We dance to the songs of the birds, staring deeply at each other. Slowly I lean in, caressing his cheeks as his breath fans my lips...
"Hermio-neee." A distant voice calls. Just a little more, our lips saunter closer.
"Her-mio-neee! Don't make me come get you! Get your lazy ass off that bed and come do the chores!" My grandmother hollers, disrupting me from the fantasy.
"Argggh! Why every time!?" I murmur unhappily, palming my face as I make my way off the bed.
"Good morning, ma'am." I greet them on reaching the dining room. Ketura, on the other hand, is fully dressed for school and is having tea and pancakes laced with maple syrup for breakfast. She looks up only to smirk at me.
“Hermione do tell, why are you are waking up just now? Would you rather I do the chores for you or Ketura does it?!" My grandmother asks sternly, plopping heands beneath her chin.
I gulp, looking from Grandmother to Ketura. "No, I'll rather do it. I am sorry ma'am." I say shakily, for fear of what's to come.
My grandmother by name; Tabitha Crofus, is one of the most revered witches in the Showek High School of Spiritual Creatures [SHSOSC]. By Prowess and experience, all defence I make to counter any attack from her is fruitless.
The worse thing is, she takes Ketura in special classes; making her more knowledgeable beyond my sphere and rank. "Tabi, let's just let this slide..." Ketura tells grandmother "After all, today is the full moon ritual day, lest we defile ourselves with any impure or filthy thing..." Ketura scorns me.
"Hmmm, quite true." grandmother nods in consent, lovingly patting Ketura's shoulder. Sometimes I wish for the bond Ketura and Grandmother share, I have it too. My life would have been so much better.
I remember being two years of age when my father brought me to grandmother. Ketura at that time; a three-year-old child and a child of my grandmother's late daughter was living with grandmother.
The only crime I committed was being birthed by my father -a witch born, and my mother- a werewolf born. They had a one-night fling which resulted in me and mysteriously finding their fated mates two years after. The Werewolf tribe rejected me with the saying; that I was something that shouldn't exist. A taboo.
The warlocks and witches of the black cat coven, at first sight, denounce me but slowly allow me into their fold; but with the promise of staying away from the werewolves tribe, as a witch can't be a werewolf at the same time. It would rip me apart, making me vanish entirely from the universe. Hence, I must permanently have on the Kwazuac neckpiece to stay alive.
"Oh, thank heavens, today is a good day..." grandmother turns to me coldly "but the next time, you let me holler your name umpteenth, I'll make sure to detach your spinal cord, put it back and do it again and again." She threatens.
I nod hastily. Grandmother doesn't give sly threats, she goes for it.
"Tabi, we are so going to be late for school." Ketura whines.
"Sorry love, I'm almost done already...just have a little more patience," Grandmother says throwing a piece of pancake in her mouth. She points to me "Come clear the table... Ketura and I need to get going," She slowly stands, reaching for her big bag on the third chair "Make sure to finish the chores, and come to school on time."
"Okay, ma'am," I answer
Ketura stands with the skimpy skirt that makes Principal Eldor rolls his eyes at intervals, she catwalks to the door with grandmother following behind her. One look at them and a person would conclude that they are mother and daughter. My heart constricts painfully at the thought.
I felt a movement on my leg, only to see Ezra, snuggling close. "Hey Ezra," I bend to pick her up. She meos at me, making me giggle. "How is my little cutie doing?" I ask, gently caressing her. She purrs in pleasure.
Ezra is one beautiful black cat, with blue eyes. I found her seven weeks ago, laying in a brown carton, close to the forest. Grandmother had sent me to cut some plants to make herbs for Ketura who had fallen ill.
Sometimes I feel grandmother intentionally shuts me out from all teachings, spells and recipes, otherwise, she would never have made me know the herbs particular for food poisoning.
I'd carried the unkempt-looking cat home, named her Ezra, and since had nurtured her in secret away from grandmother and kentura's notice. For grandmother dislikes having pets in the house, and I grew up with that.
Over time, grandmother would walk in from school and perceive the scent of a cat -Ezra.
"Hermione!!!" She'll holler immediately
"Yes, Grandmother!" I'll answer, running downstairs to meet her.
"What is this, that I smell all the time?" She'd ask
"What ma'am?" I'd feign ignorance, looking all innocent
"A cat. I smell a cat, Hermione. Have you been lying to me?" She'd ask, staring at me intently.
"No, ma'am." I would say, shaking my head profusely.
"Okay then, let's go to your room" She would instruct, with me leading the way.
My heart beating frantically, I would unlock the door muttering some prayers to the moon goddess. Grandmother would stare at my room and slowly recite these strange words "Kola tizo menkez chua riz tabala timi na kech."
Poof! The whole place becomes filled with smoke, and Ezra wouldn't be in view.
"I don't know how you do it, but one day I am going to find out..." Grandmother will tell me suspiciously, doing a double take before leaving the room.
I would panic after shutting the door "Ezra..." I would whisper, for fear that she had disappeared.
From the shadows, Ezra would come happily, meowing at me.
This baffles me every single time.
"Cutie Cutie Ezra, let's go do the dishes!" I tease, taking her to the kitchen as grandmother and Ketura are long gone from home.
"Thank goodness now I can practice some spells to help me with the chores," I say, laying Ezra on the wooden counter.
I clasp my palm together "Feki sa mon tua elon kizo!" I chant, a wand appears in my palm.
"Okay..." I sigh deeply, seeking encouragement from the little creature who's concentratedly licking her paw without a care in the world.
"Kombro fafas tali ekumi taso oloaz shemike!" I recite loudly, as the dirty dishes soon rise but land back abruptly in their place.
"Argh!" I scream exasperatedly "When will I ever get this right?"
Ezra looks up from her paw to me, before going back to it. I ruffle my hair unhappily, as I make to clean the dishes.
_
"For a moment, I thought you won't be coming to school again," Glinda says pulling me to the school cafeteria.
It was lunch hour, as werewolves, witches, wizards, elves, goblins, and fairies, all sits with their kind. The Lycans -the royal children of King Endymion; Ares and Athena, sits together away from us.
The Lycans are believed to be the direct descendants of the moon goddess, and are particularly an upgraded version of a werewolf. They are blessed with enormous power and beauty, and hence rules the spiritual world.
"I woke up pretty late today." I tell Glinda as our legs find its way to the warlocks and witches' unit. I absentmindedly touch the Kwuazac neckpiece with my left hand.
"...still having same dreams about the mysterious guy?" Glinda ask, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah... I really don't know why, but the dreams are becoming more frequent." I answer shakily, placing my food tray on a table as we bend to sit. Only Glinda and an ever-listening Ezra knows about this dream of mine; which started six moons ago.
"Don't worry Hermione, we will get to the bottom of this." Glinda consoles, patting my palm.
Suddenly she climbs the chair, drawing the attention of other students "Happy Birthday Hermione!!!" She says loudly "Bli li vao liaz ko fed tor!" A cake appears in her hands.
"Wait! What?!... Today is my birthday?" I ask gobsmack. Glinda nods excitedly, On the cake was: Happy 16th Birthday, Hermione.I shake my head in disbelief, inhaling deeply "Today is the seventh day of the seventh moon?" I ask. Glinda nods again."Oh gracious goddess! Today is my birthday!?! ...I totally forgot!" I exclaim excitedly"Yeah, I knew you would Hermione..." She says with a smile. The Elfs and Fairies circled our table, and began singing a birthday song. I felt deep warmth."Thank you so much everyone..." I say to them as they sing on"Thank you too Best friend." I mouth to Glinda, as I swirl the song. Needless to say, that Elfs and Fairies are the life of a party. They love parties and celebration to a fault.Ketura and her minion-witches stared on five seats away, with contempt. I happily pull Glinda to my imaginary dance floor and soon, everyone was dancing."What is going on here?!!!" Principal Eldor thunders abru
My eyes' flips open to see a white shinning bulb. I turn to see Ares and Athena; the children of the king staring at me "Your Majesty!" I sit up in fright."How are you feeling?" Athena's voice came soothingly. Somebody pinch me, is this a dream?"Good... I feel good, ma'am." I answer slowly. Suddenly, the pictures started rushing back... Eros and I. Eros rejected me. My mate rejected me.I burst into tears, Athena extends a piece of cloth to me "I... don't... know...he... didn't... even...give...me...a.. chance..." I sob loudly"We saw..." Athena says sadly, while Ares looks away gritting his teeth."How...do...I...make...this...stop?...It hurts...so...bad" I cry, clawing at my chest. Athena reaches over, hugging me.If it were a different circumstance, I would have probably screamed my lungs out, to the heavens that Princess Athena hugged me; a royal hugged me. Instead sadness, pain, anger envelopes me as I cry into her arms.
"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 saysEvery 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
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.