Chapter Seven: Time is running out
She was completely ruthless and relentless. She would never stop.
Her never ending pursuit and quest for perfection was her ultimate goal in life. Constance found herself trapped as Hecketty's talons entangled her and this time she would not be successful in escaping.
The former tutor's presence paralyzed Constance as she glided effortlessly thought the tension, purposely circling the fallen deputy headmistress who would remain to be the former student that escaped from her clutches and like a hungry shark with the same striking eyes, devoid of everything, impressively powerful, elegant and hungered for their wounded pray, Hecketty circled.
"Not even your precious Amelia can save you now." She spat, choosing her words for the sole purpose to weaken her armour
Her hand grabbed Constance's arm painfully, her nails seeping through the soft, silk sleeve of her dress and began to slice through her skin before she wrenched her painfully to her feet.
"I will reach into you mind, contaminate every memory, every thought and every cell and then you will feel what real pain is." Her voice cracked, harvesting such hatred and resentment for the former student
Constance could feel her bottom lip as it trembled and then there was an agonising scream.
A blood curling scream vibrated in her mind and caused her to suddenly jolt awake.
"Amelia?" questioned a tentative voice
Her eyes darted around the staffroom, carefully surveying her surroundings before she slumped back into her chair, "There's a storm approaching." Warned Amelia
"Another nightmare?" asked Davina as she handed Amelia a comforting cup of tea
"If I know my sister then she will return, it's only a matter of time...In the meantime, we must organise a search party for Mildred and Constance, I fear they may be in need of our help."
Imogen swallowed the rising fear from her gut, she knew that Constance was indeed a force to be reckoned with but Amelia hinted that there was something far more serious that delayed Constance and Mildred from returning back to the academy. They were losing the battle and Imogen that back to when the academy had first been invaded and how everyone waited for Constance to appear but failed.
"This is Constance Hardbroom we're talking about? Surely she'll be able to get herself and Mildred out of whatever predicament they're in, right?" she glanced nervously around the table for someone to confirm this but no-one could reassure her otherwise.
Amelia sipped cautiously at the steaming contents of her cup, "I fear that Agatha has been constructed this scheme with accuracy and great resourcefulness...after all, she made sure that Constance was removed from the picture."
Imogen pushed on, "But it's Constance!" she emphasized perhaps in denial or simply underestimated the lengths that Agatha Cackle would dare decent to in order to avenge the past.
"The mysterious cold that Constance was struck down with but no-one else, it was the beginning, everything was paramount to her being incapacitated and now that she is out of the equation, they were able to attack however why take a student?" Asked Egbert, maintaining a watchful eye from the staffroom window
"She did foil their plans, good old fashioned revenge?" suggested Davina
Amelia felt a dull headache forming, "My sister has certainly scraped the bottom of the barrel this time."
Agatha Cackle flexed her arthritic riddled fingers and tested her newly acquired power as Betty and Millicent chose to remain out of sight and target, lingering behind Agatha as to avoid aggravating her fraying temper and similar to her new found energy, she was also growing more unstable.
They witnessed as a wave of destruction, as an invisible force emanated from Agatha as she walked, she turned the surrounding scenery of the forest into fire, engulfing Mother Nature's creations and life itself with fire.
Nature, itself crackled and burned, life on a cellular basis was erased as wave upon continuous wave of fire scorched and burned. A trail of devastation followed Agatha as the fire raged on, she never looked back.
The academy was within her sight and nearing her grasp.
"Amelia, you cannot leave. We're already had this discussion," Reasoned Egbert, "What about your students, you'd abandon them as well as your colleagues when they need you the most?"
She threw her hands dramatically into the air, "What else do you propose we do? I have a missing student and member of staff that may need our help or simply wait for Agatha to return, if she even dares."
"They're here!" announced Davina from the window
"What do we do now?" asked Imogen looking for much need reassurance
Amelia and Egbert glanced at each other.
"One of us must leave in order to find Constance and Mildred. The rest shall have to protect the remaining students and occupy her...by some additional time."
Egbert retrieved his staff, "Amelia, if you leave then your sister will only become suspicious. I will find them and return...Agatha and her associates will never get away with their crimes."
Amelia smiled weakly and offered Egbert her hand, knowing that there was a possibility that this may very well be the last time she would ever see her friend, "Be swift and be safe, old friend."
He nodded, "I shall return."
In a swift motion, he stabbed the wooden floor with this staff, smoke erupted and he disappeared now leaving the three members of staff to protect the remains of the crumbling castle and the frightened students.