Lady Black and the mysterious creature of the night

Chapter 10

The new comers of the castle were blending in well over the days. Many of them tried to regain their physical strength and also worked on their mental health. They had been trapped in the Gama house for 8 years now after they had been abducted on the night of the fire. “As she and I were running out of the circling fire, she was gunned down and I was taken,” said a man in the circle of fellow patients. They sat in a circle, each one sharing their ordeal and grievances. It was the kitten that hosted the counselling classes. This kitten was deemed most suit for this job as it spent years listening to Mpho’s stories, laments and ideas. The kitten was glad to be of use finally in the big castle. Black was the owner of the castle and one who unconstrained captured souls. Mfundi was a healer, a fortune teller and the chef of the house, and now the kitten had become a therapist. This was a milestone for the kitten, he had something to wake up to and he would not have to spend another day listening to Black tell him how he was a free loafer. Now, they needed a door man whom would welcome the guests and strap them with the ‎argenteuil cloth, also a few housekeepers. Mpho had contested the idea of turning the guests she had brought in the other night into housekeepers. They had been housekeeping Gama’s house for several years now and never actually had the chance to grieve their losses in the village fire. She was determined to have them rest and recuperate.

Aggie had become too afraid to revert to Gama mention. She had a feeling that Mrs. Boniswa Gama had figured her out. However, that was all perception hence, she forced herself to go back. Her mission was not over yet, she had to find documents proving that the land where stood Gama’s firm was once Mpho’s village. The only way to finding out was through going back.

Taking a stroll in the street and thoroughly, consumed in thoughts was Mpho—she wanted to help Aggie on her decision. Mpho was surprised being pulled by the arm by Pinky. Pinky, the observer, the girl who did not speak much but watched. Mpho followed blindly. She had no reason to fight the girl off. They tip-toed to their warehouse—their den. Pinky had found a way to look through and see through the egg-tray coated room. She had made herself a peeking hole over time. From there she would listen in on their private conversations. There stood KK and his trio—Pedro, Ndaba and Gladys. What was even more shocking was to actually see Tiger in their den!

Tiger had brought his boys too—Steve and Crisp. “What is KK doing with Tiger?!” she had managed to keep her shock to a minimum. “They are working together. They are the reason Eagle got so mad and wanted to wash us out.”

“Pinky, how do you know this?”

“KK had been very suspicious lately. So, I kept my eyes on him and that is what I found.” Pinky continued and what she said now was hurtful towards Mpho, “KK wants to join with Tiger. They plan on tearing down our group and Tiger’s group so that they can emerge with their own.”

“Traitor!”

“I asked you before, why you would start the group and hand it over to a dirty man like KK. I never trusted him one bit. Anyway, they have distributed firearms to a few unknowns of the community. On that note, you need to check on your brother. I think he may also have something for them. Mpho, your brother is in danger.”

At this point, Mpho was at loss for words.

Mpho had to find a way to release her brother from the tight grip of Tiger. She had to find way to bring Tiger and KK down before they could take off. “The only man who can help you with that is my friend, Richie,” said Eagle sipping on coffee, chilling on the lounge with Mpho. She had gone to him for help. “But word out there is that you’re still under Gama’s arrest. And Richie still holds a grudge against myself and my team because of you.”

“Then you tell him that I sent you.”

“Eagle, this is not a joke! He would never believe anything coming from me. He thinks our teams are greatest of enemies. He’ll have my head blown off the moment he sees me.” She got up and had her arms folded, “Ow, I got to think of something.”

“I would tell you Richie’s weakness, but the man seems to have not weakness at all.”

Now an idea popped in, “Oh! I got it! Delilah! I should send in Delilah. Oh, but she needs some grooming first.”

She began cracking her head on who she may know to be so good at grooming. Especially, grooming someone like herself. She dressed in Great Black. While puffing her big hair, Black walked in, “Where did you get such an idea?”

“Oh, Great Black is an inspiration I took from reading tales about you. I could not go directly for Lady Black, hence, I went with Great Black.”

Black stared at the girl adoringly, “You really have changed. You are not the same boy who murdered me thousand years ago.” The kitten was on the bed having a nap. This was the guest room reserved for Mpho. “And your cat, he’s not that same annoying, macho twin brother of yours. Ow, I so wanted to skin you both alive.”

“I really wish I knew what happened. Why we betrayed you like that. I am so sorry, Black. Who knew in this lifetime, I would come to admire and imitate you so much? I must have really liked you.”

“Ow, you did. Or at least, I thought. You stood up for me against your brother, you welcomed me into your tribe. Those were the best few years of my life.”

The kitten woke up shortly to stretch, upon that it did say, “You know, you can actually live it through again. If you look outside tonight, there’ll be a blood moon at sunset. Take a single thread of my hair from my back, a thread of Mpho’s hair and a thread of Black’s hair. Weave them together and call on the teleporters of time. Make the wish to go back to that specific moment in time and place. One warning though, you must return before the end of the blood or else you will be trapped in Mpho’s memory. Forever.”

They planned on the embark during sunset, but currently, Mpho had to visit Officer Zukisani. Normally, they would meet in the evening but Mpho felt this was urgent. Hence, they met in the shadows of some big buildings. “Leyla will help you with that. If anyone can groom anything, it would be her,” he said to her. He kept wondering who may be behind that mask. He only had ideas of what the mysterious woman looked and sounded like. He had seen her in action, and he was marvelled at her fighting skills. It had become a nagging feeling inside himself to want to see the woman behind this. “Who are you grooming anyway?” he tried his luck. Curiosity got the better out of him, “You? I must say for once I’d love to see your face.” She only got Leyla’s card which had numbers and the address

and ran off. She was running against time. Also, she avoided chatter with this young as she had a fear that he may recognize her after some time.

It was sunset, and Mpho had all three strands of hair in her hand. She weaved and chanted a few words as heard from Black. Like that they entered Mpho’s past life. They would see everything through Mpho’s lens. Mpho as Banele.

The young man Banele had so much love for the woman named Kanala. He prepared her meals, bandaged her cuts and hushed her cries. Banele was a very understanding and caring young man. Not once did he think he would turn on this fair lady until someday, an empress captured him and threatened to wipe out everyone he had unless he led Kanala to her. This entailed that Banele would lose his twin brother whom he cherished and all of his tribe. This weighed heavy on him. That was, in his defence, enough reason to turn on his woman.

Black could not believe what she had just seen. Every part of her got even angrier knowing that Banele chose his family over her. She, however, chose to keep calm. They had gotten back just in time before the sunset was over and the moon was back to its silver shine. Leyla had been invited to the castle to give a make-over to Mpho and turn her into some man-magnet. The woman taught the rough girl a few dinning etiquettes, how to walk in heels and how talk like a lady. By the end of the night, Mpho had transformed into a full hostess. She named herself Delilah.

Delilah waltzed into Richie’s club and practically ‘stole’ the show. She had the long gaze of the men and women in the room. Confident Delilah went straight to the ring leader—Richie. He sat on his thrown high up looking down to the persons wandering below. He had a big coat which he would not take off, seeing that it was comfortable and cozy. It was made of white fur. He often preferred hanging up there by himself but as soon as he saw the rare beauty, he could not help wanting her attention. She went and sat by him and held a small chatter.

Delilah knew that it would take her a lot more to get through to him. She had to have patience but at the same time, she did not have much time. Delilah needed to get Richie moving already and impose an attack on Tiger. She remembered Leyla’s words during their grooming session on how to get a man’s attention, “Ow, sweetie. Just act interesting and disinterested.”

“So, you mean confuse him?”

“Basically.”

None of which made sense at the time but she tried it out anyway. First, she had to grab his attention by flaunting herself all over his gaze and when that was done, she had to find something else to do to keep away from his attention. She went and snuggled by the casino table and had herself learn a few tricks on how to play the game. “Are you ready to place your bet, lady?” said the man running the table.

Delilah did lower her peach and had a confident pose, “Ow, why. Of course. Why else would I be here?” She invaded the little space left unoccupied. They rolled the dices, put up their monies and the game began. It was not long until she won favour of one gentleman at that table. He could not hold himself back from her. His constant hover around her did scare off the other interested men. The good part…or perhaps the worst part was that this man was a known rivalry to Richie. Everyone knew that Richie could not rid away the man as he brought in loads of money into the club.

Richie soon caught onto some jealousy on the man whom had all of Delilah’s attention, from the view through Delilah’s corner of the eye. This encouraged the woman to keep at it, keep working her charm on the man. As though it was that easy, Richie finally left his sit and descended to snatch Delilah away from his rivalry. At that moment, Delilah knew she had won Richie. He gently took her hand in his and ascended the stairs—headed to his favourite spot. They were by the big lounge sipping on some beverages while soft music played in the room. It was a very fancy place, there were dancers, musicians and food. The night was getting long and Delilah knew she had to keep her first appearance short. “Ow, come now. The night is still young.”

“Young it may be but I have to submit to my slumber. The day starts early for me tomorrow.”

“Is it? May I ask what a lady of such high sophistication and calibre does for a living?”

She was a feisty one, “No, you may not. Here’s what you can do though, wait for me tomorrow, and I might just show again.”