Pretty Little Lies
Tenth Prompt: Burn
Word Count (for drabble only): 344 words
Salem, Massachusetts: 1 mile away.
Selina shivered, watching as the sign flew by. Even the name made her body shiver.
Every American knew about the Salem Witch Trials, where superstitious colonists accused their neighbors and burned some alive. Every American witch also knew the true story, how one witch sacrificed her kindred in an effort to gain power.
Divine flame was a powerful substance, even if humans didn't understand why. As the lore went, the universe was created by a cluster of magical energy that evolved to become sentient. It's first experiment with magic was what created fire, which is what offered the element such a prominent place in the world.
Many magicians had tried to recreate this experiment, but all had failed due to incorrect conditions. This particular witch believed the act of sacrifice was enough to open the void where fire was first born, a void that opened when a life ended. Most of the Earthen witches today considered the idea absurd, writing her off as a madwoman who preyed on the fears of others.
Selina wasn't so sure. The witch who'd caused the burnings had disappeared after the trials concluded, so no one knew what the results of her experiments were. Had she burned humans in vain, or had this served a greater purpose?
After learning the story from Acheron, it'd taken short work to convince her mother to take her to Salem. She was as interested as Selina in the magical history of the town, though slightly more skeptical of what there was their to find. By modern records, there was no way to prove anything truly magical had happened all those years ago.
But not by older records. Acheron knew some fascinating things about the world, even if he never told her how exactly he knew them.
Selina looked out the open window, observing the town as they entered. The car stopped before a dirty-looking motel, and her mother barked at her to get out.
Time to see what history had to offer.
A/Ns: When I saw the prompt 'Burn', I immediately thought about witch burnings. Then I had the idea that the Salem Witch Trials were actually a lot different than what the records said. Then I applied Selina, and it all fit together.
Usually, I don't write two drabbles in twodays, but I felt like writing and my partner still hasn't sent in the epilogue for Out of the Darkness. So I came here.
Thanks for stopping by, special thanks to those who review, and I'll see you on the far side!