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.
Glinda abruptly yanks the door open "Hermione!!!" She hollers tearily rushing over, as she suddenly comports herself on seeing the royal children.
"Your Majesty." She bows, Ares return a tight-lipped smile, standing up.
"...She was the only person we could reach out to." Athena says looking at Glinda "I can't say, I understand how you feel...but please, whenever you feel like talking or reaching out to me, just say the word." She smiles, standing up.
For her age, I think she talk brilliantly well. Ares gives a wave, as they both leave with their escorts.
"Oh goddess! Did we just encounter the royal twins?! Prince Ares and Princess Athena?" Glinda utters absentmindedly
"...like, I just breathe in the same breath of air as both of them?"" She says in awe
"Yeah." I nod, staring at the exit door.
Glinda plops her buttocks on the side of the bed "...so sorry this happened Hermione, it's all over the school. You don't deserve any of this..." Glinda murmurs, putting her head on my shoulder
I nod shakily, trying to keep the tears from coming back "It hurt so much Glinda. Make it stop..." I cry, my shoulders raking roughly.
"Oh Hermione, you'll be fine I promise." Glinda sobs too, willing my pain to go away.
I clean my tears. The wiper.
"Princess Athena forgot this." I whisper, looking at the piece of clothing. It had the royal symbol on it.
"Not to worry, you can give it back tomorrow." Glinda consoles, hugging me tightly
"But what really happened? I only knew you left the classroom with him, without telling me. I was shocked though. I didn't think it would have anything to do...do with mates..." Glinda says quietly
"I really don't know Glinda. I find it so hard to process this... All that just happened..." I stutter, looking out through the window.
How could the moon goddess do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?
All witches and warlocks know one has only a chance of having a mate. Just one mate, or our cats will go crazy and slowly die. Too bad I never even got to meet my cat. So what now?
Will I ever find love and be happy? Will I get to start a family of my own, and have miniatures of me playing around? I guess, No. happily. ever. after. for. me then...
Ditching class for the first time, I hurry home -to my room. I needed to let all the hurt and pain out, without pity glances from Glinda or the matrons in the school clinic.
How fast do news spread anyways? I fling my bag to the floor, jumping to the bed as my tear glands let its fury out.
Hours into the night, when I had become too exhausted to shed a single tear, only the slow panting of my breaths could be heard. I hear a knock abruptly, It was grandmother. I sit up, trying to hide my puffy red eyes.
"Hermione," She calls, walking in with a tray of cookies. It is the calmest I have heard of her in so many years "My sincerest sympathy Hermione..." She says, dropping the tray on my small table "Fate can be so mysterious and unpredictable, but you never should give up on yourself. Some witches are destined to be alone, some aren't... And that is why blood comes first. If he says he wants your cousin, you should let them and be sacrificial. Besides, Principal Eldor is patiently waiting. You should open up to him..." Grandmother says lowly.
I look up at her in shock. I know she doesn't like me, but this... Like right now?
"Get out!" I utter angrily.
"What?" She asks surprised.
"I said Get out!" I holler at her. I didn't know from whence the boldness came from... at that moment I didn't care. I had it all to my throat.
"I'll let this slide because it is expedient that you mourn. You loose, your cousin wins." She breathes harshly, slamming the door.
I let out a painful cry, kicking the tray of cookies away "I feel so alone." I mutter, hugging my shoulders tightly.
Ezra.
Where's Ezra?
I turn exasperatedly, in search of her. How come, I haven't seen Ezra since I got back from school.
"Ezra!" I call, checking her white cot
"Ezraaaaaa!" I whisper again, checking every little corner in my room. She's nowhere to be found. She just disappeared.
Ezra left me too.
I close my eyes, soothing my chest with my fingers as I try to stable my breathing.
"Hey, little cousin." The door yanks open. Ketura saunters in confidently "Seems like the town's dump is in this room." her mouth curls I'm disgust.
I clasp my knees shakily, holding them together "What do you want Ketura?" I ask
"Oh, I just want to see how my poor little cousin is doing..." Ketura smirks. I look away sadly.
"Okay now that you've seen her, can you please go?" I utter, fighting the tears that is brimming in my eyes
"Sure! Certainly! After all, I can't stay a minute longer in this dump. But do have this in your nonfunctional skull that Eros is mine, mates or not. And you'll do very well to stay clear off him... Do I make myself clear?!" She threatens
"Yeah." I nod in defeat. I felt too tired to argue, after all he rejected me for her.
He didn't want me.
"Good!" She smiles satisfactorily, reaching the door "I am glad you learnt your place on time, so I wouldn't have to waste my magic on you. Remember our last duel?" She giggle, slamming the door shut. Her laughter echoes.
"That wasn't a duel Ketura, you and grandmother just simply connived to burying me alive for twelve hours." I whisper to the wind.
"Meow." A subtle sound came. Ezra is gone already. It can't be her. She left too.
"Meow!" It came louder. I turn to see a severe burnt Ezra on the floor, struggling to breathe. "Ezra! Oh goddess!!!" I exclaim, rushing to her fearfully as I carried her "What happened to you?" Tears creases down my cheeks, my heart went out to her.
This can't be... No no no no no...
What do I do? What spells do I make? I pull my hair frustratedly. My heart was aching so bad. I am cursed.
Everything around me is unfortunate. I can't loose Ezra. Please goddess I can't loose Ezra.
Ezra lets out a subtle cough, trying to stand in my arms "Ezraaaa." I cry, feeling her tremble roughly. Suddenly her claws tug at my Kwauzuac neckpiece, ripping it open.
"Nooooooo." I gasp, leaving her to fall to the ground.
Swiftly she enters me. The hair on my neck stands still. The room goes dim, as the atmosphere becomes sizzling hot.
"Hermioneee." I hear whispers.
A red light suddenly breaks forth from my chest, crumpling me to the floor.
I black out.
"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.
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