Rio All Along

FOUR YEARS BEFORE

𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀
(age 13)

Rushing frantically around the room I ruffle through the draws determined to find the one thing I know is in this room- or was.

"For the love of Alastor it has to be in here." I grunt pushing the draws in a little too hard causing a very transparent bang to be heard throughout the house.

Shit.

"And what do you think you're doing?" Just one of the many galling sisters I share with my coven spurts.

"Lavinia, you gave me such a fright I almost ignored your blatant snooping on me," I cleared my throat, raising my head high as her full frame enters the room.

"Oh please, no one plays the nosey title better than the forgotten sister herself Ag," Lavinia scoffed followed with a sinister chuckle.

That stupid nickname she gave me. Ag. Who knew two letters could make you want to fuck someone up so badly?

"What do you want Lavinia?" Fixing my collar and hair not giving her much attention.

"Mother wants you to know the Coven are to join tonight at the stake, she has news," She says.

Another dim witted night around the fire listening to my sisters gloat their achievements while I just waste away in the corners? Sure.

"Noted, you can go now Nia," I turn back to what I was doing before, scrambling through the dressers. It's like the more I look the more lost it's getting.

I don't hear movement.

"You're still here, because?" I plea.

There's a soft look on her face for a moment but quickly replaced with her usual snarky glare.
"What are you even looking for?" She walks over towards my area.

"My spellbook, it's vanished!"

And I have a feeling which sneaky little lady took it from me.

"Well you better find it before tonight or Mother won't be happy!" She scolds.

"Yeah, yeah, now get out my way," I push past her in full ghee ignoring her last few mutters of insanity.
/

I walk on a grimy path hopefully leading me astray to the death that follows with it.

It's quiet, almost too quiet.

"Looking for something?" I'm met with a voice. A sapid smell of sweetness. I knew it.

Rio Vidal.
My sworn enemy.

Her name at the tongue is poison enough, her rich brown locks sit perfectly on her head- she's cold to the touch and there is that same glare in her eye she always gives me. Like she is waiting for something? Waiting for me to do something.

"Cut to the chase, give me my book Vidal," I say with angst.

"Gosh you're fun at parties, stay and play for a while won't you?" She laughs halfheartedly tossing my spell book between her hands.

"Give me it!" I scream, running towards her in hopes of getting my book back. Lunging full force I snatch the book from her hands and make a run for it.

"Agatha.. I just want to borrow it.." Rio mutters sarcastically, with a smirk on her full cherry lips.

I pause for a moment.

I look at her, and I feel like I see her. For a split moment there's a minute of silence, but there was nothing quiet in what was happening. There's a thick murky smell travelling through the air and I can't stop looking at her face.

I know she's hurt. She's broke like the rest of us here but there is something different about her.

"You done fantasising about me or do you need more time?" She says. Pulling her dagger from her side twirling it in her hand.

"I'm good, don't get too caught up in your head Vidal,"  This isn't ending well.

She grunts and runs for me, lunging into air with full force. I jump down in tempt of ignoring her advances: putting my spell-book in my satchel.

"You're not getting away that easy, Harkness," She laughs manically spitting to the side next to her.

I make a run for it.

I've barely gotten any distance before I hear her chuckle, sharpening the very dagger in her hand. The sharp sound of the blade being filed pierces my ears as I walk swiftly.

"Te veo," I hear ever so faintly, smiling to myself I continue in my strides, not knowing what is to come or where I may find myself with her.

Let's just hope I make it out alive.