Hello everybody! I know I left you guys on a cliffhanger, but guess what? Here's a new chapter to spare you guys finally! And let me just say that this is the longest chapter I have written for this fanfic! It was 18 pages in my word document! Anyway, thank you so much to Sasha Snape for looking my chapter over and editing it you are the best! Thank you so much!
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy!
Chapter 15:
"Mildred!" Hecate screamed, reaching out to Mildred, but there was nothing there but air.
Hecate had never been more scared in her life, and she had seen a lot of scary things. Like foolish students putting the wrong ingredients in and almost blowing up the class. She watched her brother leave her family completely. She had seen the wrath of Agatha Cackle a few times now. Now, she watched as her child was taken right out from under her. She watched as Mildred's soft brown eyes quaked with fear not knowing where she would be in the next few seconds. The next time Hecate would see her, would she be alive or dead? Alive. Mildred had to be, with those brown eyes that were so much like hers and had the wonders of the world in them. She had to be alive. She didn't think anything could be as terrifying as that. Thinking whether or not she would ever see her brave girl again? It was the scariest evening Hecate had ever been in.
Snap.
Then like a cauldron she bubbled and boiled with fury. They dare take her child? The wrath of her maternal side had appeared, and it wasn't going away till she had Mildred back into her arms. The cloaked figures that remained at the party had already started firing away with spells of their own. Which were fast, dangerous, and deadly with bright colors of magic heading in all directions of the ballroom. Destroying the decorations, the evening, and even the guests. Hecate was the first to fire back without a thought, though Pippa followed close behind. Hecate could feel her magic become something she had never felt before, because she always found that magic was too dangerous when emotions were in the way. This felt raw and strong at her fingertips like she had dripped her hands into lava. It felt hot and uncontrollable, but all was for Mildred Hubble.
Like a slingshot, Hecate took someone curse and threw it back against them immediately. Hecate's magic flew in the air like toxic fumes catching two hooded figures knocking them back against the wall. They were out cold just by Hecate's first shot, so they were weak she could work with that. Her fingers twitched and curled looking for another hooded figure to take down when she saw three in pursuit of Pippa and her mother, Pearl. She would not let another member of her family be ripped out from under her. She goes to their aid, by flinging a curse on the hood figure whose back was turned creating her a weak spot.
It was like the figure had a sixth sense. The cloaked person dodged out of way and Hecate's curse hit the wall cracking the stone. The figure slapped their gloved fingers together creating an orb of magic and threw it Hecate's way. Hecate deflected it, and she snapped her fingers electricity zapped at her fingers. She threw an electrifying spell at the figure who also did the same spell. The spells both collided causing a ripple of an electric current to hit them both. Hecate went flying back spinning around and around until she hit the floor tearing her dress. She then decided that this hooded figure was one of the ones who happened to be smarter, but she had many tricks still up her sleeves.
She had a quick thought come to mind as she gathered herself off the floor. Perhaps if she binds one of the cloaked figures she could get them to tell her where Mildred was taken, and why she was taken. She had to do it in order to save her child. The figure wasted no time attacking her straight away again, but Hecate was best at defense anyway. She was wasting time she needed to knock them back or just distract them for a minute. How? The goon was clearly aggravated with her and her alone.
"Need a hand, Hiccup?" Pippa questioned, as her hands swiftly fired a blinding stun spell at Hecate's opponent.
"Keep them distracted, Pipsqueak." Hecate said. She was out of breath and she felt her magic draining from her, "I have an idea."
While Pippa distracted them she wasted no time, ripping the bottom half of her dress off and took it into her hand. She chanted out, "To save my child please take this cloth to be wild to fetch the person who made me so vile." The red silk cloth zoomed out of her hands, and tightly wound itself onto the cloaked figure binding their hand down and preventing them from casting another spell at the two of them. Hecate beckoned the cloth forward to her it dragged the cloaked figure right to her. She wasted no time pulling off the hood to see who would dare even try messing with Mildred.
His fizzled mop of hair was so unkempt that Hecate thought it was Mildred's mop of hair. Ready to scold her for scaring her too much, but when she saw Hermes stared at her wickedly she knew that this was not Mildred at all. Her own brother she was fighting against. He laughed at her surprise, "Oh, Hecate, are you going to faint again seeing me?"
"Where did you take her?" Pippa hissed out for Hecate, wrapping her hands around his neck.
"Terrific to see you again-" Hermes started.
"Where is Mildred?" Hecate asked, "Tell me now."
"I'm the older brother here," Hermes smirked, "I'll make the commands."
"You filthy-" Pippa begun, tightening her grasp around his neck.
"She is your daughter!" Hecate screeched, smacking his face one good time, "She's your daughter! And you let these monsters take her! Have you no shame? Do you even care what could happen to her?"
"She's fine." Hermes spat out, "There just getting her help with a little something. They'll bring her straight back to you."
"Help with what? Why would you need a child's help?" Pippa asked, she was ready to choke him if Hecate just gave her the signal she would.
"Take me to her." Hecate commanded him, "Or I'll let Pippa finishes you off."
"Why because you can't?" Hermes snipped out.
"Because I wouldn't finish you." Hecate barked out, "I would have no mercy on you."
Hermes was about to say something when a voice cried out it was another hooded figure. It was a battle cry and they were flying hexes, curses, chants, and spells at Pippa and Hecate. They both could barely keep up deflecting. The figure came up while still launching spells unleashed Hermes out of his hold telling him, "Hermes, that runt is giving them too much trouble. You have to go before-" A spell knocked him out it was Pippa who was about to cast another when Hermes hit her first.
"Pippa!" Hecate caught her before she collided with the stone floor, she was just unconscious thankfully. Hecate spit at her brother, "Sounds like Mildred is doing much better than these idiots of yours."
"She just needs her father to straighten her out." Hermes spat back, "Goodbye, Hecate."
"Wait!" Hecate screeched, but he vanished away just as Mildred did before her eyes.
With Pippa in her arms she was unsure what to do next or even how to help Mildred. Pippa's mother in distressed came to her daughter's arms, "Pippa!" Pearl looked to Hecate, "She's not-"
"She's unconscious. She'll wake up." Hecate defeated she push away a strand of hair from her love, "I'm so sorry, Pearl."
Pearl looked away from her daughter to stare at Hecate intently, "Hecate, you have nothing to be sorry for. You didn't know these monsters would attack us."
"One of those monsters was my brother." Hecate said, taking Pippa and placing her with her mother, "So this is part of my fault."
Pearl grabbed Hecate's hand, "We are not defined by the actions of others, Hecate. We can only be better from it."
"Be that as it may, I still feel responsible for what's happen here. I didn't protect what was given to me." Hecate choked out, "M-Mildred is g-gone. Pippa was h-hurt. And here I am without a scratch on me."
"Hecate," Pearl scolded, "this was not your fault, and I'm sure Pippa and Mildred would say the same. Instead of sulking you might think about how we can get Mildred back."
"How?" Hecate asked, "We don't even know their plan."
"Hecate, you are more resourceful than that." Pearl claimed.
Hecate nodded, and she closed her eyes. She had to think who was Hermes working with and what is the end result they would get? She moved on the next question. Why did they need Mildred? Mildred was only a child who didn't know that much about magic as it was. What did she know? She knew how to take care of her friends and make a mess of everything. Mildred knew how to irritate her and knew how to make her smile-Stop. She was losing focus this would not help thinking about Mildred's best qualities…She was brave though. She was brave enough to take down Agatha, though, Hecate thought. Agatha. Agatha was trapped and-
"It was right under our noses." Hecate cursed standing up from the floor, "I'm going to get Mildred."
"Hecate you need help-" Pearl started.
"No." Hecate transferred off to Cackle's Academy to find Mildred, and maybe even Ada to warn her.
"Who are you-Let me go!" Mildred struggled in the arms of her capturer, "I said let me go!"
"You're going to do exactly what I say if you don't want your aunt to die." The voice was dull, drone, and dangerous it was very clearly a female by the pitch of her tone. Mildred froze at the threat of her new family, "That's it, good girl. Now, you are going to lead me to Miss Cackle's office without any struggle, or magic. Okay?"
Mildred nodded sullenly, and the figure dropped her. Mildred picked herself up off the ground and threw her arms out casting a spell, "Though I am not mellow turn this person's legs to jello!" The hood figured bounced it off flawlessly, and Mildred started to try again, "Fire that brews-"
The haunting figure raised her hands without saying a word casted spells Mildred had never heard of it sounded ancient rolling off the tongue. Crashing through the grass vines sprouted out trying to grab Mildred. Mildred dodged as best she could, but one sprouted up behind her heel making her plummet backwards into the grass. As quick as lightening the vines chased her back on all fours until her back hit against the castle walls. To where she was pinned against the brick as the vines pounced on her grabbing her waist, ankles, and wrist to prevent her from escaping. Mildred tried any chant she could think of, none of which helped her, and slowly she could feel the vines becoming sharper. It seemed they were growing thorns now.
The cloaked man tsked at her, "Now are you going to be a good girl and behave?"
Mildred growled at the figured and howled slightly a bundle of thorns had scratched her tummy and her side cutting open her dress and flesh. She wished that she was, and then a chant came to mind, "I wish to be freed of these weeds. I wish to be freed of these weeds." Over and over. Louder and louder. The vines wilted away along with their thorns, and Mildred ran once more away from the figure while they still casted spells at her. Her running had found her this time a way inside of the castle and now it seemed just a good as time as any to play a rousing game of hide and seek.
She raced around the hallway up the stairs until she was on the very last of them and she found herself in one of the empty dorm rooms. She knew that under the bed or in the closet would be the stupid choice that would get her caught. And Hecate didn't like stupid choices, Mildred thought in her mind. Perhaps she was trying to place herself in her aunt's shoes because her aunt would be able to get out of this. Then Mildred saw the window leading outside where she came. Jumping on her feet she escapes out it and onto the ledge where one false move she would plummet to her doom. Maybe this was a stupid decision? On her right was the roof so if she got there she could sit and wait till Hecate found her. Or someone.
She moved slowly taking it a little by little. Expectedly, she could hear her captor rummaging the room she was in. Mildred froze on the ledge she was on. Afraid to make a move she would make a sound and then her kidnapper would know where she was. She stayed as silent as she could be which would impress Hecate if she was here. It wasn't her luckily day though her captor had found her by popping her cloaked head out to see where she was.
The figure cackled at her, "Now, it seems I have you right where I want you." She raises her hand to cast something at Mildred and Mildred had to think fast. Some of the castle stones were wobbly so she pulled one out quickly and steady herself and threw one at the woman's head. It landed somewhere on her face enough force to scratch or even break the figure's nose. Mildred used the time to pull herself to the roof where maybe she could figure out a way to contact Hecate or Pippa.
Mildred climbed her way up to the top part of the roof. For the first time she felt like she was actually breathing it felt the whole time she was holding her breath. She clasps the watch that sits on her chest for a moment to think when it occurs to her that maybe the watch could help her call or signal or something to Hecate. Before she could think of anything that would help her do just that. A face that Mildred thought would never pop back into her life did. He was out of breath and looked wildly at Mildred, "Mildred, oh thank bats you are okay!"
Mildred stepped back carefully away from Hecate's brother, "Hermes…What are you doing here?"
He took a step forward, and she took another step back, "I came to help you, Mildred."
"I don't understand." Mildred shook her head, "You said you didn't want anything to do with me or Hecate."
Hermes shook his head reaching out to Mildred with his arms wide open, "Hecate lied Mildred. I've been trying to get back to you I've been writing her and you letters telling how sorry I am. I've came back, because I want us to be a family, Mildred."
Mildred coughed out a cry, "Hecate wouldn't lie about something like that!"
"You don't know her like I do Mildred. She's very clever as well as being down right sneaky. I've wanted to see you for so long, but she prevented it from ever happening! You have to believe me!" Hermes said, "She's jealous of me Mildred. She doesn't want me stealing you away."
"What makes you think you would be a good father now?" Mildred enquired, feeling the cold night air grow colder around her.
"I've changed, Millie. I've met people who have made me see the errors of my ways." Hermes comes closer to Mildred, trying his best not lose this battle, "I've seen how much I have let you down, Millie. I don't want to do that anymore. It's not good and it's not what your mom wanted."
Mildred chokes out a sob at the thought of her mother. What would she say now if Hermes was here? Would she forgive him? Give him another chance? Or would she turn him down? Mildred grasped at the watch around her neck hoping at any time she would find the words. She continued to cry, as Hermes had found his way into hugging her. It felt foreign and wrong making Mildred's stomach turn. She back off wobblily as she did almost losing her balance and her focus.
Hermes looked down at the necklace around her neck, "I'm surprised she even gave you my watch. Did she even tell you it's mine?"
Mildred clutched the watch harder, "Yes, she said it was a family heirloom that it was passed down and when you left she was the one to earn it."
"Good, I'm glad she told you that at least." Hermes replied, getting on his knees to beg Mildred, "Mildred, I promise I am not here to hurt you. I just was speaking with Miss Cackle about how I want to be in your life. I want to be your father if you let me. Please, Millie, dear."
Mildred heart hurt not because of the words that Hermes was graciously telling her, but Mildred could feel his lies. Though some of them she wishes were as true as true could be, but she could feel how venomous his words were. She could feel them burning her heart, as she cried, "Why can I feel you lie then?" Mildred shouted, feeling her tears burn down her cheek, "You are a liar!"
Hermes face goes dark, and laughs a little, "Mildred, that's not a nice word to call people, especially your father."
"Hecate is my only family!" Mildred shrieked, clutching the necklace with one hand, while the other remain in a tight fist at her side. He was unbelievable and just as worst as Hecate had told Mildred. Why would he even try playing a cool trick? What did he want? What did he want here at Cackle's? She knew he was trying his best to get to Miss Cackle somehow and someway. Mildred bit her lip in concentration about what in the school would be of service to him? What-Then it all made sense. The picture in Miss Cackle's office. The picture that had Agatha Cackle trapped. Mildred stood her ground, "I'm not helping you get Agatha out of that picture."
Hermes' eyebrows raise at Mildred's testament, "Clever girl. I must give you credit, Mildred, I have heard terrible rumors about you, but you seem to be a more than capable witch. Which means that you should know that you are going to do just that." Hermes snapped his fingers to summon Mildred to him to grab her to transfer her. Mildred squirmed as he grabbed her by the collar of her dress, "Now you are going to behave, or I'll make sure you never see Hecate again."
"You couldn't do it and I won't let you do it." Mildred tried to wrench herself off of him, then she looked him in the eyes casting a spell with all her might. She was making up spells at this point not sure if they would work or not. She could only but try, "Send this person away from my sight through all my might!"
Nothing. Not even a bit of her magic showed, and Hermes laughed at her, "Maybe you are the worst witch after all."
Mildred's eyes grew furious, and her leg went back and went straight up into his crotch making Hermes drop her. She fell backwards and slid down the roof at a rapid speed that she couldn't stop. She fell off the roof completely to catch herself on the ledge of it dangling many feet above the ground where if she dropped there would be no returning. She screamed, "Help! Help me up!" She felt her fingers slipping from the ledge, "I'm slipping-Ah!" She lost her grip and fell down.
Mildred closed her eyes picturing something else other than her falling down. Tabby came to her mind and how she first met him. Petting him. Holding him. That was nice. Swoosh. Opening her eyes, she sees her aunt zipping at top speed on her broom to her. Mildred's heart swelled. Hecate found her! Hecate dipped down under her and caught her landing right into her arms. Mildred smiled at her aunt, "Thanks, I guess I should have known that there would be a chance I would slip and fall."
Hecate snorted at that but broke down seeing Mildred perfectly fine in her arms, "I thought-" She then looked down to see Mildred's midriff showing where her dress had been cut there was blood, "We have to get you to the infirmary. Mildred, what-"
"Hecate, watch out!" Mildred wailed.
Something shot at the end of Hecate's broom end, catching fire, and making them both nosedive into the ground face first. Hecate shifted her body to cover Mildred from the blow of the ground. They collided to the Earth, and both were separated from each other by the force. Mildred cried out as she felt her head hit the ground a little too sharply and she could feel her ankle throb with pain. Hecate laid not too far off, spread out in her limbs. Mildred as dizzy as she was got to her feet and went to her aunt. Mildred had flashbacks to her mother she looked dead lying as still as possible. Mildred assumed the worst. Hecate was dead.
Mildred shook Hecate's shoulder, "Hecate. Hecate. Please, please, wake up." Mildred sobbed, "Hecate! Don't go, I need you! Hecate!" Mildred laid her ear to Hecate's heart to hear a heartbeat, but a hand grabbed the back of her dress pulling her away from Hecate, "No, Hecate!"
Mildred flings her arms and legs to fight back. Hermes holds her far enough to not to get kicked by her. Mildred wipes her eyes, and glares at him. Hermes growls, "I've had enough of this take me to Agatha, now."
Mildred can't take it seeing Hecate laid lifeless. She screams an unnatural scream that sounds like an injured animal, and something in her core shifts pulling her magic out of her. The last that she had left from this dreadful night and all went straight into Hecate's necklace. It was a time bomb ready to happen it was bright, and blinding knocking Hermes back and letting her go. He howled at the pain that Mildred unleashed, and he couldn't take it he vanished away from sight yelling at Mildred, "We'll be back! You can't escape from this, Mildred!" He was gone, and Mildred stopped screaming. She passed out beside Hecate.
When Mildred woke she was in a hospital bed wearing her own pajamas, and it was bright outside. The night was over, and Hermes had gone with it then. She sighed out loud but took in her surrounding once more. This must be the hospital wing in the castle it was very quaint and smelled too clean. She pulled herself up and looked at the bed beside her that was pulled close to her own. Hecate laid sleeping with her arm reaching out to Mildred. A voice interrupted her thoughts, "I should wake her, since you're up, but I thought it was best that she rests. She'll be mad at me that I didn't, but I think you understand, Mildred."
Miss Cackle approached her bedframe, and Mildred rasped out it seemed that her scream had made her throat raw, "She's okay though?"
"Very much, thanks to you." Miss Cackle hummed proudly at her, "I'm so sorry that this happened to you."
"They didn't get Agatha, did they, Miss Cackle?" Mildred asked, not taking her eyes off Hecate.
"No, they didn't, Mildred. Which I owe you a great deal of gratitude for that." Miss Cackle sighed, "I'm afraid this won't be the end of it either. They'll keep coming back."
"Who are they?" Mildred questioned.
"None of your concern." Hecate answered, waking now, staring at Mildred keenly.
"Hecate, perhaps she needs to know the danger-"
"I am her guardian." Hecate whipped at Miss Cackle, "I will decide what she needs to know, and right now she does not need to worry about it. She needs rest."
"As you wish, Hecate." Miss Cackle said sadly, it was like something in their relationship had shifted. Mildred would ask Hecate later about it she didn't want to make it awkward by asking about it now. Miss Cackle glanced away at Hecate to Mildred, "I hope you feel better, Mildred, and if you need anything let me know." She left leaving Hecate and Mildred on their own.
"How long have I been asleep long?" Mildred questioned, her throat still felt itchy and rough when she talked.
Hecate rose up out of her own bed and went over to the counter to fill a cup of water for her. Mildred noticed then she too was wearing her black set of pajamas. Hecate handed her the cup of water for her to drink, and she gobbled it down. It made her throat feel a little better. Hecate took the cup from her and placed it on the countertop. Hecate brushed Mildred's forehead softly and hummed thoughtfully at Mildred's face, "You've gained your color back in your face. You've been asleep for two days. Your magic was drained to the core, so your body had to recuperate and build itself back."
"I still feel tired." Mildred said weakly, "Is that…normal?"
"When is anything normal with you?" Hecate teased, and Mildred smiled a bit at it, "Yes, you just need to rest right now. Scoot over." She commanded lightly, and Mildred complied letting her aunt sit hip to hip with her. Hecate didn't want to just sit side by side she lifted Mildred up under her arms and placed her in-between her legs. Hecate held her close, wrapping her in her arms.
Mildred pondered out loud, "Where's Pippa?" Then panic rose in her heart, "Is she okay? Did anything-"
Hecate shushed her, "She's fine, Mildred. She'll be along soon. She went back to Pentangle's for a bit to check on her father and mother."
"Are they okay? Did they get hurt? Did-"
Hecate placed her hand over Mildred's mouth, "Listen, everyone is fine they are all worried about you. Does that suffice you?" Mildred nodded, and laid back into Hecate's hold.
Hecate pressed many kisses in Mildred's hair, and started to play with her hair. Mildred looked up worried at Hecate from her arms. Affection wasn't something Hecate always did with her and when she did it was normally talking to her about something important, "Are you alright?"
Hecate strummed her fingers through Mildred's hair, "I was scared."
"So was I." Mildred confirmed, "I'm glad you're alright."
Hecate sobbed at that, and Mildred felt extremely guilty for some reason. She had never seen Hecate cry before she was so strong Mildred didn't think anything could make her. Mildred watched her aunt wipe at her eyes, closed them, and inhaled a breath, "I'm glad you are alright as well. I don't think you understand, Mildred Hubble, how scared I was." She opened her eyes and smiled at Mildred, "I thought that I had lost you for good."
"But you didn't." Mildred countered, trying to cheer her up as best as she could, "I thought I had lost you too. You looked just like her lying there and I thought for sure that-" Mildred curled up a bit bringing her knees to her chest even though it hurt her ankle doing so. She planted her face in her knees to breath she didn't want to think about it.
"Millie," Hecate whispered, rubbing her back, "Oh, Millie, I'm here, I'm here I promise."
"But how long are you going to be here? What if something happens again? And what if-" Mildred said through her knees.
"We can't play what if's, Millie. That's a dangerous game to play with ourselves." Hecate sighs, "Millie, please look at me." Mildred does, "Good. Now, we can be prepared as best as we can for the future, but we don't always know what is going to happen next. I will promise you this I will always be here for you as long as I can."
"That's not that great of a promise, Hecate." Mildred mumbled into her pajama shirt.
"It's the best you'll get, now you need to eat." Hecate started to rise.
"No!" Mildred shouted, which aggravated her throat more, "I'm sorry, I just…Do you think you could get someone else to get me some food?" Mildred closed her eyes she was acting like a complete baby and she knew Hecate felt the same. She just needed her here right now.
"Mildred, I do not plan on leaving I was going to make Pippa do it." Hecate said, as Mildred opens her eyes back up, "I was just going to mirror call her."
"Oh, good." Mildred said, "Can I call her with you?"
"Of course." Hecate agreed, and pulls herself away from Mildred and grabbed the mirror that was on the counter. Then Hecate positions herself back into the bed with Mildred in her lap. Mildred snuggles up to her afraid still that the thought of losing her aunt is too much. Hecate allowed the affection, because she too is afraid of the thought of losing Mildred. They both know that in this life that they need each other more than they thought. Hecate holds Mildred tighter, "Did you really think I would leave you for a second? After what all we went through?"
Mildred shrugged, "I don't know the thought crossed my mind."
"Millie, I'm not letting you out of my sight, and out of my grasp for a lifetime." Hecate chuckled a bit, "You attend to attract the worst kind of trouble."
"I don't mean too." Mildred pouted.
"I know." Hecate raise the mirror, "Call Pipsqueak."
Pippa answered, and her face brighten by the sight of Mildred awake, "Hello, sleeping beauty!" Pippa looked over at Hecate, "Hi, Hiccup."
"Hello, Pipsqueak." Is all Hecate said, putting her cheek down on Mildred's head.
"How are you feeling, Millie-bear?" Pippa questioned, "It looks like she has her color back." Pippa commented to Hecate who hummed in agreement.
"I'm okay. I'm glad you're okay too." Mildred said, smiling at her.
"We were hoping that when you come to see her you would bring Mildred some food by chance?" Hecate asked politely, "We both rather not travel without each other."
Pippa nodded understandingly and gave Hecate a look that Mildred wasn't quite sure about, "Of course, I'll be there soon." Pippa paused a moment, and looked Hecate straight in the eyes, "I love you." She looks to Mildred as well, "And I love you, Millie-bear."
Pippa had said it second.
Mildred wanted to wrap Pippa up into Hecate and hers hold, but she just cried instead. Happy tears. Hecate looked away like she was too guilty to hear those words, but she whispered, "I love you too." And Mildred could feel Hecate sob a bit at saying it, perhaps she thought she would never find a family as the one they all had come to make together. And perhaps this scare made her realize more than ever how both of them were so important to her life. Hecate didn't want to lose them. Pippa didn't want to lose them. Mildred didn't want to lose them. Perhaps, they were becoming a family after all.
Aw isn't that sweet? :) Better than a cliffhanger, right? Let me know what you think is bound to happen next to our little family?