Airborne

Prolouge

"Dammit, Elizabeth, what do you think you're doing?"  

"Packing. I'm leaving. I can't stay here any longer."  

"Why?"

Elizabeth ignored the question and continued whirling around her room, searching for everything she would need to start a new life somewhere far from dragons and magic. Clothes, money, valuables, toiletries. Everything she tossed into a black suitcase lying a few paces away on her canopy bed.  

"Elizabeth! Answer me!"    

With a noise of frustration, Elizabeth turned her green eyes toward the man standing in her doorway, panic and hysteria showing in them. The man came towards her slowly, and took her hands in his. "Beth please. Tell me why you're leaving."    

Several moments passed as Elizabeth's mind battled itself. Should she tell? Or just leave? Eventually her trust in the man questioning her won. "William, I'm- I'm pregnant."    

William drew back, shock showing brightly in crystal blue eyes. "You're what?!"    

Elizabeth went back to cramming everything she could into her suitcase. "Pregnant. That's why I have to leave. You know what they would do if they got their hands on this baby."    

"But Beth, it's not a guarantee it will have magic! Why, look at Scarlett. She was born with your intelligence but without a drop of magic."    

The words Elizabeth spoke next snagged in her throat and a hot tear made its way down her pale face. "This one does. I know it does. I can feel it. She's not just any child. I have to leave before the Minister finds out or he'll take it away and do god only knows what."    

William was silent as he digested these words, then evidently managed to make up his mind about something and sprang into action. "My dear, you can't take that much with you. Take out a few changes of clothes, toiletries, and all the money and valuables." He went over to her walk-in closet, rummaged around in it, and pulled out a regular school backpack. "Use this. They'll assume you're going on a hike or camping trip."    

Elizabeth took the bag from him silently and frantically stuffed her things into it. William spoke again. "Wear a jacket as well. It will be cold in the other world."    

The frightened woman nodded and pulled one on. Over this went the backpack, and finally a black velvet cloak. It would not be useful in the other land but without it suspicion would be doubled.     Elizabeth was ready to flee. She looked into the startling blue eyes of William and felt more tears threatening to spill out of her own. "I'm so sorry, William. I love you." Then she fled the room and castle, to never set foot inside again.