Chapter Five

"I never longed for power, I longed for love." ~ Anne Hale

As I read through the spells and looked upon the illustrations within my Book of Shadows, I found many incantations that would aid me in my future as a witch. A love spell was what I sought to bind Reverend Mather to me forever. As I worked to understand the process and the requirements, I spoke gently to my little friend Brown Jenkins. He chattered to me in adorable squeaks as though he too were trying to understand what was written in the book that my father had left for me.

"Ahhh, here it is..." I said when I discovered the perfect spell, the one that would surely make Cotton want to take me as his bride.

I was smiling with glee as I read the spell, learning what I needed to do. "The blood of someone I love," I murmured as I read over the ingredients which were needed.

Whom did I love... besides Cotton... and my parents who were decaying in the damp earth of the cellar? No one! No one at all. "Perhaps my own blood would work for this spell," I spoke aloud to myself. "I shall use my own blood as the ingredient, in the hope that it will be enough..."

I ran the blade of the knife over my palm, watching as bright red droplets fell into the wooden bowl where I had collected my love-spell concoction. The drops fell in but I did not receive the desired result. There was no great puff of smoke. My spell was not working!

As I gazed down at my precious friend, the adorable Mr. Jenkins, I despaired at what I must do. I could not sacrifice my only friend... not for the spell, but suddenly I knew at that moment that I must. I had to do the unthinkable!

"Forgive me," I said as I grasped the tiny mouse in my bleeding hand. I held him gently at first, over the bowl, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew what I had to do to attain what was my greatest desire. Sadly, it must come at an incredible price, just like the lost blood of my virginity.

"I am so sorry," I said with regret as I squeezed the very life out Mr. Brown Jenkins, my loyal familiar. As he screeched in agony, his blood splattered into the bowl, blending with the rest of my concoction. To my great relief, I witnessed a white puff of smoke rising forth from out of the bowl. My spell was working! I would soon have everything I needed to attain Cotton's love. I would perform the spell that would bind his heart to mine.

I spoke the words from my book of spells, strong words of the witch. As I chanted my love spell, I lit nine crimson candles.

"Ohhh Dark Lord, I call to thee for Cotton Mather to bring his love to me.

Ohhh Dark Lord, I call to thee for Cotton Mather to bring his love for me to see."

I reached for 9 red rose petals and 9 cinnamon sticks. I crushed the ingredients into the bowl along with the blood of my familiar.

"Ohhh Dark Lord, I offer you 9 crushed cinnamon sticks and 9 blood-red rose petals. I also offer thee the blood of one I have loved as a token of my undying devotions. I thank thee for your aid in my dark magic. I ask thee to bring Cotton Mather to me. I ask thee to grant me his unwavering love."

Suddenly all of the candles were extinguished one after another and I knew then that the spell had worked. Cotton was mine! The love-spell was complete. I would have him... and I would have his love!

I added one final plea. "Ohhh Dark Lord, I ask thee that he carry flowers within his hand- that he bring flowers for me. I ask thee that he would come to take my hand in marriage and that I would become his bride. All of this I ask of thee, Dark One. So mote it be."

I dropped to my knees, silently praying, but it wasn't to the Dark One to which I prayed. It was to the one up above - the one that Cotton spoke of in all his sermons. He loved God with all of his heart and in order to be his wife, I knew that I too must love Him. Couldn't I serve both? How could I be the wife of a reverend and also be a witch and in league with the Dark One?

A tear rolled from my cheek because I was torn between my faith and the darkness of what I had become. I was a witch. I had to accept my destiny, but it wasn't easy. All I wanted above anything else was Cotton. I wanted him to love and to cherish. I wanted him to accept me. But could he ever love me, knowing my true nature? I feared it wouldn't be so, but it had to be, so that is why I had no other choice but to create the love-spell.

"Now bring him to me!" I called out, my voice trembling on my lips.

I looked down at my beloved little friend, his body crushed and broken. Again I had killed. A tear rushed down my cheek as I wrapped his tiny body in delicate linen. I must give Little Brown Jenkins a proper burial.

I left the secret room and carried the mouse wrapped in fabric. He too I would bury in the cellar amongst my parents, the others I had loved. Now there was only one left. Cotton. And I had to wait for him to come to me. I had to trust in the strength of my magic. I had to believe that my incantation would summon him back to Salem.

As I crawled into bed that night, I thought of him. Would he arrive by carriage the next day? Would he ask me to become his wife?

My heart beat faster. I could scarcely wait to see him. "Cotton," I breathed as I saw his bright green eyes in my mind's eye.

I wanted him to LOVE me... just as much as I loved him. We had to be married - immediately. It was pertinent that he ask for my hand in marriage the minute that he arrived back in Salem. At that moment in time, I did not understand why a hasty marriage was so vital... but I would. In time, I would understand exactly why I had no other choice but to forge with Cotton Mather an unbreakable bond.