Tender Charm
The first time Agatha feels a shift is in the dead of winter. Snow and twigs crunch under her worn boots as she ventures into the forest, a place of solitude and peace for the young woman who so rarely experienced it. The wind bites at pink cheeks as purple magic dances above her palm swirling between her fingers. Agatha doesn’t expect this winter to be any different; cold weather, sickness, nothing out of the ordinary.
Blue eyes shoot up when she hears a twig snap not far off in the distance. Alert as ever, Agatha looks around snuffing out the magic in her palm, eyes slowly tracking through the tree line. As soon as she sees the green cloak between the dead tree branches, she feels as though her power has only heightened.
“Rather cold to be out here is it not?” the strangers voice breaks the silence.
“The cold is more welcome than other things that lurk in the woods.” Agatha meets the other woman’s gaze, skeptical eyes drawn to soft pink lips that are unaffected by the harsh elements winter offers.
“I suppose that’s true,” The stranger in green hums, “I imagine you can handle yourself against whatever these woods have to offer. Your power cascades off of you like water to the shoreline.”
Agatha schools her features. Another witch, how could she not feel the woman’s energy?
“Mother says I am too rambunctious for my own good.” She rolls her eyes. “I know she fears me.”
“Since the beginning of time there have been women like you, and women like your mother.” The other brunette states, feet moving her closer to Agatha. “Never, ever feel bad about your capabilities as a witch.” Once close enough to see a speck of green in icy blue eyes, she extends her hand palm up producing a violet lotus flower. “You may call me Rio.”
Agatha’s gaze flicks to the flower, fingers taking the delicate piece of nature with softer eyes as she looks at Rio, the only person in the world who’s ever said that to her. “Agatha.”
It happens again in the spring. After months of looking for Rio in town and many days of frustration, Agatha meets her again. As the trees and ground thaw, life comes back to Salem. The woods and nearby meadow begin to make noise again. As the birds chirp Agatha lays in the meadow with her eyes closed and arm behind her head. As the warmth from the sun rays hits her skin, she jolts up when she hears rustling and feels someone next to her out of nowhere. Rio. This time Agatha notes her unusual clothes, trousers that hug her form and a suggestion of a shirt that had Agatha’s heart rate speeding up.
“You.” Agatha sits up meeting Rio’s warm eyes once more, “Where have you been?” She all but demands, drawing a smirk from Rio’s lips.
The witch lays in the grass next to Agatha looking up at her with a smile, watching the breeze move her hair. “Did you miss me?” She teases.
Agatha scoffs lying back down not taking her eyes off of her for a minute afraid she may disappear. “Answer my question first.”
“I make my way around just as the seasons do. Now it is your turn to answer.” She smirks.
The young witch finds her guard slipping, wanting to share herself with the stranger who seemed to understand her. Glancing past the woman she spots a nearby tree with fresh buds emerging from the branches with bright yellow flowers soon following as she looks at it flowing in the breeze.
“I knew it!” She sits up smacking Rios arm, “you’re a green witch.”
Rio sits up, amused smile gracing her lips offering her hand to the woman.
“And you, Agatha, are the strongest spirit witch nature has ever created. Your talent is remarkable.”
Agatha lets out a shaky breath through parted lips taking the woman’s hand. Having never heard a kind work about her powers, she was unsure how to respond. As soon as their hands touch she can feel her power coursing through her veins like a stream of rushing water.
“I still cannot control my powers. Mother says I am dangerous to the coven.”
Rio hums thinking, seeing what’s to come in flashing glimpses as her finger moves in light circles against the woman’s palm. “Soon enough your mother will see just how talented you are. Special. Never be ashamed of such things.”
Agatha smirks, heart pounding in her rib cage at the vibration she feels. If she were alone she would probably cry at the kind words she has never heard before. Rio keeps curious eyes on the young woman. she would never disrupt the order of nature, as much as she wished to help Agatha now. She has to be patient a little longer.
As spring transitions into summer Agatha spends her evenings away from her mother and the coven in her sanctuary of the woods. Over the last few months, Agatha has felt less alone, happy even often being joined by Rio in the beautiful meadow that’s slowly become their shared space. Sunset poking through the tree branches Agatha sits among the flowers, turning with a smile when she sees the woman in green.
Rustling through the tall grass and flowers a barefoot Rio appears. Agatha’s gaze goes right to the brunette, eyes tracing over toned legs and hands that make her think twice. “About time. I was beginning to think you had gone to the church service instead.” She jokes as the cicadas buzz in the distance
The older witch runs her fingers through the grass as she lays down beside Agatha. “I could not say I would enjoy myself at a sermon.” She all but chuckles at the thought. Agatha lays beside her, leaving enough room for Rio to extend her arm, allowing the young woman to come closer.
Head on Rio’s shoulder Agatha sighs contently rubbing her thumb over the thin fabric of the strange shirt the witch is wearing. “Will you teach me today?” She hums in a soft voice, bright eyes looking to her favorite person with hope and something else Rio has yet to place.
Looking up to the sky Rio threads her fingers through dark brown locks. “Not today, love. Soon.”
Removing herself from Rio’s comfortable hold Agatha looks down to her with a pout. “Do you see me as a danger like mother and the others do?”
“Quite the opposite.” She answers cooly knowing what’s to come for the young woman. When that night did come, Rio would be there to not only collect souls, but to guide the witch she and the universe itself found so incredibly fascinating.
“How do I know you won’t disappear and never come back to teach me as you say you will?” Agatha challenges.
Sitting up, the green witch gently takes Agatha’s hands in her own watching the young woman’s eyes shift between their bodies. “I will be there when you need me, Agatha.” She tells her sincerely. She was already bending the rules of her power, her very existence, by visiting the witch as often as she had. She had ignored floods, fires, and famine to see the powerful woman instead. From what she could read, Agatha did not mind.
Agatha nods placing her hand on Rio’s shoulder to push her down, her head back in its place as she lays there comfortably once more. This was a welcome, secret escape from her daily life she cherished more than anything. There in their own little world Rio’s fingers run through long locks comforting the woman until nightfall comes.
Summer turns to autumn quickly for the green witch. She moves strategically and thoughtfully as the autumn nights grow cold and the harvest moon grows closer. In the brush of woods she’s come to know so well since meeting Agatha she appears in the tree line, just in time to see it. Ready with her torch, she stands watching.
“Please… I can be good.” Agatha pleads.
Rio’s lip snarls at the sight of Evanora Harkness.
“No. You cannot.”
Rio watches the witches blast their powers, trying to kill Agatha. As if they had a chance. Her jaw clenches as she watches Agatha’s eyes squeeze shut in pain, waiting for her to do it. She knows, feels in her soul, that Agatha can do this.
She watches as one hand breaks free of the purple and blue sparks of restraints. Hands moving, chin tipped up, Agatha takes every witches power one by one sending them slumping to the ground.
When it’s Evanora’s time, Agatha pleads again so desperately wanting her mother to understand. To no avail, Rio watches as Agatha kills her mother. The young woman crouches beside her, tears still falling at the sight until she takes a sharp breath snatching the cameo from her mother’s body.
A tree branch breaking sends Agatha into a panic, only calming when spotting the familiar figure in the brush. Gathering her skirts she bunches them in hand with her mother’s cameo and runs through the dirt and the twigs. Rio is almost knocked over by the impact of the hug, her arms tight around her neck. “Rio.” Agatha sniffles through residual tears and anger still flowing through her.
“I am here.” Rio promises, hand rubbing up and down her back, the familiar scent of lavender engulfing her senses standing there for as long as the witch needs. She reasons her actions by telling herself she could deal with Evanora later. The cruel woman could handle purgatory for a while.
Standing in silence Rio holds Agatha, only pulling back once her sniffling had stopped. “Agatha, may I show you why I am here?”
With a quirked brow Agatha keeps her arms loosely wrapped around the witches neck. “You told me you would be here when I needed you. I needed you.” She reasons.
“Yes,” Rio agrees, “However there is something else.” She tips her chin down, lifting her head only when her true form appears. Dark brown eyes watch, hoping she is right about the young witch.
Agatha’s mouth opens slightly, eyes tracing all over her face as skin changes to bone, a skeletal feature taking its place. Slowly removing her arms Agatha glides her her hands to gently cup Rio’s face in awe and wonder. Hands rest on Agatha’s forearms, thumbs brushing against the soft skin of her wrists.
“You’re death. The first green witch.” Agatha whispers in the small space between them, realization coming over her.
Ducking her head again Rio changes her features back licking her lips. “I am. I am meant to take and give to this universe. I am the natural order of all things.”
Hands still cupping her cheeks, Agatha’s eyes scan Rio’s, wonder and lust playing behind blue eyes once more. closing the small gap between them she places a kiss to her lips that lady death herself happily accepts. A simple kiss that says she trusts her. That she would follow her anywhere.