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 someone who has no control over herself.I hastily cleaned my mouth "I really am sorry for this..." I stutter, holding my head to the floor at lost as to what to say.They share confusing glances "You feel embarrassed for eating your friends’ food?" It was Prince Ares."We actually waited for you to come first so we would know your preferences in eating and how much you eat, besides we both have behaved like this once or twice in our lives." Princess Athena says, giving Prince Ares a knowing look."Yeah, we really do not mind at all Hermione. We would want our fried to eat as much as she could, to her satisfaction." Prince Ares chips in, looking all concentrated."Really? You two don't mind at all... Like I'll understand if you both don't want me at your table, since I had messed up already" I say conflictinglyPrincess Athena shakes her head, pulling my palm into hers "It's okay, we really like your transparency with us...""Okay, thank you very much Princess Athena." I mutter slowly, unsure of whether to debunk her claim or leave it as it is, as even I myself is unsure of me acting in this manner again. I am very much confused as to what is happening to me."It's Athena for you, Hermione." She mumbles frowning slightly.My throat erupts with laughter "I'll try princess Athena, sorry Athena...""Hermione, Here you are!" Glinda voice swiftly interrupts as she makes her way to the table."Your royal highness." She greets, bowing to them. "Can you let Hermione come with me?" She asks with tremor in her voice."Sure, but if you don't mind we will like to have you both here." Princess Athena answersHer eyes pop out in shock "For real? Like I can sit with you and Prince Ares on the royal table?!" "Yeah sure, why not?" Prince Ares ask, lifting an eyebrow. He gestures to one of the escort to go bring an additional chair. He returns on time, even though the chair shade is from a close by table and of a different quality from the ones the Prince, Princess and I were sitting on.Glinda squeals happily "Yaaaay! Thank you so much your majesty, I feel deeply honored!" She plops her buttocks on the chair fleetly."Would you care for something extra?" The princess ask, looking at Glinda's food tray."Sure!" She says too excitedlyGood. Just perfect… Now the prince and princess will term us as gluttonous friends._I drop my bag at a corner of the bed, peeling the jacket off me, I flop on the bed with a resigned sigh. How can the royal twins be so playful?My lips break into a smile, on remembering when Princess Athena first sprinkled some wine on the prince's face; who in turn emptied the whole jug of wine on Athena's hair. In a twinkle of an eye, someone poured something on me. Glinda and I soon joined as it became a messy food fight in the cafeteria.A loud knock interrupts my thought, Grandmother strolls in angrily.Whoops. I resist the urge to roll my eyes."You piece of shit! How dare you?!... Your sister is lying helpless in the Coven's clinic because of what you did to her, and you're here nonchalant and smiling!!!" I ignore her as I stare at the ball of fire displaying interestingly at the tip of my fingers.It seemed like I had no control over my body. A force more powerful within, is willing me to do the things I do."You have suddenly gone mad Hermione! Do you hear me?! You have gone suddenly mad! How can you not care at all! Right this minute, you will go over to the clinic and repair whatever damage you did to her skin..." She rants on and on"Hmmm so sparkling and beautiful..." I whisper, twirling the fire excitedly with my fingers."Are you even listening to me at all, Hermione!" Grandmother hollers, reaching to touch my shoulders.I screech suddenly, jumping on the bed "Do not touch me grandmother!" I spit out"Oh, now you suddenly remember that Ketura and I are sisters huh?!... Leading us into unhealthy competitions. The hell I would go to see her!"Her face turns an ugly shade of red "You should watch the way you speak to me young lady! Just ‘cause you did a little magic in class and everyone is singing praise of your prowess even in the staff hall, doesn't mean you can disrespect me or hurt Ketura! Tell you what, as you both's grandmother; I will not be humiliated as such!" She hollers"Okay." I snarl, lying on the bed and crossing my legs.If you can grandmother, come do your worst.She leaves the room abruptly, slamming the door loudly on her way out. I let out a wicked grin. Oh geez! What is wrong with me? How could I have disrespected grandmother like that, and worse not feel bad for hurting Ketura.This is not me!... I hurry to mirror to look at my reflection."Is my hair getting more shiny and curlier?" I mutter, staring at my wavy red hair as I ruffle it. My cheekbone looks well sculpted, my hazy eyes even more brightful, my lips, hands, curves..."What is really happening to me?" I shakily retreat from my reflection. "Can anybody, anyone answer me?" A low powerful voice came "One. We are one."My eyes rapidly went to the ceiling, the window; only cool swirling of the wind was surging through "Hermioneee." The faint voice comes again."Who are you?" I ask fearfully"Part of you..." It answers, I instantly felt goosebumps all over my body."Part of me, but... how?" I stutter"The moon goddess ordained us to be of help to you. She has destined you for great things, but your adversaries are surplus like the sands that covers the earth...you can't trust anyone until I tell you to." It tells me confusingly"I am so confused... I don't even know your name. How did you get inside of me? What do you do? How can you help me? Was that you in the classroom today? Look, I never asked for any of this, I am in dire need of answers.""My new name is Ezli, and you will get your answers soon. Now, all you need to do is sleep for tomorrow is a long day. . ." It says. I suddenly felt dizzy, my legs slowly carrying me to the bed.My eyes snaps shut."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
"Gracious goddess!" I pant, clasping my palm over my chest cautiously."Mate... Mate... Mate... Why did you leave him Hermione? You shouldn't have left!" Ezli whines unhappily on our return from the royal ball."What would you have had me do? Grandmother, Ketura, Glinda and practically everybody that I know are in the palace! What should I have done?!" "You should have just stayed a little longer with our mate... Besides nobody could have recognized you!" Ezli whines again"Now that's not a chance I am willing to take. Ketura, Glinda or even grandmother on a closer glance would have recognized me right away... But why do you keep saying mate Ezli? ...right there in the ballroom, it was you, you called that stranger our mate Ezli. But why? A person can't have two mates, or can they? Was my grandmother true when she said I was principal Eldor's second mate?" I ask intensely, my emotions all jumbling up."You need to breath Hermione, breath..." Ezli says soothingly. I take in a deep bre
" ...Awwn poor Hermione, all left bored and alone." Ketura mocks, on seeing me lie on the bed "We had so much fun at the palace! Can you believe, I even danced with the crowned Prince Helios?!" She squeals, earning a prideful look from Grandmother who stood beside her."The palace? Fun? I don't understand..." I ask, faking ignorance"Yes, Hermione. A Royal ball was organized specially at the palace for the youths, and that is because the crowned prince is of the opinion that his fated mate is from this kingdom." Ketura grins at me"Wow! and nobody deemed it fit to tell me?" I ask, playing alongGrandmother chuckles loudly "Why? For what use dear? The palace isn't looking for your kind.""Yeah, and you really missed out. Besides you already got yourself a mate and that is Eros Anathos. Whoops! but I have him wrapped around my finger..." She jeers making to leave, when she halt abruptly, taking a look at me. She whispers "And guess what little Cousin? We made love for the first time to