Chapter Two

"Wait! What?!... Today is my birthday?" I ask gobsmack. Glinda nods excitedly, On the cake was: Happy 16th Birthday, Hermione.

I shake my head in disbelief, inhaling deeply "Today is the seventh day of the seventh moon?" I ask. Glinda nods again.

"Oh gracious goddess! Today is my birthday!?! ...I totally forgot!" I exclaim excitedly

"Yeah, I knew you would Hermione..." She says with a smile. The Elfs and Fairies circled our table, and began singing a birthday song. I felt deep warmth. 

"Thank you so much everyone..." I say to them as they sing on

"Thank you too Best friend." I mouth to Glinda, as I swirl the song. Needless to say, that Elfs and Fairies are the life of a party. They love parties and celebration to a fault.

Ketura and her minion-witches stared on five seats away, with contempt. I happily pull Glinda to my imaginary dance floor and soon, everyone was dancing.

"What is going on here?!!!" Principal Eldor thunders abruptly, making everyone to scamper for safety, save Glinda and I.

"Uhmmm... We were just celebrating her birthday..." Glinda stutters

"Whose birthday?!" Principal Eldor' ask angrily

"Hers, Hermione's birthday." She says, pointing to me.

"Oh, Hermione's birthday?!" Principal Eldor's demeanor change instantly to a smile.

"Yes." Glinda shoulders relaxed on its accord.

"Hermione... Happy Birthday!" Principal Eldor tells me. 

I simply let out a flat smile "Thank you, sir." I retort

"Oh, my my...why didn't you tell me, I would've gotten you a birthday present." Principal Eldor says, patting his long beard.

I mentally roll my eyes "Not to worry sir, Glinda already got me a gift." I say pointing to the cake.

"Nonsense! still meet after closing hour... I'd like to give you a little something." He winks at me.

Pig.

"Alright everyone, hurry up and get going!" Principal Eldor hollers to the crowd. They murmur grudgingly.

"What just happened?" Glinda asks, as we make our way to the class "... Like Principal Eldor just went from all angry to all smiling, is there something you're not telling me Hermione?" She asks

"Nope, nothing at all." I say, avoiding her eyes "He was just in a good mood, l guess..." 

"Hmmm, If you say so. So, would you be going to his office later to get the gift he told you to come for?" Glinda asks

"No!" I retort too sharply, Glinda raises her eyebrow questioningly "Why not? If there's..."

"Did I just say No?" I chip in, faking a laugh "I actually meant Yes. Yes." I affirm

Glinda stare on, unconvinced "Hermione...." 

"I need to use the restroom Glinda, see you in the classroom later." I say hurriedly, scampering for safety.

Phew! I sigh, pushing the restroom door open. Glinda stands in front of me with a sly smirk. "Ahhhhhhhhhh" I let out a shrilling scream. "Oh goddess!!!!!!"

Glinda burst into laughter "You seem to be forgetting who your best friend is."

"Geez! Don't you ever do that again." I say, smacking her arm

"Ouch! Such evil woman!" She whines, rubbing her arm

"You are!" I say

"No, you are." she says

"No, you are!" I tell her

"I am a good witch!"

"I am the good witch!!" We batter at each other, before cracking up again.

"...My stomach hurts so bad" I laugh, holding my stomach "You are so exceptional at witchery Glinda, I wish I can do half the things you do..."

"Maybe..." Glinda pouts, leaning closer to touch the Kwazuac neckpiece on my neck "You just might, do better with this thing off."

I shake my head vehemently "No, I think not! How can you even suggest that!"

"Okay! Fine!... you just might never know." She exclaims, dropping her hands in defeat. "So, do you mind telling me what is going on? You and Principal Eldor??" She asks with her arms akimbo.

"No." I retort, shaking my head again.

"No, again!?" Glinda hollers frustratingly

I shake my head insistingly, avoiding her eyes. Just how do I tell her that after Principal Late wife's demise, I am being constantly reminded by grandmother that I am his second chance mate.

Aren't mates supposed to feel sparks, a pull or butterflies in the stomach? How come I feel nothing?

"Maybe some other time." I say to Glinda, who stared at me intently.

She heaves a sigh "...I possibly do not know what is going on in your head or what is going on with you right now, but just know that, I'll be here... whenever you need me." Glinda says, crossing her chest.

"...and so will I." I promise, hugging her tightly for the second time today.

"So, tell me aren't you excited?!" Glinda tries changing the subject, as I pull the restroom door close.

"What?" I turn to her

"Aren't you excited? You are officially sixteen for goddess sake." She says

"Oh...yeah." I say, still not getting it.

"...You just might meet your mate today! some witches are fortunate to meet their mate at age sixteen. You might just be one of the fortunate ones." Glinda winks, doing the flappy dance.

I giggle "Nopeeee, I'll rather be single till after high school. Right now, I just cannot wait to get admitted into Showek's College!" I say excitedly

Glinda let out a chuckle "Tsk. You? Maybe and maybe not. You know you have to prove yourself before the panel of the great lords before you are accepted into Showek's College. Besides they let in only fifty students, once in three years."

"Tsk. Tsk. I know I'll be chosen, I believe so." I declare passionately

"Okay, if you say so...I did hear that extremely hot guys are in Showek's college, and I just might meet my mate there!" Glinda says excitedly

"Yeah." I chip in half-heartedly

"...Or maybe, just maybe, the heir to the throne; Prince Helios may even be my destined mate." Glinda purrs dreamily

"Nope. That is not a possibility, wake up Glinda! A witch cannot be mates to a Lycan." I tell her

"Well… you know, there's nothing that can't happen if the moon goddess so please to do... You really need to see him Hermione, he is so surreal… So out of this world, I feel like climbing all over him, eating him raw and never letting go." Glinda fantasizes, clutching her chest tightly "Ewwww! Glinda!" I shake her out of the reverie "This is reality Glinda! You really should not attend any more balls at the royal palace, cause I be the one to get it every single time." I say exasperatedly

"Come on Hermione, you are so missing out... and the balls are so..." She starts to fantasize again

"No .no .no." I clasp my ears, increasing my pace.

"Come back here Hermione!" Glinda giggles "Fate will tell!!" She hollers.

We saunter into the classroom to see our mates chatting happily, Mr Tilbu wasn't in. Plants, spiders and chicken poops were flying in the air. Eros Anathos, the future lord of the black cat coven is in lips-lock, shoving his tongue down the throat of Ketura. My cousin.

I made to roll my eyes as usual, everyone knows they aren't mates and haven't met their mates yet and are just playing around... I suddenly feel a spark of electricity surge through my fingers.

"I wonder if he's digging for a treasure or something." Glinda whispers, laughing hard. 

Getting no comeback, her eyes furrowed worryingly at me "Are you okay?" She ask "I feel so uneasy, Glinda." I tell her shakily, finding an empty seat behind Eros and Ketura.

"Please! Everyone Settle down!" Mr Tilbu walks into the class abruptly. 

The noise dies down.

Ketura stealthily adjusts her skimpy skirt from Eros laps, blows him a kiss and did a catwalk to her seat. "Today being the full moon ritual, I am going to be teaching you the diverse ways of drawing powers from the moon..." Mr Tilbu's voice fades away.

Everything seemed blurry. A force of electricity envelopes me, making me muffle a scream. It cascades swiftly from my hair, shoulders, arms. I feel it reaching for my fingers and pulling me towards Eros.

Eros?

Eros Anathos? No no no no...

He can't be my mate. Can he?

Eros turns to stare at me, his eyes flickering in shock.

"Follow me." he says hoarsely

I stand to follow him, clasping tight my trembling palms.

"Mr Tilbu, we will be back shortly." He tells the teacher, who simply nods in respect. We walk to an empty building, close to the school field.

"What's your full name, Hermione?" He asks, tearing his beautiful eyes from me.

He knows my name.

My lips part in awe as the sun glints on his golden hair, such chiseled face. Perfection.

"Hermione... Hermione, Circe Crofus." I utter slowly, staring at my feet.

"Hermione Circe Crofus, I am sorry but I can't have you as my mate. I need someone beautiful and strong like your cousin Ketura Crofus…" Each word pierces through my heart like double edged sword. I whimper as tears brim my eyelids.

Doesn't my mate care a little about how I'll feel?

"On this note..." He utters, raising his hand up to the sky. A knife appears in his hand.

"No! Wait ...." I beg fearfully for what he is about do, my heart beating rapidly "Pleaseeee." I cry. He ignores me, slitting his palm as he touch my temple "I, Eros Nathaniel Anathos, future Lord of the Black Cat Coven, reject you, Hermione Circe Crofus as my mate and future lady of my coven."

A powerful force suddenly lifts me from the ground and throws me hardly to a wall.  Black dots covers my vision... the last thing I heard was his retreating steps.