Long, long ago when people still believed in witches.
Salem, Massachusetts- 31 October, in the year of our Lord, 1692.
"And may this be the fate of all the witches, warlocks, and sorcerers who attempt to work their evil magic within the township limits of Salem. The book of exorcism, please," The mayor asks as he turns around and takes the book.
"Mayest thou and thy kind be condemned forever to eternal flames never to return to the neighborhood of Salem. And now, while we prepare for the extinction of the father of this witch, the old sorcerer who attempted to come to her aid..."
"Popped maize. Get your fresh Indian popped maize, and tuppence a poke. It's buttered, it's hot, it's fresh. An anti-witch charm in every poke. Tuppence, please," Tobias Fell calls out as he walks through the crowd. "Popped maize. Here we are," he hands a few packets to the children who are gathering with their parents.
The crowd is silent as a masked man approaches the pyre with a lit torch.
"Father, I'm scared," Elena cries anxiously from atop the pyre as she struggles against the ropes securing her to the pole.
"It will be okay, daughter."
As the torcher sets flame to the pyre, Elena's heart starts pounding so hard she can barely take in a breath.
Agony is instantaneous.
As the blaze grows, Elena decides that night 'twas not an omen, for naught could have prepared her for such betrayal. She locks eyes with Alessandro Salvatore as she feels the hair on her body singe and smolder. Her expression twists painfully as the rising smoke reeks bewilderingly of charred flesh.
And so, as the bonfire climbs, and her vision turns into a scarlet haze, she hears her father chanting and joins in until they breathe their last.
People are gathered around the pyre as the flames are dying out and the smoke curls up toward the sky.
His mother approaches as the crowd begins to disperse. "What has gotten into thee, Alessandro?"
"What?" he asks as he stares at the pyre.
"Dost doubt she was a witch?"
"I should never have accused her if I were not sure."
"And her father?" his mother asks as she stares at him.
"Unquestionably a sorcerer. Mother if thou hadst seen what I saw..."
"We both saw our cows turn pink, then blue, and our sheep dancing the minuet."
"But thou didst not see Elena?" Alessandro says regrettably.
"Elena?"
"She told me her name when she chased me into the hayloft. She was young and more beautiful than all the women that ever were."
"How didst you not tell that to the judges?"
"Because I could never describe her beauty."
"What happened in the hayloft, Alessandro?"
"She brought her brunette tresses close to my face and whispered... 'Alessandro Salvatore thou has denounced me as a witch. For thou shalt be accursed. Thou and thy children and thy children's children all will be under the same curse'."
"What was the curse?" his mother prods him.
"I and all my descendants will be unhappy in love. The marriages we make will be disastrous until..." Alessandro pauses as he stares at what's left of the burn.
"Yes?"
"'Tis too wicked to tell thee, Mother."
"Rubbish!" she counters. "Thou art in love with Sarah Sanderson and even betrothed to her."
"Aye, Mother."
"And Sarah is a woman among thousands."
"Aye, Mother, she is that," Alessandro agrees as Sarah approaches, closing the distance between them.
"Alessandro, wouldst leave thy future wife to sit there all alone?" she posits as she studies him. "What ails him, Mistress Salvatore?"
"Sarah. You will find he is a dreamer," Margareta replies as she shakes her head.
"He needs only a firm hand," Sarah counters as she lays her palm on his forearm. "Alessandro, I must ask thee to be more attentive in the future."
Allesandro turns around as two men are carrying a rooted tree. "Look, the Oak. Twill be planted over their ashes."
"Why?" Sarah asks.
"To hold the evil spirits... shh," Alessandro lowers his voice. "prisoner in its roots thus keeping their wicked powers from surviving. I hope..."
1774
"And this is the tree which was planted over their ashes. The witches' spirits are imprisoned in the roots. Imprisoned forever," Matteo Salvatore explains as he looks up from under the branches of the majestic tree.
He takes her hand, "Abigail, I have the honor to...to"
"Are you proposing to me?"
"Yes, Abigail."
Oh, Matteo," Abigail sighs happily as she leans in to kiss him.
They both freeze at the sound of mischievous giggling.
"What was that?"
1861
"Fort Sumter fired upon! War declared between the states!"
Dante Salvatore ducks when a vase comes flying at him, breaking the window.
"Anabelle, you must control yourself." He raises his arms to protect himself when she reaches for another vase.
"Drop your hand, Dante Salvatore, I wish to throw this vase." Anabelle glares at him as she raises her arm.
"Master Salvatore, did you hear? War!" Their servant enters the room.
"Where is the nearest recruitin' office?" Dante Salvatore asks as he grabs his top coat and rushes toward the door.
"Running off to war like a coward!" Anabelle yells and launches the vase. It grazes his head as he hurries out of the house.
1926
"I hate that man," Lilian Salvatore fumes as she shares a glass of wine with one of the women in her clique at a swank Manhattan eatery.
"You don't have to stay married to him," Eloise Cooke points out as she picks up another one of the appetizers.
"His bank account was and is the main draw. And now we have the boys. But at least I get to see Julian on the side," Lilian chuckles and takes a swill from her glass.
"If Giuseppe finds out about him, you'll be packing your bags," Eloise cautions as she shares a look with her friend.
"Nope, I have the goods on him, too. He has a few ladies of his own. Giuseppe told me once about a curse that was placed on his family in the late 1600s. No Salvatore man will ever be happy in love and marriage," Lilian giggles as the waiter appears with their meals.
Eloise raises her flute and dings it with Lilian's.
"To the curse!"
And so on, until...
This is my 160th story! Title from the song by Mercyful Fate.
This story is set in the early 1940s. It's just a fun little respite from the angst of UPI before we pick it up again with TQR.
Thank you, Eva, CosmicAdventurer, Florencia7.
Chapter title: 'I Put a Spell on You' from the Disney movie, Hocus Pocus.
Have a wonderful day, and thank you for reading.