"It is the only way." Said the young lady in black. She is clad in a simple victorian era gown. From her expression one could gather that whatever it implied, she was not happy with it.
"Flora, you do not know that for sure. Give me time . I need more time to help you. I will find a solution, another way." Pleaded her companion.
" He does not have time! " the lady called Flora shouted. " Do you not see?, if something is not done now, he is going to die. "
" I- I- I can give him something to help slow down the curse in his veins. I have a potion, a very strong one, it can buy us enough time to find another solution." Claimed the other woman.
" Do you not see, Beatrice?, Nothing worked. After all the countless spells and potions we have plied him with, nothing is working. The potions are not helping him, they are only making him worse. Making the curse flow faster through his veins. I tried! He is just getting weaker with every single hour that passes by." Flora cried. "Going there is the only way."
Beatrice shakes Flora by the shoulders, "Are you hearing yourself?, Go there? We do not know for sure if the stories were true. For all we know, it could just be a bedtime story."
Flora vehemently shakes her head, "it is real. The stories are real. They are records passed down from our ancestors. Every generation passes the story down their line. It is to ensure we never forget it and at the same time protect its secrets."
"Flora. We do not know that for certain."
Flora eyes widen, "I do. I can feel it. I am certain it is real."
Beatrice sighs, "Okay, let's say it is real and the stories are true. You also know what going there means. If you go there you can never come back. Never."
Flora looks away, "I know that. "
"Do you?, You will never be able to come bach home. Never." Beatrice warned.
" I know. But it is the only solution for him. You know as well as I do that there is no other solution. At least not with the little time he has left. Sure, there might be a solution in the Coven's Grimoire but we do not have enough time to go through it. You know how much spells are in the Grimoire, it is endless. We would need more than enough time if we hope to find the solution in there and he does not have time." She closes her eyes, "At the rate the curse is progressing, it will get to his heart by noon tomorrow. He will die by noon tomorrow if I do not take these drastic steps. I have to do something now before it is too late." Flora looks away, unable to bear the look of heart break on her sister's face. She instead looks around where they are.Â
 They are in an abandoned barn. It once was part of an ancient and thriving civilization but the civilization was nearly curled by a strain of deadly virus. More than Eighty percentage of the civilization died and the remaining few left alive abandoned the whole kingdom. According to legend, after realizing that the virus had mysteriously been cured, the fee survivors just upped and left, taking nothing but the clothes on their backs with them. As time passed, the kingdom was robbed and looted until all that remained was mostly the building structures and a few wooden property.Â
"" Flora. Even if you do manage to find a way to get there, you know for sure that the Threshold will demand a price. According to the stories, you will have no way of knowing what it will ask for, and what it will ask for is always something that is practically impossible to part with. Something that cannot be paid. And failure to pay means you forfeit your life to it." Warned Beatrice.
"I know that, and I am prepared for it. I am willing to give up anything. Anything for Ramiel's life. He is only like this now because he saved me."
"I know that. But he would not want you to put yourself in harm's way because of him. Maybe you should leave him up to his fate."
Flora looked shocked, " Sister how can you ask this of me. He is my husband, I cannot leave him to die when there is still an option for him. Beatrice, I will not." Flora affirmed.
Beatrice looks away, "It is obvious you have made up your mind and I know nothing I say will change it."
"Yes, you are correct. Nothing will change my decision."
"Then why did you ask that I meet you here? Since you want to break my heart you should have just written me a letter instead. That would not be as painful as letting my younger sister go on a futile journey while I do nothing to stop you."
Flora cradles Beatrice's hands in hers, " It is not a futile journey. I can feel. It is not Ramiel's time to join our ancestors yet."
Tears flow down Beatrice face, "You sound so certain. How do you know this for sure? "
Flora smiles, "I just do. I can feel it. This is the right path for us."
" And you do this with a smile?, knowing full well that we will never see each other after this? I cannot follow you. I cannot ask my husband and our kids to leave everything behind."
Flora's grip tighten on her older sister, "I would never ask you too. Your place is here. And mine is not. Not anymore. I told you once remember?, When you were 12 and I five, I had that dream. This is what the dream was all about. I knew some day we would get separated. We each have different destiny. Yours is here, be a wonderful leader to our coven."
Beatrice sniffles in tears, " Of all the outlandish dreams you had over the years, this is the only one that comes to pass?, Why did the one about you flying not come to pass?, I would have been happier with that dream. "
Flora laughs, "It will also come to pass but not here. Across the Threshold. I will one day fly. All my dreams will come to pass."
"Including the one where ladies are allowed to put on male garments?"
Flora nods, "Every single one of them."
"Okay. I will believe you. I will hold a ritual to ensure your success. When do you leave? "
"Now. I have everything I need packed up. Ramiel is in an enchantment cart with the things. I packed light. Just a few rare herbs and spices."
" So soon."
" Yes. I need to be at the Threshold before the moon is high in the sky. The Threshold will only appear on a full moon. And not just any full moon. A blood moon. And it's the perfect time for Ramiel and I."
"I thought we would have a few more hours." Beatrice sniffs.
"Fear not sister, we will meet at the tables of our ancestors, but not anytime soon."
" Till we meet again sister." And she hugs Flora. As she hugs her, she foresees a brief vision. A little baby girl that looks just like her sister and on her neck is something special.
She pulls back from her younger sister smiling. "You are with child, Flora."
Flora is shocked and speechless.
"You did not know?"
"I noticed I missed my monthlies but I did not consider this possibility. I assumed it was the payment of how I have tasked my body recently."
They both smile at each other, "A child." Flora echoes in shock.
Beatrice nods happy, "A girl child. And a beautiful one with flaming red hair just like yours. She is going to be a special one."
" I hope so sister. "
Beatrice let go of her sister and unclasped the only piece of jewelry on her neck. She places it in Flora's hand, "Here. For the child. Wear it and keep it safe until she becomes of age and pass it down to her. Ask her to do the same to her own daughter when it's time. "
Flora looks at the necklace in shock, "But this-"
Beatrice interrupts her, "I know. It belongs to her now. She will need it."
Flora hugs her again still speechless.Â
Beatrice pulls away, tears in her eyes. "I have one more thing to ask. The price the Threshold is going to demand, it will never be something of monetary value. Whatever it might be, is he worth it? Is Ramiel worth it?, I know he is a great man and loves you a lot and would cut off his arm to never see you sad. But you need to consider your child also. Ask yourself, is he worth it?"
Flora opens her mouth to respond but Beatrice interrupts her, "You do not have to say anything. Just consider it, the Threshold might demand your child as Payment for letting you cross. Is he still going to be with it then."