Salem, Massachusetts, October 1692.
Sundown.
Outside a small house by the woods, lovers Vince Morgan and Katherine Burroughs stood afraid of what was coming. It was a dark time they were living in, and after Katherine had been accused of witchcraft by some of the neighbors, the night seemed to only grow darker.
Tell me it isn't true, anything but that. Tell me their mouths spew nothing but lies.
She hesitated, she didn't want to tell him the truth, but felt there was no other choice available for her. She had been discovered, and in order to keep him from leaving, she would have to tell him.
Listen, my love, I did not mean to keep this from you, you have to believe me. I had to. If you knew... I would have put you in a great deal of danger.
Well, it's a little too late for that now, isn't it? They are going to hunt you down. You know that. These people-- they'll believe in the devil sooner than they will trust their own eyes.
Then let's run away together, just the two of us as far away from them as we can! We could do it. Let's do it now. Just us against the world. You know?
Vince was the one hesitating now; how could he abandon his entire family, even if once they found out who she really was, would do nothing but despise her--shame her for being what she was and turn her over to face trial.
I-- I can't, my love. I just--
What do you mean you can't? Or is it rather you won't?
Unfortunately, I, too, have a confession to make.
Sundown.
Outside a small house by the woods, lovers Vince Morgan and Katherine Burroughs stood afraid of what was coming. It was a dark time they were living in, and after Katherine had been accused of witchcraft by some of the neighbors, the night seemed to only grow darker.
Tell me it isn't true, anything but that. Tell me their mouths spew nothing but lies.
She hesitated, she didn't want to tell him the truth, but felt there was no other choice available for her. She had been discovered, and in order to keep him from leaving, she would have to tell him.
Listen, my love, I did not mean to keep this from you, you have to believe me. I had to. If you knew... I would have put you in a great deal of danger.
Well, it's a little too late for that now, isn't it? They are going to hunt you down. You know that. These people-- they'll believe in the devil sooner than they will trust their own eyes.
Then let's run away together, just the two of us as far away from them as we can! We could do it. Let's do it now. Just us against the world. You know?
Vince was the one hesitating now; how could he abandon his entire family, even if once they found out who she really was, would do nothing but despise her--shame her for being what she was and turn her over to face trial.
I-- I can't, my love. I just--
What do you mean you can't? Or is it rather you won't?
Unfortunately, I, too, have a confession to make.
Vince took a stick from the ground below their feet, and with a snap of his fingers, brought upon it fire, and the stick lit up with a bluish-red flame. Amazed by the sight before her, but also terrified, Katherine took a few steps away from her lover.
What--this cannot be. What--what are you?
I am a Red Wolfe; part of the Rayge and Fury pack of warriors that hunt witches through these parts of our grandiose town. But I, too, could not have told you, and even more so now, that--well, I have discovered you are one of them.
No, no, my love please you do not understand, I am not a witch! I am not, I swear. I am something else entirely, you must believe my word.
I only believe my eyes, and with these hands, and by the power that God has bestowed upon me, I have a responsibility I must carry, you know that, darling Katherine.
So--so what, you'll betray me?
I will do what is needed. I took a vow to my lineage, my family.
You are a traitor, a Judas! I cannot believe you would do this to me!
Katherine, now, let's not make this harder than it should be.
Vince took a hold of Katherine's arm, and she reacted, knocking Vince to the ground.
Katherine, do not do this! Do not force my hand.
Oh, but darling, you done forced mine first.
And with a bright explosion of light, Katherine's wings protruded from the skin on her back, ripping through her corset and gown. Vince, still lying on the ground, struggled to catch his breath, as for what stood before him was monstrous in his eyes. Something he knew was not meant to share the world with him and the rest of the people. Something--abominable. Vince stood up slowly, his fingers creating sparks, but it was too late, Katherine swoop in closer and with a quick punch through his chest, ripped Vince's heart out.
I really wish you would have given me any other choice but this, my love.
Vince fell on his knees, choking on his own blood, the spark on his fingers slowly fading, and as he took one last look at Katherine, she fluttered her wings and took flight, disappearing into the clouds above him.
Katherine flew for a while, then landed on the infamous Salem woods, nearby one of the burning sites. She walked towards what was left of a previous burning. Now merely a giant stake on the ground, with the corpse of her mother still hanging, horribly disfigured.
I am sorry, mama. I promise, I will get revenge. Even if it takes me a month, or even years. I will avenge you, mama.
She grabbed a feather that was on the ground by the site; she blew the dirt off it, and set Vince's heart in its place. She took the feather and hid it in her bosom, keeping it close to her own heart and took flight once again, leaving Salem for good.
What--this cannot be. What--what are you?
I am a Red Wolfe; part of the Rayge and Fury pack of warriors that hunt witches through these parts of our grandiose town. But I, too, could not have told you, and even more so now, that--well, I have discovered you are one of them.
No, no, my love please you do not understand, I am not a witch! I am not, I swear. I am something else entirely, you must believe my word.
I only believe my eyes, and with these hands, and by the power that God has bestowed upon me, I have a responsibility I must carry, you know that, darling Katherine.
So--so what, you'll betray me?
I will do what is needed. I took a vow to my lineage, my family.
You are a traitor, a Judas! I cannot believe you would do this to me!
Katherine, now, let's not make this harder than it should be.
Vince took a hold of Katherine's arm, and she reacted, knocking Vince to the ground.
Katherine, do not do this! Do not force my hand.
Oh, but darling, you done forced mine first.
And with a bright explosion of light, Katherine's wings protruded from the skin on her back, ripping through her corset and gown. Vince, still lying on the ground, struggled to catch his breath, as for what stood before him was monstrous in his eyes. Something he knew was not meant to share the world with him and the rest of the people. Something--abominable. Vince stood up slowly, his fingers creating sparks, but it was too late, Katherine swoop in closer and with a quick punch through his chest, ripped Vince's heart out.
I really wish you would have given me any other choice but this, my love.
Vince fell on his knees, choking on his own blood, the spark on his fingers slowly fading, and as he took one last look at Katherine, she fluttered her wings and took flight, disappearing into the clouds above him.
Katherine flew for a while, then landed on the infamous Salem woods, nearby one of the burning sites. She walked towards what was left of a previous burning. Now merely a giant stake on the ground, with the corpse of her mother still hanging, horribly disfigured.
I am sorry, mama. I promise, I will get revenge. Even if it takes me a month, or even years. I will avenge you, mama.
She grabbed a feather that was on the ground by the site; she blew the dirt off it, and set Vince's heart in its place. She took the feather and hid it in her bosom, keeping it close to her own heart and took flight once again, leaving Salem for good.
The above images copyright Francisco Meneses 2008.
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