𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃; rio v.

prologue.

Whispers echoed from the trees, Theodora's legs swinging from a tree branch. She overlooked the river, her short-length raven hair soaring along with the wind. Swans floated lightly on the light blue water, almost the same shade as Theo's eyes.

Beside her hand grew an ivy, along with a pink hibiscus flower. A smile grew on Theodora's face as she pulled the flower from the branch. "My favorite." She smiled. "Only the best for you." Rio remarked as she leaned in to peck Theo's pink lips.

The brunette sat beside the girl, her hand purposely falling on top of hers. "Should you be out here?" Rio questioned. "What does it matter to you?" Theodora snapped back. Rio was correct— she should be at home, helping her older sister practice Tarot— but she wasn't. She couldn't be when her mother was fuming and yelling at everyone who looked at her wrong.

"Hey," Rio's tone became soft, two of her fingers falling beneath Theodora's chin. Theo lifted her head, a sad smile on her face. "What happened?" Rio's voice dripped of concern and possessiveness. When it came to her raven, Rio never played around. "Nothing, Vi. It's just— it's been a pretty hard day. I just wanted to come and watch the swans." Rio's hand dropped from her face to her waist, pulling her closer till their hips were connected.

"Don't lie to me, mi amor. What's wrong?" Rio's Spanish never failed to melt Theodora's heart. It broke her walls down and Rio knew that. "My mom— she's mad at everyone again. I swear, she'll burn that house down one day."

Rio listened attentively as Theodora went into detail about the many things her mother had done in the last twenty-four hours. Her hand never left the woman's waist, and her eyes never left hers. Their whispered conversations always stayed between them, along with their love.

On that tree branch, everything was theirs. Back in town, they suffered stolen glances and small whispers of 'i love you' as they reached for the same apple in the basket. It was rare that they snuck behind wooden homes to lock lips and touch skin— the days Rio couldn't help but touch what was rightfully hers.

A tear streamed down Theodora's face and rage coarsed through Rio's veins. "And then she took the knife on the table and—" A sob escaped her lips and she couldn't get herself to continue. "Hey, hey, baby, sh. I've got you. You're safe. Where'd she cut you now? Let me heal it." Rio reached up to Theodora's face and softly wiped the tears away.

Theodora lifted up her shirt— which Rio hadn't even noticed was bloody— and winced. Right beneath her breasts was a straight line of blood, as if the cutter had perfectly formed the cut. Rio helped Theodora down and onto the floor where she laid against the tree trunk.

"I'm gonna need to take it off, do you trust me?" Rio rubbed circles on Theo's hip bones to show comfort. "Of course I trust you. With my life." Rio smiled sweetly and helped Theodora remove her shirt, frowning everytime the raven haired girl winced. She swore she would kill the Calderu girl's mother one day. She would watch her beg for mercy, as Theodora did when her mother's blade traveled along the softness of her skin, and she would laugh. She would watch as the woman died slowly, and she would enjoy it dearly.

Rio's tongue trailed up the open wound, collecting blood as she went higher. She squeezed Theodora's hand lightly when she finished, a smile on her face as she looked up at the woman. "You're beautiful." Theodora complimented. Rio flushed profoundly, a cheeky expression on her face. "I think I'm extremely underdressed."

"Rio!" Theodora jokingly slapped her shoulder and moved her aside. She stood from the ground and began taking off her pants. "Take me on a date first, gosh!" Theodora scoffed before running off half-bare into the river. Rio watched with a smile on her face.

"Mi amor, be careful!" Theodora gave her a thumbs up before her feet dug into the cold September water. Her body shivered and she suddenly missed the warmth that radiated off of Death's body. "Rio! Come here!" Theodora called out for her girlfriend who had been laying on the tree trunk for only a few minutes.