MARBLE & SALT (Lesbian)

Chapter 21 (Part 3) LASSO EFFECT

I stay in her arms for a while, counting her heartbeats, "I want to stand up."

She nods, unlocking her tight embrace.

The chamber resembles any expensive hotel room, but with no soul in its décor. I stand at a big vanity, rubbing my temples. Hebe is silently sitting on the bed. I put my arms on the vanity and open my eyes. What I see is pretty familiar: I was looking at my own reflection when starting my journey to the new world, and Hebe's reflection was seen too (I didn't even know her name on that day). This time I look like a predator with twisting weaves on my body and the eyes are still emitting some deep colour, while Hebe, on the contrary, looks embarrassed and confused.

I turn to her throwing my locks back, "Will you teach me magic here?"

"I will, but not everything, since only Pythias can teach you how to use your special powers. I don't have them, and I don't understand the way they work exactly. I can show you battle magic, but you don't actually need it, because I'll always be with you; you don't have to think about it at all."

"You can't always be with me. You are fond of going away like you did after... sex."

"It won't happen again," she says blushing. Hebe starts blushing, by the way, and it's adorable.

"Do you mean sex or your constant going away?" I smirk, sitting comfortably on the vanity.

"You know what I mean," she grumbles.

"So, what did happen between us? Our weaves connected and then something threw us apart. Was it some kind of uhm magic between Pythia and her guardian?"

The witch blushes more, "There's no holy connection between guardians and their Pythias."

"But your mother said..."

"The bitch can say lots of things. Of course, such union has some magic background or else all Pythias would be extinct..."

"It almost happened," I snort, crossing my bare legs.

"... but this doesn't imply any light show!"

I cross my hands on the chest, "So?" I am waiting for explanations.

"I don't know what was it!" Hebe seems disappointed: I bet she wants to know too. "I think it was the flash of your first energy, and it caused weaves... and the rest you know yourself."

"My point is, all this sounds like mere surmise, Hebe! It scared you!"

"Of course not! Don't say nonsense... Your situation is not entirely typical, you know! It could be the echo of the hiding spell or the spell that was suppressing your witch abilities. It could be anything, and it's gone. The case is closed."

"It's strange, everything's so simple with you."

"That's what I know!"

"Okay."

"Okay."

I sigh, the more I know here, the less I understand, "Will I always be exhausted after using magic?"

"Magic is like physical exercises: the more you exercise, the more you can use your magic without feeling fatigue."

"Are there any negative effects after using magic, like... if you are a bad witch who does bad things, you'll have a hump or your puppy will die or..."

"No, don't speak about puppies like thaaat," she gets out of bed, standing next to me. "We are not in American family sitcom where every cute girl learns the lesson if she accidentally misbehaves. Use magic as much as you want, but try not to throw up in the beginning. Witches have a set of rules, but I never read it, and it's mostly about relationships between witches and some magical crowd."

"You don't care much about muggles, do you?" I put my hands on her shoulders.

Well, that's to be expected: I never expect her to care about humans.

"You were the exception and bingo! My own Pythia! Well, come on, then, let's nourish that cutie body. A bit later I'll prepare you for the oath. Don't worry, it's a simple procedure."

"Procedure. It doesn't sound promising. I guess, I can't refuse." My tone is unmoved and light.

"No one is forcing you," Hebe murmurs. "But you'll be endangered if you doesn't belong to a certain clan. They can claim you, kidnap you or even kill. I don't want anyone to take you from me.

"I don't want it too. Ready when you are, Hebe." I agree, clinging to her.

...

Wait... Did she call me "love" today?!