Chapter Text
Previously :
The departing witches grabbed their brooms, giving the remaining women proper hugs and kisses, and then, starting with Hecate, followed by Ethel, Mildred, and finally Pippa, the four witches set out on their mission, not realizing that, as vital as this journey would be, they would be at the beginning of the adventure of their lives.
Ada's chamber, Cackle's Academy
Within seconds, four witches would be mounting their brooms, flyng to the Grand Wizard's Castle and certain danger.
But within that second time froze. Miss Gullet was in mid-breath. Hardbroom, Pentangle, Mildred, and Ethel we're all on their brooms preparing to take off. But the five women were frozen in time.
Three witches were not, however. Ada, Ethel's sister Esmeralda, and a very astonished Julie Hubble.
"What did you do to my child?" asked Julie in near-hysterics. "What did you do to my Millie??"
Ada had always been, if nothing else, the soul of compassion, as had Esmeralda. The four women that Julie loved for about to go out the window towards who knows where. And for the young mother, everything had happened so fast. To think in 36 hours she realized that not only was her daughter was infused with magic but the Mom was as well, that same daughter had fallen in love with a young witch who not too long ago was her sworn enemy, and on top of that not only did the Deputy Headmistress of Cackles fall in love with her but so did that headmistress's lover/Headmistress of a competing witch's academy. And now those four were about to fly into danger. Literally fly.
Ada gently placed her hands on Julie's shoulders and just as gently turned the younger woman around. "I know how you feel Julie. I also know how Hecate feels not just about Mildred but about you as well. Hecate would give her soul to stop anything bad from happening to the people that she loves. And her heart is much bigger than even she could admit it is..."
"Yes, Ada. But she is my daughter."
It was then when Esmeralda Hallow, age 18, soul going on 35, reminded the older women of something that had happened not too long ago. As a matter of fact it was an incident that happened just about the time Marigold Mound tried to whisk away the picture that had Goldie Gullet and Agatha Cackle enframed. Within minutes inside of that one minute, Esme returned with a rather familiar looking bounty, which was carefully placed inside of Mildred's backpack.
The bounty was placed very carefully on top of Mildred's belongings. When the backpack was secured, the three women stood there for a moment. Then Julie Hubble first turned to her right and kissed Esmeralda, then turned to her right and kissed Ada Cackle. And then for another moment the three women collapsed hands. Eventually whispered "we are many, we are one." Ada turned to Julie and asked her how the woman knew the phrase. Julie simply answered "Mildred." Ada glanced at Esme. They both knew that Julie was telling the truth, but they also knew that there was more to that simple answer. Three stepped back and assumed their positions, Julie standing next to Miss Gullet, Esme next to Julie, and across the way from the three women. Ada nodded, and four witches and their cargo began their journey.
The two older witches flew behind the younger pair, making sure that their eyes were kept on the latter. The very simple plan was explained: Hecate would go alone to speak to the Grand Wizard. They both had a history, and the last people tagging along the better. Pippa, Mildred, and Ethel would go to the tower to search for Marigold Mould.The reason for the trip was to somehow persuade Egbert Hellidore, the Grand Wizard, to release Marigold.
"So, do you plan on using your feminine wiles on the old GW, Miss Hardbroom?" Ethel always had a streak, one she showed as she slyly spoke as she flew.
"I have no wiles, Miss Hallow. I intend to use logic to persuade him." Mildred and Ethel giggled, Pippa blushed, and for herself, Hecate cracked a very small smile.
And so they flew in the general direction of the Grand Wizard's Castle.
What they didn't know was that they weren't flying alone....
The Grand Wizard's Castle...
The old man with the grey hair and goatee say in the tall, comfortable chair in front sipping on cream tea and taking an occasional bite of a crumpet
The tall blonde woman wearing a dress made of red velvet approached the old man. She had a very contented look on her face.
"Well, they are on their way. And I believe they're bringing company.."
The old man took a sip from his cup, his eyes meeting her blues as she continued to speak.
"Yes, all four banes of my existence around the way here. And when they do, I shall be rid of them once and for all. All of them."
The old man looked up. "With that include...?"
"That disappointment of a daughter..yes. not to mention that little bitch Mildred Hubble whom she's attached herself to. They will all finally be dealt with. And then we can reverse what has happened."
The blonde woman smiled, one could say evily, as her body bent down so her face could meet the old man's.
And with that, the Grand Wizard kissed the lips of Ursula Hubble.
...and in a tower behind the castle...
It was a room near the top of that castle. It was dark. Cold. The air was sticky. And Marigold Mould lay on a cot, covered only with a sheet, a blanket, and a thick pall of dankness.
A which can tell things. They can sense what is coming, for instance. Not enough to clean out a casino, but they can tell when things are about to happen. For Marigold, she knew that help was on the way. She could feel it. The one thing that remained strong through all of this was her connection was her strong connection to the unfortunately misnamed Worst Witch. Marigold sensed that Mildred Hubble was on her way...and she was bringing the calvary.
But she also knew that her life force was slipping, slowly but surely. And unless a miracle occurred, she would be gone from this mortal coil. The only thing that may have bouyed her was the fact that her lover would join her at the moment of her demise.
That was bad enough. The noise of the man screaming in agony in the next room made it worse...
To Be DEFINITELY continued..