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Chapter Six: Dinner Party

Erik escorts his wife to the dining room. Truthfully, he is still apprehensive about the whole situation. Mingling with his once sworn enemies isn't something that he ever thought could be possible, but here he is. For once, he finds himself concerned with their thoughts regarding him…he hates it. Yet, Ashtyn wants to make amends and believes that this dinner is a step in the right direction. Perhaps, he should be optimistic.

Besides, rejecting the invitation would most certainly upset Ashtyn; especially after her efforts to convince him. The last thing he wants is to cause his wife any additional stress. She has endured so much because of him and had nearly lost her life. It is time that he set aside his own selfish needs to do this one thing for her…to try. He leans in and kisses her on the cheek as they near the dining room. She is receptive, as always to his advances; their eyes meet as they share a smile. Words cannot express how much he loves her nor the measures he would take to keep her safe. Never again will harm befall her, he vows silently to himself. Then, he recalls T'Challa's words, which were whispered into his ear at the trial and the bargain they had made. Yes, he will do anything to protect her.

"Are you alright?" Ashtyn asks.

Hearing her question snaps Erik out of his thoughts. He tries to say that it is nothing, to wave-off her concern. Though, he suspects that she believes otherwise. Ashtyn doesn't make any objections to his claim of wellbeing as they enter the room. The setting is intimate, by palace standards, though the room is oversized it is decorated tastefully to give a homie feel; despite its grandness. Erik scans the room, a habit of his that he never wants to learn to do without. Only two servants are present, one a young female who is putting the finishing touches on the table; the other a middle-aged man who is the butler, greets them with a bow.

The butler escorts them to their seats. He explains that the other guest should be arriving soon. Erik is aware that they are early, just as he'd planned. He likes to be early to evaluate his surroundings, before anyone's arrival; it gives him an advantage…just in case. The butler tries to pull Ashtyn's seat out for her, but Erik stops him. The man steps aside to allow Erik to assist his wife with her chair.

Ashtyn smirks at Erik, clearly amused by his possessiveness but sits down without further discussion. Erik takes his seat beside her. He frowns as he notices the distance between his chair and hers. Deciding they are set too far apart he scoots his chair closer to hers. Once close enough for Ashtyn to rest a hand on his upper thigh beneath the table; he is satisfied with the distance between them. Her touch has a calming effect on him; he begins to settle. With adoration within her eyes, she stares at him. He returns her gaze with a heated stare of his own. With their lust rising he leans toward her to give her a kiss.

However, before their lips can touch, they hear someone say, "Oh come on! Do you two ever give it a rest?"

Their attention is drawn to the entrance of the room. Where they see Shuri standing at its threshold. With her typical angsty teenager's mannerisms firmly in place, she walks into the room. Erik immediately tenses, the last time she had spoken to him was during her efforts to save Ashtyn's life. She hadn't been pleased to do so but did it because T'Challa asked her to. Erik remembering that horrible day was humbled by the dire circumstances. Though she could probably care less, he is eternally grateful for her actions that day. His wife's hand squeezes his thigh reassuringly as Shuri is escorted by the butler to her chair. She is seated directly before Erik, which seems to be an odd arrangement; considering that only a few weeks ago he had tried to kill her. Shouldn't she be intimidated by his presence?

However, she seems more at ease than he is as she takes a roll and begins to butter it. Ashtyn greets her warmly and thanks Shuri properly for saving her life. Ashtyn's words seem to generally touch Shuri and a pleasant conversation between the two begins to flourish. Just when Erik believes that all is well. Shuri questions, "So, have you decided to put aside your murderous tendencies; or are you just on holiday from them at the moment?"

Erik pauses not knowing how to take her question. Her words are off-putting but the way she poses the question doesn't seem to be mean-spirited. Ashtyn squeezes his thigh once more he briefly glances at her. Her expression is serene and comforting. He then realizes that Shuri is attempting to reach out to him, in her own snarky way.

Erik refocuses on Shuri. He replies, "It depends. Are you planning on giving me a reason to take up my old habits?"

Shuri rolls her eyes. As if unbothered by his threat and says, "I have studied your moves. If there's ever a next battle between us I got something special planned for you. But to answer your question no, I don't plan to give you a reason to go cray-cray again. Brother said that we have a truce; he is the king so I will honor him by keeping the peace."

Erik is taken aback by her maturity. He's at a loss for words, but thankfully his wife says something to the princess starting yet another stream of purposeless conversation that takes the focus off him. Truly, Ashtyn is his saving grace allowing him the opportunity to regain his composure as he is forced to interact with others civilly.

A few minutes pass before T'Challa arrives and everyone, except for Erik stands to their feet, in honor of the king's arrival. T'Challa enters the room and walks around to greet his guests. First, he acknowledges his sister, with the traditional Wakanda greeting of crossing one's arms over their chest; before ending their greeting in a very untraditional fist-bump. He then approaches Erik, who is still seated in his chair. T'Challa considers Erik for a moment before opting to extend his hand to him for a handshake. Erik stares at T'Challa's extended hand, momentarily uncertain of accepting his proposal of peace. Nevertheless, he did agree to try to be civil and shakes T'Challa's hand. T'Challa nods at Erik as an appreciation for his willingness to maintain peace. Finally, T'Challa greets Ashtyn with a brief hug before taking his seat at the head of the table.

Once T'Challa is seated. Erik briefly glances at the two chairs remaining. One seat remains across from Ashtyn next to Shuri; the other at the opposing side of T'Challa's seat, on the other end of the table. Apparently, they're expecting two more guests. Erik could only speculate who the others are, though he really doesn't care. Truthfully, he wishes they could hurry things along, being in the uncomfortable setting made Erik long for the privacy of their villa back at K'Wabi's village. Though Erik had procrastinated leaving the palace, for reasons he has not bothered to understand, he now feels that leaving is now the only option. For what else could he hope to accomplish by staying?

Erik gulps down a fair amount of red wine from his glass. The more time he spends with T'Challa the cloudier his judgment becomes. His objectives were once so clear, become king of Wakanda and take over the world…simple but clear. Now he is having dinner with someone he once hated. Yet, that is it…isn't it? He once hated T'Challa but now he respects him. The idea causes Erik to take a long sip from his glass until it is empty. The butler comes by swiftly and refills his drink, to which he doesn't hesitate to sip from again.

Shit is becoming too complicated. Furthermore, Erik who prides himself for being a strategist didn't have a clue what to do next. Plus, how will he interact with his family if he decides to stay in Wakanda? If not for Ashtyn he would've bolted from the room and never return; simply because being brash is easier than being diplomatic. However, his old methods of dealing with unfavorable situations are no longer a viable option. So, he decided if he was going to get through dinner, he would need to get tipsy; because being sober was causing him to flip out.

A few glasses later, Erik soon begins to feel the effects of the wine. His senses dull slightly from the intake. Yet, he isn't too worried because Ashtyn is by his side. Only with her around would he permit himself to relax in this manner. Erik is so relaxed that he permits himself to strike up conversations with the others. He laughs, yes laughs, when he hears the embarrassing stories Shuri tells about T'Challa when he was younger. T'Challa counters her stories with some of his own, to which she vehemently denies his theatrical retelling of events.

Erik briefly stops laughing to consider the moment. A nagging feeling starts to tug at him. A sensation that will not leave him alone no matter how much he tries to ignore it. The feeling is…joy. He is having a good time despite himself and enjoying the company of his cousins…his family. Never, had he thought of them truly as his family. Anytime he mentioned his relationship to them in the past had been to add salt into an open wound. Never to truly connect with them. Yet, now he feels for the first time that they could be a family.

All is going well, until Nakia's arrival. She enters the room and the joyful conversation ends abruptly. She stands at the threshold of the room. She does not smile nor greets anyone. Her eyes scan the room, refusing to meet anyone else's gaze, she seems to be looking beyond each person. Erik finds her behavior odd but is too tipsy to really give a damn. Maybe she just needed a few drinks like he did to loosen up.

T'Challa stands and makes his way to Nakia, he escorts her to her place at the table, opposite side to his. Erik's eyes catch T'Challa's, it is then that Erik sees the concern in his eyes for her. There's something wrong with her and T'Challa is fully aware of it. Once she is seated, T'Challa goes back to his seat. Despite the icy change, since Nakia's arrival, small talk once again resumes; she chimes in and out various conversations, making her awkwardness less pronounce.

Erik witness T'Challa's glances at the entrance ever so often, he is expecting someone. However, that person never shows, soon dinner is served. Everyone begins to feast and Erik who is beyond chill digs in along with the rest of the guests. Nakia who at first attempted to be sociable is now eerily silent. She goes to reach for her glass of wine but spills it onto the table. The red substance flows onto the table and begins to drop onto the floor. Ashtyn who is the closest to Nakia attempts to pick up the glass. But when her hand touches the glass, Nakia grabs Ashtyn by the wrist.

An unholy scowl sets on Nakia's face, as she shouts, "I do not need your help!"

Yet, she doesn't swat Ashtyn's hand away but begins to squeeze her wrist with an inexplicable strength that none knew her to possess. Erik witnessing this quickly intervenes. He races over to Nakia, thinking that he could yank her from her seat halting her assault on his wife. Yet, when he touches her, she quickly turns her head, it cranes over strangely, rotating beyond her shoulder-blade surpassing human capability.

Erik hesitates for a moment, which isn't something he typically would do; but something abnormal is occurring. However, he snaps back into action and reaches over for her despite her odd behavior. He grabs Nakia, who finally releases Ashtyn. Nakia, who is still seated, reaches for Erik's hand which is firmly gripping her shoulder. She grasps his hand and begins to crush it. Pain shoots through his body, he quickly shoves her out of the chair causing her to release his hand. Blinded with rage Erik charges her, but T'Challa blocks his way.

"Get the fuck out of my way!" Erik shouts. He will make her pay for disrespecting his wife and attacking him. T'Challa refuses to move. Erik begins to attack him, but Ashtyn pulls him back. Preventing the situation from escalating.

"Erik, no!" Ashtyn says. "Look."

Erik's rage, only tempered by his wife, looks in the direction of Nakia laying on the floor. If not for his fury, he may have pitied her. She is mumbling to herself incoherently arguing with an unseen force. T'Challa with a worried expression approaches her cautiously as if she is some sort of wild beast. He gently touches her on the shoulder, she jumps as his hand makes contact.

"T'Challa, please help me," She pleads. T'Challa wraps his arms around his fiancé trying his best to silence the madness within her soul. She buries her face into his chest, her muffled cries are heartbreaking and terrifying; for within her cries is not just her voice but another deeper voice is coming through. Shuri, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, inches closer to Erik and Ashtyn. Erik does not need her to explain her reason for coming closer because he is feeling the same as she is…fear.

A/N: Alrighty guys that is their dinner party. I had fun with this one! I love introducing a horror-like elements into the story (though I don't believe is scary just creepy). Anyway, Nakia is having some serious inner-housekeeping issues. Next chapter should reveal some interesting ways the crew will handle the situation. Anyway, thank you all for reading! I love reading your comments. This story isn't just mine but yours and how you feel about the characters often overrides any thoughts I have about them. In fact, your comments can help to shape this story. So, keep them coming! Have a great weekend! ~Concrete Lily.