Chapter Seven

I had the same nightmare again, but this one was intense. Worse than the first. That wolf eventually caught me and attacked me. I struggled and fought but it was too strong, it bit my leg… then I woke up panting and gasping.

It was just a bad dream Hermione. Just a bad dream.

I dragged myself out of bed, the minute my right leg joined the other on the floor I collapsed. My leg was throbbing with so much pain. It felt like the flesh around that area was bitten out, but when I looked down at my leg, it was fine. I couldn’t understand how this was possible. I was bitten in my dreams, not in reality… why was I feeling the effects of that attack?

This couldn’t be real… but then again, my body was harboring a wolf, so that shouldn’t be real either. Nothing in my life was making sense at this point and I did not understand how I was supposed to face all of this.

I dragged myself up and proceeded to limp to the bathroom. I had a difficult time bathing, however, I tried my best and got dressed.

I limped downstairs and slumped on a chair at the dinner table. Uncle Michael was there sipping a cup of coffee. He gave me a puzzled look, but I quickly blamed the awkward walk on falling off the bed.

How was I supposed to explain to him that the wolf I’ve been dreaming about bit me in my dreams and now I can feel the pain of that bite?

Aunt Courtney will finally find a good reason to get rid of me and send me straight to the psychiatric hospital.

Uncle Michael offered to make me a cup of coffee. Ken was hopping down the stairs with his phone in his hand frantically tapping the screen. He had an annoyed look contorting his face as he sat down next to me.

“Here you go.” Ken’s father placed the cup of coffee down on the table and I thanked him. His eyes lingered on my chest for two seconds and I looked down to see the black pendant he was staring at.

“You should keep that away before Courtney comes down.” He suggested and I nodded, shoving the cold stone inside my blouse.

Maybe the pendant reminded Aunt Courtney about someone. Maybe it was given to mom by my father that was why she hated it. There are many possibilities to this yet only one person has got all the answers. The one person that refuses to speak.

I finished my coffee and Ken followed me outside still glued to his phone. He unlocked his car and we got in, but he wouldn’t leave that phone. He proceeded to drive, making short glances at the screen of his device and making unfamiliar turns into streets we never passed yesterday.

“Um, Ken. Where are you going?” I asked him.

“School. Shortcut.” He mentioned, and took more odd turns until fifteen minutes later we were driving into the school.

I jumped out of the car however, Ken was still inside tapping his screen when someone shoved me against the car door.

“Oh, there she is. The pretty girl pretending to be Ken’s cousin.” A brunette with highlights said to me. Her super tiny miniskirt was enough to put me off. She dressed like the other two behind her and smelt expensive. I was getting daddy’s girl vibes from this one. Agh! Cheerleaders!

“Get your damn hands off me.” I shoved her back and she tumbled to her friends who caught her.

“How dare you! Do you know who I am? I will turn your whole life upside down if you do not apologize right now, Slut!”

“Do your worst.” Nothing she will do will be new to me anyway. Over the years, I’ve learnt that my mother will not always come to the rescue and I had to defend myself one way or the other.

“I know who you are. Your witch of a grandmother ruined my mother’s business after scamming her. Once my mother finds out that you are in this school, she will make sure you are thrown out.” The Barbie princess blabbed. “So you better leave while you still can.”

“Good luck to her.” I mentioned and she tried shoving me again, but I grabbed her hand and pushed her off.

“What the hell is going on!” Ken barked. He walked over to my side of the door and turned to the girl who then started fake crying.

Great! What a boring tactic.

“Ken, I didn’t do anything to her. She’s so wild and rough. Look at what she did to my hand.” She whined, dangling her thin arm in front of Ken.

Ken frowned at the arm. I frowned too because I couldn’t see what she was trying to show him.

“Bree. Could you please take your gang elsewhere?” Ken said in a calm tone.

“Oh, so you are supporting her?” Bree accused. “So it is true, isn’t it? You are screwing her.”

“Bree, leave.”

The Bree girl gave me a nasty last look before clicking her fingers and leading her minions away.

“You should be careful. Bree does not take defeat lightly. She will retaliate soon.” Ken warned. “Don’t keep your guard down.”

“It will not be the first time something like this is happening to me.” I adjusted my school bag on my shoulders and walked into the building.

Math, Literature and Physics. My first three subjects of the day, went by in a flash, although I wish I hadn’t taken the front seat for Literature because Mr. Gilbert spits while he talks. I guess that explains why the front rows are empty. Derrick on the other hand was helpful in making me laugh and worry less during Physics. He is quite funny and free spirited.

I was in the library again at lunch break when this Candice girl walked up to me.

“Wait, so you lied about being, Ken’s cousin?” I was not in for the gossip she was trying to milk out of me so I smiled and said.

“I did not lie about anything. I just simply did not respond to you yesterday. You were the one assuming things.” This should be fun. A little bit of confusion around the school should get the information jumbled up.

“Oh, so you are not Ken’s cousin?”

“Think whatever you want.” I picked a book on the shelf and limped my way to the first available desk I saw.

“Well, since you wish not to say. I think this post should interest you.” She said, showing me a post made about an hour ago on a page owned by MissAnonymous101.

The newest slut of Blue River High has graced our school with her revolting presence. How did the granddaughter of the infamous Mabel Hernandez, notorious for scamming, smuggling and destroying perfectly built families with her witchcraft, Hermione Anderson, manage to sneak pass the school’s security guards? Changing her surname will not erase the distinct resemblance to that horrid old lady. Guys and girls of Blue River High, we got a green snake in our midst. Beware! This one has got a knack for catching cute boys and calling them her cousins, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes…

This must be Barbie Princess’ doing. I am not surprised. I have seen this trick before. You let the crowd know that there is a potential danger then pull the strings in the background by giving your loyal followers tips and tricks on what to do.

The day is going perfectly well. First the limping now this drama.

“I don’t care.” I told Candice. That Bree girl can have an opinion about me. That was none of my concern. The only time I will react will be when she faces me directly. She can go ahead and keep her well brushed locks neat and clean for now, because when I decide to go rogue, I’ll pluck those highlighted strands, one by one.

“So you are Mabel Hernandez’s daughter?”

“Why? Did she ruin your family’s life as well? Probably bought a new pair of stilettoes with your university fund, hey?” I asked sarcastically.

 Just because I’m related to that woman, it does not mean I am her, or act just like her. I have only met the damn woman once in my life, and not even in a good light. She ruined my life too!

“No. Not really.”

“If Mabel did so much to so many people. Why hasn’t anyone tried to get her arrested?” I asked Candice.

“Well.” She said, adjusting herself on the seat opposite mine. “I heard that she has upgraded her strategies. She first investigates about the person before doing her stuff. She uses the information to blackmail her victims. If they do as she says, she lets them go. If they don’t she releases what she knows about them into the internet and moves on to the next.”

“No wonder.” I rolled my eyes.

I opened my book and Candice stood up and walked away. That weird feeling of somebody watching me caught my attention and I felt strange. He was here. I could feel him. My heart started running a marathon and I just couldn’t slow it down. Just like yesterday, I wanted to turn around but couldn’t. He was watching me and I could feel it. Something was so not right! No one knew but only I did, and I’m pretty sure he did too. How could I let someone control my movement so easily?

I eventually managed to turn around yet, he wasn’t where I thought he was. He was gone, like he wasn’t here at all.

Strange.

I headed back to class and met Derrick at his seat.

“So the lovely lady did not take my offer to spend lunch with me.” He sang.

“I had stuff to do Derrick. I apologize. Maybe next time.”

“Maybe tomorrow.” He said with a goofy smile.

“Maybe.” I dragged and he chuckled.

“Ok, then. I guess this means you do not need my help with finding out what happened to your mother.” He blurted and I froze.

He is the detective’s son after all so I was not too surprised that he found out why I was at the police station that day. I was just surprised that he said it.

“Wait, you can do that?” I asked for confirmation and he shrugged. I really need help and he was offering. Why would I refuse?

“My father won’t be home ‘til evening. We could check out his findings in his study room.” Derrick said and I smiled. This should be interesting.

The rest of the day went by blissfully… not. I had students give me the evil eye throughout the day and had someone dump black in my locker. All my text books were messed and I felt way too exhausted to investigate who it was. This was just the beginning of the damn week and my second day in school!

I walked out the school building and noticed a black car outside the school. It was that same black car I saw at the cemetery last night with the tinted black windows. I walked towards the car and it drove away just like it did last night. I will surely find out who it was!

“Ken, I’m going over to Derricks house, I’ll be back home on time.” I told Ken when he was about opening his car door.

“Derrick? Why? What for?” He inquired and I sighed.

“School project.” I decided to say and he gave me a skeptical look.

“Why can’t he just come over?” Ken suggested

“And have you interrogate him like this? Nope. We’ll pass.” I chuckled.

“Fine then, just call me if you need anything.” He said, and this time I laughed.

“With which phone?” I said, then walked away.

I jumped into Derricks silver Mercedes and he drove off.

“So, Hermione? Do you have any nicknames?” He asked me.

“Yes, I do. But only Ken is allowed to call me by my nickname.”

“Oh, come on. I promise not to call you by your nickname in public.” He placed his hand on his chest to indicate how sincere he was.

“That’s not the point.” I shook my head and my ponytail bounced with the movement.

“Fine then, I will give you a nickname instead.”

“No way!” I laughed. “I don’t want you calling me something weird.”

“Like Hermy? Or Erm? Nini? How about Nina?” He suggested, thoughtfully.

“I refuse all of them!” I chuckled and he smiled.

He made a turn, parked in a drive way of a two story house. The house was plain, but comfortable. Nothing like Ken’s house, but it still was posh, unlike the shack I lived in.

“Come on.” He led me inside. The interior was welcoming and neat. It had a feminine touch to it and smelt divine.

“You have a lovely home.” I commented.

“Thanks. My mother is an interior designer.” He said. I looked around and noticed the flowers and wallpaper all sectioned in the right places.

She really knew what she was doing.

“Can I get you anything?” Derrick offered and I shook my head. “Hermy, you are here for the first time. The least I could do is be a good host to you.”

“Ok, water will be fine.”

“Fruit juice coming right up.” He smiled.

“I said water.” I corrected.

“Cranberry flavor.” He voted and I face palmed myself.

I sat in the lounge and continued to admire the large space when he came back with cranberry juice. Oh dear!

I did not protest, I just sipped the sweet beverage and thanked him. He sat down next to me and smiled.

“What?” I asked him.

“Nothing. At least not yet.”

“Huh?”

“Let us get on with the research then.” He suggested, dismissing my confusion. He took the cup from my hand and placed it on the coffee table.

We entered his father’s study and there were mountains of yellow files all over the place. On the floor, on his desk, inside boxes, outside boxes, on the couch, and on the coffee table…

It was a mess. At least the only part of the house that was messy I hoped.

“Excuse the mess.” Derrick apologized while hopping over some of the files to get to the ones on his father’s desk.

“Your dad is quite the busy man.” I commented and he shrugged.

“Yeah, I hardly see him. Unless I’m sent by my mother to keep him company in his office when I give her a headache here at home.” He said, opening a file.

“I wonder who I will toss you at when you give me a headache.” I smiled and he gave me a quick glance. His been doing that very often today like he was somehow trying to spot a specific reaction.

“How many cases has he solved over the years?”

“Almost all of them. It should take him a couple of weeks. He will find who knocked your mother.” Derrick said.

He opened another file then dropped it back. “My father has lost some cases due to foul play, but he is good. Very experience… and annoying. But cool.”

Derrick opened another file and sighed. “Here it is.”

He handed me the file and I opened it to read. Everything in the file I already knew. I needed more information.

Suspect claimed to have seen a black car speed away after the incident.

Black car!

Could it be?

“Hermione?” Derrick called and I turned to him.

“Yes?”

“What is it?” He stood by my side and I looked back down at the statement.

“Suspect claimed to have seen a black car. I think I know which black car.” I said

“You do?”

“I think…” Sighed and sat on his father’s office chair. “There is this black car I saw yesterday, and then I saw it today as well at the school gate. Both times I’ve tried approaching the car, but the driver always drove off.”

“Did you tell anyone about this?” He asked and I shook my head. “There could be a link. “

“I need to find out.” I told him.

“Don’t tell me you want to approached the car.”

“It could be the only way.”

“Hermione. What makes you think that whoever is behind the steering wheel will not do to you the same thing they did to your mother.”

“I don’t. But what is holding them back?” I shrugged. “Look, Derrick. I need answers and if I have to do crazy stuff to get it, then I will.” I told him and he just gave me a weird look.

I did not care if he was judging me right now. He has both his parents so he does not know how it feels to be me. I cannot sit around and do nothing while the culprit or culprits are out there roaming around and going about their day. I have to stand up for myself.