The two Threats had magic, which enabled them to morph into various creatures. Lukhanyiso saw a Leviathan slithering to the summit were Mandlenkosi stood holding up his fists which were engulfed with a red flare of fire. The creature was breathing flames as it made its way to the top, destroying vegetation and reconstructing the mountain while several rocks crumbled under the weight of the slithering creature.

At the sight of the gigantic serpent making its way to the summit, Lukhanyiso scanned around for the other sister. “Where is the other one?” he wondered as he began running up the mountain after dismounting his aquatic transportation.

“Oh, you mean me?” a beguiling, sultry voice answered behind Lukhanyiso as she rose from the earth dressed in brown. “Look behind you.” She released a repelling force which sent Lukhanyiso flying into a jaded rock head first.

Mandlenkosi held up his flaming fists and advanced towards the creature, dodging every attack. He zoomed past the serpent at lightning speed and leapt towards its head, which stood four meters above the summit, and struck a blow with his silver-grey fist. The serpent’s head connected to the ground with brute force. He drove his right fiery red fist to the head and released searing flames. The tail attached itself to his body while he burned the head. Mandlenkosi zoomed back from the spiky tail and advanced again.

After bashing the head with a rock, Lukhanyiso staggered up feeling dizzy. “I told you to stop” he saw her as she strode towards the bleeding man.

“Seiver,” he gritted her name behind his teeth as he saw a woman covered in leopard skin with a curly afro decorated with glistening gold feathers.

“Lukhanyiso, stop transporting the unsettled souls over,” she shouted. “The more souls that leave Luxury City the less we can feed on!” she took out a rapier wrought out of a black mineral from behind her, “and if we can’t feed on any souls, we grow hungry and don’t have the power to protect our city from it…” she winced in silence as the thought of whoever it was that terrified her. “No more! Your reign ends tonight.” She braced herself.

The magical woman raised the weapon above Lukhanyiso, who struck her down with a blow to her stomach, and dropped the weapon. Lukhanyiso delivered another hit in succession and knocked her face. He sent her staggering to the ground, clenching her tender stomach and beautiful face. Before Lukhanyiso climbed up the large rock behind him, he heard Mandlenkosi’s cry at the summit, which was followed by a feminine cry.

Lukhanyiso saw a tumbling body falling from the summit and cried out as he saw a purple piece of clothing on the body. “Mandla!” he shouted as Seiver trembled. She changed into a bird and flew fast up the mountain. There, the Leviathan’s body changed into a burned and injured naked five foot tall woman. She was breathing uncontrollably from the gash which dominated her chest, the stone that pierced her skin lay dormant inside her chest, “Slist!” her twin sister shouted, before changing into a metallic-silver Leviathan and slithering into the ocean.

Lukhanyiso began to tremble as he ran up to the muscular, shattered body. His back was mashed into the rocky terrain as a blue liquid seeped out from his back, his head hung on his neck by a few tissues… The cut was clean and neat, delivered by Slist’s rapier after Mandlenkosi pierced her heart with a stone from the mountain. His jawbone, collarbone, shoulder blade and ribcage were shattered.

The dreaded cycle started again. He started trembling as the blue liquid reminded him of the callous life he brooded in. His frosty life once had a warm life which balanced him; his father always brought heartfelt love into his life. This reminded him of the warmth of this world, until his father disappeared. He had a new perception of the world. The era of his father was pure and warm; it bred love and marriage between Lukhanyiso and a young woman he married. As soon as they both dissolved into the cold world, he remained alone and hopeless. Then Mandlenkosi warmed his way into Lukhanyiso’s heart as he pumped warmth back into his life, until now.

Mandla’s big grey eyes remained open as Lukhanyiso gazed upon the lifeless eyes that once warmed him. Now they lay cold, inviting sorrow and despair. His hands shook as they attempted to raise the body that once clung unto his and promised him security and sheer love. Mandla’s back remained open as the thick blue liquid seeped out of a huge opening and warmed his hands and arms as it trickled down his elbow. The warmth of the thick liquid triggered a trance were he saw his Mandlenkosi unharmed. He never heard any tearing, and as he held on to him with all his strength, he never heard the broken bones breaking… not until the hot liquid turned cold. Then he was transported back into the horrific scene.

Fatigue swept in, making him dizzy. Hopelessness, anger and isolation greeted Lukhanyiso like an old friend as they stood dormant in his heart. Despite the lack of energy, he never released Mandlenkosi’s body. He couldn’t allow another person he truly loved to leave him all alone again… So, he held on with the remaining energy he had.

Hours slowly passed by and the blue liquid froze the two bodies together. The arctic midnight breeze harmonised with the wintry feeling Lukhanyiso had as he laid on the rocky terrain gazing into the heavens.

As he felt Mandlenkosi leaving him all alone, the brooding Lukhanyiso awoke as he stood up and picked up Mandlenkosi and his internal organs from the ground and placed him on the bank of the ocean. He then climbed Mount Myezweni and stood at the summit with his fists clenched tightly.

“Slist and Seiver! I command you to face me!” he shouted into the blistering night. “I am going to obliterate you two. You will pay for Mandlenkosi’s death.” His breathing began accelerating in fury. “I promise to hunt you down, Seiver. I vow to avenge my lover’s death. I will destroy you!” he spat on the ground as he unclenched his fists… He knelt on the plateau as a tear dropped on the ground. As he regained his usual drive, he stood up and climbed down the mountain.

***

Tell us: What do think about revenge? Should Lukhanyiso avenge Mandlenkosi?