Chapter Three

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.