Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

My Sweet Rio

Chapter Forty-Six: My Sweet Rio

The house was quiet except for the shallow, uneven breaths coming from Rio's body in Agatha's arms. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the sharp tang of burnt wood from the shattered furniture scattered across the room. Agatha's trembling hands clutched Rio tighter, ignoring how the blood soaking through her clothes clung to her skin. The warmth of it was fading fast, replaced by the chill of panic.

"Come on, baby" Agatha whispered, brushing her fingers over Rio's ashen face. "Don't leave me like this. Please... I have no idea what I'm doing." Her voice cracked, and she pressed her forehead to Rio's, tears slipping freely down her cheeks. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so powerless.

The stillness was broken by a faint, crackling sound behind her, followed by a soft rush of air. Agatha looked up just in time to see Nessa materialize in the corner of the room, her small body glowing faintly with the spell she'd used to appear.

"Mama?" Nessa's voice wavered, her wide eyes darting around the destruction before landing on Rio's limp form. Her face paled, and the enchanted mirror she still clutched in her hands trembled. "What happened? Is she—"

"She's alive...but she's lost a lot of blood" Agatha said firmly, though her voice betrayed the fear she was trying to suppress. "But we need to move her. Help me, sweetheart."

Nessa's movements jerky with panic. Together, they carefully lifted Rio's unconscious body, Agatha supporting her upper half while Nessa steadied her legs. Blood dripped onto the already-ruined carpet as they carried her to the couch, laying her down as gently as they could.

Agatha knelt beside her, her hands hovering over Rio's wounds. Her fingers trembled as she began muttering an incantation, the words slipping from her lips like second nature. A soft, golden glow emanated from her hands, illuminating the deep gashes and torn flesh across Rio's abdomen. Slowly, the wounds began to knit themselves together, though the process was excruciatingly slow.

"She's still bleeding" Nessa whispered, her voice trembling.

"I know" Agatha snapped, then immediately softened. "I'm sorry. I just—this magic takes time." She pressed her hands more firmly against Rio's wounds, her magic surging brighter as she focused. The blood began to slow, the raw edges of the injuries sealing shut.

When the last of the external wounds were healed, Agatha sagged back onto her heels, wiping the sweat from her brow. Rio's chest rose and fell steadily now, but her eyes remained closed, Rio was incredibly pale due to her extensive blood loss...her expression eerily calm.

"Why isn't she waking up?" Nessa asked, her voice breaking.

Agatha shook her head, her jaw tightening. "I don't know. She should be—" She stopped herself, refusing to let the worst-case scenarios take root in her mind. "She just needs time. That's all."

But as the minutes stretched into hours, and Rio showed no sign of stirring, Agatha's composure began to crack. She refused to leave Rio's side, her hand never straying far from Rio's. The weight of the room's silence pressed down on her, suffocating and relentless.

Nessa sat on the floor nearby, her knees pulled to her chest. Her guilt was written all over her face. "If I hadn't—"

"This isn't your fault" Agatha said sharply, cutting her off. She reached out, gently brushing

Nessa's hair from her face. "Do you hear me? It's not your fault. That thing... it was coming for you, and Rio did what she always does....she protected you. It's what we do."

"But mom got hurt because of me." Nessa whispered, her voice trembling. Her wide, tear-filled eyes glanced at Rio. "What if she doesn't wake up?"

"She will" Agatha said, though her voice cracked. She forced herself to meet Nessa's gaze, her own tears threatening to spill again. "She will wake up. She's stronger than any of us. She's—she's death, sweetheart. Nothing can truly take her away."