Salem S02E02 Recap: Blood Kiss

The witch war has begun, and Mercy wrote her accusation of liar in flames.

Mary prepares the men. She tells them that this will be their greatest battle. It is clear what must be done, they will end it here. She leads them into the woods, with torches in hand, down to the pit where the dead lie. She gives the signal, and they pour the oil on the sleeping girls, and the dead. They throw their torches down onto the girls. Mary calls them witches, tells the men to kill them, kill them all. The girls scream in agony. Mercy screams as all of her girls dies. Mary tells her that she wanted war, and now must taste it.

In the morning. John prepares to leave, the shaman gives him a blade. He also gives him something to protect his eyes from the witches, and tells him to use them carefully, that these things take a toll on the soul.

Mary makes a pretty speech in front of the church giving them an update. Mercy Lewis and the daughters of the Salem went too far. They fell into darkness, and slayed two elderly beggar women. They started a war on the people, and had to pay the price. It is up to them what sort of land they will live in, heaven on earth or hell.

Mary takes the ashes in her hands, crumples them.

She says a spell in her room, but Tituba reminds her that although pretty, words without blood are only air. Mary pricks her finger, and tells Tituba to cease her harping. She sets the clock into motion, the clock over the puritans. Tituba reminds her that if she fails she will never have her son. Mary has the plan all worked out. The comet will come, the cracks will be filled with hell blood, and the gates will open. She tells Tituba to not worry, and trust her for once. Tituba points out the flaw in her plan. She trusted the Mallum to Issac, and he's waking. He'll tell the handsome doctor how the pox began and ruin everything. She gives her a vial to fix her mistake for good.

Mary heads to visit the good doctor. There are many sick, and many will die before this whole thing is through. But Issac has somehow survived, and he's waking. He calls for Mary. The Dr. brings Mary to see Issac, hopeful that he'll be able to tell him how the pox started. She asks for a moment alone. She pours her vial into a nearby glass. He wakes and sees her, apologizing. He thinks he brought on this death because he didn't do as she told him, if he had done as she said none of this would have happened. Mary tells him it is her fault for putting him in such danger, and to not speak of this again. He asks for a drink, and she knocks it over, apologizing and rises to get him a fresh one.

From the ashes one rises.

George Sibley sits in silence. Mary's boy stands before him. He grabs a pin, and drives it beneath George's big toe nail. George gurgles in pain but can do little else. The little boy prepares to poke George in the eye. Tituba stops him, and tells him not to let his mother catch him playing like that.

Mr. Hawthorne pays Anne a visit. She thanks him for whatever kindness he intends, and tries to excuse herself, but he welcomes himself into her house. He is impressed by her father, no one can replace him, but he seems bent on trying. He babbles on about the deceased Hale as Anne makes him a cup of tea. He speaks of the fortunes that Hale made, noting that he knows no other Hales in the old world. Anne tells him that no other Hales made the crossing that she knows of. Hawthorne looks to pounce, Anne is the sole recipient of her father's legacy. The man she chooses to trust with her well being will be the most important man. He trusts she will choose the right person. Where Cotton Mather when you need her. The slimy Hawthorne kisses her hand and his nose begins to bleed. Anne is barely able to keep her powers in check as the china rattles around her. He claims its the dry air that caused the bleeding, and promises to come for her at another time.

Anne asks where the coaches are heading, wishing to purchase travel. She doesn't have a permit and cannot go anywhere. Permits are being issued to try to prevent the spread of the pox. She'll need to get one from the Selectmen or Mrs. Sibley to travel. Tituba approaches her, and Anne assumes that Mary sent her. Mary did not, but she thinks that Anne needs to learn the virtue of patience. Anne doesn't think she should speak to her of virtue. Anne detests everything that she and Mary are doing to the town. Tituba hates some of the things that Mary is doing as well, but thinks that Anne would be better off staying and learning from Mary. Anne just needs to get out. She just wants to be anywhere but in Salem.

Anne heads back home, since she is unable to leave. She's hears something in her house and heads towards the noise. Up in her father's study, the mask ratttles. When Anne touches it it ceases. Instead of fearing the mask this time, she smiles as she picks it up. Just as last time, the mask jumps onto her face, and takes her to another. It leads her to Mather's door. Cotton answers her knocking, surprised to see her there.

John walks the woods. He finally ditched the awful locks, but doesn't look like he's found a bath anywhere. Petrus spots him. The end of the world is upon them he tells John, when the dead walk. John asks what he is, and Petrus introduces himself. He doesn't claim to be a witch, but he showed Mary his funeral. He is on no side. He tells John to come. Alive or dead he is the most wanted man in the colony.

More succumb to the pox, and the dead are carted away. The reverend admonishes Doctor Wainwright for taking away one. Sam tells them that the bodies must be removed to keep the town healthy. Mary told him of the crag, and that is where the bodies are being dumped. The reverend points out that Sam may be responsible for the health, but he is responsible for the soul. Mary approaches the trio. She doesn't think that its a good idea for them to be arguing in public, the people look to them for guidance. Hawthorne asks if she ordered the bodies of good puritans to be dumped into the crag like slaves and common criminals. Mary points out that they are living in desperate times, which call for desperate measures. Sam points out that the bodies have to be taken away from the town, and the wells, to keep the pox from spreading.

More bodies are dumped down into the crag, to join the ashes of the burned. One watches the wagon from below.

Petrus leads John to his home, glad that he was not sent back unarmed. In his possession he has a witch dagger to kill, a stone to see, and a medicine bag to remain unseen. He should know he's been hiding al his life. John asks how many witches there are in Salem. Petrus remains coy. One or one hundred, there may be many. John wants a more exact count, he plans to kill them all. Petrus knows the ones that John knows. Mary Sibley, Tituba, Magistrate Hale, he cannot say more. Petrus is of no worth John thinks. Petrus tells him that there is one less witch, Hale has died. John holds a knife to Petrus's throat. He needs more information. Petrus tells him that Salem will need another Magistrate soon, and Mary looks to place another of her hive in that seat. If he finds who Mary is backing for Magistrate then he finds the next witch in line. Petrus nods in agreement, and John slits his throat.

Cotton gets Anne a cup of tea, happy to see she can still smile. The smile falls from her face as he asks what brings her to town, if her father is in town for a visit. Anne breaks into tears, and Cotton's windows fly open. He runs to close them, as she tells him that her parents are dead of the pox, its like the Devil has descended on the town. Cotton knows that the pox is because of the Grand Rite being completed, and its something that the others cannot ignore. Anne doesn't want any others looking into the matter, she wants Cotton. Cotton tells her that he is banned from even speaking about Salem, and he cannot go back. Maybe in a month the Elders will reconsider. Anne knows that they do not have that much time. She begs him to return to Salem. Cotton sees only failure in all of his actions in Salem. Anne is the one that was filled with doubts, and it was his faith that helped her. It pains her to see him so full of doubt. Since his father's death he is full of doubt, even doubt in witches. Anne grabs him hands, telling him to never doubt the fact that there are witches. Cotton wonders what has happened to Anne since he left. A knock at the door draws Cotton away. It's the Countess, another surprise visitor. The Countess has brought a basket of goodies, and he introduces the pair. She wants to hear everything about her, as she speaks, the countess speaks in her head. She thought she smelled a witch in Boston.

Anne wakes up in a bathtub in the forest. The Countess has brought her ”within.” They're having a nice little chat in Anne's soul. Anne asks who she is. The Countess has had many names throughout time. She is the last of the first, the last of the true witches. She wants to help her discover her true self. She was surprised to hear that the weakest of the witches, the half blooded Essex witches managed to complete the Grand Rite, and now she wants to know who it was. Anne tells her that she doesn't know, but the Countess tells her not to lie to her ever. Anne maintains that she does not know, she knows nothing of the witches, and until recently she didn't know who she was. The Countess sees that she is telling the truth, and she doesn't even know what she knows. The Countess tells her that she is no mere Essex witch, and she should ask her father more, but Anne tells her that he is dead. The Countess tells her that they must all murder their mothers and fathers it is the way. She thinks it is wonderful that she gets to discover all. When she learns to speak to her father again, she will learn much. The Countess pulls her into a kiss, bloodying her lip, and Anne is brought back to herself. The Countess tells Cotton to bring Anne to dinner. Everyone will be so happy to meet her.

John swims to the docks, and kills a man. He struts into Knocker's Hole.

Mary watches from her balcony. She notices a light in the house across the way, John's house, and heads over for a closer look. She goes upstairs and finds Sam Wainwright inside. He grabs her by the throat, surprised to see her. He knew she was strong but not that she was so brave as to confront a burglar. She admits she thought it might be the previous occupant. He was a man she knew all her life, and had no reason to fear him. Sam tells her that he was braver than he thought, since he was told the house belonged to the King of the Witches, John Alden. Mary never believed John could be a witch, and with good reason. Sam is there since Hawthorne told him the house was empty, and seized due to witchcraft, and he should use it. Sam makes sure that it does not bother Mary if he would take the house. Hawthorne is right for once, he should take the house. Sam notes that Mary does not like Hawthorne, she likes him no more than he her. Hawthorne doesn't like strong women. Dr. Sam Wainwright on the other hand does. He admires the strength in women, noting that if men had to deliver children out of openings so small in their own bodies, the earth would be a cold dark place. He notes that Mary looks as though she has known pain intimately, maybe in the room their in. Mary tells him that her pain is like her body, hers and hers alone. She bids him goodnight. John watches her leave his house from the shadow. Looking up ominously at his home's new occupant.

Cotton shows Anne to a room for the night. He has never slept in the master bedroom, even in his father's death he has not felt comfortable sleeping there, and prefers his old room. Anne asks again if Cotton will come to Salem. He will, no matter what the Elders do to him for breaking their banishment.

The Countess's son brushes her hair, asking her what Anne tasted like. She tasted like Lemons and Honey, pure sugar. He kisses her trying to get a taste, just a tiny taste remains. He asks what else she learned besides the sweet taste of her. Anne knew, and didn't, that Mary lead the Grand Rite. Sebastian figured that it would have been Hale to have completed the Grand Rite. He was charming, and cultured, but not capable of leading the Grand Rite. He was a survivor, but too full of guilt to have taken the chance. Mary on the other hand must be something special indeed, not willing to just survive. Sebastian finds her fascinating, and wants to meet her soon. The Countess tells her that they have to wait, they're not exactly welcome among the Puritans. They should take the time to find out more about Mary before they go to Salem. Sebastian shows the Countess the present that he got for her, a poor girl all tied up.

The bodies in the crag deteriorate rapidly. Mary watches from one of her globes, congratulating herself on an excellent day's work. They are well underway. She tells George that they have no clue what is happening. It's going to be the death of all of them, and a new life for the witches.

Mercy makes her way into the town.

The Comet will be there soon, the blood will fill the cracks in the crag. For once the Puritans will be correct, the comet will be a sign of their doom. Tituba bursts in the room, congratulating her mistress on a job well done. As a reward, Tituba gives her a small taste of what she will have when her task is complete. She takes her to the other room where her son is sitting in a tub awaiting his bath.

Mercy creeps up on the Reverend who is reading into the night.

Happily, Mary bathes her child promising that soon they will be together day and night. He asks he when. When her work is complete and all the world is her. She kisses him gently on the forehead, and he grabs her for a different sort of kiss. She pulls away.

Mercy lets herself inside of her former home, calling to her Father. His baby is home, his burned up, raspy voiced baby and she's has a shiny knife in hand.