Lucia sounded so sure that any argument Savannah could have made to oppose her viewpoint on soul mates fluttered out the window. She could only lightly shrug her shoulders in response to Her Lady. Her grandfather had been adamant about one man for one woman and how it should be versus all the laws and regulations that were currently in effect to make sure people just married whoever they wanted to marry. She hadn’t ever thought of Fate being cruel, of your soulmate dying before you ever got the chance to meet them and suddenly finding yourself alone in the world without your other half.
That probably was the cruelest fate: to know that you are destined to be with one person and the one person never shows up. To be left eternally waiting for the other piece of your soul. The idea sent a shudder of revulsion through Savannah so sharp that she forcefully cast out the thoughts before they took up anymore of her brain. There were multiple soul mates for people; Savannah latched onto the idea, sewed it to the inside of her skull, and sighed.
Her seemingly sleepy eyes gazed back at Lucia, a small smile caressing her mouth. She almost felt drunk with the looseness of her muscles, the overwhelming calm that continued to ebb and flow through her. Lucia’s continued petting was probably causing it, but Savannah didn’t want to focus on the why of it all. She was more than happy to merely experience it all.
I’ll consider it, she mumbled in agreement as Lucia pulled her back into the bath waters. She didn’t struggle, didn’t fight, merely allowed the warm liquid to roll over her body once more. Another sigh parted her lips and she closed her eyes again, her head unconsciously leaning toward Lucia to encourage her to continue her petting.
We just don’t get along, Savannah told her, her relaxed state allowing her to be honest about her relationship with Vivian. She’s horrible, really. I don’t think she’s ever said one nice thing to me…ever. Well, no, that’s a lie. Apparently, I’m very physically attractive. Savannah snorted, her lashes fluttering as she rolled her eyes behind them. Let me amend that: I’m very physically attractive now.
As if by some form of magic or curse, the minute she began talking about Vivian, the anger returned. It was a slow burning thing, slithering in her stomach and hissing along with the acid where it lived. She tried to push it away, tried to think of something – anything – else, but it was almost as if she were incapable, as if she were forced to heed the mental image of Vivian’s voluptuous form, grinning evilly from the shadows and laughing at her.
By gods, her laugh was enough to make her want to split the tub where they sat.
Lucia’s voice drew her out of her self-imposed cage. It was like a spring breeze over her face, a ray of daylight after wandering through the darkness for so long. Savannah was her knight, her most loyal guardian, and she would keep her secrets, and her flesh, as safe as possible. And if Lucia had that much faith in her, hell, why shouldn’t she have faith in her herself? Why allow the mere thought of that Dark Witch to rile her up.
She was better than that.
You’re right, my Lady, Savannah replied, her voice calm once again, her words strong as she gazed at Lucia’s beautiful face. I am your Knight and what kind of Knight would I be if I allowed every obstacle to pull me down and deter me. I will endeavor to do better, always do better.