Garden of Trust

The garden behind Blight Manor was its own little world. Vines crawled everywhere, and bioluminescent flowers pulsed under the moon like they were breathing. Luz sat cross-legged on a mossy stone bench, chin in her hands, watching purple and blue petals glow and dim. Amity leaned against a gnarled tree, arms wrapped around herself, eyes fixed on the stars.

“It’s beautiful,” Luz said softly. “Like, I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff since I got here, but this? This is dream-level."

Amity didn’t answer right away. She shifted her weight, fingers tightening on her sleeves. The silence hung there, and Luz turned, catching the way Amity’s jaw worked—like she was chewing on words she couldn’t spit out.

“Hey.” Luz scooted closer. “You okay? You’ve been quiet all night.”

Amity took a shaky breath. “I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

“About what?” Luz reached out, took Amity’s hand, and traced circles on the back of her glove. “You can tell me anything.”

Amity finally met her eyes. Something raw flickered there, and Luz’s chest tightened. “About you leaving.”

The words sat heavy in the air. Luz’s stomach dropped. “Leaving? Amity, I’m not going anywhere. I mean, yeah, eventually I have to go back to the human realm, but—”

“I know.” Amity’s voice was barely a whisper. “I know you have to go. But ever since we found that portal door, I can’t stop thinking about it. About you gone. Waking up one day and you’re just… not here.”

Luz squeezed her hand. “Hey. Look at me.” She waited. “I’m not going anywhere without you. When I go, you’re coming with me. We’ll figure it out together. That’s what we do, right?”

Amity’s lips twitched into a sad smile. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Because it is. You’re my girlfriend. My batata. I’m not leaving you behind. Ever.”

Amity stared at her for a long moment. Then she pulled her hand free and stood, pacing a few steps away. Glowing flowers cast shifting shadows across her face. Luz watched, confused, as Amity’s fists clenched and unclenched.

“There’s something I haven’t told you,” Amity said, back still turned. “About my magic. It’s… different. Not like the rest of my family’s.”

Luz stood slowly. “Different how?”

Amity turned around, nervous energy radiating off her. “I can… store things. Inside me. Living things.” She bit her lip. “It’s rare. I found out by accident a few years ago. I can make myself… bigger. And then I can take someone inside, completely safe. They’re protected, surrounded by my magic. It’s like a cocoon.”

Luz blinked, processing. “So you can… swallow me? And I’d be fine?”

“Not swallow,” Amity said quickly, cheeks flushing. “More like… absorbing. Gently. Like I’m pulling you into my own space. You’d be warm, and you could feel my heartbeat, and we could talk through our thoughts. It’s… intimate.” She whispered the last word.

Luz’s mind went to vore—she’d seen weird fanart online back in the human realm. But this wasn’t a fetish thing. This was Amity, her girlfriend, offering something vulnerable and strange and deeply personal. And Luz trusted her. Completely.

“Wow,” Luz said, grinning. “That’s… really cool. And kind of romantic, in a weird way.”

Amity’s eyes went wide. “You’re not freaked out?”

“A little,” Luz admitted. “But more in an excited way. Like, you have a superpower that lets you keep me right next to your heart. Literally. How awesome is that?”

Amity let out a nervous laugh. “You’re not mad I didn’t tell you sooner?”

“Nah, I get it. It’s a big thing. But Amity…” Luz stepped closer, taking both her hands. “I want to try it. If you’re comfortable with that.”

Amity’s breath hitched. “You… you do?”

“Yeah. I trust you. And if it means being close to you in a way no one else ever has—I’m in.”

Amity’s eyes shimmered. “Luz… I promise I’ll never hurt you. I’ll keep you safe. Always.”

“I know you will.”

They stood there under the moonlit garden, hands intertwined, hearts pounding. Amity took a deep breath, and Luz felt a pulse of magic ripple through the air. Amity’s form shifted—not dramatically, but subtly, like a ripple across a pond. Her silhouette softened, edges blurring, clothes dissolving into a swirling aura of abomination purple. She grew larger, not in height but in presence, her body becoming almost fluid.

“Okay,” Amity said, her voice resonant, layered, like from deep inside a cave. “Relax. Don’t resist. Let me guide you.”

Luz nodded, heart racing but mind calm. She stepped forward. Amity’s arms opened wide. Luz leaned into her, pressing her cheek against Amity’s chest. Instead of solid flesh, she felt a gentle give—like sinking into a warm marshmallow. The magic wrapped around her, soft and inviting.

“I’ve got you,” Amity whispered, and Luz felt herself drawn in—not through a mouth but through the entire front of Amity’s body, like stepping through a curtain of warm honey. The sensation was overwhelming: pressureless, loving, a cocoon of pure affection.

Luz’s vision faded to black, then to a soft, pulsing pink. She was floating, surrounded by a gentle warmth that seeped into her bones. She could feel Amity’s heartbeat—a steady thrum vibrating through the space around her—and she could sense Amity’s emotions—love, relief, a touch of nervousness—as clearly as her own.

*Amity?* Luz thought, and she felt a surge of joy in response.

*I’m here.* Amity’s voice echoed inside her mind, soft as a lullaby. *Can you hear me?*

*Loud and clear. This is incredible. I feel so safe.*

*You are safe. You’re inside me. Part of me.*

Luz curled up, not needing to breathe, not feeling confined. It was like being wrapped in Amity’s arms on a cold night, only a thousand times more intimate. She felt the rise and fall of Amity’s breathing, the gentle sway as Amity moved, the prickle of night air on Amity’s skin. Like seeing through two sets of eyes, feeling through two hearts.

*I don’t want to let you go,* Amity thought, a tremor in her mental voice.

*Then don’t. Keep me here forever.* Luz laughed inside her mind. *Okay, maybe not forever. I still need to eat. But for now? This is perfect.*

Amity’s warmth intensified, wrapping tighter but not crushing. Luz felt tears prick her own eyes—or maybe they were Amity’s. Hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

They lay there in the quiet garden, the moon climbing higher, flowers humming their silent songs. Time lost meaning. Luz felt drowsy, content, thoughts drifting like clouds.

Then a small, furry face poked through the bushes.

“Luz? Amity? You guys out here?” King’s voice shattered the peace.

Amity jolted. Luz felt a lurch inside her cocoon. *Uh oh.*

King bounded into the clearing, tiny horns gleaming in the moonlight. He spotted Amity—still in her expanded, shimmering form—and froze. His eyes went wide.

“Whoa! Amity, you look weird! You okay? Where’s Luz?” He looked around, then back at Amity. “Did she leave? Did you guys break up?”

Amity’s cheeks flushed even through the magical aura. “King, I—I’m fine. Luz is… she’s right here.”

King tilted his head. “Where? I don’t see her.”

Amity hesitated, then slowly, deliberately, reached a hand to her own stomach area, where a slight bulge was visible. She pressed gently. Luz, sensing what was happening, shifted. The bulge moved.

King’s jaw dropped. “Did you EAT Luz?!”

“No! It’s not like that!” Amity’s voice cracked. “It’s magic! She’s safe!”

“You ATE her!” King howled, pointing an accusing claw. “You monster! I’ll save you, Luz!” He charged at Amity, tiny legs pumping.

Amity stumbled back, trying to shield herself. “King, stop! She’s fine! Just—let me show you!”

She took a deep breath. Luz felt the cocoon loosen. The pink light faded, and she was pushed gently upward, emerging from Amity’s chest like a butterfly from a chrysalis. Luz blinked as cool night air hit her face, and she found herself standing in front of King, slightly disoriented but grinning.

“See? I’m okay,” Luz said, brushing off her clothes. “Amity didn’t eat me. She just… stored me. It’s a magic thing.”

King stopped mid-charge, skidding. He stared at Luz, then at Amity, then back at Luz. “Oh. So… you weren’t in her stomach?”

“Nope. Just in kind of a magic pocket. It was actually really nice.”

King’s expression shifted from horror to confusion, then to grudging acceptance. “Huh. Weird. But okay. As long as you’re not dead.” He crossed his arms. “But you could have warned me! I almost had a heart attack.”

“Sorry, King,” Amity said, her form returning to normal. She looked flustered but relieved. “It’s not something I usually advertise.”

King snorted. “Yeah, I can see why. People might get the wrong idea.” He looked at them both, a sly grin creeping onto his face. “So, you two were having a moment, huh? And I interrupted?”

“Yes,” Luz and Amity said in unison.

King laughed. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. But next time, maybe put up a sign.” He scampered off into the bushes, still chuckling.

The garden fell silent again. Luz turned to Amity, who was hugging herself, face hidden behind her bangs.

“Hey,” Luz said softly, stepping closer. “That was still perfect. King’s just… King.”

Amity looked up, eyes glistening. “I’m glad you trust me enough to do that. It means more than you know.”

Luz cupped Amity’s cheek. “I’ll always trust you. And I meant what I said. I don’t want to be apart from you. Ever.”

Amity leaned into her touch. Their lips met. Soft, sweet, full of unspoken promises. Under the stars, surrounded by glowing flowers, they held each other close.

When they finally pulled apart, Luz smiled. “So, think we can do that again sometime? Maybe with a comfier spot?”

Amity laughed, wiping a tear from her eye. “Anything for you, Luz.”

They settled back onto the mossy bench, Luz curled against Amity’s side. King’s distant snoring provided a ridiculous soundtrack. The moon watched over them. For that moment, the human realm and the Boiling Isles didn’t matter. All that mattered was the warmth of two hearts beating as one.