*
NOMPUMELELO
*
"What do you mean Qophelo is married. Married to who uncle, when I am standing right here in front of you. He was supposed to marry me."
Uncle Mbuso: He married his chosen, that Princess from the Manzini Kingdom on Saturday. They are traditionally married. She was officially welcomed at the Kingdom and introduced as his wife on Sunday. Look Mpumi, I cannot deal with this right now. I need to get to the airport. We'll talk when I get back ok.
"He walks out leaving me realing in my thoughts. No!No!No! This cannot be happening. It simply just cannot happen. How? How come we didn't know about this?"
You can destroy their marriage so that you can be Queen. I'll help you do it. "a voice whispers in my hear. When I look around there's no one, it is just me. What is going on here."
Voice: You still have a chance. You can things to be in your favor.
"it says again. Am I losing my mind?"
Voice: I can help you like I have been help you already.
"Ok. Do you have a plan?" I can't believe I am talking to a voice I don't even know who it belongs to.
Voice: I have plan. You will have to do everything I tell you, no questions asked. We'll start tomorrow.
Lizzy: Who are you talking to?
"I was just talking to myself mom. I'm not crazy. I was just thinking out loud."
Lizzy: I hope you are not thinking about Qophelo. Mpumi my child I need to let go of that idea because it is not going to end well. I might have been all for it at some point but this time I need you listen to me. Please my baby. I don't want to lose you. Marry Zibusiso, he loves you and I know deep down in your soul you want to marry him. He is the one for you. Please.
She walks away and I don't understand why is she begging me to not go after Qophelo. She knows how I feel about him. She supported me, what changed. It doesn't matter. I am not giving up on Qophelo.
She says I must marry Zibusiso, how can I possibly want to marry him when I feel nothing for him. I don't ever feeling anything for Zibusiso. Argh, I think she is just stressed about her husband being in hospital.
How did Qophelo get married so fast and how come we didn't merit an invite? I mean our kingdoms are not at odds, I'm sure he should have invited us. I hate Iyana right now but she is not going to last in that marriage. I am going to personally make for it.
*
LIZZY
*
I decided to go to the hospital alone today. I need to see my husband. When I get there the nurses shows me to his private room. Only two nurses and one doctor are allowed to be in here. This is going to be hard, it is hard and I just want it to end already. My daughter on the other hand is spiraling out of control. I walk into my husband's room, taking a sit next to his bed. He looks stressed. The nurse checks his vitals and his IV and walks out.
"Babe wake up. I'm here." I watch him slowly open his eyes. He never liked being woken up. "How are you feeling my love?"
Nkosenye: Like I've been hit by train. How are you? You look tired.
"I'm ok. I am tired but I'll be fine. I have to look the part though, don't you think?" He smiles that beautiful smile of his that can make me do anything for him. "This was risky my love. I could have lost you."
Nkosenye: You were never going to lose me. Where is my daughter?
"She is at home. She is so hung up on Qophelo it is not funny anymore. Yes, at first I wanted her to marry him to unite our Kingdoms but when I found he has chosen, I tried to discourage her and she doesn't even want to hear anything about Zibusiso. Your brother is really doing a number on her. I don't know what he wants with Ntabentle Kingdom, he won't tell me."
Nkosenye: Don't push too hard. We don't want him to suspect anything. Remember why we are doing this. Remember what happens to our home if he becomes King and we cannot let that happen. We've worked too hard to be where we are today and to just lose it just like that.
"What's worse is that he made some woman pregnant and he is bringing her to the palace today."
Nkosenye: You see why we need to make sure that this works.
"When this is all over I need a holiday. The stress is not good for me Nkosenye especially in my condition."
Nkosenye: And you will get your holiday and more. I just need you to keep playing your part and I'll play mine. You need to talk to Qophelo and ask for his Seer to help. No one else can do it. I never thought Madubela would betray us like this. He need to be banished from the Kingdom once this is all over.
"I know. I have to go now. I need to be back before he comes back from the airport to welcome the baby mama. I love you so much." I stand and lean to his face and kiss him for dear life.
Nkosenye: Take care of yourself, the both of you. It will be over soon.
He smiles and kisses my hand. I grab my bag and walk out. F**k, this is hard. I hope Mbuso is not back yet. I want to breathe a little and just gather my thoughts before I deal with him.
He left his home years ago and now he come back wanting to claim what he says is his and that includes me. I know he has had a thing for me and says his brother stole me from him. Mbuso is purely delusional. I just Nkosenye's plan works because if it doesn't, then we are doomed. Now I have to find a way to get a hold of King Qophelo. My daughter's life depends on that call. I thought it was just a simple spell that was cast on just to make submissive but I see, it is more than that. He did more than that to my child. Something is definitely wrong with Nompumelelo. The spell was supposed to make her perceptive to the idea of marrying Qophelo and now, now she is obsessed. What did he mean by whispers working. Oh no, it can't be.
Mbuso: Lizzy. "He calls out as I lay on the bed looking at the ceiling lost in my own thought. He closer to me and kisses me. How I wish this could end fast. I'm getting tired of this."
"Hey, you are back."
Mbuso: Yeah. She is settling in, in her room. I'll introduce her later. Lizzy, you don't have to worry about her. She means nothing. She never meant anything. She was just someone I used when I needed the release. She was not even supposed to be pregnant. She doesn't want the baby, so she'll give birth and give the baby to me. We raise him together as own.
"Mbuso you are making decisions for me now. Why would you think that I would be ok with raising another woman's child. You never spoke to me about that. Why do I feel like I have no choice in the matter?"
Mbuso: Come on Lizzy, it's not like that. I am sorry if I made you like that. I just didn't think you would have a problem.
"Well, I do. Can you please let me rest a little. I am tired and drained with everything going, I am ready to lose my mind.
He smiles, kissing my forehead and walk out. Now I have to deal with a baby mama. Goodness Nkosenye this had better be worth it.
*
NOBUHLE
*
It's been two days since the lobola negotiations. Menzi has been sulking like toddler who had candy taken away from him. He has been drinking a lot lately and to make matters worse Thando requested a Council Meeting in two weeks time. What kills Menzi about this, is that Thando is refusing to tell anyone what the meeting is about. I know very well that things didn't go very well during the negotiations. My dear husband probably asked for more money to make sure that Iyana continues to stay here and had Thando turn on him. No one wants to tell me anything about what happened. It has to be that. He is also drinking a lot these days.
Sabelo: You need to put this in his food. It will help him crave alcohol less. He won't stop, he'll just drink less.
"What is happening to him now?"
Sabelo: His actions are catching up to him, and yours will catch up to you soon as well. The two of you made a mockery of this Kingdom. You turned it to your playground. You forgot your duties as a queen. Being queen is not about looking pretty and spending money on expensive thing. When you were crowned queen you swore to uphold all your duties but you never did. Only when it suits you. The people have cried and the ancestors of this land have heard their cries and now, now they are right the wrong you did. You are going to be forced to write the wrongs you did.
"What about my daughter, what will happen to her? What about her powers?"
Sabelo: Why now, why ask now? You've had years to come and ask me that. Why do you care now. You never cared for her as long as you got what you wanted. You never cared. Your daughter is no longer your concern. He is no longer a Princess Iyana Zulu. She is now Queen Iyana Bhengu. You should be happy now, you have no one to compete with for your husband's attention. She belongs to them and they take care of their own. You should have loved her Nobuhle, you should have natured her, you should have protected her and now she is going to be your downfall. Be ready Nobuhle, nothing stays hidden for long.
He says, give one look and walks away. What does he mean nothing stays hidden forever? I'll be dammed if I lose my position as Queen. I've worked to hard to be where I am right now and I am not about to lose it just like that. Oh no, I refuse. I'll fight till the end. He didn't answer me when I asked about her powers. Is it possible that they found a power unbind her powers. Her powers were bound already when she went to Edwaleni Kingdom. Their seer just had to make sure they stay like that. Is it possible that she will get her powers back. She didn't look like it when she was here. If she gets her powers that means she will able to transform. If that happens, then she is going to be my downfall. I need to visit someone. This cannot be happening.
I walk up the stairs to my room and find Menzi sleeping. He probably got drunk again. I don't like this drunk him. I need him to sober up. When I met him, he was the most handsome man I've ever met, he still is and a King. I had to make mine at all costs. The first time we slept together it was amazing. He was gentle. He made love to me like I was the last woman in this world. He worshiped my body, he appreciated my body. He was different from the other man I've been with. He made sure I was also satisfied. He showed me so much love, so much tenderness, but all that was not for me. It was never mine. It never belonged me. I wanted it all for myself, so like a thief in the night, I stole it.