Chapter 14
After leaving Amelia to her despair, Algernon, Imogen, Frank, Lavinia and Constance made their way to the staff room. On the way there, the corridors, empty of pupils, seemed cold and soulless. Life at Cackles' Academy had changed forever. When they reached the staff room, they all sat around the table, lost in their own grief. The heavy silence only broken by sobs. A great tragedy had occurred today, a student just passed away at Cackles, a place where everyone should be safe. Mildred Hubble, who had saved the school numerous times, was gone. How on earth are we going to tell the girls, a thought struck Constance's mind «The girls!» she exclaimed jumping to her feet. her pain and guilt had made her forget about all the other pupils, she looked at Frank and Algernon «Where are they? Are they all right?». The old wizard reassured her immediately «They are safe. I called Helibore and he transported them to Camelot along with Mrs Tapioca»
«Thank you» Relieved, Constance sat back and let out a long breath. Silence fell upon them once more. Not for long, Lavinia, blew her nose and asked with a broken voice «Would anyone like some tea?». Her proposition brought her colleagues back to reality. A hot drink would really be appreciated. After receiving looks of approval, she conjured a tea pot and cups. They all thanked her and took a cup, except Imogen.
«I need something stronger» she stood up and opened a hidden box, no one knew about, took out a small whiskey bottle and drank half of it under the widened eyes of the others.
«Imogen» tried Lavinia
«What? Are you really going to scold me?» snapped the PE teacher
«Imogen please. We are all hurting» said Miss Crotchet, tears forming in her eyes once more. Imogen lowered her head shamefully «I know, I am sorry. It's just so hard» she then returned to her place.
Algernon decided it was time to know «Ladies and gentleman, we are all deeply saddened by the departure of our dear Mildred. But I think we should know what happened today»
Constance took a deep breath «Yes you are right Mister Rowan-Web. After Amelia realized it was Agatha that Frank saw with Mildred. We knew time was precious, each second counted so we ran as fast as we could to the North Tower. I tried to transport us on the way, but Agatha knew we would try something like this so she casted a spell that prevented me to do so. When we finally reached the top of the tower…it was too late» her voice trailed out at the end of her sentence. Images of the child's lifeless body rushed to her mind, they would haunt her for the rest of her life.
«What happened to Agatha?» asked Frank
«She vanished the moment Mildred collapsed» at these words anger raised in Constance's chest «If I ever get my hands on that wretched old hag…» the tone she used to make her statement send shivers down the others' spine. They didn't want to be in Agatha's shoes if it ever happened.
«But how?!» exclaimed Imogen, making everyone jump «How did Agatha managed to harm Mildred? She swore on the Witches Code!»
«That's true» agreed Frank «How is that possible?»
Suddenly Constance realized something «Of course Because of the oath! Why have I been so blind?!» seeing her epiphany hadn't been understood she explained «The oath Agatha took! Don't you remember Imogen? It was directed to Amelia and the school! Nothing prevented her from coming after Mildred»
«We should have never underestimated Agatha, she already find a way around the code once» added Imogen
«Wait a minute everyone» blurted Algernon raising his hand to reclaim silence «according to the Witches' Code being responsable directly or indirectly of the death of an other fellow witch will automatically strip you of all your powers»
«So?» asked Imogen
Frank understood where he was going «Agatha being who she is, despite her desire for revenge, she would never ever risk losing her powers
Constance gasped «You don't mean?»
Algernon cut her off, a smile on his face «Yes I mean Mildred is not dead!»