Chapter 4
“And that means…” she began, her words hanging, unfinished, in the charged air.
The door to the old house exploded inward with a deafening roar, the force of the blast scattering splinters and smoke through the air. Agatha Harkness stood at the foot of the grand staircase, her face unmoved, though her eyes flickered with irritation as she watched Rio Vidal step into the wreckage.
Rio was all sharp edges and dark intent. Her boots echoed against the wooden floor as she advanced, her voice cutting through the haze like a blade.
Agatha didn’t answer immediately. Rio didn’t give her the opportunity, though. She flew across the room and pinned Agatha to the wall.
Rio smirked, “I’ve missed you,” she said finally, her tone dripping with mock sincerity.
“I hate you,” Agatha shot back, her voice as flat as stone.
“How long’s it been, Agatha?” Rio asked, looking deeply into Agatha’s eyes, the energy between them crackling like a storm.
Agatha tilted her head, feigning indifference. “Not sure.”
Rio’s smirk widened. “Since you acquired the Darkhold?” Her words were sharp, cutting. “Since you hid behind all that dark magic?” She paused, her tone turning mocking. “But then you lost it.”
Agatha’s eyes narrowed, her mask slipping for the briefest of moments.
“And now…” Rio said playfully, piercing Agatha’s chest with her blade. “Touch.” Her voice dipped into a near whisper. “You’re vulnerable.”
Agatha straightened, shrugging off the touch as if it burned. “Only physically,” she replied coolly.
Rio chuckled as Agatha slammed her head against the wall in an attempt to fight her off. Her dagger flew across the room during the struggle, and both of them tried to get a hold of it, Agatha holding onto the sharp edges. “Do you remember pain?” Rio asked, her voice dropping, soft and sinister. “It kind of tickles, doesn’t it?” She let the silence stretch, then grinned wickedly. “Coochie-coochie-coo.” Agatha said, as she smacked Rio across the face.
Agatha didn’t flinch, though her grip tightened across Rio's throat.
“You can’t kill me,” Rio said, stopping directly in front of her.
“No,” Agatha replied, her tone cold and matter-of-fact. “And you can’t kill me. It’s not allowed.”
Rio bumped her head against Agatha, forcing her to sort back. She then used her magic to lift herself up, and threw Agatha against a bookshelf.”Maybe I can’t kill you. But I can make you wish you were dead.
“Wait,” Agatha said, raising a hand, her voice calm but edged with warning. “This isn’t what you want.”
Rio arched a brow, folding her arms. “Isn’t it?”
“Me,” Agatha said, gesturing to herself. “Without power. This…” She gestured around the room, her expression faintly disdainful. “This is undignified. Don’t you want me at my best?”
Rio’s eyes glittered, a dark, feral amusement playing across her face.
“Admit it,” Agatha pressed. “You prefer me.....”
Rio leaned in slightly, her voice low and dangerous. “Horizontal? In a grave?” She smirked. "Formidable" Agatha said.
Rio allowed herself a slight smile. “So take my power.”
Cass waited for what seemed like a lifetime. But Agatha’s laugh was sharp, cold. “It’s cute,” she said, shaking her head. “But you know that would kill me.”
“Just let me get my purple back,” Agatha countered, her voice soft, persuasive. “And then come find me.”
Rio considered her, but the answer in her eyes was clear. “I'm not the only one who wants to see you dead,” she said, stepping back.
“Dead?” Agatha repeated, her tone mocking.“
"Burning, maybe? Hanging? Drowning?" Rio smirked.
Honestly, no one has any new ideas.” Agatha said.
Rio smirked. “I could just sit back and watch,” she said, a glint of sadistic pleasure in her tone.
“The anticipation.” Agatha said "you love it" Rio remained silent, her expression unreadable. Rio took a breath, then shrugged. “Okay, Agatha,” she said, as if conceding. “But I’ll be sure to tell them where to find you.”
Agatha frowned slightly, her composure finally cracking. “Who?… Specifically” Rio turned, her face lit by the storm gathering outside. “The worst of them.” She grinned, letting the name fall like a thunderclap. “The Salem Seven.”
Agatha’s gaze hardened, though her pulse quickened.
“I expect you’ll see them at sundown,” Rio said, moving toward the doorway. “After all these centuries…” She stopped, turning slightly, her smile wicked. “Agatha Harkness will finally meet her end.”
Rio placed a hand over her chest, feigning sentimentality. “It really warms the heart, doesn’t it?”
Agatha scoffed. “You don’t have a heart.”
Rio paused, glancing over her shoulder. “Yes, I do,” she said with a smirk. “It’s black. And it beats for you.”
With that, she disappeared into the night, leaving Agatha in the hollow silence of her ruined sanctuary.