Chapter five

(The Witch Sisters)

Hermione noticed a new car she had not seen in the garage parked outside, right in front of the magnificent house.

She pointed this out to Ruke.

“Must be the witches“ he replied, and when Hermione raised her eyebrows he added, “old family friends, their mother was a Japanese witch and their father a Lycan."

“They got the witch gene?” Hermione asked, seemingly interested.

“They have heightened hearing and are stronger than the average human.

But they’re incapable of turning because their witch side is more dominant, their dad had a fit and almost killed the girls.

Luckily, our parents rescued them and their mother. She died a few years ago.

“It must be hard for them to lose their only family", Hermione added, looking sad.

“Oh don’t worry, they are badass witches,” Ruke added, smiling.

"They can take care of themselves alright".

“Yeah, I guess so” she added as they got out of the car.

They walked in and were greeted by an ear-shattering scream.

Two beautiful women were running towards ruke with smiles on their faces.

One was a little taller than the other and had grey eyes and a matching grey streak in her dark black hair which ran down to her waist in soft waves.

The smaller one had blue eyes and an oval face.

She had an innocent look and looked like a china doll.

They had distinctive features but still managed to look identical. One would know they were sisters.

Ruke was hugged by the two smiling sisters, who released him and turned to Hermione.

“I’m Violet and this is my sister Lang Lang,” the taller one said to Hermione with her hand outstretched.

Hermione took the waiting hand in hers.” I’m Hermione,“ she replied.

“You must be a witch then?” she added, a broad grin spreading to her face.

“If I hadn’t been told I must admit that I would have taken you for schoolgirls, you don’t look like witches one bit.

I was expecting weird hairstyles and a steely attitude," she finished, looking amused.

“Well, we like to surprise“ replied Lang Lang in a surprisingly confident tone.

“I’ve been forgotten already,“ Ruke added, looking hurt.

“Oh come on Ruke, you’re more than good-looking, but this here lady is different.

Her beauty reminds me of power, ethereal and immortal," Lang Lang added, looking closely at Hermione, then something clicked in her head and she gasped.

Her eyes wide open, she turned to Ruke "She’s not a cat-shifter is she?"

“Yes." Ruke answered, dreading her reply.

Lang lang was not the only one acting strangely now.

When Ruke had affirmed what Hermione was, Violet let out a little scream, took both Ruke and Hermione’s hands, and dragged them to the study.

She pushed them to a seat and conjured a book out of thin air.

She looked at Hermione and said, sadly, “I’m sorry Ruke.

But.. Your mate was born for a purpose."

Standing up, she walked around the room looking agitated. "I told you you’d find your mate."

I didn’t know this was what to expect.

"Two hundred years ago, a lycan of royal descent and a cat shifter were mated.

The Lycans were not happy as they wanted the royal line to remain fresh.

The cat shifter named Diana had a witch father.

It was said that he sought power over many supernatural beings and was most delighted with the mate bond between his daughter and the Lycan, but unfortunately, war broke out between the two species, and Diana was killed.

Her father was so vengeful that he swore revenge on all the Lycans and he promised to bring his daughter who, like him, was blinded by power, back to life, more dreadful and powerful.

The poor Lycan, maddened by grief over the loss of his mate, committed suicide and joined her in death” Violet let out a breath and Lang Lang took up the narration.

“You must have heard the story, Ruke” and Ruke nodded.

“It was just a tale,” he said, looking upset.

“No, it isn’t," Violet added, a sad smile on her face.

"I hate to break it to you, but Violet leaves the much nastier stuff for me.

The books which recorded this event gave a vivid description of how this Diana looked,” and turning to Hermione she said, "exactly like her, the only difference being the eyes".

According to the books, Diana’s eyes were dark.

“So what you’re telling me, is that I’m a reincarnation of someone long dead?” Hermione asked, looking offended.

“Not exactly a reincarnation. I’d say you are going to be used as a host or something, cos you’re different from her, your heart is kinder”, Lang Lang replied, looking thoughtful.

"Or do you have dreams of a past life or something?"

“None that I can think of,” Hermione said.

Withholding the dream she had in her kitchen and not knowing why.

“We have to let the council know about this,” Ruke said, looking at Hermione.

He didn’t know how she was taking the news.

He was exasperated, angry, and resentful towards the moon goddess.

All she did was complicate things. It wasn’t enough.

She was a cat shifter. She had to equally be a host for some unhinged spirit and a vengeful madman.

“Excuse me please," Hermione got up slowly from her seat and headed for the stairs.

In she was in Ruke’s room. She needed space to process the ghastly revelation, she was so tired.

First, her mother had left and now she was going to lose her mate because of some stupid reincarnation bullshit.

At that moment she knew that there was going to be another war, it was coming and she wasn’t going to waste the time she had with her mate brooding.

She stood up and made for the door.

Her hands were inches from the doorknob when it was opened from the outside and Ruke walked in, his hair wet. “I used Raphael’s bathroom, figured you needed space.

He carried the traveling bag holding her clothes to his closet and turned towards her.

“I know this is a lot to take in, but I want you to know that I won’t let anything happen to you."

Ruke had a fierce look on his beautiful face that betrayed his emotions.

Hermione wanted to run to him, she wanted to run her hands through his hair, but instead she smiled at him and walked to the window.

“I’ve always wanted a family, you know," Hermione said quietly.

“My family is not something you call stable. My mum left when I was seven, daddy...” And she suddenly broke down, tears splashing down her front.

"Daddy died two years back, he was the only family I had left," she quivered as tears continued to flow.

Ruke was caught off guard, he felt really confused, and throwing caution to the wind, he pulled her to him and patted her gently on the back.

Hermione’s sobs intensified and she sniffed at his shirt, crying her heart out.

She looked up after several long seconds passed.

Ruke looked down into her upturned face. “It’s alright,“ he said reassuringly.

“You have me now".

“Really?” Hermione said through her hiccups.

Ruke nodded affirmatively, he didn’t know why his heart was suddenly doing a backflip and he was aware of the tingles running up his arm where he held her.