*
MENZI
*
I'm sitting here with the council. Thando called for the council meeting. I thought this was going to be in two weeks but then he just rocked up and decided to have it now. He only just arrived, he could have taken some time to rest. I don't even understand what this meeting is about.
Thando: called for this meeting because it is overdue. This going Kingdom is going down the drain and yet it has this council that is not doing anything, just watching whilst the kingdom gets destroyed right under your noses. You don't even notice that the very King that you trust is the one destroying it. "What is he talking about, what does he me I am destroying the Kingdom?" I have arranged for an audit of our financial to be done, because it does not make sense why our kingdom would start having financial problems out of the blue when we have been stable financially.
"I didn't authorize that. Why would you do that without my authorization?"
Thando: When the Kingdom is at stake, I don't your permission to do what I am doing especially when I have proof and a valid reason to do so. If you look at the folders in front of you, you will understand why we are having this meeting today. Dad you have made a lot of mistakes that have put this kingdom at risk. You have made decision that didn't properly benefit this Kingdom and personally benefited you. You sold your own daughter to Edwaleni kingdom and yet this council knows nothing about that. What did they promise you in return for Iyana? Don't answer that. The only deal that is benefiting this Kingdom is the one that King Qophelo brought to you.
Elder Mkhize: What do you mean he sold his daughter?
"I didn't sell her. It was a mutual agreement that would have benefited us all."
Thando: How was is it going to benefit all of us when you giving away the kingdom, giving away our home to another Kingdom which meant we would no longer be Manzini but Edwaleni. Dad, you've lost the plot. You are no longer fit to be King.
Elder Mkhize: Looking at everything on this folder, I am going to agree with Thando. The question remains what do we do.
"I am king, I'll decide what happens." I know I am fighting a losing battle here. They have every right to tell me to step down. Thando is of age and with this meeting he is proving to the council that he is ready to lead. I have nothing to fight him with because everything he is saying is true. What I don't understand though is how are we in financial trouble. He is right, we shouldn't be in financial trouble, no matter what I did, I've never misuse the Kingdom's money.
Elder Poswa: Your Grace, your son is of age now and by the looks of things, he is ready to be crowned King. I suggest that you step down willingly so that we don't have to vote you out. It is obvious with all the proof that has been brought to us, we have been blind to a lot of things because we trusted you.
"This is just crazy. I haven't done anything wrong." All of a sudden I feel a migrane coming along. It hurts like hell. I try to stand but it doesn't allow. Instead I feel a wave of nausea but I manage to keep it down. The last thing I want is to be sick in front of these people.
Thando: Dad please don't make this harder than it already is. Make it easy for everyone including yourself. and just like that I watch him morph into his black jaguar. He know he cannot transform like this and the only reason he is doing it, it is to asset his power on me. This is to show me that I don't have a choice in the matter."
*
MBUSO
*
She came back late yesterday without Nompumelelo. She was tired so I didn't want to push for answers. She was still asleep when I left this morning and I'll see her later. Right now I need to get to the hospital and see my brother, seeing that everything is falling in place. I might as well just end his life.
I was surprised to find out that he is no longer in ICU, why didn't they call us and let us know. I know for sure that Lizzy would have told me, if she had known of these changes. I walk into my brother's room and he is laying there looking peaceful in his sleep. Maybe a permanent sleep will be more peaceful. I look at him, knowing that if he ever wakes up, I would have taken everything from him. He would watch while I enjoy the life he stole from me, just like I had to watch him enjoy my woman, having a child with her and being King. Now it's my turn.
I see that he is not hooked up to the machines anymore except the machine monitoring his pulse and heart rate. I hope he never wakes up but then again what joy would I have if he doesn't get to see what I done, if he doesn't get to suffer. My joy will be in his suffering.
"Oh no brother, I am not killing you anymore. I had initially wanted you die, I was hoping the accident would kill you but you have proven to be a die hard. Since you refuse to die, I'll have more pleasure watching you cry as you watch me enjoy life with your wife and daughter. I am going to make you wish you had never accepted the throne."
I hear foot steps and the doctor walks in. He greets and checks on my brother writing a few things down in his file.
"How is he doc?"
Doctor: He is doing well. I had thought he would be awake by now since he is even able to breathe on his own. I guess his body just want to heal at it's own pace. I have hope though that he will awake. The swelling on the brain has gone down.
"I see. As long as he is getting better, I am happy. Thank you doc." He looks at, nods and walks out leaving me with my brother. My phone beeps, when I take it out I see it's message from Layla asking me to bring her a meal from Mc Donalds on my way back. This one is going to drive me crazy with her cravings. She should give birth soon but we still have months to go. I spend about thirty minutes in my brother's room. I don't what I was hoping for. Maybe I had hoped my presence would trigger something. You would think my voice, the threat I made would rile him back to the land of the living. I guess I'll just to wait and besides, it gives me more time to work on my plan. I walk out going to to the car. I get in and drive off. First stop is McDonalds drive through. I get the meal for Layla and drive back to the palace.
When I arrive I quickly go to Layla's room, I find her sleeping. I just place the food on the night stand. She can when she wakes up. I head straight to Lizzy's office and that's where I find her glued to her laptop looking serious. I am glad she is doing some work, hopefully it will keep her mind off her husband. I won't even tell her that I went to the hospital. I notice a plate on her desk with cookies. She has always been a lover of sweet things. She has a sweet tooth.
"You look beautiful." She jumps a little. I didn't mean to startle her.
Lizzy: You are back. I wasn't expecting you.
"I finished early and decided to come back. How are you doing?" I ask walking closer to her and kiss the top of her head and sit on the seat opposite her. "I noticed you came back alone. Where is Nompumelelo."
Lizzy: I left her at Ntabentle. "I don't understand why she would leave there."
"Why?" I ask not hiding my confusion.
Lizzy: It was the queen's request. I couldn't refuse her, especially with the history that we have.
"Ok, I hear you. Why did she ask for her to stay?" This had better be beneficial to my plan.
Lizzy: Apparently Mxolisi is coming back this weekend. She is going to have a conversation with about marrying Mpumi. She wants to take the few day to get to know her and show her around. It works better that way for the plan.
"It definitely does work better, it definitely does." I say with a smirk and ideas running through my mind. I am finally going to have what I want from that Kingdom.
Lizzy: Lona will call us to update us when Mxolisi is back but she is sure he won't have a problem since he hasn't met his chosen. Maybe Mpumi is his chosen.
"What happens when he meets his chosen?"
Lizzy: Polygamy is allowed in that Kingdom. A man can have two wives not more than that though.
"Wow this is better. It would have been far better had she married the King but this will work too."
Lizzy: What exactly do you want from that Kingdom Mbuso? You never told me. "I can't tell her that. Not yet anyway. Not until I am sure I'll have free excess to that place."
"I'll tell you when the time comes." I know she is not going to press. That is just the person she is. She never pushes for answers. She'll wait until you are ready to give her answers she wants.
*
QOPHELO
*
This is our second day in this cabin. Tomorrow we are going back to the world. Even though the cabin is still with palace grounds, no one dares to disturb us. She is still sleeping. I noticed that she has healed. I felt it when I touched her. She can heal herself. This is the hidden power. This power Bab' Themba couldn't pin about her. That means the Buthelezi's didn't know. Her parents didn't know either. They have an idea of how powerful she is but the don't know just how powerful she can be.
I need to talk to Bab' Themba because I noticed that this meaning I have absorbed her telekinesis power. I need to know if something this is supposed to happened. I need to understand if we are supposed to absorb each other's powers. If that is the case that could make us deadly and something like this last happened a five hundred years ago. I know, I've always known that I am one of the rare one. A black lion is only born in a few hundred year. I am the first in five hundred years. My dad always told me that I would change once I get married and consummate my marriage. He has always told me that once she marks me, I'll be hers forever and she'll be mine forever. Only death will sever the bond we have so that the one left alive can move on.
Iyana: What are you making? Good morning. "She asks holding me from behind. He tiny hand brushing on my abdomen. She doesn't know what she is doing to me. I her hold around me and turn to face her while in her arms. I lean to her and kiss her while pulling her closer to me. I hear her telling me that she is hungry. Wait, she didn't use her mouth because I am busy kissing her. I stop and gently pull out of the kiss and look at her. "I love you." she says but her lips are sealed shut.
"You said you are hungry and that you love me."
Iyana: I know. I heard you when I woke. Everything that you were thinking. I thought I was losing my mind, so I decided to test it. You can hear my thoughts and I can hear yours. I think absorbed your power but I can shield it. I put the shield and I realized you didn't hear the other thing I was thinking. All in all, we can hear each other's thoughts now.
"I wonder if this will happen with all powers we possess or maybe some of them."
Iyana: You were right about one thing, we need to talk to the seer.
"Yes we do but for now, let's enjoy the last day of our little bubble. Shall we. Since are healed how about you take care of this."