Chapter Seven – The Blood We Were Taught to Forget
The woman stood in the smoke.
Neither brother moved.
The fire behind her reflected in her white clothing, but her black eyes remained fixed on them.
Kwaku slowly raised his sword.
"Stay away from my family."
The woman smiled.
"If I wanted your family dead, Kwaku, you would already be holding their ashes."
Kwaku froze.
Kwesi stepped forward.
"How do you know my name?"
The woman tilted her head.
"I know much more than your names."
She touched the symbol on her forehead.
"I know where your blood came from."
Kwesi's golden mark burned again.
He clenched his fist.
"Tell us who you are."
The woman's smile disappeared.
"My name is Adwoa."
Kwaku stared at her.
"That name means nothing to us."
"It was never supposed to."
A loud explosion shook the palace.
The brothers turned toward the sound.
"Mother!" Kwaku shouted.
He started running.
Adwoa suddenly appeared in front of him.
Kwaku stopped and raised his sword.
"Move."
"You cannot save her by running blindly into the palace."
Kwaku's eyes hardened.
"She is my mother."
"I know."
"Then move!"
Adwoa looked toward the palace.
"She is alive."
Kwaku hesitated.
"How do you know?"
"Because they need her alive."
Kwesi stepped closer.
"Who are they?"
"The Black Sun."
"Why do they want our mother?"
Adwoa looked at the two brothers.
"Because she knows the truth."
Kwesi frowned.
"What truth?"
"The truth about your father."
Silence.
Kwaku lowered his sword slightly.
"Our father died years ago."
Adwoa stared at him.
"Did he?"
Kwesi's expression changed.
"What are you saying?"
Before Adwoa could answer, another explosion came from inside the palace.
This time, the entire building shook.
Kwaku pushed past her.
"Whatever you know, tell us later."
Adwoa watched him disappear through the doors.
Kwesi remained behind for a moment.
He looked at her.
"Why are you helping us?"
Adwoa's black eyes met his.
"I'm not."
Then she walked into the palace.
Kwesi followed.
⸻
Inside, the palace was covered in smoke.
Broken wooden pillars lay across the floor.
Warriors fought against men dressed in black armor.
Every one of the attackers carried the same symbol.
A black circle surrounding a burning sun.
Kwesi raised his sword.
"Where is the Queen?"
A warrior pointed toward the eastern hall.
"They took her there!"
Kwaku was already running.
Three Black Sun warriors blocked his path.
The first swung his spear.
Kwaku ducked beneath it and struck him across the chest.
The second attacked from behind.
Kwesi blocked the blow.
Their weapons collided.
CLANG!
Kwesi pushed the warrior backward.
"Go!"
Kwaku ran deeper into the hall.
The third warrior followed him.
Adwoa suddenly appeared behind the attacker.
She placed two fingers against his back.
A pulse of dark energy threw him across the room.
Kwaku turned.
He stared at her.
"You said you weren't helping."
"I said I wasn't helping you."
She walked past him.
"I'm protecting what belongs to my bloodline."
Kwaku frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Adwoa didn't answer.
They reached the eastern hall.
The doors were open.
Inside, Queen Ama Serwaa stood surrounded by five Black Sun warriors.
Her hands were bound.
But she was still standing.
Kwaku's heart tightened.
"Mother!"
The Queen looked up.
"Kwaku!"
A warrior placed a blade against her neck.
"Stay where you are."
Kwesi entered behind his brother.
The leader of the Black Sun stepped forward.
He wore a black mask covering half his face.
"You came faster than expected."
Kwaku raised his sword.
"Release my mother."
The man laughed.
"You still think this is about her."
Kwesi looked at him.
"Then what do you want?"
The man pointed at the twins.
"You."
The golden and crimson marks began glowing.
The Black Sun warriors stepped backward.
Their leader smiled.
"Exactly."
Adwoa suddenly entered the room.
The leader turned toward her.
His smile vanished.
"You."
Adwoa's expression remained cold.
"You should have stayed away from Bonoman."
The man removed his mask.
An old scar crossed his face.
"I could say the same to you."
Kwaku looked between them.
"You know each other."
The man laughed.
"Of course we do."
He looked at Adwoa.
"She was there when the first gate opened."
Kwaku's eyes widened.
"What gate?"
Adwoa's face hardened.
"Enough."
The man raised his hand.
The Black Sun warriors moved toward the twins.
Kwesi's golden light exploded from his body.
Kwaku's crimson energy followed.
The palace shook.
The warriors stopped.
The leader stared at the brothers.
"Beautiful."
He whispered:
"The Two Suns have finally awakened."
Adwoa stepped forward.
"And you still don't understand what you're dealing with."
The man smiled.
"Oh, I understand perfectly."
He looked at the Queen.
"Tell them."
The Queen lowered her head.
Kwaku stared at her.
"Tell us what?"
She remained silent.
"Mother?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
Kwesi stepped forward.
"Mother, what is he talking about?"
The Queen finally looked at them.
"There was another child."
Kwaku stopped breathing.
"What?"
The Queen's voice trembled.
"Before you were born…"
She looked at Adwoa.
"…there was another child."
Kwesi stared at the woman.
"The third bloodline?"
Adwoa said nothing.
The Queen nodded slowly.
"She was taken from us."
Kwaku looked at Adwoa.
"Who?"
The Queen whispered:
"Your sister."
Silence filled the hall.
Kwaku's sword dropped slightly.
"We don't have a sister."
"You were never told about her."
Kwesi shook his head.
"Why?"
The Queen closed her eyes.
"Because your father ordered us to forget."
Adwoa's black eyes suddenly changed.
For the first time, fear appeared in them.
The Black Sun leader smiled.
"Now you understand."
Kwesi turned toward him.
"Where is she?"
The man pointed at Adwoa.
"You're looking at her."
Kwaku stared at Adwoa.
"No."
Adwoa looked at him.
"Yes."
The symbol on her forehead began glowing.
Three circles connected by a thin line.
"The bloodline you were taught to forget…"
She stepped forward.
"…is mine."
Suddenly, the palace doors exploded open.
A massive wave of darkness rushed inside.
The Black Sun warriors fell to their knees.
Even Adwoa looked toward the entrance.
A deep voice echoed through the palace.
"Enough games."
Everyone turned.
A tall figure stood outside.
His face was hidden beneath a black hood.
But around his neck hung a golden pendant.
Kwesi stared at it.
He recognized the symbol.
It was the same symbol carved beneath the temple.
The old man's warning returned to his mind.
The blood remembers.
The hooded figure raised his hand.
The golden pendant began glowing.
Kwaku's crimson mark suddenly went dark.
Kwesi's golden mark followed.
Adwoa stepped backward.
"No…"
The hooded figure spoke.
"Bring me the twins."
Then he looked directly at Adwoa.
"And bring me my daughter."
Adwoa's eyes widened.
Kwaku looked at her.
"Your daughter?"
The hooded figure smiled beneath the hood.
"The third bloodline was never lost."
His voice became colder.
"She was waiting."
To be continued…