Bewitching My Love (9 page)

“
Mary Wilds, what do you say? You here stand charged with sundry acts of witchcraft by you done or committed upon the body of Sarah Nichols.”

“
I am innocent, I know nothing of it. I have done no witchcraft.” Mary stared over the heads of the people sitting in the front rows. Making eye contact with the fair-skinned girl sitting in the back, whose face was covered, except for her eyes, she wondered, whose eyes were they, she knew them, somehow.

“
Sarah Nichols, look upon this woman Mary Wilds and see if this be the woman that you have seen hurting you.”

Sarah stood and walked to stand in front of Mary. Pointing in her face, she turned and looked out at the audience. “This woman has threatened me with her witchcraft.”

 “
What do you say now, Mary Wilds? You have been accused to your face.” Judge Hauthorn waited for her reply.

“
I never did hurt Sarah Nichols in my life. I am as innocent as the child unborn.” Mary continued to stare at the woman with the cloth on her face. In the midst of all that was taking place she felt herself crying out from her soul. “I know you, are you here to save me?”

“
Mary Wilds! What contract have you made with the devil?

“
I have made no contract with the devil. I never saw him in my life.” Still, her eyes could not break contact with the girl in the back of the room.

Their eyes embraced. Fern could hear every word, and every cry for help that Mary had somehow sent her way. She sat glued to her seat as she listened to the judge, unable to act or cry out for the insanity to stop.

 “
What say you to all this that you are charged with? Can you not find in your heart to tell the truth, Mary Wilds?”

 “
I do tell the truth, I never hurt Sarah Nichols in my life.” Her mind screamed louder. “I do not know why or how you are here, but I beg of you. Go, find my child and keep her safe. My mother loves me dearly, but she will not allow my child to live if she has a good heart.”

 “
Tell us the truth in this matter, Mary Wilds. How come Sarah Nichols be thus tormented and to charge you with doing witchcraft, if it be not true?”

“
I am not come here to say I am a witch to take away my life.”

“
Then who is it then? If you do not, they say it is your likeness that comes and torments Sarah Nichols, then who is it?”

“
I know nothing of it, I am innocent.” “I do know you. You can save us.”

Fern felt as if the floor was swaying underneath them. Mary was speaking to her in her mind, telling her what to do. Reaching out, she took hold of Rowen’s knee for support. She noticed the scathing look of disapproval from the woman sitting across from them and pulled it away.

“
Do you not see how tormented you are as you practice witchcraft before us? What do you say to this, why have you not a heart to confess the truth?”

 “
I am innocent. I know nothing of it. I am no witch, I know not what a witch is.”

“
Have you not given consent that some evil spirit should do this in your likeness?”

“
No, I am innocent of being a witch.” Please, find my child. My mother knows not that I know she is still alive. She needs your protection.”

“
Have you not heard that some others have confessed to witnessing your witchcraft?”

 “
No, I have not.” Mary pulled her eyes from Fern’s briefly to look at the judge. “Who accuses me other than Sarah Nichols?”

“
Your mother has accused you.”

Mary turned slowly back around to look at the woman in the back. “I know you hear me, it shows in your eyes. My mother doth love me, but she will hurt me, and my child. Go tonight before it is too late.”

“
Where is your child?” Fern spoke in her mind for the first time. She was still afraid to acknowledge she’d heard the words, but the fear and panic in Mary’s voice compelled her to respond. Mary’s response was immediate.

“
I know not. My mother took her at birth. Go to the sisters first, if they know where she is they will help you.” Mary knew she could trust the woman. The man sitting next to her was the one she wasn’t sure about. “Go alone, it is only you I trust.”

Fern frowned, “How, I don’t know where your sisters are?”

“
Go to the village Haverhill. Just east of it you will find a hill covered with Wild Magnolia trees covered in whites, yellows and greens. On the other side there is a rocky knoll the color of gray and amber wine. Climb to the top, then down through the center. There you will find a door. Knock twice and you will be allowed entry. Tell the sisters you are there at my bidding. They will help you find my child. Go now, before my mother acts. Do not stay here and witness my sorrow, go.”

“
Rowen? Let me pass. I need to step outside for a moment.” She felt the urge to get up and run out of the building and not stop until she’d done as Mary asked. But her words were clear, she had to go alone.

Rowen didn’t let the way Mary was staring at Fern escape him. Something just took place between them and he wasn’t about to let Fern out of his sight. “I’ll go with you.” He prepared to get up but stayed put when her hand came down on his shoulder.

“
That isn’t necessary, Rowen! I’ll be right back, I promise.” Standing, she pushed past him. “I just need some air. This whole thing is making me sick to my stomach.” She looked down in his face and knew he suspected something. If last night had done one thing for their relationship, it had given her a better understanding of him. She’d been working hard to forget last night, but even the smallest things brought the memories back. Like the way he was looking at her right now.

Rowen watched her walk to the door and debated his reason for staying. Especially when Fern and Mary exchanged glances again before she left. He already knew the outcome of this trail, but he had to make sure it was proceeding correctly, according to history.

Jonathan wouldn’t even look at Mary during her questioning. All the books from the past about him that Rowen had read, repeated over and over again how he was a strong man, loyal and moral. But today, Rowen didn’t see these qualities in him, and had to wonder if they ever did truly exist. When a hush fell over the room, it became apparent that the judge was getting ready to come to his decision. The verdict was ready to be heard.

“
Mary Wilds, you here stand convicted of sundry acts of witchcraft, done and committed upon the body of Sarah Nichols.” He looked down at the papers on his desk to keep from being drawn into the darkness behind her eyes, lest he be pulled into one of her spells. “You are hereby condemned to death.” He slammed his mallet down with the outbreak of voices. “On the evening of our Lord, the seventeenth of June 1692, you shall have a rope placed around your neck then you will be hung in the center of our village for all to see. May our Lord have pity on your soul.” He addressed Jonathan then. “Take this witch from my presence. Lock her away until said time that her judgment be carried out.”

Rowen noticed the smile on Sarah Nichols’ face. How could he have come from such evil, malicious blood? All this time he’d read books about his past that told of the heroic sacrifices of these ancestors. He’d grown up with pride knowing he was part of them. Today, he felt only shame.

He sat and waited for the room to clear out before leaving. Elizabeth sat in her chair without breathing one remark in defense of her daughter, not even one tear fell down her pale wrinkled cheek. Rowen watched as Mary reached out for her, crying for the comfort of her mother’s arms, as she was dragged from the room. The old witch didn’t even acknowledge her. When they were the only two left, he sat waiting for her to leave. Wishing for her to leave, so that he could go in search of Fern.

“
Rowen Nichols?” Elizabeth screeched from deep within her throat.

“
What do you want of me, Elizabeth?” Rowen wasn’t afraid of her. She was wicked for sure, but he didn’t fear her.

“
Where hath Fern gone?” The man made her so pale with fear that she couldn’t face him. She could never allow him to see it or he would use it against her.

“
This trial of your daughter’s was too hard for her to witness. She has gone outside for air.” He watched her shoulders shake with laughter.

“
She hath not gone outside for air. She is searching for Mary’s child.” Stupid man, if he were here to keep the promise of her curse, he would have to try harder. Trust would be his undoing.

“
How do you know this? Besides, it was written that Mary’s child died at birth.” Rowen didn’t know how many more surprises he could take.

“
Mary spoke to her with her mind, fool. She told her to go and find Rose, to keep me from her. Do not let this happen, Rowen Nichols, or I will bring the curse upon Jonathan’s generation instead of his seventeenth. Jonathan will die and you will never be born.” She felt the bones of her back creak as she stood to leave. “Go, now. Keep her from my granddaughter, or face your doom.”

Rowen watched her leave in silence. He didn’t doubt her ability to make good her threat. How could he have not seen it coming? Fern was acting so coy that he didn’t realize what had taken place between her and Mary. The old witch didn’t give him a clue as to what direction she’d gone. How would he find her?

* * * *

It took Fern all afternoon to find her way to the village Haverhill. She’d thought of Rowen often during her walk, and wished he were with her now, but Mary’s instructions were specific and they didn’t include Rowen. She would find the child then get back to him as quickly as possible. Then what? She didn’t know. It seemed like they’d been playing this whole thing out by ear ever since they got here.

Once she made it to the outskirts of Salem, she pulled the Vizard cloth from her face to cool herself. It was nearing dusk by the time she found the hillside covered with magnolia trees. Their beauty took her breath away. What a fantastic place for witches to hide, no one would ever expect beauty and evil to go hand in hand. Or what they perceived as evil, anyway.

The rocks were just where Mary said they’d be. With her skirts pulled up and tied beneath her bosoms, Fern began her climb. They were higher than she expected, and since she had a fear of heights, she climbed the rocks as quickly as possible. When she finally made it to the top, she took a deep breath and looked down. The magnolias surrounded the rocks as thick as a carpet. She could see a great deal from this point, including the buggy approaching from where she’d just come. It was still far away, but she could see well enough to tell it was the old woman. Her silver-gray hair blew in the wind behind her. She must have heard Mary speaking to her. Turning, she quickened her pace.

She slid between the rocks so quickly that the palms of her hands bled from the scratches she picked up along the way. The door was there just as Mary told her it would be. She didn’t have time to debate her fear. With her fist clenched tight, she knocked, twice as instructed. There in the darkness between the rocks she saw light as it emerged from around the cracks of the door. Backing up, she braced herself against the rocks behind her, waiting for the green face of the wicked witch to show herself.

Her imagination ran away with her; would she have a giant hairy mole on the end of her nose? Would she be perched on a broom with a black cat ready to pounce on her to protect his mistress? Her eyes widened when the cast iron hinges creaked against their built-up rust. With her knuckles pressed against her lips, she suppressed the scream that had built up in the deepest, darkest hollows of her lungs.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“
Come in, Fern! We’ve been expecting you.”

Fern pulled herself from the rocks and breathed a sigh of relief. The woman was stunning. Not only was she beautiful, but almost angelic. The torch she held above her shined down on her head, radiating what looked like a halo. But that wouldn’t make sense, would it? Angels and witches didn’t get along, right? She followed her after the door was closed and locked down a long tunnel until it emerged into a large room. There was a wooden table with chairs and three tiered candles lit in the middle. When the woman stopped and turned, Fern felt all remaining fear leave. This place didn’t scare her at all. It was almost as if she’d been there before. Oddly, it was familiar and warm.

“
Sit in one of the chairs, Fern, I’ll get Rose and bring her to you.”

“
Wait! What is your name? Why do I feel like I know you?” Fern smiled back when the corners of the woman’s mouth rose, showing her perfect white teeth. Not black rotted teeth like Elizabeth.

“
You don’t remember me, do you?” Abigail’s brows creased in puzzlement. “My name is Abigail, Fern. But we haven’t time to talk right now, sister Elizabeth is close by.”

Fern watched her leave then went and sat in one of the chairs like she was told. She was wondering why she would have known Abigail. She said she didn’t remember her, why would she? She was still thinking about it when she heard the soft whimpers of the infant as Abigail returned with her.

“
This is Rose. As her mother has requested us to do, we will hand her over to you for protection from Elizabeth. But be warned, Fern, do not let anything happen to this child. You must protect her with your life if need be, your future depends on it.” Gently she laid the little girl in Fern’s arms then held her arm in a fixed grip to make sure she listened to her every word. “Mary fears the man you are with, don’t let her fear get in your way, Fern. Mary’s fears are ill founded; now go, I hear our sister coming. Go!”