AN: So this is going to be a one-shot series, based in the same AU timeline I've created. I originally posted this back on Halloween, and a reviewer called me out on what was admittedly a rushed and shoddy piece. I've thoroughly edited it now, and can say I'm fairly pleased with it. The reason this was supposed to be posted first will become obvious upon reading, but the rest of the one-shots have no particular chronological order. Any can be read alone.
Cora laid all her materials on the table, careful to keep them separate from the remnants of who-knew-what scattered across the surface. She consulted the book again, mentally checking off each listed ingredient. Her hands shook as she ran them down the page. She only had one chance, she couldn't afford to screw up.
She took a deep steadying breath before beginning to mix everything together, first roots then the various powders before adding her own blood. In doing so, she tried desperately to block out the muffled pleas and sobbing from behind her, though she didn't succeed. She hated this spell, this—blood ritual and sacrifice, but it was the only way to reach her goal. She just wished it wasn't quite so dark and demanding when it came to the sacrifice, but then magic always carried a price, especially something so powerful as this. A loud hiss sounded as the potion was completed. Cora sighed in relief before moving onto the next step. Readying herself, she turned to face the source of the sounds. She approached the three children bound in the middle of the pentagram, tears glistening in her eyes. Damn it, why did it have to be kids? Why not someone who deserved to suffer for their crimes? She knew why, purity, innocence and virginity, but it didn't make it any easier to stomach.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, unstrapping her knife from her thigh.
If there was another way she'd do it in a heartbeat, but as it stood there wasn't. Quickly, so the child wouldn't feel as much pain, she slit his throat. The others screamed through their gags but she dealt with them swiftly as well. Her tears mixed with their blood as it ran from their throats to the floor. Gagging, she dipped her fingers in it, shakily beginning to paint the necessary tunes for the ritual. Her mind was in chaos, but as she made her way around the pentagram she rationalized what she had done. She didn't truly believe it, but it was enough to push the guilt away and allow her to concentrate. Wiping her hands on her dress she proceeded to move the children's bodies, taking care not to leave evidence behind. She dropped them into the shallow creek that ran by the cottage, satisfied that by the time they were found they would be beyond identification. Returning, she retrieved the minuscule stump of the candle as she did so, the last shred of Winifred's magic. Though the sacrifice had been important, this was truly the key ingredient. The candle's wax would tie their magic together, and confirm who was to be summoned. Her lighter clicked to life, melting and dripping the wax between each rune and point of the star, the final drop landing in the center.
Cora retrieved her dagger, adding her own blood to that of the innocents. So much blood, she hoped it was worth it.
"By the power of three," she murmured, thinking in turn of the children and the sisters.
Three ruby drops dripped into the circle, sealing the charms. Cora took a deep breath, 'No backing out now,' and began to chant. Surprisingly, the words flowed easily, as did the power through her being, odd since she rarely dabbled in powerful black magic, and it wasn't long before the pentagram began to glow. The ground shuddered, a roar like and earthquake shattering the air and then—all was still. The following silence was heavy and unnatural, like often comes before a heavy storm or tornado or other disaster, and was frankly off-putting. Other than the ominous silence nothing had changed. She was still alone in the cottage.
Cora stood in shock for a moment, eyes wide in disbelief, before the realization the spell had failed fully sunk in.
"Fuck!" she snapped. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
She flew to the book and began frantically flipping through it, certain she'd missed a crucial ingredient or step, but there was nothing. By all rights it should have worked, despite the evidence to the contrary. The brunette hung her head, her failure stooping her shoulders. She'd just wanted...hell, she didn't know. A friend? A teacher? Women like her?
She didn't know, not really. All she knew was that the legend of the Sanderson Sisters had fascinated her since she was five years old, and by the time she'd been a teenager her only goal was to bring them back. Not accidentally like Dani and her brother had done so many years ago, no. She fully knew what she had been looking for when she'd crept into the Sanderson house at sixteen.
Witchcraft in Salem wasn't entirely unexpected but it was heavily frowned upon, especially the sort of magic she was practicing. And god help her if the Dennisons ever found out what she was trying to do. It had taken her nearly ten years and numerous near exposures (after all, hemlock and wolfsbane were all fine and good, but nightshade, blood roses and human body parts, well, not so much) but she'd finally gathered all the power and ingredients she'd needed.
"And it didn't work," she whispered. "Why?"
Lost in her disappointment, Cora failed to notice the most beginning to form and converge over the pentagram. Three silhouettes first appeared and then grew solid, soon enough leaving three extremely confused witches behind as it faded.
Winifred was the first to get over her shock, eyes roaming around the cottage in disinterest. So certain was she that it was merely a trick she failed to notice Cora hunched over the table.
"What new circle of hell is this?" she asked.
Cora screamed, whirling around to face the voice. Her eyes widened, unable to believe what she was seeing. There, in front of her, stood the Sanderson Sisters, whose full attention now rested on her.
"Look, Winnie! A girl!" Sarah yelled excitedly, pulling on the elder's arm. "May I play with her?"
Admittedly limited in knowledge of the sisters though she was, only having the legend and later on Dani's retelling of that fateful Halloween to rely on, she did know two things. Who the sisters were and what each looked like, and that she never, ever, wanted to play with Sarah. Her gaze instead snapped to Winifred, who looked completely uninterested in their surroundings, but was intently focused on her it seemed.
"Tell me, what circle of hell is this?"
"Um, this is Salem, 2018. You aren't in hell anymore."
The woman's eyes widened before filling with anger.
"Impossible! My curse only worked once, on All Hallows' Eve."
So Dani hadn't been lying about Winifred's incredible ego or temper. Oh, this could be fun.
"Well, your book gave me another way," Cora replied, scooping up the time. The redhead's eyes widened, her lips stretching into a smile. "It seems there was another resurrection spell, but it can only be executed by a living witch."
"And I suppose thou art a witch?" Winifred asked, clearly unimpressed.
"You're alive aren't you?" the brunette deadpanned. "Which reminds me, you each need to drink some of this potion if you want to stay that way."
She gestured to the cauldron, the three looking at the brew warily. Cora wasn't surprised when Winifred stepped forward first, chin held high in determination. She expected nothing less of the eldest Sanderson, not when she had faced death the first time with taunts and insults.
"Careful, Winnie!" Mary called, still afraid and clinging to Sarah.
"Tis either a trick or the truth. Either way it can't be as humiliating as being tricked by that boy!"
Cora could hear the irritation in her voice, and knew that if he were there Max would be pleased he had so thoroughly pissed her off. She took a generous swallow, and when nothing out of the ordinary happened her sisters ventured forth. As each drank, excitement began to build in the younger woman. She had actually brought them back! Granted she had no idea how she was going to explain their presence, but even that couldn't ruin her good mood. She just knew her life was going to be far more interesting from now on.
"Welcome to the twenty-first century, ladies," she said with a grin. "This time, things will be a little different."
