The sun was dying in the sky as Cotton Mather entered the home of the former magistrate - the home he expected he would share with his new wife. If only he hadn't disappeared on their wedding day, but he needed to help a friend.
"Anne, I'm home!" he spoke, but his wife was no where in sight. He walked through the house looking for her, but saw no sign of his lovely, young bride.
"Anne?" he called out as he came upon a door within the wall.
"What's this?" he said aloud as he ascended the stairs.
At the top of the steps, he came upon a room - a room that he had never known had existed.
What was this room?
There was a table with many books strewn upon it. There were candles... and...
"Good God!" he gasped as he picked up a worn book of spells. The drawings of witches and hell-fire caused him to drop the book back onto the table. What did this mean?!
He heard a sound directly behind him. It sounded like a whisper... or perhaps a sigh.
He turned suddenly, the breath trapped within his throat. "Anne?" he murmured.
Had she been there all along?
No, she had not! She just appeared, suddenly, without warning.
"You're home," she said as she gazed at him sweetly. His dear, innocent Anne. He loved her so much. She took his breath away.
Gently he reached out, caressing her long red hair. "I missed you," he said, but then in an instant, his smile had faded.
He gestured to the contents of the room. "What is this?" he asked, although deep in his heart, he already knew the answer.
"Cotton, I- I am a witch."
"How? How could this be? Not you, Anne. Never you."
All of his life, he had sworn to destroy all witches. He had been instructed by his father to drive all of the witches from Salem, but not Anne. Not his sweet, innocent one. She couldn't be a witch!
"I was just as surprised as you are... at first. But I haven't changed... not really. I am still your Anne. And I love you..."
Hot tears filled Cotton's eyes. "You're too good to be a witch."
"Not all witches are cruel and ugly. Deep in my heart, I am the same... the same as I was before I discovered the truth... but..." Her voice trailed off. "I do have one regret."
"I wanted you to marry me...so I preformed a spell," she confessed. "I made you fall in love with me."
Cotton just shook his head. "No," he said. "I already loved you, Anne - from the moment we met. I just needed a little time."
"Then you don't... hate me?"
"I could never hate you," he sighed. "I love you... and that's the hell of it."
He crushed her to him, pressing her body against his. He was ready to consummate their marriage. He was eager to show her just how much he loved her. He kissed her passionately, then he lifted her in his embrace.
He stopped at the top of the stairs. "Do you have any more secrets before I take you to bed?"
She let out a little giggle, then she smiled. He knew he was in for it; Cotton Mather had fallen in love with the witch.