Serenica did hug the woman, three times, and they passed the stone back and forth, seeking comfort from each other, telling stories about curses broken long ago.
They were starting to talk about the actual details of blood sacrifice, a certain trick that neither of them had used due to its taboo nature, when a knock on the door startled them and made Ledula quickly put the stone away.
"It is I," Izil said. "We're in a hurry! Ledula, come quick!"
Ledula sprinted towards the door. Serenica followed.
Izil managed to finger the complicated impromptu lock open and as the door let him through, he fell down, blood spurting from a large hole in his chest.
Ledula made a strange gesture towards the hole in the ground that was used as a privy.
Serenica peeked through the doorway and saw a few men of the city watch coming their way, one with his gun still smoking from the fresh kill.
Serenica had little time to react. She jumped in the hole and waited for Ledula.
She didn't follow her.
