The Red Queen

’Can’t really imagine you as a nun...’ quipped Maria, back in the present, ‘...but I bet you were dead cute in those robes...’.

‘As a matter-of-fact...’ began Bo, '...I was a fucking gorgeous nun...! So much so, I had no less than three marriage proposals; one of which from a Bishop...!’.

‘And there were no more of these hunters...?’ asked Maria, ‘...outside of London, I mean...?’.

‘No...’ started Bo, ‘...the Hunters were a minority and considered to be fantasists amongst the scientific community - which explains why they had to meet in secret...’.

'But why did they accuse an Abbess of being a witch...?’.

‘No one knows for sure...’ replied Bo, ‘...it is thought that the Sheriff, Gilbert Becket, witnessed her “summoning lightning from the sky” and convinced other members of his guild of her witchcraft...’.

‘Summoning lightning...?’ echoed Maria, before it suddenly dawned on her, '...oh, he witnessed a Quickening...!’.

‘Yeah...’ answered Bo, ‘...and, hey presto! - instant witch...!’.

‘So, what happened to Sangeeta...?’ asked Maria, ‘...or should I expect a visit real soon...?’

‘I don’t know what happened to Sangeeta...’ replied Bo, sadly, ‘...Talos found her dead after they were married a few centuries later. She had been lured away from Holy ground and beheaded. He was heart-broken, and I don’t think he’s really loved anyone since! She truly was the love of his life...!’

‘Wow...!’ breathed Maria, ‘...that’s so romantic! I hope you feel that way about me...!’

‘Of course, I do...’ replied Bo, drying her hands on a green and brown towel that hung from a drawer handle before cupping Maria’s face and planting a kiss upon her lips, ‘...you are my world!’.

‘Beckett...?’ echoed Maria, ‘...why do I know that name...?’

'He was the father of Thomas Becket...’ started Bo, turning back to the kitchen bench to put some glasses away in the overhead storage, ‘...also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket. He was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170...’.

‘Thanks for the history lesson, Professor Carver...’ mocked Maria, ‘...I suppose it’s what I get for marrying a lecturer... endless bloody history lessons...!’.

‘And I married a cop...!’ Bo shot back, advancing on Maria’...so what does that tell you...?’.

‘You’ve a fetish for handcuffs...?’ answered Maria, standing almost nose-to-nose with the feisty red-head.

'Fuck the handcuffs...’ purred Bo as she slid her left hand behind Maria’s neck, pulling her in closer and passionately kissing her full on the lips.

Maria smiled and kissed her back, wrapping her arms around Bo. The pair of them staggered backwards giggling whilst kissing until they collapsed over the padded arm of the large sofa and onto the soft cushions.

'I’d rather you’d fuck me...’ said Maria, looking up at her lover.

'That can be arranged, Detective...’ purred Bo, and leaned in for another kiss.