the lantern
Rio smiled as Agatha let out a soft laugh, picking the flowers she grew for her every few steps as they walked through the forest.
“Babe, I can’t keep stopping!”
“I can stop.”
“Don’t you dare.”
Agatha had been upset for the few days since her birthday, and even though she tried to hide it, Rio could tell. It was nice to see her laugh, something that had become a rare occasion once again. Rio jumped at a sound so quiet that Agatha couldn’t hear before seeing a familiar face in the bushes.
She raised an eyebrow. “I have to go. I’ll be right back.”
Agatha hesitated. “Are you sure—“
“Head home. I’ll meet you there.”
Agatha bit her tongue. “Okay.”
Rio kissed her before vanishing into the direction she had seen the shadow in.
—
Rio appeared in front of the face she knew all too well, blocking her path.
“Infinity?”
Infinity lowered her hood, pulling Rio under a tree. “Hide.”
Rio narrowed her eyes but rendered herself invisible anyway. “What’s going on?”
“That lantern thing you did? Entropy’s pissed.”
Rio arched a brow. “Why?”
“Grieving humans, especially something that symbolic— you know how much he hates that. And coming from you…”
Rio shrugged. “Well, he can be as pissed as he wants. I’m not going to tell my girlfriend not to mourn just because Entropy can’t handle shit.”
“Rio, it’s more complicated than that.”
“How so?”
“He’s doing something. I don’t know what, but I know he’s using his magick for something. It can’t be a coincidence, and it definitely can’t be good.”
“Nothing’s been different in my—“ Rio paused. “Agatha. He’s doing something to Agatha.”
“Go. Help her.”
Rio squeezed her hands. “Thank you, Infinity.”
Infinity smiled, squeezing back. “Anytime.”