"One. We are one." Two voices chant.
"One. We are one." It whispers in my head, I try to open my eyes. Everything seems fuzzy. I lean on the wall, my head hurts.
"One. We are one!" The voice again.
"What is going?" I mutter half-heartedly
"My name is Ezra, you named me Ezra. Here also is Camli; your wolf." A voice says
"Hello, my name is Camli. I can't believe I am finally talking to you, I have lived inside of you since you were born. I am the wolf side of you." another voice says
Every sound felt too loud and jamming, I could hear and smell the onions grandmother is chopping downstairs in the kitchen. I could see and tell every minor detailing in my room, the rough edges of the paint, the tiny ants crawling on it, spiders, cobwebs.
"Just breathe in Hermione, Breathe in slowly..." They say.
My vision felt red, I taste blood on my lips. Something sharp was stretching out from my teeth "What is happening to me?" I panic, rushing to the broken mirror beside my bed. A tail shoot out from behind, sharp nails growing from my fingers.
I snarl at myself in the mirror. My voice huskier. I made to touch my reflection, the mirror breaks in one touch.
"Hermione! What is going on there?" Grandmother calls, coming to the room.
I shiver in fright, jumping through the window. I run into the woods. Away from everything.
_
My eyes flicker open at the sound of the birds chirping. My hands abruptly reach out for the Kwauzuac neckpiece "...phew! Still here." I breath in a sigh of relief, taking in the sight of my room.
"Doesn't seem like the town's dump is here after all..."I murmur, standing up to look at the mirror beside my bed "…definitely not broken, still very much intact." I say, before sauntering to the window
"Whoops! No scratch at all. It was all a weird dream." I exclaim happily, plopping on the bed.
"There's no way I can be a wolf and a cat at the same time, that's what the Kwauzuac neckpiece is for anyways, to keep both souls from ripping me apart. Plus, how can a gigantic black wolf approach such a terrifying-looking creature, to cuddle it all through the night... Tsk. I think not. Such horrid dream!" I mutter thoughtfully
I sit up fleetly "But Ezra... She's really gone." I hurry up downstairs, strangely feeling alive and powerful. Ketura and grandmother were just having breakfast.
"About time!" Grandmother murmurs, looking up at me "...Just know I won't condone this anymore, after your mourning spree which ends today. You'll be back to doing the house chores."
"What?! You did the chores, grandmother?" I chip in, clearly gobsmacked.
"Don't get any ideas Hermione..." Ketura mumbles under her breath.
I ignore Ketura "For real grandmother?" I ask, chuckling.
They exchange glances. "You shouldn't get too excited Hermione, I did it only because your mate rejected you!" My grandmother spats
"Alright, Alright. Thanks anyways." I say happily, rushing to my room.
"Seems like she gon’ nuts, the rejection must have really affected her." I hear Ketura say mockingly to grandmother.
"She should better get it right, what was that all about?" Grandmother asks.
I close my door abruptly.
_
"Yes, that's her."
"She was rejected by her mate yesterday."
"Eros rejected her."
"He did that outrightly."
"He didn't want to have anything to do with a nonentity."
"Do you know that, if not for her grandmother's influence, she would have been continuously repeated and still be in her first year?!" Voices and hands' points to me as I walk the hallway. I could see the slow movement of their lips, the sweats on their forehead, the ragged breathing...
I yank my locker loudly to block the overwhelming voices.
"Do you all have nothing to do, but gossip?!!" A male's voice booms in the hallway. "Get going!" The voice thunders
"Sorry your Majesty!" everyone scamper out of the hallway. I turn to see Ares and Athena, my face breaks into a smile.
I hasten my footsteps to them, unsure of what to say "Your majesties..." I stutter
"You can say thank you?" Ares grins at me
"Certainly, Thank you your majesty." I say with a bow.
They let out a giggle. "She's so sweet." Athena says, extending an arm to hug me.
Wait. This is happening again.
I politely lean in to hug her. Now looking at them closely, the royal twins wouldn't be more eighteen years of age.
"My apologies Princess Athena, I forgot to return this..." I say, bringing the neatly folded cloth from my bag.
Athena shake her head briefly, enclosing the piece back into my palms "Do have it Hermione, see it as a little gift from me to a friend"
"A friend?" I ask, astonished
"Yeah, a friend." She nods happily. The bodyguards’ coughs uncomfortably.
"Okay..." I say slowly "Thank you, Princess Athena"
"Athena." She corrects
"...and Ares. Ares." Prince Ares chips in
I shake my head vehemently "That will be too much, your highnesses." I bow again.
"Well, we insist." Athena smiles ".lI just need a female friend, can you be that friend? Please..." I saw sadness flicker in her eyes, it was quickly gone.
My lips part in shock "Your highness, I am so stunned. I feel honored... Secretly I'd always admired you, and wonder what it would be like being friends with you. I never thought it would one day be a reality or that the feeling would be mutual. Thank you..." I say, boldly hugging her.
She returns it happily. It seems like, I have found another hugger; a bonafide lover of hugs. Whoopee!
"You two, that's enough!" Prince Ares grumbles, separating us. "Where's my own share of the hug? Or do I seem invisible to you two?" He pouts
I giggle, hiding behind Athena "I didn't think anybody else will be needing a hug."
Athena chuckles to the prince's dismay "Yeah, I didn't think that too..."
The bodyguards try to hide their knowing smiles.
"Hey! You two better give me my own share of the hug." He whines, try to reach for us. We duck his embrace, scurrying away. He charges towards us, pulling us closely as he hug us.
Wow. Prince Ares is definitely one strong being ...Their scent envelopes me like a cotton, Heaven knows how much I need all the hugs that I can get.
"See you during lunch?" Athena asks uncertainly, as they make to leave.
"Sure! Princess!" I throw a salute, grinning from ear to ear
"Athena." She corrects, pouting.
"Princess." I say, sticking my tongue at her.
Ares burst into laughs "See you later, Hermione" He smiles, pulling his sister to class. The bodyguards throw a subtle smile at me before escorting the prince and princess.
I do a happy dance.
The class quieten as I walk in, the subject teacher wasn't in yet "Hermione." Glinda whispers, waving at me from the back.I stroll to where Glinda sat, ignoring the hundreds of eyes on me "... There's been a lot of rumors about you lately." Glinda starts saying"Oh, okay." I say half-heartedly, dropping my books on the table"A lot of students are saying that..." Glinda starts to say"Please don't, Glinda. I am not interested in whatever they have to say." I say to Glinda, halting her"But these are serious allegations, Hermione!" Glinda whispers again."... Now, look who it is..." Ketura calls, her minions cheering her. She walks over to Eros; who is seated two seats from Glinda and I, and plops her buttocks on his laps."Little cousin, I'll show you what you can never get." She utters, grabbing Eros' face and kissing him hardly, all the while not moving her eyes from me.The whole class watch on anticipatingly, expecting me
I walk out, still seething in anger as I approach the cafeteria. Students hanging on the route instinctively paves way for me. I plop my buttocks on the empty chair beside Princess Athena and Prince Ares; who simply looks at me and the crowd that had gathered..."Okay?" Princess Athena mumbles, uncovering the meal before her "Somebody doesn't look too happy..."My eyes suddenly went to the table, my mouth watering at the delicacies before me. Prince Ares on seeing the expression of my face, pushed the spiced chicken before me. I grab it hungrily, eating it in five bites. I still felt extremely hungry. I look at them expectantly."Okay, someone is still hungry." Princess Athena says, extending her plate towards me. I look at her shyly, shaking my head."Go on..." She smiles encouraginglyI lurch at the food in a gluttonous manner, that when I lifted up my gaze from the empty plate, I suddenly felt embarrassed. How could I have acted this way in front of the royal children? Like someo
"Hello Hermione!""Hi, Hermione!""Hermione, can I walk with you?""Hermione, your uniform looks so nice on you.""Hermione, your skin is really glowing today! Mind sharing what herbal potion you are using for your skin?" Smiling faces greets me in the hallway.Students can be so unloyal and mean. Now that the Queen Bee is bedridden, everybody is acting all nice towards who put her in that situation. Not because they want to be on the safer side, but because the outcast has suddenly displayed a good prowess of witchcraft."Thanks." I fake a smile, waving at them. I find my locker easily as two seeming geeks pops up in front of me."Hermione, can we help you take your books to the class?" They ask"Hmm ...not to worry, I can take these myself." I utter, closing my locker."Please Hermione, let's just help you." They say, giving me weird glances."No, thank you. I can carry my books myself." I answer, making to move away from them."Please Hermione..." They say insistingly, creeping me
Another member of the council clears his throat loudly "Alright, let's begin... Miss Hermione Crofus! Do you deny using magic wrongfully to hurt a fellow student?""I do not deny using magic, but I deny using it wrongfully." I answer curtly. They share glances again."So, explain to this noble council why Miss Ketura Crofus is currently in this state?" The man rubs his beard thoughtfully, pointing to her. Ketura tries to hide a knowing smile, but it slips anyway.I frown "Ketura simply tried to attack me after a class, and I defended myself!""That's not entirely true, your nobles. I only confronted her after Mr. Toleofretus class about how she was able to make a dead flower come alive, reason been that over time, she has performed woefully in her tests and assessments. Her results over time will testify to this. I did think it was unhealthy, dishonest and fraudulent to lie to a teacher and our classmates." She bows, sitting down.Such beautiful speech. I fight the urge to roll my eye
"I honestly didn't think any of this would result to anyone getting hurt, I just want to make things right. Miss Hermione should be properly reprimanded, that is all I need and ask." Grandmother says, sitting down."Hmm, this is a delicate issue and as such, should be treated delicately. We all know Miss Hermione Crofus results has been woeful all along, but for her to be able to display such prowess in a short while, should say something to us." Principal Eldor speaks for the very first time. The woman and grandmother share confusing glances“Are you trying to insinuate, that she has been pretending all along? I mean, is it even possible to hide such skillfulness or dexterity for this long?" The woman asks, giving him a glare that depicts a 'what are you doing?' look.He ignores her, turning to the rest members of the council "...To my best knowledge, Miss Hermione, since her entry into this school has been a very quiet and well-reserved child..." The council members turn look at me.
It was lunch hour when I walked back into the school unit, I obviously had missed three classes. Few students were loitering in the hallway."Hey Hermione!" Glinda calls happily, on seeing me."Glinda." I exclaim happily, hugging her."How was the hearing? I heard it was pretty serious!" Glinda says, looking at my facial expression."Glinda! You really hear a lot of things, besides who fed you on that?" I ask, opening my locker to bring out the tiny bracelets I made early hours of this morning, to give to the Prince and Princess. A little token of me saying ‘thank you’.The white bracelet I made is for Prince Ares, while the blue is for Princess Athena; for she seem to like the color blue very much."...Hmmm, it was Kira who said it after class." Glinda answersI turn to look at her confusingly "Kira? Who's Kira?"Glinda tries to avoid my gaze "Hmm, Kira is one of Ketura's friends"My mouth drops in dismay "Wow! Okay, so you know her. You even know her name!... Tell me Glinda, what ha
I hear murmurings; a girl asks her friend "Oh I am so going to be wearing a beautiful lavender gown. How about you?"Her brunette friend replies "Well, I do not know yet. I guess I will have to trust what I'll see at home, You know my mother is one of the best cloth makers in the entire region?!" "Gracious goddess! I am so envious of you...""Oh Beatrix don't be." She rolls her eyes playfully, "I am pretty sure that we are turn up looking gorgeous. If not the most gorgeous!" The two girls giggle happily.I slowly make my way to the royal unit. I heave out a loud sigh "I really hope the princes and princess will love these bracelets. For I made them with love..."Two feet afore me, is the royal unit completely empty. My heart beat accelerates. Could it be that they had lunch and hurriedly left for they didn't want to be seen with me? Or they skipped lunch?"Hermione, just breathe..." Comes Ezli's voice."O goddess! How then would you explain this Ezli?" I ask, rubbing my throbbing hea
I stare at my reflection in the mirror; I am draped in a shimmering yellow dress. My red hair is styled to perfection as Ezli whispers to me the magic words for a makeup "Meko na tilaz eferusa konede eluazua zaris!" Star dust erupts from my fingers.I look totally unrecognizable."Yaaaaaay!" I swirl happily in front of the mirror. "Thank you so much, Ezli. I look very much like a Queen.""Yes, like the Queen you are ..." My cheeks bore crimson red. Even my blue eyes were sparkling so bright."Let's get going." I whisper to Ezli, closing my door. I saunter down the stairs quickly, and reaching the gate."Oops Ezli, do you think it's a good idea coming out this late? The whole place is deserted, plus there's no ride in view... You do know that I know nothing about the teleport dimension!" I say panicking"Hermione can you not panic and be calm?" Ezli hush me "...We can try the teleport dimension or rather still, use a fly car to get to our destination." Ezli tells me"The ones I saw the