Witches and Devils

Memory

When I wake, I see Mallory, I can feel her breath on my face. I sit up with her help and gasp, looking up to Mallory. "What happened?"

"You died." Cordelia sits on the bed next to me, "giving your life to John Henry."

"Where is he?"

"I'm right here, baby." Mallory moves back, allowing John Henry to sit in her place, taking my hand as he does.

I smile over to John Henry, before looking back to Cordelia, "how... how did I..."

"I don't know." Cordelia shakes her head, "but what I do know is it took an immense amount of power... and love, to do it."

As I look around Myrtle walks into the cabin, "ahh, our little flower is awake."

Cordelia walks over to her, "what did you find out?"

"I found out how the world is going to end and unless we are underground it isn't going to make any difference where we are." Myrtle sighs and looks around, "they are going to set off nuclear bombs all over the world."

"Michael is?" I shake my head.

"No." Myrtle shakes her head, "something called the Cooperative."

"How can we stop that?" Mallory shakes her head.

"We can't." Cordelia shakes her head. "Michael's already too powerful. He can counteract anything we hope to try."

"God," Coco shakes her head, "I finally find my place in the world, and now it's all gonna end. I am not ready to die." She looks around to all of us, "oh, not to make it all about me."

"Actually." Myrtle nods, "it is all about you now. Your father will be purchasing tickets for you and your family to inhabit one of the Cooperative's Outposts."

"Coco is the plan?" Madison shakes her head. "The calorie counter's gonna save humanity?"

"No, Mallory is." Cordelia sits across from Mallory. "Coco is going to secure her place at the bunker. We have one chance to use Tempus Infinituum. And we can't risk trying it until Mallory is ready."

Myrtle walks around the group, "the only place where we know you'll survive is under Michael's nose. In one of his bunkers. He still thinks Rose is the next Supreme, so we will use that to our advantage."

"He can smell a witch a mile away." Madison complains. "Like some kind of evil truffle pig. He'll kill her before she can do anything."

Cordelia nods, "that's why we're going to place them both under an identity spell." Cordelia stands, once she takes Coco's hand and Coco follows her, "you'll forget that you're witches. You'll forget everything you ever knew about yourselves. The spell will give you new identities, new personalities." Cordelia turns to Coco, "your job will be to demean Mallory. Make her doubt herself in order to suppress her natural powers, so that no one can detect her magic."

Myrtle chuckles, "we've modeled your new personality after Madison."

"No," Coco protests, "no, there must be another way."

"Consider it an upgrade," Madison scoffs.

"Will my family still remember that I'm a witch?"

"Your family won't be joining you." Myrtle shakes her head.

Cordelia nods, "We have to eliminate all variables that might expose you." She turns to me, "Rose, is going to be placed under a spell that puts her in with Michael, so that he thinks he has the upper hand. And will not be looking for Mallory." I stand and walk over to Codelia, with John Henry's help, "you will think you helped Michael kill our sisters and your brothers. Even John Henry." I look up to him worried. "John Henry will be with us. Until you girls are ready."

Mallory shakes her head, "I don't think I can be responsible for the lives of seven billion people."

"Yes, you can. And the time comes, you will."

"How will I know when that time is if I'm under a spell?"

"Your powers will emerge when they are ready."

"After you cast the spell... will we remember you? Each other?"

Cordelia looks to all three of us, shaking her head, "not until the spell is broken."

Madison rolls her eyes, "and by then, we all might be piles of ash."

Mallory sniffs, "so this is good-bye."

Cordelia nods, "take a minute and say your goodbyes."

I turn to John Henry, who cups my cheeks and places his forehead against mine. "I will stop at nothing to save you, the way you saved me." He shakes his head as he pulls his head away, "I don't care how or what I have to do. But I promise you, I will get you away from him."

I shake my head, "I have to stay close to him. We both know that."

John Henry nods, "then I promise to treasure you when this is all over, like I should've in the first place."

I chuckle and nod, "promise?"

"I promise." John Henry leans in and gives me a kiss.

I hear Madison scoff, "geez, get a room. Why does she get all the snacks?"

"Maybe it's because she has a personality, my dear," Myrtle turns to Madison, "And she isn't pure sass and attitude in a bottle."

John Henry chuckles as he looks down to me, "I love you."

I smile back up to him, "I love you."

"Gather around, witches." Myrtle walks into the center of the room and we all follow suit, even John Henry. The group sitting in the middle of the room, "and so it falls onto us, to save mankind from itself. And yes, some of us will die, but you three will live." Myrtle looks between Coco, Mallory and I, "so the covens will live on. So the world will live on."

Cordelia nods, "you ready?"

"No." Coco shakes her head as she turns to Mallory, taking her hands, "how could I be mean to you? You've taught me everything I know. You saved my life. You are my best friend, Mallory, and I am so sorry for whatever comes out of my mouth on the other side."

"It's okay," Mallory shakes her head. "I know you won't mean it. And spell or no spell, I'd never let anything bad happen to you. If the world's gonna end, at least we'll be together." The two hug as Cordelia grabs the powder.

"Please, sit." Cordelia smiles softly as the three of us sit on the couch in front of her and everyone stands. Cordelia takes a handful of the powder and blows it into our faces before she circles her hands above our heads, "Memoria unda tempris est, memoria unda tempris est, memoria unda tempris est." Cordelia continues this chant until she falls back.