Scars

Later that evening, Hecate and Dimity sat in the staff room alone. Gwen and Algernon had already gone to bed and so had Ada.

"Hecate can we talk. One of the girls raised a concern with me and I need to talk to you about it." Dimity said looking over at her colleague.

"What's this concern. If they are having friendship troubles just leave them to sort it out themselves. If you must get involved I'll be no help there," she replied bluntly sipping her drink.

"No the concern was about you actually," Dimity replied, gulping as Hecate looked over at her.

"Me? Why would they have a concern about me?" She asked pursing her lips.

"Hecate can you roll up your sleeves for me please?" The younger woman asked.

She looked over at the older women who hadn't replied and it looked like all the colour had been drained from her face. She sighed slightly and looked down she had hoped so hard that Sybil had been wrong but this was all the proof she needed to know she wasn't.

"Hecate?" Dimity asked trying to press further.

"This is ridiculous, it's late and I'm going to my quarters. Goodnight Dimity," Hecate stood up and hastily exited the room.

"Hecate wait! Hecate! HB!" She sighed with annoyance. She couldn't leave her alone not now especially with what she discovered but she knew that HB would never open up to her. She doubted that woman would open up to anyone. Well except her girlfriend.

A smile grew on Dimity's face. It was no secret among the staff that Pippa Pentangle and Hecate Hardbroom were head over heels for each other. They tried keeping it a secret but they were so obvious about it.

She headed straight to the mirror to contact her. She knew it was late but this was important.

"My goodness are you sure?" Pippa asked looking shocked and upset.

"Positive unfortunately. When I asked her it looked like all the colour had been drained from her face and then she just left," Dimity responded

"I'm on my way now I'll see you shortly," Pippa responded ending the mirror call.

Pippa immediately sent a notice to her staff alerting them that she would be absent for a couple of days and then she hopped on her broom and headed straight for Cackle's. Her mind was racing and her heart was beating a hundred to the dozen. She couldn't bare to imagine that her Hiccup was in that much pain. She needed to see her, to be there for her. She couldn't lose her she'd only just got her back.

Meanwhile, Hecate was lying in her bed. How did one of the girls notice this. She was always so careful. That fact they reported her as well. She couldn't handle this. Dimity would just pity her now. She'd lose all her respect. Probably lose her job as well. Pippa would hate her. 

Her mind kept spiraling and the blade under her bed kept calling to her. 

Pippa leapt off her broom and headed straight to the staff room where she met Dimity.

"Where is she?" She asked worried.

"She said she was going to her room," Dimity informed her equally worried. 

Pippa immediately set off to her girlfriend's room. She got there quickly and gave the door a quick knock before opening it. 

"Pippa?" Hecate questioned confused. 

"Hiccup, oh Hiccup," Pippa said approaching her.

Hecate's eyes opened. Of course Dimity contacted her. The last thing she needed was more people knowing especially Pippa. 

"Can I sleep in your bed tonight?" Pippa asked.

Hecate knew that no matter how much she wanted to be alone right now she could never say no to her Pipsqueak. 

She shuffled over to the right knowing how much Pippa liked the left side of the bed. Secretly she preferred that side too but she would never tell Pippa that. She wanted her girl to be happy. 

She watched as her girlfriend quickly magiced herself into pyjamas and crawled into bed with her. Her head was still spinning with thoughts but it was more muffled now that she had Pippa. 

"I love you Hiccup," Pippa whispered snuggling in close.

"I love you too Pipsqueak," Hecate replied. 

They fell asleep like that and Pippa decided to wait until the morning before talking to Hecate about the whole self harm thing. She knew that it was late and right now her girlfriend just needed some comfort not a bombardment of questions.

"Morning Hecate," Pippa yawned rolling over to look at her girlfriend. 

"Morning," she responded quickly filling with dread as she remembered the reason why her girlfriend was here.

Pippa sat up and turned to look at her with a serious look on her face," Look I need you to be honest with me. What's going on? Dimity called me last night worried about you and I don't know what to do. How can I help you Hecate? Is it true?"

"Dimity was worried over nothing it was just some little remark one of the girls made. Nothing to worry about," HB replied a little to quickly not looking at her girlfriend when she spoke. She hated lying to her but she couldn't let her know that it was true. She didn't want to burden Pippa with that.

"Hiccup I know you're lying. At least show me your arms so I can heal them please. I can't bear to think about you being pain," Pippa responded trying desperately to get her girlfriend to talk to her and open up. 

Hecate didn't respond so Pippa leaned forward slowly and put her hands on her sleeves looking at the other woman for consent.

She gave a slight nod before looking away and closing her eyes slightly.

Pippa lifted up the sleeves and tried to hide her gasp. The woman's arms were littered with scars some fresher then others. Others were almost completely faded. She could have cried. She wished she known how much pain Hecate was in. She could have helped. 

"Oh Hiccup," 

"I'm sorry," was all Hecate could muster before being pulled into her girlfriend's arms as she wept.