2.
Aphiwe woke with her mother next to her.
She shuddered, slicked in a cool sweat.
Her eyes darted, but there was only her mother.
What was left of the door shifted and her breath held. A tail, unknotted, was moving, picking up splinters, feeling its way forward. It held onto the most solid object it could and pulled, the object held and Chuma appeared, butt first, a trail of drool dragging across the floor. Aphiwe tried to lift her head but barely anything moved.
"Chu…m…a…!" she whispered, her eyes widening when it dawned on her what the girl's tail was trying to do.
It reached the bed, tapping its way forwards.
It happened.
It was why everyone slept on the ground. The girl's tail roamed the sheets until it caught her ankle.
"Ch…uma…! Ch…uma…!" she tried a little louder.
All she had to do was squeeze her tail, it'd back off.
That was all she had to do, but the embers of aching had already started a fiery rebellion. She was stuck. Chuma's tail pulled, dragging her off the bed by her ankle. She flopped on top of Chuma, waking her. They were nose to nose, wet black to dry silver, breath shared.
"Can you move?" Chuma asked.
Aphiwe shook her head.
"The doctor was here. They say it's an after effect of the Jokai venom. But they don't know what'll happen. No one's ever taken as much as you and not died."
"Whe…ere…s"
Aphiwe had to catch her breath.
"…Le…sa…"
"She's okay, she's actually here. She found your bow."
"…Wh…whe…re…s?"
"The bow?"
"…No,"
"Oh… she's next door, do you want me to call her?"
For reasons unknown her heart began to flutter, not racing but tiptoeing, at speed. She shook her head. Chuma's blurry face formed a weak smile and her tail locked them together.
"I was really scared." Chuma breathed. "All we saw was Lesanda on Bae Bae who was howling the whole time. They took Lesanda. Your mom was so quick, she called up as many people as she could to look for you. It was more than I'd ever seen. When Lesanda woke. She didn't know what happened. You had Bae Bae jumping up and down and before anyone could get ready. Your mom and Bae Bae took off. I stayed with Lesanda but Langa took off with her whole family."
"…Sh… she… he…re?"
"No, she wasn't allowed."
"…B… …ut?" Aphiwe asked, catching a 'look'.
"I dunno, think Langa and Sihle are scared of coming."
"Why?"
"I dunno."
"…Wha… do… s… tail… th…n…k?"
Chuma pulled a face but sighed.
"They don't want to see you weaker than them."
"What?"
"I know." Chuma said rubbing foreheads, fur prickling her skin. "You're gonna get better you know."
"…No…t… sick… j…us… …ssss… ore."
"You should tell your mom."
There was barking outside and Chuma sat up, taking Aphiwe with, no easy task, but there was no hope of being let go.
"Aphiwe!"
It made them jump, her mom was up wide eyed in terror, immediately scooping both girls in burly arms.
"You're awake. Thank Nature's grace, can you talk?"
"A few syllables at a time." Chuma said before her tail covered her mouth.
"Does it hurt to talk?"
Both girls nodded, Chuma's tail took the hint and covered Aphiwe's mouth.
"Does it hurt to move?"
Chuma nodded.
"Baby, it's okay. That's actually a good thing. They're sore, not dead. That's so good. I love you so much."
The barking grew intense and there was a knock, heavy, arrogant, frightening and angering. Affirmed by the look on her mother's face.
Thato marched to the front door.
Chuma's tail opened.
There were over a dozen faces, forming two lines. At the end was a woman, midnight black and silver skin reflecting against the torchlight, making her sparkle. She wore a fur coat, the tails held by burly women. Upon the door opening her walk began. The pure appeal, confidence and air of control was so deep Aphiwe was sure she'd be the size of their home by the time she reached the stairway.
The line formed behind her when she reached the bottom step.
Chuma was pushed up and, on her own accord, climbed onto Thato's shoulders. Aphiwe couldn't help but notice all the light around them. It was absorbing, it should have been on the doors, but windows were open, shining light on the powerful woman in front of her. Aphiwe knew the custom. A newcomer at the door. It meant her mom, more specifically the home matriarch was supposed to pull her up the stairway for 'safety'. Thato hesitated, taking two steps down before stopping.
"Good evening, my Prime."
"I came to see if the rumours were true. That someone poisoned by, not one but three different Jokai, survived. As I'm sure you know, a cure is beyond our wildest dreams and yet a child, from a lesser branch of the Ndlovu house had done it. I couldn't leave such a thing to messengers. Is she the one? I heard you only had one daughter, well, of blood any way."
The matriarch reached out.
It was her mother who recoiled, but only for a moment. It was enough to make the strange woman's eyes flash, but her mother had already flung herself forward, taking the woman's hand.
"Madam Prime. It is such an honour. To think, word of my little girl would reach you, words cannot express."
Aphiwe had never seen her mother acting so 'jovial', she hadn't let go, the grip so tight it caught the Prime by surprise.
"Yes, well I'm glad-"
"Can I help you in? It would be such an honour."
"Well if you insist-"
Aphiwe's eyes widened.
Up the woman went, nearly dropping the two men still holding the coat. In one hand, Thato lifted and carried her in, patting her shoulder as though she'd just been dragged across a hall.
"Um, thank you." The Prime managed.
"Tis a pleasure. May I get you tea?" Jovial Thato asked.
"Yes, that would be best."
"Chuma?"
Chuma jumped, backflipping off her shoulders. At that moment, three armoured women entered, making even Aphiwe gape, especially at the centre one. She was in chain mail and a full head taller than Thato, javelin in hand, there was also a bow.
Chuma retreated, disappearing into the kitchen.
"Remember to use the good stuff." Thato yelled before looking back to the Prime. "My best is not that amazing." She whispered almost bowing.
"I'm positive you'll surpass my standards. You're okay with a Lehare child making the tea?"
"But of course, she's one of the most helpful and talented girls on the God Tree."
The Prime smiled.
"That's one of the reasons I love children. I'm already on my fifth. I try to aim for a boy, you know rarer stock. And our family needs to collect the best, just as we do for the trees."
They rested inside the smoker's lounge, it had thick cushioned chairs, all well sat on.
She picked a spot and sat carefully.
"I'm sorry. I never got the name of your angel."
"Her name's Aphiwe." Jovial Thato said.
"Nice to meet you, Aphiwe."
She moved to shake her hand and despite being lower down, loomed but Aphiwe shut her eyes, burying her face.
"I'm so sorry. Even though she survived, the effects were deep. For two weeks she's been deep sleep, struggling to win back her own body. It's why I carry her."
Aphiwe's face pressed against her mother's large bosom, eyebrows high.
Two weeks?!!
=============================================================================
The Prime's smile was velvet, but her words cut like steel.
"Are you trying to build your own house?"
What began as a mother's desperate gamble—feeding her child Jokai venom to keep her alive—has become a question of loyalty, ambition, and betrayal. Aphiwe's survival is no longer just miraculous; it's evidence. Evidence that her mother may be defying tradition, defying Nature, and defying the Great Houses themselves.
In the God Tree, every record, every scroll, every secret carries weight. And now, the Prime wants them all.
📖 Step deeper into the shadows of power, where a mother's faith collides with a queen's suspicion—and a child's survival may spark the birth of a new house.