Camila, textbook hugged to her chest, made her way toward Mother Superion's office. She had progress to report regarding Yasmine's training, but more importantly, she may have gotten a lead on getting Ava back.

Through the long hallway of Cat's Cradle, Camila rounded a corner that would lead her past the interior courtyard and to Mother's office. And it just happened to lead her past a figure dressed in all black with a brace on his right leg.

"Ah, Camila, thank goodness," Vincent said, leaning to stretch his back. "Please save me. I don't think I can handle another day of janitorial duties." He glanced at the broom, mop, and bucket leaning against the stone wall.

Camila gave him a terse smile. "Sorry, Vincent, but you did that to yourself. Mother Superion said that your actions will have to speak for you."

"But how will me cleaning prove to you girls that I'm no longer disillusioned?" he stuttered.

Sister Camila put her hand on his shoulder. "We all have our part to play," she said softly. "For now, this is yours. Do it well and hopefully soon you'll get to move onto something more exciting."

Vincent nodded and plucked up the broom. "I look forward to that day," he said. "Forgive my impatience, Camila."

"Your impatience I can forgive, but your other actions—" Camila shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm not there yet."

Vincent's eyes were sad and his throat bobbed as he said, "You have nothing to apologize for, Camila. I gladly accept the consequences for my actions." His gaze lowered to his broken leg. "I've only partly paid for my betrayal of your girls' faith."

Camila gave a curt nod.

He turned to the side, arm raised to let her pass. "Don't let me keep you."

She gave another nod. "Thank you."

Camila knocked softly on Mother Superion's office door and waited until she heard a gentle, "Come in."

She smiled as she shut the door behind her. "Good morning, Mother."

Mother Superion turned from the window, both hands clasped in front of her. "Good morning, Camila." She smiled, but her hands seemed restless.

"Is it strange not needing your cane anymore?"

Mother huffed a small laugh, rubbing her hands together. "I am still adjusting to not having—to not needing it." She glanced to where the sleek black cane leaned against the side of her desk. "I've found that I wasn't just using it to help me walk, but I was also using it as an emotional crutch." She sighed. "I am still working on that."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Mother," Camila said, stepping closer. "Things like that take time. I am here if you ever need to talk."

Mother Superion gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Camila." She sniffed and raised her chin. "Now, is there something I can help you with?"

Camila grinned, eagerly clutching the book at her chest. "I may have found something."

Mother cocked her head.

She opened the textbook to a page revealing a drawing of a man wearing a crown of thorns. "Since training Yasmine, I've been speaking to her about her sect and other sacred and supernatural items they might have been guarding over the centuries." She turned the image toward Mother Superion and pointed to the man who appeared to be laying on a large cloth. "Have you heard of the Shroud of Turin?"

Mother Superion's eyes shot up. "Of course. That's the piece of cloth Jesus of Nazareth was said to be wrapped in after his crucifixion." She rounded her desk and joined Camila at her side. "Many speculate about its true origins," she said, touching a finger to the page. "Some say it's a hoax while others say it's a miracle."

"According to Yasmine," Camila said, her eyes alight, "this shroud might be another artifact like the crown of thorns."

"In what way?"

Camila pointed to a paragraph below the image. "It took me a bit to translate the Aramaic text, but it appears that this is saying how, after Christ died, he was wrapped in the shroud and laid to rest. While most people today are fascinated by his image on the shroud, something else caught my attention. It's believed that the image may have been caused when Jesus ascended into heaven, taking his earthly body with him."

"I'm not sure I follow."

"If this is true, then that means Jesus of Nazareth's body disappeared beneath the shroud when he ascended into heaven." Camila took a breath. "What if the shroud, like the crown of thorns, is another tool? I mean, if Jesus really was…"

"We probably still should not attempt to comprehend the full meaning of that," Mother Superion said.

Camila bit her lip. "But, if it is—" She closed the book and held it to her chest, facing Mother Superion. "Yasmine would need access to her sect's library of ancient texts to know more, but she believes the shroud could be a…portal."

Mother Superion blinked. "A portal?"

"It makes sense. Yes, the Bible may say that Jesus ascended into heaven, but what if there's a different reason that humans just weren't able to comprehend at the time, so they equated it to a miracle? What if the shroud was really some sort of gate? What if it transports the wearer into some Other World?" Camila's throat bobbed. "What if it could lead us to Ava?"

"Camila," Mother sighed, "We don't even know if we can enter that Other World. Dr. Salvius wasn't ever able to enter; it physically attacked her. Ava, Michael, and Lilith were all touched by the otherworldly in some way before any of them went through the portal. What if humans can't even survive on the Other Side?"

"I am willing to take the risk."

"Camila, don't be foolish." Mother crossed behind her desk and sat. "We all miss her, but there's something bigger at play. Lilith said a holy war was coming."

"We don't even know what that means."

"No, we don't, which is why we have to be prepared for anything."

"So, what?" Camila said, arm out to the side. "You're suggesting we give up on Ava?"

Mother Superion shook her head, fingers interlaced. "No, that's not what I'm suggesting. I am saying that we have bigger priorities."

"We haven't heard anything," Camila said. "Perhaps Lilith was wrong."

"No," Mother said. "My dreams have been plagued with terrible visions of what is to pass. I don't know if any of it could be true, but I have a terrible feeling that something is coming. It's like this knot in my gut I get when I sense danger creeping around the corner." She sat back, fiddling with her cross necklace. "I've been praying for guidance."

"Have you been praying for Ava?"

"Of course."

"Ava is our sister. She is our Warrior Nun," Camila said, chin raised. "That's the reason I came in here, Mother. I would like your permission to pursue this lead."

Mother Superion's eyes widened. "To find the shroud?"

Camila shook her head. "No. I already know where it is."

Mother stood, her expression that of disbelief. "You mean to say you want to steal the most studied and most revered religious artifact in history?"

Camila shrugged, brows raised. "I would just be borrowing it," she said sheepishly.

"Camila…"

"I cannot sit on the sidelines anymore, Mother. Please, allow me to take Yasmine and go visit her sect. Allow us to discover if this shroud is real or not. If it is not, then no harm shall come from finding out."

"You don't know that Camila," Mother said softly. "If the Holy Shroud really is another supernatural artifact like the crown of thorns, then going after information on it could be dangerous. If there are sects like Yasmine's who are sworn to protect the secret of the crown, then there is most likely another sect devoted to protecting the shroud."

Camila's expression fell, her jaw muscles clenching. "I have been praying for guidance. I have been praying for Ava's return, but—"

"I have been praying, too, Camila, but—"

"But it's not enough!"

Mother Superion cocked her head, blinking. "Camila…"

Camila stood taller though her chin trembled. "I have prayed every single day for Ava's return. I have done everything right, Mother Superion, but nothing has happened."

"Perhaps you just need patience," Mother Superion said, her voice low and her eyes filled with pain. "God does not exist to live by our agenda. Keep praying, Camila, and maybe—"

Camila shook her head. "I am tired of waiting. I want to do something! If God does not deign to answer our prayers, then perhaps we need to be the one to do so." She walked to the other side of Mother Superion's desk, carefully placing the old text on its surface. "It has been seven months. Seven months. The OCS is rebuilding, Cat's Cradle has gained new Sister Warriors, but…" Camila shook her head. "Ava has most likely been on the Other Side for years, and we've hardly gotten anywhere with how to get her back." She pointed at the text. "This is our first probable lead. This chance has ignited hope in me, and I don't want to let that fire die out." She swallowed. "Please, Mother. I beg of you."

Mother Superion looked away, her chin in her hand. "Yasmine has barely any training."

"She's improved," Camila said. "It's actually quite impressive how far she's come in a few months. She's confident. And lethal."

Mother Superion looked up at Camila, her eyes glistening. "I do not want to lose another Daughter."

Camila gave a sad smile and placed her hand on Mother's shoulder. "You won't." "I don't know, Camila. I—"

"Please, Mother Superion," Yasmine said, bursting through the office door, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Forgive me for eavesdropping. I couldn't help myself." She looked at both of them, no hint of fear or uncertainty in sight. "I want to do something to help. I am a Sister Warrior and I am not afraid. I can hold my own, especially with Camila at my side." She smiled at her Sister. "Please, Mother Superion."

"Please let us do this," Camila added.

Mother Superion was silent for a while as her gaze flitted between the two girls. At last, she sighed. "Alright."

Camila and Yasmine grinned at each other.

"But be careful," Mother said. "We'll debrief before you leave so we have a plan should your trip take a turn for the worst."

"Thank you, Mother Superion," Camila said, turning toward Yasmine.

Mother Superion stood, reaching for her cane. She faced the two girls, the cane's head beneath both palms of her hands as she leaned on it slightly. "Camila."

"Yes, Mother?"

"While you're gone, if you find Bea, please tell her to come home."

"Bea doesn't want to be found," Camila said, a frown tugging at her mouth. "I doubt we'd be able to do anything to find her, let alone convince her to return to Cat's Cradle."

Mother nodded. "I know. Like I said, I can't lose another Daughter when I've already lost two."

"Beatrice is not lost," Camila said.

"She is. She's more lost than she's ever been, and even though she wouldn't ever admit it, she needs help finding her way back." Mother Superion lead both girls to the door, one hand on Camila's shoulder. "Our Warrior Nun allows us to see when we are blind; she is our light. But I think Ava was Beatrice's light more than ours, and without her, Beatrice is stumbling in darkness." Mother Superion stared at Camila and Yasmine. "Just like we can't give up on Ava, we can't give up on Beatrice either."

Yasmine nodded. "Never."

"We'll get them back, Mother," Camila said.

"A war is coming," Mother Superion said. "We need all our Sisters if we're going to stand a chance, and we need our Warrior Nun."