Hecate has settled in the lounge applying caffeine to the unrelenting headache that still lingers. Mister Ravenfeather stakes a perch nearby applying great effort not to disturb her. He attempts to bury his nose in a book. It is obvious that she is feeling relatively miserable today. She avoids his glance like the plague. He moves to a chair closer to her.
"I heard that lightning struck a tree outside your room last night."
She offers a heavy sigh, "Mister Ravenfeather I do not intend to engage in small talk with you."
He is undeterred, "I get the sense that your head feels as if it received the lightning strike."
"Just like the barometric pressure it too will pass."
"Are you prepared if it doesn't?" He stares back at her with his slate blue eyes.
"What an odd question. It is a simple headache."
"Everything here has at least six layers of complexity."
"It would appear that you know a thing or two of being an onion."
"Peel at your own risk," he jests.
"I do not know what your motives are for joining Cackles."
"Your reputation proceeds you Miss Hardbroom. I am under no illusion that you want to lend anything other than mistrust in my direction. Have you considered for a single second that I might have pure motives?"
She furrows her brow, "You are named after a crustacean."
He grins, "It is an aspirational goal, but sadly, not true. Sebastian, as I am certain that you are aware from my CV is only my middle name. My first name is far less than desirable."
"A reptile, instead?" She lobs her dry brand of humor towards him.
"A reptilian crustacean covered in bird feathers? That is a ghastly sight, isn't it? My name is a series of unfortunate events, but not entirely animal based."
"I understand it isn't as if I answer to my first name either."
He smirks, "Joy is much preferable to Achilles."
"Achilles?!" Her face puckers indicating a significant level of outrage in this development.
"Some are destined for greatness, or happiness, the rest of us simply destined to be a pain."
Mildred sketches from memory despite the fact that it is past lights out. She is so enthralled in her drawing that she fails to realize her door is standing wide open. A tall figure adorned entirely in black, somewhat reminiscent of a shadow materializes in the archway of her door.
"Lights out. Mil…lie."
Mildred abandons her drawing quickly. Suddenly every ounce of her attention is focused on the deputy headmistress in her doorway. As she rises from her seat Hecate Hardbroom does not move a single muscle. Something has gone quite awry. Mildred finds Miss Hardbroom utterly frozen in her doorway. As she reaches out to touch her she begins to lurch backwards.
For once in her life Mildred reacts with an appropriate amount of haste. She transfers herself behind Miss Hardbroom, and gently lowers her to the floor. As Hecate's head comes to rest in Mildred's lap she begins to violently convulse.
"Miss Hardbroom!" Mildred's shriek nearly breaks the sound barrier.
After a few seconds the convulsing ceases, and Miss Hardbroom grows limp. Panic increases by the second. Immediately remembering some first aid training she gently tilt's Hecate's head in a position that will maintain her airway. She listens carefully and finds much to her relief that she is still breathing. She presses fingers against Miss Hardbroom's neck, and locates her pulse. Hecate's eyes remain fixed, and dilated.
"Someone help!" She yells into the empty hallway. "Miss Cackles!" Mildred screeches.
Suddenly Ethel appears in the hallway. Her eyes widen as she approaches.
"What have you done, Mildred?"
"I haven't done a thing. Get Miss Cackles! Now!" She practically roars.
Moments later she materializes with Miss Cackles.
"What has happened?"
"She told me it was lights out. She called me Millie, as if her brain had some sort of glitch. That is how I knew something was wrong. She was standing in the doorway as if she was frozen. I was nearly to her when I realized that she was going to hit the floor. I was able to transfer myself behind her as she fell. She started to convulse out of nowhere. I have maintained her airway. She is breathing on her own, and she has a pulse. I do not understand what is happening."
"We must get her to her bed. Ethel I need you to go brew a healing potion. Mildred, and I will find a way to get her off the floor."
"Can you transfer her?" Ethel queries.
"Not in this state. Go to the potions lab, Miss Hallow!"
The ruckus has managed to awaken Enid. She wipes the sleep from her eye, and finds herself ready to spring into action.
"How do you plan on getting her to her bed?" Mildred inquires, "We will never make it that far."
"If only we had some handsome, strong bloke to carry her," Enid counters.
"My bed has just been made. I put fresh linens on it, and I haven't been to bed. I am certain that the three of us can manage to get her that far," Mildred suggests.
"That will work," Miss Cackles agrees.
Each of them secures part of Hecate's body. They carefully maneuver her to Mildred's bed. As they gently place her head on Mildred's pillow she blinks for a moment. Her eyes close, and Ada does her best to disguise a sense of impending doom.
"A healing potion may not be effective. What is the plan if it does not?" Mildred queries.
"Girls go wake Mister Ravenfeather from his slumber. It is of dire consequence that I speak to him."
Mildred stares at the utterly defenseless deputy headmistress lying in her bed, as if she is sleeping beauty.
"I will not leave her."