Confidence and Control
Chapter 26: Calm
"How's our little sprog?" Pippa smirked through the glass of the mirror in Hecate's office, "Still jumping from place to place?"
"Honestly Pippa, I must have told the girl to refrain from using up all of her magic about twenty times today - she is inexhaustible," Hecate shook her head.
"You were very much the same if I remember.." Pippa laughed at the horrified look on Hecate's face regarding the insinuation that she could have ever not used her magic for a very specific purpose.
"I've created a monster!" Hecate wailed.
"A rather marvellous monster," Pippa giggled at Hecate's dramatic tones.
A thud followed by a clank of a falling cup caused Hecate to look around sharply. As if on cue, Mildred had appeared in her office and somehow managed to knock over a teacup from the shelf and flutter paper through the air as she regained her balance.
Pippa giggled, "I see what you mean Hecate."
Hecate shot around, eyeing the chaos with an open mouth. She flicked her hand causing the teacup to repair itself and zoom back into place, folding her arms as she stared disbelievingly at the girl.
"Sorry Miss Hardbroom, misjudged it." Mildred exposed her bottom teeth as she clenched her jaw as she bent down grabbing at essays.
"My office has a knocking policy Mildred Hubble, it was lights out over an hour ago - you should be in bed ready for a productive day of lessons," Hecate seethed. "Not transferring into my office in order to completely ruin my afternoon's marking."
"I know-I know - accident I swear.. I should have known.." Mildred began to babble.
"Bed," Hecate commanded silkily.
"Night Mils - have a good day tomorrow!" Pippa sang, Hecate shot her a glare.
"Goodnight Miss Pentangle," Mildred waved at her smiling, before catching Hecate's darkened eyes, upright posture and the small vein playing about her neck in its tensity. Fear running over her as she realised with her jolt that her form-mistress was genuinely angry at her. The smile dropped dramatically from her face.
"Bed," Hecate repeated as a hiss, before Mildred felt a wash of cold over her as she was vanished to her bedroom.
Hecate turned to face the mirror, pulling a face rather like a mid-tantrumed toddler.
"Marvellous monster indeed," Hecate shot at Pippa through heavily gritted teeth.
"Go tuck her in Hiccup!" Pippa said as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world after witnessing the events that had just unfurled.
"She's a fourteen year old witch Pippa. A very badly behaved fourteen year old witch who needs some time to reflect before I severely punish her. She does not need any fuss nor does she need me to tuck her in like she's a five year old."
"Hasn't stopped you before though has it?.." Pippa wrinkled her nose knowingly, "She might not need you to, but she will certainly want you to - especially when she thinks you're angry!"
"I am angry!" Hecate sighed, before raising her hand in a defeated motion as Pippa continued to grin rather triumphantly.
xxx
Mildred felt the flash of Miss Hardbroom's aura appear and dashed under her covers, squinting her eyes closed as the woman stood before her, not wanting to deal with a cross Hecate Hardbroom now or ever.
"Nice try Mildred," Hecate said lowly.
Mildred opened her eyes and sat up, back against her headboard, taking in Hecate's still tightly wound posture, but swallowed a sigh of relief as Hecate sat down to join her. Mildred noticed she had summoned two mugs of the tea Mildred had previously drank at the cottage before bed, the smell of it sending pangs of comfort from the nightstand.
"Sorry," Mildred repeated, trying to read Miss Hardbroom's guarded facial expressions. "Genuinely didn't think I'd land in your office like that. I'm guessing I've detention for being up after lights out?"
"Yes," Hecate ascertained moodily. "Tomorrow night, straight after lessons. Where were you trying to transfer to?" she asked curiously, noticing with satisfaction that with each sip Mildred's eyes were noticeably drooping. "The truth, Mildred, I'll know if you're lying to me."
Mildred nodded, having no doubt that Hecate certainly would. She sighed,"Couldn't sleep - felt a bit anxious about being back with everyone tomorrow and thought I'd try something that was in one of the books you gave me. It said how theoretically you could transfer somewhere unspecific, if linked to a desire. I wanted somewhere calming and thought I'd end up on the battlements again."
"And miss your landing and fall straight off?" Hecate clicked her tongue at the girl's stupidity, "Even my powers of healing are not that strong," she said scornfully, before the realisation hit her that Mildred had instead been transported to her office in order to feel calm. A wave of such strong emotion ran through her that it felt like she'd been knocked over onto the flagstones.
Calming - she associates me with feeling calm. She stared for a moment at the girl in front of her, still not really getting why the girl would choose her. Why would you put all of your trust in someone that once treated you so harshly? That struggles so much to give you the affection you so deserve.
"I didn't really think it through," Mildred murmured from now-closed eyes.
"You never do!" Hecate said firmly, "Silly girl," she added with just a touch of the well of fondness she felt, as she magicked the blanket up tightly, taking the mug from Mildred as the girl shimmied down to get cosy.
She placed her cool, bony hands to Mildred's and traced a comforting pattern onto her pulse, allowing some of her magic to seep through and calm Mildred's own.
xx
