And when I hesitated, the afflicted girls came to life.
“There are familiars all around her!” Mercy cried. “They swarm her, doing her bidding for the devil’s work.” She started to swat at the air near her, as if fending off the little beasts. Others in the room became uncomfortable as they looked for the invisible demonic creatures.
I stared at the magistrates, refusing to acknowledge Mercy.
“Her specter bites me!” Susannah called out, showing a fresh bite mark on her wrist.
“And she sticks me with pins,” cried Elizabeth Hubbard, showing pins stuck into the pads of her fingers.
The magistrates looked disturbed as they spoke amongst themselves. The claims were so preposterous. Could they not see that?
I couldn’t help it. I shook my head, letting out a frustrated breath.
All the afflicted—except Grace—also began to shake their heads, but with greater force. Even Leah shook her head, her voice rising with the others.
I crossed my arms—and they crossed their arms.
Mercy cried out. “Make her stop! I cannot unclench my arms. She holds us prisoner and doth not want us to speak.”
I slowly lowered my arms, and they finally lowered theirs.
“What do you say for yourself?” Magistrate Hathorne asked me. “Do you not see what you do to these women?”
My gaze returned to Isaac. He looked so sad that as I opened my mouth to confess that I was bewitching these women, the words stuck in my throat.
How could I stand before all these people—and God—and say that I was controlling their behaviors? That I had sold my soul to the devil and was now doing his bidding?
I could not.
I glanced at Grace, panic starting to creep into my heart. Her face was pale as she clutched her hands together and didn’t meet my gaze.
I looked at Isaac, remembering his embrace and his words of love and encouragement. Could I speak such vile things in his presence?
“Well?” Magistrate Hathorne asked. “What say you to these claims, Hope Eaton?”
“She cannot speak, because the devil holds her tongue!” Susannah said. “I see him there, beside her. He controls her like she controls us.”
Revulsion turned my stomach, and I shook my head.
They shook their heads.
Tears of indignation rose inside me, and I swallowed as I faced the magistrates. “I say I am innocent. They lie for attention and wish to see me hang. I heard Susannah and Mercy planning it last night.”
The racket the afflicted girls caused became so great, Susannah fell to the ground, her body twitching with spasms that looked as if they would break her spine.
Father rushed to her side as he glared at me. “You lie!” he said as he pointed at me. “You have hated her from the moment she came here, and you signed a deal with the devil to see her and the unborn babe dead.”
“No.” Tears fell down my cheeks, but my defense was lost in the chaos.
“Have her taken to the Salem gaol to await trial,” Magistrate Hathorne said. “We have seen and heard enough. We are done here.”
Someone grabbed my arm from behind as my breath caught.Grace stood, horror on her face as they started to pull me out. I looked at Isaac, and he was on his way across the room, but someone held him back.
The reality of the situation hit me like a blow to the face.
I would hang.
26
