Chapter Text
The unfamiliar, steady beeping of machinery and the distant sounds of voices felt so very far away to Mildred Hubble. Almost as though she was underwater. She was vaguely aware of her aching body, but was unable to focus. Her grip on reality loosening.
It’s just a bad dream. I’m going to wake up any minute and mum will be here. Then everything will be okay, like it always is.
She repeated this mantra, clinging desperately onto her own words.
But Mildred Hubble knew, deep down she knew. This wasn’t a bad dream. She was going to open her eyes and her mother wasn’t going to be there. Because Julie Hubble was gone, and she was never coming back.
Mildred’s eyes flew open, the realisation pressing down on her chest like a heavy weight.
She let out an anguished cry.
……
Hecate Hardbroom winced, a sharp pain flashing through her head, gone almost as suddenly as it had arrived. She frowned. Putting down the quill and pushing away the lesson plan she had been drafting, she brought her fingers up to her temples. She wanted to chalk it up to simple tiredness but she couldn’t ignore the rising sense of unease she felt in the pit of her stomach.
As if on cue she heard the familiar chime of her mirror.
Pippa. She thought to herself happily, the unease temporarily replaced with a warmth that only the blonde witch could stir in her. The unease quickly returned when she caught sight of Pippa Pentangle’s face. The usual warmth and glowing smile replaced with a solemn expression. Her eyes, usually sparkling, seemed dulled.
“Pippa! What’s happened? Are you okay?” She asked, her composure slipping and concern lacing her words.
“I just received today’s ordinary newspapers…” She began saying, before taking a steadying breath. Hecate remained quiet but she was sure her expression had now morphed into one of confusion.
“It’s Mildred.”
Mildred Hubble. I swear that child is ageing me prematurely. Hecate thought to herself before nodding at Pippa to continue.
“I saw this on the front page of one of the local papers.” She explained and then held up the publication to the mirror, hands shaking slightly.
Tragedy strikes as woman killed in brutal hit and run.
Hecate resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the provocative headline. She would never understand ordinary people’s fascination with the macabre. As her eyes scanned the words lower down the page however, she felt the remaining colour drain from her face.
Local woman Julie Hubble has tragically lost her life as an unknown driver ran a red light on a busy high street. Eye witnesses report seeing the brave Ms Hubble push her daughter out of the path of the speeding vehicle, before being hit herself. She is believed to have died at the scene. Her daughter, Mildred has been taken to a nearby hospital but is believed to be in a stable condition. Police are urging anyone with information regarding the collision or the vehicle involved to come forward.
Hecate was grateful she was already sitting down as she felt herself uncharacteristically slump forward, knowing her face now mirrored that of her girlfriend’s. Unwanted memories began to swirl around her mind and she had to work hard to keep them at bay, this was not the time for her to lose control.
“She needs us.” Her voice barely a whisper but she knew Pippa had heard her.
“We need to get to her as soon as possible. Mildred has no other family that we know of does she?” Pippa asked, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Hecate briefly shook her head as Pippa’s words reflected her own thoughts.
“We can’t let her fall into the care system, Hiccup.”
“I know.” Hecate replied as she pulled herself upright, a steely resolve forming in her brown eyes.
“Pippa, how long will it take you to get here?” The blonde witch’s eyes flickered briefly from Hecate’s to the large window in her office. The early afternoon sun was high in the sky and the trees were gently swaying.
“Perfect flying conditions. I can be at Cackle’s in about half an hour.” She replied confidently, earning a small smile from Hecate.
“You always were the fastest flier Pipsqueak.” Hecate replied fondly.
“I’m going to mirror Ada, inform her of the situation and then when you’re here I’ll transfer us to Mildred.” She continued, sounding a lot more confident than she felt, but her mind was eased somewhat by the formation of their plan of action.
“See you soon Hiccup.”
“Fly safe, Pipsqueak.”
“Always do.”
With their parting comments, the image of Pippa Pentangle faded and Hecate was faced with her own reflection. She could almost see the tension emanating from her body and permitted herself a few moments and multiple deep breaths to compose herself.
Oh Mildred.
…..
She had kept the call with Ada Cackle brief, acutely aware of the passage of time. It had nonetheless been difficult to see the grief wash over Ada, the woman whom she admired and often looked up to as a sort of mother.
“You’re doing the right thing Hecate. Dear Mildred needs us all now more than ever.” The older witch had told her once she had regained her composure.
What if she doesn’t want me though? The words had formed in Hecate’s mind unwillingly but she found herself unable to voice her concerns to Ada. Now as she paced her office waiting for Pippa’s arrival, the thought was becoming increasingly louder and more difficult to ignore. Her and Mildred’s relationship had always been rocky to say the least. There had however been a tentative step towards the promise of a better future for the pair after the incident with the founding stone at the end of school year.
But would that even mean anything now in light of the current situation? Hecate agonised to herself. A familiar shadow drifted into view and Hecate instinctively waved her hand in the direction of the window behind her. The comforting scent of sweet perfume engulfed her and she felt her body relax as the pair of arms wrapped protectively around her slender waist. Smiling gently she leaned further back into the embrace, feeling the electricity hum across her skin as Pippa placed her lips on the side of her neck. They stood silently, neither wanting the moment to end, until Hecate felt Pippa sigh. Reluctantly she stepped out of Pippa’s grasp and turned around.
Hecate’s heart skipped a beat. Even windswept Pippa Pentangle was the most beautiful person she’d ever laid eyes on.
“I love you.” The words tumbled out of her mouth, cutting through the silence that had encompassed the pair.
“I love you too.” Pippa replied, closing the small gap between them and gently guiding the taller witch’s face to her own.
For a brief moment, everything was okay in the world.
……
“So we’re agreed then? You’ll be the one posing as Mildred’s aunt?” Pippa whispered, ignoring the frown that appeared on Hecate’s face as they expertly weaved through the busy street. A simple locator spell had allowed them to identify the hospital Mildred was currently in, but they had decided against transferring directly into the building. They didn’t need to add exposing magic to ordinary people to their list of issues.
“I think it’s more you agreed. Pippa, are you quite sure it shouldn’t be you? You’re much better with people than I am, and Mildred adores you.” Hecate muttered, tugging at the light green sweater Pippa had forced her into. I really don’t know how these people cope. She huffed to herself as the hospital entrance finally came into view.
Pippa resisted rolling her eyes at her girlfriend. She often wondered how someone as brilliant as Hecate Hardbroom could also be so oblivious.
“Hiccup. Mildred thinks the absolute world of you. Please trust me on that. Also, you can’t deny that you and Mildred bear more than a passing resemblance to each other. It’ll be more believable that the pair of you are related.” Pippa replied gently yet firmly as they came to a halt a short distance from the bustling hospital doors. Unconsciously smoothing down her pale pink pencil skirt, Pippa turned her head and smiled as she saw Hecate mirroring the motion with her own black trousers.
“You’ve got the ID I made for you?” She asked, eyeing the black handbag that was balanced somewhat awkwardly on Hecate’s shoulder. Under different circumstances she’d be teasing the usually elegant looking witch.
“ID? Oh, those flimsy, overly convoluted documents. Yes Pipsqueak, I haven’t managed to misplace them in the ten minutes that have passed since you last asked me.” Hecate deadpanned as she gracefully stepped away from the elbow Pippa had aimed in her direction.
“Remember, if they ask, the booklet looking one is a passport and the card is a driving license.” Pippa told her, pausing for a moment before reaching out to capture Hecate’s hand in her own.
“Ready?” She asked softly. Hecate’s mouth set in a hard line as she nodded curtly. Her hand squeezed Pippa’s reassuringly before she slowly let go.
The automatic doors slid open and the pair allowed themselves to be swept into the hospital chaos.