Becoming Bloody Mary

by Stephanie Nichole

  “I’m sorry. It was wrong of me to pass judgement. I know how untrue whispered things can be. I’d much rather wait in here with you than out there with them, if the offer still stands,” Mary said glancing back at the door.

  The elderly woman passed by Mary and locked the door leading into the shop. “Tea?” she asked as she passed again. Mary nodded her head in agreement. The elderly lady disappeared behind a curtain covering a doorway. Mary stood in the deserted shop and looked around. She couldn’t see much by just the candle light, but she noticed the miss-matched chairs and rugs the filled the room as well as walls of shelves that were home to books, jars of spices, herbs, and liquids. The windows and doorways were all covered with different types of curtains. As a child, Mary had heard stories about gypsies and this was definitely a place she could picture one of them in. The elderly woman reappeared holding two cups of steaming tea. “Here, dear. Have a seat.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. I’m Marina Meyers but everyone calls me Mary.”

  The lady nodded her head before responding. “I know dear. I knew who you were when I saved you. I’m Cordelia, just Cordelia.”

  Mary tried to keep the skeptical look off her face. “You knew who I was?”

  “Well of course dear. This town isn’t that big, and your story is very similar to my own,” Cordelia told Mary while taking a sip of tea.

  “What do you mean?”

  “My sister was always the center of attention much like yours. It was never an issue for me until she stole the only thing I ever wanted.” Cordelia let out a ragged sigh, “My sister could have had any man she wanted, yet she took the only one who had ever shown any interest in me, the only one I wanted. The only one I loved.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that but my sister would never take Henry,” Mary assured Cordelia.

  Cordelia studied Mary for a few silent moments. “Well, I do suppose you know her better than I, but just remember if your fate takes a turn in my direction I’m always here for you my dear.”

  Mary noticed the way her eyes seemed to almost glow as she spoke. It was such a horrible thing that Cordelia’s sister had done to her, but she knew without a doubt that Elizabeth would never do such a thing. Elizabeth and Henry were all she had in this world, whatever kindness she had experienced in her lifetime had come from them. Mary noticed that Mr. Perry had returned. “Oh! My driver has returned. Thank you so much for the tea and company Cordelia. I should return to my trip now. I do hope that we see each other again sometime.”

  “Me too my dear,” Cordelia mumbled as Mary left out of the shop.

  Chapter 3

  Once Mr. Perry had repaired the wheel, he and Mary continued on their trip. Eventually, they arrived in London. The following day she went in search of Henry’s home. She found it easy enough and as she waited in the foyer she felt those giddy butterflies return to her stomach. Her heart picked up speed just as Henry appeared at the top of stair case. “Mary?” he asked with a tone of shock in his voice.

  “Henry, dear. I just simply couldn’t wait until you returned. Elizabeth spoke with my parents and they allowed me to stay a month with a family friend. Isn’t it grand?” Mary gushed over Henry. She was so elated to see him again and so caught up in her love for him, that she missed the look of disdain that crossed his features.

  The following month flew by as she spent most nights on the arm of Henry attending lavish events and brunches with his family. His family treated her as if she was one of them already. It made her feel as if she had finally found her place in the world. She was finally being accepted and loved for who she was. Every time she looked at Henry she knew she was looking at her future.

  Mary was due to leave in a weeks’ time. The idea of leaving London, of leaving Henry and returning to her parents and that horrid town, made her feel like she was having trouble breathing. The only silver lining of returning was being able to see Elizabeth again. One night after leaving another lavish event with Henry she confessed her love for him. “I love you Henry,” she said with such passion in her voice. Henry stared back at her for a moment which made Mary feel uneasy, finally she asked him, “Don’t you love me?”

  “Of course, darling, of course,” he replied before kissing her until she was breathless.

  Mary continued to fall more in love with the man he was, so much so that her love for him and the life she hoped to share with him was becoming all consuming. On the night before she was due to return back home, Henry announced he was coming with her for he had urgent business to discuss with her parents.

  Mary was over the moon because she just knew that the urgent business was to ask for her hand in marriage. They had confessed their love for one another and even shared it with one another nightly since the confession. She couldn’t wait to celebrate with Elizabeth. She couldn’t wait to hear what the whispers would say now about her. When they arrived back they were met by Elizabeth, who looked stunning as always in a new blue dress that matched the color of her eyes and a matching ribbon in her hair. She threw her arms around Mary. “Oh! How I’ve missed you sister! You just mustin’ stay away that long!” Elizabeth looked like an angel with her golden hair cascading down her back in curls, creating a golden halo.

  “I fear next time it might be more permanent,” Mary whispered in her sister’s ear. Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide as her words and their meaning sunk in. Henry went to greet Mary’s parents, Henry and her father quickly disappeared into her father’s office. She was sitting on pins and needles while waiting for the announcement, however nothing could have prepared her for what was to come.

  Mary and Elizabeth both got ready for the party their parents were throwing that night. A party that Mary was most certain would announce her engagement to Henry. A white dress was hanging in front of her. She admired the beautiful white lace that laid over the full skirt of the dress. As she stepped closer, she noticed that small pearl buttons ran all the way up the back as well as at the neck of the dress and the end of the long sleeves. She was more than excited to wear this dress. Wearing a white dress to this kind of event was meant to say that you understood the agreement that had been made for you. Mary couldn’t wait to hear her father announce that her hand had been asked for. She couldn’t believe that the time was finally upon her. Henry was her chance to prove them all wrong. She was loved, and she would be married soon.

  When Mary met Elizabeth in the hallway before entering the grand room, she noticed that her sister also wore a white dress. Had someone asked for her hand in marriage as well? Mary was almost giddy with excitement for them both. “Oh, my Elizabeth! Has your hand been asked for as well?”

  “I’m not sure. When I went to my room to get prepared for the party this dress was hung out for me,” Elizabeth replied.

  Mary took Elizabeth’s hand and squeezed it between hers. “Oh, this going to be a glorious night! I do hope that whomever has asked for your hand is one that you adore as much as I do my Henry.”

  Elizabeth’s smile beamed at Mary. “I hope so too Mary. I love seeing you so happy.”

  “It feels amazing!” Mary exclaimed, as she spun around on the dance floor with her sister. Mary and Elizabeth walked around the ballroom while the musicians played familiar melodies. The ballroom had been completely transformed, all the curtains had been changed out to beautiful white ones and the chandelier above glistened as the candle light flickered. There was something magical about this night.

  Elizabeth touched Mary’s arm drawing her back to the present. “William has arrived, I wonder if it was he that asked for my hand,” she said with a touch of excitement in her voice.

  Mary looked over at the tall, slim man with brown hair and eyes that matched. William was no Henry, but she recognized that gleam in her sister’s eye. “I hope so if that look in your eye is any indication of how you feel for him. Go,” Mary urged Elizabeth, but when she didn’t make a move toward him, Mary pushed her sister forward. “Go!” Mary watched as Elizabeth made her way to William. O
nce she had reached him she watched a blush creep up her sister’s neck to her cheeks. William had a cheek hurting smile on his face that couldn’t seem to disappear. Mary felt her heart grow even more, both her and her sister were about to get all they had ever dreamed of.

  Later on in the evening, Mary started to feel worried because she had yet to see Henry. There was a pit in her stomach that was growing with each second. She wondered around the room looking for his face. Finally, she spotted him. His reddish blonde hair being held back by a black tie that matched his suit. He looked dashing as always, he was standing with her father. As she started to make her way to them, her father called for everyone’s attention. Mary noticed her mom leading Elizabeth to their father and Henry. A pang of regret and jealously shot through her as she was once again excluded. She should be used to her parents not including her in the family portraits or family outings, so why would they have included her in a family announcement even if it did have to do with her becoming married?

  Thomas began tapping the crystal of his glass to get the crowd’s attention. “If I may have your attention please. I have an announcement I’d like to make. As I’m sure you have guessed this announcement is the purpose for this party tonight. Henry Willsworth here," Thomas says while patting Henry on the back, “has asked for my daughter’s hand in marriage and I have agreed. I’m more than happy to hand over my lovely daughter Elizabeth’s hand to this fine young man,” Thomas says while taking Elizabeth’s hand and placing it in Henry’s.

  Mary stood amongst the crowd in a stunned daze. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Her father continued to rattle on, but the only things she could hear was the pounding of her heart which had dropped to her stomach at the announcement. There was a lump that was growing larger with each breath that Mary tried to take. Tears fiercely stung her eyes, but she refused to let any of these people see her cry. She would have fled from this room already if she could get her body to work, but I guess once your heart had been shattered the rest of your body decides to quit too. Mary might have noticed her sister’s own look of shock when her father had made the announcement of the engagement, if she hadn’t become so consumed with her own loss.

  Mary finally found a way to make her feet work and as if she were invisible, she slipped out through the crowd and into her father’s office where she collapsed on a chair and allowed her tears to fall freely. Her mind was racing with unanswered questions. How could Henry do this to her? How could Elizabeth do this to her? The humiliation of showing up to this party in white and expecting a proposal; it was almost unbearable. A while later she heard the door open quietly followed by footsteps behind her, turning around she saw Henry standing with his hands behind his back. The anger that raged through her was staggering. “How could you? How could you do that to me? You told me you loved me!” she exclaimed.

  Henry very calmly stared at Mary. “No, I never actually said those words, you merely assumed them. You see, your parents had paid me to court you. Elizabeth had refused to see any suitor as long as you were uncourted. I allowed them to keep their payment to me for courting you in exchange for your sister’s hand in marriage.”

  Mary felt as if all the air had been pulled from the room. Her heart was shattered, and it hurt to breathe. “I... I…” her voice broke, and she was unable to formulate a sentence.

  “You had to know that my family would never actually approve of me being with you, Mary. It’s just better this way, surely even you can understand. Elizabeth and I will be married tomorrow evening and we will return to London the following day.” Henry gave her his full watt smile and left the room.

  Chapter 4

  Mary collapsed on the cold floor as she sobbed for all she believed she’d had, and she had lost. The hurt and betrayal made every breath she took nearly impossible. After some time, she pulled herself from the floor. She had no idea what to do or where to go, but she knew she couldn’t stay here in this house and face her sister; the betrayal was too fresh. She went to the back of the house as an idea came to her. There was only one person she thought would understand how she felt at this moment. Grabbing her coat from the closet she slipped out the back door. She walked through the silent night and with every step she took the hurt turned into anger, with every breath, the betrayal turned vengeful. Before she realized it, she was back in the questionable part of town. As she approached Cordelia’s shop door, she looked down at her dress. The bottom was no longer the pristine white it had been, instead it was as black as the sky, covered in grime and soot.

  The store was completely dark, she couldn’t even see a single flame, but she raised her hand to knock anyway. Shortly after she knocked she saw a candle light coming through the shop. Cordelia opened the door with a startled look on her face as she took in Mary’s appearance. “Oh, my dear what happened to you?” Cordelia asked, as she pulled Mary inside her shop and led her to the back which looked like a living quarter. Cordelia disappeared and reappeared with a tea cup in her hand. “Here dear, drink this and tell me what is bothering you child.”

  After Mary had sipped her tea and had finally found her voice, she said, “I’m afraid my sister has followed your own sister’s footsteps. She couldn’t allow me my happiness or my one moment to shine. She is set to wed my Henry tomorrow.”

  Cordelia’s eyes went wide with the news of Elizabeth’s betrayal. “I’m so sorry dear. This is certainly not what I had hoped for, but I did fear it for you. You deserved much better.”

  “What did your sister do to you Cordelia?” Mary asked.

  Cordelia released a ragged sigh. “The same only it was not announced at a party in my story. My family just announced it at the dinner table.”

  Mary sipped on her tea for a minute unsure if she should continue with her questioning. “How did you react?”

  Cordelia shook her head while releasing a low whistle. “Much worse than you I’m afraid. I actually picked up my fork and stabbed my sister’s hand. Afterwards, I was exiled from my home. That’s how I ended up here in this lovely little place.” Cordelia got up and took the cup from Mary’s hand. “That’s enough scary stories for tonight. Why don’t you get some sleep and we’ll talk in the morning?” Mary smiled at Cordelia and got comfortable on the couch. After everything she had been through, she found sleep quickly.

  She awoke late the following morning, she could tell by the way the sunlight fell across the floor through the curtains. As she set up she stretched her stiff muscles, then the events of last night fell over her and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out as the pain over took the empty spot where her heart once resided. Eventually, she rose from the couch and walked back into the main part of the store. With the sunlight filling the small area, she could actually read the names on the shelves that were home to the spices, herbs and liquids. As she moved along the walk, she let her fingers slide over the dusty shelves and jars. Her hand landed on a jar that had captivated her attention. Inside the glass jar was a vibrant pinkish red liquid and scrawled across the label attached to the jar said. “Love Potion.”

  Fool! She was such a fool! Of course, she could fix this horrible mess, with Cordelia’s help. All she needed was a love potion. Mary wondered the shop in search of Cordelia but there was no sign of her. As she looked at the front door, she noticed it was locked. She took a seat and waited for her to return while she worked on the plan to get Henry back. All she needed to do was slip into the house and pour the potion into his scotch for one of the housekeepers to serve him. Not only would she get Henry back, but she would also get revenge and some satisfaction in watching Elizabeth call off the wedding.

  Cordelia finally returned and instantly Mary was on her feet. “Good morning dear,” Cordelia said in a way of greeting Mary.

  “Good morning Cordelia. Thank you for allowing me to seek refuge here last night. I’m hoping you are willing to extend that kindness through today.”

  Cordelia tilted her head to one side as she studied M
ary with her dark eyes. “Well of course dear.”

  “That’s splendid!” Mary exclaimed. Cordelia raised her eyebrows in question. Mary headed off towards the jar potion she needed most. “While you were out, I formulated a plan to get my Henry back, but I need this,” Mary said, pointing to the love potion.

  Cordelia laughed. “Oh dear, that would never work. That’s just a fool’s dream. It’s nothing more than a flavoring at its best. That love potion is something people buy convinced it will help but it will not. It has no magic.”

  Mary’s heart fell to her feet. Her plan was ruined now, but as she stood there, she took in her surroundings and a thought occurred to her. What if Cordelia actually was a witch, and this store was merely a mask for her? “But you can create a love potion?”

  “Ahh…so you do know,” Cordelia said, while making her way back through a door way. Mary followed on her heels. “Well, of course I can create a love potion but that would require a lot.”

  “What do you need?” Mary asked, now with a renewed hope.

  Cordelia shook her head slightly. “Money.”

  “Money, I have.”

  Cordelia waved her finger in a gesture to say no. “There is more than money. Love potions require a lot of magic and a little blood which leads to some consequences. You need to understand that, Mary.”

  “I’ll pay any price and I don’t care about the consequences,” Mary said, her eyes unmoving from Cordelia’s.

  A sly smile crept across Cordelia’s face and had Mary not been so consumed by vengeance she might have noticed the sinister look of it. “Well, then I suppose we should get to work. First, I need a drop of blood to ensure he falls in love with the right sister.” Cordelia crossed the room where she gathered a vile and a pin. When she returned to Mary she held out her hand and waited for Mary to place hers. Mary didn’t hesitate as she laid her hand inside of Cordelia’s. She quickly pricked her finger and squeezed a drop of blood into a small bowl then handed Mary a piece of paper. “Go gather these things.” Mary disappeared from the door almost immediately while Cordelia started working on another potion.