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lynelovespopculture · 2 years

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A HOCUS POCUS TIMELINE

I HAVE LOVED THE ORIGINAL HOCUS POCUS SINCE I SAW IT IN THEATERS WHEN I WAS 9!!!!! IN HONOR OF THE UPCOMING SEQUEL, I’VE PUT TOGETHER TO ‘A HOCUS POCUS TIMELINE’ PART FANFIC/PART HEADCANNON-IT’S BASICALLY THE SISTERS’ BIO FROM BIRTH TO DEATH AND BEYOND.

AUTHOR NOTE: I HAVE READ THE BOOK SEQUEL OF HOCUS POCUS. I KEPT THE NAMES BECAUSE I LIKED THEM, BUT MY VISION DIDN’T INCLUDE A 4TH SANDERSON SISTER. HOCUS POCUS & HOCUS POCUS 2 ARE OWNED BY DISNEY. I OWN NOTHING. AS ALWAYS, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE HOCUS POCUS TIMELIME

August 18, 1627- Witch Drusilla ‘the dreadful’ Divine marries warlock Frederick Sanderson in their native England. For the first few years, the couple talk about moving the ‘new world’-(the US) Frederick makes several trips back and forth while he builds a small cottage in Salem.

Winter 1631- Drusilla and Frederick board a ship, intending to officially move to Salem. However, during the voyage, Frederick is attacked and killed by a rogue witch hunter. Discovering her husband dead, Drusilla stalks and kills her husband’s murderer. Due to health concerns of the day, both dead bodies are thrown off the ship and are lost to the sea.

Spring 1631-Drusilla Sanderson, a widow before she even before set foot on American soil, adopts her late husband’s familiar, a big bloodhound named Bruno, as her own. Together, they made their way to Salem and to the cottage Frederick had build for them. Drusilla managed to hold back her tears until she found a surprise for her in the master bedroom. It was a handsome wooden cradle. Drusilla let her tears fall as let her fingers traced the cravings and the big S on the tiny headboard. Drusilla knew it was a gift from Frederick. After all, she had only told her husband she was pregnant.

September 10th 1631-Drusilla birthed her 1st child, Winifred Sanderson. She has inherited her father’s red hair and later on, his overbite.

Summer 1632-Drusilla loves taking care of her baby, but she couldn’t help but feel lonely, so 1 night, as a joke, Drusilla turned Bruno into a human man. Before she could turn him back, Bruno convinced her not to, so he could experience life as a human man. The summer ‘experiment’ included everything, EVERYTHING, a man and a woman could do together. By summer’s end, Drusilla and Bruno agree that they’re better off as friends and Bruno is turned back into a dog per his request. Shortly after, Drusilla discovered she will have a reminder of the summer. She’s with child again.

April 24th 1633-Drusilla has her 2nd child. The female babe’s purplish raven hair reminds Drusilla of Bruno’s fur. Speaking of Bruno, he has turned into a human only once more, the night of the birth, to meet his daughter. Or as he puts it, ‘his little pup.’ As he holds the infant, Drusilla tells Bruno that she decided to call their girl, Mary. Bruno was surprised that Drusilla would pick such a Christian name. Drusilla smiled and said that was exactly the point. Who would suspect she was a witch if she named her child Mary? Almost from the very start, Mary adores, almost worships her older sister, Winifred.

Summer 1633-Drusilla got a letter from Lady Sanderson, (Frederick’s mother) saying that’s she cut Drusilla’s widow allowance off because she gave Mary the surname of Sanderson without asking permission. This is the start of a bitter feud between Drusilla and her mother-in-law.

Spring 1635-Drusilla has an affair with Niguel Blackburn aka the village idiot. She was attracted to his handsome face and good body but Drusilla was turned off by his small brain. So she put an end to their brief affair. However, it wasn’t brief enough; Drusilla was pregnant again.

Summer 1635-By the end of summer, the news of Drusilla’s latest pregnancy reaches Niguel’s ears. In fact, it’s the gossip of the entire village.

Fall 1635-Drusilla finally bowed to Salem’s pressure and weds for the 2nd time. Drusilla marries Niguel Blackburn. Right from the beginning, the marriage is little more than a farce. Salem delighted in marrying the village idiot to the town harlot. On her wedding night, Drusilla, (who has moved herself, Winifred, now 5 and Mary, 3 into Niguel’s house) saw through a window that her new husband was drunk and walking away from the house with a different girl under each arm. Nevertheless, Drusilla waited for him in their now shared bedroom. By midnight and still no Niguel, Drusilla was ready to give up on him and something deep inside her to go check on her girls and it’s a good thing she did. When Drusilla went to her daughters’ room, she found that her girls were not alone. A couple was with them, the wife was tying big, white bows in Mary’s hair to hide the girl’s natural purple highlights while the husband talked to an uncomfortable Winifred, who was in bed. When Drusilla demanded to know what they were doing with her daughters, the couple told her that Niguel was considering selling them the girls. Drusilla promptly kicked the couple out and after removing the bows from Mary’s hair, settled the girls in her bed, cuddling them both close. It was right after 1 AM, when Drusilla was just about to drift off herself, she heard the door opened. Drusilla snapped awake instantly, she was determined to confront Niguel, how dare he try to sell HER children! Drusilla was enraged as she lifted her head from the pillow. However, it wasn’t Niguel in the doorway; it was Bruno, who finally found his way from the cottage. He sniffed the girls’ feet, as if to see if they were ok, then he laid down in front of the fire. Drusilla dozed off with a smile on her face.

Winter/Spring 1636-Wedded bliss is no where to be found in the Blackburn household. Niguel and Drusilla argue constantly. When she confronted him about selling her girls, Niguel admitted that he only cared about 1 child-his own, the 1 that Drusilla was still carrying. Niguel had already convinced himself that this 1 will be a son and already decided what to name him, Samuel. The final straw came when Drusilla was in the marketplace when she, yet again, saw an unknown couple leading her afraid looking girls away from town. Drusilla was already thinking up ways to kill the couple when she stopped them. However, the mortals were so confused that Drusilla believed them when they explained that Niguel told them that the girls were orphans and HE paid them to take the girls away. They even offered to give Drusilla the money back but she lets them keep it as she took Winifred and Mary by the hand. Giving up on her shopping, Drusilla rushed back to Niguel’s place, yet she only stayed long enough to gather hers’ and the children’s things. Drusilla does not leave Niguel a note, she simply left her wedding band on the dresser. Then the Sandersons left and returned to their cabin in the woods. It took 2 days for Niguel to even bother to find his wife. When he did, he just barged in and demanded that she come home. All that got him was barked at by Bruno. After she pet her dog calm, Drusilla stated Niguel didn’t want her, he didn’t want the girls, all he wanted was this- she tossed a pouch over to him. In the pouch were 50 gold coins-the exact same price that Niguel had paid to get rid of Winifred and Mary. “Tell me,” Drusilla said, “were you selling my daughters for 25 each or was 50 just a lump sum?” “Why should I raise two brats that aren’t mine?” Niguel demanded. “Because they’re mine!” Drusilla shot back. Then, without warning, Niguel shoved Drusilla up against the wall and then produced the knife. “Well,” Niguel smiled, “the babe in your belly is mine. Perhaps I just should cut my son out of you and be on my way.” Drusilla used magic to get Niguel off her and slammed him into the opposite wall. “WITCH!” Niguel screamed, “I’ll tell the entire village about you!” Yet, Drusilla wasn’t afraid. “Go ahead,” she told him. “No one will believe you, even if you dry out enough to be sober, you’re still the stupidest man in town.” Drusilla then kicked him out.

July 18, 1636-Drusilla is in labour. It is a witch’s way to give birth alone, but this delivery is harder than Winnie’s or Mary’s. Nearly 6, Winifred had the presence of mind to find Mildred, a fellow witch and friend of Drusilla, from the village. Mildred aids in the birth of Drusilla’s 3rd child.

Late August 1636-It takes more than a month for Niguel to come by the cottage to see his wife and newborn child. As before, he didn’t knock, he just barged in, demanding his son. “Where is he? Where is my son? My Samuel Blackburn?” It was late at night so Winnie and Mary were upstairs asleep while Drusilla looked up calmly from her sewing and told him that there was no one here by that name. Of course, Niguel misunderstood completely. “Did you kill him, witch?! Did you kill my son?!” Annoyed, Drusilla rolled her eyes as she stood up. Did she say that? Drusilla swears Niguel could be smarter if he would only listen. The bickering couple were interrupted by a cooing baby. They both looked left to see an infant in the Sanderson cradle. Niguel smiled and says he knew it; he knew his son was here! Drusilla frowned and crossed her arms before she explained that his son turned out to be a daughter. When Niguel stared at her blankly, Drusilla sighed, “It’s a girl, you idiot!” Drusilla added that she decided to name her newest daughter, Sarah Sanderson. Niguel was taken aback, “shouldn’t she have my last name?” Drusilla shook her head. “The baby has your blonde hair and your blue eyes, I don’t want Sarah to have anything else in common with you.” Niguel objects; Drusilla is his wife and Sara his daughter, surely they will be together. Drusilla shakes her head, saying she’s sick of Niguel and has decided to kill him tonight. “You wouldn’t! You can’t! You don’t have the gu-“ Niguel’s throat is slashed before his protests end. Drusilla is more upset about his bleeding on her new rug than the death of her husband.

1636-1642-Perhaps it’s maturity, perhaps it’s her doomed relationship with Niguel Blackburn, yet Drusilla’s behaviour changes. She’s still ruthless enough to prove to anyone why her nickname ‘the dreadful’. She still has a small cycle of friends of fellow witches in the village. Drusilla’s attitude towards men has changed. She only has a 1 night stands once in a blue moon and only after she brews a potion to makes sure she would never conceive again. The center of Drusilla’s life are her three daughters, or as she nicknamed them ‘her love’ (Winifred) ‘her heart’ (Mary) and ‘her rose’ (Sarah)

Fall 1642-The girls, now 11, 9 and 5, are invited to write different levels of the entrance exam to a witch school in England. The same school where Drusilla first met Frederick. Only Winifred passes the exam and is accepted into the school, but there’s a problem. Drusilla cannot afford to send Winifred to the school. So Drusilla goes to England to see if Lady Sanderson can help her with funds. As first, Drusilla is refused, but she is helped by Frederick’s siblings, Adam and Agatha, who desperately want to meet their only niece. As Winifred is the spitting image of her late father, Lady Sanderson melts and agrees to pay for her granddaughter’s education, well, for now.

Fall 1645-Just before her 3rd year is about to start, Winifred comes across her mother and grandmother fighting about money. Winnie stops the fight by declaring that she doesn’t want to return to the school; it bores her and she misses her sisters. Drusilla knows her daughter is lying. For the last 2 years, all of Winifred’s letters home are filled with how much she loves studying, the school and her independence. But Winifred is determined to get her beloved mother out from under her grandmother’s thumb, so she persist and Drusilla and Winifred return to Salem. In their cabin on the ship back, Drusilla caught Winnie looking at something. Winifred explains it’s a miniature of her father given to her by her Aunt Agatha. Drusilla smiles and nodded, remembering that she lost the only picture she had of her husband just before moving from England, a bad omen seeing how Frederick never made it to Salem. She wipes away a tear and tells her eldest that although she can’t think of a life without her sisters, Frederick was, and always will be, the love of her life. Just because she didn’t have the money, Drusilla wasn’t ready to give up on Winifred’s education. Drusilla, a graduate of the very same school, starts to gives Winnie one on one lessons about magic once Mary and Sarah went to bed. Drusilla was greatly impressed about how devoted her oldest daughter is to learning her witchcraft.

Winter 1646-Drusilla was in her kitchen 1 evening preparing supper with Sarah underfoot, when Drusilla heard gunshots outside and then came Winifred’s scream, “Mother!!” After commanding Sara to stay inside, Drusilla rushed outside and then she saw that both Mary and Bruno were laying on the ground, in a similar manner. Winifred tearfully explains that the shots came suddenly out of nowhere. The 1st shot got Mary in the shoulder, Winifred tried to run to help her sister but Bruno got there first and took the 2nd bullet, again headed right for Mary, in his stomach. Mary then faints from her blood loss. She lands, face down, on a large rock. This makes Mary’s lips deformed. Her lips would remain lop sided for the rest of her life.HHHHH Drusilla instructs Winnie to carry Bruno inside while she collects Mary. Winifred sets Bruno down before the fire on the 1st floor, while Drusilla carries Mary upstairs to the bedroom Mary shares with her sisters and will for the rest of her life. 1 week later, Mary has recovered nicely and is sitting up being spoon fed soup by Drusilla when they both hear crying from below. Drusilla and Mary go downstairs to find Winnie and Sara crying over Bruno, who had just died. The next day, the family bury Bruno behind their house. Everyone is misty-eyed. After all, Bruno had been with Drusilla since the very beginning and aside from being Mary’s actual father, whether in his dog or human form, he was the only father figure all 3 girls have ever known. The family all agree not to get another familiar.

August 30, 1649-Drusilla is awaked by in the middle the night by a blood-curling scream. As always, Drusilla’s first thought were for her girls, so she jumped out of bed and ran across the hall to her girls’ bedroom. It was only there that Drusilla had the presence of mind to light a candle to see what was going on. Although all the screams were coming from this room, Drusilla was shocked to see that Winnie and Mary were both deeply asleep. All the screaming was coming from Sarah. Drusilla rushed to her youngest child’s bed and her jaw dropped. Sarah was giving birth and no one even knew that she was even pregnant! Drusilla demanded of Sarah to know what was going on? Why was both her sisters asleep during all this noise?! Between pushing and gasping for air, Sarah explained that she put a silencing spell on both her sisters, but she had forgotten to do her mother. Drusilla helped with the rest of the birth. What Sarah pushed out of her body was tiny, deformed and it in no way looked like a baby. Sarah was worried, why isn’t the baby crying? Drusilla gently told her daughter that it can’t cry, it was stillborn. “It?” Questioned Sarah. Drusilla had to explain that the fetus was too immature to a have a sex. After instructing Sarah to clean her self and change her now bloody bedding and after taking care of the fetus, Drusilla felt bad, perhaps she was too hard on Sarah before. Yet when she returned to the girls’ bedroom, she was shocked to see that Sarah was sound asleep. The next morning, Sarah was acting like nothing happened. After breakfast, Winifred and Mary headed out and Sara would have gone with them, but her mother called her back. Drusilla wanted to talk about last night. Sara shrugged, “the baby died, so what’s to talk about?” “But what if it didn’t?” asked a shocked Drusilla, what would Sarah do then? Sara shrugged again, she didn’t know, she would just wing it, like you did. This enraged Drusilla, she did not ‘wing it’ when she was expecting, she had this cottage, the Sanderson cradle and she had knitted up a storm each time she was about to give birth. Also, Drusilla was an adult, Sara had just turned 13! Drusilla was dumbfounded when Sarah admitted that she had no idea who the father was. “I like boys,” Sara admitted, “Winnie has her books and spells, Mary can smell out anything, like Bruno could, and I like boys.” “That’s not a magic power.” Drusilla rolled her eyes, “liking boys is not a magic power, Sarah. Sarah frowned and shook her head, “then I don’t think I have a power.” Drusilla said yes, Sarah has; her voice. Ever since Sarah was a baby, Sarah’s voice is the strongest one Drusilla has ever heard. Perhaps she should focus more on her singing and not the boys? Sarah agrees to practice more but she refuses to give up the boys, she likes them too much. “Very well then, drink this.” Drusilla puts a vital of brown liquid before her daughter. “What’s this?” Questioned Sarah. Drusilla states that it’s just something to make sure that what happened last night never happens again.

1650 to 1660-Drusilla grew old as her daughters grew from girls to women. Winifred amazed her; while it was pretty obvious that all 3 were meant to be witches, yet Winifred dreamt of being 1 of the greatest and was willing to put in work. It wasn’t unusual to find Winnie had fallen asleep with a book that contained a spell that she was working on. Mary is seemed to be at her happiest while serving her oldest sister and Bruno seems to live on in Mary, the ways she barks and whimpers, like the greyhound. Mary sometimes even sleeps like a dog. Drusilla has seen her daughter in an unladylike position of being asleep with 1 foot up in the air, her belly exposed and her hands above her head. Drusilla more than once, would lower her leg and her arms from above her head and roll Mary onto her side, pulling the blanket over her. Sara’s interest of boys only increases as she grew. Drusilla often had to chase away strange boys from the house and sometimes even from Sara’s bed. As they grew older, Mary and Sara seem to lack common sense and Drusilla begins to worry about her 2 youngest daughters.

April 3, 1660-It was a normal afternoon when Sarah rushed in with a telegram for Winnie. Winifred took the letter and as she read it, she grew pale and her mouth fell open. Drusilla asked what was going on and Winifred looked up, “Mother did you know that every all hollow’s eve, the master picks a corner of the world and honors 3 witches?” Drusilla raised an eyebrow, “how do you know this, Winnie?” Winifred smiles, “because, according to this,” Winnie held up the letter, “the master has chosen to visit Massachusetts and this hallows eve, 1 of this witches he wishes to honor is me!” That’s when the excited screaming started.

Late Spring to Early Fall 1660-Drusilla was thrilled and excited for her eldest daughter. After all, even meeting the master was an honor most witches could only dream of. While Winnie was walking on air, Drusilla didn’t want Mary or Sarah to feel left out so she involved them in a secret project. To make Winnie a new dress for her big night. “After all,” Drusilla pointed out, “we can’t let our Winifred meet the master in rags, can we?” The other two readily agreed. Mary shopped for all the fabrics and colors and her mother said she made excellent choices and meant it. The dress was so grand in design that it would take weeks to complete. The underskirt was multi-layer and multi-colored. There were layers of red, green and gold. The next level of the solid middle overlay was a purplish/midnight blue with thin golden thread across the corset. The final level was a sort of overcoat made in a deep green to compliment with Winifred’ red hair. It had a long neck in the back, and gold plates in front to make a belt with long, dramatic sleeves. They also decided to decorate the green by using the golden thread to sew symbols in the front and the back. Because it’s the room Winnie is in the least, the dress was kept in Drusilla’s room, while Drusilla, Mary and Sarah worked on the dress, apart and together, whenever they could get away.

October 31, 1660-The big day had finally arrived. Right after breakfast, Drusilla takes Winifred up to her room and places a necklace around Winifred’s throat. Drusilla then started to explain that this necklace is special because Drusilla wore this very necklace on the very day she wed Winnie’s father. Beaming, happy tears filled Winifred’s eyes. “Oh Mother, I can’t believe this is happening to me, I never excepted the master to even know my name.” Drusilla smiled. “Oh my darling, you deserve all this and more. After all, my love, no one works harder than you do.” “Mother!” Sarah called from across the hall, “We’re ready, you can bring Winnie in here now.” Winifred was confused, “why does Sarah want me to go to my own room?” “Well, let’s go see.” Drusilla pulled her daughter up and they went across the hall where an excited Mary and Sarah were waiting. The dress was ready and laid out on Winifred’s bed. Mary and Sarah blocked the view until Winnie came into sight then they both jumped out of the way. “Tada!” Confused, Winifred lightly touched the dress, was this for her? “Do you like it?” Asked a smiling Mary. Winnie remained stone faced, “no.” “Winifred!” Drusilla scolded her like she was a little girl again. Suddenly, Winnie was smiling from ear to ear. “I love it,” she declared honestly and the whole family laughed together. An hour later, Drusilla watched a dressed and ready-to-go Winnie came down the stairs. She had chosen to wear her hair up-something she rarely did at the time. “You look perfect” Drusilla declared and kissed her brow. The Sandersons then flew to the site-a small clearing in a wood near Boston. Winifred sat in the front row with the other 2 witches that was to be honored that night. After hearing black mass, the 3 honorees were motioned forward to kneel before the master. Winifred couldn’t help but wish she was the only one being honored, this felt too much like sharing with her sisters. But all that changed when the master looked at her. The moment the master looked into her eyes, everything else simply…disappeared for Winifred. “I grant thee, Winifred Sanderson, a gift,” boomed the master, “for general wickedness and services you have done and will continued to do in my name. Behold!” The crowd gasped as the master held out an arm and fire flew out of his palm. When the flames died down, a book appeared. “This spell book, bound by the skin of a doomed mortal, is no ordinary book. This book had a soul, it will imprint on you, Winifred. If ever apart, this book will look for you and for you alone, from tonight and forevermore.” The master explained and then he reached for Winnie’s hand. She was determined not to flinch (and didn’t) when the master pricked her finger with a sharp needle and then dips a quill in Winnie’s blood. He then hands her the quill and instructs her to write her name on the inside cover. In her best penmanship, she quickly yet carefully, writes ‘Winifred Sanderson’ and as soon as she finishes with her final ‘n’, magical ink appears around her name, so that now it reads, Property of Winifred Sanderson, 31 October, 1660. The book closes itself and Winnie sees an eyeball that she knows wasn’t there before, she smiled. For Winifred and her book, it was mutual love at first sight.

March 10, 1673-Mary and Sarah lay on either of their mother in Drusilla’s bed. Drusilla noticed when Winifred entered, carrying her lunch tray. “Alright, my girls,” Drusilla whispered to Mary and Sarah, “I need to talk to your sister alone.” Mary and Sarah got up and off the bed, and went downstairs. When they had gone downstairs, Drusilla rolled over and held out a hand. “Come to me, Winnie, leave the tray.” Winifred sat beside her mother and took her hand. Drusilla sighed, “I’ll be with your father by nightfall.” Winifred shook her head. “Don’t speak that way, Mother. You’re not going to die.” Drusilla laughed, “I’ve been weakening for years now.” Winnie looked away and Drusilla reached up to wipe a tear from her daughter’s eye. “It’s alright, darling. After all, dying in one’s own bed is a rarity not often allowed our kind.” “Mother, you’re not dying! You can’t be! What would happen to the rest of us?! Oh, I’m sorry, I know how selfish that must sound.” Drusilla waved it off dismissively. “That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Now, when I’m gone,” Winifred started to object again but Drusilla held up a hand. “When I’m gone,” she repeated, “I need you to promise me that you will take care of your sisters.” Winifred buried her head in the mattress. “I can’t, Mother, I can’t! I’m not you.” “You don’t have to me. Look at me, Winnie.” Winifred straightened and Drusilla tucked a red hair behind her daughter’s ear. “Oh, Winifred, my bold, beautiful, fearless and brilliant Winifred. So brilliant that the master himself had to honor it. I have never doubted for a moment that you can take care of yourself, however, well, I have been worried about your sisters for quite some time. They need you, Winne, they adore you and as much as you like to deny it, I know you love them. Please don’t misunderstand, if it was up to me, I wouldn’t leave the 3 of you for anything but the master is calling me home, I can feel it. So promise me you’ll take care of your sisters.” “I promise, Mummy.” whispered Winifred then she got up to ready the food tray. Yet, when she looks back, she knows her mother had taken her final breath. Winnie lays down besides her mother, sobbing loudly. The sobs bring Mary and Sarah back into the room and for a long time the 3 sisters cry for their mother.

Spring 1673-A lot of people, from Salem and England, attend Drusilla’s funeral before being buried behind the cottage. The sisters go into deep morning and Winnie takes up the dual roles of annoyed older sister and overprotective 2nd mother.

February 26 1675-Mary is sweeping the front steps on a sunny but cold afternoon when a man comes up to her, seemingly from out of nowhere. This man, who introduces himself as Malcom White, is not only a smooth talker but also a fast talker and before she even knew was doing it, Mary invited Malcom to dinner.

March 31, 1675-By the end of March, Malcom White had dined with the Sandersons no less than 4 times. True to form, Sarah flirted with him to no end, however Malcolm seemed to only have eyes for 1 Sanderson sister; Mary and Mary felt the same way about him. After dinner, Mary couldn’t stop gushing about Malcom. “He’s wonderful! Oh Winnie, don’t you think he’s wonderful?” “No, I honestly think he talks too much.” Winifred never told Mary, but there was something about Malcom White that she didn’t trust.

June 3, 1675-After a very brief courtship, Malcom White married Mary Sanderson. The wedding was held in Malcom’s hometown, some 4 hours away from Salem. Mary was glowing all day, but on their wedding night, when all the guests had gone, including her sisters, that Malcom’s behavior changed. Alone in their bedroom, Mary turned to kiss her husband, not only did Malcom dodge the kiss, he roughly shoved Mary down towards the bed and yanked the wedding band off her finger, “you won’t need this anymore, witch!” Malcom left the room, slamming the door behind him. When Mary tried to follow him, she discovers that the door was locked.

June 4-8, 1675-Mary had no idea why, but for 4 days and 4 nights, Mary was beaten and tortured by Malcolm and other men Mary didn’t know. By the 4th night, Mary was seriously hurt, weak and wondering how long she could survive this when more men came in and a fight broke out. A man held out his hand for Mary to take but she was frightened. “It’s alright,” he said, “my name is Samuel Harris, I’m a warlock and we’re here to help you.” At this point, Mary had to chose between possibly dying right here or taking this stranger’s hand. Mary took Samuel’s hand and he led her out of the house and placed her on horseback behind him. Due to her massive blood loss, Mary fainted in the middle of their journey.

June 9, 1675-When Mary awoke, she found lying on a stretcher, her hair loose and wearing a new, clean nightgown. When she sat up, Mary looked around and saw she was in a large tent, many other people on stretchers and a whole crew to attend them. It looked like a hospital. Mary didn’t know what to do or to think when she got up. Mary had only gone a few feet when someone came up behind her. “Excuse me, miss, you shouldn’t be walking around.” Mary whirled around as she felt an hand on her shoulder. “Don’t touch me!” Mary growled. She barked as she grabbed the other woman’s neck. Mary was feeling a rage she never felt before. Mary could have killed this woman but luckily that didn’t happen because a familiar face. Remember me?” He asked. Mary, did indeed, remember him. “You’re the man who saved me last night.” “Yes,” Samuel nodded, “yes I am and brought you here, where we’re all warlocks and witches. You’re completely safe here. But you’re still injured and you’re still bleeding. Will you sit down and let someone check out your back, where they whipped you?” Mary nodded, tears in her eyes. “While they’re doing that, maybe you can tell me why my husband turned on me?” While Mary sat still with her back exposed, Samuel Harris gently explained that Malcolm White wasn’t a tailor, or even Mary’s husband, everything Malcom told Mary was a lie. In reality, Malcom White was part of a pack of witch hunters, who have conned their way up and down the coast. Once they zero in on a victim, they go courting until they get the witch or warlock they’re targeting, agrees to marry them. Yet, the wedding is always fake because the pastor is always just another witch hunter. Once they get a witch alone, separating them from their family and friends, then they will torture and kill them. “Well, aren’t I the perfect fool,” Mary sniffed, “I played right into his hand.” “Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself,” soothed Samuel, “everyone recovering on the many stretchers in this tent fell for the same scam you did. I’m just glad we found you before…it was too late.” Mary smiled, “me too.” “Now,” Samuel continued, “can I get you anything?” Mary asked if he could send a secure message out, 1 that wouldn’t fall into the hands of the witch hunters. When Samuel assured Mary that he could, Mary asked him if he could write down what he just explain to her into a letter and send it to Salem, Mary also insisted that it be placed into the hands of Winifred Sanderson and her hands alone.

June 11, 1675-Mary woke up in pain again. They were working on the wounds on her back again. Suddenly, Mary was angry. “Look, I’m trying to sleep here. Can’t you do that lat-“ Mary rolled over and stopped talking as she saw her sister. “Winnie!” The others left and Mary burst into tears as Winifred swept her into her arms. “Oh, Winnie, I’m so, so sorry.” Sobbed Mary. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHJJJ “Hush, Mary, now what on earth do you have to be sorry about? Hmm?” “For being so stupid, Winnie. You were against my wedding right from the beginning. You said so yourself and you were right, as usual.” “Now, wait a minute, Mary, I just thought you were just moving a little too fast that’s all. If I had any inkling that Malcolm White was a witch hunter, I would have never let you leave Salem, let alone marry that man! Why, as soon as we got that letter, Sarah and I were on our way here.” Mary was confused. “Where is sister Sarah?” “Well, I don’t know. She was just here.” Winifred looked around to see that Sara was flirting with a guard. “Sarah!” Winifred screamed. “We are here for Mary, remember?”

June 16, 1675 –It’s late at night and as usual, Sarah is no help at all. She snoring loudly on the stretcher next to Mary’s. However, Winifred was hard at work, sponging down Mary, who now has a fever due to an infection. “Does she always bark in her sleep?” Winifred looked over her shoulder to see Samuel Harris smiling at her. “Yes,” Winifred answered. “Ever since she was a child, but it’s not Mary’s fault, she is part greyhound. Samuel raises an eyebrow. “So, Mary isn’t a full blood witch?” Winifred stands and crosses her arms. “No, she isn’t and neither is Sarah. Is that a problem?” “No.” Samuel shook his head and then sighs. “Those damn witch hunters’ numbers keep growing. It’s their mission to kill everyone of us, just as it’s our mission to destroy them. But to do that, we’ll need all the magic and power we can find.” Winnie understands. “I don’t know how long my sisters and I will be here but as long as we are, you have a new full blooded ally.” “But you just said that your sisters aren’t full blooded.” They’re not,” Winifred agreed, “but I am.”

June 20, 1675-This is news that Malcom White has been spotted in the area. Winifred was thrilled to hear it. She couldn’t wait to destroy him. “You’re not going without me.” Mary declared. Winnie shook her head. “Mary, you’re still so weak, I can’t go after the witch hunter and worry about you at the same time.” Yet Mary was dead serious. “Winnie, Malcolm tricked me. He led me to believe that he cared for me, even loved me. He wed me under false pretenses, and if Samuel and his men hadn’t of found me in time, I-I might not even be alive right now. I may be weak, but I have to see Malcolm White die.” Winifred sighed but then agreed. A little while later, Mary, held up by Sarah, waited in the woods by an old oak tree. “It’s been a long time that we’ve been here, maybe we should go.” Said Sara. Mary disagreed, “Malcolm’s close by, I can smell him.” And that’s when Malcolm showed up-flying through the air at 100 miles an hour. His back stuck to the tree trunk like a magnet. It was only then that Malcolm saw Mary and Sarah. “You!” He hissed at them. “You witch! What are you doing to me?!” The sisters said nothing as Malcolm watched as the roots of the oak tree came alive and began to tie Malcolm to the tree, tighter and tighter, until he could barely breathe. “Mary!” He gasped, “you’re too weak to even stand on your own, how can be you be doing witchcraft?” “Oh, Mary’s not doing witchcraft, I AM!” It was only then that Winifred emerged from the other side of tree. Malcom’s eyes grew large. “YOU are a witch too?! I thought Mary was the only witch in your family.” “You thought Mary was the only witch in our family?” Winnie repeated and then laughed. “You fool! You haven’t a clue about the people you hunt. It’s because of hunters like you that I never met my father.” “I know 1 thing,” Malcom roared, “I know that you should all die, should all burn, should-“ Malcolm never got to finish his thought, because Winifred moved her fingers and the branches wrapped themselves around Malcolm’s throat and squeezed until his head popped off. Winnie quickly lost interest in the headless corpse and turned to her sisters. “I told you that man talk too much."0 Winnie said as she helped Sara get Mary back to camp.

June/July 1675- Mary’s recovery was a long and painful one. As weeks passed by, Samuel Harris found himself with a growing attraction to Winifred Sanderson.

August 28, 1675-An on the mend Mary awakes from a nap, get up and sniffs the air. Winnie noticed and asked, “Mary what was it, what do you smell?” “The men,” Mary answered, “the ones who tormented me, hurt me they’re near.” Another witch said that was impossible, “those men would never come way out here.” Yet, Winifred defended her sister. “Mary’s nose always knows. If she says the men are near, they’re near.” It was a little out of Mary’s range, but an hour after sunset, Samuel and his men found the cabin that the witch hunters were using. Samuel sent word for his strongest witches to join them there. So, 13 witches, including Winifred, flew to join him. Even before the witch hunters knew they were there, the witches and warlocks formed a circle, joined hands and began to chant.

“Earth, fire, wind and rain, we call to thee;

Feel our fury; hear our plea;

Open the sky, let it free;

Fire, fire, fire FIRE!!!!!!!!”

It was then that 3, 4, even 5 burning balls of fire came screaming out of the sky and all 5 crashed into the witch hunters’ cabin. It completely went up in flames. Winifred was in awe, she had never been part of such powerful magic and it was affecting her. Back at the witches’ camp, during a walk with Samuel, Winnie explained how she had never felt so alive; her body is humming, her blood is on fire! Samuel smiles a little, and asks if Winifred has ever worked with an another full blooded witch before. “No, Winnie realized, not at all except my mother, of course.” Samuel nodded and explains that all 13 witches with them that night were full blooded. “Magic feeds off magic, it’s what keeps us stronger than the mortals.” Samuel then stopped walking and then took Winnie’s hands into his. “I think you are more powerful than you think, Winifred Sanderson, as powerful as you are beautiful.” Samuel then kisses Winifred and leads her to his private tent where they made passionate love. “Why don’t you stay with me? Join the team?” Samuel asked in the afterglow of their passion. “Stay? Here?” Winnie shook her head. “Oh no, I couldn’t. I know your work is important and I do respect you for it but I could never live this way full-time. Out publicly as a witch, constantly watching over my shoulder for witch hunters. I mean, call me a coward-“ “You’re not a coward.” Samuel jumped in and Winnie smiled “–still I think I prefer my cozy cottage. Besides, I have a prior commitment.” Samuel got upset when he thought she was talking about another man, but Winnie is quick to assure him. “I made a promise to my mother on her deathbed that I would take care of my sisters. It would appear I’m not very good at it. Mother only been gone for 2 years and I almost lost Mary.” “Don’t blame yourself” Samuel said, you couldn’t have known that Malcolm White was a witch hunter.” “Why not? You did.” Winne pointed out. “Yes, but I’m a professional. Though a warlock actively going after witch hunter could be considered a fool.” “You’re not fool.” Winnie smiled.

September 1, 1675-Mary has fully recovered and the sisters prepares to return to Salem. They say goodbye to Samuel in different ways. Mary, with a thank you and giant big hug. Sarah, by batting her eyes and Samuel took Winifred’s hand and kissed it.

April 10, 1680-Winifred is getting some things from the village marketplace when she turns a corner, and a strange man notices her and says, “a lady shouldn’t be walking the streets without her gentleman.” Winnie has been hearing things like this for years, so she was ready as she turned to him. “Who says I have a gentleman or that I’m even a lady?” Then the man did something Winifred didn’t expect, he laughed.

April 11 to 20, 1680-Winnie so enjoyed her brief exchange with that handsome new stranger, that she found brand new excuses everyday to go to the marketplace to see him. During day 5, Winnie was feeling foolish. Perhaps the man was simply being polite and didn’t share her interest. That fear was quickly put to bed when Winifred saw that the man wasn’t at his usual corner but was 1 street over, talking to some people. Yet, as soon as he saw that Winifred was coming, he quickly ended the conversation he was having and ran to the corner to meet Winifred. Finally, on the 10th day that they knew each other, that man invited Winnifred to have dinner at the local tavern the next evening. Winnifred accepted and walked away with a smile. Then, she realized something, for the past 10 days, Winnie and the man had exchanged polite conversation, witty banter and even flirted a little, but it suddenly dawned on Winnie that they had not exchanged 1 important piece of information. Winnie turned back to him. “By the way, my name is Winifred Sanderson. What’s yours?” The man smiled. “I’m William Butcherson, but everyone just calls me Billy.”

April 21, 1680-Winifred’s 1st date with Billy was a smashing success and she floated home on a cloud of happiness. While sitting around the fire, she told Mary all the details. Winnie was in such a good mood, the sisters laughed together, something they rarely did. Yet someone was missing. “Where’s Sarah?” Winnie asked. “It’s nearly midnight.” Mary waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, you know Sarah, there was a knock at the door, there was a boy at the door and that’s the last I’ve seen of Sarah. She’ll come home when she’s ready.” Winnie agreed.

1680/1681-For the first time in her life, Winifred Sanderson was enjoying the benefits of having a steady beau. Billy was smart, funny and Winifred found it nice to talk to someone who wasn’t 1 of her sisters. Over the next year, Winnie learnt a lot about the village’s newest assistant blacksmith. Originally from Boston, Billy was an only child, (something, Winnie said laughingly, that she couldn’t relate to,) who moved to Salem because he needed a fresh start after the death of his mother. What Winifred like the most about Billy was his attitude. Ever since childhood, whenever Winifred was among the town folk, she always felt judged but Billy paid no mind to what other people said. He simply didn’t care. Even when he and Winnie got close enough to make love for the 1st time, he never demanded anything of her nor did he preach marriage. Winifred found herself falling in love.

November 17, 1682-An old friend of Billy’s and his wife came to Salem, so Billy invited them and Winifred to dinner at his house. Everything was happy and light until-“So, Henry, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?” Billy smiled and Henry laughed. “I’m so sorry if I misled you, Billy boy, it is great to see you, but I’m here because of my new job in government. The higher ups in Boston believe that there are witches right here in Salem.” There was a loud clatter as Winifred dropped her fork, “excuse me,” she said sheepishly. “So, there really are rumours of witches right here in Salem?” Asked Billy. Henry shook his head. “Oh, there’re not just rumours, at least not anymore. We found and killed our 1st witch only yesterday. Let’s see, I think her name was Rosemary Parrish.” Upon hearing this, Winnie whitened. “Excuse me, I think I need some air,” she muttered as she got up from the table and went outside. Billy followed her. “Winnie? What’s wrong? Why are you shaking?” It took a minute for Winifred to even met her suitor’s eye. “Billy, I known Rosemary Parris since I was 5 years old.” Billy thought he understood. “Winnie, no one going to blame you. I’m sure that a lot of people knew Rosemary Parris.” Winifred shook her head. “No, Billy, that’s not it, you don’t understand.” “Then explain it to me.” Winifred stared at him. She loved him, sure, but could she trust him? “Billy, do you love me?” Billy was confused. “What? Of course, I do. You know I do.” Yet, Winifred was still unsure. “What if I told you that I have a secret? A secret that could completely change your feelings for me.” Billy touched her face. “Nothing could change my feelings for you”. So, Winifred took a deep breath and confessed. “Billy, I know for a fact that there are witches in Salem. I know because… um, I am 1.” Billy froze, but only for a moment. “I’m going to get rid of Henry.” Winifred grabbed his arm. “You aren’t going to turn me in, are you?!” Billy quietened Winnie by assured her he wasn’t going to turn her in, he just wanted to get Henry and his wife settled in their room at the local tavern. Then he told Winnie about the Miller’s barn, about a mile out of town and to meet him there in an hour. At the farm was exactly G HhhhhSSwhere Winifred was an hour later, pacing. She still wasn’t sure that telling Billy the truth or why Billy wanted to see her way out here. But if worse came to worse, Winifred was sure she could defend herself. Yet when Billy showed up, he greeted Winnie with a deep kiss, Billy told her he was deeply touched that she shared a very personal truth about herself and 1 good turn deserves another. He took Winifred in a secret corner of the barn, where Billy revealed a staircase and when they went down, Winnie beheld a room full of all sorts of knives and hooks and other tools of torture. “What is this?” Asked Winifred. “You told me about your true self tonight, I thought it was only fair that I show you this-my true self.” Winnie looked around, puzzled while Billy continued, “I told everyone, including you, that I came here after the recent death of my mother, but that’s not true, Winifred, my mother has been dead for years.” “Then why did you come to Salem?” Asked Winnie. “I had to leave Boston after I had a very close, too close a call and the police almost caught on to my little hobby.” Given where she was, it wasn’t long to guess what this ‘hobby’ was. “You’re a killer.” Billy smiled, “a serial killer, I even had a nickname, ‘Billy the Butcher.’” Winifred’s breath caught. Billy was a mortal, yes, but it appeared that he was just as wicked as she was. Winnie ran into Billy’s arms and began to kiss him passionately as lighting hit outside the barn. The next morning, Winifred is delighted to find herself in Billy’s bed. As the lovers cuddled, Billy asked a question. “How long have you been a witch?” Winifred started to laugh until she saw Billy’s face fell and she gave him a peck on the lips. “Forgive me, darling, but that’s such a mortal question. One doesn’t just wake up 1 day and decides to become a witch, like a baker or a candle maker. I mean, any idiot can pick up a spell book, commit the words to memory then say them. But it takes years to learn to control magic and there is 1 way to be a true witch; the bloodline. To be the offspring of a witch or warlock or, like myself, both.” Billy nodded, “so, your sisters are witches too, then?” “Yes,” Winnie answered. “We do have different fathers but we also share our mother’s bloodline.”

June 16, 1683-Late one night, Billy and Winifred were lounging until an oak tree, enjoying some stargazing when Billy turned to Winnie and asked her to marry him. At first, Winnie was stunned but then Winnifred began to explain that although she loved him very much, she made a promise to her mother to always look after her sisters and because of that, she couldn’t marry him. Ever the gentleman, Billy says that he understood and the evening ended with Winifred and Billy making love under the stars.

December 4, 1684-Billy’s boss asked him to take a business trip to Europe. It was to be a long trip; Billy would be gone for months. Just a few days before Billy was due to leave, Winifred was shocked to discover that she was pregnant with Billy’s child! She told him the night before he left. Billy’s reaction was to ask for Winnie’s hand in marriage again and surprised her even more when he offered her a ring. Billy also told Winnie that he didn’t what her to give him an answer right now, but just to think about it while he was away.

May/June 1685-As Winifred’s pregnancy progress and she began to show, she stopped going to town so much. After all, the only thing the villagers hated more than a witch, was an unwed pregnant woman. Not that Winifred didn’t have support, she did. Mary, especially, watched her older sister like a hawk. It was when Mary was cooking supper 1 evening when Winnie came to sit with her. “Is that a new ring, Winnie?” Mary asked. “You sure do like to look at it, a lot.” Winnie sighed, “Billy gave me this ring, right before he left. He wants me to marry him again, Mary.” “Oh, Winnie, that’s wonderful!” “Is it?” Winifred muttered. “I would hate to turn him down again.” Mary was confused. “But Winnie, why would you? I mean, I know you love him.” Winifred nodded. “Yes, I love him. I love Billy very much, but I think you’re forgetting something, dear sister? The promise, the promise that I made to Mother when she died. That I would always take care of you and Sarah.” Mary shrugged. “You always DO take care of me and Sarah. Winnie, let’s say you and Billy do get married, what would really change? The village is a 10-minute walk from here. The 3 of us are sisters, nothing can change or break that bond. I’m certain that Mummy wanted me and Sarah to be taken care of, but I’m equally certain she wouldn’t want you to give up your happiness. Besides, there’s a new little Sanderson to consider.” Mary touched Winifred’s swollen middle before saying, “I think you should marry Billy.” Winifred smiled, “I think so too.”

July 5, 1985-Winifred got a telegram from Billy, saying that he’s be home soon. So, around midnight, Winnie took her sisters to Billy’s home to tidy it up as a homecoming surprise. As each sister attended to her chore, Winifred cries out in pain, grabs her stomach and doubles over in pain. Mary turns and sees instantly sees that her sister is bleeding badly. Mary leads Winifred to Billy’s bedroom while Winnie weeps that it’s too soon. After a painful and difficult 2-hour labour, Winifred gave birth to a stillborn baby girl. Winifred orders Mary to give her the baby and turns her back on her sister. 3 hours later, Mary and Sarah were seated at the table when the sun came up. Mary decides to check on Winnie. Mary was hoping Winifred was asleep but when she opened the bedroom door, her heart sank. Not only was Winnie still awake and holding the baby, she was chanting something. “Why won’t it work?” Winnie was also in tears as she turned to Mary who sat next to the bed. “What won’t work, Winnie?” “The spell, you fool!” Winnie returned angrily. “The back from the dead spell, I’m sure this is how it went but she wouldn’t wake up.” Mary sighed, she hated to be the 1 to tell her sister this. “Winifred, I sure you said it correctly but a return from the dead spell won’t work on this child. She never took her 1st breath. I’m so sorry, Winnie, but she can’t ‘return’ to this realm for she was never in this realm.” Winifred sighed. “You’re right, she is truly lost to me.” It was only then that Winifred passed the baby to Mary. Mary started to talk about burying the baby right away, but Winnie stopped her. “No, the baby stays here, for now. Billy returns today and he has a right to meet his daughter.” Mary nodded and gave Winnie the baby as she made a makeshift cradle out 1 of Billy’s dresser drawers. After Mary put the babe there, she returned to Winifred as she fished a vital out of her pocket. “Here, Winnie. Drink this and get some sleep.” Perhaps, for the 1st time in her life, Winifred did as she was told. It was after dark when Winnie awoke. She sat up and saw that Billy was watching over her. Winnie broke down and sobbed heavily as Billy drew her into his arms. “I lost our daughter.” Winnie confessed in a whisper. Billy kissed her brow. “I know, your sisters told me. “Would you like to meet her? I had Mary put her over there.” Winifred pointed and Billy went to get the baby. “She’s so perfect.” Billy beamed. “Tiny, yet perfectly formed,” agreed Winnie. “I already had a name picked out for her, if you approve, of course.” Billy smiled. “Let’s hear it.” “Elizabeth Sanderson Butcherson,” Winifred proclaimed proudly. “Perfect.” Billy said and kissed her. The coroner came around the next day to come collect the baby. Upon hearing that she be buried in the cemetery, Winifred did not want to give Elizabeth up. After all, witches can’t set foot on hallowed ground. Yet she did because they couldn’t risk being exposed

1686 to 1692-Natually, Winifred took awhile to mourn her daughter. She fastened a lock of Elizabeth’s black hair, (the same shade of Billy’s) to the inside back cover of her spell book making the book even more precious to her. Sara, foolishly tried to comfort her sister by telling her what happened to her when she was 13. Winnie’s compassion to fury when she leant that Sarah didn’t even name her baby, she couldn’t even be bothered to ask their mother where she put the baby and pretty much forgot all about it until now. Winifred knew that she would never forget Elizabeth and would mourn her for the rest of her life. Despite her conversation with Mary, after Elizabeth’s delivery, Winifred decided against marrying Billy. “Is it fair to marry a man knowing you can’t bear him children?” Winifred asked Mary late 1 night. “You could always get pregnant again.” Mary pointed out and Winifred shook head. “No, I’m too old, I was too old to bear Elizabeth.” Despite Winifred’s refusal of his 2nd proposal, Winnie and Billy’s bond only gets stronger. As the years go by, Winifred stays overnight at Billy’s home more than own, they spend massive amounts of time and most of the village had forgotten they were only lovers; they assume that they got married years ago. Billy and Winnie’s relationship was a strong and loving one, or so Winifred thought.

April 26 1693-It was warm spring afternoon when Winifred was alone in the woods, gathering supplies. When she had enough, she started for home when she caught a pair of lovers, making love up against a tree. Lovers in the woods, even in daylight, is not uncommon, just a little awkward when people get caught. Since the couple is between her and home, Winifred decides to wait it out and leans against a tree. When the male lover moans, Winifred knows it instantly knows it’s Billy’s. Winnie quietly looks beyond her tree to see who the woman is. Winifred can barley believe her eyes when she sees it’s Sarah! Winifred was angry but only for a moment. She’s beginning to sound stupid. If Sarah’s here, then the man can’t be Billy, no matter how much they sound alike. Still, to be sure, Winnie looks again. She finally sees the man and it is indeed Billy! Winnie falls back on her tree, her mind racing. How can this be?! By the time Billy and Sarah leave the woods, Winifred is both enraged and on the verge of tears. Winnie races home and up to her bedroom where she burst into tears on her bed. Winnie felt something at her back. She turned over, thinking it was Mary, but no, it was her spell book who had floated upstairs to be with her. The book opened itself and flipped its pages until it comes to 1 about poison.

April 26 to 31-Billy went to Boston on business for a few days. Since Winifred decided to deal with him first and didn’t want Sarah to tip him off in any way, Winnie acted like nothing was wrong. But during these few days, all Winifred could think about were questions. Like how long was Billy and Sarah’s affair been going on? Days? Weeks? Months? Or even years? Did they only met in the woods or did they have sex elsewhere? Namely Billy’s bed, where Winifred bore (and probably) made Elizabeth? Did Sarah love Billy? Did he love her? Was Billy only seeing her to get to Sarah? At the start of the week, Winifred could think of getting answers. Yet as the days went by, Winifred was too angry too care about any answers.

May 1, 1693-Billy returned to town the night before, so he and Winnie kept their standing Friday night dinner date. At first, Winifred looked for anything, a shortened kiss, some disinterest in what she had to say, any sign that something, anything, was off. Yet Billy betrayed nothing which only made Winnie angrier. In fact, it took every ounce of self-control Winnie had not to rip the skin off of Billy’s smiling face during dinner. Finally, it was after Billy brought out the desert wine and went back to get the actual desert when Winnie made her move and put 3 drops in Billy’s wine. She was back in her seat when Billy return. Winifred only smiled when Billy raised his glass, said cheers and began to drink deeply. After mere moments, Billy grabbed his throat and started coughing, soon he started to foam at the mouth and was shaking so bad, he fell off his chair. “Be calm, Billy,” Winifred instructed, “you just ingested 3 drops of deadly nightshade, it’s best not to fight it.” Winnie got up, stepped over Billy and sat on his chair. “On the other hand, struggle. It may amuse me.” “Why?” Billy choked out. “Why,” repeated Winnie, “in 1 word, Sarah! Did you really believe you could sleep with 1 of my sisters and I wouldn’t find out? The fact that you did it with her in the woods, in broad daylight and so near my cottage leads me to believe that you wanted to get caught or you’re just as stupid as Sarah. You know it’s funny, if someone would have asked me, just last week, who I could trust I would’ve said 3 people, you and my sisters. Now, well, I guess, Mary stands alone.” Billy, who had stopped listening at this point, was crawling to a side table, trying to get to something but Winifred got there first, saw what Billy wanted and laughed at him. “Really, Billy? A spell book? That won’t help you, just because you sleep with withes doesn’t mean that you know how magic works.” Winifred sighs. “Poor Billy, perhaps you can’t think straight because you have to keep all these secrets-yours, mine and now even Sarah’s. Well, I can see to it that you never tell another secret but make no mistake, my love, you’re going to die here tonight!” Right on cue, Billy goes still. Winifred gets a dull needle, sews Billy’s lips together. Then she puts Billy’s body in his favorite chair by the fire and walks out.

May 2, 1693-Billy’s body is found very early the next morning and in a small town like Salem, news travels fast. In fact, Mary was still making the beds and Winifred is still at her vanity table, getting ready for the day, when an upset Sarah stormed in. “You did it, didn’t you?!” Sarah screamed at Winifred. “You killed Billy!” Winifred was on her feet in an instant. “No, Sarah, actually YOU killed Billy. You killed him the moment you invited my lover into your bed!” Sarah shrugged. “What do you want me to say?” Winnie was aghast. “What do I want you to say? Say that Billy had a twin brother I knew nothing about. Say that he forced himself on you. Say that I passed out from the fumes of the bat wings I was boiling that morning and I dreamt the whole thing! Say anything but the truth, that my baby sister willingly spread her legs for the man I loved for 13 years!” “That didn’t mean you had to kill him!” Sarah cried. “What was I supposed to do?” Winnie questioned. “Wish the 2 of you well? Besides if Billy being dead upsets you, why don’t you do something about it? Why don’t you raise him? Oh, that’s right,” Winifred continued with a cruel smile, “you don’t have the know how to do such next level magic because you never paid attention to any of Mother’s lessons because you always preferred boys over books and nothing has changed. All I learned is that no woman is safe around you, including your own sister!” “Sisters,” Mary cuts in, “shall we form a calming circle?” Winifred and Sarah had the same reaction. “Shut up, Mary!” Then Winifred turned her attention back to Sarah. “Don’t worry, Sarah, you can continue your bitch-in-heat lifestyle, just not under my roof!” “Winnie, are you daft?” Sarah asked. “This cottage belongs to all of us.” “Oh really?” Winifred pushed Sarah out of her way and went to Drusilla’s old room. (The 3 sisters still shared the same room since childhood and kept their late mother’s room almost as a shrine.) Winifred went in there to shift trough some important papers until she found the 1 she wanted, returned to the other room and handed it to Sarah. “What is this?”” Asked Sarah. “The deed to this very cottage,” explained Winifred. “Mother transferred it into my name right before she died. Which means that I and I alone own this cottage. You and Mary have been my guests these many years but you, sister Sarah, have worn out your welcome and I want you out now!” “But, where I to go?” Asked Sara. “Why not try the boarding house?” Suggested Winifred, “isn’t that where all the whores of Salem live?” “What about your promise to Mother to take care of us?” Sara wanted to know. Mary squirmed; even she knew it was the wrong thing to say. Winifred licked her lips. “Believe me, Sarah, it’s only because of that promise that you’re not dead in a ditch beside Billy.” When Sara just stood there, Winnie yelled “GO!”

June 1693-The irony was that the split between Winifred and Sarah was toughest on Mary. After all, the last time the sisters were separated was when she fell for Malcom White. Mary knew it was the same, but she still felt uneasy about it. She ran into Sarah in the village 1 day and felt so guilty about it that she confessed to Winifred that evening and to Mary’s surprise Winnie said she didn’t mind if she saw Sarah, after all, Sarah didn’t betray her. “Of all the men in the village, in the world, why did she have to go after Billy?” Winifred asked sadly. “I was with him for 13 years, I loved him, I almost married him twice and I bore his child or at least, I tried to.” Mary tried to comfort her sister while Winnie continued, “I can’t have Sarah in this house, not now. If I had to deal with Sarah right now, I’ll kill her.”

July 1693-Mary also tried to reason with Sara, with proved to be a hard task. Amazingly, Sarah was actually angry at Winifred. “I can’t believe Winnie threw me out all because I was with a man.” “You were with WINNIE’S MAN, surely you must know that!” Mary stressed and Sarah shrugged. “If Billy cheated with me, he may have cheated with someone else.” “That may be, but Winnie wouldn’t have been doubly betrayed.” “But we’re witches, Mary, shouldn’t we thrive on spreading pain and misery?” “On the mortals, Sarah, not each other!” Mary went flying past the graveyard, later the night, and saw something distressing. Winifred picked up on it very quickly because of how quiet Mary was that night. “Oh, Winnie. I hate to tell you this but I flew by this graveyard tonight and I saw Billy’s grave or more importantly, where Billy’s grave was.” “Yes?” Winifred sat, waiting. “Billy was buried right beside Elizabeth.” Winifred said nothing as she stood up and went to the fire. Then she sighed, “this is completely unfair! After I was faithful to that man for 13 years, Billy cheats on me, with my own sister, no less, so I killed him, which didn’t give me the joy I thought it would and what do the idiots of Salem do? They set Billy up for an eternal rest right next to my baby. I tell you, Mary, there is no justice in this world.”

August 1693-Mary’s feelings of something bad happening when the sisters are apart came true in late August when Sarah was stricken with a very bad fever.

September 9, 1693-For the past 2 weeks, Mary spends morning, noon and night at Sarah’s bedside, tending to and nursing her. Mary tries everything and anything she knows to make Sarah well again. Yet, despite her best effects, Mary can’t seem to break Sarah’s fever. Mary feels hopeless as she entered the cottage and then she collapses on the stairway, weeping and that’s where Winifred found her. Mary explains that Sarah is very ill. Mary was afraid that Sarah might die and she just doesn’t know what to do anymore. “Did you give her blackberry milk?” Winnie asked and Mary nodded. “Then she should sleep comfortably tonight and we shall see what can be done tomorrow.” Winnie declared. “We?” Questioned a hopeful Mary. Winifred nodded, helped Mary up and led her to bed. The next day, Winifred tells Mary that there are too many mortals around the boarding house and to properly care for Sarah, they must get Sarah back to the cottage, so they did.

September 16, 1693-After another week with her sisters nursing her, Sarah is back on her feet and as she prepares to move back into her old room, Mary advises her to go downstairs and talk to Winnie. It was only when she reached the ground floor that Sarah realized it, she was nervous. “Winnie,” she started, “now that I’m no longer ill, I was wondering, um, do I have go back to the boarding house or can I stay here? Honestly, I really want to come home.” Winifred nodded. “I know you do, Sarah and I have been thinking about it.” “Really?” Sarah smiled, maybe this was going to easier than she thought. “Yes, Sarah, I have thought about it and I’ve decided that you can come home again, if you agree to my terms.” “Terms?” Sarah’s smile disappeared. “What terms?” Winifred crossed her arms. “First of all, you will, in no way, shape or form, ever utter the name Billy Butcherson in my presence again. Secondly, and I can’t believe I ha

ve to said this, but you will never betray me again. I mean it, Sarah, whether it be a man or a morning muffin, if it’s mine, let it alone. Finally, just because I’m allowing you back into this cottage, does not mean I forgive you. In fact, I think it’s going to be a very, very long time before you and I are even remotely fine again.” What neither sister knew is that they had very little time left.

October 1693-Even with Sarah back in the house, Winifred was still nursing some deep wounds. Sarah and Billy’s affair not only left her with a broken heart, but it also shattered her normally high self-esteem. Now whenever she saw herself in the mirror, Winifred only saw an old woman looking back at her. Before Billy, Winnie always turned to her spell book for comfort, as she did now. She was flipping through the pages 1 day, and when Winifred came across the recipe for the life potion spell, a smile came to her lips.

October 31, 1693-The life potion worked perfectly and the Sanderson sisters successfully stole the life force of little Emily Binx and even turned her big brother Thackery into a black cat. Unfortunately, for Winifred, Mary and Sarah, the town folks were right behind him. The sisters were thrown into 3 separate jail cells. Although they were all questioned, no one said anything. Mary and Sarah were too afraid and Winnie was willful right until the end. At sunset, they were all told their fate, death by hanging in 1 hour. Winifred’s last request was to see her sisters. They were bought to her and they were both crying. “No more tears, sisters.” Winifred instructed. “We must make Mother proud tonight and we must show no fear in front of the mortals.” Mary and Sarah agree. To add insult to injury, the Sanderson sisters are hung right in front of their own cottage. The witches laughed, sung and carried on as if death was the last thing on their minds. Some fool even bought the spell book to the hanging! The book blinked, the boy threw the book to the ground and the book turned itself to the perfect page, much to Winifred’s delight. “Fools! All of you! My ungodly book speaks to you. On all hollow’s eve and the moon is round, a virgin will summon us from under the ground!” The witches were still crackling when they were hung. After realizing that Mary and Sarah are both dead, Winifred’s final thought was I was 1st to be born, and the last to die.

October 31, 1993-Exactly 300 years after they died, the Sanderson sisters return after non-believer Max Dennison, his sister, Dani and their new friend, Alison visit the old Sanderson cottage. While goofing off, Max lights the black flame candle which activates the ancient curse. For the rest of the night, the 3 kids try to outwit the witches. It’s surprisingly easy to do. For Winifred, Mary and Sarah are confused by the modern world and can’t seem to recover the stolen book. By dawn, the sisters turn to dust.

October 31, 2022-29 years after Max did it, the black fame candle is re-lit and Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson live again….

#winifred sanderson #mary sanderson #sarah sanderson #Sanderson Sisters #billy butcherson #max dennison #dani dennison #allison #Hocus Pocus #hocus pocus 2 #bette midler #kathy najimy #sarah jessica parker #fanfiction #My writing #please reblog #please comment

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