s answer or the truth that she knows yet refuses to acknowledge.

“Sie können gehen, ich kann es von hier aus übernehmen.” Han quipped, walking towards Ava while we swung his bar towel over his shoulder and made some shooing motion with his hands towards Ava.

Ava smiled towards him, taking her apron and bar towel off. “Danke dir!” She walked to the end of the bar, grabbing her hat and bag, saying goodbye to the regulars and made her way towards Thea.

“See ya later then, Just Thea!” She tipped her hat towards her and turned around and made her way out the bar.

A smile made its way to Thea’s face, she just had a full conversation with her mãe, she never thought she would have that, let alone joke with her about her relationship with her mother. She was more than what she imagined, she was the embodiment of the Sun, lighting up everyone wherever she was, her presence so warm and welcoming, she was able to make someone’s day better just by being herself. It was no wonder her mom fell in love with her, she was able to break the walls Beatrice has spent years building.

She finished her drink and made her way outside the bar, just catching a glimpse of the glowing halo, bringing her back down to earth. This wasn’t heaven, this wasn’t Reya’s realm, she was living in the past, meaning everything that happened leading up to her mãe disappearance was just a few weeks ahead. She won’t let that happen, maybe she was sent here for a reason, to help take Adriel down, and to reunite her mothers.

<><><><><><><><>

Ava rushed home, not wanting to make a scene worse than she did right outside of the bar. That was totally not subtle. She crossed the street looking over her shoulder to make sure she wasn’t being followed and made her way into the apartment.

The creaky stairs groaned under her feet, as she hurriedly made her way to her door, only pausing to compose herself, not wanting Beatrice to catch on too soon, in the incident that happened prior.

She opened the door, the smell of herbs and baking bread hitting her nose, as warmth engulf her whole body, she sighs, the tension in her body immediately relaxing as she sees Beatrice working on the stove, as a soft melody plays from a vinyl player she found in an antique store, that she begged Beatrice to let her buy.

She hangs her jacket on the back of the armchair, knowing she’ll be reprimanded as soon as Beatrice turns around, drops her bag as well as her hat on the chair, weaving her hands through her hair, as she makes her way towards Beatrice, bopping her head along the melody.

“I hope that your jacket is hanging on the coat rack when I turn around,” Beatrice spoke as she chopped the vegetable evenly. Even cooking Beatrice excels at, while Ava manages to burn water, and she was no longer allowed to touch the stove from that day forth. “You were the one that insisted we get it, so I hope you are putting it to use.”

“Oh definitely!” Ava smiles brightly, grabbing plates and mugs from the cupboard,setting the table for dinner. She turns around hands full, to see Beatrice shaking her head, with a small grin bracing her face, knowing she spotted the jacket draped over the armchair.

Beatrice grabs the plates and fills them both with food, as Ava grabs a drink from the fridge pouring it evenly between the two cups. 

They both sit down on their small circular table, barely accommodating 2 people let alone their plate of food.

Ava digs in wholeheartedly, truly nothing bets Beatrice’s cooking, and she has barely eaten anything all day. She spent her whole morning swimming and then immediately running to work, late as usual and just got lost in the chaos of bartending and meeting new people. Speaking of new people-

“I met this girl at work today!” Ava pauses to swallow her food and washes it down with water. Across from her Beatrice quirks her eyebrows and dabs the corners of her lips with a napkin, a little intrigued. After all, they don’t get many new people around town, which is why they’ve chosen to stay here.

“I’ve never seen her around here before, but she also hasn’t seen us either, yet knows we’ve been staying here for a month.” Beatrice eyebrows gave a twitch, for most she looked composed but Ava knew better, she seemed surprised and a little worried. 

“Did you point it out?” Ava shook her head, shoving another spoonful into her mouth. She wanted to keep Beatrice at ease but she knew that 2 heads are better than 1.

“She said that she often visits, every 2 months or so,” Ava rips apart the freshly baked bread that Beatrice made and dips it into her soup. “She said she was from the next town over.”

Beatrice slowly nodded her head, different scenarios playing in her mind, trying to find the best way of approaching this new predicament. She should report this to Mother Superion, but she didn’t want to bother her as she and Camila are still trying to fix what happened in the Vatican. Plus she knew that if this ever went awry, they were just one call away. 

Beatrice’s priority is Ava and Ava only, she was tasked to watch over and train the new Warrior Nun, helping her find her footing in this theological war, but along the way Ava was helping her just as much, with her bright smile and her views of the world that was never kind to her.

Without knowing, Ava was able to break her way through all the walls Beatrice had built and made home in her heart.

“So what do you have planned, Bea?” Ava’s voice breaks her out of the bubble she was in. Right, she had a job to do.

“Well we aren’t sure if she is being honest,” Beatrice answers, as she leans back on her chair, arms crossing. “And I’m not planning on shifting all our focus on this stranger.”

“But Bea-”

“We’ll keep an eye out and keep our guards up, but I need you to focus on your training.” Ava pouts, knowing she wasn’t able to sway Beatrice to finally let her get involved and finally let her out of the sidelines. “Same thing goes with Miguel, just because he’s against Adriel doesn’t mean he's an ally, and getting involved can put you and the halo at risk, revealing its location.”

Beatrice stood up, gathered both her plate and Ava’s as well and headed towards the sink.

“Wait, you cooked dinner, let me wash the dishes,” Ava gently took the dishes out of Beatrice’s hands and softly dropped them into the sink, she turned to look at Beatrice who was starting to argue back. “No, you relax, decompress, do whatever you need to do to get ready for tomorrow, I got this Bea.” 

Ava stepped in Beatrice’s personal space and leaned in close, Beatrice’s breath hitch, the scene so similar to this morning, and as if following a script, Ava kissed her left cheek, turned her around and softly pushed her towards the bedroom, their bedroom .

With Ava’s back turned towards her, she was still frozen in place, as the blood rushed towards her cheeks, where the warmth of Ava's lips still lingered. She took a couple of shaky breaths and made her way to the bedroom, mind still completely occupied by a certain small, energetic girl who is currently dancing as she washes the dishes.

She made her way slowly towards the bed and sat on the left side, and slowly brought her hand to her cheek, softly touching the spot Ava had kissed.

If this had happened a few months prior she would have completely shut down, retreating back to her shell, building taller walls and separating herself from the people she loved and was loved by.  

But Ava became her Sun, the reason she was able to wake up in the morning, her purpose. She taught Beatrice that it was okay to love and be loved, that she didn’t exist solely to disappoint her parents. And that she could have a life outside the convent.

With her.

She took shaky breaths and stood up, her heart full and calmer. She made her way around the bedroom, gathering sleeping clothes and the array of laundry left on the floor by Ava this morning. She walked towards the bathroom that was connected to the bedroom and got ready for bed, thoughts of Ava still running through her head.

When she finished the songs playing on the record were slightly louder, she peeked her head around the door to see Ava dancing as she dried the dishes, her hips swaying side to side as she jumped up and down. A smile made its way on her face as she looked longingly at Ava, wishing she was brave enough to join her. She signed and walked back to bed, laying on the left side, grabbing the book on her nightstand and flipping it open, hoping it would distract her enough to fall asleep.

An hour passed but what seemed like days to Beatrice, Ava finally made her way to the bedroom, still nodding along to a song that was currently playing in her head, the vinyl record now turned off. She walked swiftly to Beatrice’s side, who seemed so focused on the book that she had been re-reading the same sentence over and over again, and didn't notice the presence standing over her.

Ava smiled devilishly and grabbed Beatrice’s face with her cold hands.

Beatrice shuddered, a look of surprise graces her face, something that Ava doesn't normally see from the “always aware” nun.

“Ava,” Beatrice says in an annoyed tone. Ava just smiles and runs to grab her comfy clothes and runs straight to the bathroom, laughing along the way. Beatrice shakes her head and closes her book, she wasn’t going to get anywhere in it anyways.

Beatrice waits for Ava to emerge from the bathroom, fiddling with her hands that were now clasped on her lap.

After a few minutes Ava finally emerges from the bathroom and flops right into bed and shuffles to get under the covers. Beatrice reaches over and shuts the lamp off, engulfing the room in darkness, with slivers of the moon light peaking through the curtain of their window.

Ava sighs, “What an eventful day.” She turns to face Beatrice who was still laying on her back, the moonlight dances across her freckles, and Ava smiles softly admiring the view. It was the last thing she sees as the sleep takes over.

-

Until next time!

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

Thea bows her head in defeat. Being stuck in the past with no money, totally sucked. She tried everything she could think of but not having any identification card on her let alone actually existing at this point in time was really a downer. She just ended up walking a couple of miles away from the town towards the forest to sleep, the power of the halo that she was blessed with keeping her warm. She tried previously to talk to any patron asking if they had a place for her to sleep, but having all the rooms currently booked and having no money, didn’t get her far.

She rolls her shoulders, her neck still stiff from falling asleep leaning against a tree. She stands up dusting her pants from any dirt that made their way on her while she was asleep. She managed to steal a couple of clothing from the boutiques and was able to change out of her blood soaked outfit after leaving the bar. She looked up to see her old clothes drying on a tree branch, putting it as high as she could without it looking suspicious and noticeable.

She hasn’t quite decided what to do, she planned to go back to the bar in hopes to see both her mãe and mom and maybe try to get close to them in order to help. She knew that befriending Ava was the easy part, Beatrice on the other hand, had her work cut out for her.

As she was making her way back into town, a muffled explosion came from deeper in the forest, birds flew up into the sky in fright. She curiously followed the sound, until she came into a clearing. Still partially hidden behind the trees, the unmistakable glow of the Halo catches her eye, as a person runs on water. She beams, she has never seen Ava in action, and even though this was only training she was fascinated. A Warrior Nun that had no previous training and had the whole world go against her, was still a Warrior in her own right. And besides has never seen the Halo worked before with anyone other than her.

A splash of water breaks her trance, she sees Ava emerge from the ripples of the water, and from a distance she sees Beatrice with her head down, hands on her hips. 

Thea takes a step closer to her mother, but stops herself, after all she was just a stranger in her eyes, and no matter how much she wants to run into her arms and cry while she sings a soft melody to calm her down, she couldn’t. But god damn does she miss her mom, as sad as it is, Beatrice was her best friend, and seeing her happy but out of reach, hurts like hell. So with a heavy heart, she turns around and walks back into town.

She walks swiftly hoping to cut her trip back to town short, still not set on what she's doing to pass the time or how she was going to befriend her mothers without it looking suspicious. She sighs, if only there was a manual for this type of stuff.

When she reached the town she immediately went and stole a notebook and pens, if her mom knew how she was using her training, she would never hear the end of it, but lucky for her she’s here pinning over Ava.

Thea made her way towards the bar, managing to avoid Adriel’s followers who were once again handing pamphlets near the entrance. She sits at a table near the door, and opens the notebook, planning on writing down everything that happened in this current place in time. Hoping it would help her.

She tried recalling all the stories that her mother and aunts have told her, she didn’t want to miss any detail, after all this could be life or death, and not just hers but her family too. She wrote down everything, from the first scouting with Michael, that she definitely needs to be a part off, but that's a problem for future her, she stops her writing for a second, she chuckles, “future her”, shakes her head and keeps writing.

Thea was so focused on writing every single detail that she didn’t realize a few hours had passed and it was well into the afternoon. It was not until a glass slid on her table towards her that she finally broke out of her concentration. Looking up from her notebook and past the glass stood Ava, beaming at her.

“Hey, Just Thea,” Ava cocks her head to the side, her beaming smile not leaving her face. “Looks like you could need it, it's on the house!” Ava walks away, muttering what sounded like, she looks like Bea when she's concentrating, but Thea shakes her head, thinking she might have misheard her and takes a well needed sip of the Cuba Libre.

She watches Ava greet Hans and the customers, already getting ready to prepare their drinks. She looks at home, truly in her element. She smiles to herself glad to see her mãe just living her life.

She turns back to her notebook prepared to continue writing when a person sits on the table to her left closer to the door, she looks up only to see the same brown eyes she owns staring back at her, with the same freckles dotting the person’s face.

At that moment everything froze, the chatter and bottles clinking faded into the background and her vision zeros in on Beatrice. Last time she saw her mother this close, she was bloodied and fighting for her life yet managed to put Thea’s safety first. Her eyes started to water and she hastily wiped her eyes, pretending that an eyelash got stuck in it as she chokes down a sob.

“Are you okay?” She turns back towards Beatrice still breathing shakily. Beatrice’s eyes showed nothing but concerned, her head slightly tilted to the side, her hands clasped tightly on her lap.

“Yeah sorry, I just got something in my eye,” she apologized, quickly rubbing her face and taking deep breaths. “I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Thea!

Beatrice squints her eyes slightly, a scene familiar to Thea whenever she tries to lie but Beatrice always sees right through her.

“I’m Beatrice,” she extends her hand toward Thea, the latter looks at it for a moment but hurriedly clasp it when the moment lasts longer than she wanted.

Beatrice's hand was just as she remembered, a little softer than what she’s used to but still callused from the staff and other weapons she often used. Her grip was firm, no where was that soft touch that she grew up with, reminding Thea that this isn’t her mother, at least not yet. That she needs to earn her trust if she wants to pull this all off but it's easier said than done.

“I heard,” Beatrice’s eyes hardened a touch, already starting to move her hand away, so Thea panics and tries to back track. “From Ava I mean, she said you were the manager.”

Beatrice nods but Thea, having grown up with her, knows that she’s suspicious of her and already planning ways to protect Ava and herself, so she tries to relax a bit and make her appearance as friendly as ever, she was so not ready to fight her mom.

“I see,” Beatrice replies. “It was nice meeting you but as mentioned earlier I am the manager and I do need to start managing the bar.”

She gestures towards the table that Thea hasn’t noticed was filled with paper work, all in even stacks, and as she would guess they were probably well sorted.

“Oh sorry, yes, please go on,” Thea apologized, already turning to face her table, planning to do the same. “It was nice meeting you as well, I’ll let you get back to all your “managing”.”

Beatrice nods and looks over at Thea’s table where a singular notebook and a pen reside. Thea notices Beatrice’s line of vision and quickly covers the notebook subtly, hoping she just didn’t give herself away.

Without a word Beatrice turned back to do her work and Thea did the same. It felt like she was home again, working at the kitchen table with her mom by her side. She smiled softly and slowly got back to work, the sooner she gets it done the faster she can plan about the whole situation she’s in.

A few hours passed, not a word said between them, the chatter of the customers and Ava’s laughter filled the space. 

Now that Thea had everything written down, she just needed to find a way for her to be included in all the stuff her parents did in Switzerland before they were called back to Spain, knowing it would be a lot harder to join them there when they have already met her here, she would just look suspicious. The problem is she didn’t know how, without giving her away. Plus her mom was a very distrustful person at this point in time, when they were in hiding and Adriel’s followers were making their way through the cities spreading the word of their supposed Angel, while keeping an eye out for the Halo. So she really got her work cut out for her. 

Maybe she can tell them that she also works in the same convent as Aunt Yasmine, if she was already in the fight, they might trust her more. 

With that decided she turned to Beatrice planning on telling her she was sent to help protect the Warrior Nun, but she couldn’t get the word out as she noticed her mom staring intently at her mãe. An idea popped into her mind. Maybe she can have fun teasing her

mom.

“You guys are cute together.” She teased breaking the spell Beatrice was currently in.

“I’m sorry?” Beatrice says still a little distracted.

“You and Ava,” Thea clarified, leaning on her fist that was currently propped up on the table. “How long have you guys been together?”

She watches as Beatrice turns a couple shades of red, finally understanding what the question implied.

“You got it wrong,” she fumbled out quickly, her face still red and shoulder a little tense.

“Oh sorry,” not sounding sorry at all, she’s having a blast teasing her. “I just assumed, Ava mentioned you were living together.”

“Well you assumed wrong,” Beatrice huffs. “Ava and I are just friends.”

“Really?” Thea tilts her head, similar to how Beatrice did it earlier. “The way you looked at her just a second ago, when she was talking to that man, was just filled with jealousy.”

Beatrice furrowed her eyebrow, almost taken aback. “I wasn’t jealous.”

“Sure, and the Sun isn't hot.”

“Look, you just met us, who are you to assume anything about us?”

You’re daughter. She thought, knowing full well she couldn’t say it, so she smiled instead.

“I’m nobody, just an observer.” Thea replied leaning back on her chair. “But the way she talks about you, like you hung the stars in the sky, is unmatched.”

She goes to stand up collecting her notebook and pen. “Word to the wise, don’t wait for the right time, cause it’ll never come until it's too late.”

<><><><><><><><>

The sun had set, and the night chill came in covering the two women walking towards the bar, the smaller one pulling the taller one hurriedly and with purpose.

They made it to the noisy bar, currently at its peak with a ton of people, drinking, laughing and dancing.

“I’m tired, Ava, let’s just go home,” Beatrice pulls away, already knowing where this conversation was heading.

Ava grabs Beatrice’s hand again pulling her closer to the centre of the bar. “We need to talk about what Miguel told me.”

“You got charmed by some blond.” Her words came out more bitter than she had hope, and no she wasn’t jealous, despite what some stranger said. She was merely protective, this was a mission no matter how much they tried to ignore it. Ava’s safety comes first.

“It’s more complicated than that.” Ava stops and turns towards Beatrice, grabbing her arms. “Have a drink with me.”

Beatrice huffs. “Fine. I’ll have a water.”

Ava shakes her head, “Nope, not water, not tonight.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened, knowing full well she has never had a single drop of alcohol in her life, that wasn’t communal wine. And it showed as she fumbles over her words, not sure how to tell Ava the truth and just ends the sentence with a “No”

Ava, completely caught off guard with Beatrice’s answer, forgetting the fact that she is in fact talking to a Nun. “You’ve never had a drink?”

Beatrice shakes her head, “No, not with alcohol. No.” Already regretting where this would lead, almost wishing they had talked about Miguel instead. Almost.

“What about Communion wine?” Ava argues back, surely Beatrice had that, after all she is a Nun, and no she didn’t just remember.

“I just take tiny sips.” In the smallest voice Ava has ever heard, it makes her smile, that this baddass Nun can make herself seem so small.

Ava jumps in joy, this was an opportunity she was not going to miss, Miguel can wait.

“I get to be the one that gets you drunk for the first time!”

Beatrice almost looks scared, not wanting to not be in control of her body and mind, tries to back track. “Drunk? No,no, I thought it was just one drink.”

Ava shakes her head vigorously, “No, Uh-uh, not anymore, Sister.”

“But-”

“I am not letting this opportunity pass,” Ava turns looking towards the bar, where she spots Hans shaking a drink. “Hans! Anfangen, sie aufzustellen!”

Hans looks up at them and upon hearing the words Ava yelled he let out an excited “Oi!” pumping a fist, afterall it isn’t often that you get your fellow bartender and manager drunk.

They made their way towards the bar, where Hans greets them with a nod, already preparing their drinks, letting them start easy. And in no time at all the shots appear in front of them.

Ava thanks Hans and pulls the shots closer to them, with Beatrice’s eyes widening.

“Shouldn’t I start with something like wine or-”

Ava shakes her head, “Nope, say your prayers and bottoms up! C’mon.”

Beatrice pulls the shot to her nose giving it a smell and Ava watches her with a smile on her face already holding the shot in the air waiting for Beatrice to follow through with her.

“It smells lemony.” Ava laughs at Beatrice’s statement knowing she is just trying to slow down the inevitable.

“Yeah! That’s why it’s called a lemon drop!” Ava yells into her ear, trying to shout over the music even though they were right beside each other.

She clinks the glasses together and yells cheers at Beatrice and they finally take the shot, Beatrice slower than Ava who was eager to get some alcohol in her system, just ready to forget what was happening around them as well as her own confusing feelings regarding the person right beside her.

Ava takes off her cardigan already feeling the heat as took the shot, looking towards Beatrice to see her reaction at her first sip of alcohol.

“Oh, it’s……it’s sweet,” Beatrice says in wonder, expecting it to taste worse, like rubbing alcohol. “ That’s not entirely unpleasant.”

Beatrice focuses back on Ava only to notice that her cardigan was off, completely caught off guard she looks towards the table of the bar, not wanting to look back at Ava, feeling like she would combust if she did. Sure she has seen Ava in less clothing, afterall she was the one that taught Ava how to swim, but this was in a completely different situation. They were in a bar, and not only that, a bar that they both worked at. She knew that if she looked back now she wouldn’t be able to stop her eyes from wandering on to soft skin.

Ava leans towards her, Beatrice kept her eyes on the table trying to slow her breathing. Hopefully she can mask it, that it was the shot that was affecting her and not the person beside her, if someone were to ask.

“You know, that is one small sip for nuns,” Ava whispers into her ear, her laughter already bubbling into her words. “One giant drink….”

“For nun-kind ” they both yell in unison. One rolling her eyes as she shook her head, yet a smile graces her face, while the other slaps the table laughing.

Ava turns back to Hans pushing the shot closer to him, “Zwei mehr!”

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes follows them, the person nursing a drink, waiting for the moment to jump in and act on their plan.

A couple of drinks later and they find themselves at the dance floor dancing to the music playing, Beatrice had shed off her sweater somewhere in the bar, hopefully with Ava’s cardigan. They both get lost in the music with Ava jumping around and spinning and Beatrice just swaying to the music letting the alcohol completely control them. 

Beatrice had never been this carefree before, often tense and prepared for some hidden danger, but right now she was just a girl having fun, no responsibility, no war looming over their heads. Right now she could pretend that they were simply just travelling the world, seeing what it had to offer, with the person she cared about in the whole world.

They find their way to a table that was close to the bar, taking a break from all the dancing and the sweaty bodies that surrounded them. Ava has jokingly called her princess and she would never admit it but her heart stopped for a second and she didn’t even remember what she replied to that and now they were talking about her being royalty.

“I said my parents are Diplomats.” Beatrice argued back her words slurring already, making her accent thicker.

“Isn’t that the same thing?” Ava replied laughing. “So technically you just confirmed that you are in fact royalty!”

“I am absolutely not royalty,” Beatrice quipped with Ava hanging on to every word she says. “I am a freewheeling, secret ass-kicking…nun”

They both burst out in laughter, not caring that people were looking at them, cause at this moment all that mattered to them was each other.

A few more drinks were consumed, Beatrice almost choking on one and they were back to the dance floor dancing as weirdly as they can trying to make the other person laugh. 

The dance floor was getting smaller as more people joined in, feeling the alcohol through them. Making Beatrice and Ava move in closer as a guy bumps into the back of Beatrice and Ava pulls her in as they laugh.

“Bea, are you okay?” Ava says, laughing, pulling her closer. Beatrice just smiles at her and nods, pulling away slightly to dance. 

Ava looks at her, the low light of the bar making Beatrice’s features pop and suddenly all the music fades away, as she watches her get lost in the dance swaying gracefully with the music. Everything slows and all she could focus on was her; her soft hair waving through the air, her crisp shirt that she irons before she wears it, hangs snugly around her toned body. Ava didn’t need to imagine what was under there, she knew already, guess training also had its perks, other than getting stronger of course. Her arms that Ava woke up snuggled in everytime, was closing in on her hips as Beatrice makes her way towards her.

Ava swore that her heart beats were getting louder, feeling it inside her ears as Beatrice continued to come closer. She felt like she couldn’t feel her body but at the same time all her nerves were going haywire and for a second she swore the Halo had stopped working and she was going to go paralyzed again. She was panicking, about what, she wasn’t sure, all she knew was that if Beatrice kept coming closer she would kiss her.

Wait…

Did she just say kiss her?

Oh shit

Fuck

Fuck

Fuck

She was thoroughly and utterly fucked.

<><><><><><><><>

Thea walked out the bar and stuffed her hands into her pockets, welcoming the cold chill the night had to offer, cooling down her warm skin. She watched them through the night, to anyone else they looked like a couple just having a nice night out and she assumed that they also pretended they were after the 8th shot of lemon drop. She was happy to see them happy, she had never seen her mother smile like that, so carefree and so, so in love.

She hoped she didn’t overstep with her comment earlier, she just hated seeing her mom push down her feelings because she was scared she wouldn’t be accepted or that her feelings wouldn’t be reciprocated. She wished she could go back in time, ha, to when her mother was still simply a kid yearning for her parents love, and just tell her that she is loved and she’ll find a family that will accept and love her.

Beatrice made sure she grew up knowing she was loved, she didn’t want Thea to experience what she felt when she was younger, and Thea was thankful, she grew up knowing that she had a family that will always protect her and have her back and that she would do the same for them, and it's all thanks to her mother and the family she found.

She stands outside reminiscing while she waits for the place to clear out, since she knew her mothers would stay until the bar would die down, sobering a little bit.

“But if he is an angel, then does it mean that all angels are just dirtbags?” A familiar voice broke her from her thoughts as she watched the pair walk out the bar. 

She stood up and made her way around a few buildings and into an alley where she has a perfect view of where she knows the fight will take place. Knowing that Michael, or Miguel as he is known in this place in time, was going to appear around the corner making Ava follow him. She just has to wait long enough for them to take them down, and as much as she wants to see her mãe in action she needs to handle this situation with a gentler hand, knowing how all three would see her as a threat, a spy from Adriel, if she didn’t do this right.

Just as she gets in position she sees the FBC walk by and a moment after Michael, not being as subtle as he thinks. Another beat passes and she sees Ava following him. She turns away from the scene to watch their backs just in case someone would sneak in behind them. She hears grunts and bodies falling to the ground, in the midst of it, Ava's laughter.

She hears her mother yelling knowing she just jumped in to help, just as she turns toward the fight she feels the back of her hair stand up as a knife thrust towards where her neck would have been had she not turned around and ducked. What met her was a fist flying towards her, she moved to block it away with her forearm, she took a step back to see a man with a short stature standing in front of her, the knife gleaming in his left hand. He rushes towards her and she uses his momentum against him, throwing him out the alley. She runs after him and sweeps his legs from under him as he was still stumbling from the throw, hitting the ground hard. She kicks the knife away and delivers a hard kick towards his head, rendering him unconscious. 

“Thea?” Ava’s voice breaks the silent. Oh shit she didn’t realise that she pushed him towards the fight that was happening in front of her. There goes her plan to pretend she suddenly stumbled towards the fight and help.

“Hey,” she croaked out, weaving her hand through her hair. “Sorry this guy was being a little shifty when I was heading home and he suddenly came running towards me with a knife.”

She gestures towards the knife hoping they would believe her quick lie.

“It’s time to go,” Beatrice hurriedly grabbed Ava’s hand as she pulled her away from the clearing and back towards the bar. “Say goodbye.”

“Goodbye!” Ava says hastily as she is being pulled away.

Thea watches as Michael drops the crow bar he was holding, “Not a chance.” and made his way towards him.

A beat passes and she groans, she might as well follow them, knowing she had to clear things out with her parents. Before she follows them she ruffles around all the fallen men’s pockets and finds a few cash that she could definitely use, a pocket knife, and a strange flat rock that vaguely had the symbol of the Halo etched into it, but the FBC cross was marked right on top of it. She pockets all the items and follows them towards the bar.

“Beatrice, meet Miguel.” she hears Ava say as she turns the corner to see them standing on the street. 

She watches as Beatrice walks towards Michael and shakes his hand with what looks like a very tight grip. “Pleasure.”

“You really kicked ass back there.” Michael compliments, trying to ease the tension.

Deciding she had enough lurking in the shadows, she walks towards them. “Are you guys okay?”

They all turned towards her, all looking at her as if they completely forgot that she was there during the fight.

“Look, I appreciate you coming to check on us but we are kinda in the middle of something,” Michael answers eager to keep the conversation going with Beatrice and Ava.

“Okay, I’m not dumb,” Thea huffs out walking closer to them, standing between Michael and Beatrice, the latter moving slightly away, which kind of hurts, it is her mother after all, she was use to her doting on her if she ever got into a fight even though she was well trained, so it definitely sucks watching her be wary of her. “I know those people were not just your average Joe, I know they are followers of Adriel, and no before you ask I’m not one of them.”

“Then who really are you?” Ava asked feeling a little betrayed since she was the only one that got to know her for a short while. “A Samaritans?”

“No she isn't,” Michael answers. “I would have recognized her if she was.”

“Okay first of all if you guys are all scattered around you wouldn’t know every single member.” She quips and watches as Michael goes to defend himself. “Second, you tell Ava all about it in a public bar where anyone can just overhear you, so yes I know about that.”

“So if you are not with the Firstborn Children and the Samaritans, who are you with?” Beatrice commanded, crossing her arms in front of her as she moved closer to Ava, ready to protect her if she had too.

“I’m with Areala.”

-

Until next time!

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Areala? Really? What the fuck was I thinking?

What happened to being with Aunt Yasmine’s covenant?

A brief silence over takes the place, and Thea was panicking. She knew she often let her mouth lead her to a situation that was never ideal, however, since it tends to happen often she always finds a way to escape unscathed, sometimes. And she wasn’t sure if this moment is one of them, she isn't sure if she can get out of this flawlessly.

“Who’s Areala?” Michael’s voice breaks the uncomfortable silence. “I don’t think I’ve heard of you guys before.”

She turns to look at Michael making sure to keep her mothers in view just in case they make a run for it after the bomb she just dropped on them. After all she would do the same, she shakes her head and sighs.

“She is one of the few women who fought back then, she’s like Joan of Arc but was erased from history, her story kept locked in, only a few knew of her including a small group of women who continued to study her and what she did for the church.” She crossed her arm, trying to come off nonchalantly, but was specifically avoiding making eye contact with Beatrice, knowing even if she wasn’t the mother she knew, can still read her like a book.

“The church?” Michael asks, confused as to why the church would even have a sector like that.

“Look,” she turns to face her mothers whose walls were growing taller and taller, their faces showing a clear sign of distrust. “Long story short, I’m in this fight and have been for a long time, I was basically born into it.”

A tense silence fills the night, Michael thinking over what to do and her mothers talking to each other with their eyes. Before Michael say’s anything she excuses herself and her mothers claiming she needed opinions on the stuff she found in the pockets of the FBC, saying they seem more knowledgeable about the subject, completely ignoring Michael’s protest, saying she’ll be bringing them back.

Thea takes them closer to the entrance of the bar, far enough so Michael couldn’t hear what she was about to say, and to be frank, she has no idea if any of the lies she just spat out was believable.

“Who are you, really,” Beatrice says before she can even say anything, Ava stands beside her mother, her arms crossed and brows furrowed. In a different situation she would have burst with joy, seeing her mothers tag teaming her, hoping one of them will say I’m not mad, just disappointed as if they saw her sneaking back in after sneaking out. Unfortunately for her, this situation was rather serious, and she didn’t think her mothers would like it if she just burst out laughing out of nowhere. So she schools her features, taking a few deep breaths.

Thea knew she couldn’t lie her way through this one,they already looked ready to run with any slight misinformation. This wasn’t how she planned it to go, but she knew improvisation was part of training, she just hopes it’ll be enough.
“Okay you’re right, I’m not who I said I was,” she sighs trying to tell the truth as much as she can without giving everything away. “I know you’re the Warrior Nun.”

She grabs her mothers arms before they can do anything. “But please hear me out first.”

Her eyes pleading as she grips them both, she looks at Ava knowing if she can get through with someone it would be her, as her mother is too distrustful. Ava scans her face, emotions flashing through her eyes, she sighs and Thea knows she got through her, even if she cheated a little bit and used the same pleading eyes Beatrice gave Ava, it truly helped having her mother’s eyes.

“Ava,” Beatrice warned, knowing what the sigh meant, but she needed to get Ava out of here, the Halo’s location being revealed was a dangerous thing, completely compromising their mission and putting Ava in danger.

“Look, let's just hear her out,” Ava interrupts, placing her hand on Beatrice’s bicep, keeping her in place. “You can’t tell me you’re not at least a little curious, and besides maybe we can gather intel and learn more about what else is happening in this war, she clearly knows quite a bit.”

Beatrice shakes her head and gives out an annoyed “Fine, but if I sense something dangerous, we are walking away.”

Ava nods her head in understanding and Thea copies her too, completely understanding the situation.

“Let me start with some proof,” Thea reaches into her shirt and takes her necklace out, the divinium centre glowing softly, a tint of blue colours their faces. “I’m part of the order, just not the OCS, we are tasked to study relics from Areala’s time and protect them from the public and sometimes the church.”

Ava reaches out to touch the glowing necklace, never seeing divinium use in anything other than weapons.

Beatrice’s brows furrowed, similar to Ava she too has never seen it used like this before, despite having been in the OCS for years, she was impressed, but more concerned, because if another sector of the church was using this to locate the Warrior Nun, then in the wrong hands, this can completely destroy what they were working on, trying to keep the Halo in plain sight. This was dangerous to Ava, to The Halo.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Thea turns to Beatrice before the latter can say anything. “But only 2 necklaces exist, passed down from successors to successors, it’s in good hands, I promise.”

Ava lets go, a little lost in the conversation the two were having. “Okay, can someone let me in on what you two are talking about?”

Beatrice sighed hoping the fact would be lost with Ava, she just wanted to protect her from everything. “She used the necklace to find you, meaning if it ever gets into the wrong hands, it’s a radar that anyone can use to find the Halo, It’s basically serving you on a silver platter.”

“And as I promised, It’s safe, and I know it’s hard for you to trust some stranger with a Halo radar, but I was born into this fight, and I want Adriel dead as much as the next person, a lot more than the next person,” Thea chokes down a sob, wanting to be as composed as she can in front of her mothers, but it is hard when the 2 most important people in your life are standing in front of you, yet knows nothing about you and what fate had in store for them. “I’ve lost my family trying to fight back, I don’t want their deaths to be in vain.”

Ava reaches out to rub her shoulder, sadness written on her face, Thea can’t help and engulf her into an unexpected hug, squeezing as tight as she could, hoping this nightmare would end. She was scared she might have pushed the boundaries with Ava but nonetheless, Ava squeezed back with the same intensity, the Halo giving out a small hum, fully recognizing who Thea was, and the small part of the Halo that was inside her. Even if Ava didn’t know who she was yet, the Halo has perceived her as family and that was enough for her, for now.

“I hate to interrupt,” Michael approaches them, breaking the hug, Thea steps back and hastily wipes the tears away.

“And yet you are.” she whispers hoping she was able to hug her mom too, but she knew it was still too soon, she didn’t even know if she would in this time. She just hopes she succeeds and will be able to hug her in her own time.

Ava suppressed a giggle, having heard what Thea whispered under her breath.

“But we are losing precious time and Samaritans could really use your help,” he continues, having not heard Thea at all, he steps between her and Ava, seeming like he knows that the best way to get them to join is to have Ava agree and encourage what he is trying to say.

“The Samaritans?” Bea asks, realising she’s the only one in the group that knows nothing about them, less of all heard about them, and she’s been updated on the theological war that is currently happening.

“We’re a decentralised cadre of-”

“They’re fighting Adriel.” Ava simplifies, trying to make it sound more encouraging.

Her eagerness to fight, amazest Thea. She has heard stories of how Ava was like back then, when she first got The Halo. Her avoidance with the responsibility she was burdened with when she was brought back to life and her eagerness to simply live. How she truly didn’t get to process how she was murdered and in turn murdered the person that has cause her great suffering when she was already suffering enough, her own murderer. She was just a kid who never got to live the life that she deserves and now she is willing to fight for the world that never gave her a helping hand, a world that turned their back on her when she needed it the most.

“Not just in the streets,” Michael’s voice breaks her out of her thoughts. “We’ve got plans to take down more of these zealots.”

He looks at Ava. “Tonight. You all should come with me.”

Ava turns to Beatrice, who’s shoulder was so tense, Thea could see how tight it was while being beside her.

“I’m down for some plans tonight.”

“Well, let’s hear these plans before we make commitments we can’t honour.”

Was her mother always this proper? Thea wanted to laugh, she was a lot less tense in her time, I guess raising a daughter and travelling the world will do that to you.

Ava looks at Michael, desperately wanting to hear the plans so she can convince Beatrice to finally join the fight.

“We’ve got word of a secret gathering tonight.” Michael reveals. “We’re gonna survey the whole thing and gather evidence to expose the Firstborn Children and this scam religion.”

Thea got to hand it to him, his recruiting skills were pretty good, not the best but, with the help of Ava’s eagerness they might actually convince Beatrice.

It doesn’t help that her mother is completely whipped and will do anything her mãe ask of her, although still trying to reprimand her as she goes along with said plans.

“Like spies?” Ava asks, her eyes lighting up like Christmas trees.

“Like revolutionaries.”

Man, where do Reya get these men?

“Let’s do it.” Ava turns to Beatrice eagerly.

“Hold on,” Beatrice, who was already used to Ava’s excitement, slows her down. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Bea, you know I’ve been wanting to get more involved in this fight.” Ava argues.

“Yes,” Beatrice argues back. “This is not what we talked about.”

Thea stiffens a laugh, they do argue like an old couple, can’t believe they didn’t realise they loved each other sooner. Everyone can see it, she bets Michael can see it too, despite only knowing them for a short amount of time. She wishes she was able to grow up watching them banter. She just has to fight hard enough for her family to see it through.

“Look, I don’t want to cause any friction. “Michael butts in, trying to ease the tension.
“It’s fine, just listen.” Ava reasons. “Just like earlier with Thea, we could gather some damaging information on Adriel with minimal exposure.”

“Wait, you have information on Adriel?” Michael turns to her, finally noticing that she too, was in fact there.

“Not now, Blondie.” Thea quips not taking her eyes off her mother, she did not want to miss a thing.

She sees Beatrice shake her head and hears her sigh, and just like that she knows Beatrice was in.

Whipped, just like she knew she would be.

“It sounds like an interesting opportunity,” sarcasm dripping off her words, but not noticeable to does not close with her.

“I’m coming with you.” Thea says, having enough of being left out.

“The more the merrier,” Ava jumps in excitement.

As Michael leads them away, Thea slows down just so she’s in the back of the group. She sees Ava pull Beatrice into her, her smile contagious, even with Bea’s brooding.

<><><><><><><><>

They end up on the other side of town, the opposite of where the bar was. All cramped up in a small truck, with Michael on the driver seat and Ava in the passenger seat. She sat behind Michael, and Beatrice sat in the middle as she scanned outside to see if anyone saw them.

“This is where they meet,” Michael explains. “We’ll wait for them to clear out and we’ll go in.”

Thea thinks that this was a bad idea, trying to scope enemy territory, with the risk of getting authorities involved, will make things worse and take the element of surprise they have away.

Beatrice voices out her similar concerns,Thea nods her head in agreement.

“It’s not breaking in,” Michael argues. “If they gave us a key.”

“Where exactly did you get that?” Thea asked, a little suspicious.

“That fight in the street was my clumsy attempt at pickpocketing.” Michael embarrassingly admits.

“Not so clumsy it seems.” Beatrice says.

The veering of the van interrupts the banter, driving away from the building. The coast was clear and they started to leave the car when Thea came up with a better idea, or really her mother’s idea.

“Wait,” she says before anyone can get out. “Follow them.”

“You want to know what they’re up to?” Thea continues to voice out her idea. “They’re clearly about to go and do it. At least this way we won’t get arrested.”

The group agrees and follows the car ahead.

Beatrice spares her a glance clearing thinking the same thing.

“Great minds.” she whispers to her, smiling as she does. Beatrice smiles back. Small steps.

The group continues to follow them, staying a few metres away as instructed by Beatrice. Michael was clearly impressed and asked if she had done this before, but Ava butts in to tell him that Beatrice just watches a lot of movies.

Thea listens in to the group talking, trying to plan her next move, as this has gone way out of her earlier plans. She knew this trip was an integral part of Michael being part of the group, and also finding out that Adriel is trying to recreate biblical plagues, but she needed to get information fast, time was ticking not only the one she’s currently in but also the one she left behind.

As much as she loves being with her family, complete as she always dreamed of, she had a job to do, and just maybe when all of this is over, she too will come back in her own time with a complete family. She just needs to figure out how to come back and why she was sent here, when all she’s ever known was that the portal only opened to Reya’s realm, no matter how unforgiving it seemed, and nowhere else. It seemed too suspicious for the arc to spit her out in this specific moment and this specific town. The only people that know about this location were those that have been here, most of them are dead, including everyone in this car, no matter how much she believes that her mother is in fact alive; and those who they considered family.

She didn’t want to think about a potential betrayal in her family, when they have been through so much already, but she can’t afford to deny a theory right now, no matter how absurd it seems.

“You’re obviously educated.” Beatrice interrogates, her tone very suspicious about the man she was talking to.

“Is that a crime?” Michael shoots back, clearly more tense than usual.

“No, it's just,” Beatrice replies, still trying to dig in and see what she can find. “This town doesn't quite seem like you.”

“Leave him alone,” Ava defends, even though she knows full well where this was coming from, and yes she should be more cautious, but he was a friend. “He’s not under indictment.”

“No, she's right, ” Michael responds, if Thea had to say Ava looked a little offended after trying to defend him only for him to refute it, she chuckles. “Truth is, I came to the mountains looking for someone. Somebody connected to my past.”

My god, are all of Reya’s soldiers this enigmatic? Thea thought, he needs to loosen up a bit, and that’s coming from her, the daughter of the most stiff and rigid person ever.

“Look, they’re turning off the main road.” Ava says, noticing the truck slowing down and turning.

Michael follows them. “This is it. This is where we get the upper hand.”

He looks at everyone in the car. “You’re Samaritans now.”

<><><><><><><><>

Thea was glad she wasn’t terrified of bugs, because there are locusts in place they shouldn’t be.

“Religious zealots praying at the altar of Adriel.” Ava says, a little shaken up from what they just saw and Thea couldn’t blame her, she’s seen a lot but even this was a little jarring.

“How has he inspired such devotion so quickly?” Beatrice asks, knowing that even 1 month prior, Adriel’s following wasn’t this big or spread out.

“People are desperate to believe in something magical, especially ones they can see.” Thea answers, still trying to get locusts out of her hair.

Ava sees her doing it. “Do you think maybe we’re focusing on the wrong thing? The locust?” she points at the one Thea was holding, who in turns opens the window to throw it away.

“Yeah, that was strange.” Beatrice agrees.

“Strange?” Michael asks. “Okay I need to know what else you’ve seen, if a plague of locusts barely makes a dent.”

The sound of fluttering wings fills the space, Thea turns to see a locust flying near Beatrice’s face, who catches it mid air.

Thea whistles, clearly impressed. Ava turns to look at Beatrice but catches Thea’s eyes and the latter points at Beatrice with her thumb, raising her eyebrows back and forth, smiling. Ava lets out a small laugh. Beatrice pays them no mind.

“What do you think?” Ava asks after she finished laughing.

Beatrice shakes her head as she looks at the bug intently. “Typical specimen of the genus Schistocerca Gregaria. Nothing remarkable about it.”

Beatrice opens her window to throw the locust away.

“Except it was called down by an angel.” Ava says, shaking her head.

“Or a demon.” Thea quipped. “Besides, didn't he “cure” boils and now we have locusts? He is literally recreating biblical plagues.”

“Okay, seriously,” Michael voices out. “You both kick ass.”

Thea coughs and Michael looks at her through the rear view mirror. “All of you kick ass.”

“You’re weirdly informed about the theological state of the world,” Michael continues, looking at Thea and then gestures to Beatrice with his head. “And apparently this one speaks Latin.”

“That’s literally just the scientific word for it,” Thea argues on behalf of Beatrice, cause this conversation was getting a little dangerous.

Michael ignores her, “So, really, no bullshit. Who are you two?”

Thea was about to exclaim that she too was in this car but remembered that she already revealed who she was earlier in the night.

She watches as Ava turns to look at Beatrice, trying to gauge what she should say.

“You want to know the truth?” Ava asks and Michael in turn nods. “We’re undercover tactical nuns.”

Michael presses his lips together in annoyance. “Fine, don’t tell me.”

Thea stifles a laugh, and she sees Ava do the same, while Beatrice barely shrugs and a silence overtakes the car.

Thea feels something crawling on her and takes a locust out from under her shirt, opens the window and throws it away. “Bye-bye dude.”

Ava turns her way, a smile slowly forming. “Was that from The Last of Us?”

Thea laughs, “It sure is.”

<><><><><><><><>

Thea follows Michael into the gas station, saying she needed a snack after being awake for the whole night, knowing her mothers needed to talk, and have the small banter her mom laughs at everytime she tells the story to her. She glances at the snack station, thinking of what she can get, when she remembered she doesn’t really have any money, plus the cash that she stole from the zealots can be used for actual food instead of mere snacks.

She sighs and walks away from the aisle and spots Michael waiting in line to pay for gas, she approaches him and whispers, “Did you really not know how to pickpocket Michael?”

Beside her Michael tenses, he turns around, grabs her arm and pulls her to the back of the store, which in his case doesn’t make much sense since there was hardly anyone in the store.

“How did you know that I’m Michael?,” He asks frantically, gripping her arm tighter.

Thea looks at him in amusement. “You just told me.”

Thea steps closer to him, “You know I would expect more from Reya’s secret soldier, for one, you’re not very good at keeping secrets, and two being too vague about certain things just makes you distrustful.” she retches her arm from his grip.

“And before you have an aneurysm,” Thea steps back, and turns to look at the drinks they were right beside. “I’m not FBC, but I do study Reya’s realm and know more than those around us. I know that Adriel was a thief from her land and managed to steal The Halo and escape to this world, I know that Tarask are her guards that she sends to retrieve The Halo.”

She turns towards him, a blue gatorade in hand. “I know what you're here for, really. But I won't reveal your plans if you help me save my family and in turn I’ll help you defeat Adriel.”

Michael looks at her with distrust, not knowing what to believe, and Thea couldn’t blame him, hell she didn’t even know how she made it this far lying through her ass, but hey if it works then it works. Besides it would be better if she has someone by her side and even though she never met Michael in her time, having been dead, Jillian talks about him fondly, how he was before Reya got her hands on him.

She hands him the gatorade, and Michael takes it willingly still not knowing what to say. “You’re buying this for me, for being a horrible secret soldier.” not giving him time to reply, she walks out the store and heads to the car, where she can see her mothers arguing. Not wanting to interrupt them, she stays outside by the door of the store to wait for Michael, who she was glad to see, has the gatorade in hand.

She takes it from him with a smile, “You are too kind.”

Michael sends her an annoyed glance and walks back to the car, still gleaming she follows him.

<><><><><><><><>

Thea follows Michael into the FBC headquarters, walking softly just in case there was any one present. They headed there after dropping her mothers back at the bar, claiming they’ll walk the way back to their apartment, which was a smart choice.

Michael opens the door with the key and Thea holds her breath, excited to see what they could find.

The door leads to an open area with chairs and table pushed to either side of the wall, what seems to be a bar was at the far corner of the room, nothing but the windows to give them some light. Michael walks towards the bar and finds a light switch, he goes to turn them on but before he can Thea stops him.

“What if it’s a signal and it alerts them that we are here.” She reasons, she sees Michael think it over and eventually step away from the switch. She nods her head in appreciation.

Thea scans the room, there is a door to the left of the bar which she assumes is the second floor, the decor was nothing but normal, posters of movies and dart boards litter the walls. The floors are scrapped up as if something heavy was dragged across it. Thea assumes it was the cross they saw at the field earlier. She took one more look around the main floor to see if anything was a miss, and spotted a rug that was haphazardly thrown about with chairs stacked on top of it.

She beckons Michael over who was in the process of unlocking the door beside the bar.

“This rug looks like someone threw it in a haste,” Thea explains what she found. “If I have to guess, there’s a trapdoor right under it.”

She moved the chairs around until she had space to pull the rug away without it toppling any chair over. Lo and behold, right underneath it was a trap door. She gave it a tug and it wouldn’t budge, she gave another thug this time using half her strength, not wanting Michael to see that she was stronger than a normal human because of a little magical artifact that she was blessed with; it gave a tiny squeak, she felt Michael kneel beside her and grab the the ring handle and help her pull.

With the help of Michael, which she truly didn’t need, the trapdoor opened. She peered inside to see a ladder attached to the wall near it. She stepped in, only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

“Let me go first.”

Thea looks at him and sighs, “I know you’re trying to be a gentleman or whatever but I hate to break it to you, I’m no damsel in distress.”

“I mean, let me go first, cause I can use my phone as a light, so we aren’t going in there in the dark,” Michael explains.

Thea climbs out, and theatrically waved her hand over, gesturing, go on. She watches Michael reach into the right pocket of his jeans and fishes out his phone, turning the backlight on.

“Wait, how are you going to go down with one hand?” Thea points to the phone he is holding. “How about you stay up here to shine the light down as I go, so I can see and then toss the phone, so I can light it when you go down.”

To be honest, Thea didn’t need the light at all. The Halo blessed her with the power to see in the dark, kinda, she doesn’t have full night vision like those seen with night goggles, but she can see more than most, it helped her a lot on the occasional mission she was allowed to come with. After all Beatrice wanted her to have a normal life, but she was too interested in the whole undercovering thing.

“Okay, that works.” Michael agrees and takes a step back from the trapdoor to let Thea go down first.

He shines the light down, and Thea sees that it goes down at least 20 metres which is way too deep than your average basement, so how they were able to build this without anyone noticing was absurd. She takes a step down, her foot hitting the metal softly, still trying to be as quiet as possible.

She makes her way down, nothing but the sound of her boots hitting the metal with each step to keep her company. Michael’s light is not wavering above her.

Finally in what felt like hours, she finally hit the bottom, she looks around the room and with her enhance eyesight she was able to see that the room was actually quite small, 15ft by 15ft, it only left room for a bookcase to the left of her, a small loveseat with a table in front of it and a long table in the middle of the room, right behind the loveseat. She looks back up to see Michael waiting for her to look back at him.

She throws him a thumbs up and she sees him nod his head, and makes a gesture to throw his phone, she nodded back, the light disappeared and he threw his phone down. Lucky for him Thea was able to see in the dark and caught the phone with ease. She turned the phone on and lit the back light, so Michael was able to come down.

He quickly descended and was able to make it down in record time, Thea hands the phone back to him.

“What were you thinking,” she reprimanded him, he looked at her confused for a second before she continued. “Why the fuck would you throw the phone with the lights off?”

“Oh, I forgot.” He answers, and walks away from her to look around the room.

She shakes her head, wondering how he was able to make it this far all by himself. She made her way to the long table, as Michael searched the bookshelf.

Her eyes widened as she recognized the table or map as she should say, it was the same map that was littered around the OCS libraries, which was a way to keep track of all the branches around the world, but only this time all the light that indicated the branches, were off. Except for one, Madrid.

Thea lets out a small gasp, completely forgetting about the coordinated global attack the OCS faced in the beginning. So many sisters, dead, and not even just those who were in the OSC, even those who simply took the vow to serve, were dead. Thea realises that this was how the FBC pulled it off. They managed to obtain this map that showcased every Headquarters the OCS had, it was basically serving them on a platter.

This must be Vincent’s doing, he was the only one who was connected to the church that served Adriel, he was practically Adriel’s right hand man. The name left a sour taste in her mouth. Even in her time she wasn’t close with Father Vincent, although he helped them in the end, Beatrice never truly forgave him, or forgot what he did and all the suffering her sister faced in the hands of that man, so in turn Thea didn’t trust him either. Only saying hi’s and hello’s when she sees him and not engaging in any kind of conversation, and eventually he got the hint and never approached her again unprompt.

She grips the edge of the table as she stares at the light, stationed in Madrid. She knew that was Aunt Yasmine’s doing, it was her signal to be able to meet with the OCS.

She hears Michael’s steps getting closer but she doesn’t take her eyes off the light. “You’ve been standing there for quite a while, did you find something?”

Knowing she can’t reveal the OCS yet, even though she knows he probably already knew about them, she tells him that it's a map.

He scoffs, “I can see that it’s a map, but what is it for?”

“I don’t know, maybe it’s their official HQ, after all its station in Madrid.” She explains, not knowing what else to say.

“If they only have one official HQ why the whole map then?” he questions.

“Maybe the lights that are off entail that there are other branches but not currently in use. Or is newly built, after all there isn't a light for here, and this seemed like a new place for them to meet up.” she turns to him and sees him nodding his head in understanding.

She feels bad lying to him, but she has to remember that he’s doing this for a mission and technically so is she. “Did you find anything interesting on the book shelf?”

He shakes his head. “All are filled with bibles in different languages, some annotated and some barren, but nothing stands out. It seems they just use the books for worship.”

“So, it's a bust is what you’re telling me?” she sighs, having found nothing to help them get an upper hand.

“Well, we haven’t explored the second floor yet, maybe we’ll find something there.” he encourages, and makes his way back towards the ladder.

“I hope so,” she sighs, getting a little frustrated that they are coming out empty handed and with no new information on him other than the stuff she already knows from the stories she was told when she was younger.

This time, Michael goes first up the ladder, having more light than they had previously and pockets his phone. She followed him closely and finally made it back on top.

Michael turns to her, but before he can say anything he is put in a chokehold from behind. Startled, Thea doesn’t see the fist coming towards her face until it hits her. She turns to her attacker to find a man twice her size, wearing a green flannel, and in his other hand holds a leg of a broken chair.

She sees the familiar red wisp slowly coming off of him, immediately she takes a stand ready to fight back.

He runs at her, screaming with the wooden leg raised above, ready to strike, but with wraith inside him makes him stronger and faster, he’s there in front of her in seconds. She raises her left hand to block the hit and punches him in the throat with her right.

He lets out a strangled cough, pushed slightly back, and with the distraction, Thea runs towards him and leaps, taking him by surprise. They both hit the floor hard, Thea on top of him as she repeatedly punches him in the face, while keeping most of her weight on him to prevent him from easily throwing her off.

He manages to grab one of her punches and uses her own momentum against her and throws her off of him, she lands on the floor with a thud, but without missing a beat, she stands up quickly and blocks the fist that was heading towards her and with her free hand, grabs the divinium dagger that was strapped on her thigh, but still hidden in plain sight; and stabs him in the shoulder.

He screams, but Thea doesn’t miss a second and sweeps his legs from beneath him, toppling him over. She snatches her dagger from his shoulder only to stab him in the leg, not wanting to kill him but to make his body inhabitable for the wraith.

She looks up as the red wisp comes out the man screeching, she rips her dagger out from his legs and stabs the wraith with it, it screeches once more, louder before it disappears. She looked at the man on the floor who was still conscious, she stood up and gave him a quick kick to the head to render him unconscious.

A wack was heard from behind her, she turned around in time to see Michael body slam the man into the ground, knocking him out cold.

“Nice job,” Thea compliments, a throbbing sensation fills her head as the adrenaline wears off. “Now search they’re pockets, maybe we’ll find something.”

Michael nods and turns to the man that attacked him, Thea does the same and was able to find more cash, which was a total win, the FBC tattoo on his inner left forearm, but nothing else. She stands up and heads towards Michael, who was looking at something.

“Found anything?” She asked as she cracked her neck, feeling a bit stiff.

“Yeah a wallet,” he tosses her the wallet and stands up. “But nothing else.”

“Matteo Russo, he’s from Rome,” she reads. “He was probably sent here from the main HQ.” Trying to solidify her lie from earlier.

She gets an idea, tosses the wallet back to Michael and lifts Matteo up until he is in a sitting position.

“What are you doing?” he asked, confused as to why she didn’t just let him lay on the floor.

“You wanted more information right?” she retorted. “Now you have someone to interrogate.”

He nods his head in understanding and lifts him off the floor, planning on carrying him back into the truck.

After many manoeuvres they were able to put him into the back seat. Thea turns back to look at the building where she sees the form of the man that attacked her.

“What about him?” Michael asks, as he sees her looking at the body inside the building.

“Leave him,” she answers. “It’ll serve as a message.”

He nods and makes his way to the driver side and gets in. He looks at her expectantly. “Get in, we need to drive him to an abandoned warehouse, so we can interrogate him.”

“Nah you go ahead,” she shakes her head. “I’m heading to the bar.”

“Oh, to tell them?” he asked.

She looks at him and shakes her head again. “No, you should come by when you have him all ready and you tell them. Makes them more trusting of you, makes you look more capable, not that you aren’t but you know, you did get your ass kicked by them and Ava had to save your ass.”

He rolled his eyes at the jab, but smiled nonetheless. “Then why are you going to the bar then?”

Thea sighs and looks at the sun in the sky. “I need a drink.”

-

Until next time!