Malvolia smiled, preening in front of her mirror. Sioni had woken in the next door, and was moving about. She arranged her hair in a braid at the back of her head and twirled in one of her old robes, beautiful again. Sioni would be tired in a few short minutes- there- a thud against the floor. She was unconscious again. This had started happening last night, after she took the blood she needed. She could feel a power she’d never had coursing through her, tingling in her fingertips.

Sioni would not be like this forever, being the giver of blood to one who sought youth was not a trying experience. She would only have fainting spells for a month, then would be fine- until she wanted children. If Malvolia didn’t remove the curse, the blasted side-effect of this otherwise harmless spell, Sioni would be barren forever.

Malvolia shrugged, “Who wants children anyhow?” She wondered aloud, gliding to the door. She unlocked and entered Sioni’s room, to find it empty.

“Sioni!” she shrieked.

The window was open.