In the year 1899 …
The young woman sat down on a bench, her head bowed, with long hair that hid her face. In chains, she sat thinking. Since the day before, no food had been given her. Her last trial had been two days ago. She was to be condemned to death by burning on the stakes, that day at noon, and it was almost noon. She was kept in the dungeon, no one came to see her. Her immediate family even rejected her! So, all alone, she awaited death. The woman sat without any movements, she was so still, anyone walking past the dungeon, would think it was a statue sitting. Deep down, she was furious, filled with vengeance. I will definitely fight back, she thought.
A sound made her look towards the gate of the dungeon. It was her adviser, about her age. She had come to see her for the last time. Her adviser was in tears, their relationship had been so strong. It was so sad leaving her behind. The condemned woman moved slowly, as the chains allowed her, to the gate of the dungeon. They looked into each other's eyes. The adviser touched the woman's cheeks, she looked pale.
"Vera, you can still save yourself." The adviser said, tearing.
"No … it's not this time, someday when the truth will be revealed." Vera said, blinking back tears.
"Vera … please, what would I tell my baby? She needs you as her godmother. Please Vera … you can use your powers to destroy these people. The judgement had been so unfair. Please I need you, my baby needs you, the world needs you." Vera nodded, she had started tearing. She managed to hold her adviser's hands with her chained ones.
"Mary, my time isn't now, I promise to come back and set things right. You will not miss me for long. I will always be with you. Thank you for always been there for me. But this has to be, so that I can actualise my fate. You came here to see me, even when you put to birth yesterday. It shows how caring you are and I will always come back for you Mary."
Mary just sniffed, she knew there was no other way to change Vera's mind. It had already been decided.
"Just one more thing," Vera said, sadly.
"Okay?"
"Help me take off my necklace. Find my twin sister and give it to her."
"Vera turned, her back to Mary and the necklace was removed. The pendant was a crown. The necklace had to be removed because, Vera would not die with it on. It was for protection, to ward off attacks. Mary wore an exact replica of the necklace too. Vera needed to go to the world beyond, so that she could come back for a much better course. Having removed the necklace, Vera turned to Mary. They wept.
"I need you to do me this last favour." Vera whispered.
"What Vera?" Mary asked, crying.
Vera told her and there was silence. It was deafening. Mary couldn't believe what she just heard. Was Vera mad? How could she ask this? Mary thought as she stared at Vera in horror. She shook her head, she would never do it. Vera was definitely kidding.
"Please, it's for the right price. You have to do it."
As they were talking, approaching footsteps were heard. They already knew what was going on. It was noon. Vera was to be burnt that moment at the stakes! Vera held Mary's hands tightly but beseechingly and shook her.
"You have to do it now. If they get here, it's finished. Please Mary."
Mary nodded slowly, she had no choice but to do that, which her friend asked for. That was the only way. So, she did exactly as Vera had told her.
Sarah, the woman whom Lily had stopped from slipping, watched as Lily drove into a compound, obviously hers. She watched for sometime and finally, told the driver her own destination. Therefore, the driver took her to her home. Since she had taken note of Lily's house, it was okay. She would visit at any time.
Her grandmother, Mary had told her about Vera, who promised to come back. She hoped it would not be disastrous when Lily unleashed her powers. The wise thing to do would be to groom Lily. Make her realise her powers and make sure she controls them. Sarah opted to be Lily's adviser. She would be sixty years old in two months time.
Mary lived a hundred and twenty years old. When Sarah was ten, her grandmother, who was already old then, called her and managed to tell her something important. She told her about Vera, a seer and the promise to come back again. Mary gave her an old dairy. At that time, she didn't read it because, wasn't perfect in reading. Eventually, her grandmother died. It was a huge loss to Sarah as her own mother wasn't close to her like her grand ma. Her mother who had given birth to her at an older age, was busy pleasing the man, she called her husband, who had abandoned them. Sarah felt all alone.
When Sarah grew older, she read and understood what the diary was all about. But one thing, her grandmother never told her the shocking news. The news that she was the one who had stabbed Vera.
In the year 1899 …
"I need you to do this last thing for me." Vera whispered.
"What Vera?" Mary asking crying.
"There is a dagger under my dress, I took it from one of the soldiers. I need you to use it on me."
Mary couldn't believe what she just heard! Was Vera mad? How could she ask this of her?
"Please… do it. It's for the right course." Vera pleaded.
"Vera, I can do anything for you but not this. I can't stomach this at all. Please understand."
At this point, they heard footsteps approaching. The soldiers were about to lead Vera out to be burnt on the stakes, the punishment for witches at that time as it noon.
"Do not let them take me to burn. I will not be able to come back to fulfil my destiny if I'm burned up. Please Mary."
Mary kept crying, she couldn't do this. How could she? Her own best friend she always advised? This wasn't fair at all. How could she do this, Just after giving birth?
"They are almost here Mary. This is the last and the most important thing I'm begging of you. Please."
Mary nodded and retrieved the dagger from Vera's dress. She had to, that was her friend's last wish. The dagger had a crown seal on the handle. Mary felt the dagger and looked at her friend. This was all madness!
"I love you, know this." She told Vera.
"I love you too." They looked at each other tenderly and shared a kiss, one last kiss. Vera closed her eyes waiting for Mary to do "it". Some moments passed.
And Margret struck…
It hadn't been Mary's fault, Sarah thought as she caressed the necklace her grandmother had given her, Still in the taxi on her way home. Well, she was here to help Lily in fulfilling her destiny. She would do that, no matter what it took. Even if it meant sacrificing herself, for the good of everyone, she would. She vowed to uphold her grandmother's legacy as she was already given the mandate. The moment Lily had held her to stop her from slipping, she knew that Lily was the one. Sarah felt honoured to serve her. This time around, no burning of anyone on the stakes. They would always live through this. They would … definitely.