Her lips stained the colour of red wine and her hair tied up into an obsessively neat bun was the way that Constance Hardbroom presented herself to the world almost every day of her life. It was only when she was sure she was alone that she let her true self shine through.

It was about one o'clock in the afternoon on the first day of the summer holidays and Constance was just arriving home. She missed this place when she was at Cackle's. It was the only place she could really be herself.

It seemed very unlike Constance to have pictures littering her shelves and windowsills but she did. There were pictures of her family and friends covering every possible surface, this was completely different to her room at the academy. At the academy she had nothing personal at all in her room, it would just seem unprofessional and distract her from her work.

After changing out of her usual long, tight, black dress and high heels into some more comfortable jeans and her favourite purple hoody, Constance decided to go and check her mail while watching TV.

Most of the pile of mail consisted of mindless junk mail but a few handwritten letters and post cards stood out against all of the other rubbish.

Constance knew who the handwriting belonged to as soon as she saw it on the first envelope. It was her little sister's this was what it was like every time Constance got home from school. A metre high pile of letters and post cards from Violet to update her on where she was and what she was doing at that moment in time. 'Why were these not sent to the academy?' I hear you ask. Well as we all know Constance is a private person and so of course her sister knew and understood that too. This is why she sent the letters to Constance's home instead as she knew that the letters were something Constance looked forward to all of term time and that they were the first thing she turned her attention to once she was home.

Violet was Constance's best friend, little sister and also she was the person Constance loved more than anything else in the world. Constance missed Violet when they were apart and that was why she was brought so much joy with the last letter that she opened.

Dear Constance,

I have missed you, it seems like forever since we last saw each other. Right at this minute I'm in Africa – again… It's so beautiful here. I wish you would come out with me and see it some day. I'm sure you would love it too. I have enclosed some pictures of my recent "adventures", I hope you like them.

I know you won't get this letter until you get home from school but when you do can you give me a call. I would like to discuss something with you.

Lots of love Xxx Violet Xxx

P.s. Don't look so worried big sis…it's nothing bad.