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Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 - This one's for you! Thanks for the kind review (ha that rhymed!)
"I'm sorry . . ."
The lift drowned out a lot of what he was said. As they are going up. To the sunlight. To the world. Because he'd stabbed Erik. And now out of respect for her, he's had to lie about it too. They both collapse, Erik and T'Challa, onto the mound on which lies the greatest scene he has ever beheld. A Wakandan sunset. And he lowers his head in shame.
"When I saw her die," Erik whispers, gazing out at the Sun, "I knew it was finished. That I'd give up . . ."
T'Challa almost stumbles. He can't be saying that, can he? After what he did to her, to even suggest such a thing.
"You let me win?"
"I loved her."
"You ruined her."
"She was a warrior down to the core," Erik smiles. "She'd never have given into me. Not truly. I just wanted her to see that." He pauses, with the ever so slight hint of tears in his eyes. "The world is dark again cousin. She always spoke of this. Of Wakanda. About how there was a place in her heart worth dying for. Worth living for. Now I'm here, and I can't stand the sight of it."
His breath slows. And it's a strain. He can't forgive Erik for what he did to Phalaesia. But seeing the pangs of agony in his eyes, he cannot bring himself to hate him either.
"Maybe we can still heal you . . ."
"Why?" He laughs. "So you can lock me up? So I can be forever tortured by her eyes, until the day I finally die a bitter old man? It doesn't matter anymore. Just . . . bury me with her. And I'll be home."
It didn't drag out. He was there. And then he wasn't. And with his end, T'Challa remembers everything. Like how he will live to see another day. And the one he loved will not.
"My King! There is a man who demands to see you."
T'Challa sighs. "Demands?"
"He says it is . . . about Khalide . . ."
He's moving long before Okoye finishes. Three days. They've swept the entire country for goodness sake! And she's not there. But he saw her die. And until he saw the man, he was sure that she was gone. Until he sees Demar again. Standing at the foot of the Palace steps.
"How did you enter our borders?" T'Challa growls.
"I am bound to go wherever she goes," Demar says. His face is always partially covered but one thing still remains. The scar. The nasty jagged edge scar caused when T'Challa first realised that he was following Phalaesia and laid a good few claws into his face. One of his proudest achievements. "She came to Wakanda. And her soul called me . . ."
"She's dead. There's no further reason for you to be here. Show yourself out."
Silence. Demar cocks his head. "I have not seen you in this kind of denial since your father died."
"I said get out Demar," T'Challa replies. "Or you will be removed."
"Not even if I could give her back to you?"
He starts. There's something. A sliver of hope. And a sliver of fear. Slowly, he turns to Demar.
"What are you talking about?"
"You've searched for her body haven't you? Never found it either I'm guessing."
"You took her body . . ."
"Glory to Bast - she attempted to bring Phalaesia back to life. But Khalide had other plans. Now Phalaesia is struggling to come back, and I, we believe, that perhaps you can help her with that. If you don't feel capable . . ."
"Where is she?"
"Oh I think you already know that."
Okoye curses under her breath as soon as Demar is gone. "That man is a snake in the grass. He has lied to you before."
"And if it was anyone but her, I may well take your advice," T'Challa sighs. "But if there is even the slightest chance he is right . . ."
"You are angry with me."
"What?"
"I threw the sword that killed her."
"So?"
"I am not sorry,"Okoye says. "I would do it again. She would have wanted me to do it again. Why design a weapon if she was not sure she might have to use it? And if Khalide comes back, it would take more than that sword to stop her."
"I won't fail her again," T'Challa promises. "Barricade the Palace. No one comes in and no one goes out. I'll have Shuri set up the necessary equipment. At the first hint of Khalide's return - you kill us both. Without question. You understand?"
Okoye nods. "Wakanda forever." She crosses her arms across her chest. But T'Challa is already gone.
"It's ok Laesia."
He finds himself there, closely followed by Shuri as he carries Phalaesia's body down to the Garden of the Heart Shaped Herb.
"Brother, her heart rate is going down," Shuri whispers as she taps away on the monitor. "I'm getting a second signal."
"It's Khalide. Just keep monitoring the situation."
It is the warm sand that they eventually find themselves. Shuri. And Okoye. No need for anyone to be there who might not make it out alive. He lays Phalaesia's body in the sand, then strips off his shirt and lies down next to her. He wraps his arms around her, burying his head in the crook of her neck. This was how it was always meant to be. And now, how it will be. If only he can fix what he has done.
"Be careful," Shuri pleads. "Don't forget about us."
They are covered with sand. And he's back in the Ancestral Plane.
The tree of kings is split down the middle. Once elegant purples adorned the sky, now give way to crude reds and boiling rain. This is not the Ancestral Plane. It is a monument to a fallen line. What has happened here? A finger touches his back and he jumps. And it could have been better. He could have even smiled when he saw that it was her. But then he sees the glint in her eyes, the sneer on her mouth. And he knows that before him stands Khalide.
"Good afternoon, noble King. I have been expecting you."