Between gritted teeth Mildred barely pants. Her body is an unwavering statue formed of stone. With the flick of her wrist a cool, moist rag appears in the palm of HB's hand. She cautiously pats the beads of sweat from Millie's face. For the first time Mildred's haunting eyes turn to greet hers.
"I am sorry I didn't mean to wake you," Millie apologizes as her cheeks turn an unbecoming shade of cherry.
"I fear that you require more assistance in this endeavor than even I can lend you."
"NO! Please! Don't go!" Mildred implores her eyes threatening to flood.
HB's heels click to a stop. Mildred's eyes shift to the floor. "I'm scared," she exhales.
Hecate quietly draws closer to her pupil. The deputy headmistress audibly gulps as she presses her hand against Mildred's hard, round, angry abdominal wall.
"Millie," she tosses aside formalities, "I do not understand."
"I don't know that now is the time to explain," she manages to get out between pants.
Hecate shakes her head, "I fear time is not on our side."
"I tried every enchantment I could think of to make this disappear. By the time I reconciled myself to the fact that it was happening I was too far gone to chart any other course. I perfected a concealment potion that I've been using every day for months. You unwittingly assisted me when you demonstrated how to turn a potion into a salve, or balm for common ailments."
"How much time do we have?" Hecate queries as she holds her timepiece in the palm of her hand.
"None."
Mildred grits her teeth and points to a towel lying on the foot of her bed. Hecate reaches forward and secures the grey towel. She gently maneuvers Mildred onto all fours. Neither of them say a word as the moment refuses to pass them by. Mildred fixates on her earliest painting of Cackle's Academy that is affixed to the wall.
None other than Hecate Hardbroom unexpectedly finds herself playing midwife as she catches a newborn head, and quickly finds herself freeing a pair of shoulders. The brand new life, who refuses to remain a secret a moment longer lets out a bellow. The next several moments are a frenzy of activity. HB clamps the cord with a hair barrette, and proceeds to cut the cord. She secures the newborn with one hand as she carefully utilizes a cauldron as a receptacle for the placenta. The deputy headmistress cautiously assists Mildred to the bed.
As Mildred settles into the bed HB allows herself to look at the being in the crook of her arm for the first time. She gently peels back the towel for a moment, and sighs in relief finding a baby girl. The newborn infant is covered bodily fluid, and with a thin layer of red hair on her head. She judiciously wipes the fluid from the baby's face. She turns to Mildred, who looks both relieved, and horrified.
"What do you want me to do with her?"
"Please just take her away," she replies in a cold tone.
A moment of silence passes. Hecate subtly nods, despite having no clue where to go. "As you wish." She turns away in an effort not to allow Mildred to see the look of utter horror on her face.
"Wait!"
Hecate stands next to the bed holding a brand new human being, feeling quite foreign.
"You do not bear the burden in this," Mildred replies.
"Nor should you. You are merely a child yourself."
Ice blue eyes stare up at HB begging her for guidance.
"I don't know what I am supposed to do."
"Ignore all of the facts for a moment and focus only on what you want in the moment."
"Can I hold her?" Mildred queries.
"You brought her here. Not even a single potion of the highest octane would allow me to stifle that desire." Hecate reminds as she prudently lowers the slimy, pink baby into Mildred's waiting arms. Mildred awkwardly holds the brand new baby girl. The world seems to stop in that very moment.
A pair of blue eyes stare back at her. As they seconds of silence tick away Mildred's breathing begins to regulate. The cascade of hormones rush her body. In an instant not a single fact in evidence makes any sense. For a moment she looks away from the precious creature in her arms, and shifts her glance to HB, imploring her to offer wisdom, or direction.
"I'm sorry," Millie begins, unable to make eye contact with the deputy headmistress.
"I do not see the need for apology."
"I concealed the truth from you for all of these months."
Hecate chokes back tears, "I knew. I've known for some time. I had only hoped I was quite wrong this time. I opted for silence as I believed, or at the very least, I hoped I was grossly inaccurate in my assessment. If the converse were true I only hoped you would trust me to help you with such a heavy load."
"How is that possible?"
"A concealment spell is only effective for what can be seen, and even perhaps what can be felt. It lacks the depth to conceal what can be heard. Which is moot for most."
"The rest of us who don't have supernatural hearing. Let's face it most things that need concealed don't have a heartbeat of their own."
Hecate takes a seat on the edge of the bed next to her favorite pupil, and a brand new baby.
"Mildred I will take whatever steps necessary to remedy this for you. Point me in the proper direction."
She subtly shakes her head, "For months I have obsessively studied because I didn't want to face this. I hoped I could will it away. The circumstances surrounding this are grim, and gruesome. My organs have shifted, and my cartilage has stretched to make room for another human being, and I cannot deny that any longer. This decision is cut and dry."
Hecate nods in understanding. Mildred silently traces the newborn's lips.
"Until you are holding someone in your arms. None of them seem appropriate."
"This isn't something I can answer for you. You have time. No one is rushing you. Even the sun will not rise for some time."
Mildred's eyes betray her as they dance to the chair stowed beneath her desk. In an instant the chair is parked next to the bed. Hecate gently squeezes the terrified teen's clammy hand.
"I will sit with you."
"I know that she is harmless, but will you please take hold her for now?"
Hecate carefully slips the newborn baby from Mildred's arms. Once she is satisfied that the nameless infant is secured within the crook of her arm she shifts her glance to a very vulnerable Mildred Hubble.
"I am utterly terrified," Mildred frowns.
"Anyone in your shoes would be."
"How do I know that I am making the right choice? I never wanted this. I didn't ask for it. All of this was thrust upon me as an unwilling participant. Now the result is a seemingly innocent infant. I do not have the skill or ability to rear a child."
Hecate leans forward, and gently wipes sweat soaked hair from Mildred's face.
"No is asking you to."
"What will become of her?"
"Either way no one can answer that with certainty."
"Do you believe that some people are destined to lead lives of darkness?"
"No one is destined for darkness, just as no one is destined to lead a life bathed in light."
Mildred's glance wanders to a tiny foot that has poked out from beneath the towel.