ACT I — CHAPTER VII
Tʜᴇ Vᴇʀᴅɪᴄᴛ

─── ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

After the previous night, it was safe to say that Lydia was exhausted.

She didn't fall asleep until four in the morning, giving her just over two hours of sleep. It didn't help that she then had to go downstairs and face Zelda, which Lydia could barely do considering what her aunt had done.

Then she had to walk with Sabrina and Harvey to school, staying a couple of yards behind. Normally, she found it difficult to block out their pointless conversations, but since she was so tired it wasn't that hard to tune them out.

Lydia was sick of being the third wheel. She wanted someone to have pointless conversations with, someone to walk to school with. Lydia knew she liked Susie, but she was also going through this weird phase in her life where she didn't know who she liked. In the past, Lydia had liked boys, but more in a middle school crush kind of way, nowhere near to how she felt about Susie. Not to mention Lydia also had to figure out a way to tell her family (excluding Sabrina) what was going through her head. And that, at some point, she'd have to tell Susie.

And how could she forget that she might burn in Hell for 333 years after her death? The struggles of being a teenage witch were really starting to weigh her down.

The only notable thing that happened on the walk to school was when Harvey told a story to Sabrina about how he got lost in the mines and saw a "goat guy". However, Lydia had a feeling that this "goat guy" could possibly have been the Dark Lord himself. But Lydia was also skeptical, for Harvey was eight when this occurred.

When the three finally arrived at the school, they walked down the hallway side by side with Sabrina in the middle. As they were walking, they bumped into Ms. Wardwell.

"You'll never guess, girls," she said.

"What's happening, Ms. Wardwell?" Harvey asked.

"Well, the young ladies of W-I-C-C-A, that's WICCA to you, Mr. Kinkle, are making their voices heard," Ms. Wardwell told them.

As they continued down the hallway, they found Roz and Susie handing out blue fliers. Susie handed one to Lydia, and she flashed the Putnam girl a small smile. Susie flashed one right back. Roz held a stack of the fliers up in the air.

"Here's a list of books Baxter High doesn't want you to read! And they also happen to be great works of literature!" Roz yelled, waving the fliers around.

"You guys, when did you do this?" Sabrina asked, looking over Lydia's shoulder to read the flier.

"Last night," Susie answered.

"I mean, they're just books, you know?" Roz said, "What are people so afraid of? That Principal Hawthorne's gonna —"

Roz turned around and was met by Hawthorne himself. Roz cleared her throat.

"Ladies, about your claims," Hawthorne began, staring them down.

"You can't get someone in trouble for handing out fliers, sir," Lydia said, looking him up and down.

"On the contrary, Miss Spellman," Hawthorne said, "I just wanted Miss Walker to know that I called the PTA and the school board about The Bluest Eye."

Roz had a look on her face that showed her obvious suspicion and disbelief. Lydia looked between the two, her brow raised.

"They are reviewing the matter," Hawthorne continued, "and will come back to me tomorrow with their thoughts. You're welcome, Miss Walker."

And with that, Hawthorne turned around and walked away, leaving the five teens questioning whether or not he was as bad as they thought, and leaving Lydia feeling kind of guilty for sending those spiders on him.

─ ༓ ─

In her math class, Lydia was fighting the urge to fall asleep, since she was still exhausted from the night before. Unfortunately, Lydia found math extremely boring and useless, and she couldn't help but doze off.

─ ༓ ─

When Lydia opened her eyes again, everything was blurry. The people were frozen, with Lydia being the only one able to move. When she looked in the doorway, she almost screamed.

There was a girl, surrounded by a pool of blood, whose throat had been slit, yet she was still standing. The girl put a finger to her lips, as if to shush her, and then walked farther down the hallway.

Lydia stood up out of her chair and followed the girl into the hallway. She watched her walk down the corridor and enter the library, leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind her. The lights in the hallway flickered out. Lydia followed her.

Once she was in the library, Lydia watched the girl walk behind a bookshelf, out of her sight. Lydia went behind the same bookshelf, but the girl had disappeared. Instead, there lay an open book on a desk. Lydia walked over to it, looking down at the book.

It was filled with newspaper clippings about Daniel Webster and the cases he had worked. As Lydia flipped through the pages, it appeared that Daniel Webster had won every case he had worked on. However, the people he had been defending were monsters. Rapists, murderers, cannibals, you name it, he got them off with no consequences. One article even called him "The Defender of the Damned".

Lydia continued to flip through the book, unable to believe her eyes. How was it that a man so kind to them had done such awful things?

Well, Daniel Webster wasn't necessarily the nicest man on earth, but he had agreed to help the twins, even if it was after some persuasion.

It seemed as though every time she turned the page, the contents grew even more gruesome. Questions kept filling Lydia's head. Why would he help such awful people? How did he always win when, according to the articles, all the evidence was pointed against his client? What was —

─ ༓ ─

"Miss Spellman?"

Lydia's head shot up from her desk. She looked around the room — everything was back to normal, except now everyone was staring at her. Ms. Farley, her math teacher, was standing at the front of the room, peering at her with a look of disapproval.

"Yes, Ms. Farley?" Lydia asked.

"Do you have any idea what I just said?" Ms. Farley questioned.

"Um, I'm afraid not, ma'am," Lydia answered sheepishly. Her teacher sighed.

"Please, try to pay attention," Ms. Farley said, and with that, she turned around back to the chalkboard.

Lydia did not pay attention. She was too busy thinking about that dream. There was no way that those articles could have been real, right?

When the bell rang, Lydia sprang up from her chair, grabbed her backpack, and practically ran from the classroom. She looked for her sister, and when she finally found her, Sabrina was looking right at her as well. They walked up to each other and Lydia started blabbering.

"Sabrina, I just had this weird dream where there was this dead girl and she took me to the library and she showed me this —"

"Book of newspaper clippings featuring Mr. Webster?" Sabrina asked, cutting her off. Lydia nodded frantically.

"Yeah, me too," Sabrina added.

"Well, 'Brina, it seems as though we'll have to make a pit stop before we head to the Church tonight."

─ ༓ ─

Before heading to the Chruch of Night, Lydia and Sabrina took a pit stop at Daniel Webster's house. Lydia furiously banged on the door. When Webster cracked open the door and saw the twins, he immediately let them in.

"Why are you helping us?" Sabrina asked, getting straight to the point.

"What do you think you will get out of this, Defender of the Damned?" Lydia questioned, her arms crossed.

Webster sighed, "Okay. So you know."

"Yeah, no shit," Lydia said.

"The people you've helped set free, murderers and monsters," Sabrina continued, ignoring Lydia's choice of words, "The kind of crimes they've committed."

"Everyone's entitled to a defense," Webster said in an attempt to explain himself.

"Not you," Lydia snapped.

"You're fired," the twins informed him.

The girls turned around and started to walk towards the door.

"Wait!" Webster called after them, "Sabrina, Lydia, stop."

The girls turned around once again. Lydia was furious. How could live with himself after helping those people?

"I've been where you two are right now, trapped by the Devil. I made a deal, a long time ago, to become the greatest lawyer in the world," Webster started to explain, "I was young and ambitious. And I signed my name away. A different book, but the same beast."

Lydia's anger subdued slightly as what Webster was telling her sunk in. Her more relaxed face seemed to put the lawyer at ease as he continued.

"And what do you know? I started winning cases," Webster said, "and by the time I realized that the only cases I got were the most depraved, the most obscene, it was too late. And that was His little trick, you see. And there's always a trick. And a price."

Lydia's head slightly perked up, secretly eager to know what the price Webster had to pay was. He walked to the corner of the room.

"I set a man free, who had done unspeakable things to a number of women," Webster paused, "And after I freed him, when I wasn't home, he broke in, and he did those things to my daughter."

"Oh, no," Sabrina sighed. Lydia instantly regretted feeling eager to know the price, but she stayed silent, because she became focused on the picture Webster was looking at. The girl, who Lydia assumed was Webster's daughter, looked just like the girl Lydia had seen in her dream.

"Now I know that I have done more than my share of bad in the past," Webster told them, "but, I think that I might be able to save you two."

Webster walked over to the twins. He grabbed Lydia's left hand and Sabrina's right.

"If you'll let me. It's a long shot, but maybe," Webster added.

Lydia could tell he was sincere, that he really did want to make up for his past mistakes. He stared into the twins' eyes, in a way that said he was begging them to let him help, that he needed them more than they needed him.

Lydia didn't need to discuss the options with Sabrina. She had made up her mind, and she knew Sabrina had come to the same conclusion.

Daniel Webster was going to save them. Hopefully.

─ ༓ ─

Lydia was fighting to stay awake during their trial. After all, she was still running on two hours of sleep — not including the nap she took in math. She would've taken a nap after school, but she had homework, then she and Sabrina had to get ready for the trial, and then they had to leave early to stop at Webster's. So there Lydia sat, in an uncomfortable black dress in uncomfortable black shoes surrounded by witches and warlocks who hated her and Sabrina's guts.

Daniel Webster had called her aunts to the stand and was currently interrogating them.

"Ms. Spellman, both you and your sister are certified midwives," Webster stated.

Both Hilda and Zelda answered yes, as Webster had not clarified which sister he was talking to. Lydia found this oddly amusing and had to herself from laughing.

"You have delivered many babies in the witch community, including your own nieces, Sabrina and Lydia," Webster stated, once again.

Both Hilda and Zelda answered yes, once again.

"Can you verify for the Court, then, were Sabrina and Lydia born of a mortal woman?" Webster asked.

Hilda and Zelda answered yes for the third time.

"Making them both half-witch, half-mortal and, therefore, only half-subject to the laws of this Court?"

"This is absurd, your Dishonors," Father Blackwood interrupted. His voice was enough to jolt Lydia into full awareness.

"No, sir, it is their right!" Webster yelled, pointing at Blackwood. He turned to the Dishonors, "I demand a jury of mortals! And a change of venue! I reject the authority of this Court over my clients!"

The coven was very shocked at his demands and immediately turned into a wave of whispers and murmurs. The Dishonors started banging their gavels, yelling for disorder in the court. Lydia found this strange, because if they were calling for disorder in the Court, then wouldn't they be encouraging the coven to continue talking? She understood why the judges were called Dishonors, but there were obviously still things she didn't understand about the witch community.

Hilda, Zelda, and Webster sat down, meaning that it was now Blackwood's turn to talk.

"The prosecution and witching community are familiar with human law, Mr. Webster. If Sabrina and Lydia's true, dominant nature is to be determined mortal or witch, so be it," Blackwood said, "We shall invoke human laws to test them."

"That is not what I was suggesting —" Webster tried to say, but Blackwood spoke louder.

"One: we may suggest Sabrina and Lydia to trial by water. They will be bound and dropped into the river. If they float, they're witches. If they drown, they're human. And free to go."

Lydia and Sabrina shared a very worried glance. Lydia then made the decision in her mind that Father Blackwood was literally insane.

"Unacceptable!" Webster exclaimed, but Blackwood didn't seem to care what he had to say.

"Or two: the accusers will submit to being stripped and examined, in full view of the coven, for a witch's mark upon their bodies. Should a mark be identified, the trial will continue, uninterrupted. Should no mark be found, this Court will be forced to recognize their so-called 'humanity'."

The twins looked at each other, then to their aunts, and then to Webster. Lydia's worry grew when she saw that Webster's face looked stumped.

Maybe he wasn't going to save them after all.

─ ༓ ─

"Absolutely not, I forbid it!" Zelda exclaimed as she paced around the kitchen. Lydia, Sabrina, and Mr. Webster sat at the kitchen table.

The twins had told their aunts and Webster that they were considering Blackwood's second option: strip down for the coven to examine them. After all, it was better than drowning.

"Sit down, Zelda, before you collapse. You're skin and bone," Hilda said from behind the kitchen counter.

As the trial continued without a verdict, Hilda and Zelda began to age faster and faster. They had more wrinkles and their hair was nearly all white. Lydia of course felt guilty, but then again, she literally wasn't guilty, and she would never admit to it.

"Sabrina, Lydia, I have to ask," Webster began, "Do either of you know if you have a mark? Let's start there."

"Or perhaps there's another way," a new voice said.

Everyone turned to the doorway where Blackwood stood, completely announced. Lydia instantly sat up in her seat, shooting him a glare.

"You'll excuse my unannounced visitation, but I come bearing felicitous tidings," Blackwood explained, as if that excused his actions, "I've pleaded on your behalf to the Dark Lord, and he has offered a path through this thicket."

"Praise Satan," Zelda sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"The Dark Lord will waive your punishments in the pit," Blackwood continued, "He will even allow you yearly visitations with your mortal friends, but, you must ratify your signature in the Book of the Beast, and you must withdraw from Baxter High, and begin your studies at the Academy of Unseen arts immediately."

"But this is perfect! Sabrina! Lydia!" Zelda said, with newfound hope laced in her voice.

"We'll await your answer tomorrow night in Court," Blackwood informed. He said his goodbyes and then he left, just as quickly as he came. Lydia's glare instantly faded.

Webster stood up and watched Blackwood to make sure he left, then he turned back to the Spellmans.

"We will not take this deal," Webster stated. Lydia tilted her head in confusion. While she didn't like Blackwood, the deal he offered him wasn't terrible. In fact, it seemed like the best they could get.

"But the Dark Lord has been moved by our plight to show mercy. Do you know how rare that is?" Zelda argued.

"She's right, so think about that," Webster said, "Why offer a deal, it's a trick. Remember whom you're dealing with!"

Zelda looked at the twins, expecting them to agree with her.

"Mr. Webster's right," Sabrina said, "There's obviously a catch, and I'm not willing to take that chance."

"If you and your sister lose, which you will, then you will both burn in hell for 333 years! Is that the chance you want to take?" Zelda cried.

"Yes, it is," Lydia agreed. She figured that Mr. Webster knew better than anyone that there would always be a catch.

"Girls —"

"I don't know about you all, but I am running on about two hours of sleep, so I'm going to bed," Lydia stated. She stood up from her chair, "Goodnight Mr. Webster, thank you again for helping us. it truly means a lot."

Lydia started to walk out of the kitchen.

"Lydia, come back here! You and your sister don't understand just how dire your situation is. You both have to at least think about it! The Dark Lord is offering you an —"

"I'm running on two hours, Aunt Zee! I can't understand anything on two hours!"

Lydia walked upstairs, ignoring her aunt's calls. She very calmly entered her room, closed her door, and flopped onto her bed, falling asleep within seconds.

─ ༓ ─

The next morning, Lydia and Sabrina woke up at 5:53 AM. Once she finished getting ready, Lydia was heading downstairs when Sabrina grabbed her elbow.

"Uh, Lydia? Could you do me a favor?" she asked.

"Sure," Lydia agreed, "What is it?"

"I need you to not walk with Harvey and me to school today," Sabrina said.

"What? But we've walked to school together every day our since forever!"

"I know, it's just —" Sabrina avoided her eyes, "I'll explain after school, can you please just do this for me?"

Lydia pulled her elbow out of Sabrina's grasp.

"Whatever," she muttered, leaving the room, but not before getting a final word in, "You know, 'Brina, it is reassuring to know that you value your boyfriend over your own sister."

Lydia turned back around and went down the stairs to the kitchen. Her aunts and Ambrose were silent. Zelda just gave her a pointed look, expecting an answer from the plea deal.

"Yes, Aunt Zee, I'm thinking about it," Lydia mumbled. She turned around and walked to the front door, grabbing her backpack off the hook and storming out of the house.

Lydia couldn't comprehend why, after ten years, Sabrina would now make the decision to not walk with her. Deep down, she knew it really wasn't a big deal, but she was stressed and tired and she just wanted to be with her sister. Lydia considered that maybe she could stop by Susie's house and walk with her, but Lydia was so mad and didn't want to lash out at anyone, especially Susie.

Lydia stomped all the way to Baxter High. it was an awful experience. She walked into school, and when she didn't see Susie or Roz, she decided to head to the library. Luckily, she immediately saw Susie and Roz on a couch in front of the fireplace. Lydia walked over and sat next to Roz.

"Hey, guys," Lydia said, taking her backpack off and placing it on the floor. Then she looked at her friend's face, "Are you okay, Roz? What happened?"

Roz looked like she was about to cry, but at the same time, there was a rage in her eyes.

"I'm not, but let's just wait until Sabrina gets here. Where is she, anyway?" Roz asked, almost as if she was trying to get the attention off of herself.

"I'm not sure, we didn't walk together today," Lydia answered.

"But you guys always walk together," Susie said.

"Yeah, but it's no big deal," Lydia said. Lydia found it weird how quickly her problems went away once she saw her friend in pain.

The three sat in silence, looking at the fire. The door suddenly opened loudly, and when Lydia turned around, she saw her sister walking towards them. It took everything within Lydia not to glare at her.

"Hey," Sabrina said. She sat down in the chair next to the couch, looking at Roz's face, "What's wrong?"

"We got called into Principal Hawthorne's office because he had some news about the book banning —" Susie started.

"The PTA said they'd hold a town hall meeting, where we could present our case to the school board. In three months," Roz interrupted.

"Okay, well, three weeks, three months, even if it takes three whole years, Roz, we're gonna make them understand," Sabrina replied.

"That's what I said," Susie added, a small smile on her face.

"Yeah. Yeah, no. I know," Roz said, her voice trembling, "Three months is not that long."

"Roz, is there something else going on?" Lydia asked. Sabrina got up and moved next to Lydia on the couch. Suddenly, Roz began to cry.

"I'm sorry," Roz apologized, "I'm always trying to do what my dad said, 'Pray and face it bravely'. that's his solution for everything. But prayer's not gonna stop it."

"Stop what?" Lydia asked.

Roz took her glasses off, wiping her tears away.

"Myopic atrophy," she answered, "Dr. Spector says that, um, in about three months, maybe less, the ugliest, thickest glasses in the world aren't gonna stop me from going totally blind."

Lydia couldn't believe it. She knew that Roz had poor eyesight, but she had no idea it was that bad.

"You know, I even counted how many books I could realistically read before it's too late," Roz continued, "That's why every single one is important."

Roz was full-on sobbing now. Lydia, as well as Sabrina and Susie, instantly hugged her. They sat like that for a while, just hugging her in silence, for there was nothing anyone could say that could comfort Roz.

─ ༓ ─

After school, Harvey had to work in the mines, so the twins were walking together once again. They were silent, as Lydia mad at Sabrina for ditching her.

"I'm sorry," Sabrina said, once they had been walking for ten minutes in the woods.

"Doesn't matter," Lydia replied. It did matter, but she just didn't want to talk about it.

"It does matter," Sabrina said, "I asked you not to walk with us for selfish reasons, and I really hope you don't hold a grudge."

"Well, what was the reason?" Lydia asked. Sabrina sighed.

"I wanted Harvey to check to see if I had a witch's mark on my back," she answered.

Lydia stopped in her tracks. Then, she burst out laughing.

"What?" Sabrina asked, obviously confused.

"You know, 'Brina, if you wanted to know if you had a witch's mark, you could've just asked me to look. I am your sister after all," Lydia told her.

"Yeah, I know, it's just —"

"You wanted Harvey to see you naked."

Sabrina slapped her arm, "I did not!"

"Then why not have me look for a witch's mark?" Lydia questioned, a teasing smile on her face.

"I — I," Sabrina stuttered. She slapped her arm again, "Oh, shut up."

Lydia laughed, "Well, did you have a witch's mark?"

"No," she answered.

"Well, that's good," Lydia said, "Would you check my back for one when we get home?"

"Of course," Sabrina agreed, "Are we good?"

"Yes, but eventually you'll owe me a favor," Lydia said with a smirk.

"Oh, gosh," Sabrina breathed out.

Shortly after the twins made up, they arrived back at their home. They immediately ran up to their room, wanting to avoid their family, for they would definitely ask them if they'd made up their mind about whether or not they'd accept Blackwood's deal.

Once they got to their room, Lydia closed the door behind them and locked it. She turned to Sabrina.

"Okay, let's do this as quickly as possible," Lydia said. Sabrina nodded.

Lydia took off her jacket and placed it on the bed. She pulled her shirt off over her head, then turned away from Sabrina.

"Okay, check," Lydia told her.

Sabrina checked her entire back, "There's no mark."

Lydia grabbed her shirt off the bed, put it on, and then turned to Sabrina.

"Now that we have all the appropriate information, we have a decision to make," Lydia said. Sabrina nodded.

A few hours later, the twins headed downstairs to meet their aunts, Ambrose, and Mr. Webster, who they had heard come inside earlier.

"Aunties, Mr. Webster, we've made our decision," Sabrina said as the pair walked into the kitchen.

"We're not taking the deal," Lydia informed them, "We'll submit to Blackwood's exam."

"We don't have a witch's mark, so there's nothing to lose," Sabrina added.

"Except your dignities," Zelda replied.

At this point, Hilda and Zelda's hair was completely white. They were very pale and looked very tired. Their health was most likely declining as well, yet Zelda still continued to smoke a cigarette.

"Aunt Zelda —" Lydia began.

"Back into the fray, then, eh, cousins?" Ambrose questioned.

"When they find out Sabrina and I don't have marks, what will happen then, Mr. Webster?" Lydia asked.

"We demand a retrial," Webster said, "In human court, where you're innocent until proven guilty."

"And we demand our aunties' powers and youth are restored," Sabrina added, with Lydia nodding along, "It's non-negotiable."

"Thank you for that, sweethearts, but to be stripped and pawed —" Zelda began to say.

"We've had worse done to us," Lydia snapped. Zelda quickly stopped talking and averted eye contact.

"Besides," Lydia continued, "There are tons of people who are facing their fears right now and fighting battles they know that they're going to lose. So, if this is ours, let's just get it over with."

"But no tricks, no plea bargains," Sabrina added. Webster nodded in agreement.

"We should go," Sabrina continued.

"We'll be outside," the twins said simultaneously.

And with that, the twins turned around and walked out of the kitchen and then out of the house, with Webster following behind them. Zelda came out just a couple of minutes later.

"Where's Aunt Hilda?" Lydia asked.

"She said she'll be joining us later," Zelda answered, "Well, what are you waiting for?"

When the four arrived at the Church of Night, the pews were filled, once again. They walked to the front row, sat down, and waited for the trial to begin. When it finally started, Blackwood asked if they had taken the plea deal. Webster stood up.

"Sabrina and Lydia Spellman deny the plea deal, and instead have chosen to submit to the exam for a witch's mark," Webster answered for them. He sat back down.

Blackwood looked shocked. He stood up and walked over to stand in front of the twins and Webster.

"Sabrina, Lydia, am I to understand that you come now before this court to endure the test of the witch's mark, as described and demanded by your mortal laws?" Blackwood asked.

"Yes, Father Blackwood," the twins said in unison. Webster stood up once again.

"We request the examination be held in closed chambers," Webster said.

"Denied," Blackwood replied, as quick as lightning.

Lydia felt like she was going to throw up. She knew that she and Sabrina would have to be stripped in front of the coven, but now that the moment had arrived, she was absolutely terrified.

"Stop!" a voice called from the entrance of the Church. Lydia turned around and saw Hilda walking through the Church's entrance, holding a book. She placed the book on the table and started talking to Webster, but Lydia couldn't hear what they were saying. Blackwood was also saying something, but Lydia ignored him, trying to focus all her attention on what Hilda and Webster were talking about. However, it appeared they had reached an agreement before she could try to read their lips.

"Your Dishonors, I call Hildegarde Antionette Spellman to the stand!" Webster yelled.

"This is unacceptable! The test is about to begin!" Blackwood yelled in response, "I demand that —"

"Hilda Spellman, approach us," the Dishonors croaked out.

Hilda walked up to the stand. Lydia sat up in her seat.

"I have new evidence to submit to the court," Webster stated. He placed the book on the pedestal in front of the stand, "Ms. Spellman, please read the names printed here on these documents."

"Yes. This one reads, 'Lydia Spellman' and this one reads 'Sabrina Spellman'," Hilda said.

"Witnessed by?" Webster continued.

"Witnessed by their mother, Diana Spellman, and, well, me, Hilda Spellman."

Webster picked up two pieces of paper that were in the book. He turned and held the papers up to Blackwood. 

"I offer in evidence two Baptismal certificates, from the Holy Mother Church of Greendale," Webster stated. Blackwood stood up. The coven started gasping, and the people in the back row were standing up to get a better view at the certificates. Lydia's jaw dropped.

"Your Dishonors, if these certificates are authentic, it would seem we have competing claims upon the souls of Sabrina and Lydia Spellman," Blackwood announced.

"No, sir, what we have here is a binding contract, witnessed by their mother, notarized and dated one day before Edward Spellman inscribed his daughters' names in the Book of the Beast," Webster said, "Thereby rendering the aforementioned inscription, the agreed-upon promise, null and void, QED!"

Lydia had no idea what "QED" meant, but the coven murmured at his words, so "QED" was probably a big deal. Webster sat back down beside the twins.

"These last-minute theatrics make a mockery of this Court!" Blackwood yelled, "This, is spurious, this is outrageous!"

"No, I think I'll tell you what's really outrageous, Father Blackwood," Sabrina said, rising to her feet. Lydia looked up at her, not knowing what was about to go down.

"The Dark Lord's behavior!" Sabrina exclaimed.

This sent the coven into shock, and they immediately started whispering.

Then, a door surrounded by fire opened out of the floor in front of the Dishonors. The trapdoor had steps going down it. Lydia's eyes widened. Webster stood up and looked at the door as well. The coven was silent. The fire died down, but the door remained open.

"Well, now," Webster said, "I'd say you just forced the Devil to the bargaining table."

Lydia shared a glance with her sister.

"And I've been summoned to the Court's private chambers," Webster continued. Webster and Blackwood walked over to the door and began walking down the stairs. The door slammed shut behind them.

Considering the trial had been put on hold, the four Spellman women went outside.

"How could you, Hilda?" Zelda asked, in regards to the Baptismal certificates.

"How's it any different to your secret with Edward?" Hilda fired back.

"It's completely different! And appalling! A Christian church? Have you no shame? Have you no pride?"

"So, Dad didn't know that Mom had Lydia and I baptized? In secret? Why?" Sabrina questioned.

"She said not to tell him," Hilda answered, "I just assumed it was Diana being sentimental. Perhaps she suspected what Edward had planned."

"So they were both liars," Lydia said.

"Lydia!" Zelda gasped, "Honor thy father and mother!"

Lydia looked at the ground for a moment, then back to her aunts, "We can't have any more secrets, aunties. Can we agree on that?"

"No more lying to us about our own family, ever again," Sabrina added.

Hilda and Zelda nodded in agreement. Then, the bell tolled. They headed back inside and sat in their respective seats. When Lydia saw Webster and Blackwood standing, she tapped Sabrina's arm, pointed to the two men, and then the twins stood up as well. Blackwood and Webster were very aggressively glaring at each other, and if looks could kill, it would be a double homicide.

"Due to conflicts of contract, Baptism, and breeding, the Hellbound Court of Greendale decrees that Sabrina and Lydia Spellman," Blackwood paused, which Lydia assumed was for dramatic effect, although it was very annoying.

"Shall retain their mortal lives," Blackwood continued, "on the condition that they also attend the Academy of Unseen Arts, as well as weekly Black Mass."

The crowd murmured. The twins turned to Webster, who leaned over to them and said, "Think of it as dual-citizenship."

The twins turned to the Dishonors. Lydia could feel a small smile creeping onto her face.

"Your Dishonors," the twins said, in unison, "We accept."

"So be it," Blackwood said, "This Court is adjourned to the Shadows. Full powers are restored to the Spellman family."

There was a thunder and a flash of lightning. Lydia turned around, and suddenly, her aunts were young again.

"Praise Satan! I'm young again!" Zelda exclaimed, standing up. Lydia turned back to Blackwood, with a sly smile on her face.

After the verdict was reached, the Spellmans exited the Church. As they were leaving, Sabrina tapped Lydia's shoulder and pointed behind them. She turned to where her sister was pointing to see Webster walking in the opposite direction.

"Mr. Webster?" the twins called out, walking after him. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at them.

"Won't you come over to our house to celebrate?" Sabrina asked him once they caught up to him.

"It's late and I'm old," Webster replied, "Another time."

"Well, thank you," Lydia said, "for helping us win."

The girls hugged him.

"Some advice," Webster said, once they had pulled away from the hug, "Take advantage of this qualified victory. Learn everything you can about your adversary. And fight, for what's yours."

He smiled at the twins.

"Nobody's ever beaten the Devil," Webster continued, "but you two just might."

He patted the girls on their arms, and then walked away, into the night.

The twins turned around and walked back to their aunts, walking home. As they were walking, Lydia realized that throughout the short time they had known Mr. Webster, he had never asked for any kind of payment for helping them. He was a kind man. Lydia hoped she would see him again.

─ ༓ ─

The next day at school, Lydia and Sabrina were searching the school for Roz. WICCA had planned something for her once they had discovered Roz's impending illness. Lydia walked into the girls' bathroom, where she saw Roz standing in front of the mirror with her glasses on the counter.

"There you are, Roz!" Lydia said, "Sabrina and I have been looking for you everywhere! Come with me."

Lydia grabbed Roz's hand and pulled her out of the library. She turned to the left and saw Sabrina down the hall.

"Sabrina!" she yelled, "Come on!"

When Sabrina saw Roz, she ran down the hallway to meet them, and then the three girls continued down the hallway toward the library. They opened the doors and were met with the members of WICCA surrounding a table, plus Ms. Wardwell.

"What is this?" Roz asked. That's when she noticed the box on the table, contains multiple copies of The Bluest Eye.

"Lydia. Sabrina. Rosalind," Ms. Wardwell greeted, "Welcome to Baxter High's new, secret book club. Sponsored by W-I-C-C-A. Banned titles only."

"With you leading the group, of course," Sabrina stated.

Roz picked up a copy. She then looked at the twins, who were on either side of her, and wrapped her arms around them.

"I'm so proud of you girls," Ms. Wardwell said, "We're gonna have such great fun reading all those juicy, forbidden novels that they don't want us to. I've got quite a list. A little something for each of you."

While Ms. Wardwell still made Lydia very uncomfortable, at the moment, Lydia didn't care. She was with her friends, and sometimes that's all that matters.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

WORDS: 5,963
REWRITTEN: november 2023
EDITED: april 2024

AUTHOR'S NOTE! hi everyone! i don't have much to say lol so i hope you enjoyed this chapter :)