Part 2

Even without her heightened vampiric senses anymore, Rebecca could smell the stench of decay in the valley when they arrived. In retrospect, it was partially her own fault for staying, though she also wondered how much of this was from experience.

"Victoria, we need to be ready to leave immediately after I bust this spell. Understood?" Rebecca said, kneeling down to the ground.

"Got it Duchess. It'll be like we were never here." Victoria answered, staying close to Rebecca in case she needed to grab and run.

Rebecca reached into her dress, and pulled out a large crystal, before placing it on the ground. It reacted, and seemed to melt into the soil. Next she grabbed a fist full of dirt and quietly listened to the earth spirits tell her a story.

"They're in pain, Victoria."

"The ground?"

"The earth spirits. I don't think Titus even realizes it, but he's been slowly killing this valley for a very long time." Rebecca answered, reaching into her dress again, this time digging deep into her corset. "Where is it... blast it. Victoria I need some help. There's another crystal and I think it's lodged under my breasts."

Victoria crawled under Rebecca's dress, and delicately worked her way into her corset from underneath. "Duchess are you sure?" She asked, after feeling about and not finding anything.

"Yes I'm sure. Undo the corset a bit."

"Why didn't you change first?" Victoria asked, her voice muffled by the layers of clothing as she undid the lace. Working both hands into the corset, she found the crystal, and passed it up to Rebecca.

"Look away." Rebecca said, eyeing the crystal.

"Why?"

"I need to... do something to this crystal first." Rebecca said, quite awkwardly.

"Do what?" Victoria asked, narrowing her eyes.

"You want those kids or not?"

Victoria decided to not push her luck and turned around while Rebecca did whatever it is she needed to do with the crystal.