*
MBUSO
*
I'm sitting here waiting for the council member so that we can start the meeting. This is it. They are going to swear me in as King while my brother recovers in hospital. If they only knew that I plan on permanently staying King. I can only hope that Layla is carrying a son so that he can take over from me. When I look up I see my grandfather.
Grandfather: Why did you try to kill your brother?
"He doesn't deserve to be the one wearing the crown."
Grandfather: And you do?
"Yes, I was sidelined. I'm older, I was supposed to be crowned King."
Grandfather: You are no different from your uncle. His greed ended up killing him, I can only hope it won't kill you. You will never be king my son, because nothing is evers enough for you. "He disappears on him just as I hear footsteps and the council member start walking in one by one. I can't get my grandfather's words out of my mind. Why don't they believe that I can be a good King. Besides which king is not greedy. Each and every ruler in this world is greedy. Why is it an issue that I am greedy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more in life.
One of the elders brings me out of my thoughts.
Elder Nkosi: Thank you all for coming today. Today is supposed to be the day we officially swear in Mbuso as king until his brother recovers, but we'll not be doing that today. "What is this old man talking about? What does he mean they won't be doing that today. What's wrong with this old?"
"I don't Elder Nkosi, what do you mean?"
Elder Nkosi: I mean exactly that Mbuso. There is a reason your father chose your brother to be king. In light of the information that we received today, we cannot make you King even temporarily. The police are also on their way. A full investigation was conducted regarding his accident.
"I am aware of that. There was no fowl play found. It was ruled as accident by the police."
Elder Nkosi: I filed for a private investigation to be done and it turns out that breaks were tempered with. In light of that and more information showing your involvement we cannot have you as our king. "This is ridiculous, why don't I know about this? While reeling in my thoughts the door opens and Lizzy walks in pushing my brother in a wheel chair. I though he was in coma. When did he wake up. Ok, this changes the game completely now."
"When did you wake up? Lizzy why didn't you tell me.?"
Nkosenye: I woke up two day after the accident.
"Wait, you mean to tell me that you been awake all this time. I went to see you yesterday and you heard everything I said to you?"
Nkosenye: Of cause I did. It's nice to know that you hate me that much. I never wanted the crown but you did everything in your power to make sure dad gives it to me. You never acted right brother, you never showed that you did deserved it. Instead whatever you did thinking it was prove you are worthy made thing worse for you. What hurts the most is the fact that my own brother wanted to kill me just so he could be king. You could have spoken to me and told how you felt. And think I stole Lizzy from you, how did I do that?
"I am older, the crown should have been mine. Dad should have never given it to you. That was his mistake and now, you are paying for his mistake. I will be King, you will step down as King. Lizzy will be my wife and we'll have more kids and be happy together like we were supposed to be from the beginning. Lizzy tell him, tell him how you don't love him, tell him how want to be with me, how you never loved him."
Lizzy: That's the problem Mbuso, I've not loved my husband, but I've never loved you the way you think. I can never leave this man, not for you not any other man.
"Lizzy, what are you talking about? You told me you were tired of being his wife. You told how much you missed me and loved me and always looked forward to seeing me coming back and claiming what's mine."
Elder Nkosi: She told you what you needed to here. The minute you came back, you started changing certain things and we had you watched. We know you orchestrated the accident, we know how you want to destroy The Hidden Kingdom, we know how much you want their power. We've been watching you. Every conversation you've had with Queen is recorded. It's over for you. You should have stayed in UK.
Nkosenye: I was hoping we could mend our relationship this time, I just never realized how much hate you harbored for me for something I had no control over. "A guard walks in a whispers something in his ear." The police are here. Your charges are attempted murder and treason. I could add more but we'll live it at that. I love you Mbuso, you will always be my brother but I can never forgive you for trying to kill me. I hope it was all worth it. Layla will stay here until she gives birth and leave the child with us just as you planned. We shall raise him/her well. We'll make sure they visit you, we'll make sure they know of you, they about you so that you don't manipulate the child to seek revenge in the long run.
Lizzy: I'm sorry it had to come to this. We could have been a family Mbuso. You should have accepted that you my brother in law and nothing more.
"Is this why you never allowed me touch you? That you still love him and you couldn't betray him?"
Lizzy: Yes it is and the fact that I am pregnant with our second child. I'm sorry but I had to do what I had to do to protect my King and our kingdom. Whatever you did to Nompumelelo has been reversed. She is now ok, back to her old self. She will marrying Zibusiso soon. That's who she is meant to with. She went to Ntabentle so that their Seer can heal her. She was never there strengthen whatever bond you wanted to have there. I can't believe you used my child like that. I can't forgive that. What you did could have killed her in the long run.
That hits hard. She is pregnant. I can't believe I didn't see this coming. Why didn't Madubela see this coming, why didn't he warn me. She turns and walks to the window looking outside and I can hear her silent cry. The police walk in and take me away. I was so caught up in being the King, I forgot that I've done damage here before, I forgot that my presence could have made them to be on high alert with everything that I do. I figured their guard was down, boy was I wrong.
*
IYANA
*
I wake up drenched in sweat, my husband is not next to me. I grab my phone to check the time and it is 06:00 AM. He probably went for his morning run. He need to drive me home. I'm needed at home. The dream I had, someone was calling for me to go home. I can sense that something is wrong but I can't see what's happening. I am trying to see but I can't. The bathroom door opens and this husband of mine walks looking all kinds of sexy in his nakedness making wet down there instantly. "Stop it Iyana, this no time for that." I scold myself. He looks and smiles his naughty. Dammit I forgot he can my thoughts now. I quickly get out of bed and walk towards the bathroom.
Qophelo: I wasn't going to do anything to you my wife. You don't have to runaway. "He says walking towards his closet." We don't have time for hanky panky now. We need to get to your home although I wouldn't mind taking care of that itch you have between legs.
"Did my husband just use the "hanky panky" phrase? May the ancestors have mercy, who am I married to. His other statement has me quickly walking through the door because I know with the I am feeling right now, I would actually let him take care of it. I think I am an addict. I think he has gotten me addicted to sex. As long as it with him it's ok right. I take a quick shower imagining all sorts of things that he would be doing to me right now. What is wrong with me. I get out of the shower, quickly dry myself. When I walk into the bedroom, the bed is made and an outfit laid out for me. Oh my husband is evil I swear. Why would he want me to wear this dress. I close my eyes and allow myself to breathe while I get dressed, thinking about he said when he bought me this dress. I look at myself in mirror and realize that is going to be a long day."
Qophelo: You beautiful my Queen. I made breakfast. "He say scanning me with a smile on his face. I am not even going to ask why he chose this dress for me. I already know why."
"Thank you My King." He opens a seat for me, I sit just as he helps me push the chair in, he brushes his lips on my shoulder and moves away to take his own seat, leaving quivering, my body screaming for him to not stop.
Qophelo: What do you think is going on back in Manzini, I also had a weird dream but it was not clear, the only that was clear was the face telling me to take you there. "Just like that, he switches to being serious about the matter at hand. He forgot that he left me hanging."
" I don't know love. We'll see when we get there."
After we are done eating, we leave headed to Manzini Kingdom. It is just the two of us in the car. The closer we get, the more anxious I get and he can sense it. He moves his free hand to under my dress and brushes my thigh, gently squeezing it every now and again, and that somehow keeps me calm. By the time we arrive, I am perfectly calm and ready to tackle whatever is happening hear. It's a good thing we left our guards behind. I can feel the tension in the air. Just as we get out of the car I see it, the black jaguar and I know it's my brother. Something must have made him really angry for him to be in this form. He walks towards us.
Thando: My Sister, Brother in law, you are early. I apologize meeting you in this form. I needed to calm down. I went for a run in the forest.
Qophelo: It's ok Sbali. I understand.
"What is going on Thando? My dream was not clear, even Qophelo's dream was not clear."
Thando: Go in and you'll find out. I'll see you inside. I need to be human, shower and get dressed.
"Ok then. See you soon." My husband holds my hand we walk towards the door and it opens before we could knock. The butler lets us in and leads us to the guest lounge. I see my dad first and he looks… I don't know. Something is wrong with him.
*
NARRATED
*
Menzi looks up and sees his daughter and he could do is just cry. After every he heard last night from the woman he thought was his wife for years, he doesn't even know what you say to her or to anyone. The culprit is sitting there looking unbothered.
Iyana and Qophelo walk in and immediately look at each other when they see two of her mother. They are both of confused. She didn't know her mother had a twin. The both walk in and take a seat on the two seater couch that was vacant. They both greet and not say anything afterwards. A maid walks in and places refreshments on the table and walks out.
Iyana: What is going on here dad, mom?
Menzi: Your mother will be the one to tell you, this is her story.
Iyana looks at her mother and her replica and already can put things together from hearing their thoughts but she doesn't say anything, she waits and her mother sighs, taking a deep breathe and decides to speak because there is no way out for her on this. Only death awaits her.
Nobuhle: I am not Nobuhle, I am Nontle. I have been impersonating my twin all these years.
Qophelo: Why would you do that? "he asks annoyed"
Nontle: I wanted her life. I wanted what she had. I wanted the man. I wanted to be Queen. Nobuhle has always been the better twin. Our parents always prefered her over me. I hated that. When she got married I saw how happy she was. She wasn't supposed to be happy whilst I was miserable. I couldn't allow that. We are twins, we are supposed to have it all together or be miserable together. I couldn't be the only one miserable. I came up with a plan to impersonate her. I went to see a different seer, she is not a royal seer, I couldn't risk using our family seer. I wanted something to make her forget to lose her memory, I also wanted something to make Menzi to see me as her, feel everything he felt for when he sees me. I got everything I wanted. It didn't take long for Nobuhle to forget everything. She was home that week for our parent's funeral who mysteriously died in the sleep. After the funeral, I convinced to go overseas and study medicine like she always wanted. Our family, our older brothers who are twins as believed it was me going overseas.
When she left, I came here impersonating her. I manage to give Menzi the potion meant for him. I was to give to him once a spell would be cast over him as soon as that happens Nobuhle would never remember her life with him. We were fine for a while until he noticed he started noticing little things I wouldn't do that Nobuhle would and he always tell me that I've changed and he doesn't understand why. My response would always be "People change." With everything I had done I was told that the only person to break the spell would be his first born child. The child would be one of the most powerful people in this world. The powers the child would possess would heal him, would heal her. When Iyana was born, I was terrified, when she was a month old I took to the same seer I went to and asked her to bind her powers forever. She told me there is no forever. She told me that Iyana would not be safe from her father, that she would remind him of my twin and that would be the beginning of all my troubles. If Iyana ever marries her true mate, then my world will crumble. The world I thought I had secured for myself is crumbling.
She was right, her world is crumbling and there is nothing she can do. Iyana gets up and goes to her father. Something is pushing her to do it, she also doesn't understand. He stands in front of him and places her left hand on his heart after a while, she removes it and he cries, he sobs mumbling "I am sorry child" nonstop. Her touch did something to him. It healed his soul.