My King

Chapter 3

I woke up to my alarm going of. It was 8:00am which meant that I had to get ready for work.

I put on my outfit and headed to the cafe. Once I got there I put on my apron and cleared the tables. People were starting to come in so I rushed to the register. I took the orders and passed them on to Lina who quickly prepared it and gave it to me. This was our usual morning routine give the people what they want then clean their tables. 

My life had fallen into a routine, well until I met him...

A guy came into the cafe wearing joggers and a white hoodie. His locks were pulled into a small ponytail.

"Hey" he grumbled to get my attention.

"Can I get a black coffee to go" his raspy voice rang in my ears.

"Yes, and will there be anything else?"

"Nah, thanks"

I passed the order on for prep as he stood aside. Lina handed me the cup as I passed it on to him. He took a sip and as he lowered the cup from his mouth his lower lip pulled down and for only a split second I was the unmistakable Wakandan markings. They glowed an iridescent blue. 

I was shocked and confused but all the more angry.

He left the cafe before I could properly react. I told Lina I'd be back as I jumped across the counter and sprinted out of the door. I saw him casually walking down the street. A mix of rage and fear boiled up inside me, a concoction of emotions which I hadn't felt since that night. 

I screamed after him "Hey!" he didn't look. Once again I yelled "Hey! Black coffee guy!"

He turned with one eyebrow raised to face me.

"You talkin' to me princess?" he asked

"Yes damn it." I ran up to him. "Who the hell are you?"

He smirked as he narrowed his eyes "none of your damn business" and kept walking.

"Ndiyacela! (Please!)" I yelled after him the last words that I ever remember my mother teaching me that had a connection to Wakanda.

The guy stopped in his tracks turned around and came up to me. His face was inches away from mine, he stood confident and intimidating but I could still see fear lurking in his eyes.

I pulled down my lip down to show him the Wakandan tattoo his eyes widened at the sight of the neon blue mark across my inner lip. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into an alley out of earshot.

"Who are you?" He barked

"I'll have to ask you the same question" I said slyly knowing that I had a little bit of control over him.

He stepped back "N'Jadaka son of Prince N'Jobu" 

My eyes widened as I heard the familiar name. "No..." I pulled my wrist out of his grip as I backed into the wall.

"You... you're father. I knew him, or rather know of him" the words created a sharp knot in my throat as I tried to continue but he cut me off.

"What?" he whispered almost to himself "but that's impossible"

"M-My mother and father worked with him. I am Tamala daughter of M'Chanu"

His eyes widened at the familiar name.

"How is this possible?" he said as his eyes darted across my face.

"My parents were taken, I haven't seen them in 12 years" I had no emotion on my face as I was focused on his reactions. Over the years I had gotten used to numbing my feelings, putting on a pokerface and analyzing people. It was my own way of protecting myself. If I could give no clues through my body language yet could completely understand the state of the person in front of me, it gave me an advantage.

"Look, since the night my parents were taken away I haven't met anyone that knew about it or them. I've never met anyone who knew of Wakanda, or rather the Wakanda that I was told about" I said staring at him.

"Our parents were in business with each other. But on the night the Wakandans showed your parents mercy, my father was murdered" he spoke with increasing anger in his voice.

He looked back at me meeting my gaze, that hint of fear now gone within his eyes.

I tilted my head "You want revenge" I whispered, as I could easily read him.

He smiled.

"Good" I said retuning the smile "Because I do too"

He leaned back against the alley wall copying my body language.

He cocked any eyebrow at me "You gotta plan?"

"No, considering the fact that this is the only time I've been able to get information on that night or even met someone who knows about it... no I don't have a plan" I scoffed

He smirked at me again. That damn smirk, does he ever stop?

"Well I do, I've gotta be honest though, I don't plan on anyone joining"

I tilted my head as I stepped closer, making sure that my face was stone cold as I did. "Unfortunately, that's not going to be your choice"

His face went cold like mine as he understood what I implied while also reading into the tone. I was serious. I was angry. I was just what he needed.

"My plan is to go to Wakanda, that's all I'll tell you for now"

"Oh wow, why didn't I just think of that?" I said mockingly. "If you're not aware whatever Wakanda our parents were talking about is unknown to the rest of the world. You'll have better luck finding El Dorado"

"Well then count that I've found both Wakanda and El Dorado." He chuckled "I know that princess, which is why it's not gonna be some first class ride to that place. I've got a way in but I doubt you'll like it, or rather can withstand it"

I smiled, "Oh is that so?" I said with a little pout. I pulled out my phone and immediately got to work on figuring out his identity and past. The reason I did a computer science major was to identify any trace of Wakanda or my parents. To do that I needed to learn code, how the internet, fire walls and softwares worked. So I did and became a damn good 'hacker' at that. After a minute I looked up at him. He had a puzzled look on his face. "You're Erik Stevens. MIT graduate, former Navy Seal and black-ops officer"

"Bravo you have basic research skills, anyone who's trained can do -"

"You were given the nickname Killmonger due to your rate of kills. You've been off the grid for sometime now but if Im correct..." I stared at him, the fear coming back into his eyes awaiting what I was about to say "You're traveling with Ulysses Klaue, a black market arms dealer and international criminal"

He huffed. "We can't talk about this here"

"Wanna come back to my place, it's just a couple blocks down form here?"

He smirked. Again.

He looked me up and down, and this time with a more relaxed tone said "Princess, you know I could never refuse that offer"