Mark 10:45

**Mark 10:45** is the fifth episode of the second season of *Warrior Nun*. It is the fifteenth episode of the series overall.

## Synopsis

Seeking Lilith's whereabouts, the sisters and Miguel visit Jilian [*sic*]. An unnerving discovery upsets Camila. Conflict erupts over Adriel at a conclave.

## Plot

### Perspectives

At his fortress, Adriel tells Lilith that when he first saw Areala, she was beautiful and brave, but also broken and dying. He says he gave her his halo not just to save her, but because he could see the lies of the world and how they would lead humanity into chaos. He says that he envisioned creating a new religion based on truth, but that he needed her by his side. He says that he loved her and it clouded his judgment.

In the van, Yasmine tells Ava and Miguel that a thousand years ago, Adriel began to build his own church, an inverted temple, deep underground. Ava asks why and she says there's no historical explanation, that he claimed he wanted to use his church to bring people a new truth, but Areala began to distrust him. She prayed for guidance and God sent her an answer. Reya came, bringing her a weapon, the Crown of Thorns. She took up the weapon to bring an end to Adriel's reign. Meanwhile, Adriel tells Lilith that the Halo corrupted Areala and it was his fault, that he should have known, that it's a weapon too powerful for any human to bear for too long. He says that when Areala came to confront him, he looked into her eyes and knew she only saw him as a monster. "A manipulator and a liar, a devil", Yasmine tells the others, saying Areala had something he didn't, her sisters.

Adriel tells Lilith that Areala turned the OCS against her, but knew he could not be killed in this realm. Yasmine narrates that Areala attacked Adriel and he fought back, trying to clasp her heart, but she'd accomplished what she wanted, getting close to him. She placed the Crown of Thorns on his head with the last of her strength. Adriel tells Lilith that Areala tricked him, rendering him unconscious. When he came to his senses, they were already sealing the cave that would become his prison. Yasmine finishes that Areala made the ultimate sacrifice, Adriel's temple becoming his tomb. Ava says if it worked once, it can work again. Yasmine tells her it's the sole purpose of her order, but that nobody has ever defeated Adriel and lived. "Well then, looks like we're gonna have to make history", says Ava.

### Hearing voices

The van pulls up outside a countryside estate, where Lilith last reported in. Ava punches a button on a panel, radioing for Jillian Salvius and telling her that they need her help. She says she can't help them. Mother Superion takes the comm, saying she knows they're asking for a lot and they know she's already helping Lilith. She tells her Lilith's gone, asking again for them to leave. Ava asks what she means. "Tell Jillian her son is here", says Miguel, or rather Michael Salvius. The doors open and Jillian comes out. "Where's my..." mutters Jillian, then sobs, seeing her son as an adult. "Hello, Mother", he tells her. They hug.

Inside, Mother Superion asks Jillian where Lilith is. Jillian tells her she left, saying she has no idea where, that Lilith was changing and her mental processes were degrading. Sister Camila asks if she really just let her leave in a state like that. "She's an interdimensional being with quantum teleportation abilities", Jillian points out. Mother Superion's phone rings. She takes a call, telling Camila to carry herself. She goes outside. The call is from Pope Duretti, who tells her that he's been researching Adriel. She asks him to tell her, but he asks for her presence at a secret conclave in Madrid. "You and everyone else I can still trust", he says. She tells him she'll be there.

Miguel stands in his old room, seeing his drawings on the wall and recalling conversations between his young self and his mother. Jillian enters, looking around. He tells he can still feel Adriel's voice, implanting images in his mind and using him. She tells him she wishes she had understood. He asks how she could. She says she wanted to heal him. He tells her she did and he's grateful, but he's sorry, that it must be difficult for her. She asks how long it was for him on the other side. He tells her it's hard to say, something like fourteen or fifteen years. She says he must have been so alone. He tells her he wasn't.

"Where did you go, Lilith?" wonders Camila. "She is with me", says the voice of Adriel in her head. The lights flicker and she screams in fear, running into Sister Beatrice. She tells her she just had a headache. Beatrice asks just how long she's been having them. She tells her since the attack, that one of the older sisters touched her and she didn't think anything of it at the time, but that's when the headaches started. "I've been hearing voices", she admits. Beatrice tells her to come with her.

### An urgent matter

Michael recalls running through the Arc, pleading with Jillian to come with him. He tells her he ran through and found what he thought would be Heaven, but it wasn't what he expected, that it was empty and vast. He wandered in a desert, alone and terrified until he was found by wandering angels who took him to a shining city and to Reya. He describes her as being an unimaginably powerful entity, Adriel's master, who healed him and raised him, training him for the day he would come back to Earth to stop Adriel. "How?" asks Jillian. He tells her he can't tell her just yet.

Mother Superion and Yasmine arrive in Madrid, at the Princesa Plaza hotel. Yasmine says it's fitting that this is happening at a hotel, because in ancient times monasteries would house foreign travelers to protect them from religious prosecution. Superion tells her that it's best if they discuss sensitive information in private company. She tells her not to speak, but to listen to everything that is said and *not* said, to note every detail that could help them. She apologizes, saying she gets carried away. Superion tells her to never apologize for her gifts, just use them wisely. They enter and join the conclave. Yasmine gushes and Superion reminds her, "discreet".

Pope Duretti has everyone sit. He tells them they're there to discuss an urgent matter that threatens the nature of religion. He says they're there because they remain loyal, but nothing must leave the room. He tells them that some are saying that an angel has descended, but in reality a wolf walks among them. Meanwhile, Lilith asks Adriel what it was like for him underground. He tells her it was dark, but that unlike the brief candle of human life, he is not finite and measures time differently, that he is patient. She asks just what he is and he says he is the angel Adriel. She asks what *she* is and he tells her he couldn't even begin to explain it, but that he can show her. He holds out his hands, asking her to trust him. He places them upon her face, telling her to close her eyes. She does and energy begins to resonate, seeming to burn her eyes. "Trust me", he tells her as she screams.

### Seeing reality

Jillian brings Miguel to the Arc, which stands inert. She asks if she can show him something. She pulls up the data on the computer monitor, showing a woman's face. She asks him if it is Reya. He nearly faints. Shaking his head, he tells her he was wrong to doubt. He says he thought he could change things, but that Reya's way is the only way. In another room in the villa, Beatrice examines Camila's neck, telling her she has some scarring. Camila asks her if she ever thinks about that if Adriel is real then all the books are wrong. Beatrice says that she of course does. Camila tells her it's hard sometimes even to pray. She says that Mother Superion never talks about it, but she knows it affects her. "And now you", she says.

Beatrice tells Camila that she's fine, but she tells her she knows she's lying. Camila says she feels like she's never enough, but Beatrice tells her that it's not her job to fix everything. She tells her she was a rookie once, but now she's the best of them, the heart. She says they will be okay, even if they're not right now. The two study the results on the computer. "It's Divium", says Beatrice. Camila has some sort of Divinium cross within her. She shouts at Beatrice to take it out, but she tells her that she can't, that it's woven into her spinal cord. Camila shudders.

"Open your eyes", Adriel tells Lilith. Lilith, not doing so, says she never should have trusted him. He says that he's sorry for the pain, but it was the only way. She asks why he would blind her and not just kill her. He tells her again to open her eyes. She removes her hands and does. At first, they are just glowing red orbs, but then they resolve back into normal eyes. She stares around. She can now see wraith demons. "Tell me what you see", says Adriel. "I see reality", she says.

Beatrice tells Camila she's going to go see if Jillian can help, that she might be able to block whatever Adriel's doing. She tells her what happened at the museum wasn't her fault, and that she shouldn't have come at her. Camila tells her it's okay, thanking her. Beatrice tells her to let her know if there's anything she can do for her. She starts to leave, but Camila stops her, telling her to let her know the same. Beatrice asks what she means, but she says she thinks she knows. Beatrice says she's not sure she does. "You and Ava", says Camila. Beatrice calls it a misunderstanding, but Camila tells her there's no shame. "It's easy to fall in love with a Warrior Nun", she tells her, saying that it's loving her that's the hard part, that they never last.

### Two more days

In the courtyard of the villa, Ava practices flying down, placing the Crown of Thorns upon the head of a statue. Beatrice asks her how it's going and she tells her it's just practicing. Just then, the Halo cuts out again and she falls. Beatrice points this out and Ava tells her that it's getting worse. Beatrice asks why she thinks it's happening and she admits she doesn't know. She says she thought maybe they were training too hard. Beatrice tells her she trusts her and they'll beat Adriel.

Father Vincent enters Adriel's cathedral, ruminating on Mother Superion's words about him having been compromised. Kristian Schaefer tells him that the good thing about having their savior among them is that whenever they seek answers they can always just ask him. He asks what happened to Vincent and he tells him he ran into some old friends. He says he seems unsettled and Vincent tells him this isn't the case, that he's excited. Kristian agrees it is exciting. "Just two more days", he tells him, saying they will deliver the world to Adriel.

Meanwhile in Madrid, Duretti tells the conclave that to some, Adriel is a prophet or a savior, even called the Second Coming. He says that he is none of those things in truth, just a charlatan. The Archbishop of Canterbury asks how this can be, given all of the plagues they've seen. He asks how an ordinary man can create such things. Duretti says that he's not saying Adriel is an ordinary man, but that he's not an all-powerful being either. The Archbishop tells him he's being dangerously naive, that he could evoke the wrath of God. Duretti continues that Adriel is using Arq-Tech technology to create the plagues. There is a murmur and he asks how he knows such things. Duretti tells them the Vatican was infiltrated by a traitor and that he knows Adriel's secret. He tells them they must confront Adriel before he destroys them all.

The Archbishop says that he cannot condone any attack on Adriel as a matter of Church doctrine until they are certain he is not who he says he is. Yasmine rises, saying they are all just afraid. She says they all fear Adriel and God's wrath. She says that Pope Duretti is correct and they cannot afford to wait. "Who is this person?" asks the Archbishop. She introduces herself as Yasmine Amunet, a descendant of a Coptic order who has known from the beginning what Adriel is. He tells her that she would be wise to keep silent and heed her superiors. "And you would be wise, Archbishop, to listen to someone far more informed than yourself", growls Mother Superion, rising. "How dare you?!" shouts the Archbishop, asking the Pope if he will allow them to speak to him like this.

### Extraction needed

Mother Superion pounds the table, cursing in Italian. She tells him that their sisters are dying, that her sisters are being brutally murdered while they debate. She tells them it is not about protecting the church or themselves, that Adriel poses a global threat to everyone. She says if they sit by and do nothing, may God have mercy on their souls. She sits and Pope Duretti tells the Archbishop to sit as well. He says that the two are correct, that he didn't call them to debate, that too many have died. He shouts that the time for action has come.

Cardinal William Foster stands, saying this well-said and that they've all made errors in the way they responded to Adriel. He says they were too dismissive and unwilling to face the truth, to take him seriously. He asks who will stand in the greatest theological fight of their lives to correct the mistakes of their past. Several rise, and he pulls a knife. He slits the Archbishop's neck, killing him. "Praise Adriel!" he declares. A mass attack begins. One of the cardinals comes at Mother Superion, telling her to say her prayers. "You first", she tells him. As two men lead away Duretti, Foster shouts at him that his underestimation of Adriel underscores the failure of his leadership. He says for centuries his church has fallen to its knees for a myth, a deity they could barely define. He says a savior comes of pure unquestioned power. He says his sins are washed in blood. "Praise Adriel!" he shouts again.

The melee continues. Dead bodies are all over the ground. Only a few remain, these including Mother Superion, Yasmine, Cardinal Foster and Pope Duretti. Mother Superion, Yasmine and Pope Duretti flee the room, Pope Duretti's robes and face badly covered in blood, but him still alive. They retreat inside a room, Duretti saying that Adriel's followers are insane. Mother Superion tells him they aren't, that they're possessed. Yasmine says that she was so scared, she couldn't think. Superion tells her she did well and to breathe. She examines a wound she sustained. She calls for Camila on an earpiece. She tells her that the conclave was compromised and nearly everyone is dead. She explains that they're trapped on the 13th floor, with too many to fight their way out. She asks what Superion needs. "Extraction", she tells her.

Superion gives Pope Duretti some water. He says that so many were turned and he had no idea. She asks him if it's really true that Adriel is using Arq-Tech technology to manufacture the plagues. He agrees it is so, telling her that Adriel is holding a rally on the morning of the 23rd. He says that it's too late, but she tells him this isn't so, that they can still defeat Adriel. "How?" he asks, asking who will stand with them. As if to answer his question, Beatrice, Ava and Miguel enter the hotel. They board the elevator and proceed down the halls. A group of possessed Firstborn Children is outside the door to the room containing Pope Duretti, Superion and Yasmine. Beatrice says they can't take them on in such a confined space.

### The Pope takes a stand

Back at her villa, Jillian studies the monitors. She puts on her radiological frequency glasses, hearing the sound of Camila praying. She sees energy emanating from her. She knocks to get her attention. She tells her that the energy that Beatrice saw is the same stream that has been activating the Arc, that the energy is prayer. She tells her that when focus the mind deeply on a specific desire, the brain creates a unique electrical impulse. She tells her she thinks that Adriel has discovered a way to tap into that impulse and convert it to energy, that it's why Kristian has built all this infrastructure. Beatrice says this may be why Adriel needs his crosses, that he's redirecting the energy back to himself. She gasps, asking if he's stealing prayers from God. "Yes, God", agrees Jillian, "whoever that may be". She tells her she'll get her something to block the signal and keep Adriel from influencing her. A car honks and they head outside. "Who are they?" asks Jillian and Camila tells her they're reinforcements. She smiles, saying they heard the call, as four Warrior Sisters emerge from the car with equipment.

Back at the hotel, Ava greets the acolytes. "Hey guys", she says. "Did I hear Adriel was looking for me?" she asks them. "Bring that one to me!" declares Cardinal Foster. All but himself and one other take off in pursuit. Beatrice and Miguel then take both of them from behind. Beatrice tells Superion that the hall is clear. "We're coming", Superion tells her, but Pope Duretti says he's not coming with them. Superion protests, but he tells her that if they wanted to kill him they would have already. He says that Adriel needs him to legitimize him, that it's his endgame. He says this is their chance to show the world the truth and expose Adriel. Outside, Beatrice tells Superion to hurry. Superion asks Duretti if he's really sure and he tells her he is and to come back for him. She promises she will.

Superion and Yasmine emerge and they all head off down the halls. Elsewhere, Ava continues to lead the other acolytes away breakneck pace. Foster shouts at them to just shoot her. They do, but she phases through a wall. She finds herself floating high above outside, the Halo fluctuating, then giving out. She falls and hits the ground hard. Beatrice examines Ava, sobbing, as she very much seems to be dead. She pulls her in her arms, saying that she knows the world is hard and unforgiving and that Warrior Nuns die, but she doesn't want her to leave her. The Halo glows and Ava tells her she'd like to avoid that herself. She tells her they can't beat them together.

In the hotel, Pope Duretti stands and raises his arms. "Forgive me Father, but you have sinned", Cardinal Foster tells him. "May God forgive you", the Pope tells him in return. He says Foster knows exactly what he does. Foster's acolytes lead him away. At Adriel's place, Lilith stares around the demons. She says that it's how Ava sees. "No, this is how you see, only you", Adriel tells her. He tells her they were both chosen for a higher purpose and that it won't be easy. He tells her she may feel pain or cause it, but she will create a new existence, where true power will be shared by everyone and not hoarded by gods. He continues that they have the ability to slice through shadows, revealing the light which cast them. "I need you by my side", he tells her. She strokes his face, while demons snarl around them. On her back, she sprouts a huge pair of wings. She moans in ecstasy, then envelops him in the wings.

## Cast

* Thekla Reuten as Jillian Salvius
* Lorena Andrea as Sister Lilith
* Kristina Tonteri-Young as Sister Beatrice
* Tristán Ulloa as Father Vincent
* Sylvia De Fanti as Mother Superion
* William Miller as Adriel
* Olivia Delcán as Sister Camila
* Joaquim De Almeida as Pope Duretti
* Peter De Jersey as Kristian
* Jack Mullarkey as Michael
* Meena Rayann as Yasmine Amunet
* Sadiqua Binum as Sister Dora

### Co-Starring

* Guiomar Alonso as Areala
* Julius Cotter as Archbishop of Canterbury
* Carlos Robles as Papal Security #1
* Alexander Mois as Papal Security #2
* Andrea Tivadar as Reya
* Anna Coll as Female Hotel Clerk
* Patrick Mitogo as Bad Priest

* Lope Haydn Evans as young Michael Salvius (uncredited, flashbacks)

## Quotes

"*Please don't leave me. I don't want you to die.*"

"*You know, I'd like to avoid that myself. Easy. Easy.*"

"*Sorry.*"

"*It's okay. It's okay. They can't beat us, Bea. Not together.*"

- Beatrice and Ava