A/N: Ok, so this is in honor of Halloween and I hope to have a chapter every few days until I finish on Halloween night. This is all one just giant hope though so sorry if this extends into November. So this story is not a verbatim re-telling of the movie. Yes, it is a lot like the movie but somethings will be different. Also, there will be fem! characters in this.
Alice- Fem! England
Elin- Fem! Norway
Andreea- Fem! Romania
So who better to be the Sanderson Sisters than the Magic trio's fem versions? This then led me to the difficult decision of creating names for fem! Norway and fem! Romania so I merely used popular names for females in their country. Now without further ado... Hocus Pocus!
Hocus Pocus
Salem 1693
Dawn's amber rays were nigh to appear in the morning sky. The chill from the evening still clung to the limbs of the trees and blades of the grass. An enchanting melody was whispered in the background; almost as if it were the mere wind cajoling the town's barely wakening occupants back into a deep slumber.
"Ludwig?" An albino teen murmured as he slowly found himself roused from sleep. The early morn did not seem to hold any ill will or malice but the teenager couldn't shake the foreboding thoughts from his head.
'As long as Ludwig's fine…' Gilbert reassured himself.
"Ludwig?" He called out once more, receiving no answer. Groggily, the teen made his way outside of their small wooden dwelling. The pair hadn't been living in the Americas long, a few months perhaps. Previously, they had lived in the upper story of their father's blacksmith in the 'old country'. Gilbert had gotten used to referring it as such as neither pair knew just where in the 'old country' they were from. Their home had resided just on the border of Prussia and Germany, or as far as any could surmise it was. Some said the division between the two nations lied twenty miles to north just after the second oak trees. Others claimed it was 10 miles south at the rivers bend. Their mother's running joke was that Gilbert was born in Prussia and Ludwig in Germany. And while their mother dressed up the situation with humor, the situation in truth was tiring as they paid taxes to both states. Perhaps that was what convinced his parents to move to the 'new country', the land beyond the dark ocean depths, America. A French fur trapper was the one to allude to the great natural riches this 'new world' possessed. If their father could not run a smithery in the Americas, he could become a fur trapper.
It all seemed so perfect. And it all ended in a perfect tragedy. What they hadn't been told were of the perils they would face. Storms and strict rationing were expected but the multitude of sickness aboard was stifling. Their mother fell ill first. Gilbert tried to tend to her as best he could but soon found himself overwhelmed as his little brother and father succumbed too. In the end, only his brother pulled through. It broke his heart that he couldn't give his parents a proper burial. There would be no grave to visit, no solace in their earthly hearths, only a memory. But, he still had his brother. He wouldn't wallow in sorrow. Instead, he'd throw himself head first into taking care of the only family he had left. Thankfully, their father hadn't left them completely destitute. Granted they had little money left after paying their crossing fee, but Gilbert's father had taught him well. The albino knew various tricks and trades and any good blacksmith. He only hoped it would serve him and his brother well in the 'new world'. Thankfully, it did; although he wasn't sure if it was their tragic story or his skill that had earned him an apprenticeship at the local blacksmiths when they landed.
"Ludwig?" Gilbert cried out once more, finally rousing enough to don on a shirt and trousers and meander to his stoop. It was just a slight movement that caught his eye but one that filled him with dread. His little brother was running into the woods behind a woman…no, a witch.
"Ludwig!" Gilbert cried out, terror coursing through his bones. Quickly rounding on his step, Gilbert nearly flew to his neighbor's doorstep and began pounding on the wood. "Answer the door Elizabeta!" he hollered, before nearly falling into the entranceway.
In front of him stood a groggy and grumpy brunette.
"Why ist thou calling upon me so early?" she grumbled, having not yet taken the time to notice the frantic state Gilbert was in. Her chocolate hair fell in loose unkempt curls and her viridian green eyes hidden under the fists which rubbed at her eyes. A pale white frock covered her body,something that Gilbert would have surely mocked her for had the situation been different.
"Luddy!" Gilbert gasped, "He's gone into the woods after a witch!"
"A witch!" Elizabeta shrieked.
"Yes, now rouse your father and the other town's people. I'm going after him!"
"But how willst we know where to go?" Elizabeta demanded before a plume or purple smoke broke from above the tree line.
"They conjure," Gilbert whispered, his voice hoarse.
"Go," Elizabeta commanded. "I'll wake my father and the others. Run!"
Gilbert obeyed the brunette and tore into the trees after his brother. The branches tore at his clothes and the slippery mud threatened to send him to knees, which it did on occasion. Sticky silvers of blood pooled from scratches and nicks he received as he kept up his frantic pace. The woods just kept pulling him deeper, as if they were in league with the witches and wished to keep him trapped in there forever. The canopy above prevented him from following the trail of purple smoke but Gilbert pressed on. He couldn't give up. Finally, he reached a clearing. The sun had finally broken into the sky though it was still early. Gilbert desperately looked about, hoping to spot a sign of the witches whereabouts. A plume of violet rose up to the west and Gilbert immediately took after it. Thankfully, the trees here weren't as dense allowing the albino to stay on track. Gilbert burst through the thicket nearly falling into the river surrounding the eastern half of the house. Spotting a window, he gingerly crossed the moss laden stones trying not to fall into the dark stream.
Quietly, the teen pushed open the frame and peered into the rustic cabin. The innards were mainly brown as both the home and most of the furniture was made of wood. Various cabinets and book shelves littered the walls, all of which were filled with ominous vials and books. Lit candles decorated nearly every available surface as the cabin's occupants appeared to prefer the waxen lights to the sun.
"Look here sisters! Just one more ingredient and the potion will be ready," a graying witch in pigtails cries out maliciously. "Sister, why don't thou let me brew the position for a while?" the blonde piqued. Her eyes were sunken in and hidden by the bags of her eyelids although one could still see the green iris beneath. A large and unkempt mole protruded just above a bushy brow on her right eye. Her hands were worn and feeble, decorated with both large and small liver spots that Gilbert could only assume freckled her whole body under her green cloak and bodice.
"Because thou'st would make it explode," the witch hovering over the cauldron replied in return. Her hair, like the other witch's, was scraggly and frayed. Though, her hair was closer to having turned pure white while her sister's was more akin to salt and pepper. Her frock wasn't as elaborate as green-eyed witch which was decorated in various embroideries and bobbles to the extent to which it seemed she suffered from a sewing affliction.
'Perhaps she feels poorly about her chest, or lack thereof,' Gilbert pondered as he thought back to his friend and neighbor, Elizabeta, who was quite well endowed.
But this witch wore a simple lavender dress made of a flowing type of fabric that swayed as she stirred the brew. Her eyes were dull, pale blue and Gilbert almost wondered if she was blind as they stared listless into the cauldron. Small moles dotted the countor of the frown that was etched on her features.
"I shall not!" the flat-chested witch shouted indignantly.
"Oh yes thou'st would!" a graying brunette, the same one who lured Ludwig into the woods laughed. Her dress was far less modest than the lavender witch's but lacked the ornamentation of the pig-tailed witch. This witch's frock was an obscenely low cut ruby dress that probably would have matched the fire pits of hell. Although Gilbert was far more preoccupied with the scandalous cleavage he could see than the color of the garment. And while this witch was the easiest to look at, her decrypt age and wrinkled still prevailed and appeared to be the common element between the three.
"Oh, shut up the both of you!" the emerald clad witch spat, her eyes growing venomous as she turned on her fellow witches. "Fine! I shan't touch the potion but I suppose I shall inform thee wretches that it is time to add a dead man's toe," the blonde pouted.
"Oh, doth Alice pout?" the brunette teased as her wirey auburn flew about her head in a chaotic dance.
"Shove it Andreea and fetch a dead man's toe!" Alice bit.
"Dead man's toe! A dead man's toe! Dead man's toe!" the brunette cheered, clearly taking no offense at the others tone as she danced about the abode.
"I said shut it Andreea!" Alice snapped as she grabbed the necessary ingredient and handed it to the silver haired mage who promptly added it to the potion.
"So mean Alice," Andreea answered, now sporting a frown.
"Quiet both of thee," the purple clad hag bit, "Now Alice, what else must we do?"
"Hmmm," Alice hummed thoughtfully as she read the instructions from her retched tome, "It says here that we must add 'a bit of thy own tongue'." All three gathered round the cauldron before biting their tongue and spitting into the brew, turning it an eerie green.
"Haha! Sisters it's ready!" Alice grinned maliciously.
"Ist thou sure?" the silver haired witch answered blandly.
"Yes Elin," Alice replied, venom in her tone.
"My apologies my sister we just know your talent for brewing-"
"That doth not mean I cannot read!" Alice spat.
"Who doth care! Let's become young again!" Andreea giggled.
"Let's," Alice sighed softly for smiling. Taking the large wooden spoon that had been used to brew the potion, Alice scooped the liquid in. "Open up child," she hummed, pushing the large spoon to Ludwig's lips.
"Stop!"
All of the witches turned to face the voice to find a boy now standing in their midst.
"Sisters!" Alice screeched, not wanting to deal with the meddlesome teenager herself.
Both Andreea and Elin went after the boy.
"Come here little boy!" Andreea giggled, happily going after Gilbert whilst Elin went about the matter more stoically. Gilbert ducked behind the cauldron pushing it into the two witches and knocking it over.
"My potion!" Alice cried. With fiery light in her eyes, Alice turned towards Gilbert. Sparks flew from her finger tips hitting the albino and causing him to pass out from the pain. "Impudent brat!" Alice hissed. "And tho! Just what's the matter with thee! Letting a human boy best thee sisters!"
"Sorry Alice. I wanted to play with him before we killed him," Andreea admitted bashfully.
Elin didn't offer an explanation, merely a miffed expression.
"No matter. Look!" Alice cried, pointing to Ludwig. The boy was now glowing. "He has taken some of the potion! His life force is ours for the taking!" Alice cackled. "Sisters," Alice cried, holding out her hands, "Join me."
Together the three approached the young boy. The three puckered their weathered and chapped lips as they began to suck and draw the illuminated life force from the young child.
Gilbert groaned as he woke from his stupor. His ruby eyes blinked repeatedly as he regained consciousness.
"No, …Ludwig," moaned Gilbert as he came to. Ruby eyes fell upon the witches sucking his little brother's life source. "Ludwig."
But it was too late. Ludwig's once bright, blonde hair was split and gray; his skin was wrinkled and dull and youthful eyes weary and dead. The boy's life source had been devoured.
"Ahhh," the three breathed merrily. Their frayed roots, wrinkled faces, and moles disappeared. Alice's snarled hair had turned a golden blonde and her eyes shone like emeralds. Her weathered skin and liver spots all but vanished. Her skin was smooth of spoke of soft velvet caresses. Elin's hair was rejuvenated as well and long platinum locks fell down past her back. Ice blue eyes, while now youthful, remained cold and callous. Curled auburn hair rested playful along the last witch's back matching the spark in crimson eyes. Her wrinkles had disappeared as well and chest seemed perkier as well.
"We're young again!" Andreea giggled, dancing around.
"Yes! Oh, what a good little book mummy has," Alice cooed, petting the book. "And now, we shall suck the souls of one hundred more children so that thee shall earn eternal youth and beauty!"
"Ugly hags!" Gilbert spat. The three witches turned back to face the recovering Gilbert. The boy was clearly injured judging by the way he clung to the wooden support beam to stay on his feet.
"'Ugly hags'?' Sisters! Do you hear what he called thee?" Alice sneered.
"Let him suffer," Elin answered spitefully.
"Suffer he shall. But how?" Alice pondered. "I know, we'll have thy book decide."
Gilbert had yet to see the devil tome so closely before but cringed at its jacket which appeared to be woven together with human skin. A yellowed eye had been placed on the latch and Gilbert shuddered as the one eye gaze tore through him. Gilbert wasn't sure but he knew no good could come of whatever knowledge or spells it held. Suddenly, the book flew open, the pages flapping about before it grew still and settled.
"Oh yes, this is perfect," Alice grinned maliciously as she finished reading the book's choice of punishment. Her sisters peered over her shoulder and read the ungodly inscription after her, similar smirks plastering their features.
"Sisters," Alice said, placing the book down on the potions cabinet nearby so that her hands were free to perform the enchantment. "Repeat after me: Twist the bones and bend the back, trim him of his baby fat, give him hair as black as black, and a tail that he doth lack, nine lives you'll get and some more, never will thy greet deaths door, suffer eternal you shall see, a witch's companion will thou be."
Immediately, Gilbert's skin began to burn. He felt as if a fire had been set ablaze through his veins. His throat was hoarse and cried out for help though only a wretched sound between an anguished cry and violent hiss made it past his lips.
'I'm dying,' he thought before blacking out.
"Ah, what a cute little kitty," Alice mocked, staring at the limp body of the ebony feline before her.
"Let's keep it!" Andreea giggled, picking up the slowly awakening animal and swinging it about.
"Perhaps, but thy boy still keeps thy's free will though and may be burdensome," Alice commented dryly and as if on cue, the cat emit a horrid hiss and scratched at the brunette.
"Eeep!" Andreea cried, dropping the feline immediately allowing it to disappear somewhere in the house.
Both Elin and Alice laughed at Andreea as she nursed her injured hand.
"I doth not find it so amusing sisters," Andreea pouted.
Alice opened her mouth ready to respond before an angry cry outside of their home alerted them to the growing mob outdoors. Though it was daylight, the torches and various outlines of other makeshift weapons belonging to the villagers could still be seen through the frosted glass.
"Witches!"
"Come forth!"
"Thou shall burn for thy transgressions!"
"Witches?" Alice answered curiously whilst Andree and Elin went about hiding the body of little Ludwig. Andreea conspicuously had placed a sheet over the boy earning her a slap from Elin for her stupidity. Moving towards a trunk placed against the wall, Elin opened the lid and motioned for her sister to bring the body there. Andreea begrudgingly complied, dragging the boy to her sister while she inadvertently knocked over numerous vials and books. Alice glared at the two but they paid little heed, too preoccupied in their task to notice the venom in her emerald eyes.
"We know what thee truly are. Now reveal thyselves devil women and repent!
"Well thou could hardly blame three maidens from refraining in opening thou's hearth to such angry and malicious cries," Alice answered, trying her best to sound pitiful and afraid.
"Break the door', a person cried out. The townspeople were clearly unimpressed by her theatrics. A second the later, the door was removed from its hinges and knocked Alice back.
"Alice!" Andreea and Elin cried, not quite finished in hiding Ludwig's body.
"Look! Ludwig!" a townsperson cried out, seeing the boy's now decrepit face sticking out of the trunk.
"Witch!" the villagers spat in unison, dragging the three from their abode. Although the three were painfully guilty, a trial was still held to uphold the honor of the town. Thus, it was only by nightfall, the three witches had been strung up to a nearby tree, the feet barely touching the barrels that prevented their necks from breaking prematurely.
"Thy neck is most uncomfortable," Andreea giggled and rolled her neck, attempting and failing at flirting with the hangman.
"I ask you one last time, where ist Gilbert?" Elizabeta bit. While they had quickly discovered the lifeless body of Ludwig, they couldn't find hide nor hair of Gilbert.
"…I don't know…I suppose cat's got my tongue," Alice sneered before letting loose a cackle to which her sisters joined her in.
"Witch!"
"Yes, why thank you!" Alice giggled. "Now then, sisters," Alice called, drawing her sisters into harmonizing with her. "Ahhhhh-"
"Listen to her not," a church member cried. The townspeople immediately covered their ears, trying to block out the dreadful sung of the sisters and thus protect themselves from whatever curse they were trying to perform. In the chaos, Alice's spellbook –it had been brought as evidence of witchcraft against the three- had been dropped so that the man could cover his ears as well. The cover opened upon its release and the pages flew about before settling on a page. Alice grinned at what the tome told her.
"Fools! All of you!" Alice chastised, "My ungodly book speaks to you. On 'All Hallow's Eve' when the moon is around, a virgin shall summon us from under the ground. Oh, we shall be back. And the lives of all the children shall be ours!" Alice spat and let loose an evil cackle followed by her sisters before the barrel was kicked from under her and her two sisters.
So I worked pretty hard on this and I hope you like it. Please review and look forward to some both US and the UK in the next chapter. :) Review! I'm a comment whore!