But the witches of the past, including the evil Madame LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) and Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett), based on real-life characters, may be the key to what ails Fiona. After LaLaurie, who has a penchant for experimenting on her slaves, mutilates Laveau's lover by turning him into a minotaur, Laveau buries LaLaurie alive. Fiona digs her up in the present, hoping to use her to find the secret to immortality.