Chapter 10
AN: Hello all, I'm sorry for the time it took me to update, I had trouble with inspiration. I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Let me know what you think of it, thank you.
Her eyes widen in disbelief. Could it be true? Did she felt Mildred's heart? Afraid to be subjected to a cruel hallucination, Constance slowly placed her ear on her daughter's chest, and gasped! There it was, slow and weak but a heartbeat nonetheless.
«Amelia! Amelia!quick come here, I felt…I felt…I felt a heartbeat» The old witch, devoured by despair and sadness, slowly raised her tears streamed face toward her best friend. The hope in Constance's voice brought a new set of tears to the grieving woman. Mildred, her granddaughter of heart, was dead, and denying it would only bring more suffering. «Constance, she is gone» Amelia murmured weakly «there is nothing we can do». But the younger witch, driven by a new found hope wasn't letting go «No I swear I really felt something. Mildred is not dead»
«Constance…please» this time it was Lavinia
«We cannot pretend we know what you are feeling, but Mildred's…departure….»
«DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, I FELT A HEARTBEAT! I'M NOT DELUSIONAL, SADNESS ISN'T BLINDING ME! CAN'T YOU TRUST ME » yelled Constance. Her sudden reaction shook the other women to the core.
«I trust you dear» started Amelia in a frail voice «It's just that…Mildred is the most precious thing in my life…and her death» the word was like a knife «…her death shattered my heart» At this point the old witch crawled to the young mother, as she wasn't strong enough to walk. When she reached her, she put a comforting hand on her best friend's shoulder and looked her in the eye «There is nothing in the entire world I want more then to believe you, but I'm afraid…I'm afraid false hope will finish me».
Shaken by Amelia's words, Constance took a moment before speaking again «Please…I know how you are feeling…But Amelia, please trust me». The old witch, sighed, she had known the younger woman long enough to realize that she would not leave her mourn in peace until she did what she wanted. The old witch brought a trembling finger to her granddaughter's throat, and gasped. «Impossible!». Lavinia and Imogen, who had been watching the exchange from a far, hurried to the three women.
«What is it Amelia?» asked the PE teacher worried
But before anyone could answer, something incredible happened. Mildred's frail body slowly rose into the air before being enveloped by a blinding white light, forcing everyone to look away.
After a few minutes, the light faded and the young woman was delicately lowered to the floor. Constance, Amelia, Lavinia and Imogen slowly approached. When they reached Mildred, her mother knelt at her side, her heart filled with hope and dread.
Suddenly Mildred opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Her sight fell upon the tear streamed face of her mother.
«Mom…» before she could finish her sentence, she was enveloped in a bone crushing embrace
«Mildred…my little girl» cried Constance. After a minute or two, the potion mistress finally let go and took Mildred's face into her hands «My baby…I thought I had lost you for a second time. I'm not letting anyone take you away from me ever again» she swore which made her daughter smile. A whisper ended caught their attention «Mildred»
They turned around and saw Amelia's bewildered face. Mildred stood up, walked towards the beloved old witch and threw herself in her arms. Amelia started to cry as she held her granddaughter against her «Mili, my sweet child…I couldn't bare to lose you»
«Don't worry Nan, I'm not leaving any time soon» said Mildred when they broke apart. She was only free for about a second or two before being enveloped in a big hug by Imogen and Lavinia.
After the happy reunion, Mildred asked what all women were thinking «But how can I be here…alive?»
«That's right, how? I thought nobody survived the poisoning by the devil's elixir without the antidote» added Lavinia
«And nobody ever did» answered Constance
«Except now» remarked Imogen
«I think I understand what happened» said Amelia, everyone turned their heads towards her
«You do?» asked Constance surprised, yes the old witch was intelligent, very intelligent, but if she Constance Hardbroom couldn't find an explanation, she doubted that anyone could
«I thought about Mildred's gift. Now that we know she is from a magical background, and a powerful one nonetheless, I think she might have inherited it from her parents» she accompanied her last statement by looking at Constance
«What? You think that I transmitted the ability to bring inanimate objects to life to Mildred?» said the deputy head incredulously
«Of course» yelled Imogen «You used this power to give Mili her life back»
«Are you out of your mind!» exclaimed Constance «No power on earth can bring back people from the dead!»
«Maybe this ability combined with the pureness of motherly love were strong enough to reverse death's grip on Mildred» suggested Lavinia. Constance was about to reciprocate it was impossible, but realized it made sense.
It was at that moment that the youngest witch intervened «Mom do you remember what I asked you before…before I died?»
«What is more powerful then a mother's love.» answered her mother as every piece fell into place in her mind
«And you told me that there was none» added Mildred
«Love is the most powerful force in the univers, and as long as we love each other we are invincible» concluded Amelia making everyone smile.
«What do we do now?» asked Imogen
Constance smirked «Now we pay Mistress Hecketty Broomhead a little visit»