The earth is round but to Hermione, it was just flat like a beam. Like a horror movie, it played out in her mind, her brain unable to let go of the memories with hopes of further dual analysis. To find out the answers to the whys and how's that roamed in her head. Each reminiscence slipped through her mind like sand in an hourglass. She pulled of the covers and sat up, stared blankly, at the vast room where she lay, wishing that the walls would open and encage her. Some pieces were hard to put together, as if her memory had been wiped. She ruffled through her greasy hair hoping to at least remember but nothing came up.
The darkness had become her adversary since that night. Her night mares were vivid, and she could see them play out in her vicinity. Once again, the monster who had robbed her of love and trust, and the possible light crawled at her toes, laughing sarcastically at her vulnerability and pain. She could feel the cold hands choke her and she couldn't breathe,she was suffocating.
Then at once, she got up from her bed,unlocked the door and rushed outside just in her pajamas. She ran hurriedly down the stairs, to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. The kitchen door suddenly creaked and someone got out. She stopped in her tracks, barely catching her breath and started to scream. Then in the prevailing moonlight, a familiar figure appeared. She was glad it was him. Jace. He switched on the dining room lights and signaled her to come and sit. She walked slowly, and sat in a chair besides him, her eyes still glaring at French doors at the extreme end of the room. They were ajar, to let in fresh air, then, she saw someone march through. She gawked, her h Jace's grimlook brought her back to veracity. Hewatched her with worry and then inquired.''Is everything okay, you look like you have lost your country"
Hermione just glared at him not sure what to say. "I think I just saw someone walk through that door" She mumbled while lifting her glass of water gently and placing it on her lips. She gulped and lay it down once again. She then turned to Jace who was simply toying with his wine glass. His head was bent and he looked so worked up.
''What about you, why are you here?" She sipped on her water again. Jace eyed at her lazily, his eyes drooping with sleep. He gently dubbed his eyes, ruffled through his hair, and got up to get a refill.
''Wine or water? "He asked while pouring wine in his glass. ''Nope, am all good "Hermione replied yawningly. She pulled back her chair and stood up to go.
''Stay, please, I can't sleep and it seems neither can you. Are you having those nightmares again? Hermione nodded. She pulled her chair and sat a, stared blankly at the wall paper.
''I can't seem to make sense of any missing pieces. Just tiny bits flash through my mind. I see him, and then I can't see him "She said worryingly. ''Just now, it's like I saw him walk through those open doors "she continued, her voice trembling. One thing Hermione was sure of was the fact that she was scared. Not just by any mortal man, but the shadows that braced the dark.
Two years ago, she had sprang awake in this same pent house only to find IV drips strapped in her hand. Her legs and arms were tedious to move, she could barely speak. When she fluttered her eyes open, she had seen people seriously arguing. It was abit loud and uncomfortable. One of them had claimed that she had to be taken to hospital, but the red head refuted and said''She looks like the one from the books. She's the ONE, am sure of it"
''Pearl, don't be delusional, she doesn't look like it'' The brown haired guy had said. From what I know, she had black hair, and ''...He dithered. ''We recited a parabatai oath when we were young, but I don't feel any connection with her'' He claimed .The other two stared at him inanely and then the black haired guy had said. "You said, felt sudden connection while in the woods, how do you explain that? Was it with the blonde or the black haired one?
''You too are losing it, fine keep her, am not fixing your mess when the council finds out about you keeping a mundane" He had responded, and stormed out. Hermione had been confused about everything. Perhaps, it was so noisy, she had wanted to sleep.
''Why is it so loud in here? 'She had mumbled, attracting the attention of the two, the red headed lady, and the black haired dude. They had stared at her in amazement, whereas she was confused. She recalled the red head lady asking her questions, which she never answered. Instead had she woken up again the next day, and found her IV straps gone, her bruises gone completely. Her body did not ache at all. She was just lying cozily in a room which was way bigger than her own room. The brown haired man sat beside her bed, watching her with sadness in his eyes. ''Are you feeling better? "His voice ringed in her again and again, but this time, it was the look in his face that drew her back to realism.
'��What are you thinking about? Jace asked her while gulping down the last bits of his wine. Oh sorry, I must have been lost in my thoughts again "she mumbled, while peeking at her nails. Too much was going on in her head. She had accustomed to asking about anything. But she did not prefer excessive interests that created fantasies. For two years she had settled for disinterest even though everything called unto her every single day.
'There are questions I have been wanting to ask" Hermione said abruptly .Sure, ask anything'' he replied blandly and he watched her expectantly waiting for her questions.
''What happened to me two years ago" Hermione asked swiftly, because it was the first thing that came to mind. ''After what happened in the woods, I can't make sense of anything. I remember waking up at a certain house with IV strapped in my arms, bandages allover but they were gone the next day''. Then I found this tattoo on my torso' 'she lifted the hem of her blouse and showed him her exposed skin .From the worried look on his face, she knew he knew something but was hiding it. ''That's a parabatai rune. Where did you get that?" He asked, his face hardened with a serious look. '' I don't know either. I never had it before'' Hermione replied calmly as she twisted in her chair.
''Wait, what you mean by Parabatai rune…?''Hermione peered at him questioningly but Jace suddenly stood up, pushed his chair backwards and turned to leave.
''Where are you going off too?" she asked hesitantly not sure if she was the reason as to why he had to leave so suddenly. He stopped, turned and grinned at her. ''Go get some rest, we are paying a visit to the council tomorrow' He patted her head and was long gone before she could ask who the council was.