The Once and Future Witches

In her research, Bella stumbles on the spell they need for their demonstration. Their target is the statue of St. George in the town square. Under cover of darkness, the witches succeed in changing the knight’s bronze statue into a bronze pig. They leave behind a brand of three circles—the symbol of the Last Three witches.

The following day, Quinn arrives at the library to show Bella copies of the local papers. She is amused at the consternation that the Sisters of Avalon have created. Bella explains that her research has now turned to the remaining records of Old Salem. Though the city was burned to the ground, Bella hopes that the surviving written records might give some clue to what she calls the “Lost Way” to revive real magic.

Taking a break from research, Quinn invites Bella to spend the day at the Centennial Fair. The two ride the Ferris wheel, and Bella’s attraction toward Quinn grows. Bella discloses a secret from her past. She was sent to a religious reform school after Agnes spied her in a romantic embrace with another local girl and told their father. Despite this past betrayal, Bella thinks the sisters can trust each other now. Even though Quinn cautions Bella not to trust too easily, Bella tells Quinn about a second spectacle that the witches are planning.

Agnes finds the target for their second spectacle. It is the site of a garment factory fire in which dozens of female workers were locked inside and died in the blaze. The owners received a small fine and intend to rebuild their business on the same spot. On the night of June 10, the Sisters of Avalon plant seeds around the perimeter of the property. By the following morning, impenetrable vines have covered the site.

Three days later, Agnes plans a third spectacle. She received a tip from a coworker about a rusting spell that her male cousin August S. Lee used to derail trains during the Pullman Strike in Chicago. Agnes tracks Lee to a bar frequented by union agitators. Although Lee is sympathetic to the Sisters of Avalon, he doesn’t believe Agnes can use his spell because it is men’s magic. As a test, he mutters a spell that cracks his beer glass. Agnes follows suit and cracks every glass and bottle in the bar. This impresses Lee enough that he agrees to attend a witch’s meeting and explain his spell work to the members.

The following night, Lee arrives at the Sisters of Avalon meeting with a bouquet of flowers for Agnes, whom he finds attractive despite her pregnant condition. The rest of the membership is suspicious and hostile at first, but Lee gives them the information they seek. He even signs the membership roll as the first male member.

By June 17, the Sisters of Avalon are planning their third spectacle. Quinn has left her hat on Bella’s desk at the library, so Bella travels to New Cairo, where many Black residents of New Salem live, and is directed to a spice shop run by Quinn’s mother, Araminta. After entering, Bella overhears a conversation between Quinn and a third party in which she reports on the activities of the Sisters of Avalon and their upcoming spectacle. Bella runs back home in tears and tries to persuade her sisters to call off the spectacle. Instead, Juniper decides they should forge ahead with their plans for that same night.