*
IYANA
*
I've been here for a week now and I have never felt such peace. I can even feel that my powers are slowly coming back to me. My senses are also getting stronger. This family of seers has been nothing but kind to me. Mbuyiselo has given his apartment to use since he doesn't use it, and I don't have to pay rent until I am financially ready to do so. It is not that I can't afford to pay him, but I don't want to start using my account now, I know he is watching and waiting for any transaction I make for him to track me. I am not going to make it that easy for him and my family to find. I know it is going to take a while for them to pick up my scent but not very long.
After a long conversation with Temba and Mbuyiselo about this Kingdom, I have decided that it is going to be my permanent home. Even if they find me, I'll fight this time. This time I am not running away. I even have a job now at the local flower shop and I am enjoying it. My life is slowly coming together but there's a pull in the energy and it's confusing. I am picking up a scent but it's mild and I know for sure that it is manly.
From when I started understanding who I am, my grandmother used to tell me that I'll have partner that has been chosen for me. She said that's how it works with our kind. Sometimes your chosen might not be your kind, they might be human or might be from another Kingdom. She taught me all I needed to know while my parents were too busy to parent me. When she died, things changed for the worse. My parents started visiting the neighboring kingdom, The Manzini Kingdom. The name alone would make you think that it's a wonderful kingdom and ruled by good people, but it is the opposite.
Lelo: Hey, you zoned out again, are you ok.
"I am fine dear, just thinking about home.
Lelo: Do you miss it?
"Honestly, I don't. I don't even want to go back.
Lelo: What could have been so bad that it pushed you to run away?
"It's long story, one day I'll tell you. Are you ready for your date tonight?
Lelo: Yes, I am, and he has been very sneaky about it. I don't know what is going on with him.
"Well maybe he has a surprise for you. Just go there and enjoy yourself and worry about me and the shop, I'll manage.
Lelo: Fine. Have a good evening love, I'll see you Monday."
*
QOPHELO
*
The preparations for the crowning ceremony are coming along nicely. I had a long day at work. I need to pop into the flower shop and get my mother and sister some flowers. My little sister will be jealous if I only buy flowers for mother and not her. She is also going back to school after the crowning ceremony and Zwelakhe is also going overseas for three months. It is going to be very quiet in that palace without them but then again, we are royalty, there is never a dull moment especially with my uncle's shenanigans lately. Now out of the blue he wants to take mother as his second wife, saying that it is tradition that he takes over from his brother. That has never been our tradition in this kingdom. I don't know what is wrong with this, but he is desperate, and his desperation is going to lead to mistakes. I have him under surveillance, but he has been careful.
That scent hits me again. I love her scent. She smells like the ocean, a fresh sea breeze after the rain. She is beautiful. I am going to enjoy this. I am going to take my time with her especially since she is new here. The Seer told me how she got here a few days after the night I went out with my brother and Mxolosi which was after I found her and first saw at this very same shop arranging the flowers I was buying for my mother and sister. I also know that her sense and her powers were dormant for some time and Temba is helping her get back to her natural self and she doesn't know that.
"Hi" I softly greet trying not to startle her. She slowly turns with her eyes closed and a long deep breath and opens her eyes and smiles. Beautiful, I tell you.
Iyana: Hi, how are you?
"I'm good, thank you. I am her for my usual.
Iyana: I have bunches I arranged already. I have tried out a new arrangement, I hope you like it.
"I guess Lelo told you that I buy them every Friday.
Iyana: Ever since you started buying the flowers, you have never missed a Friday, even when you are out of town, you always make sure they are delivered. Yep, she told me.
"Thank you, the arrangements are beautiful. Can you do them the same for next Friday."
Iyana: Definitely
"After paying I look at her longer than I should have and take in her scent, I smile and bid her farewell. As I walk away, I hear her let out her breath that she has been holding since I walked. I drive home and find my mother and sister waiting for me in the lounge. They smile the usual beautiful smile that reaches their eyes whenever they see the flowers. My sister comes running, takes her and kisses my cheek with my taking slow steps right behind her like the Queen that she is. I handed her, her bunch and kissed her forehead.
"I see you have set up already."
Phiwokuhle: Yes, we have. Go upstairs and freshen up so that we can all chill.
I quickly walked upstairs to my room that I have on this wing. Yes, I have my own wing of the palace and so does my brother. I can't go to my wing now; it will take too long. The palace has been gradually built, adding a few wings over the years until it is what it is today. Every other Friday night we would spend it at the parent's wing, chill, watch movies and just catch up on what we couldn't catch up during our dinner times. I make my way downstairs, and the two ladies are already eating popcorn, and the movie has been selected. I settle next to my sister just as my brother walks all fresh and in his pajamas. He settles next mom laying his head on her shoulder. My sister clicks play, and we all just get absorbed in the movie. It feels different without dad, but we know he is here and always will be and this is one of the family traditions we are never going to stop.
*
NTSIKA
*
"Have you found her?"
Him: No, we haven't. Electronically she is being careful. She hasn't used any of her bank cards. The car was ditched on the side of the main road to the mall and her phone was in the car. I give it to her, she is smart. For someone who has no training, she is smart. She won't survive that long without cash. Eventually she is going to need money.
"I don't want to wait for eventually; I want her found now."
The Seer: He is right, eventually, you will find her. Even I can't find her. She is being protected. I can't see anything about her.
"This is ridiculous, how does a tiny person like her disappear off the face of the earth.?
The Seer: She has not disappeared, where she is, she is protected and it even when you find her, it won't be easy getting to her. She is going to start getting her powers and senses back since she is not here anymore and never imprinted on her.
"None of this is helping. I don't need any problems from all of you; I need a solution. I want you to find her.
Him: We'll find her. "He walks out leaving me with the seer.
"What are the chances of her finding her chosen?
The Seer: Now that she is not here, she might find him, or he might find her. Nothing is blocking her from the world. My spell cannot work on her if she is not here, especially since we don't even know where she is. You should have been gentler with her. Don't look at me like that. You knew she was fragile; you needed to be gentler and ease into everything.
"The was no time for that and you know it."
I leave him standing there wrecking my brains of how we are going to find her. Fuck! Iyana, you just ruined everything. Damit!!!!