21

TEARS OF A ROYAL BLOOD

21

 

SINDISWA

 

She listens close and figures that they have been caught. Her heart almost jumps out of her rib cage, they are surely going to look for her too. But she can't leave her daughter, and she also can't get caught too. She needs to call for help. She will find a phone and call Solwazi.

She heard the guard footsteps and chattering and she ran to hide in the bushes.

It was already dark outside, and the forest is known to be full of scary things that happen. One time, a woman went missing and they found her months later, she was dead. Apparently she was eaten by the animals of the forest.

She is scared for her life and she can hear the guards getting closer.

 

“Over here guys, I see something”she hears one of them shouting.

 

She silently cries and feels someone holding her hand firmly.

She feels herself being pulled away from the forest into the open road.

 

She looks at who it was and it was one guard.

 

Sindiswa:Please let me go, say you didn't find me.

 

Guard:I can't go against my king.

 

Sindiswa:My son has done many things for you. He helped you get this job and convinced the late king to build your father a house. Please just reconsider.

 

She didn't want to blackmail him but she's desperate.

The guard looked at her and nodded.

 

Guard:Okay but you need to run. I'm only doing this for your son, he has always been kind to me.

 

Sindiswa:Please borrow me your phone. I need to call my son.

 

He took his phone and gave it to her.

She was about to dial Solwazi's number since she knows it by heart, when they heard the other guards approaching.

 

Guard:Go go now.

 

She ran away and didn't look back.

 

When she was far away from the royal house, she took a moment to catch her breath and quickly called Solwazi.

 

Solwazi:Ma, I have been waiting. How far are you? 

 

Sindiswa:Trouble Solwazi. Mkhonto took us hostage. We tried to run but he caught us. I managed to escape but Zizipho was caught. 

 

Solwazi:He did what!? Where are you right now!? 

 

Sindiswa:I'm almost at the Banji river. I'm scared, Solwazi. 

 

Solwazi:Uhm okay, please remain there. I'm coming. I'll call someone to get you. Mkhonto is dead I swear!! 

 

He hung up and she looked around waiting for that someone to come. 

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SOLWAZI 

 

After getting off the phone with his mother, he stood up and looked at Luyanda... 

 

Solwazi:We need to go. 

 

He got off his laptop and looked at him. 

 

Luyanda:What is going on now? 

 

Solwazi:Mom just called. Mkhonto held them hostage. He is testing me I swear! 

 

Luyanda:Shit Uhm okay!! 

 

Solwazi:I need to call one of my friends to get my mother. It's late at night and she's not safe. 

 

He disappeared into his bedroom and came back again. This is one of the days where he wishes he had a gun. 

 

Luyanda:We need to take a flight. If we drive, we will get there in two hours. 

 

Solwazi:In case you haven't noticed, I don't have a private jet. 

 

Luyanda:But your father had one, didn't he? 

 

Solwazi:Oh konje. Let me call that pilot guy.

 

He called the guy. He said everything would be ready within an hour. They don't have an hour. Who knows what Mkhonto could have done in one hour? 

He is only worried about his mother and sister. 

He should have been more careful and vigilant. He knew Mkhonto is possessed but he just left his family there. 

 

Luyanda:Don't blame yourself. I know you're blaming yourself right now. None of this was your fault. We need to be strategic about this, Solwazi. I don't like people who make sloppy decisions. What we will not do, is go there blindly. We could be entering into a trap. 

 

Solwazi:You're right. We need to think about this. And have back up. 

 

Luyanda:Now you're talking. 

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Back at Nqoboka, Madida was scaring and ordering everyone. Kholo tried to reason with him but she was also thrown into the prison. 

They are all in prison, except for Madida, bonding as a family behind bars. 

 

Madida:I have sent one of these boys to find this girl. He shall remove her head by sunset. Then all our problems will be over. 

 

Phazama nodded and looked at him. The level of confidence he had scared him. 

 

Phazama:Mkhonto needs to come back now. You're killing him by keeping him away for this long. 

 

Madida:I'll only go back when I have done the job. This generation is useless. I didn't have problems with the past ones. 

 

Phazama:I still say you need to go back. Everyone is terrified and that was never part of the plan. 

 

Madida:Plan? What plan? Who's in charge of the ship here? I am, not you. Your job is to follow my orders and be a good witch. Your father didn't ask so many questions. I wish it was him, not you. He must be disappointed wherever he is. 

 

Phazama:I am not my father, I got the witch title by default. He knew I didn't want to take after him. Yet he still left his things with me. I'm trapped and I can't do anything about it. 

 

Madida:Emotional, but I don't care. Follow your orders or I will end you. You may be a witch but you're a piece of cake to me. 

 

He walked away. 

Phazama released the breath he was holding and went back to his hut. 

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ZIZIPHO 

 

The whole family was now arrested. She was still not understanding what changed with Mkhonto. She used to look up to him so much, and he was one of the people she respected. What he's doing is just confusing for her. 

He even threw his mother in jail. 

 

But her mind was stuck on what Mkhonto said, that she's not even a Zondo. She doesn't want to think that it's what she's thinking. Her mother wouldn't do that to her. She wouldn't lie about her identity. She's not that type of person who would lie about something like this. 

 

Thembeka:Zee are you crying? 

 

Zizipho:No I'm not. 

 

She wipes her tears. 

Thembeka moved to her and brushes her arms. 

 

Thembeka:I heard what he said, but he was surely lying. There's no such. 

 

Kholo:What are you whispering about? 

 

Thembeka:Nothing. 

 

Zizipho leaned on Thembeka's shoulder as they awaited their fate. 

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By the Banji River. 

 

Sindiswa was cold and tired. She had been waiting for the person Solwazi said he will send. 

She sees a car approaching her and she thinks of running, but stops.

 

The driver opens the door for her and smiles showing his teeth…

 

“You're Sindiswa Zondo?”

 

Sindiswa:Yes.

 

She nods.

 

“Get in, I was sent by your son”

 

She got inside but she was not sure about this stranger.

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Outside the royal house. 

 

Solwazi and Luyanda are standing at the distance and are looking through binoculars. 

 

Solwazi:There are people moving around but I don't see my sister. 

 

Luyanda:He must have locked them inside. 

 

They hear someone behind them and they look back. Aha. An old friend! Or uncle!? Whatever he prefers. 

 

Solwazi:Dude. You scared us! 

 

Luyanda:Uhm who is he? 

 

Solwazi:An old friend of mine, Lwando Mlambo.

 

Lwando:That's King Lwando to you.

 

Luyanda:Mhhh you don't look like a king.

 

He frowns.

 

Lwando:What does a king look like?

 

Luyanda:A king doesn't go around sneaking like a criminal. What is he doing here, Solwazi?

 

Solwazi:He is going to help us. You see how armed those guards are? We can't get past them. I just need my sister there only and I'm gone. Mkhonto is mine. I am leaving him for another day. And he needs to take Zizipho to a safe place while I get my mother from my friend. 

 

Lwando:Piece of cake. Eyy I'm too old to be running around like this. Here you will need this.

 

He gives Solwazi a gun.

 

Solwazi:I'm not a gun person. Give it to him.

 

He gives it to Luyanda.

 

Lwando:I don't need people who panic. We do this my way. We have to bomb the gate to cause a distraction.

 

Solwazi:Okay.

 

They tip toe and Lwando throws the bomb near the gate, and the place explodes.

The guards rush to the incident and that alarms Madida from the inside.

 

Lwando:Go go go go.

 

They jump inside and head to the prison, being led by Solwazi.

 

Solwazi:Zizipho! 

 

“Bhuti, we are over here”she shouts back.

 

They run to them and they are surprised to find the whole clan inside.

 

Luyanda:Whoa!!

 

Lwando:We need to be quick before they realize what's going on.

 

Solwazi:Everyone out..

 

They got a them out and went behind the main house to use the back gate..

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Meanwhile, by the main gate.

 

Madida:What the hell happened here!?

 

Guard:We don't know. It just exploded!

 

His mind registered and he remembered how Phazama warned him to not underestimate Solwazi.

 

Madida:The prison!!!

 

He shouted pointing at the direction. They all ran towards the prison but they saw Solwazi and the others escaping.

 

Madida:Stop them!!

 

He brought out his hand and ran to them.

When he caught up, Solwazi was just jumping over.

Madida grabbed his leg but Solwazi spit at him and Madida stepped back disgusted.

Solwazi laughed and jumped over.

 

Madida:Find them!!

 

The Guards looked at him holding in their laugh.

 

Madida:What are you laughing at!? I said find them!!

 

“Yes Your Highness”

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To be continued