Chapter Eight – The Father in the Shadows
The palace fell silent.
Kwaku stared at the hooded man.
"My daughter?"
The man's words echoed through the hall.
Adwoa stood frozen.
Kwesi tightened his grip on his sword.
"Who are you?"
The hooded man slowly stepped forward.
"You should be asking who your father really was."
Kwaku looked at Queen Ama Serwaa.
"Mother?"
She could not look at him.
The answer was already written across her face.
Kwesi's voice became cold.
"You knew."
The Queen's eyes filled with tears.
"I wanted to protect you."
"From what?"
"From the truth."
The hooded man laughed.
"Truth cannot be hidden forever."
He raised his hand.
The Black Sun warriors immediately moved toward the twins.
Kwesi stepped in front of Kwaku.
"Get back."
The first warrior attacked.
Kwesi blocked the spear with his sword.
CLANG!
The impact pushed him several steps backward.
Kwaku attacked the second warrior.
His crimson energy exploded from his arm.
The warrior flew across the room.
Adwoa watched them carefully.
"They're stronger than they were before."
The hooded man smiled.
"They have only awakened the first layer."
Kwaku heard him.
"What does that mean?"
The man looked at him.
"You still believe your bloodline is only about power."
Kwaku raised his sword.
"Then tell me what it is about."
"The Two Suns were never created to rule."
The man pointed toward the brothers.
"They were created to open the way."
Kwesi's eyes narrowed.
"The final gate."
The man's smile widened.
"Now you're beginning to understand."
Suddenly, the floor beneath them began to glow.
Golden symbols appeared across the stone.
Kwaku looked down.
The same symbols were beneath the temple.
Adwoa's expression changed.
"No."
She rushed toward the twins.
The hooded man raised his hand.
A wall of darkness appeared between them.
Adwoa struck it with her palm.
BOOM!
The wall did not move.
"Stop this!"
The hooded man ignored her.
"Bring the twins to the gate."
The Black Sun warriors surrounded Kwesi and Kwaku.
Kwesi looked at his brother.
"We fight our way out."
Kwaku nodded.
Together, they raised their hands.
Gold and crimson energy filled the hall.
The two powers collided.
A shockwave exploded outward.
Several warriors were thrown into the walls.
But the hooded man remained standing.
He slowly raised his hand.
The brothers' powers disappeared.
Kwaku stared at his empty palm.
"What did you do?"
The hooded man walked toward them.
"I showed you how powerless you still are."
Kwesi charged.
His sword moved toward the man's chest.
The man caught the blade with one hand.
Kwesi's eyes widened.
The hooded man leaned closer.
"You have your father's courage."
Kwesi froze.
"And his weakness."
He threw Kwesi across the room.
"Kwesi!"
Kwaku ran toward his brother.
Before he could reach him, the hooded man appeared behind him.
A hand touched Kwaku's shoulder.
Darkness spread across his body.
Kwaku fell to his knees.
"Kwaku!"
Adwoa screamed.
She struck the barrier again.
This time, cracks appeared.
The hooded man turned.
"You shouldn't interfere."
Adwoa's eyes became completely black.
"I won't let you take them."
The barrier shattered.
A wave of dark energy exploded through the hall.
The Black Sun warriors fell.
The hooded man was forced backward.
Adwoa stood between him and the twins.
Three circles glowed on her forehead.
"You forgot something."
The hooded man looked at her.
"What?"
Adwoa pointed toward the Queen.
"She isn't the only one who knows your secret."
The Queen slowly stood.
Everyone turned toward her.
Ama Serwaa looked directly at the hooded man.
"You cannot hide forever."
The man became still.
"You know who I am."
"Yes."
"Then tell them."
The Queen's voice trembled.
"I cannot."
"Why?"
"Because they are not ready."
Kwaku struggled to stand.
"Ready for what?"
The Queen looked at him.
"For the truth about your father."
A long silence followed.
Then the hooded man removed his hood.
Kwaku stopped breathing.
Kwesi stared at the man's face.
The Queen covered her mouth.
The face was older.
Scarred.
But there was no mistaking the resemblance.
The same eyes.
The same jaw.
The same golden mark that Kwesi carried.
Kwaku whispered:
"Father?"
The man smiled.
"Hello, my sons."
Kwesi's sword slipped from his hand.
"You died."
"I was never dead."
Kwaku shook his head.
"Why did you leave us?"
Their father looked toward Ama Serwaa.
"Because I had to."
"You abandoned us!"
"I saved you."
Kwesi stepped forward.
"From what?"
Their father's expression became serious.
"From the bloodline that lives inside you."
Suddenly, a loud horn echoed from outside the palace.
Then another.
The Black Sun warriors began retreating.
Kwaku looked toward the doors.
"What is happening?"
Their father turned toward the darkness outside.
"They've arrived."
"Who?"
He looked back at the twins.
"The guardians of the First Blood."
Adwoa's expression changed.
"They found us."
Their father nodded.
"And when they enter Bonoman…"
He looked at the golden and crimson marks on the brothers.
"…the war of the bloodlines will begin."
Far beyond the palace walls, thousands of footsteps thundered across the earth.
Then the night sky turned red.
To be continued…