Chapter Nine - Stalked
POV Jade/Hermione
I was currently at home, and everything was going smoothly, I practiced my meditation, and the second volume of my story was starting to be published, I was happy, some readers were sending letters and gifts, I appreciated it more than anything and I kept it in my suitcase, where my bookcase was, of course.
My parents were excited about the plans they made in my absence, telling me to pack only the essentials, as we were going on a trip, they didn't tell me where we were going, as according to them, it was a surprise, I didn't want to get into their minds, as it was better to respect their intentions.
I took care of packing what I needed, I was excited, about having a holiday as a normal girl. I could get information for the next book, I was so immersed in my thoughts that I didn't realize that I was also packing my bag of weapons and experiments, but well, once it was done, I didn't have to take it out, after all, instincts are instincts.
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We arrived at the airport, and it was then that I knew that our destination would be Baden-Württemberg, Germany, I had no idea why out of all the existing options they chose Germany, but it didn't bother me, once we boarded the first plane my nerves didn't stop, I wanted to know the reason behind the choice of that place.
- "Mum, Dad... Why are we going to Germany?" - I couldn't help asking.
- "Ah, it's because a friend took his son on a trip, and we couldn't help telling them about how curious and intelligent you were, so we asked them where to go to enjoy the holidays and have a good time." - My mother commented excitedly.
- "They recommended Germany, just the tourist area from which several stories were inspired, so they said that a girl of your age would enjoy it very much, the Black Forest is very famous." - My father finished telling me, now everything made more sense, I had heard that in my other life, by fairy tales they mean the tales of the Brothers Grimm, it is certain that they are referring to that forest.
That answer was enough for me, the journey was a long one, but it was worth it when we finally arrived at the real destination, an area that was closer to the Black Forest, it looked very captivating to the eye with many enigmas at once, but the local stories were very interesting to me, although it was a beautiful forest, with a mysterious vibe that called out to you, creating a desire inside to go in and explore it.
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We went to different places, the people were accessible, and we could have a decent conversation with someone who understood us, the atmosphere was wonderful, nothing uncomfortable to tell the truth, my parents also seemed to be delighted with everything, I guess, my two brothers would also be the same...
We began with the exploration of the forest, I put on comfortable clothes, and we went into the forest, I could perceive the sweet aroma of the wildflowers that were scattered by the wind, it was nice, we walked for a long time, but when we went deeper, I could hear a voice almost like an imperceptible whisper that said my name.
I admit that at the beginning I didn't pay attention to it, I thought that it was just my imagination, but as I continued to move forward its intensity increased little by little, but even before I could find the source of that voice, my parents called me to leave the forest because of the arrival of the sunset, even so, the whispering voices from before, didn't stop haunting my head, and not only did they call me to go to them, but they also called me Jade, the name of my past life.
At home, I kept immersing myself in the voices, I had the illusion that they were my brothers, telling me that I was not alone, my selfish wish was that they wouldn't forget me, but I didn't want them to suffer when they do, and I think that they would, after all these years, I only have them present, now I understand why it was said that the best theory when believing in reincarnation was that the best thing is not to remember the life before this one, it hurts to remember... it hurts like hell, and not being able to tell anyone about it is even worse.
That night the tears came to me, until I fell into the arms of Morpheus...
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In my dreams I was in the forest at midnight, there were fireflies around me, and for some reason, my instincts told me that we were in the heart of the forest, the whispering voices came back, I was calm, but from one moment to another, the light disappeared, I felt trapped, the voices had ceased, and I was filled with a feeling of being watched, I ran with all my strength in search of the exit of the forest, but nothing.
I heard different footsteps behind me, following me, I didn't think of stopping to see what it was, I just wanted to get out, it was then that from one moment to the next I fell.
I woke up scared, my heart was beating like never before, I thought it would burst at any moment, the fear of seeing myself helpless in my dream invaded me, I didn't realize that I was crying until the light through the window hit me directly in my face. That afternoon, I decided to skip my planned visit to the forest.
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No matter how many nights I tried, the nights were all the same, the same nightmare from which I couldn't escape until I fell into the void, I tried countless times to stay awake, to spend the night working on my projects or books, but I would fall asleep, as if something was dominating me and subduing me to that nightmare.
Today would be the beginning of the second week, I could no longer fight against sleep, and again I fell asleep, but I did not expect that this time I would wake up in the middle of the forest, it was already morning, and I opened a portal back to my room, but I tried to think positive, a logical excuse that would give me peace.
But I was not at all reassured to discover a mark on my shoulder, it was more like a seal or circle of alchemy, on my other shoulder I found a similar one, I think someone will be tied to the bed tonight....
I went down with my parents, and we spent the day going to the best tourist attractions, apart from the forest of course, we went to the old castle of Stuttgart, the week of sightseeing started, it would be the heaviest and most exciting one, as in the previous one we went to normal museums, this week we would start with castles, also going to the Pedestrian Old Bridge, Heidelberg.
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I was nervous, and the night came fast, I tied myself with the whip I used to face Voldemort, and in the end, I fell asleep, but unlike the others, it wasn't long before I woke up falling in the middle of the forest, my whip was gone, it felt so real that it was certain it wasn't a dream, besides at this moment I can control my body unlike when it's a dream.
I was nervous, I tried to open the portal, but it didn't appear, I got nervous, then I heard something approaching, I couldn't do magic, everything was dark and unlike my dream, here there was a thick fog that didn't let me distinguish very far, then I started running, and I heard how I was chased, I felt so useless, and I didn't know what to do, my mind was blank, I could only run.
I was running barefoot in search of a way out that I couldn't find, I had an immense desire to cry; I wanted to live, I couldn't die in a strange forest, far from home, far from my family... the one that is now my family.
Then my mind reacted, I am Jade Baker, now known as Hermione Jean Granger, I was able to survive in my past life without magic, I did it thanks to everything I learned, I did it by my means, and with my own hands I demolished every obstacle that was put in front of me, there is no bigger rival in the world than ourselves.
I ran with more determination, already feeling the presence of my next life rival close at hand; gaining momentum I leaped to the nearest branch, spun around, and kicked it with a Fanalis brand kick, I had knocked out a lycanthrope.
I was surrounded now, I knew, but instantly the mist dispersed, my senses were at their peak, what at first seemed aggressive lycanthropes were now calmer, just watching me.
I saw a silhouette emerge from among them, a woman, but behind me, another presence was rising, while the woman in front of me seemed at first glance to be someone to be feared, I felt the presence of someone truly gentle behind me, but I was not afraid.
The lycanthrope I knocked out dispersed into a thick black liquid, reappearing next to the woman in front of me, but now it wasn't a lycanthrope, it looked more human, not to mention its eyes, which glowed red.
- "Relax, we are not going to hurt you" - Said the woman in front of me, her aura was somewhat intimidating.
- "A moment ago I was chased and almost attacked" - I answered without further ado.
- "In my defense, I ended up being the one attacked" - Said the guy I attacked simply, he had relaxed his posture considerably.
- "That doesn't reassure me in the slightest, besides, I don't know if you're blind or what, but I'm surrounded" - I replied, and the woman smiled - "Why am I here, who are you, why don't you leave me alone?"
At first, the person behind me appeared in front of me, he was an imposing man, the ones who were lycanthropes a moment ago also stood in front of me with human forms, I already doubted what were these beings in front of me.
- "Better?" - Said the man in front of me, I sighed and nodded, adopting a relaxed posture - "We wanted to talk to you."
- "And that's the best way you could come up with?" - I replied annoyed - "I have to go, my parents are going to worry about me."
- "It's the middle of the night, they won't wake up until dawn, I think we have plenty of time" - Said the woman - "I'm Aradia, and this is Daniel, it's nice to finally meet you."
- "We summoned you because you seem to have mastery over your power." - That surprised me, but I could only think about the fact that they didn't seem to belong to this world - "We wanted to meet you, after all, we were the ones who summoned your soul here."
- "All right... assuming that's true... Why the hell did you do that?" - I said furious at the situation, and to make matters worse, I was in my pajamas in the middle of the forest, and they gave me the scare of my life, not to mention the mental stress they put me through during the week because of the nightmares. - "You know the destiny of torture that this body has, to make matters worse I know that I have to put myself in the destiny of this body, otherwise everything would end terribly, and it would be a horrible burden of conscience if I survive." - I quickly said as much as I could think of on my list of problems.
- "Well, we have to explain some things to you" - Said the 'woman', already tired of her lack of reaction, I sighed and nodded - "We are your parents...."
I didn't even know what to say to that, first, there were my parents when I was Jade, then my parents when I was Hermione, and now these two who claim to be my parents, did I reincarnate more than once?
- "I think you didn't say that tactfully enough," - Said my 'father'.
- "There is no way to say it more tactfully, we have more to say to you" - More?! These people are crazy if they think I'll believe anything they say now - "We blocked your power at night so you could get your power out another way, you resisted too much, there was no other way, great evil, great remedy."
- "Yeah, I don't think it worked, I couldn't do much against the idiots," - I said, managing to articulate something.
- "The mist was dispersed by you, so it was a success" - Said one of the guys who came with my 'mother' I looked at him waiting for a more detailed explanation - "It turns out that as this forest doesn't allow you to externalize your magic, you had to resort to the hidden power inside you."
- "You activated your demonic and celestial/spiritual power, it is still at a low level, but it will get stronger now that you have released it, you must begin to understand it before it gets out of control, it is because of it that you can invoke other types of magic." - My mother commented with a clearer idea to continue - "If you strengthen them enough you will be able to resist anything that comes in the future, we won't pressure you, for now, I think it is enough that you know this, the rest will be revealed to you when you are older, you will be under the care of Ymir, Damon and Cain."
In front of me appeared two boys and a girl, they bowed in respect, and my parents smiled at that, but then a lot of questions came to my mind, if this was real, how the hell could I believe that they were my parents if I was born from a mortal twice?
- "The questions you are asking yourself will not be answered now," - Said my father, to which I pouted, - "As Aradia said, they will be answered when you come of age," - He finished.
- "I'm practically of age, before I died I was 19, and if you add up the years I've been alive in this world I'd be 30" - They were silent - "Although taking into account that my awareness of my past life came a little late, I'd be a total of 25 years old, even so, I want to keep counting those 5 years, I'm about to turn 31, you should be more considerate. Besides, aren't you guys supposed to be genderless?"
- "Well, I think this has become awkward, let's postpone this conversation for another time, not to mention that you have the body of an almost twelve-year-old girl, I don't think it's the right time" - My mother answered quickly.
After that, the sensation that my power was forced and retained went away, and I was grateful for that fact, my mother smiled at me, caressed my cheek, and disappeared, my father approached me, but he caressed my head, tousling my hair a little, to disappear instantly.
I was still in doubt, but as they had already disappeared I didn't say anything, I was about to leave, but I noticed the three presences that didn't disappear like the others.
- "Eh... that's right, you're coming with me... follow me" - I said opening the portal, they just watched me - "I like to make them, and it doesn't hurt to practice, so I can handle magic of all kinds instead of limiting myself to the magic of this world."
- "I don't think we need an explanation" - The demon? I guess the one I kicked a while ago, I looked at him badly. - "What?" - He glared back at me equally angrily.
- "I was only supposed to stay with them," - I said pointing at the boys/demons, - "you have no business here." - I sentenced.
- "Quite unlike them, I can stay here as long as I want, they are just your mother's subordinates, I on the other hand, am the potential candidate to be your childhood friend, actually fiancé." - He said, smiling smugly - "after all, someone has to take care of supporting you in the future."
- "I don't have to take your word for it, you're just one more bastard in this world," - I said, and he burst out laughing.
- "I'm just telling you, I might not be the only one, your father wants you to consider young celestial beings like him too." - He said the last exaggeratedly.
- "No, thanks, I'd rather die than be with an insane and/or inconsiderate bastard." - I replied, stepping through the portal, the others smiled at my answer and followed me.
Before the gate closed, the madman I threw the last remaining bolts at went through.
- "By the way, aren't you curious to know who I am?" - He said, sitting down on my bed, it wasn't long before dawn.
- "No, not in the slightest, it's enough to know their names," - I said pointing to the boys.
- "Well, even so, I had already decided to introduce myself, I'm Kyle, now it's your turn," - He said wanting to continue the conversation.
- "You already know my name, I don't know why doing something so unnecessary," - I said to avoid the subject, after all, I am Hermione, but I'm also Jade.
- "Because that's what you do, because I want to hear it from you, and because if you don't introduce yourself properly I'll make sure that your parents enjoy the most twisted and sadistic nightmares of their lives." - He said, losing his patience, what a crybaby.
- "You win this round," - I sighed, - "I'm Hermione." - After saying that, he looked at me seriously.
That annoyed me, I had already done what he asked/commanded me to do, what more does this idiot want from me?
- "Not that one, I mean the other one," - He said, trying to convince me.
- "Jane?" - I knew what he meant, but I didn't want to introduce myself by that name, much less did I want the first person I introduced myself to by that name to be this idiot. He looked at me seriously, and then I turned to look at the other three witnessing the discussion as I pondered my recent thoughts - "Well, nice to meet you guys, my name is Jade, thank you for looking after me."
- "That was very childish of you," - He said angrily.
- "It's even more childish of you to get upset over something childish." - I smiled smugly. - "Go on, it's almost time for my parents to wake up," - I said, looking at the horizon as the first rays of the sun peeked through.
- "All right, but you won't get rid of me so easily, see you tonight" - After saying that the idiot disappeared.
I think I won't be calm even in my holidays, I would have found out sooner, so I would have enjoyed my childhood more before all this started, but well, I guess you can't do much when the future you thought you knew is uncertain.
As many people say "there is no such thing as if", I only have the present and forge from it a future that is formidable for me, I don't want to waste any more time...