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S holei rushed through the throng of people, in search of the elusive man. She ducked her head to avoid a merchant with rolls of fabric and used her elbows to get through the crowd. The excited voices didn’t register as she continued her blind search. She took a corner, landed on another street, and almost knocked over playing children. Panic pushed her forward, and she crashed into a solid wall.

“We meet again, witch,” a low, deep voice said.

In the middle of the crowd and surrounded by excited voices, one voice stood out against the rest and sent chills down her back. Sholei looked up and came face to face with the dark, volatile gaze of the Dembe soldier. She gasped and tried to step back, but a hand on her arm stopped her. His firm grip on her bare arm was too warm as his calloused fingers imprinted on her skin.

She snatched her arm back as if she were scorched by fire. He released her and crossed his arms over his powerful chest. His long dreadlocks were well-trimmed and pulled back in a ponytail; they didn’t look as wild as they had in the forest.

“I can’t decide if you are brave or lack common sense for coming after me alone.” He held her gaze as an arrogant smirk spread across his mouth. The crowd around him parted as if they could tell from his aura that he wasn’t a man to trifle with. Sholei stifled the urge to run away.

“You aren’t supposed to be here.” She prayed Tula had reached Gane and passed on the message. Sholei didn’t know how long she could stall for time; she wanted to escape his intense presence as soon as possible.

“The stars willed it, and we meet again, Sholei the witch.” With his accent, her name rolled smoothly from his tongue . How did he learn her name? How long had he been stalking her?

“The soldiers have been informed of your presence. Soon, you will be caught.” Sholei willed her voice to be strong and she refused to cower in front of him.

“Are you sure about that?” He bent down and whispered, “Tula will never deliver that message to your lovely prince.” His low voice was husky, his tone amused, but the humor didn’t reach his cold eyes. He was so close they looked like two lovers in a conversation.

“What did you do to Tula?” she gasped. Genuine fear gripped her. Sholei reined in the feeling to call for help, fearing more people would be dragged into the situation. He wouldn’t try anything in such a big crowd, would he? She tried to assure herself.

How long had he had his eyes on her, on everybody? She had a feeling that seeing him was not by chance. He wanted her to find him. The sense of being hunted became real. Had she fallen into his trap?

“That will depend on how you behave. Musembi is also in my hands,” he went on, and closed in on her. How did he know of Musembi? The old woman left in search of herbs in the forest. Did she encounter him, too? Sholei recalled the sharp dagger in his hands back in the forest, the cold steel on her neck. Musembi was a stubborn woman. She wouldn’t take well to threats.

“This time around, you won’t get away,” Sholei whispered in a steely voice. He couldn’t have possibly kidnapped both Musembi and Tula. She called his bluff.

From a small pouch cinched at his waist, he retrieved Musembi’s necklace. It was made of dark wooden beads that had faded with time. Musembi loved that necklace, and she wore it almost every day. Sholei tried to reach for it, but the man swung his arm out of reach before he grabbed her waist and pulled her to him. He held her close.

“What have you done to them?” Her voice was tight as she fought to get out of his grasp.

“Now that we have come to an agreement.” He moved behind her, placed a firm palm on the small of her back, and urged her forward. The touch was intimate, like a lover’s. If she allowed him to drag her away from the street, she didn’t think she’d escape his grasp. She had to find a way to get away.

“Act natural and walk ahead of me. If you try anything, forget about seeing them again.” His threat increased her urgency to get away. She would report to the Prince about him. Gane would surely find a way to get Musembi and Tula back. But what if it was too late and he had already harmed them?

She strained her ears to hear city guards approach, but only celebratory voices rent the air.

She looked past him and came face to face with Lord Keita’s statue. Mfangano Street was her last thought before she heard the dreadful, snarling whisper.

Asaa.

Pain pierced her head before her world went black.

Sholei was in a dream. She ran away from the giant black snake. Her breaths came out labored as cold sweat trickled down her back. As soon as the snake’s writhing body neared her, she took off again, running nonstop. The long, tawny grass slapped against her naked legs as she ran under the moonlight in an endless field.

“Wake up,” a distant voice called out before her as Sholei struggled to open her eyes.

With a headache behind her ears, she opened her eyes to find a strange man beside her, a curious look on his face. Through her congested mind, low voices floated from outside the room. Cave? A fire burned at one end and dispelled the dark shadows on the walls .

“Where am I?” she asked as she struggled to recollect her memories. Her mouth was parched, her throat dry. The pain behind her ears worsened with every movement she made.

“It’s good you are awake. You have been out for almost a day. Have some water.” He passed a leather canister to her, and she looked at it with doubt.

She didn’t know where she was or who the person before her was. He was dressed in similar attire to that of her kidnapper. The man was tall with the darkest skin she had ever seen. It almost had a bluish tint, making him appear exotic. His skin tone made the whites of his teeth pop, and the white bleached lion tooth necklace on his neck stood out. His hair was cropped to his head, with a white cowrie shell twisted on a single lock on his forehead.

Her last memories were of being led away by the soldier before she passed out. She remembered the statue of High Lord Keita and cursed the timing. Why did she have to be on Mfangano Street when she met him? He must have taken advantage of her passing out to kidnap her.

Was the person in front of her his accomplice? A fellow Dembe soldier? Where were Tula and Musembi? Questions swarmed her mind as she considered ways to escape.

“It’s not poisoned.” The man shook the flask before her and tried to reach for her hand. Sholei jumped back.

“What is this place?” she asked, her voice hoarse. “What are you planning to do to me?” Sholei tried to work out where she was. The nearest caves to Mukuru’s capital were Mawindoni Hills, a hideout for cattle rustlers and bandits. She looked around again, and the stuff on the walls confirmed her suspicions: animal hide and a basket of furs. She couldn’t see any visible weapon to use in case of an attack.

“Are you a physician?” the man asked. Sholei sat up on the soft furs. His gaze perused her from the scarf fastened on her head to her sandaled feet. She pulled her legs back and crossed her hands on her chest in a protective stance.

“Are you a Dembe soldier? What have you done to Musembi and Tula?” She countered the question with her own. Why would he ask her that? Her mind ran wild.

“Akima.” Her kidnapper’s deathly quiet voice came from the cave’s mouth. “Leave us.” His command left no room for argument. The man in front of her straightened his tall frame, bowed before her kidnapper, and left the cave.

Her kidnapper stepped toward her. From the mouth of his cave, Sholei saw his dark silhouette against the cave’s mouth. Her pulse beat fast in her throat; anger and fear pulsated in her blood as he approached.

“Don’t come any closer.” Sholei put her hand up to try to stop his advancement. He didn’t heed until he stood in front of her. Sholei crossed her arms around her chest. A breath separated them. He was close enough for the scent of dark spice to assault her nose.

“Settle down before you hurt yourself.” He stretched a canister full of water to her. “Drink.”

She hit the flask away. The water spilled and soaked into the stone ground. The action reminded her of how she clashed with Musembi a few days ago. The thought angered her further; she couldn’t believe the last time they talked was in a heated disagreement.

“Where are Tula and Musembi?”

”Stop being stubborn, and maybe I’ll answer your questions.” He removed the canister attached to his belt and offered her water again.

“My disappearance must have been noticed by now. The city guards will be on your trail soon,” she warned. Someone would have seen her being carried away by the strange man.

“That will not be possible.” He set the water can on the furs beside her and paced before the fire, his hands crossed behind his back. His eyebrows were drawn together, deep in thought.

“You kidnapped me from the capital. Don’t think you’ll get away with it.” She walked to where he was and stood before him.

“Really?” He leaned his head toward her and took a small step back. “You passed out in my arms, and like a devoted lover, I carried you home. How could anyone fault me for being such a considerate man?” His lips peeled back in a lopsided grin that resembled a predator’s snarl.

“Lover?” Sholei swallowed as she held his gaze. They were so close, and his warm breath fanned her face. If what he said was true, then nobody would raise an alarm.

“By now, Musembi must be back to the medicine yard, and Tula is beside herself with worry. A search party led by your dear Prince Gane is looking for you,” he drawled out, with the same monotone voice he had in the forest when he told her he didn’t take hostages .

”You lied about kidnapping them?” Sholei gazed at him, mouth agape. What was he planning?

“Witnessing you getting cozy with the Prince of Mukuru was like striking gold. If my assumptions are correct, he is busy looking for you, charged by his emotion...” His voice trailed in a calculated tone.

“You are using me as bait? Your target is not me but Prince Gane?” she asked, her voice a squeak.

“Once again, you have proved your sharp mind.” He turned toward her and released a half smile. “That is why you need to eat and drink. We wouldn’t want your lover to find you starved.”

“If you think Prince Gane will fall for your tricks, you have something else coming.” She spoke far more bravely than she felt.

Sholei was relieved Tula delivered her message and Prince Gane was searching for her. The man in front of her wasn’t a typical foe. He was calm. Had he spied on her in the capital?

“Do you have that much faith in your Prince?” He stepped towards her, and she stepped back. He didn’t stop until the back of her knees hit the fur bed. She didn’t want him near her. She didn’t like the dangerous gleam in his dark eyes, which roamed her face before it landed on the necklace gifted to her by Gane.

“How about we motivate him?” With a single pull, he ripped the pendant from her neck and dragged her forward with a sudden motion. The delicate clasp gave way with the rough tug.

“No.” She tried to stop him, but she fell on him, her hands landing on his chest. She grabbed his robes to break her fall. For a second, they stared at each other before she whispered to him, “You don’t have to do this.”

“The fight between me and Gane is bound to happen. Nothing can stop the war. Unless,” he whispered back, “he surrenders.” His eyes roamed her face, his look of indifference shed for a second. “It will do you good to forget about him.” With that, he pushed her back to the bed and straightened his clothes.

He gave her a once-over before getting a dagger and slicing his left palm. Sholei watched in horror as he coated the necklace with his blood. He called out to his accomplice. The other man walked in and cast curious glances between Sholei and her kidnapper.

“Make sure Prince Gane sees this.” He handed him the bloody necklace, and without question, the man bowed and left.

“Someone will deliver your food and other essentials. Don’t leave this cave.” With those words, he left, blood dripping from his clenched fist.

Sholei stood and paced the cave. She wouldn’t stay and wait for his return. She had to warn Prince Gane and the city guards of the trap, and maybe her reward would be even higher. Her dream of going to the Faye Islands hadn’t completely died. Sholei instantly felt better. This time, she wasn’t going to let the chance bypass her.

Looking around the cavern, she searched for something to help her escape from her captors.