Friday afternoon

12:00

On the Humanic Island, Lin was in a prison cell. She sat in the corner with her knees up and her arms wrapped around her legs.

Other prisoners were mocking her, laughing that a daughter of a late king was locked up like a slave and abandoned. They were especially amused by the fact that her mother couldn’t do anything to help Lin out of the shithole she was held in, probably for the rest of her life. She wasn’t sad or scared of being locked up – she thought it was better than being under the same roof as her father’s murderer, but she was heartbroken about her brother’s death.

She wished she had never pressured him to return for what was rightfully his. If only she hadn’t ended up like this could she have stayed with her brother and the humans. She wanted to turn back time but she couldn’t. She would have to live with the regret for the rest of her life.

“Lin.” The whispering voice of her mother saved her from drowning in thoughts – thoughts that hurt like a sharp knife stabbing into her skin.

Lin pulled up her head from her thighs. Her eyes were red from the tears she wasn’t able to stop. Her mother gripped the metal that separated her from her child.

“I will get you out of here,” her mother said, glancing around for the guards. King Djimon had forbidden her to visit her own daughter. “Just be strong for a little longer. I will find a way to get you out of here.”

Lin stood up and moved closer. She looked like someone who wasn’t happy to see her mother, as if there was hatred buried inside her heart. Lin made signals with her hands indicating that her mother should go away and that she did not want to see her.

She knew her mother was taking a risk by coming to see her. She did not want to lose another person she loved because they had disobeyed Djimon. When her mother tried to talk, Lin interrupted by signing again for her to get out of there, but unfortunately it was too late. One of the guards saw her and came to drag her out of the cells, leaving Lin in tears once again.

Sthandiwe was still cooking herself up in her room when she saw her door swing open. The eyes behind the bandages burned with resentment as they saw Rosie coming in.

“Didn’t your mother teach you to knock first?” Sthandiwe said, sitting on a couch away from her wheelchair.

Rosie came in and shut the door behind her and said, “So many times, but definitely not on the enemy’s door.”

She folded her arms as she walked closer and sat on another couch opposite Sthandiwe.

“Is that what I am? An enemy?”

“Perhaps you will be after what I am going to tell you.”

Sthandiwe didn’t reply.

Rosie frowned as she dumped the news that Sthandiwe was suspicious about. “I’m the one who’s responsible for the bees that messed up your pretty face,” she smirked. “I guess you were right.”

If it wasn’t for the bandages, it would be obvious how furious and devilish Sthandiwe’s face had turned. “Get out,” she said, softly.

“That was a warning,” Rosie said. She rose up from the couch and brought her face closer to Sthandiwe’s. “If you ever try to get rid of me again, it will cost you your life.”

She walked towards the door and added, “Tomorrow I’m going to be crowned queen. Do you know what that means? I will be making the rules around here. I will be calling the shots. And the first thing I will do is to kick your ass out. Even your secret lover won’t be able to do anything about that.”

Sthandiwe’s eyes widened in shocked as Rosie slammed the door behind her. Her heart was pounding, as the secret she had kept was now known by her enemy.

Snenhlanhla was in the kitchen making tea for Mrs Mpande when Rosie walked in. Rosie saw an opportunity.

“Tell me,” Rosie said, “do you like Sthandiwe?”

Snenhlanhla turned and faced Rosie with a frown, “Nobody who works here likes that woman.”

Rosie chuckled as she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a jug of orange juice. “So if she left, you guys would be happy?”

“We would have a staff braai to celebrate,” Snenhlanhla said.

Rosie laughed, “Well, since I will be the new queen tomorrow, I was thinking of kicking her out, for you guys, of course.”

“You would do that for us?” Snenhlanhla’s face brightened up, as if it had been a long time since she heard exciting news.

“Of course, but in order for that to happen, you will have to do something for me,” Rosie said, as she poured her juice into a long glass.

“Anything for that evil woman to be gone, I wouldn’t miss her at all.”

Rosie smiled, “You will be serving drinks tomorrow, right?”

“All of the servants.”

“I want you to keep an eye on Mr Mpande. There will be specific drinks that he will order from you or any one of the servants, but…” Rosie whispered something in Snenhlanhla’s ear. “Do you understand?”

Snenhlanhla nodded.

“Can you do that for me?”

“Of course, Miss Rosie.”

***

Tell us: What do you think she has planned with the drinks?