Before The Road (AgathaxRio)

Chapter 1

*Agatha*

My body collapses in exhaustion. I look around, the lifeless bodies of my coven surrounding me. My eyes stop on my mother, her skin sunken and her face frozen in a mix of shock and pain, her once sharp gaze now dull and empty. The weight of it all presses down on me—what I've done, what I've become. My breath comes in ragged gasps as the magic inside me hums, stronger than ever, but my body... my body feels as though it could crumble at any moment. I stare at her, waiting for the guilt to rise, for the sorrow to swallow me whole. But it never comes. There's only a hollow numbness where grief should be. I force myself to my feet, the power sustaining me, lifting me when my strength falters. She wouldn't have understood. None of them did. This was the only way.

As I stand frozen amidst the bodies of my fallen coven, a voice cuts through the oppressive silence, smooth and teasing.

"Looks like quite the party you've had here."

I turn around to see a woman casually leaning against a tree, her lips curved into a smirk, exuding an air of confidence. She steps into the clearing, her eyes sweeping over the carnage with a mix of detachment and amusement.

"Let me guess," Rio continues, stepping forward with an effortless grace, her tone light and playful. "They didn't appreciate your... ambition? Or was it just a case of jealousy?"

She clicks her tongue mockingly, casting a glance over the lifeless bodies, her hand gesturing as if she's inspecting the aftermath of a minor inconvenience. Her smile is disarmingly charming, holding an undercurrent of something deeper as she locks eyes with me. "I'm Rio, by the way. You seem like someone I should get to know."

My words hitch in my throat, caught between disbelief and intrigue. "What do you want?" I manage, my voice trembling with exhaustion but laced with a hint of defiance.

"I just want what I came for... the bodies. Thanks for that, by the way."

She steps closer, her presence intoxicating, like a heady potion that pulls me in despite the darkness around us.

"Tell me," she continues, tilting her head slightly as if studying me, "was it worth it? The sacrifice? The betrayal? It must feel exhilarating to finally be rid of them."

Her gaze holds mine, searching for something beneath the surface, a flicker of mischief dancing in her eyes. I feel a strange connection forming, an unspoken understanding in the chaos of my thoughts. "You have no idea what it cost me," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Ah, but I do," Rio says, her expression shifting to something more serious for a moment before her playful demeanor returns. "I've been where you are, Agatha. The weight of it all can be crushing. But you've stepped into a new world. One where the rules don't apply to you anymore." She gestures grandly to the bodies around us, the remnants of my former life. "But alas, I'm afraid I have a job to do."

With that, Rio moves with graceful efficiency, kneeling to begin the task of collecting the fallen souls. As she works, there's an ease in her movements, as if this dark duty is a dance she knows all too well. I watch, captivated, the chaotic thoughts in my mind quieting for the first time since the spell was cast.

"I'll see you around, Agatha," she says, her voice a teasing whisper as she slips into the shadows of the trees, leaving me alone in the woods. Her words linger, charged with a promise of future encounters. All that is left of my coven are the outlines of their bodies in the dirt. The air is thick with the scent of ash and regret, and I can almost hear their whispers in the rustling leaves, ghostly remnants of lives that once thrived here.

A chill crawls up my spine as I survey the scene. The vibrant energy of our gatherings, the laughter, the bonds forged in spells and secrets—all reduced to this desolate silence. I feel hollow, an empty vessel where camaraderie and love once resided. Shame washes over me like a tide, pulling me under, threatening to drown me in its depths. 

Yet beneath the crushing sorrow, a flicker of something new stirs within me—a raw, pulsating power that hums just below the surface. It beckons me, seductive and intoxicating, promising strength and liberation from the chains that bound me. I can feel the magic coursing through my veins, vibrant and alive, a stark contrast to the lifeless forms around me. It is a double-edged sword, this power—offering me freedom while simultaneously anchoring me in the darkness of my choices.

I clench my fists, feeling the energy swirl, swirling like a tempest waiting to be unleashed. I was strong before, but now, I am untethered, unrestrained by the doubts and fears that held me back. They would never have understood my need for this. They would never have embraced the ambition that flickers in my chest like a candle's flame, illuminating the shadows within.

As the wind stirs the branches overhead, a sense of determination begins to take root. I may be alone in this moment, but the power I wield is mine to command. It is a choice, a path I have carved out in the darkness. With a final glance at the remnants of my past, I turn away, leaving the clearing behind. The woods feel different now, almost alive with possibility. The weight of solitude presses down, but beneath it lies a burgeoning resolve. I will forge a new destiny—one where I am the master of my own fate, where the echoes of my past fuel the fire of my future.