Salem (Lucifer's Queen Book 2)

Chapter Two

Salem

"Exodus twenty-two verse eighteen, you shall not permit a sorceress to live. Deuteronomy eighteen verses nine to twelve, when you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations, the Lord your God is driving them out before you!" played the announcement.

I snorted as the van's speakers continued to spew other scriptures. The volume decreased as the van sped by our house with the tyres crunching on the gravel roads. They did this once every other week.

Aunt Suzi placed a hand on my shoulder. "There are things of this world far greater than anyone can comprehend, Salem. Even a town of Puritan shits like this knows that and fears it," she murmured while she caressed my hair. "It is silver today." She lifted a few strands.

"Yeah, I saw it last night," I said then began eating.

"As usual if they ask you about it just tell them I dyed it and that it won't last for long. Hopefully, you can make it through today without it changing back," she muttered sounding a little worried. "Remind me to purchase a new hat for you."

When I was younger and she realised that my hair colour changes, she attempted to colour it back to ashy blonde, but it never worked. We have tried numerous times over the years, but we fail each time. Covering my hair was the only solution.

"Sure thing, Aunty," I answered while stuffing the last slice of pineapple in my mouth and shoving the plate away. "I am leaving now."

She kissed my temple and took up my plate. "Have a good day, Darling."

"Same to you," I replied getting up and exiting the kitchen.

I went to the closet by the front door and took out my yellow raincoat. Putting it on, I opened the door stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind me. I was ready for the rain. All the books that I would need were already at school in my locker. When I got assignments, I would complete them the same day and leave them in my locker. My drawing book was the only book I bring to and from school. I did not need a knapsack; therefore, I did not have one.

Today would be a good day.

The rain drizzle soaked my hair just the way I liked it as I made my way to school. The raincoat had a hood, but I saw no need to use it when the rain made me feel liberated. My house was on one end of town, and my school was on the other.

Lucky me, I thought dryly.

"Rainy day..." I hummed jumping over the puddle. "On days like this, I think of my blues..."

About twenty minutes later, I had made it to town. Goose pimples covered my arms, and I clenched my teeth. I despised travelling through here. There was a high platform in the centre of town with a noose hanging from it. A metal box loaded with huge rocks stood a few feet away. People would be pressed for information by placing stones on their backs, chests, or abdomens. They took the expression 'crack under pressure' to a whole new level. Behind the platform were iron cages called holding cells for people who violated the rules of the town. The rules were written on a large board that was suspended from a signpost. I came to a halt and peered at them.

'1. Kissing, indecent touching and partaking in sex outside of marriage will result in whipping and branding.

2. Mothers of children born from fornication will be put to death as well as their diseased infants.