This chapter really changes everything and I think the chapter title gives everything away but enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: The Traitor

The stitches Imanu did on my forehead were successful.

Thankfully, there is no form of electricity in the safe rooms because if you factor my blood being practically everywhere but my veins, exhaustion, dehydration, seizing pain everywhere, hidden bruises and damage everywhere in my body; I would be beyond miserable. Also, there are no windows in the safe rooms. I am deeply claustrophobic and would usually be having a panic attack of some sorts right about now on any other day, but my whole body hurts so much that my claustrophobia is not a problem. In th case that I did have a panic attack, it would probably kill me for real.

The room is silent except for my suitors having a hushed conversation with each other to pass the time. Femi, Abioye, and Imanu continue asking Zuberi about the attack and as he responds with answers as detailed as they could be, that gets me reminiscing to what I remember seeing out there. I think back to how the attack started and the combat moves used against me; the intruders were in groups for the most part and seemed to know the blueprint of the castle to use it to their advantage. If I think back to my history classes and remember the different types of warfare, this classifies as a guerrilla attack.

And who better to perform a guerilla attack than the Gorilla himself? The uniforms and weapons were different, but their strategy remains unchanged.

My eyes immediately dart towards Chike, who still stands in the corner he never left. It suddenly makes sense as to why he was so calm and relaxed about the attack once we were in the safe room. He knew this would happen and that he would survive it. If he planned to have my parents killed along with the other suitors during the attack, that would mean that I would inherit the throne and wound up marrying Chike by default. Then once our tribes were united, there is no doubt that he would eliminate me - possibly by having these injuries or my grief kill me if he is not going to pull the trigger himself. With him on the throne, the Panther tribe will be gone and Wakanda will be ruled under the Gorillas.

Zuberi sees my eyes as he further describes the attack and slows his speech down. He was in military classes so he knows what I am trying to tell him. He catches on and immediately runs over to Chike. He picks him up by the collar of his shirt and throws him on the floor. Chike yells at him, not knowing (or pretending not to know) what is happening.

Your suitors are not allowed to sabotage each other in any way...

That rule in particular repeats and echoes in my mind because what Chike did was way more than just sabotage the other suitors. He threatened the lives of everyone else who matter the most to me: my parents, my castle staff, my people, and myself.

Zuberi is currently dealing with him but I know it has to me there.

I feel rage build up in my system, numbing my pain. Strength builds up in my body and I use it to push myself up and off the table I am lying on. I throw my legs over the edge and stand firmly on the ground. I stumble a bit but that does not stop me from staring right into the eyes of that traitor. I walk up to Chike and lower my head closer to his.

"You caused this attack and brought a burden to my kingdom," I tell him. "You almost caused the deaths of everyone I love but even if I was the only one to barely survive, I would have dared you to strike at me."

"Why so?" Chike asks menacingly. "Why bother risking your life after theirs ceases to exist?"

"Grief is the strongest motivator of all. If you killed everyone I loved, I could and definitely would fight you till my last breath because I would have nothing left to lose. And that does not scare you?"

I tilt my head a little as Chike shakes his head, admirably, as if that does not pose a threat to him or his tribe. I can feel my strength finally returning, even though it is just for the brink of the moment.

"From this point forward," I continue, "you are banished from my kingdom. If you dare do one more act of treason - even the slightest - while exiting my land, I will personally return you to your tribe one limb at a time."

Chike simply scoffs. "Be warned, Panther, the Gorilla tribe will never stop taking the throne from you."

I make sure Chike is looking straight into my eyes. The Gorilla tribe has tried numerous times to take the throne of Wakanda and they have committed so much of their time and money improving their resources to do so. Although, I do give them credit for their outstanding efforts where it is due. I did mention a new military approach for Wakanda for Chike to hear and I gave him a basic tour of the castle. However, there is a very obvious reason as to why the Panthers have the throne and not the Gorillas. That is why I am making sure Chike is looking right into my eyes: to show him that even though I am wounded and look as if I do not stand a chance against him, I am still standing and have much more power in my stitches than he or his tribe will ever have.

Chike sits back, waiting for my response to his verbal threat and this time, I scoff with a little smile.

"Duly noted."

I learned that "duly noted" is royalty for "fuck you" so there's another reason why Iqadi slays.

Also, that whole guerilla/Gorilla thing was a PURE coincidence. I wrote this firs but when I learned about the types of warfare in history class, I had to write it in.

Stay Tuned - what will happen to the other suitors?