Enid slipped into her bra. It was pink and lacy. Not her style. Typically, she would go for sports bras, or no bra. She’d lasted thousands of years without one and all of a sudden showing up in public without one was somehow offensive. She looked at her back in the mirror. The Yakuza dragon tattoo was still fresh, when she made it part of her body’s make-up it became just like the rest of her. It reset to the time it was added. The only parts that didn’t were ones she shaped to appear different as a disguise. Maria walked through the open door of the hotel room’s bathroom. She smiled at Enid and picked up a bottle of soap and put it down. She then noticed the tattoo on Enid’s back. She reached out to touch the black dragon but then yanked her hand back.

“That looks new.”

“Yes, it is, well relatively it’s about forty years old.”

“How? Every time night falls, I am exactly the same as I was before the last nightfall. Everything resets.”

“I used blood magic to make it permanent. It is very costly and dangerous, but the Yakuza were my family in Japan, and it would have offended them if I didn’t have it to display.”

“Oh.”

“You taught me the trick, Maria. Most of the magic I learned was you, Uncle Remus and I didn’t really communicate well. You were always the better student of magic.”

“I wish I could remember some of it, I am not sure I will be able to help you with your battle with the Black Son.”

“We’ll find a way. It’s what we do sis.”

Enid pulled up her jeans and tugged her t-shirt over top. It was some comic book character she was unfamiliar with; She found the genre simplistic for her tastes. Also unrealistic, the last thing humans did with power was help others. Having been slammed into walls hard enough to shatter them and her several times she was quite sure the last thing one of these ‘heroes’ would do is get up. If she wasn’t a vampire, she would have been a quadriplegic dozens of times over. She finished by pulling on the crucifix Maria had given her. She wore it more for her sister’s benefit than anything else.

“How do I look?”

“Like yourself. You should put something warm on, there is a chill in the air.”

“Does it ever annoy you that we can feel uncomfortable in the sunlight, that we can get cold and hot?”

“No, it is what I am used to.”

“Of course, you don’t remember two thousand years of feeling no warmth, and no cold, just being. It frustrates me that if I do not wear a coat I can freeze to death. I’m undead for Christ’s sake.”

Maria’s fingers went to her crucifix and Enid closed her eyes and swore under her breath.

“Sorry Maria.”

“It is not me you need to apologize too, sister.”

Enid looked at her and smiled.

“That is the first time you’ve called me that.”

“I have come to accept the truth that we are bound by ties stronger than blood, and that you are my sister, in life and in death. I am happy to understand the emotions and pull I was feeling towards you.”

“Yes, the whole you thought we were…well what would you like to do today?”

“I would like to try breakfast at a café, and I would like very much to go to the Vatican and see the art, and to pray. Also, we should see if we can visit confession.”

“I don’t need confession, but I will wait for you to do it.”

“Oh, you need it more the me Enid. You killed people; You have used the lord’s name in vain so many times. I am sure there is more for you to confess.”

“Confession is for people who want to make amends and need forgiveness. I feel no guilt, nor a need to apologize for anything I have done, besides bother you with my difficulty of watching my language. So, me confessing would be against the spirit of the sacrament, which I believe would be worse in the end.”

“I accept your apology on your use of offensive language, to make amends to be I would ask you to go to confession and at least try.”

Enid sighed, gave a slight roll of her eyes.

“Fine, only because you’re my sister.”

“Thank you, Enid.”

The pair stopped at a café, the breakfast while delicious was not worth the cost, Enid dropped the cash on the table and tugged on her hoodie.

“It would appear everything is still overpriced in Rome. I need to stop at the bank.”

“Okay.”

Enid slid into the back of the car they had hired. She spoke in Italian.

“Aurelius Bank next please.”

She leaned back and pulled out a burner phone Eyre had purchased and read over the world news. One headline caught her attention: KFPM crumbles. A combined assault between UN Peacekeepers and Kenyan military attacked their leadership and then swept through clearing out other pockets of resistance, they found no signs of the kidnapped residents of St Teresa’s Orphanage. Enid sighed and nudged Maria with her elbow showing her the phone.

“That is not fair. You did that.”

“I didn’t do it to be recognized. It’s better to fly under the radar. It’s going to be impossible soon. Not with this saint showing up thing.”

The car stopped in front of an unimpressive looking building. Its architecture was old and had a Roman feel to it. Enid got out of the car; Mariana followed. Inside the building was polished marble. It looked very posh. The kind of environment Enid had come to expect for their buildings around the globe. She walked up to the entry and placed her palm on the scanner. The armored glass barrier slid open. She glanced back at Maria.

“Just put your palm down. I’ll let them know you’re a guest.”

Enid walked to the woman who was sitting at the guest services desk and motioned for Mariato put her palm down on the scanner. She did. Enid turned to speak to the woman but stopped when she heard the door open, and Maria walked in.

“Did you let her in?”

“No ma’am, she must have an account.”

“Alright, I would like to make a withdrawal in euros please, two thousand should do for now.”

A woman came out of the back and approached Maria directly. Enid glanced back.

“Welcome Ma’am. I am Candace, I will be your escort for your visit. Can I get you anything?”

Maria looked at Enid then back to the woman. Enid gave a small shrug.

“No thank you, ma’am. I am fine. I just came with my sister.”

“Oh, of course, would you like to check your vault or accounts today?”

“I, well, um, I guess we could do that ma’am, if you have time.”

The woman smiled.

“For you we have time for anything you need.”

“Oh, alright then, may I see my account please?”

“Of course, come with me.”

She guided Maria to a kiosk and stepped away and waited at a respectful distance. Maria looked down and was quite confused.

“There is no keyboard?”

“Oh, I’m sorry ma’am, just put your palm on the pad to the left.”

Mariana nodded and did so, she blinked at the screen a few times.

“Ma’am, I think there must be some mistake.”

“Let me check into that for you.”

She tapped a few things on her tablet.

“No, your account is in order to the best of my ability to verify. What do believe is in error ma’am?”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“There is too much.”

“I assure you, there are no odd transactions, only transfers into your account from dividends as a primary shareholder of Aurelius, and interest of course.”

Maria looked back at the screen and back to the woman. She pulled her palm off of the pad and walked to the woman.

“Could I see my vault please, and may my sister come with me, ma’am?”

“Yes, you can bring a guest, please come with me.”

Maria looked at Enid who took the money she withdrew and joined Maria. Inside the vault was a collection of pristine Roman artifacts. Preserved papyrus scrolls. In hermetically sealed glass. Maria looked at Enid. There was still tarnish and some decay here and there.

“What is this?”

“It would seem someone preserved your belongings.”

Enid walked in and picked up an almost nylon looking bag and offered it to Maria.

“You got this from Atlantis. You should take it with you at least. I know you have some dresses in there, maybe they might jog your memory.”

Maria pulled the bag over her shoulder and put her palm on the scanner to seal the vault, they were led out of the building. They got back in their car and Enid requested the Vatican entrance they had been directed to as their next stop. Maria opened the bag and Enid give her a very small shake of the head.

“Hotel room, you have no idea what is in there.”

“You are right. There is so much money in that account.”

“Take it as a win. You got to basically cruise through your life and get rich.”

“She said I was the primary shareholder of Aurelius.”

Enid blinked.

“I wonder if Amara or father set it up for you to store your stuff and make sure you had money later on.”

Maria’s hand went to her crucifix and start stroking deep in thought. The car stopped by the entrance. Enid thanked the driver and got out of the car with Maria. When Mariana arrived, she was allowed through the gate. Inside they were led to a desk. The man behind it smiled at them.

“Welcome, please fill out these forms.”

He handed them clipboards with paper forms on them. Just name, contact number, emergency contact number. Once they finished each was handed a badge.

“Keep these on please. They will let you move around without a tour guide. Please respect the sanctity of where you are.”

“We will, sir.”

“Based on who your invitation came from I have no doubt you will. Please enjoy yourselves.”

The pair walked into the Vatican proper, Enid spent most of the time telling Mariana about the art. When it was painted and who painted it. They spent hours wandering the city-state. Eventually they ended up at St. Peters and the confessionals. Maria went into the English one first. After several minutes it was Enid’s turn. Maria gave her a look and with a bit of a frustrated look Enid relented and went inside.

“Hi Father.”

“Hello, how long since your last confession?”

“A very very long time.”

“You’ll need to be more specific.”

Enid had an urge and gave into it.

“Forgive me father, I have sinned, it has been eight hundred years since my last confession”

After a few moments, the father seemed to consider how to proceed but then continued.

“What sins do you confess?”

“I have refused to forgive my husband and my father for a wrong I felt they committed; I have hurt my sister by using language that bothers her.”

“Are you truly sorry for these actions?”

“I am.”

“God forgives, but you must make amends have you apologized for your transgressions to those you have hurt?”

“I can’t my husband and father are dead, my sister asked me to go to confession she thought I needed it. So, I have.”

“I absolve you of your sins in the name of the father, and the son and the holy spirit.”

“Thank you, father.”

Enid left the confessional, she had to admit saying it out loud made her feel a bit better. Mariana wasn’t close by. Enid looked around in a slight panic and found her kneeling and praying. She stood at a respectful distance. She watched the people come and go she reached into her pocket fingers wrapping around her phone.

Gah, I’m just as addicted as the mortals.

She was looking at the pattern on the floor when she heard a commotion of the front of the church. She felt like vanishing. But the sun was streaming through the windows so that would be a pointless attempt. Instead, her hand went to her face. Before Maria floated an anglified clone of herself. With golden wings and Bloodseeker in her hand gleaming like it was freshly crafted silver. The voice, which was her voice echoed throughout the basilica. Everyone was staring at the angel. The angel wasn’t an apparition she was solid.

“I am Sarah of Savia, I speak the Lord’s word. You have despoiled the paradise he has provided, turned your backs on his church. Humanity has corrupted his word twisted it to suit your own needs. You have used him to justify your terrible actions. He is disappointed that you have broken the covenant. You have listened to the deceiver and not the Lord. He grants humanity another chance to renew the covenant. He has sent his daughter to be his avenging angel. She will lead you to his light. She will destroy the deceiver, and in her sacrifice, humanity will be freed of this corruption. You will know her by my blade. For only the truly worthy may wield it. If humanity cannot change its ways, he will wipe this world clean with a cleansing frost. This message I give you Maria. You were reborn in his love and do not remember but know he does not forget that you walked the path of his son, and he remembers your kindness. He blesses you through me. Know that you are in his grace and when you need his strength, he will be there to lift you up and exalt you.”

Then angel made the sign of the cross on Maria’s forehead whose fingers were stroking her crucifix nervously. She slammed the sword into the marble floor the blade slid through it like butter and there it stuck. There was a flash of light and Enid’s winged doppelganger vanished. Everyone was crossing themselves a few were looking at their phones trying to verify what they saw. Enid’s hands went to the edges of her hood she started to pull it on. She was turning towards the exit, but she stopped and released the hood and walked to the front of the Basilica. She could see an exact duplicate of her sword melded with the marble. The silver was still white hot. She reached down and offered her hand to Mariana. She looked up at Enid and flinched slightly.

“It’s me your sister, not the cheap copy. Let’s get out of here before people come to their senses.”

Enid tugged Maria and pulled her towards the closest exit. It didn’t lead outside just to another part of the basilica and they bumped into a young priest. After a few moments on both sides trying to sort out what happened he looked between the pair.

“Are you in trouble?”

“No, maybe, sort of? An angel just showed up and talked to my sister out in the basilica and she’s a bit overwhelmed and I really didn’t think she could handle people touching her, asking her questions. Is there another way out of here?”

The priest looked at their badges. He smiled, Enid could tell he didn’t quite believe her, but he showed them to an exit into some gardens. He pointed across the way. He had a French accent.

“That will get you back into the offices and to the exit you’re looking for.”

Enid looked up at him. Realizing his voice sounded familiar, he nodded and gave her a knowing look.

“Thank you, father.”

Enid pulled Maria across the gardens then paused. She saw a bench that was out of the way, it looked like where Vatican residents might go to smoke. She helped her sit down. Maria looked up at Enid, tears on her cheeks.

“Why did she look just like you?”

“I guess if you become a saint God gets usage rights to your face. I would have hoped for Jesus, or Mary or something. I guess it’s because of the sword. Or Ezekiel has a weird sense of humor? Are you alright?”

“I am better then alright. I did see an angel when I was buried under the house.”

“I did not doubt you did, did you?”

“Yes, I doubted you when you spoke of Ezekiel.”

“Well now you know. Things are going to get weird for us. People are literally going to want a piece of you.”

“What about you? She was your twin.”

“I doubt people will notice, it’s not like I’ve got wings right?”

A clicking sound echoed off the nearby wall. Enid glanced towards it and around the corner of the hedge that hid this bench walked an older cardinal who was using a cane. He had a cigarette in his fingers and looked a bit shocked to see the pair of girls. Enid tugged on Mariana’s hand.

“Sorry, Eminence. We just needed a few minutes someplace quiet.”

He waved his hand dismissively. His English wasn’t great.

“No, no, stay, it is turning into a zoo out there.”

Enid released Mariana’s hand.

“What is going on Eminence?”

“Something happened at the Basilica, the Swiss Guard are rushing all over, people are prostrating themselves on the floors. Quite chaotic for this old man.”

He gathered his vestments and sat on a bench opposite Maria and lit his cigarette. He looked at their badges.

“I assure you things are usually much calmer around here. What brings you to the Vatican?”

Maria’s fingers stroked her crucifix barely listening to the conversation.

“My sister wanted to come to confession.”

He took a long drag from his cigarette and pointed at Enid’s badge.

“That is not easy to get. You have friends in high places.”

“Our older sister did a favor for the Pope. He extended an invitation.”

“So, you were what the flurry of activity was about yesterday.”

He took another drag from his cigarette and smiled at them.

“Where are you from?”

“Canada.”

“Canada, wonderful country, I spent a long time in Montreal as a pastoral minister. If my memory serves you should be in school at the moment.”

“Yes, we were supposed to go back as soon as we finished last night, but we are staying for some reason. That is the other reason we were here today. Our mother told us if we weren’t going to be in school, we needed to do something educational. So, we went through and studied the art here.”

He tapped the ashes off of his cigarette into the makeshift ashtray.

“Between you and I, I think you probably learned more today. Did you see what happened in the basilica to cause the ruckus?”

“If I told you what we saw I don’t think you’d believe us.”

“This day and age, it is hard to discount anything.”

He took another drag from his cigarette.

“An angel, err I guess it was more of a saint, she appeared with a message.”

He coughed a bit as she spoke the words.

“Told you, that you wouldn’t believe me Eminence.”

“It is hard to believe, but I watched an interview with a woman who can lift a car, who claims to hunt demons, so perhaps not so farfetched as it once was.”

“She addressed my sister directly and she’s still trying to understand. Blessed her. We were concerned that people might swarm her, so we came out here.”

“That sounds like a prudent choice. What did the angel say?”

“That humanity sucks and god is disappointed and that he sent my sister to save the world from some big bad thing. Another chance to renew some covenant. I’m not the best student in religion class. And to be honest I wasn’t paying much attention, it was hard to, not be disturbed, the Saint, or Angel, she looked like me.”

He looked at Maria. Then back to Enid.

“No, not this sister, our other sister.”

“Was this an apparition?”

“No, the ash and oil on her forehead is from the Saint. She also left a sword merged with some Marble.”

“Do you know which Saint it was?”

“Saint Sarah the Demon Hunter.”

He finished his cigarette and butted it out.

“You two should stay here. I will go find you an escort.”

Enid looked at his cane, then backup to his eyes.

“It is alright Eminence we can take care of ourselves.”

“Nonsense, you’re still children. You never know how people will react to something like this. They may want to get pieces of your clothing or who knows what. I know our faithful are good people, but they are people.”

He held up his hand toward the benches.

“Just stay here out of sight, where you’re safe and I will find someone.”

He crossed himself and looked up he whispered a prayer and hobbled towards the Basilica. Enid sat down beside Maria.

“I just had a thought…”