Lady Black and the mysterious creature of the night

Chapter 20

On the night of this day, Black had decided that she would get a face off with the demon in Gama’s basement.  Black knew that she needed assistance. It did help that Mpho needed to get into Gama’s safe to get hold some incriminating documents. Black had the Great Black tag along. First, they made a stop at Oupa’s Grand Gift shop. They found a 10-year-old girl working the counter.

“Oupa! Always so great to see you.”

The girl got up and responded, “Ah, my one and only. How have you been? Twin told me you had come back. I take it this time you’re off to face the demon?”

“Yes. Listen, great friend. I need you to help me with this one here,” Black was referring to Mpho. The girl immediately, flashed a big smile when she saw Mpho. Mpho was baffled as to why Black would call the little girl Oupa—Afrikaans for grandpa. Mpho also found it weird that the girl smiled ear-to-ear almost as though she already knew her. “Make her stronger.”

“Ow, she’s going with you? Are you sure she won’t turn on you this time?”

“Oh, I hope not.” Black began strolling around the shop. She was collecting a few items she would need on the face off. “So, the other one has gone?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Mpho remembered a tale she read long ago about how Black felt so lonely on her second that she created twin mannequins. They were both males with some resemblance of Banele and Bandile…

At first, they were for use as punching bags but when she brought them to life, she became soft-hearted towards them and kept them as minions instead. It was rumoured that these mannequins would never die before she did.

“Yes, yes. It is us. But we did pass on. We were brought back here to serve Kanala.” The girl explained, “However, we were no longer brought at the same time, we were separated. After a generation, one twin goes and the other resurfaces. Like just a few weeks ago, the old man left and I have resurfaced. Again, and again, and again. Understand?”

“What if Kanala finally leaves earth for good now.”

“Poof! We vanish and our circulation is over.”

“So, are you humans?”

“Ha-ha. Of course, not! We form in the boiler well.”

The girl dosed some herbs on Mpho, she also did a few small incisors and smeared more herbs. “This should hold you for some hours. Kanala, that demon had sent you off twice now. This time, you go send her off.”

“Ow, don’t worry about that. I never got the chance to say this… Thank you. You and your twin. I have had some great memories with your presence. I say this as this might be the last time we meet again.”

It was night, finally. Black and the Great Black had journeyed to Gama’s mention in the basement. It was not midnight yet, so Black was in her soul form. She wandered about the big house, studying it more for her fight with the demon. “Ah, now isn’t this the body housing two souls?” said the piercing deep voice of Gama. “I thought our business has already been concluded. You came and took back the Eagle. What more do you want?”

“Revenge?”

“Revenge?” he laughed, almost belittling her. “What revenge do you seek?”

“Revenge for the village you burned down 8 years ago.”

He did not deny. And did not fake obliviousness. He laughed again, “What does that have to do with you?”

She lowered her mask, “I lived in that village. You murdered my family.”

“Aren’t you, Aggie, the shy girl? So, you played me all this time?” He began running towards her with his fist out, “Oh, you are not leaving here alive this time!”

They had been battling for a while now. Mpho did not expect that. She was confident that she would take him out easily like the last time. Instead, after many strikes and resilience, Mpho found herself thrown on the floor. “I don’t get this.” She said to Black who made herself visible only to her. “He wasn’t this strong the last time, I should be done with him by now!”

“She knows we’re here. She must’ve known we’re coming.”

“Huh?”

“He’s under her hypnosis. She has lent him a fraction of her power. You may need to up your game, my dear. So, get up and release all of which is stored within you, that’s the only way you can defeat him.”

Mpho got up and put her mask back on. The Great Black. She did some breath-work and called upon the universe. She muttered a short prayer that only seemed to build her up. Without warning, she sprung off her feet and spear-headed the man. Now, she reached into her big hair and pulled out her famous wooden bat. She swung it to all angles he escaped to. The last of Gama’s energy immediately, drained when she chocked him until he passed out. She then tied him up and left him at the corner of the room.

Black came into her full power when finally, midnight had befallen. Her body had rested enough. Her body had been well nourished and warmed-up. She was ready to battle it off with the self-acclaimed ‘queen’. In that instance, a heavy wash of energy fell into the room—it was the demon. Black instantly, recognized her—she was the same queen who drained her blood and tossed her over the cliff. She was also the same mage who defeated, wiped off her memory and locked her in time. “It has been you all along.”

The demon snickered in response, “Now, now, child. When your queen comes around, you bow.” She was nearing the two—Black and Great Black. “I must say I never thought you’d forgive her after what she did but hey, life is a surprise. What are you, best friends now?”

Black would not let this woman see that she was getting at her. She maintained a straight face.

“She was your lover in the past, and she drove a knife into your flesh. Yet, here you are today—standing side by side. Did those idiots in the high court put you up to this? Hm! The Kanala I know would never allow such atrocity.”

“That’s right. The Kanala you know would fumble and fall into your lies. This is Black you see now and she is not so fickle minded!” she sprang to the demon and threw a blow that did not much damage. Black had become a raging mess. Only one thing was in her mind and it was defeating the monster. She forwarded a few more attacks. The fight had begun. A series of magical powers went flying and a lot of pulling and pushing. Great Black could only marvel from the corner of the dim room. She had never thought Black was that powerful. The basement was beginning to tumble, Great Black grabbed Gama and ran out with him. She was keeping him safe for the police to arrest for his crimes. Great Black was then off to search the house, hopefully she’d collect what was in the safe.

The house had become noisy that it woke the neighbours. They came knocking in hopes that they would find out what was going on. In the safe, she pressed the codes and it opened. She found a lot of papers and drugs, also a g*n. She started looking into these papers, and to her surprise, she had found what she was looking for. And perhaps, even more.

“Wait, wait!” cried the Angel. Black had the queen pinned against the wall all worn out and battered. “You don’t want to do that.” He had appeared out of nowhere.

“Give me one good reason.”

“She is your mother.” This was shocking news, “That is the Empress. Empress Tamala.” He could see that Black was not buying that; hence he began telling the story.

Empress Tamala was sad to see her child off with Zula’s father, but she knew that this was for the child’s safety. “Take care of Kanala for me. Tell her to run. Run and never look back. Tell her to be happy, she must find a new life.” Zula would not abide by the Empress whom had ordered him to go too as he protested that he wanted to protect his Empress. The kingdom had been brainwashed to stand against the Empress by the rogue lords. It was not too long before Zula was sent off to his deathbed and Empress Tamala’s home was set ablaze while she was trapped inside. They captured her and wrapped her gold chains to strip her off her powers. Empress Tamala grew rageful at the people that she, herself succumbed to evil and hunted down anyone who opposed her. She obtained absolute power and her followers feared for their lives. Empress Tamala had indeed lost herself in her rage that she forgot who she was.

It was heard of that an Angel of the Dark had possessed her. It fussed in one with her. She became so intertwined with it that even she could not reclaim herself. From the eternal fire, she had obtained scars. Her face was deformed and barely recognizable. Her skin was almost peeling off. Years later, she heard of the good blood in a child named Kanala. She hunted her down until she found her.

Black was bewildered and what was even more baffling was finding out that the Angel was actually her father, Zula. “So, you’re not an Angel?”

“No. Well, but I was your guardian.” The Empress was then taken by Zula back to the chambers of which she had escaped from. Meanwhile police flooded the area and arrested Gama.