Chapter 9 – The Sleepover at Ethel's
Mildred had been told she was sharing Ethel's room, who surprising had been looking forward to sharing with her. She knocked on Ethel's door as she didn't want to barge in, as it was in Mildred's opinion still Ethel's room.
"Millie, come in" Ethel's enthusiasm couldn't have been clearer as she opened the door for her new roommate. "You didn't need to knock".
"Didn't want to intrude" Mildred responded.
Both girls sat on their beds and Ethel was keen to know more about Nansi, she was very intrigued.
"Did you find out how the poltergeist died?" Ethel asked.
"I did, turns out she been haunting the place since she died looking for her descendants, I don't think any of them had come to Cackle's those born from her death to Mirabelle had been at different schools" Mildred had thought of this during the walk from the headmistresses to Ethel's room. Mirabelle had given up her powers to reignite a founding stone and she had to also give the magic of twelve to come and Mildred had been number thirteen hence why she had magic in her blood.
"Why is she looking for her descendants?"
Mildred explained what Alma had informed Miss Cackle, Miss Hardbroom and herself, there were many gasps from Ethel and she had listened with horror.
"What did the teachers do after she got in your face" Ethel asked.
"Miss Hardbroom has sworn me to secrecy as she was too nice and has a reputation to keep, though she did say that I was the current success story of the school".
"She isn't wrong you were the worst here and you have improved so much." Ethel looked at Mildred who blushed "If you tell anyone I said that I will lose my reputation" she winked at Mildred.
"Miss Hardbroom told me if I tell anyone what she said, she's going to kill me herself" Mildred looked at Ethel and they both sat on their beds laughing.
Miss Hardbroom knocked and entered the room, she shut the door behind her.
"How are we doing, no-one is being murdered?" Miss Hardbroom joked. She wasn't normally known for jokes.
"Mildred was just filling me in on Nansi" Ethel responded to Miss Hardbroom's question.
"Well, Mildred you will pleased, to know that she cannot leave the grounds from where she was killed, so your mum is safe as long as she doesn't enter the grounds.
"Are we going to be able to go home for half term still?" Mildred asked.
"That depends on Nansi and how she will react to anyone leaving the grounds right now no-one can go outside except Miss tapioca" Miss Hardbroom's concern could be heard in her voice.
Mildred had noticed Ethel's demeanour had changed she looked almost scared at the thought of half term "If we can, and knowing Ethel's home situation would it be possible if my mum's ok with it if you could ask her parents if she can stay at mine" Mildreds question had miss Hardbroom's eyebrows raised. "I think everyone should feel safe in their own home or their living arrangements".
"That is very kind Mildred, however Myself and Miss Drill have also offered her a place to stay for half-term" She looked at both girls shocked faces, at Mildred's as she wasn't known as the nice teacher and she didn't think staff could take children home, she then looked at Ethel who couldn't believe her look, the offer of three homes. "I will pop your name on the list providing you ask your mum tomorrow and it's a definite yes not a maybe".
"I believe we may be giving you the option of where you would feel more comfortable though it's not been decided yet" She spoke to Ethel.
"Really, you mean I don't have to go back, I don't have to freeze in a tent" Ethel breathed. She had never felt or been so wanted in her life. Even before she arrived at Cackle's her parents had made it clear she wasn't really wanted. The accident child that was what they had said on many occasions, which is why Ethel had done what she did over the past four years she wanted to be wanted, loved and cherished yet she had gone entirely the wrong way about it. She had thought Agatha might actually want her, but she was just used. She was grateful for the offer of three homes and she was glad she had Mildred though she didn't want to come between the trio.
"Why would any of you want me after all I've done over the past four years, I am surprised I was even allowed into fourth year?" Ethel didn't understand.
"Let me explain, over the past few weeks we have noticed a change, and people do change they really do, myself, and the rest of the staff had a meeting over summer regarding letting you carry on your education here. We all came to an agreement to see what happens. We did also mirror your mother who to our horror had admitted to leaving you in a boiling hot tent all summer and treating you in a manner we did not find acceptable under any circumstances. Unfortunately, it was too late for me to arrive at the Hallow's and retrieve you. She was told that she should have let us know if she didn't want you back.
Ethel looked at Mildred "They wouldn't let Sybil come back here if I was here, I don't really blame them, I nearly got her killed, my own sister who never hated me".
"None of your sisters hated you Ethel, Esmerelda did bring up the treatment you had received at home since you were a toddler a few times, damaging but not child endangering". Miss Hardbroom recalled.
"I'm not expecting you to sleep with the threat of Nansi so all I ask is that you keep your voices as low as possible please, myself and Miss Cackle will be keeping an eye out" Miss Hardbroom made a circular motion with her wrist and a purple barrier had been put on the room, if she enters it will throw salt as her also if you say a certain word either of you it will send a silent red alarm of in mine and Miss Cackle's area, we are not sleeping tonight. "No student is dying on my watch and that includes suicide, do I make myself clear?" both girls nodded.
Miss Hardbroom walked out of their room and had left the light on for them. As she looked left, she saw Nansi at the end of the corridor she looked livid, she had clearly heard what Miss Hardbroom had told the girls of the alarms and the salt. Miss Hardbroom held up a small tub of salt and shook it slightly to say she wasn't messing around. Nansi left the area she clearly wasn't going to get close to Mildred and she wasn't risking the salt threat.
Ada had decided to sit with Hecate near the girl's door to be double sure that both girls were safe.
"Mildred wanted to see if she could have Ethel stay with her for half term if that even happens, I told her she needs to speak with her mum first" Hecate informed Ada.
"Really? How interesting" Ada was shocked she had never seen the girls to ever be friends especially after last year.
"I walked in just after they had stopped laughing, I am not going to lie, I did eavesdrop outside their door for a minute or two first".
"Funniest thing is, as much as Ethel has tried; Mildred has always refused to hate her no matter what Ethel threw at her." Miss Hardbroom was deep in thought when it occurred to her "Ethel's out bursts and bad/dangerous behaviour could be due to how her parents have treat her, I reckon in a place where she isn't hated we might see a kind, caring teenager that has been locked inside a hard shell on survival mode".
"That's potentially three homes she's been offered, let's see where she picks" Miss Cackle mused.
The rest of the night had gone smoothly, Hecate and Ada had checked on the girls every hour and they had fallen asleep by three o'clock. Hecate had hesitated as she left the room, she was terrified one or both would not make it this year, but she hoped they would.
