A Price Too High.

They were twins after a fashion. Two identical vessels. Two flesh and blood bodies. Each with a sweet voice, each with a piercing gaze. Two forms that were identical in charms and wiles, but only one soul between them. Like two starving tigresses each was doomed to lash out and steal away what few morsels of life she could before the enemy attacked again. Some thought it a tragedy. Others watched, laughing at what their warped image of the multiverse called a comedy.

Had they always been that way? Born under the full moon of an insane uncle? Possibly. Or perhaps one found the kiss of power a lover whose black lust was too great to resist and signed the pact that can only be signed once. Only after the jug is empty does it miss the cooling embrace of the chilled wine; so to the living form and the soul it protects. Now a beautiful young woman felt empty and frightened.

She was struggling to rid herself of guilt and regret and there was only one thing left now. Claim the last soul as her own. Was it wrong? Maybe. Was it necessary? It had to be. She had once told her that she would do anything to protect her, a scared child was about to collect on a fool's oath.

Time was an enemy to both of fates puppets though. The longer the two pulled at the last strand of divinity between them the more frayed it would become. If one did not win soon enough, both might die and fade into the primal ether, lost to even the most potent of men's magic. No, it was better that one should live than both should die. Some small comfort. The frightened girl would not forget her sister. A candle would be lit on their shared birthday in each of the coming years to honor a sacrifice made in love. Yes, it would have to be in love. Otherwise it would be wrong.