This kind of magic would ruin our kingdom if it were in the wrong hands. I can just imagine all of us unwillingly jumping off the cliff. Lead by an entity we neither see or can ward off.
He doesn't take his eyes off me, neither does he move even when I retrieve my knife and get ready to defend myself should the need arise -- he keeps staring.
There's something about the way those big eyes lie on me. It makes me warm and dizzy.
I'm now in front of him. I'm too close.
He looks into my eyes with the strangest expression — it is intrigued but with unmet expectation.
I have all kinds of emotions taking over me.
I have to look away.
"I was going to come back and bring it back!"
He snorts. "I doubt that. But I'll let the F300 go and I won't report you for stealing if you agree to do lunch with me tomorrow."
Bloody hell.
Not only is this creep following me but he's blackmailing me into dating him?
Where the hell does this guy come from?
No seriously.
I take another step. He whispers something too low for me to hear and I suddenly stop.
Whew! It's been a rough couple of seconds. I need to pee. Desperately.
"Imani," he says.
Again, how does he know my name?
Is he stalking me? Did he follow me here?
He smiles and shakes his head, his neat, blue, waist-length dreadlocks becoming free from the ponytail he pinned them in.
"You were taking too long to figure things out, I couldn't wait."
I frown. Figure what out?
"I couldn't sleep last night, I was too excited," he says, there's a twinkle in his eye. "You're finally sixteen. I'm sorry I didn't buy you anything. But I promise I'll make it up to you."
I don't know him, he doesn't know me. We both aren't supposed to be here.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" he asks.
Of course not.
What is wrong with this guy?
I start biting my bottom lip again.
"You look nervous," he says again. "Just don't hurt yourself this time. The sight of blood makes me sick."
He's right, I am. Why is he even talking to me.
He doesn't move, neither do I. Minutes waste away. I notice he keeps glancing at me under his mask. If only my stomach would stop churning.
"What do you plan to do with my sword?"
I raise an eyebrow questioningly.
I stop when I notice the look on his face. It says "ya didn't really think I'd let you just steal my sword, did you?"
It doesn't matter. I'm not giving it back. I can't give it back.
He grins at me as he asks, "So about that date?"
"Okay, dude, look." I glare at him, resisting the edge to hit my head against the wall. "I'm not going out with you--ever. So stop trying. Pestering me for small change, when you can't even afford me. Boy please. And what crazy fool asks a thief out? I'm in the middle of stealing a sword, can't you see?"
"It's kinda romantic, wouldn't you agree?" he says enthusiastically.
Rubbish man.
He looks like he wants to pursue the subject some more but suddenly jerks his head, eyes scanning over my shoulder, as though he just heard something and narrows his eyes. "We'll have a little chat soon," he says.
"Bye," I say, dismissive, glad it's almost over.
He doesn't leave, instead he looks at me and smiles. I don't smile back. He keeps smiling.
Dear Gods! Is this real?
Behind me, a slightly annoyed voice says, "Come this way."
I jump and turn my face to the intruder, and for some reason, I'm annoyed too.
Leza! It's Sir Ayize. He's a Griffin. He has enormous black and yellow wings.
I'm waiting nervously for the moment he will pounce at me. He must know what I've just done. I hope he'll just claw me to death instead of taking me to the Royal palace. King Father's strongest attribute isn't forgiveness. He'll strip me naked and at dawn offer my neck to Leza as sacrifice.
I look at Sir Ayize. "Er...I was just--"
"Ya like this beauty, uh." It isn't a question. "Let's see if it's yers."
Why is he going on about the sword? Can't he see the stranger?
I spin to look where the stranger was last standing, but he has gone.
"What the hell?" I try to stop myself from talking, but I can't help it. "Gabada is here," I look over my shoulder, but no one is there.
Sir Ayize shivers, and colour flashes across Kaseke's eyes, although his expression doesn't change. "D'ziko. I heard he's the only person who doesn't need to first connect with his sword in order for magic to activate in his body."
"And rumour has it, the essence thief is scared of him," Sir Ayize continues. "Do ya think he was here to kill...ya? Or perhaps to protect you from the essence thief? Could the Bakantwa Sword really be yers?"
Sir Ayize's wild eyes shift restlessly between my brother and me, and the spot the cloaked man was in, his wings quivering. He stands ramrod straight.
The whole room is buzzing with electricity now. The hairs on my nape stand on edge.
"Do ya guys feel that?" I ask.
"The breeze?" Sir Ayize asks. He shivers. "Ja, I'm freezing."
"No. The current." I close my eyes and rub the back of my neck with one hand. "It's like there's electric wires all over this place. I'm roasting."
For a moment the three of them stare at me. As I watch them, Madam Thembi suddenly glares at me. I feel an immediate, intense need to get out of here.
"It began with Electricity," she says to herself. A long exhale. "As all magic does."
"What did he say?" Kaseke asks, ignoring Thembi. He seems genuinely curious, so, he didn't see D'ziko coming? That must mean something.
My forehead creases. I can't imagine anything about me that could be in any way interesting for D'ziko... unless he is here because of the forgery.
And why didn't he properly introduce himself? Why'd he hide his identity to me. He's sort of a legend here. The most famous person in Noddon but nobody actually knows what he looks likes. Not before today. He always hides behind a mask. Why did he show me his face? Why me?
"Nothing. He said nothing."
Sir Ayize gives me a patronizing look. His voice hardens. "Let's get ya a sword so you can leave my shop."
"Ya think he was here for her?" Madam Thembi asks.
"No one but her saw him." Sir Ayize says, looking furiously at me as though I planned this. I'm not sure if he thinks I'm pretending? If he doubts that D'ziko was actually here?
I head straight for the fake Bakantwa sword. A clump of teens hover outside the windows now, people elbowing each other trying to get a better view. Word gets out fast on these parts, thanks in part to enhanced hearing. The only common gift.
Every one of them have tried using the Bakantwa Sword. All have failed to control it.
I wave the sword once and as I built it to, its lights switch off.
Gasps and hums echo throughout the streets. Someone shouts that the Bakantwa has found a owner. There's choas everywhere.
Ayize falls to his knees and soon the crowds outside bow down to me.
It's disturbing to finally live yer dream but feel cold inside. Like something's missing. Like someone's dead.
The real Bakantwa sword under my steels vibrates and, I feel a sharp stab in my side burning my skin. The potion is wearing off.
I cry out, gasping. I claw at the unseen flames.
"Imani!" Kaseke cries out.
I need to get rid of the real Bakantwa Sword.
I bolt.