A/N: First, thanks to everyone for waiting for this chapter. Had a great deal of teething issues for this chapter which caused me to seriously considering abandon this as the task was too much but finally got over the drama and bang! Finally uploaded this little baby, it's been a while so I hope it flows *nervously bites nails*

Second, thanks to those who listened to my whining and bitching regarding this beast of a chapter!

Third, have a few rough ideas for the next few chapters, details and time however will be the ultimate challenge so hopefully, the next upload won't be nearly as long.

Chapter Seven: Cleanse and Purge

It was nearing that time. Time drawing ever closer.

Zelda paced in the corridor outside of the bedroom where Amelia was calmly sitting at the bedside of Constance, softly talking to her as if she were awake. Even though, time was of the essence, Zelda felt the inner conflict grow as her conscience battled between the risks, benefits and the overall greater good for her one-time patient. She was torn between her oath and professionalism, to retain Constance' confidentiality and privacy or break that trust and be damned of the consequences, deal with the fallout at an appropriate time.

Zelda knew that she could and would not part with the heavy, gory details or expect to recount the entire session that both she and Constance had covered while under the influence of the truth potion, strategically placed in a glass of water. But what Zelda did know to be true would be to briefly warn Amelia, without exposing too much. A cleansing was not a particular pleasant experience to witness especially when it was preformed on a loved one.

Zelda already knew that her presence had annoyed Amelia, after all since arriving, she had assumed control of the situation, judged Amelia after she confessed to conducting memory suppressing spells and decided the treatment and fate of Constance without so much involving Amelia, who had been through it all and experienced the good, the bad and ugly with Constance but now the spell was degrading at an abnormal rate, far beyond the reach and realms of Amelia's competence and comprehension.

She looked at her watch once more, unable to delay the cleansing any further, she knocked the door.


Amelia sat by her bed, eyes never leaving the sleeping form of the exhausted potion mistress, who seemed paler than usual.

She cocked an eyebrow and leaned closer, listening. The steady rise and fall of her chest had changed. Now, her chest panted to keep up with the demand for oxygen as she gasped for the vital lifeline but also on a subconscious level, wanted to scream but was unable to do so. No sound escaped, no-one came to her aid and again she was alone.


The cold metal snapped around his wrists, common procedure but everyone knew that this was a feeble act and that alone would never hold him. Everyone knew about his mastered abilities, finely tuned skills and his almighty power which if he wanted, would melt the shackles from his wrists but he did not offer any resistance.

The great hall had been sent into a state of chaos after the ruling from the jury therefore sealing the fate of Professor Hector Blackstein. An added outcry was the sentencing of the now disgraced wizard which caused a fast growing riot that the court bailiffs became overwhelmed by the mob, all joined in their hatred towards the professor and wanted to seek out their own form of sentencing. In the middle of chaos, Constance could feel his cold eyes transfixed on her. Despite his sealed fate, he still remained calm, unfazed and allowed a small smile to curl the edges of his lips. There was a strange gleam which danced in his eyes perhaps secretly relieved that the monster within had been discovered and stopped, or mastering plans, using his powerful connections to avoid his incarceration?

Wordlessly, he knew that she was still haunted by nightmares on a regular basis, they all had the nightmares although she would continuously deny otherwise and had threw herself into perfecting her own version of wide awake potion, something that she could not allow anyone to discover besides it would serve its purpose as a short term solution until she was able to win her conflicting, internal battle.

'I think about you...about our night. You were always my favorite, a toy stolen from Hecketty. I always wondered about her obsession with you...now I know!'

His voice, invaded her thoughts, what else was he capable of doing? She squeezed her eye shut, refusing to cry and demanded control over her body. Mentally, she put up her guard to ensure he could no longer probe her mind, to discover anything else that he could potentially use against her.

"Order in my court," barked the judge as he repeated himself above the growing rioting mob and used his hammer to establish control "Bailiff! Get him out of here." He ordered, as the crowd demanded the professor dead

'You cannot escape, be it awake or asleep...you will always be mine. You all belong to me.'


His voice hissed. Lingering between the plains of her mind caught in a helpless limbo between the sleeping and waking world. Slowly, she clawed, found the strength, stumbled through her own unconscious mind and snapped awake. However the rasp of his voice was a painful reminder of the past which she thought she had escaped. As, the voice disappeared, the idle threat implied had invoked and unearthed long, lost forgotten memories associated by the mere sound of his voice and still had the uncanny ability to unnerve her, rendering her immobile and powerless.

Her throat constricted tightly, allowing a strangled whine to escape from her lips.

"Constance?"

The voice seemed familiar and through the sleepy fog, her eyes darted around her surroundings, nothing seemed familiar, everything foreign. As panic began to overwhelm her senses, her exhausted and fractured mind already spiraling out of control, trying to make sense and desperately attempting to understand what had and was happening to her.

Her head snapped to one side at the sound of her name again, quickly she pushed herself up from the soft mattress only to feel lightheaded, small dots dancing in her line of vision "Amelia?" she questioned tentatively

"Hush...I'm here, I promised to look after you...I will not break my word." Replied Amelia, offering much need comfort in her words, mothering the clearly shaken figure

"What? Where am I?" Unable to remember while a hand reached for her pounding forehead

"Calm down," warned Amelia offering her hand to Constance "You're in my room...you have been sleeping on and off since the incident in the potion lab and whatever happened to your own room."

Constance gripped Amelia's hand "Oh Amelia!" she gasped, clearly shaken and ashamed "I must apologise..."

Amelia returned the gesture, squeezing her hand. Preventing the weaker witch from exhausting her dwindling energy "Everything can be replaced" she paused and licked her lips "You remember Zelda Black...don't you?"

"Zelda? She's here?"

A single knock interrupted any further conversation, both of them looking and seeing Zelda snake into the room but remaining by the door.

"Hello Constance," she acknowledged before catching Amelia's eye "Could I just borrow you for a moment, Amelia?"

Amelia glanced and offered a reassuring look "We'll be a few moments."


Zelda and Amelia stood outside in the cool air of the corridor.

"I take it that you're ready and fully prepared...for the cleansing?"

Zelda nodded "Yes, but...well I think I should...I feel it's my duty that you know the basics."

Amelia frowned "I will be present throughout the cleansing, unless..." her voice drifted

"Please," she interrupted, holding up her hand "That's not what I'm referring to, Amelia. This is difficult for me...a breach, violation of patient confidentiality. It is something I maintain strongly but in this instance...circumstances permitting, I feel that we could overlook this...infraction..." She stammered over her words, having never breached any of her work ethics or principles not including the times, she had used a truth potion on two of her one-time patients.

Amelia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, squeezing her eyes closed in order to swallow away her increasing, growing fear of the unknown. As much as she considered Constance as the daughter that she never had, there was a great deal of her life that she did not know about Constance but so far from what she had already witnessed, she was not exactly sure just how deep she wanted to venture into the rabbit hole.

'Remember this isn't for you...it's for her.' A thought uttered in her mind

She relaxed her features and offered a small smile, almost forgetting how to use her facial muscles. For a brief time, her features had frozen into a worried frown, her forehead now ached as her muscles finally learned to relax and her shoulders sagged slightly "For Constance, I'll do anything you say. You have my word."


Zelda did not know where else to begin, wanting to limit the damage "Professor Hector Blackstein."

The name rolled off her tongue with ease but left a bitter taste in her mouth. She observed Amelia's reaction. Nothing.

"Professor Hector Blackstein?" Amelia carefully repeated the name and thought for a brief moment before shrugging her shoulders

"Amelia, think carefully...it was considered the worst scandal in the guild's history."

She went to open her mouth and protest when an almost foreign memory resurfaced, she closed her eyes and remembered the day as if it were yesterday. The worst scandal was a polite way to put it! The actions and repercussions of Professor Hector Blackstein had sent ripples throughout the entire community. It was considered a dark day in the history books that an incredibly talented and powerful wizard of his caliber would turn on his own kind, to direct his secret lust and torture on the innocent.

A gasp escaped her throat. A hand cupped her mouth "Oh dear lord! Constance...she was one of them, wasn't she?"

Zelda reluctantly nodded, her hand reached out for Amelia's hand which hung limply by her side, still reeling from the shock

"Constance and all those other girls...all those years! His punishment was not fitting enough for his crimes."

Zelda swallowed, knowing this was just the tip of the iceberg. The tricky debate for Zelda was to either brace Amelia for the impact or simply allow her to experience it first hand through Constance, herself during the cleansing. She observed the headmistress of the all girl's school and knew that she could not allow her to take part in the cleansing without at least knowing a very brief background into what pieces of the past may be uncovered.

"Amelia...there's more." She hinted

The tears were quick at forming "In such a short lifetime...she's already experienced so much suffering and torment."


As the sun began to sink into the horizon, it marked the end of a traumatic day. The first which had opened the floodgates, what would tomorrow bring?

Two revelations, unearthing the past that she had worked incredibly hard to escape but she would never be totally free from her past. The first appearance of stars in the dusky sky, twinkled high above the window of the academy, where Constance stood. She watched the colours of the sky change as the sun slowly disappeared. The stars sparkled with hope.

The door opened to reveal both Amelia and Zelda.

"What is happening...to me?" Whispered Constance, urgent for answers to at least know what she was dealing with

"We believe the mind suppressing spell is failing...it is degrading chaotically hence the explanation of why you are experiencing random memories and hallucinations."

She shook her head in denial "No, it is not possible! Even if that were true, the spell is not at fault...there has to be an explanation for the sudden decay, why now?"

"Constance...there are a number of factors that can contribute towards the spell failing...but right now, you are in danger," she paused glancing between Amelia and Constance "And we're here to help you."

"What do you have planned?" asked Constance in typical fashion, folding her arms

"Zelda will perform a cleansing...to remove the spell completely which will aid in the healing." Replied Amelia

Constance snorted "Between a rock and hard place."

"I have every confidence that I will be successful..." began Zelda

"I do not doubt your ability Miss Black, rather the opposite actually..." her voice trailed off

"But you agree?"


Constance sat in a chair, her hands clasped, posed ready with her casting fingers in typical stance while Amelia sat near the corner, keeping a watchful eye on both Constance and Zelda, nervously she rocked back and forth in her chair, nervous energy keeping her from remaining still. The counselor, stood behind Constance, with her hands carefully placed on her shoulders.

Constance flinched at the touch, feeling the healing hands upon her bony shoulders. She shivered inwardly, detesting the contact and the invasion of her personal space which Zelda was guilty on both parts. She swallowed, the growing feeling of unease that formed a tight knot in her stomach and allowed it, for this one time only.

"Close your eyes, Constance and focus on the sound of my voice."

She glanced over to Amelia "I'm afraid." She confessed, nervously

Amelia knew that the admission alone must have been painful. The confession uttered, escaped from her lips went against everything Constance stood for, everything that had been programmed into her impressionable mind as a young adolescent. There had only ever been one other time when Constance had confessed to a fear, it was when she first started at the academy as the latest member of staff included into the Cackle fold.

"Trust me Constance. We're both here to help you! We'll be by your side the entire time...Now close your eyes." Replied Amelia, fighting back her own emotions

Constance nodded at Amelia, never doubting her word but it did not prevent her from biting nervously at her bottom lip. The pain that she inflicted on her self, a reminder to remain focused and to prevent any form of expression that may have inadvertently shown in her expression. Her eyebrows frowned angrily at her lack of control, from preventing herself from falling victim to her own mind. Being the victim was something she had laid to rest in the past and had secretly promised herself, never to be in that position again but now she had broken her own promise.


Her thoughts were disturbed when the soft touch of Zelda's slender fingers grazed her skin. Inwardly, she shivered at the contact of another, feeling her warm fingers touch her naturally cool skin. Her ears pricked at the sound of a soothing whisper, uttered from Zelda and suddenly Constance could feel her eyes grow increasingly heavier, unable to resist, she fell into temptation and under the spell.

It was easier to surrender than to fight the inevitable.

Zelda murmured softly the spell that would induce the beginning of the cleansing. Their minds were now linked in a fragile, telekinetic bond. Silence fell over the room, leaving only Amelia. She leaned closer, her eyes never leaving either of them, on constantly vigilance for any sort of changes but sudden movement, broke her concentration, allowing her glance to deviate.

While Zelda remained perfectly still almost like a statue, under her fingertips, Constance began to twitch, tiny beads of sweat appearing around the hairline. Amelia raised a concerned eyebrow for both their well-being. Constance' features contorted and twisted almost as if she was in agony or attempting to fend off the counselor, preventing her from completing the necessary task.

The cleansing was beginning to weaken the once steady spell, unraveling the multiple layers that had been cast over the years. The spell had degenerated worse then she previously thought and had to limit the damage before Constance began to fight her, already she could feel her consciousness lurk somewhere in the background. Zelda would have to act effectively and efficiently to ensure all traces of the spell was completely erased.


Amelia resisted the urge to break the bond, the initiation of the cleansing but remained seated, instead she settled for reaching out and grasping onto the shaking hand of Constance, unable to offer any words of encouragement, this was the next best thing she could do without feeling totally helpless.

'It won't be long now, Constance...hang in here. Zelda, be safe and quick.' Thought Amelia, sending out a silent prayer for both witches


Zelda opened her eyes and frowned with confusion. There was nothing. Her eyes scanned her surrounding only to find herself completely surrounded by darkness which made her question the bond that had been formed between them. Was the bond still intact or had something gone wrong?

'Stay calm, Constance...it won't be long.' Echoed the soothing voice of Zelda, feeling Constance resist her. Her mind fighting Zelda similar to the way the body fights off a foreign infection, attempting to neutralize the threat. She had very little time left.

Zelda could feel an apposing force of resistance grow which attempted to prevent her from completing the cleansing. She swallowed and tapped into her reserve energy, she would not give in nor surrender until the task was complete, Constance and Amelia were depending on her, the immense pressure not to fail them.

Plunging further into the dark and mysterious mind, whispered voices followed her, never allowing her a moment's peace, perhaps a defense mechanism unwittingly triggered by the foreign invader. Swiftly, Zelda continued on her journey and soon found herself being drawn towards a seemingly save haven within the chaos.

A lone spotlight, offered a beacon of hope and clarity but on further inspection, Zelda found an antique chair which was occupied by Constance, unaware that Zelda stood in front of her, each tentatively step brought her closer towards the unsuspecting witch. A wooden floorboard groaned under the weight of Zelda, Constance' head snapped upward but a curtain of darkness prevented her from witnessing anything.

Zelda froze on the spot when Constance looked directly and silently cursed the floorboard for giving away her position. But something was not right.

Constance looked directly at Zelda but failed to acknowledge her presences. She looked closer at the witch and noticed something different regarding her eyes. Her once, soft chocolate eyes were so dilated that the colour of her iris' were virtually non existent, giving the illusion that her eyes were completely black. Her blackened eyes and haunting pale features caused an unsettling feeling, in the pit of her stomach, something was not right.

Her senses were dulled and numb, unable to assist her in making sense in what was happening, she felt exploited and on show, out of control and spiraling dangerously close to anarchy. That thought alone terrified her, to lose everything, not able to trust her own mind which concocted frightening truths from the past and bizarre, twisted future scenarios.

Her chest heaved, breathing panicking as she could feel she was not longer alone but still her eyes refused to aid her instead a veil of darkness blocked out everything and was heavily relying on her other senses to prevail. Her ears pricked at the sound of breathing, another than her own.

Zelda reached for Constance, her hands firmly gripping her shoulders and looked into her eyes. Constance screamed inside her mind as long buried images from the past resurfaced with velocity. She did not know how much longer, she could cope, wanting to force the counselor out of her mind.


Zelda felt a powerful build up of energy which forcefully pushed away her fingers, severing the contact and link between herself and Constance. The telekinetic bond broken but the lingering images flickered in her mind like a dream. Her hands began to shake as the residue from the energy shock aggravated her nerves causing uncontrollable tremors.

Amelia had been lost, caught up in the moment. Her eyes seemed vacant, in a trance like state, too busy to notice Zelda.

"I was successful," said Zelda, breaking the older witch's train of thought and bringing her back to reality

Cradling her shaking hands and offering an award-winning smile to mask her pain "But, if you'll excuse me...I must rest."

Amelia nodded but did not think anything strange about Zelda's quick exit and instead turned her attention back to Constance, who remained perfect posture in the chair.

"How are you, dear?" she asked softly, squeezing her hand offering reassurance

Constance moaned, her throat felt dry and the almost impossible task of opening her heavy eyelids. Amelia busied herself, fully observing her. After all, she had sat throughout the cleansing, rendered powerless, unable to protect or help her daughter as she journeyed through hell. Amelia smiled, it would seem that Constance survived the journey and could now begin to take the first, tentative steps towards recovery.

"You need to rest...let me help you." Began Amelia

Constance shook her head in refusal "No!"

"But Constance...the process of the cleansing has near exhausted you and..."

"I will rest later...right now..." interrupted Constance only to suddenly stop in mid sentence, her eyes fixed on the mirror

Amelia sighed, her Constance had returned and did not waste any time in reminding her "See? Even your reflection is telling you to get rest...just look at how drained you've become."

She continued to stare into the mirror but what Constance saw compared to what Amelia saw were two totally different images. Amelia could see an exhausted and gaunt reflection which screamed out for rest perhaps a hearty broth, soup to help aid in recouping her lost energy but what Constance witnessed was a half naked, skeletal figure, barely able to recognise her own reflection which screamed out for help. The reflection's bony fists, hammered against the glass, exposing her painfully thin arm which were littered with multiple scars and injuries.

Amelia placed her hand onto Constance' shoulder, flinching at her touch "At least, won't you join me for a cup of tea?"

She nodded and quickly glanced at the mirror, relieved to see a normal reflection once more.


Zelda paced back and forth, busy chewing on a nail while her mind was still in utter chaos.

"It cannot be...this is impossible!" she muttered, repeating over and over again

She attempted to examine the evidence that she had discovered but all roads would lead back to the only conclusion but it was too far fetched that it could never be true. She shook her head again and tried another obscure train of thought, anything to arrive at another answer to the puzzle.

Frustrated, Zelda threw a ball of energy at a mirror that hung on the wall. It shattered, sending pieces of razor sharp particles across the stone floor. The room was devoid of any fixtures, for her to vent her anger and frustration.

"If it is true...then I did feel another presence."