Chapter 5: The Invited
Okoye marches towards T'Challa's study with purpose. She bursts into the room. Typically, she would show some restraint, considering T'Challa is her king, but she is livid. After being granted his freedom, the false king doesn't have the decency to leave immediately. Not only does he stay, but he celebrates his liberation with an all-night sex festival; with his equally deplorable woman. Their moans and outcries can be heard throughout the palace, despite their best efforts.
Okoye approaches T'Challa, who is sitting behind a large oak desk. He looks at her with a calm expression on his face. He is not bothered in the slightest by her abrupt entry.
Okoye is furious, but once in his presence, she regains her composure. Her rage caused her to forget her place. Not even she should approach the king unsummoned. She halts just before his desk, waiting for permission to speak.
"I know why you are here," T'Challa states.
"My King, Killmonger and his wife remain on the premises; I ask for permission to escort them outside Wakanda's gates."
"I know how difficult this all must be for you, for that I am sorry. However, I cannot grant you the permission for what you seek."
Okoye is devastated, though she does quite well to show no emotions. Even, when he adds, "Please deliver dinner invitations to them, along with the others who are listed."
T'Challa hands Okoye a list of names. She finds it odd and downright disturbing that he wants to share a meal with the same man who had tried to kill him and his family. To this, Okoye frowns; not seeing the wisdom in his decision to have a dinner party, of all things. Not able to focus on anything else, she glances at the list of names. Besides, the unholy couple's names, he has written Nakia, Shuri, and herself!
Okoye is appalled by the mere thought of sitting at the same table as Erik. This man, this animal, killed members of her team before her eyes. Turned the man who she loved against her and had threatened her very country. She cannot withhold her dismay and nearly screams at T'Challa when she declares, "Never will I pretend to be his ally!"
If T'Challa was taken by surprise by her announcement, his face doesn't show it. He stands up from his seat and walks around to stand before her.
"I respect you deeply. You aren't just a soldier to me, but a friend. I will not force you to attend, the decision is solely yours, but I pray that you will. I can't explain myself. Nevertheless, I feel as if them being here is not by chance. N'Jadaka's strategy was wrong, but his reasons were true. We can no longer stand idly by as the rest of the world perish."
"So, we are to make the devil our companion? Ignore all the evil that he has done?"
"I can only ask for you to trust me. I do not have the answers that you seek but follow me as you have always done, and I promise you will come to understand."
Okoye considers his words and still isn't moved to accept his offer. It is pompous the notion of breaking bread with her enemy. She agrees to offer the invitations to all on the list but refuses to give him an answer regarding her acceptance.
Ashtyn is basking in the afterglow of their all-evening lovemaking session. It is near dark, and they have yet to finish packing. Erik is resting peacefully beside her, catching up on some much-needed sleep. He confessed to her just before drifting off that he barely slept during his imprisonment; he had to remain vigilant. It is only under her care that he could rest, Ashtyn is honored by his trust in her.
Lovingly, she watches him sleep. Suddenly, she hears a knock on the door. Ashtyn turns to look at the door, then back to her husband, who is thankfully still asleep. To avoid another round of knocking, fearing that it would interrupt Erik's slumber; she hurries out of bed to answer the door.
She opens the door, to see Okoye standing before her. Her face is as stern as ever, and she doesn't offer a hint of kindness when she presents a small envelope. Ashtyn takes what is offered. She wants to say something to rectify things with Okoye. Erik killed members of the Dora Milaje. Ashtyn can only imagine her pain. The Dora Milaje being more of a sisterhood than just a band of soldiers. To lose one, must feel like losing a family member to Okoye.
However, when Ashtyn looks up to say something, Okoye walks away without sparing her a second glance. Ashtyn decides then and there that she will try to reach her somehow. Closing the door, she begins to make her way back to the bed. She reads the letter in the darkened room, but thanks to her feline enhanced sight. She can see as if there's an overhead light above her.
Ashtyn is shocked to see that the letter, isn't an eviction notice; as she initially suspected. After all, they are well beyond the appropriated time usually required to leave. Especially, given their odd circumstances, they should've rushed to leave the palace; yet they did not. Ashtyn frowns as she considered the thought. All this time Erik had fought for their freedom, but when granted it they do not hurried off.
With Okoye's sour demeanor, it would be more fitting that she was there to remind them that they are more than welcome to leave, but it seems T'Challa has other plans.
"What do you have there?"
Ashtyn is startled by the sultry voice, only because she thought that he was still asleep. She looks up to see his eyes piercing through the dimly lit room to find hers. He is laying on his side, facing her, his elbow is propped beneath him supporting his frame. Though he cannot see her, as clearly as she sees him, his eyes penetrate her, she feels herself quivering deep within. Oh, the power he has over her. Hours of lovemaking cannot hinder the raw sex appeal that he has. He smirks as if he can read her mind; loving how he can distract her so easily.
"The King has invited us to a dinner party, my love," Ashtyn announces.
"Dinner party?" Erik questions. "Why?"
"Haven't got a clue," Ashtyn replies as she lays down beside him, still holding the invitation within her hand. She re-reads the simple wording over again as if to find the answers for the invite within its writing. She looks to Erik, who is untrusting. His mind is going over the possible drawbacks of accepting or declining the invitation.
"What do you think of it all?" He asks.
"T'Challa isn't the vengeful type; I doubt this is an elaborate scheme to entrap us. Perhaps he wants to develop a relationship with you?"
To this reply, Erik's eyebrows shoot upwards in surprise. It occurs to Ashtyn that her husband never considered the possibility of having a family bond with T'Challa.
"Do you think he wants to get to know me? Even after all I have done?" Erik asks, almost with a childlike innocence.
Ashtyn smiles, despite himself, there is still a part of him that hopes for peace, love, and family.
"I think T'Challa sees what I see in you. Let him get to know the real you."
Erik nods, his indication of accepting the invite. Ashtyn notes that they only have an hour to get ready.
"Ashtyn?" Erik asks.
"Yes."
"What happens if he gets to know me and hates who I am?"
Ashtyn considers his question. Erik would never permit himself to be so honest with anyone else but her. Though he gives off an aura of not giving a fuck about anything or anyone; at times even encouraging others unfavorable opinion about him. He has grown to value T'Challa's opinion. Feasibly, that is what his mission of conquering Wakanda was ever about. Erik's desire to prove his worthiness of his family's bloodline.
"Impossible," Ashtyn finally answers with confidence. To which Erik breathes a sigh of relief.
Nakia is asleep, a knock on the door awakes her. Her eyes flutter open she is groggy and finds it difficult to come to consciousness. She almost had forgotten what had happened, but then she feels Mephisto lurking within her.
He mentally conveys to her; "It is Okoye, she has an invitation for dinner with the king."
Nakia nods in acknowledgment of his words. Mephisto's talking to her has become common, maybe even comforting. She swings her feet to the floor and heads for the door. She opens the door to see that indeed it is Okoye with an invitation, just as Mephisto had said. Okoye confess that she too has been invited, but she doubts she is going to attend. She vents her frustrations over Killmonger's influence over T'Challa; and how unfair it all has been.
Nakia listens, but she is distracted. Mephisto pleads for her to accept. Maybe he is bored, tired of seeing the same four walls, or he has ulterior motives. Nakia is trapped within a haze, but the usually observative Okoye is wrap-up in her issues that she doesn't notice, she continues her vent session.
It is then that something unexpected happens. Nakia can only explain the feeling like a sensual stroke from Mephisto from deep within her. She gasps as the touch ricochets throughout her body.
Only then does Okoye stop talking, to ask if Nakia is alright. Nakia nods, Okoye seems unsure for a moment, but she doesn't dwell on it for too long. She still must inform Shuri of the invite and instruct the culinarians of the number of guests. The two women embraces each other, and Nakia is comforted in knowing that the hug somehow temporarily breaks through the spell she seems to be under; but then there's another stroke; this time more aggressive than before.
The sensation is not something you want to feel while hugging a friend, so Nakia pulls away from Okoye. Who looks puzzled by her quick release, but again chooses not to question it? Okoye heads off, to which Nakia is grateful. Nakia closes and locks the door.
"Are you insane!?" She angrily questions.
"Don't lie and say you didn't enjoy that." He states. Nakia doesn't respond, for she knows that she did. However, she couldn't admit that to him.
"What do you plan on wearing?" He asks. "Something befitting of that lovely form of yours I hope."
"You are insufferable," Nakia tries to say with conviction, but the insult falls flat.
"You don't have to pretend anymore Nakia. I know that you have grown fond of my companionship."
Nakia sighs, knowing that it is all true. She doesn't address his words; because she has lost the will to fight. There's a moment of silence before he asks, "May I assist you?"
Nakia is still lost within herself, the strange daze hasn't left her. She is in no state to find something suitable to wear on her own, so she accepts his proposal. Suddenly, her body is taken over, but she is still aware. She feels her body moving without her involvement. Yet, she can feel every movement.
Mephisto is now in control. He positions her to stand before the full-length mirror. Nakia is watching herself as her hands move sensually to remove her clothing. She gasps as her hands caress her body lingering on the most sensitive areas.
All the while, Mephisto is speaking to her, praising her body and beauty. He doesn't materialize but remains nestled within her. His seduction of her while remaining hidden is more tantalizing than vexing. She finds herself allowing the touching, as he continues his internal strokes. She is now panting as he moves a hand over her punani and begins to stroke. Still, he continues with his inner caressing simultaneously provoking her to climax, she orgasms hard. If not for Mephisto's control over her body, she would have collapsed.
Permitted with only control of her eyes, she shut them, as she rides out her sexual high. When she opens them, she sees Mephisto in the attractive human form that he presented to her last night, standing behind her. His hand is over hers, which is still clasped over her sex. How long has he been in physical form? Nakia cannot discern, but she is happy to see him. His red glowing eyes meet hers in the mirror. He smiles kindly at her, she smiles back.
A/N: Hello readers! So sorry I completely missed posting in the month of August. However, I promise I will not leave this story incomplete, so never worry about if I am going to post. This chapter was hard for me to write. Partly, due to me wanting to make this chapter super long to make up for the long delay. Yet, it makes more sense not to rush things. The last thing I want to do is write something that doesn't feel right just because.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks for taking time to read this story! ~Concrete Lily.
