CHAPTER 9

Agatha let herself be dragged around from store to store. She had rearranged her appointment with the lawyer for tomorrow, so that Rio could drag her around all of the touristy spots in Salem. It didn’t take much effort on Agatha’s part. She just let Rio hold onto her hand and browse all of the shops. 

Rio's eyes took in baskets of crystals far too long for Agatha's liking. Asking Agatha more than once which ones she would prefer, making Agatha choose her dumb rocks for her. Shop after shop until her need for stupid rocks was satisfied. 

After the crystals, they browsed a specialist psychic shop and Rio was giddy looking at the artwork on all of the tarot boxes. Her eyes flashing in excitement and releasing Agatha’s hand for the first time during their outing to go sift through the designs.

Agatha’s blue eyes caught their reflection in a small mirror, and she quickly averted them. Mirrors were evil, they sold lies of beauty and of vanity, leading you further into the lair of wickedness. Especially in a space filled with so much that mocked god. Mirrors created portals and energy that humans had no right possessing. Her mother had slapped her the first time she had brought a mirror into the house. Afterwards always escaping to their small family pond to check her reflection before the girls at school could make fun of her for not doing her wildly wavy hair before showing her face in society.

She was lost for a moment when Rio called to her. The art Rio held, looking up at her. The three of swords. Her heart clenched, Lilia had told her that was her card, as had the crone that sold her mother the prophecy about her life. 

Sorrow followed her, her heart thudded in her chest. There wasn’t hope for someone like her. Lilia devined much hope for Agatha in her readings, but Agatha knew the truth. That she was meant for sorrow and wickedness. That she was a lone crow and always would be. Her evil tendencies shouldn’t touch others, she might condemn them, too. A flashback of a real memory almost took hold before Rio cupped her face.

“Agatha?”

Blue eyes blinked rapidly as her hand covered Rio’s. “I’m fine.” She gulped. “Sorry, being this close to dear old Mom… it’s not a fun time.”

Rio gently wiped her face, Agatha hadn’t even realized she had been crying. Before she could blanch at the horror of crying in public, Rio placed her arm around Agatha’s back, steering her toward more art. “Look,” Her delicate finger pointed, hoping to distract her. “I’m between these three.” She pointed at a box with artistic foxes – Agatha’s mind cringing at the realization that there must be some decently graphic scenes for those animals amongst some of the cards. Her eyes shifted to unicorns, then to – sinfully beautiful women. She started to feel a bit hot.

Rio’s eyes lingered on the choices. Contemplating them with care. “It’s so hard to decide isn’t it?”

Agatha nodded dumbly, before her eyes went wider as Rio looked back at her for help. Noticing her face had gone crimson the younger woman nodded once, before turning back to the cards. “The ethereal women. I agree.” She picked up the box and headed for the cashier and before she could pull out her card to pay for it, Agatha beat her to it. Rio rolled her eyes. “Kathy’s cookies, Agatha.”

Agatha placed her card away and took the receipt and the gift in the bag thanking the merchant before they headed out. “I’m willing to risk it.” She said with a smile, handing Rio the plastic bag.

***

They continued on, in comfortable silence, until Rio pulled Agatha to an abrupt stop. A tarot readings sign swung lightly in the breeze. She rolled her light eyes. “We have passed over twenty shops just like this, this one catches your eye?”

Rio looked off mischievously. “I may have looked this one up.” She moved to grab Agatha’s shoulder’s before she could turn away.  “They have great reviews!” Agatha avoided her gaze. Rio started to rock her slightly. “Pleaseeee? Come with me?”

Agatha sighed. “You better make my mother have a heart attack if I do this.”

Rio lit up. “That’s the spirit!” 

They moved into the shop through a doorway of beads. The space was dimmed, the lighting was warm and with lamps spread out across the space. There was a single round table in the back past the merchandise. A woman with bright red hair looked up, her eyes gentle and kind. “Ah, did you two want a reading?”

Rio nodded as Agatha shook her head, pointed purposely at the younger woman. “Just her.”

The witch waved them over gently. “Come on, then, I have two chairs.”

Rio excitedly pulled Agatha along and left her to awkwardly shift the chair beside her and find something to occupy herself with. Luckily there was a lot to look at with the crystals and string lights… and what looked like a star tapestry above. 

The red-head noticed Agatha’s intrigue. “It’s just my vibe, it has nothing to do with the reading, I promise. I don’t use tools. These things just make me happy. So what are we after today?”

Rio was about to open her mouth when Agatha snarked. “Aren’t you supposed to already know that?” She raised her brow skeptically, and felt a pang in her chest as Rio’s should’s fell, wanting to take back her comment immediately. 

The woman however took her attitude in stride. “Yes. It’s just polite to ask. But I can see you are a skeptic, best I leave the questions to a minimum, hm?” She smiled. Lifting out her hand for Rio’s, the dark haired woman looked at Agatha hesitantly before placing her hand in the other woman’s.

“Ah, alright. You are quite interesting. Water.”

Agatha sat a little straighter, as Rio’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Oh, yeah I am a scorpio…” the woman raised her hand looking at Agatha then back at Rio. “Not your sign, dear, your name.”

She looked back at her hand. “But yes, I can see your sign in your hands.” She smiled. “You are… a force of nature,” Her eyes glanced up as if they shared an inside joke. “aren’t you?”

Rio shrugged, her cheeks blushing, a sight Agatha wasn't all too comfortable with, but she kept quiet. The woman reading stroked Rio’s hand softly. Her eyes connecting with Agatha’s. “Scorpio and Sagittarius can be a good match…” her eyes zeroed in on Agatha. “if you can keep up, and open yourself up to her.”

Agatha crossed her legs and arms, muttering. “We’re just friends.”

The woman raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. “It’s no wonder the three of swords found death…”

Agatha’s heart just about stopped. “What did you say?” Rio’s eyes turned to her, her voice quiet.

“Agatha? You alright?”

Agatha shook her head. “What did you just say?” Her voice came out firmer. The woman reading held her ground.

“Your card my dear.” Her eyes indicated Rio. “And hers.”

“Sorrow needs rebirth.” 

Agatha stood. “I should… I should go.” Rio’s hand shot out. “Agatha, wait…” but the older woman couldn’t breathe. Her eyes turned frantically to Rio, not wanting to ruin this for her. “Go on… continue. I’ll… I’ll be outside.”

She fled.

***

Agatha sat with her back against the building breathing hard. Her eyes, not seeing anything. The reading her mother had done for her when she was little. The reading that had almost cost her her life. She closed her eyes as phantom memories of her screams and images of the water she displaced in the pond, rebounded around her skull.

She shook. She just wanted to breathe. She just wanted it to stop. She didn’t understand why her mother was so angry with her. She gasped as a hand touched her. Her eyes flying open, Rio standing just an arms length away. She raised her hand up in self defense.

Rio’s eyes held steady. “Hey, you’re okay.” 

Agatha shook her head, her hand coming to cover her mouth as she mumbled. “I’m sorry…”

Rio quickly stepped into her and wrapped her arms around her. “You’re okay.” She shushed her when she tried to speak. “You’ll be okay.” She lifted one hand to run it through Agatha’s hair, the older woman chasing the feeling without her notice. 

Rio held her tightly. Agatha took a while to calm, and when she did, she was tired. Her body barely staying upright. Rio wrapped her arm around her waist trying to help take some of her weight. “Let’s go back, I think you’ve had enough for today.”

Agatha wanted to argue, she was fine, it was just a moment of weakness, but she couldn’t find any words to speak, and Rio led her back to their room without further comment.

***

As they entered their room, Rio set her bags down and went to draw a bath, leaving Agatha on her own standing in the middle of the room. Her hands found each other and gripped tight. She felt like she was sinking into mud. Her hands itched with the feeling of being bound by rope. Her mother’s “coven’s” angry words shouted at her as the smell of smoke invaded her senses.

She jumped when the water shut off. Her body numb even if it was on edge. What element hadn’t her mother tortured her with? Rio’s voice drifted softly from the bathroom. “Agatha.” She moved quickly, hugging her body tightly to attempt to hold herself together. 

She cleared her throat as she entered the room. The water was steaming. Rio’s hands pulled her gently forward. “Come get in, the water’s just right.”

Agatha looked at the rippling sight with trepidation, her voice quiet. “What did you do to it?”

Rio’s nose wrinkled. “It’s just water.”

Agatha attempted to turn when Rio held her arms firm. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I was a lifeguard for two summers. I can get you out of a bathtub.” She smiled softly, her hand came up to run lightly through Agatha’s dark hair.

Agatha sighed, smiling slightly at Rio’s knowledge, before her eyes slid back to the porcelain basin, her lips wobbling. “It’s a p-pretty big tub.”

Rio shook her head. “It’s not.”

Agatha released her arms and bit her lip. “I don’t know that I want a bath.”

Rio pushed her jacket from her shoulders and went to remove her shirt. 

“Wait!”

Rio halted. Agatha’s eyes darted to the room. “I… my underwear, they're racy.”

Rio smiled. “Okay… Well, I have seen you naked before.” Agatha’s raised hand stopped her.

“Just… turn around.”

Rio shook her head, smirking. “Wow, okay. I didn’t know you were so prude.” She covered her eyes for good measure. “This alright, Princess?”

Agatha glared daggers at her as she removed her clothing. Taking the wispy lingerie and hiding it below her other clothes. She turned to place herself in the water quickly and slipped. Luckily for her Rio was quick to turn around when she heard the water ripple, catching her around the waist just in time.

“Careful,” Her voice was breathless as it was clear she had feared she might have been too late to catch Agatha. Rio held her tightly for a moment longer before she carefully released her hold when she was sure Agatha was back on her feet. “You need to be careful.”

Agatha tried to slow her breathing, and placed her hands on the side of the tall jacuzzi, slipping herself into the warm water. Rio was right about the bath, it was the perfect temperature. A moan slipped past her defenses and when she opened her eyes, Rio was standing awkwardly by, trying to avoid looking at her. Her normally paler complexion, now going rosie.

Agatha had to admit, it was a good look for her. She liked her being off-kilter like this. She relaxed back into the bath. Noticing, to her displeasure, that if Rio wanted to, she could still see everything. She pondered for a moment if she should dump some shampoo or something in the bath, when Rio handed it to her. She ran her thumb across Rio’s wrist in thanks and reveled in the shiver she felt go through the other girl. 

Once the water was decently opaque she told the younger girl to turn around. “I’m decent.”

Rio moved to sit on the ground beside the tub, letting her eyes move to the water. “Ah, yep, not a nipple in sight.”

Agatha burst out laughing and Rio seemed to love the sound. “I’m covered in nipples… wanna see?” She moved to take off her shirt and Agatha stalled her hand still laughing.

“You are so weird.”

Rio leaned her chin on the side of the tub. “I know.” She scrunched her brows in thought. “I think you like that though.”

Agatha shook her head and let it lull back over the side of the tub. “So… what was the rest of your reading like?” When the silence seemed to stretch on indefinitely, she opened her eyes. Rio’s finger was lightly tracing the murky water. Agatha smirked, “Trying to check out the view?”

Rio’s finger didn’t stop, her face remaining impassive. “Do you really want to know about my reading? You kinda freaked out.”

Agatha let her fingers rise to the surface of the water and she started to let her fingers make patterns too. “I’m… sorry about that.” It sounded like it physically hurt her to apologize. “Being here… brings up a lot of memories I would rather forget.” She let her eyes follow the ripples. 

Rio sat up so she could look at Agatha. Clearly thinking hard about something before blurting it out. “I’m a witch.”

Agatha smiled like she was about to laugh, then paused when Rio didn’t seem to be joking. “Uhm, okay.” 

Rio lifted her finger out of the water. “Like… not powers, or anything, well not like,” she mimicked blasting Agatha. Her hands fell back to her sides. “I manifest, I get my way.” She shrugged. “It’s always come easily to me. Tarot, etc. I don’t know, it’s always worked for me.” She looked back at the water. “Hence why I freaked out when you said we were heading for Salem. I just… love this stuff.”

Agatha reached for Rio when it looked like she was going to bolt. “Wait.” She didn’t really have other words to offer, she just knew she didn’t want Rio to leave. “The bath…” her eyes drifting back to the water, “It was… a good idea.” She glanced back up. “Thank you.”

Rio let her weight shift back to the floor. She smiled softly. “You’re welcome.”

Agatha sat up, forgetting that she had been barely covered by suds, exposing her breasts, to Rio’s delight. “Shit. Look somewhere else!” She lifted her hand to cover Rio’s line of sight and the woman laughed, batting her hand away. 

“Why? I like them.” She giggled and only half-heartedly tried to see.

Agatha scooted forward to fill the tub up further with water. Rio’s eyebrows lifting in amusement. “I thought we were scared of drowning in the tub?”

Agatha glared over her shoulder. “I thought you said you could save me?”

Rio nodded. “I could…” she sucked some air between her teeth. “I could do more than just save you…if you were interested in that… tonight.”

Agatha rolled her eyes but the second she was turned around she smiled. “Desperate aren’t we?” She heard Rio shift.

“I know what I like.”

Agatha turned. “And are you using your powers on me now?” She smirked when Rio took her shirt off.

“You tell me.” Rio locked eyes with her.

Agatha bit her lip to attempt to stifle a moan due to the younger woman’s body. She wasn’t successful.

Rio placed her hands on the tub and leaned down, her barely lace covered cleavage was eye level. “If you wanna be in control…” she clicked her tongue. “you can be.”

Agatha's eyes trailed down to Rio’s chest, then back up to her eyes, before she grabbed Rio’s face and brought it to her, lifting herself out of the water. Rio pulled her body tight to her so she wouldn’t fall. 

Rio started to laugh into the kiss, impressed with the other woman’s impulsive nature. 

Agatha pulled back slightly, and raised an eyebrow. The younger girl pointed at the shower breathlessly. “You’re soaking wet. Not that I mind… but, bathtub sex is just never that good.” Her eyes lifted, “How about we take this in there?”

Agatha rolled her eyes and stepped from the tub, using Rio’s shoulders before she shoved her towards the shower. The younger girl rushed to adjust the water before opening the door and offering Agatha her hand. “My lady.” She even dipped her head.

Agatha pushed forward and quickly had Rio up against the wall. Her hand lightly grabbing her throat, Rio’s own hand appearing to keep it there. “What do you want, Agatha?”

Her eyes flickered across the damn lace that covered Rio’s body. “I want…” She leaned into the younger woman, making sure their body’s connected at every point possible. Her mind is innately aware of Rio’s nipples hardening, and the cadence of ther breathing. “I want you to stop talking.” She let one hand move to grope Rio’s panties quickly, before she slid them to the side and slammed two fingers into her. The younger woman gasped at the sensation before a guteral groan ripped through the air, her eyes lidded. 

“Hm, well…” She humped Agatha’s hand, “get to it then.”

Agatha attacked her mouth like it was a game she could win. She hoped she could fuck the younger woman into submission. She had hoped she would become a mess at her pace, but Rio’s sounds were quiet and she seemed to enjoy the intensity. The sounds coming out of her shooting straight to Agatha’s groin. 

Agatha leaned forward and bit down on Rio’s chest, the younger woman grunting at the pain. Blue eyes saw a bruise already starting to form, before trailing up to the younger woman’s heavy gaze. Rio was letting her throw her tantrum, do whatever she wanted. She was overcome with a feeling of sadness, she always hurt people without meaning to, her hand released Rio’s throat and brush lightly at the mark. 

The other woman grabbed her hand. “It’s okay, I’m good.”

Agatha tried to take a step back but Rio held firm. “I’m not upset, it’s like a hickey…”

Agatha scoffed, disgusted with the way Rio was so gentle with her. “It’s a bite mark.”

Rio shrugged. “I would tell you to stop if I hated it. If it bothers you, then don’t do it again.” She moved her hand to run her fingers through dark locks. “I really love your hair.” The strands were starting to stick to her body. Blue eyes looked at her hair, tucking it away behind her. 

The younger girl leaned her head back against the wall. “Agatha, come back.”

The older woman stood where she was, glaring at the ground, tears starting to pool in her eyes. Rio leaned forward and wrapped her up in a hug, one she could easily get out of. “It’s okay. I’m here, no matter what you want to do.”

Agatha found that once Rio held her like that, she didn’t want to let go. She latched onto her tightly as she buried her face in Rio’s neck beneath a veil of dark hair. She let  her tears fall privately in the shower, knowing that the other woman couldn’t tell the difference between her tears and the water. 

Rio turned her so that her back was in the warm water, and after a few minutes Agatha’s muscles relaxed in her hold. Rio smiled into her hair, pressing a soft kiss to her head. “Let me wash your hair.” She leaned back and at first Agatha wouldn’t release her, she sighed and moved back to her previous position letting the quiet moment wash over them. 

Eventually when Agatha moved, Rio took the shampoo and started to work it through the woman’s dark chocolate hair. Spending extra time lathering her scalp and massaging with her fingers at the base of her head.

When she had finished the washing process, she went to grab the conditioner but Agatha bolted to it first – frantically pulling it through her hair. She rinsed her body quickly before she exited the shower and started to dry her hair. 

Rio was left blinking at the space where she had been.