Chapter 11
"Finding the Truth"
Jared winced after the girl that Paul brought at Sam's house slammed the door rather loudly.
"Jeez how many girls will walk out of this house today because of Paul?"
"Paul is being stupid!"
He heard Quil say at the same time Embry exclaimed, but honestly he can't blame them at all. Hermione left not a moment ago and soon followed by that girl.
"I'll talk to Paul" Jared didn't wait for their reply he already walked out towards the back door where Paul went when the girl that he brought left.
Jared shook his head out of frustration when he saw Paul sitting at a broken tree and he didn't need an explanation to know what happened.
"Your being a big prat, Paul."
"Leave me alone Jared!"
Instead of listening to his best friend he calmly sat beside him not caring for his dark aura.
"Why did you do that Paul? You been waiting for her and if not for Sam's order you might never leave the beach again until she came."
"Why do you care! You hate her, remember!"
Jared chuckle and looked at his best friend, for everyone else Paul is nothing but a hot tempered guy but he is more than that. His mother died when Paul was born and his father blamed him for that. Even as a young kid no one taught Paul what love is and the meaning of it. His father abused him physically and emotionally and his bad temper is just his defense mechanism to guard the bitterness in his life.
Jared found out about it accidentally when he visited Paul when he didn't show up at their school for two days, and when he found his battered body in their living room Paul had no choice but to tell him everything after he brought him to his house. When Paul's dad died it was probably the best thing that happened for his best friend, though the wounds from the past leaves a scar in Paul's heart.
"I don't hate her Paul, maybe I'm just a little bit wary of her presence or rather I'm a bit wary on how you reacted with her. It's like you're whole world is suddenly all about her and every time she vanishes it's like…you have lost it."
Paul remains immobile while looking at the ground heatedly. "It's the imprint!"
"Yup imprinting, when I first saw Kim, I blamed all my feelings and actions to that, but then it would be a lie if I say that I will not love her even without the imprint. You see, to everyone's imprinting is just a magnetic attraction that forces you to your perfect partner but for us wolves that are already imprinted, it is our guide to the right one."
Paul sighed loudly. "I don't understand what you are trying to say."
Jared smiled and looked at Paul. "Just answer this question; do you think even without the imprint you would still love Hermione?"
"Of course!" Paul said automatically and he knew that he answered Jared truthfully. He loves her more than anything whether he is a wolf or not. She is his soul mate, his missing other half and his reason for everything. He waited for her at the beach, and as time passed by and when she didn't show up he couldn't help but feel the bitterness, of course she would not show up, even though she already said that she will try.
How can she love him, his own father didn't even love him,
So he tried to go back to the way he was before, cold, man whore, and bad temper. He brought that girl whatever her name is to Sam's house to show to his pack brothers that he can fight the imprint that he can live without it but when he saw her, he knew that he could never look at any girl without seeing her in them.
God, having her that near to him made him know that he already forgive her, but he is an ass, he wanted to cover up the pain and the only way he can do that is to act that way towards her.
Oh! God! When he said those words and he saw the hurt in her face he wanted to take back everything he said. He wanted to erase every bit of pain that she must have felt because of him! And before his cover was totally blown up in his face he turned his back on her, God! He turned his back on Hermione and he felt so awful.
"Then why are you giving up on her?"
At Jared question Paul suddenly look at his friend. Giving up? Everybody said that it will make everything easy; that it will not prolong the agony but why is that, just thinking of doing that brought a familiar pain in his heart…No! He could never give her up! He is stupid for even thinking that he can forget her, how can he forget her if she is already embedded into the deepest part of his heart and soul.
"I'm not giving up on her! NO! I will never give her up!" Paul stood up. He is such a fool how can he do that to her! He needs to find her! Even if he has to beg for her forgiveness he will do that just for her to forgive him.
"Where are you going?" Jared asked when Paul started to walk away.
"I am going to find Hermione." Paul answered not even casting a single glance at him.
"Paul wait!"
Paul stops and looked at his best friend irritated. "What Jared! can't you see I'm in a hurry?"
"It's about Hermione."
When he heard his imprints name Paul took big steps towards his best friend. "Why what's wrong with her?" He asked a little bit in panic.
Jared look at Paul it seems that he didn't notice Hermione's state. "You didn't even notice it did you?"
Paul grinds his teeth out of anger, why can't Jared just tell him what this was about instead of beating around the bush. "Just say it Jared!"
Jared sighed. "Paul she looks ill."
"W-what?" Paul took a step back. She looks ill? How did he miss that? Of course he is being an **! How can he not miss it!
"Paul.." Jared tried to touch Paul's shoulder but he failed when Paul turned his back again and started to run and phase into a wolf. "Darn it!" Jared phase too in order to catch up with Paul.
"Paul, will you calm down!"
"I need to find her; I need to find her..I need to find her…""Paul!""What Jared! What!"
Jared sighed inwardly while running as fast as he can beside Paul. "Do you even know where to find her?"
Paul looks at him sharply. "If I need to search the entire world I will do it!""Paul!""Jared!"
The two wolves stop when they heard Embry's panicked voice but what they saw in his mind was incompressible. There was a girl not far from Embry's wolf form position. She looks like the same age as Hermione, she had straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows, but what attracted their attention was the dark light and fog that surrounded her however what blew their minds away when they noticed that she was floating.
"What the heck!" he heard Paul exclaim and if he was not still in a shock state he might have cursed too.
"You better come here, this girl is not ordinary!"
"We can see that Embry!"
"Shut up! Jared, this girl is dangerous she managed to hurt Quil when he tried to step near her, and she didn't even do anything."
From Embry's mind they saw how Quil's wolf form had cuts all over his body when he tried to take a step forward towards the girl.
"How is Quil?" Jared exclaimed while Paul and him were running towards Embry's.
"Jacob already called the Cullen's."
Paul cursed inwardly, if they are calling the Cullen's then the situation is worst that he expected.
Hermione POV
Hermione had apparated back to the familiar house that belonged to the Cullen's. I don't know what I look like but they all looked at me worriedly especially Rosalie who immediately came to my side.
"What's wrong Hermione?"
I was shocked to find out that I was indeed crying but Merlin! It hurts so much. I really wanted to say I'm okay, but I was not because no matter how much I wanted to stop my tears they just kept on flowing. I bow my head in an attempt to hide my tears.
"Hermione..." I heard concern in Rosalie's voice but I still didn't say anything, my heart's breaking because I know that I deserve Paul's hostility but it doesn't lessen the pain.
Then I felt Rosalie's arms around me, making me sob uncontrollably. "R-Rosalie, it h-hurts a lot… My c-chest is hurting so m-much ."
I felt Rosalie's hugs tighten but not to the point that it can hurt me, and into her arms I cried everything. I cried the pain of rejection; I cried that pain knowing that I deserve it.
After a while my tears lessen and my sobs slowly subside. "S-sorry if I ruined your blouse." I said feeling embarrassed for breaking down like that.
Rosalie smiled softly at me. "It's alright, I told you I'll take care of you and your friend."
I tried to open my mouth to say something but a loud boom coming from Luna's room stopped me. I apparated immediately to Luna's room but when arrived , I found it almost destroyed and Luna's missing I can't help the fear that suddenly grasped my heart.
After a while I felt the Cullen's presence besides me.
"What the hell happened here?"
I heard Emmett exclaim but my sole focus was to find Luna. Where could she be? My mind is racing while thinking of every possible scenario that involves Luna. Luna's magic is still very unstable and if it activated again it will be very detrimental not only for her but also those that surround her.
"We will find her Hermione." I heard Carlisle say, I only nodded. I tried to use my magic in tracing Luna but for some reason I can only trace darkness and even her coin doesn't work and it scared her more.
Then for the second time they heard a loud noise but this time it was coming from the front door of the Cullen's. If she was not too worried about Luna's well being her eyes might have widen when she saw Jacob standing at the living room looking as frantic as he can.
"Jacob."
Jacob looked at Bella who called him but his attention was caught by the girl that standing besides the blond vampire. "Hermione?"
"What's wrong Jacob?" Edward asked trying to divert Jacob's attention away from Hermione.
Upon hearing that question, Jacob suddenly remembered his reason of coming there.
"We need your help."
The Cullen's frowned at that, even though they reached a mutual agreement between the wolves there was still a silent hostility between them and hearing them asking for their help; they can't help but be more worried that ever.
"What's wrong?" Esmee asked while grasping her husband's arm for support. Their problem with the Volturi has been solved what could be the problem this time?
"Some blonde girl is creating havoc in the boundary of La Push and Forks."
That caught her attention, "blonde girl! Where is she?" she asked frantically, an idea who the girl be might forming in her mind.
Jacob looks at Hermione again with a deep frown on his forehead. He doesn't know why she is here but what confused him more was the fact that the blond vampire had a very protective look towards her. Now he finally has an idea why he suddenly didn't have any competition to Renesmee's not that he is complaining. It seems that the mystery that Paul's imprint held get much more mysterious than ever. He is so sure that Paul will flip out if he found out who was getting close to his imprint.
Jacob wanted to ask questions regarding this girl but he knows that now is not the right time.
Hermione's heart is beating frantically due to the extreme fear; it felt as if she is back at the war again while fearing for her friends life, she closed her eyes when she could no longer take the gush of wind that passed by her eyes while she is riding on Rosalie's back. They are now following Jacob who is leading them. She knows that there is a big chance that she might encounter Paul again but what's more important now is Luna.
When they stopped and Rosalie let her down she heard the collective gasp of the Cullen's and she can't really blame them. Just like what she expected there is Luna, floating in the middle of the forest while surrounded by the wolves, who were growling furiously amongst them was Paul's wolf form.
She can clearly see the dark aura that almost covered Luna and it is not a good sign because it only means that Luna's magic has finally took over, but what made her stop in her tracks was when she saw a sandy coloured wolf that seems to be howling in pain while looking at Luna helplessly.
Paul immediately stopped growling when he saw the Cullen's had finally arrived but when he saw who was with them he started growling again.
"Paul focus!"
"Why is she with those blood suckers?" He growled again not caring about Sam's alpha order his sole focus was on his imprint that was looking at the strange blonde who turned out to be Seth's imprint.
"Paul we don't know okay, but we need to solve this mess first!"
Paul growled again knowing that Jared has a point but he still shot his imprint a guarded look if these vampires did something to Hermione, allied or not he will kill them.
Edward eyes widened when he read Paul's thought. "You are Paul's imprint?" he can't help but ask Hermione who only shrugged her shoulder at him.
"Edward shut up; this is not the right time!" Rosalie growled at him, lately Rosalie took the role of Hermione's protector.
"Hermione what is happening?"
Hermione look at the worried face of Emmett then she looked at her friend again. "It's her magic; Luna is being controlled by her magic."
"Then put her to sleep again just like you did before."
Hermione shakes her head at Alice. "It won't work, what happened before is nothing compared to this."
"But you can help her, right?"
Hermione looked at Seth who phased back to his human form and if they were not in serious situation she might have blushed at his nudity. "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know!"
She looked at Paul's wolf form when he released a warning growl at Seth; suddenly she realized why Seth was acting like this. "You imprinted on her." When Seth didn't answer her it only confirmed her suspicion.
Then suddenly she felt it, strong magic coming from Luna and before she knows it cutting spells are flying everywhere and if she isn't quick enough it might catch her in a vital area but she was not quick enough to avoid everything.
It takes all Hermione's will to suppressed her hiss of pain when she felt the sharp pain and when she looked at her left arm she was not surprised seeing a large wound with blood pouring out of it.
"Hermione!"
She looked at the source of the voice only to find Paul looking at her in his human form at the other side with concern and…fear? And guess what he is naked too. "I'm fine." She whispered but she knew with their hearing ability they heard her loud and clear.
"We need to do something before she destroys the whole of Forks and La Push!" She can hear the fear in their voices and honestly her fear might be greater than theirs, for Merlin sake this is her friend.
"Hermione?"
She looked at Rosalie to find her looking towards her, if she had the answer. "The only way to stop this…is to kill her."
And before her eyes she saw Seth transform and pounce on her, at her peripheral vision she saw Paul phase too , to help her but he is too far, he will not make it before Seth would kill her.
"Hermione!"
"Seth!"
She didn't want to reveal her secret this way but the situation didn't leave her any choice. So with a very calm expression she raised her right hand towards Seth and casted a stunning spell. And with a single word she managed to throw Seth at the tree that broke instantly due to the impact.
Everyone fell into silence while simultaneously looking at Hermione's expressionless form to Seth who is now in human form and looking at the girl with wide eyes.
"You're hot temper will kill you someday!" Hermione said with so much venom that made everyone flinch.
"I will not let you kill her!"
Hermione felt her blood boil, how dare he to think that she will be able to hurt Luna. "You fool! I will not kill her!"
"But you said-"
"I know what I said! And I'm not lying about that!"
"Then-"
"She is my friend…" Hermione looked at Seth with a soft gaze that made the young wolf blink. Hermione returned her gaze to Luna who was floating in the air and still oblivious to the situation. "I will save her, even if it means my death in the end."
Before anyone can comprehend her words she started to walk at Luna not minding the cutting spell that penetrates her skin continuously nor the voices of protest coming from the others. She will save Luna and this time she will succeed.
When she saw Paul who was in his human form again trying to run towards her she raised her hand and casted a shield around her and Luna making the others unable to pass without her permission.
She looks at Paul; he looks so heartbroken and frustrated while he was kept on trying to break the invisible barrier. When she looked at him and their eyes met she can see the tears that was slowly forming in his eyes, she stopped and looked at him with a very sad smile, and he stopped bumping at the barrier to look at her with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry."
Paul shook his head at her. "Don't be, I'm an ass."
Hermione smiled at that. "Yes you are."
"I'm sorry." Now Paul's tears was flowing from his eyes.
"No Paul, I'm sorry because I will hurt you again."
"No!" she heard the horror in his voice when he realized the implication of her words while he continued again to break the barrier now with the help of his brothers and the Cullen's.
"Luna it's me, Hermione." Luna didn't even show any sign, she heard her, taking a deep breath she continued walking towards her and Merlin this cutting spell really hurts like hell. And right now she hates whoever invented this spell more than anyone.
"Luna please wake up, it's me Hermione." Hermione can't her scream when she was suddenly thrown away making her body bounce on the barrier when she hit it.
"Hermione!"
Hermione groaned out of pain, Merlin when this is over her body will be very sore. With so much effort she stands up slowly and thankfully she doesn't have any broken bones. It seems that talking to Luna softly won't work so she will try the other way.
"Luna! Come on you need to wake up!" She shouted and she received another spell that threw her again.
"Hermione!"
Hermione looked at Emmett who is kneeling in front, it appears that he wanted to help her but the barriers are not allowing him. "Guess yelling is not a good idea huh." She tried to joke but Emmett merely looked at her with so much worry.
"You need to remove this wall! Whatever this is Hermione! Let us help you." It was probably the first time she saw Emmett with an angry expression.
Hermione merely shook her head. This is her problem she can no longer impose on them. "I just need to make her recognize me."
"Recognize you? Then why don't you do something that you always did before, like dancing maybe."
Hermione looked at Embry at the same time the others looked at him.
"What! I was just giving my opinion no need to look at me like that."
Hermione shook her head. "No actually your idea might work."
"So you will dance?"
This time Hermione looked at Embry pointedly and thankfully gets the point by shutting his mouth.
Hermione looked at Luna while standing; she walked closer but stayed at a safe distance. Her body already received so much from the cutting spell. She sits comfortably on the ground when she started to feel a slight dizziness due to blood lost. "I can't believe I'm doing this in front of so many people but please Luna, come back… I cannot loss you too. I already lost almost everyone and I can no longer bear another loss."
She took a deep breath before talking again. "Remember when my parents died and almost everyone treated me, if I was a breakable glass. I don't want to cry because I'm afraid that i-if I cry it will be real. I was so lost back then, Harry and Ron was my only anchor, and then one day they did something that landed them in detention. I was at the black Lake and you found me, you sat beside me not saying anything at all, but suddenly you sang, your voice sounded funny but I found myself crying for the very first time.
Remember that song? It was what saved me… I hope it can save you, too."
Lyrics of Safe and Sound – Taylor Swift
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, Don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Hermione choked out the words. She closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears threatening to fall. She sang the lyrics despite her broken voice.
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
The magical air around Luna shimmered, slowly dissipating.
Don't you dare look out your window darling
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Hermione's body was shaking. She took no heed at the speechless crowd behind her. Right now, she could feel herself back in Hogwarts, back in Black Lake. And she could feel her chest heave. The thought of Hogwarts reminds her of her brothers in all but blood.
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Luna's feet gracefully landed on the grass. Her eyes still closed and her hands lay limp on her sides.
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound…
"Hermione?"
Hermione look up and she can no longer keep her tears when she saw Luna looking at her questioningly.
She's back!
