Chapter 1

A few months later...

"How long more till we reach Salem?" Mary whined as the boat swayed back and forth. No one blamed her as they have been on the boat for months.

"According to the map we should be there before dark" Sara said looking at the map. "That's a relief" Elizabeth sighed looking at the open water.

"We need to come up with a plan once we land" Sara said rolling up the map. "Which would be?" Emily asked as she secured some rope tied to the mast.

"Well first we need lodgings" Sara said pulling out 3 small pouches of coin. "Where did you get that?" Mary asked with curiosity.

"It was in the house" Sara responded "How much do we have?" Elizabeth asked and Sara shrugged her shoulders "I haven't counted, didn't have the time" she said which made the mood dampen a bit.

"I think I see the dock in the distance" Emily said with excitement. Everyone rushed over to where Emily was and saw the docks getting closer and closer. 

Sara packed up the pouches and went to the lower level of the boat. She looked over the bags that were brought from the house. She went through them one by one to see if there was anything that could implicate them as witches. 

She found a few items from the bags and went back up, she saw that everyone was chatty and excited about getting off the boat as they got closer to Salem. Sara threw the items she found overboard and watched them sink in the water.

Isabella came over to where Sara was and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What are you thinking?" Isabella asked and Sara shook her head.

"Nothing Isabella" Sara responded "Everything will be okay Sara" Isabella said and Sara smiled. 

"I hope" Sara said before walking away leaving Isabella with a confused look on her face. Once the boat was close to the docks Sara jumped off the boat and tied it to the dock.

Everyone else brought the bags up and walked with Sara towards the settlement but they were stopped by the dockmaster. "Excuse me ladies" he said and everyone turned around.

"You need to pay to a fee to dock your boat here" the dockmaster said and Sara smiled. "Apologies this is our first time arriving to this land, how much is the fee?" she said and the dockmaster taken back by Sara's beauty opened up his small book. "The fee is usually 5 coins but since it's your first time 2 coins is enough".

Sara smiled again and reached into her pouch and gave the man 5 coins, the man just smiled and pocketed the money and Sara returned to the group. "Where do we go now?" Emily asked and Isabella pointed at one of the largest house in the middle of town.

"I guess there" Isabella said and Sara nodded in agreement. They all made their way to the building where they were stopped by one of the guards outside. "What business do you have with the mayor ladies?" the guard said and Sara spoke up. 

"We have just arrived here and we need some lodging" Sara said and the guard looked at all of them suspiciously. "Do you have papers?" he asked and everyone looked confused. 

"What papers?" Elizabeth asked and the guard smiled "You need approved papers from the mayor to live in this town. If you don't have papers then you can't live here but I'm sure the mayor can help out" the guard said and Sara felt like something was off.

"Who do we see about the papers other than the mayor?" Sara asked and the smile disappeared from his face. "You can see the sheriff for the papers" he said pointing at the building across the road and Sara thanked the guard.

They all crossed the road and both Sara and Elizabeth walked into the building and saw a young man sitting behind the desk. "Excuse me" Elizabeth said and the young man raised his head and smiled. "Good day madam, how can I help?" the young man asked and Sara asked "Where can we find the sheriff?", "We just arrived to this town and I need papers for me and my sisters" she also added.

The young man was about to speak when a man barged in dragging a woman with him into the building. The woman was screaming for help and fought against the man as he dragged her to a cell and locked her inside.

"Another one sir?" the young man at the desk asked and the other nodded his head. "Let the mayor know we caught another one" the man said and the younger man ran out to inform the mayor. 

"Another what?" Sara asked and Elizabeth shot her a look "A witch ma'am" the man replied.

He sat down and took a sip from the glass that was there and looked at both Sara and Elizabeth. "How can I be of service?" he asked and Elizabeth spoke up "We were directed here to get a hold of papers to allow us residency here" the man nodded his head and motioned for both of them to sit.

"I assume that the 3 ladies standing outside are also with you" and Sara nodded her head. "We are sisters, not by blood" she said and the man was gathering some paperwork on the desk. 

"I don't know if you ladies are aware but Salem does have some regulations for newcomers to our town" the man said and both Sara and Elizabeth shook their heads.

"Now don't take this the wrong way but all women are thoroughly checked before being granted residency here in Salem" the man said and Sara nodded her head.

"Makes sense since witches are female" Sara said and Elizabeth shot her another look. The man smiled and the younger man from before returned "The mayor is coming sir, he wants to see the witch for himself" and the man nodded his head.

"Of course the mayor would want to come in case I say anything about him" the woman said from her cell. "Quiet you" the man shouted which made the woman laugh.

"You are also apart of this sheriff" she scoffed, "It's only a matter of time before you get what you deserve" and the man got up from his chair. Elizabeth moved in her chair but Sara quickly placed her hand on Elizabeth's thigh signaling her to stop.

"Do nothing" Sara whispered as they watch the man enter the cell and started to beat the woman. Elizabeth looked away as she could not watch what was happening but Sara didn't move and watched.

"Where is the witch?" a man said entering the room and the beating stopped which both ladies were thankful for. "Look who came" the woman said as she spat blood onto the floor. 

The man kicked her in the stomach which made her wince in pain "That's enough Sebastian" the man said and Sebastian walked away from the woman who sat up and leaned against the wall.

"Mayor Sybil let's just kill her now and be done with it" Sebastian said as he looked at the woman with disgust. "Now, now Sebastian she still gets a trial as it is our law" the mayor said which made the woman laugh.

"A trial?" she began to say "I never thought that the most despicable man on earth would have respect for the laws" the woman said with a chuckle and Sara was slowly understanding the situation. 

"Mayor Sybil these ladies here want to get residency papers" Sebastian said gesturing his head over to where Sara and Elizabeth were sitting. The mayor turned his head and his eyes were fixated on Sara. 

Sara stared back at the mayor while Elizabeth looked down at the floor avoiding eye contact. "Is that so?" the mayor asked and Sebastian nodded his head, the woman also looked at Sara and Elizabeth and shouted from her cell. 

"Leave while you can or else you will regret it" the woman shouted and Sebastian walked towards the woman which made her flinch.

"Sebastian has already explained the process and we are ready to begin" Sara said and a smile appeared on the mayor's face. 

"Sebastian" the mayor began to say "Start the process and let me know of the results" mayor Sybil said and Sebastian responded "Will do Mayor Sybil".

Elizabeth went to go get the other ladies and Sebastian with the younger man searched all their belongings and asked tons of questions. All ladies passed with flying colours and Sebastian signed off the papers allowing them a house in Salem and also becoming a citizen in the town. 

"Hope we will see you ladies tonight" Sebastian said and everyone was confused except for Sara. "We will" she said "Where will it be held?" she asked and the younger man responded "Center square in town you can't miss it" he said and Sara thanked him.

They all left and the ladies were confused and followed close to Sara "What's happening tonight?" they asked and Sara stopped walking and took a deep breath "A witch will be burned at the stake tonight" she said before she started walking again.