Chapter 12
Mildred went out of the room and closed the door. Then she called «Are you ready?»
«Ready»
Mildred knocked.
Agatha disguised her voice to make it sound like a really old woman «Come in».
«A princess, how kind of you to come and see me» started the old witch when she the girl came in.
«Good evening Nan, how are you today?»
«Not bad dear, not bad, thank you for your concern, it's more then a peasant like me deserves»
«None sense, every one deserves consideration» answered Mildred with her kind voice, then she looked at the spinning wheel «Oh what an interesting contraption. What is it?»
«You don't know what it is? Well dear, this is a spinning wheel».
«Agatha? Hear in the castle? Impossible» stated Imogen
«I'm afraid it's not Miss Drill» answered the harsh voice of Miss Hardbroom
«Who is Agatha?» asked Miss Crotchet, she had only joined the members staff last year and never came across her employer's evil twin
«We will explain on the way Lavinia. Frank, Algernon I want you to take the all girls as far as possible from the castle. Lavinia, Imogen, Constance come with me» as soon as she finished her sentence she ran out of the Great Hall followed by her colleagues.
«Girls you heard what your headmistress said. Mister Blossom take care of them, I will transport all the other pupils magically»
While the two men were organizing the evacuation, Ethel, forgotten by everyone, allowed herself to smirk. It worked.
«A spinning wheel? what is a spinning wheel?» asked Mildred
«A spinning wheel is something we use to make thread out of different materials» explain the old servant with all the patience she could find
«What for?»
«To make clothes, like the beautiful dress you are wearing»
«Oh may I try?»
«Of course Princess» answered Agatha guiding the young witch by the arm next to the spinning wheel
Time was running out, Miss Cackle, Miss Crotchet, Miss Drill and Miss Hardbroom.
«Why can't we just appear there?» asked Imogen to Miss Hardbroom
«Don't insult me Miss Drill! Do you really think I would be running and waisting precious time if I could transport us over to the North Tower?!»
«I'm sorry I didn't mean to…»
«Agatha must have put a protection spell on the entire tower» huffed Lavinia
«Ladies stop this and run» screamed Amelia as they entered the tower. Please do not let it be too late, prayed the headmistress while she ran up the stair case.
«What do I do now?»
«You take the thread you just made and enrol it on the spindle»
Mildred approached her hand toward the spindle, and delicately pricked her finger. Seconds later, the oak door was blown open.
«Mildred get away from her!» screamed the four teachers as soon as the door opened.
«Miss Cackle?» exclaimed the young witch when she saw the old witch next to the others. Miss Hardbroom didn't waist time, she grabbed Mildred, pushed her behind her and cast the strongest shielding spell she knew. Even though she desperately wanted to examine the girl to see if she was all right, she kept her gaze upon the evil woman before her. While Miss Drill, Miss Crotchet and the real Miss Cackle fussed over her, Mildred realized with horror who she had been with for the past minutes. Amelia took the girls face into her hands «Did she hurt you?» she asked full of concern, she knew her sister and her taste for revenge. «No I'm fine I promise» answered Mildred with a smile to appease her mentor. Reassured she left her protege to Imogen and Lavinia's care, and join Constance.
«Agatha» she called, her voice filled with hate toward the woman who had been the bane of her existence ever since she had inherited the academy.
To this hateful tone Agatha smiled «Hello dear sister, aren't you happy to see me?»
«I don't know how you managed to get passed the Witches' Code. I want you out of my sight» ordered Amelia
Agatha sighed dramatically «Families are not as they used to be. Ah well, I did what I planned to do anyway, you came too late» as she spoke Mildred's vision started to blur. Dizziness overtook her. What the hell is going on. But no one noticed.
«I don't think so Agatha» responded Amelia
«O really» answered the evil twin as she looked over her sister's shoulder with a cruel smirk. Just as Amelia turned around to inquire what made Agatha so happy, Mildred's legs buckled beneath her. Her fall was eased by Miss Drill, who caught the girl and placed her on the floor, supporting her student's head. Miss Crotchet kneeled next to both women and grabbed Mildred's hand for a pulse, it grew slower by the second.
«Mildred» exclaimed Amelia before running toward her fallen charge. She dropped on her knees and put a hand on her forehead. It was dangerously cold. The girl's face was a deadly shade of white and her breathing was laboured, she murmured «What…is…happening….to mmee?»
«Every thing is going to be alright Mildred, just take deep breaths» instructed the PE teacher struggling to maintain a reassuring tone. She looked at Amelia hoping to get some support and reassurance, but what she saw would forever haunt her. The headmistress' kind face was distorted by hate and her entire body was trembling with rage. She turned her head toward her sister and went ballistic «YOU TWISTED OLD HAG! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?». No one, not even Agatha, had ever seen Amelia explode like this.
«Me, nothing more then this little brat deserved» with that Agatha laughed and vanished without a trace.
«COME BACK HERE YOU COWARD!» yelled Amelia jumping on her feet prepared to hunt the evil woman and hex her into oblivion. Lavinia's saddened voice prevented her to do so «Amelia»
The old witch's anger, was replaced by deep concern, and kneeled back next to her girl. She was even paler then before. Amelia took one of her hand in hers and brought it to her heart. «Oh Mildred what has she done to you?»
Miss Hardbroom, who was inspecting the room to be sure Agatha was truly gone, saw something crimson red on the spindle of the spinning wheel. Oh no.
Behind her, Mildred was getting weaker by the second and Amelia tried everything to keep her awake.
«Please my dear, look at me. Everything is going to be all right, I promise. Stay awake»
«She can't» said Miss Hardbroom sadly. All three teacher looked at her.
«What are you talking about Constance?» asked Lavinia tears in her eyes.
The deputy head slowly turned around to face her colleagues.
«She can't fight it because she has been cursed»
«What?! How?!» exclaimed Amelia
For the first time in her life, Miss Hardbroom remained silent and pointed at the spindle of the spinning wheel, where remained drops of Mildred's blood.
«No…No…NO» wailed Amelia «Lavinia run to the potion lab and bring every healing potion there is, Imogen go and fetch Algernon hurry» Both women jumped on their feet and exited the room. Before leaving Imogen had placed Mildred in the headmistress' arms. The latter rocked the girl back and forth murmuring «Please Mildred stay with me» tears streamed down her face.
With her last remaining strength, Mildred looked her mentor in the eyes and whispered «I…trust…you». The young witch closed her eyes and went completely still.