Rain pelted the streets as thunder rolled in the distance. Lightning flashed overhead as a young man helped a woman along a long dark path. The man wrapped his arms around her shoulders, feeling her shiver. The woman's dark purple dress was adorned with a gray shawl draped over her neck and head. With his left hand, he flipped up the collar of his jacket, fighting off the rain. Whimpering escaped her lips as they progressed further down the lonely walkway.

Sighing, he gazed down at his wife and watched as she pulled an invisible bundle to her chest. Grief weighed her down, he was sure. The last couple of days had been troublesome, to say the least. It started a couple of days ago when he rushed her to the nearest healers to deliver their baby. His wife almost died during the birth. Thankfully, the healers saved her life but it came at the price of their unborn child. He fought the urge to cry himself trying to stay strong for his wife. He was disappointed, but nothing could compare to the anguish she felt.

He felt his wife drop to her knees in the middle of the walkway, and she screamed as she bowed herself to the cobblestone. Bending down, he wrapped his arms around her in a tight squeeze. She picked up her head and nestled it against his shoulder, allowing him to bring her to her feet once more. Lightning danced above their heads, revealing a canopy of trees over the walkway that led down to a house. It had green planks that slid to the left of the house's frame.

Chills raced up his spine. Why would his wife want to visit a place in this state? He doubted anything good would come from this adventure. The rain pelted their heads hard as he rushed her under the canopy where the rain lessened. The man did the best he could to keep his wife on her feet and headed toward the door. As they drew closer, he noticed that the front of the house was littered with weeds neatly in a row as if placed there on purpose.

A squeal echoed ahead, drawing his attention to the black-painted front door. "It's about time." A raspy, high-pitched voice filled the air. "Please, come in. One at a time." The door opened further inward. His wife pulled away from his arms and ascended the steps to the small porch. She paused once she reached the door and faced him. Sadness and uncertainty flashed in her eyes.

A weary smile pulled at his lips. "Go on, my love. Everything will be fine. You'll see."

She whimpered then heaved a weighted down sigh. "We came all the way here. What if she refuses to help us?"

"Don't worry about that now. That's the worst that could happen. She could also say yes. We don't know if we don't try." His wife nodded before facing the door once more.

Once his wife had passed through, the door slammed shut. Thoughts raced through his mind and fear gripped his heart. The door swung open once more, beckoning him inside. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he ascended the stairs. Nausea overwhelmed his stomach as he stepped inside the atrium. He glanced around the room. The wallpaper was a tacky yellow with white stripes and a table rested in the far right corner with a lamp standing proud on the surface. An umbrella stand stood next to it.

Sweat beaded his forehead as he glanced around. His wife was gone and the walls had no entryways to an adjoining room which seemed unusual to him. He heard the witch was the only one in their realm to use magic, perhaps she enchanted the house.

He opened his mouth, wishing to call for his wife when the wall on his left opened up, revealing a curved entryway. The man stepped forward and peaked inside. A chair rested on the far-left wall with a bookshelf beside it. Heaving a deep sigh, he stepped inside the room and the doorway closed behind him. A bright light shone before him, causing him to raise his hand to block out the light.

Once the light disappeared, a young, slender woman stood before him. She stared at him down her purple, pimple-covered nose with beady eyes. "What do you want from me?" she huffed. "Why did you come here?"

The man dropped his head. He had no idea why his wife wanted to seek out the witch. Weariness pulled at his body, causing him to drop to his knees. Tears beaded in his eyes before rolling down his cheek. "Lady Penelope." His voice shook. "I could ask you to grant many things in my heart, however, there is one thing that I care for more than anything else." He closed his eyes, trying to hold back the tears. "What I want more than anything is my wife's happiness. I know she is in turmoil over losing our only child." 

A light appeared behind Lady Penelope and she vanished as quickly as she had appeared. Minutes passed as he turned toward the wall he had entered from. His mind wandered to his wife. Lady Penelope was the only sorceress in their land and what she considered as "gifts" came with heavy prices. He placed over his heart, trying to calm his nerves. If he knew that he would be getting his wife back he wouldn't be so nervous. He feared more than anything that if she did ask for a child, the sorceress would take her for payment, a life for a life as it were.

Minutes passed and the wall still hadn't opened. The man began pacing on the hardwood floor as he whispered silent prayers for his wife. Wood shifting behind him made him pause and face the wall. An opening had appeared, leading into the next room by the door. Stepping through the exit, he saw his wife waiting for him with her back toward him. Relief flooded through him as he reached out and set a hand on her shoulder. His wife collapsed backward, and he fell on his knees catching her before she hit the floor.

A bright light appeared before them once more as Lady Penelope reappeared. "I hope you're prepared for the consequence your request will bring. Remember, I asked for the second daughter born of your bloodline as payment and I will get her at any cost." He opened his mouth to respond, however, she disappeared before he could utter a sound. The floorboard under their feet began moving up. He pulled his wife closer to his chest as the floor rolled them out the door and into the rain. Gritting his teeth, the man rose to his feet, his wife unconscious in his arms. The second daughter of their bloodline sounded like the most ridiculous request, yet, the deal had been struck and there was nothing he could do about that now. Turning away from the house, he headed back down the path.