My King

Chapter 1

The last time I saw my parents was on the night of my 8th birthday.

 My parents were out doing work, me and my sister were sat at home watching cartoons. She sat on my lap as she was only 2 and was hypnotized by the colorful pixels on our tv. I heard keys jam in to our front door followed by my parents faint whispers as they entered the small apartment.

"Do you think she's asleep?" whispered my father.

"Judging by the television noises...no" my mother laughed.

"Let me just get this ready and we can surprise her"

My parents tip toed into the living room. My dad's hand was covering something as they walked in and smiled. Only my parents arrival awakened Themba from her trance as her eyes drifted to them. As soon as she saw my mother she reached towards her, trying to grab on. My mother enveloped us into a hug, then picked up Themba as my dad slowly approached us still covering the thing that was in his hand.

He lifted his gaze to look at me with a bright smile and lifted his hand to reveal a cupcake with a flickering candle. He slowly started to sing:

"Happy Birthday to you..."

My mother joined in bobbing her head side to side

"Happy birthday to you,

Happy Birthday 

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Tamala"

My sister had no clue what was happening but clapped her hands right on cue. I felt a smile spread across my face as I couldn't contain the joy. 

"Make a wish, my little warrior" my mother said softly.

That's what she used to call me, 'warrior'. As her and dad were out late most days they always told me that I was the warrior of the house, the one who protected my sister. Fittingly that was my wish...

I tightly closed my eyes as I pulled all my concentration to focus. I wish to protect my home, mama, baba and Themba. I wish to be strong and brave. I wish to be a warrior.

I opened my eyes and blew out the candle with a big huff of air, well as big as I could muster, which at that age was just barely enough. 

My parents clapped as they cheered. My father proceeded to take the candle out of the cupcake, as I devoured the small treat that lay before me.

"Now let's get ready for bed" my mom said as she stroked my head.

"Noo! Please I want to stay up longer" I pleaded

"Its already late Tamala, you and Themba both should be in bed"

"You and baba are always working late, so why can't I stay up late?" I questioned

My mother sighed at my protests. "Well.." she started.

"Me and your father stay up late to help N'Jobu, do you remember him? The nice man who comes around sometimes for work?"

I nodded.

My mother sighed as she continued, "Me and your father work late so that we can help people Tamala, those who are like us who need that protection" She shook her head, then turned to look at me, a soft yet sad smile gracing her lips. "You'll fully understand when you're older" Then she turned to look at the ground as she whispered "Its not like we have a choice to be aware".

I saw Themba dozing off in my mothers arms as I offered to pick her up. My mother handed her to me as she ushered both of us into the bedroom. Me and my sister slept in the same bed, as she was small and we didn't have enough room for one more. I gently placed her next to me and I tucked both of us in.

My father sat at the edge of the bed.

"Do you remember the words I taught you last night?" he asked.

My parents had told me stories about our native land called Wakanda. I had never been there but from what my mother told me it was the most beautiful place on earth. My parents had blue tattoos which lined their inner lips. Instead of getting my earlobes pierced when I was 1, like most children do, my parents decided to give me the same tattoo, my sister had it too. It was one of their efforts to always make me feel and stay connected to our homeland. Which is why they also taught me the language.

"I only remember one word"

"And what is that?"

"Ndiyacela which means please"

"Good" he said smiling "But never forget to keep practicing"

Both my mother and father kissed me goodnight as they turned off the lights.

I woke up to a pounding on the front door. 

My mother opened the door to the bedroom flicking the lights on. I squinted trying to adjust to the sudden change. My sister had started to cry from the loud noise.

"Everything's going to be okay" my mother said as she gave me a broken smile while tears welled up in her eyes.

She put me and my sister into a cupboard, as she instructed me to cover my sisters mouth to muffle the cries. My heart was racing, I was terrified and my sister's screams didn't make it easier.

I heard the front door being opened as footsteps entered our apartment. 

"My queen" I heard my parents say in unison as they greeted whoever had entered

A woman replied in a familiar tongue.

"Ungcatshile wakanda, uya kuphendula enkundleni (You have betrayed Wakanda, you shall answer to the court!"

I realised they were speaking Xhosa, the language of Wakanda.

"We have caused no harm..." My mother spoke up

The woman slammed her hand against a table. "Akukho bungozi?! (No harm?!) Do you have any idea what you have caused? I will not ask again for you to come with us, do so peacefully or face the consequences"

"We have children" my father pleaded, "Please, they have not done anything wrong"

"Find them" The woman ordered

My sister's screams were like a magnet as they found us in seconds. A bald woman opened the cupboard holding a spear in one hand. She had no reaction as she signaled to the woman of our location. 

The woman approached the cupboard with a stern look on her face. 

"Take the little one, she is too small to be left" she stated.

The woman who opened the cupboard snatched my sister from my arms, as I too started to cry and scream. I jumped out of the cupboard frantically looking around to find my parents, I realized they were both on their knees and two women in colorful armor were standing beside them. They faced the floor as they did not dare to look up at the horrifying scene.

I screamed for their help "Mama, baba!"

My mother could only look at me for a second with tears streaming down her face as the soldier next to her shoved her head back down.

 I couldn't leave my sister so I latched on to the woman holding her. I gripped her leg with all my might, trying to get my sister back. 

" Ndiyacela, ndiyacela! (Please, please!)" I pleaded

I looked up at the woman, standing not too far away who seemed to be commanding all of this. With only one look she ordered one of her soldiers to get me off of the woman I had gripped on to. They peeled me away from the soldier which had taken my sister and threw me to the ground.

I curled up on the ground shivering as tears streamed down my face. They all left the room with my parents and sister. I could hear my baby sisters shrieks as they went down the stairs while I was unable to move. I was left alone in the apartment in a pool of my own tears, but little did I now that the same thing had happened to a boy just a few blocks down the road.