Batman: Hocus Pocus Chapter 1- Rise of the Sanderson Sisters!
The year was 1666. June 5th. Agitha Williams had just lost her trial and was convicted of being a witch in Dublin, Ireland. She was then led back to her cage of imprisonment and was sentenced to be hung the very next day at the break of dawn. She was only 16 years old. There is a history lesson about witchcraft that would fit nicely here…..BUT! what you REALLY need to know is that just at the moment that Agitha was about to meet her demise at the gallows 'pole…..the Devil himself appeared to Agitha and offered her a chance at survival.
"I am Beelzebub! He announced. "I can help you, but first you must do something for me!"
"Beelzebub? Satan?" She fretted…."What is it you want me to do?"
"You must sell your soul by taking the life of your abuser" He replied. "And then you will be given great powers and you will be able to free yourself from this contraption."
At first, Agitha declined the Devil's offer; but then he informed her that she was pregnant. She believed the Devil and that renewed her will to live….at any cost! She made the deal to sell her soul and just as the executioner was about to pronounce her dead….Agitha's eyes opened and she sat straight up. She snapped her neck back into place and used her new strength to climb up the rope that she was hanging by and to free herself. She then spotted her abuser in the crowd of panicked onlookers. His name was Jacques! She flew down and landed on top of him. Razor sharp claws sprouted from her hand.
Agitha's hand tensed up ready to strike, but suddenly her hand went limp. "I won't do it!" she declared.
"Noooooo!" The Devil bellowed. "YOU MUST KILL HIM! I WILL HAVE YOUR SOUL!"
Suddenly Agitha passed out and found herself on a ship head to the New World. She ended up in a place called Salem, Massachusetts. On December 31, 1666, Agitha gave birth to not one, not two, but THREE children. Yes, she gave birth to triplets!
Agitha raised the three boys happily for six years. There were many happy birthdays and holidays spent together; in fact, that Christmas, she gave all the boys matching red and green sweaters and fedora hats. Unfortunately, only young Frederick liked the new clothing; the other boys thought it looked rather silly and would not wear them.
Yes, these were happy times and Agitha thought they would last forever. Agitha practiced her witchcraft in secret and had mastered many new incantations and spells. She even began to mentor three teenage girls who also had talents of their own when it came to the dark arts….The Sanderson Sisters! Winifred Sanderson was a strange looking young lady with crooked teeth that stuck out. She was the smartest and the boldest and the obvious leader of the sisters. Mary was a bit on the portly side due to an affection for the dark art of snacking and Sarah was the prettiest with long flowing blond hair and a beautiful singing voice…but not much going on in the brains department.
In Salem, Winnifred had refused to marry John Pritchett, who was sweet on her. She defied the authority of the Church and was banished from Salem by Reverend Traske. Instead of allowing themselves to be separated, the three sisters escaped into the forest and it was there that they first met Agitha. Agitha had a secret cottage in the forest where she could practice her "Strange Magic" away from prying eyes. It was here that she taught the ways of the "Witchy Woman" to the Sanderson Sisters. She even gifted the sister with a magic book. The book had an eye on the front that opened and closed and looked around when you spoke to it and seemed to have a mind of its own. The book bonded instantly with Winifred and would follow all of her commands.
Agitha had gotten a job at a local tavern and was working one evening as usual when fate came knocking. It was her former abuser, Jacques! The FATHER of her children! He was stunned to see her but before he could get a second glance she used her abilities to change her appearance. One of the other patrons noticed this and yelled out, "She's a "Black Magic Woman!" It's a WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH!"
Things went completely amiss and total chaos ensued! The mob in the tavern had her cornered against the wall. It looked like she was kneeling to pray but suddenly she lifted her hands up from the praying position and raised them high in the air. A powerful gust of wind blew so hard it smashed through the wall and created an opening. She lifted her hand again as if she were grabbing something and an old broom that was in the opposite corner flew across the room and landed in her open hand. Just as the mob was about to close in on her she positioned the broom between her legs…..and flew through the opening in the wall and into the night sky. Her silhouette could be seen flying in front of the full moon which was in the distance. Agitha went to find her sons, for she knew they were in danger. Alas, she was too late. Jacques and some of the angry men had found the boys and killed them. Frederick was burned so badly she could only recognize him by the remnants of the green and red sweater that she had given him for Christmas.
Agitha fell to the ground in tears. "Please, let me die! I do not want to live any longer!"
Suddenly, someone was standing back in the shadows and began to speak.
"Honey, I'm home," said the voice.
"Jacques….Jacques Napier!? Why!? Why have you done this to me!?"
"Let me ask you Agitha…Have you ever danced with the DEVIL in the pale moonlight? I always ask that question of all my prey…..I just like the sound of it!"
"You…..you're the DEVIL!" Agitha exclaimed.
"I thought I was a Pisces! Now c'mon Agee baby, how about a little you an me?" the Devil asked.
Just then, Agitha heard the voices outside. The mob of townspeople had surrounded the cabin with weapons and torches.
"My children are dead! Now, I want to die as well!" Agitha exclaimed.
"A little song, a little dance….I can give your children a second chance. I don't want silver, I don't want gold….you know what I need…your SOUL!"
Agitha considered it for a moment. She then realized that this Devil had manipulated her since she was 16 and had completely ruined her life. She did not want to spend eternity indebted to him. At least if she died now she would have her soul….and peace.
The cabin was on fire now as the mob continued to scream and yell outside. Bricks and stones and sticks that were on fire were being thrown through the windows. Instead of looking fearful, Agitha closed her eyes and began to meditate. As the fire closed in on her closer and closer she began to send her powers out of herself. You could see the magic flowing in waves of green, red and purple. The fire began burning her and the pain was excruciating but still she held on. She held on until the waves of her power reached their destination…The Sanderson Sisters. The sisters had been hiding from all the commotion going on in town when suddenly they felt the energy hitting them. The green into Winifred, the purple into Mary and the red into Sarah.
"What is this?" Winifred questioned.
"Feels tingly!" Mary exclaimed.
"Yes, TINGLY! Hee hee!" Sarah chimed in.
"Why am I cursed with such idiot sisters!? Do you not KNOW what is happening! They have killed Agitha! She is sending all of her powers and abilities into us! Hopefully most of the power is sent into me so it is not wasted on the two of you nitwits!"
"Salem thinks they have gotten rid of witches!? Ha! They haven't seen anything yet!"
"SISTAS! COME! It is time for us to run amok in Salem!" Winifred declared.
"Amok! Amok! Amok! Amok! Amok! Amok!." Sarah sang joyfully as she skipped along behind Winifred and Mary.
"Get ready Salem! It's time for you to learn...life's a WITCH and then you DIE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Winnifred declared.
To be continued…
**** To learn more about the story of Agitha Williams; read "Batman vs. the 666 Chapter 5: Season of the Witch" (along with the other chapters) by the author Guano Droppings!
