Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

Anomaly Bound by Love and Secrets

Chapter Thirteen:

Agatha folded her arms as Nessa stared at them both, her eyes wide and full of questions. The silence between them was suffocating, and Rio, leaning casually against the wall, finally broke it with a sly grin.

"Do I really have to go over the birds and the bees with you?" Rio quipped, raising a brow. "No? Good." She stepped forward, gesturing vaguely as if explaining something simple. "Long story short, I am Death. And before you get too freaked out, no, I don't have a scythe and no, I'm not here to reap your soul."

Agatha rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Not helping."

Rio smirked and continued, "I can be any form I want. Male, female, in-between, or neither. This," she gestured to herself, "is the form your mother fell in love with. This one's... special to me." Her voice softened on the last part, her eyes flickering toward Agatha briefly before returning to Nessa.

"So, you're a shapeshifter?" Nessa asked hesitantly, her brow furrowed.

"Essentially, yes," Rio replied. "I can take on any appearance, any identity. But I didn't know about you." She ran a hand through her hair, her expression more serious now. "Agatha and I... we were married. A long time ago. But life or death got complicated, and we went our separate ways. I didn't even know she was pregnant, let alone that you existed."

Nessa's gaze darted between them, her confusion evident. "But how is that even possible? You're Death. How can you... create life?"

Rio's expression faltered, her usual confidence replaced by uncertainty. "That's the thing," she admitted. "I don't understand it either. Everything I create is destined to die it's part of the balance. You, though..." She paused, studying Nessa intently. "You're an anomaly. You shouldn't even exist, let alone have survived this long with so much... energy about you."

Nessa shifted uncomfortably under the weight of her words. Before she could respond, Agatha spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "It's because of the protection runes I put on her locket," she said, stepping closer and gesturing toward the necklace around Nessa's neck.

Rio's eyes snapped to the locket, her jaw tightening. "You protected her?"

"I had to," Agatha said, her tone defensive. "I wasn't sure if it would work, but I hoped...hoped it would give her a chance. A fighting chance to survive." She turned to Nessa, her voice trembling slightly. "That's why I left it with you. It wasn't just a keepsake it was a shield. I didn't know if it would be enough, but I couldn't let you go without trying something."

Rio's gaze softened as she looked at Agatha, her earlier frustration giving way to understanding. "You didn't tell me," she murmured, her voice almost too quiet to hear.

Agatha turned her head away, guilt etched into her features. "I thought I was protecting you too," she admitted. "You had already lost so much. I didn't want to add to it."

Nessa stared at the two of them, her mind racing as she tried to process everything. The weight of their history, their choices, and their sacrifices pressed down on her, leaving her more overwhelmed than ever.

Rio waved her hand with a flicker of dark energy, dissolving the salt circle that had kept Nessa bound. Nessa stumbled forward slightly, her hands trembling as she glanced between Rio and Agatha. She was free, but the weight of everything they had told her still felt like an invisible tether, pulling her back into their world of unanswered questions.

Agatha stepped forward, her voice softer now. "You're not a prisoner here, Nessa," she said, her tone almost maternal. "But we can't let you wander off like this. Not until we figure out what's going on with you."

Rio crossed her arms, her expression guarded but calmer than before. "We're as confused as you are, kid. You shouldn't even be alive, let alone this powerful. There's something more to all of this." She paused, her gaze drifting back to Agatha. "And if what Agatha thinks is true..."

Nessa frowned. "Thinks what?"

Agatha hesitated, her fingers brushing over her own locket as if seeking courage. "I have a hunch," she began carefully, "that you might not just have my magic, but Rio's abilities too."

Nessa's eyes widened. "What does that even mean?"

"It means," Rio interjected, her voice tinged with curiosity and unease, "you're a combination of two forces that never should've mixed. Life and death. Chaos and control. You've got pieces of both of us in you, which explains why your energy feels so... unbalanced."

Agatha nodded, adding, "It's why your powers are so strong but so unpredictable. You were never taught to control them because no one else has ever had what you have."

Nessa shifted uncomfortably, her mind racing. "So... what happens now? What am I supposed to do with all of this?"

Rio let out a deep breath and gestured around the room. "You stay here. With us. We'll figure this out together. It's not going to be easy, but we owe it to you and to ourselves to help you."

Agatha offered a small, tentative smile. "It'll be a process for all of us, but if you're willing to stay... we can teach you."

Nessa hesitated, the weight of their words pressing down on her. But as she looked into their eyes one filled with determination, the other with quiet hope. she felt a flicker of something she hadn't felt in years: a sense of belonging. For the first time, she nodded. "Okay. I'll stay."