Chapter two – Hecate is Furious

Hecate had found Arrow that afternoon and walked her to her room. They weren't speaking to each other, though Arrow could tell her mother was furious. As they entered her mothers' quarters, she noticed that the room was rather large. There was a bed to the right that was hidden by the door when it was opened. There was a desk under a window in the far corner on the left-hand side. Arrow noticed that there were a few pictures of her and her mother on the desk along with a pile of what looked like her student's homework from a distance. There was a dial in the far-right hand corner next to another door, this dial would change the room on the other side of the door to either a bathroom or the schools kitchen. It was currently set to the bathroom. The room itself was black and the bedding on the double bed was dark blue. The lighting was dimmed though the lamp on the desk was bright.

Hecate closed the door behind them, she then turned to Arrow and sighed.

"Explain, properly this time". Hecate stated with exasperation.

"You won't understand".

"Try me". Hecate stated through gritted teeth.

"I am not going to bother; you're only going to stand there and scream at me regardless". Arrow told her for she knew her mother very well.

"I can not go into Amethyst's to sort anything out unless I have your perspective". Hecate told her whilst trying to be patient. She knew Arrow just like her was a rather short fuse.

Arrow said nothing one way or another they were going to be shouting at each other and it will keep everybody awake.

"Don't stand there and say nothing. You got your self-suspended, technically you shouldn't be in this school, with me teaching here". Hecate stated with her eyes narrowing and her voice starting to get louder.

"I will not explain anything whilst you're in this mood". Arrow spat at her mother. "There is no reasoning or getting you to listen whilst you're like this". Hecate was getting madder by the second. "When you have calmed down and you can speak to me like an adult then I'll explain".

"YOU ARE ON THIN ICE". Hecate shouted. "How dare you speak to me in that manner".

"Maybe if you weren't like a cauldron ready to explode, we would be able to sort this out as it was a clear misunderstanding". Arrow retorted.

"Did you just compare me to a cauldron?". Hecate stated with confusion.

"Yes, yes I did". Arrow said through gritted teeth as she walked out the door.

Hecate sat one her bed with her head in her hands. They had had a rocky relationship since Desmond had died in the line of duty three years ago. They just couldn't see eye to eye anymore. There was a knock at her door. She opened it with a flick of her wrist.

"I will not enter a female room, why don't we go for a walk?".

Hecate was confused as she was sure that was Algernon's voice who was another member of staff. He taught spell-science, and she hadn't classed him as a close friend like she would with Dimity Drill or Ada Cackle. She stood up and walked to the door with a confused expression on her face.

"Is there something you need?" Hecate asked him.

"No, I heard an argument and thought I'd come check that one of you were still alive". He said with a slight smile. Hecate however didn't find it funny.

"Come on, lets go for a walk and for the record I'm in the room above you this year, so I couldn't not hear it".

Hecate followed Algernon into the crisp night air, and she noticed Arrow had decided to sit on the roof.

"That could have been handled a tad better, though I'm going to take a wild guess that there's more to this than her suspension". Algernon spoke softly.

"It's a family issue". Hecate sighed.

"Might I suggest you both take a breather and then find away to reconnect".

"You don't know Arrow".

"I watched the flying lesson earlier from my classroom window, Arrow was helping Mildred with her posture. She's not a bad girl and here I would have thought any child of yours would have been a lot like Ethel rather than Maud".

"Dimity didn't say anything about the flying lesson".

"Ethel took Arrow off of your broom and Arrow said her piece. Your broom managed to catch her in time. It was an unprovoked attack by Ethel. Another day where she gets a tap on the wrist". Algernon informed her, though the last bit he stated with a raised eyebrow.

"Dimity and Arrow didn't say anything". She pressed.

"Dimity had it under control and Arrow isn't exactly talking to you, is she?" he stated as he moved his eyes to look at the roof.

They walked around the school a few times before Hecate found Arrow and they headed back to her quarters.

Hecate had taken the side of the bed closest to the wall as Arrow always needed the toilet numerous times in the night. She watched as her daughter fell asleep. She was deep in thought for hours; she had never known her daughter not to tell her of any issues and being taken off her broom was no small matter. She would deal with Ethel in the morning. She then thought of how Mildred had been taken off her broom a few times and she had shrugged it off and she realised the double standards she would potentially be making. This needed to be done without favouriting Arrow and she needed to allow her to make friends without her influence.

A few hours later Hecate's alarm went off and she transferred herself from her bed to the middle of the room so as not to wake Arrow at the same time as turning her alarm off.

She headed outside and Ada by the looks of it was waiting for her.

"That argument last night must have tired the both of you out".

"Every family has their arguments". Hecate stated.

They both walked to Ada's office and Ada presented Hecate with the schools' uniform for Arrow.

"You've got no hope". Hecate stated whilst laughing. Which was a surprise for Ada as Hecate very rarely laughed.

"You will need to come up with a trouser version, Hell will need to freeze over before you ask her dead body to wear that". Hecate stated with a knowing smirk. Ada was starting to take the hint.

"Do you want to tell me why Dimity and I had no idea you had a child? You've never mentioned her, Hecate". Ada asked with confusion though her voice was soft.

"There was never a need to mention her". Hecate stated.

"She doesn't seem like she would be a disappointment" Ada said. She was starting to rattle her cage as she knew just how far to push her deputy head.

"She was, is and never will be, a disappointment". Hecate sated with pride. "She was never mentioned as I didn't want too many questions on the matter".

"Go easy on her, Hecate. Arrow's suspension was not deserved, if she were a student in my school that defended another student, A suspension would not be on the table. I have spoken to Pippa regarding Arrow, and she rather agrees with me, naturally she had no idea about Arrow and was rather interested, she is prepared to offer a place at Pentangle's should you feel she needs to be in a different school".

"That was my jurisdiction" Hecate politely pointed out.

"As the headmistress here, it is also my jurisdiction". Ada also politely pointed out.

"Dimity mentioned an issue that arose in flying yesterday. Regarding Ethel and Arrow. I'm not sure if you are aware". Ada looked at her pointedly.

"Algernon talked me through it yesterday, I would like to know why Dimity didn't tell me". Hecate sighed as she was starting to get annoyed.

"Dimity thought Arrow would have told you, she was however thrilled to see her broom skills". Ada explained.

"Arrow isn't exactly speaking to me, so she isn't going to tell me". Hecate reminded Ada.

Ada pulled out a third-year timetable and handed it to Hecate. "She may as well join in with our third years.

"She won't attend chanting". Hecate stated whilst Ada gave her a knowing look. "It makes the girls look weak". Hecate mimicked her daughter.

The women stood and laughed as they knew Arrow had a point. The boys and men had staffs and the girls had singing.