Laced

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

He made a clear promise to Nambitha and he’s not ready to lose her trust and break his promise. But they’ve been keeping him here for days now, and Kabelo is slowly growing frustrated with waiting. At this point, he said it’s either Muzi does it like he said he wanted to, or he’s going to take over, and it won’t be fun when he does that. At least for anyone else who’s watching.
He walks into the lounge and finds his sister and Kabelo sitting looking cosy. She’s comfortably sitting on his lap while he holds a sweaty glass of whisky. They look like the power couple they are.
He left Nambitha sleeping upstairs, she was complaining about yet another headache, so he gave her pain tablets and cuddled her to sleep. He still feels terrible that all of that happened under his watch. The whole time he was speaking to her that day, he was trying very hard not to sound as panicked as he was feeling inside.
The thought of her not making it that day still haunts him. It could have easily been her that took the bullet to the head.
“Is she sleeping?” Zuzile asks, dragging him out of his thoughts.
“Yes, she was struggling though. I was telling Zweli that he must get her stronger pills.” He explains as he takes his seat.
“But you are doing a good job by taking care of her, I’m proud of you baby brother, you’ve grown.” Muzi just chuckles.
“Thank you, sis.” he replies modestly.
“Sbali that man sitting there is starting to stink up my basement, I don’t need him here anymore.” Kabelo adds on.
That is Zuzile’s cue. As her husband downs the last contents of his glass, she stands, takes the glass with her, and heads to the kitchen.
Muzi is stressed, it's evident all over his face, he keeps rubbing his forehead, sighing endlessly.
“Let me do it, just give me the honour please.” Kabelo pleads, shifting forward to look at brother-in-law properly.
“I can’t sbali, I made a promise to Nambitha, I told her I wouldn’t do it.” Kabelo shakes his head.
“No, you didn’t promise to keep him alive, you promised not to kill him with your bare hands. You can’t possibly want to keep him alive. He has proven to you that he is unstable. What’s going to stop him from coming for you now that you’ve killed his sister? He was able to pull off a whole ponzi scheme to spite you. Don’t give him more ideas, please.” More than anything, Kabelo is just baying for blood.
“I want him to suffer first.” Muzi says.
“Standard, he has to suffer!” Kabelo’s excitement is peaking.
“But sbali, I want to speak to him first, while he’s still sane.”
“Do as you wish sbali, as long as I get to make him suffer.” He’s rubbing his palms together.
Muzi stands up. He’s going to do this now. His hands are already trembling from the indignation. He’s going to try to contain himself, for the mere sake that he made a promise he intends to keep. He loves Nambitha with his whole heart; he never thought he would, but he does, and no one is going to take that away from him.
Over his dead body.
He arrives in the basement, and he turns on the lights. Their prisoner is sitting in a corner, tied to two pillars on either side of his body. He’s sitting on the cold floor; his head is bowed, and he looks like he’s about to take his last breath.
Next to him is a bowl and a jug of water. Doesn’t look like he touched his food. He never comes down here. When they found him, he knew the only time he would come here and face him is when he would end his life. He can’t do that now.
He raises his head when the lights turn on, and Muzi unhurriedly sauntered towards him. He looks like he’s about to burst into tears, but Muzi, he feels nothing for him.
And he does so; starts sobbing like a little child. Muzi stares at him, shaking his head. He’s holding himself so badly because he knows if he lets the anger take control, he’s going to end him.
He crouches in front of him and stares at him, disgust dancing on his face.
“You pathetic scumbag.” he spits.
Nkululeko’s shoulders start to shake as he visibly breaks down into a puddle of tears.
He really is pathetic. He can’t even look Muzi in the eyes anymore.
“Why are you crying? What’s making you cry?” fury dancing on his tongue.
He’s spitting fire. If he had a weapon in his possession, he would end his life here and now.
“Please bring my sister back, please. Aw ingane kaMa.” he sobs.
“Udadewenu lo obolile. Nihlangene ngokwenza izinto ezibolile.” he replies and then scoffs, returning to his feet, towering over his enemy.
He feels a lot of resentment for the man. His girlfriend, or even better; wife, will probably suffer a lifetime of trauma because of him. On top of the trauma, she already had and was trying to deal with.
“Why should I bring her back? God doesn’t recognize devils like her on this earth, that’s why He removed her. Now explain to me, Mr Dlamini, why do you think I have powers to bring her back? I’m not God.” no answer from Mr Dlamini.
Muzi chuckles bitterly.
“You know that you deprived me of so much. SO MUCH!” he unintentionally screams.
He needs to cool down, he starts to pace around. Nkululeko is still whimpering like a sissy.
“You took away the only chance for me to feel loved by the only woman I have ever loved. Only woman! I don’t think I’ve ever loved my own mother like I do this woman, but guess what? She can’t love me back because you hurt her, you put her through so much fucking shit she can’t even stand to utter the words “I love you” without the urge to throw up in her mouth. Why should you get anything good in this world? You don’t deserve it, not while you ended someone's life ephila.” he’s venting.
Saying all the things he doesn’t have the guts to tell anyone else. Nkululeko is no longer crying.
“I’m going to apologize, I swear, but please bring back Sibongile.” this man has lost his mind.
Muzi can’t help but give a loud belly laugh.
“Have you lost your mind? She’s dead! UFILE! Must I spell it out for you? SHE.IS.DEAD! There is no return from hell, it’s a one-way ticket.” he looks like a moron.
Truly a deplorable moron.
“Okay, okay. Humour me here Mr Dlamini, how is apologizing going to fix all the damage you have done? Is it going to unrape her? Is it going to unbeat her? Is it going to erase all the mental scars you left? Tell me? Will your apology make her love me?” his response is a mere sniff.
“You don’t deserve to live. You don’t deserve to walk this land where my beautiful princess walks, she’s too special to be haunted by you. But I’m not God, and I never will be, so I’m going to spare you your life. I owe it to Nambitha to be the best version of a man I can be. But that doesn’t stop me from doing the same things you did to her to you.” Nkululeko raises his head, his eyes bulging out in fear.
“Scared of the taste of your own medicine?” Muzi is shocked by this man’s audacity to be scared.
Before he can say anything else, the door opens and Kabelo makes his way in. Nkululeko starts shaking in fear again, and he shifts back into his corner. Oh, so this is who he’s really scared of.
“Let’s party now!” he shouts from across the room.
He has a small tray of cocaine. It’s as if he knows that Muzi has been battling to keep himself together the past week without it. He undoubtedly takes the first two lines.
“This is the good stuff.” he says powdering his nose.
Joy spreads through his blood vessels. Oh, the rush, the thrill. He missed his friend.
“The best or nothing sbali.” Muzi even takes some and rubs it on his gums.
He could do one more line, but he doesn’t want to be too high. He still needs to focus on Nambitha.
“So are you staying and watching or are you a pussy.” Muzi chuckles and shakes his head.
“No sbali, death is way too easy for him.” Kabelo frowns.
“What do you mean now?”
“No, I mean that let him experience the same thing he put Nams through. I want them to rape him, kick and beat him until he cries for his mother.” Kabelo shakes his head.
“Then I can butcher him?”
“No sbali.” he’s not happy.
He’s absolutely not happy.
“You really know how to dampen my mood sbali. But if that’s what you want. I’ll get the rodents to come deal with him.” at least he’s not too angry.
Kabelo sometimes has a few loose screws in his head and can turn on someone very quickly.
And Nkululeko, well, he’s still stuck in his corner whimpering like a swine. He pats Kabelo’s shoulder and leaves him with him. He wants to check on his woman.

•••

She’s stirring. She can feel a presence, someone is staring at her intensely.  Muzi does not flinch as she slowly opens her eyes. He looks so lost in thought.
“Manzini.” she calls him, placing her hand on his arm.
He startles and looks at her. His stare softens immediately.
“Hi baby.” he says moving closer to her.
He steals a peck on her lips. She doesn’t let him move away, she cups his round face and locks her lips with his. It’s quickly escalating, he can tell from the way her breath is getting hotter, almost burning his face.
She misses him, she misses him like that. She wants him like that.
“Baby wait.” he stops her.
She doesn’t move her hands from his face.
“It’s been four days Manzini.” Muzi laughs.
She can’t go a day without sex, can she?
“You are still recovering.” she shakes her head.
“My treatment doesn’t have any effect on my pussy. Please.” she pleads.
“Your thigh, is it not sore?”
“We’ll be careful.” she bargains.
He gently searches her eyes. They look hollow. Deep inside her lies a broken soul, and he can see it. She’s trying to cover it up with lust. It’s only so much he can do for her to help her, but the way she wants to cope with it, he doesn’t recommend it.
She’s stubborn; convincing her to go to therapy will be difficult. So, he has to butter her up first.
He gently lifts her leg and supports it with his arm, so she doesn’t get hurt. She also excitedly lifts the other one and Muzi take off her underwear. He’s shocked to see that she’s already wet, he thought he was going to do some deep diving.
“Were you fucking me in your dream.” she giggles, covering her mouth.
He unties the string of his sweats, pulls them down and takes out his dick. She starts to salivate and uses her hands to get him hard. It doesn’t take long to do that, and he proceeds to bring her hurt leg up to his shoulder.
“Are you comfy?” he asks just to be sure.
“Please put him in.” he smiles widely.
She’s horny and impatient. He gently positions himself at her entrance and slides in with zero effort. She’s been ready for him, even her gripping skills are failing, she’s enjoying herself. She’s not holding back from moaning.
He’s going in a slow pace, he’s not rushing her in any way, he’s making love to her. He knows she hates it, but she seems to be visibly enjoying it today. Also, he doesn’t want to hurt her.
She’s back, she’s clenching her walls around his dick, squeezing him in so much he almost cums before her.
“Don’t be naughty.” she giggles as he gradually starts to increase the pace of his strokes.
“I just love how you fuck me.” she says biting her bottom lip.
He reaches for her lips and captures them in a short kiss, but he can’t keep up because if he does, he will hurt her. He increases his pace, he’s working alone today, but he’s not complaining, watching her just take him in sends him over the edge.
She starts squeezing him in once again, and that tells him one thing. He starts stimulating her swollen clit and she screams in tongues.
“Yes baby, yes yes yes!” she says excitedly as she creams his dick.
That was a beautiful sight. He removes it and finishes it off with his hand and spills his semen on her thighs.
“My sexy little vixen.” he says groaning.
He puts down her leg as she giggles sweetly. He rolls out of bed to go get a towel to wipe her thighs. When he comes back, she still has her legs up, her vagina exposed.
“I didn’t get enough.” she says.
“No way!” he’s personally feeling tired.
Being a Tryphena like Zuzile said is not easy. Even the two lines of coke didn’t give him enough adrenaline.
“What Muzi?” he moves closer to wipe her down.
“I’m exhausted Nams.” he confesses.
She looks at him in pity before she signals for him to come closer. She plants a big kiss on his lips and rubs his head.
“I understand, it’s okay. You already take care of me; I shouldn’t be selfish.”
“No, you aren’t being selfish for wanting more. I’m your man, I’m supposed to give you more, it just won’t be today.” he says flopping next to her.
He doesn’t even have the energy left to take the towel back to the bathroom. She comes to cuddle closer to him and puts her bandaged head on his chest.
“When are we going home?” she asks.
“After everything is over.” she sighs.
“When will that be? I mean will we ever get any peace while Nkululeko is alive?” she questions.
Muzi doesn’t answer. She lifts her head suspiciously.
“Muzi, you promised.” she scolds him.
“No, I didn’t kill him. He’s alive, here in the basement.” he confesses.
He didn’t mean to utter the last part. He has probably scared her now.
“You mean to tell me I’m staying in the same house as Nkululeko?” her voice breaks.
“No baby, relax please. He’s not going to do anything, not while I’m here.” she keeps quiet.
Muzi seems to have lost her because she is deep in thought.
“Nams.” he calls out.
“Can I see him?” his heart leaps.
And it’s not in excitement.
“Are you sure?” he’s unsure.
What if she’s triggered again? What if she goes back into her shell and he loses the little love he feels from her.
“I’m sure.” she doesn’t stutter.
He won’t deprive her of that moment. It could go to ways, either she gets triggered, or she heals. It’s a risk, but he can take it for the love of his life.