Lady Black and the mysterious creature of the night

Chapter 12

Aggie was in the Crescent Castle. She paraded around the corridors bracing herself for her meeting with Luthando, Gama's youngest son. She was taking her breathing exercises, her eyes shut and taking one step at a time. There, she bumped into Mr. Polile. "Careful there, miss. Are you alright?" he said catching her from falling as she slightly tumbled onto him. 

In Mpho's voice, Aggie answered, "Mr. Polile! Oh, forgive me, I wasn't looking."

"Oh, youngsters. So, full of energy! How are you, my dear?"

"I am very well, how are you?"

"Longing to see my son. Is there a chance you could bring him over?"

She had to think carefully. Did she want to alarm the poor old man whose just regained his freedom? Certainly not. It was always in Aggie's character to not want to cause harm to others. "Oh, I'm sure he'll come around when the time is right." She wouldn't dare tell him that Karabo was missing, in fact, it had been days now. "He's busy with exams. It's been hectic for him. I haven't had the chance to sit him down and talk to him. But soon, I will make sure he makes a round." Few more words were exchanged and Aggie, finally, got away from the pitiful old man. Thinking about it, she had just uncovered some resemblance between the two. Karabo's father too was a handsome gallant, very mindful of what he said to people and very kind. They both had peculiar eyes that stood out from the rest of their faces, big blue eyes and almost sorrowful. Their voices, so soft and soothing. Seeing Mr. Polile, Aggie began to understand Karabo. Karabo was always so gentle with people, and very respectful. Karabo would come across as shy and calm. 

Aggie knocked for the second time in Luthando's room. Then, he answered. She found him at the mirror on the table. He was on his wheelchair. He was caressing the bruises on his face. He turned shortly to see her walk in. "You?" he recognized Aggie. "What are you doing here?"

"You remember me? That's great." She went and sat on his matrass. He turned his wheelchair to keep facing her. "You refused to leave your room. Others are having fun around here. You should go out and mobilize with the others, you know. This place is haven for the depressed and a recovery center for the crippled."

"Calling me a cripple is an insult, you know?"

"Oh, no. I do not mean it like that. When I say crippled, I talk for all those battling with something. Either a sickness or mental chains. So, how did you wound up at the LB's? How were you captured?"

"Who are you?"

"Aggie. Who are you?"

He gave a cynical laugh and then more seriously, "Who are you? What is this place?"

"I told you, this place is safe, unlike that hell you were dragged to."

She paused to see if he would say anything thereafter. He said nothing. Now she got up and walked out. It was her conclusion that he would not say anything to her. Aggie wanted to get Luthando talking. She had to know how he was connected to the LB's. And why they would capture specifically him and not his two brothers. Luthando seemed like a descent young man. In fact, he seemed like the only descent Gama in his family. While his father was feared among business associates for his blooded creed, his oldest brother was most arrogant and his second brother was a known junkie, Luthando was well praised to follow the law. Hence, it was a shock to see him mixed up with the LB's.

A few moments later, there entered a Great Black. Luthando almost leapt off his chair. He was very pleased to see the mysterious woman. "Where have you been?" he asked almost entitled. "I was afraid I wouldn't see you again." Great Black went and sat on his matrass where Aggie had been sitting before she exited. Great Black was facing him. She had a notebook and a pen in her hand. She wrote things down and he would read and respond. "I am fine, thanks. How are you?" He was comfortable talking to her than anyone else. "Are you okay? How are the stab wounds? Did you go see a doctor? Ow, there's a doctor around here? I didn't know that. I haven't seen the people around here. No, I'm not afraid. I'm just... I don't know, it feels better hanging by myself." The topics bounced around. Great Black's goal was to make him loosen up and to feel safe. "Aggie? Well, she's... She okay, I guess. Oh, I can trust her? She seems pretentious, though." Now, Great Black got up. She was leaving behind her final words, Talk to Aggie. 

Black had collected a few homeless individuals to work at her castle as keepers. The castle was becoming messier and messier with the growing population of new settlers. She had been collecting them off the streets at night. Already, they were dressed in uniforms she had designed. She kept marvelling at her creativity. Long ago, when she had nothing but herself, she would whip out her tiny mirror and goggle at herself. Admiring at herself. Later, she built the castle, she would stroll about and be enchanted by her creation. Now, she was amazed by the uniforms she designed for all of her staff. Black adored beautiful things. "Turn around one more time," she said to the woman dusting furniture. "You are such a work of art!"

"Thank you, ma'am."

Black gently leaned in to take hold of the woman's sleeves, "Yes, you. Such fine material!"

"Not this again," said the kitten. 

Black turned and looked down to the kitten, "Ow, look at you. For the first time, I find it easy looking at you." She said since even the kitten was dressed in the uniform. "So, where's your friend? Not out doing something crazy, now, is she?"

They were headed to Black's office. "Mpho? She said something about meeting with her g**g. Hey, do you think she's gonna be okay? She hasn't been herself since she lost her brother."

"How would I know? She's your friend, is she not? So you, instead, should know. I just hope she won't go budging into that mention again. I have plans tonight, I won't be able to return to her rescue."

"And by 'plans', you mean a spar treatment?"

"You catch on fast, little fur. You catch on fast."

Mpho was about, walking under the cloudy sky, all seemed dull through her eyes. She rummaged through her mind for her brother's whereabouts. Where must have Tiger taken Karabo? Mpho would not begin to think of Karabo's death. There was no way, she would let her mind slip to that thought. She wanted her brother alive so bad. But then again, it was foolish to think Tiger would keep Karabo alive when Karabo had become useless now, she thought. It was, however, a soft pillow for her to lay on thinking that Karabo was alive. Black had said that Karabo was not in the LB mention, and that meant he may had been moved to somewhere else. Somewhere, Tiger figured Mpho would not think to look. "If I were Tiger, where would I hide Karabo?" she thought out loud. "Mpho, is a very smart girl. She knows all my hiding spots by now. I must hide Karabo well. Somewhere she doesn't suspect... Or maybe, with someone she doesn't suspect. KK!" Mpho burst out. She then turned back heading to KK's house-

There stood Zukisani in front of her. She almost bumped onto him. He reached out to her shoulders and held onto her gently until she regained balance. They stood for a moment, not wanting to say anything to each other. Their eyes bounced off each other frequently. Not one of them wanted to initiate communication. Saved by the rain, they began running to a place of safety. They bugged into Mpho's little shack. In that moment, a flood of emotions fell on Mpho but she would not dare break down again in front of Zukisani. A cold sheiver brushed onto her as she walked further inside. Zukisani, walking right behind her, turned on the light bulb. As if the light would bring warmth as it always did, it made no difference this time. She began to feel lonely. Her brother's void was widening and his absent cheers were getting louder. She reached for the chair at the table as her body was pulling down gently. She slumped onto the chair and laid her face in her elbows on the table. It was hurtful for Zukisani to see her like that. In his past years with her, he had never seen her like that. In fact, when they parted only he broke down and she remained so strong that he began doubting her love for him. At that time, he wished to see her cry and mope around but now that he was seeing it, he much rather wished he never did. 

"We should open a case for your brother." Finally, he said, "We need much more help in this time and the station has all the resources and the connections."

"They also have moles," she mumbled and he heard.

"I'll get my trusted team. Only my trusted team." She began shaking her head in response to his words. "A child is missing, Mpho. We can't do this alone. You know the stats of missing people in the community."

"Yeah, and whose job is it to find all those people? Your job. You and 'team'. And your station and your... There's nothing you can do."

"And you think there is something you can do?"

"He's my brother! Of course, I'll even chop down all the forests just to find him, drain all rivers and wipe out the clouds. You think I can't do it? Look around you, Zukisani. Look what I've achieved from nothing. Look what I have done for the community when you and your station where nowhere to be seen. Hear my name in the wind, everyone cries to the thought of it."

As if a sudden burst of energy had just set it, she jumped to her feet. She stomped to her room. "I have shut down 16 gangs and handed you over 80 criminals to jail. I have saved hundreds of lives and countered multiples of d**g chains. I did that! I... did that!" She was changing outfits. She slid into an ombre red gown that tightened on her torso and hips. It fluttered from the knees down. Her chest and a sneak of her shoulders exposed. Her collar-bones draped in thin silver chains with some peals. She put on a wavy wig and had her make-up done. She had black round stalito heels on to finish of the look. Zukisani was shocked when she came out of the curtain looking like that. Mpho was never one dress-up and wear make-up like that. Almost as though, she did not see him there anymore, she walked right past and out the door.