Chapter Text
I looked down at my shackles, still weeping for my mother, "Princess."
"What?" She cut me off
"Please. Forgive me for my crimes, I need to get my mother home so she can rest peacefully." I whined, clasping my hands together.
"You tried to kill me." She turned around and grabbed my jaw, squeezing so hard I thought it'd leave a bruise.
"I'm sorry. Please." I mumbled.
"It's best you stay quiet during this trial. Your crimes are unspeakable."
My mother warned me of this place. She said they were kind but fierce. A society hidden in the depths of Africa. A place filled with new technologies that could help us but also destroy us.
The princess tugged me towards a door and two soldiers opened it. A gust of wind nudged the princes back into me. I grounded my feet and squinted to look for the source.
My sister.
She stood in a widened stance, a small whirlwind surrounding her, making it hard for the soldiers to stand their ground. "Release me and bring me my sister." Her distorted voice echoed.
I flicked my fingers in her direction and a thin needle of air pierced through her protection and swiped past her nose, just grazing her. Her head snapped to the side and the wind stopped instantly.
"Clio, stop." I frowned, "This is the place mother told us stories of."
My sister's body relaxed, "So we're safe here?"
"Not anymore." The queen stood from her throne that was swarmed with soldiers.
"Queen, if I may-" I attempted to defend my sister.
"Silence!" She shouted.
Me and my sister were placed right next to each other and kneeled.
This is forbidden, if Father saw us kneeling to anyone other than him…
"How did you get inside of the dome?"
"What dome?" Clio tilted her head. I nudged her with my elbow, "We dug underneath it."
"You snuck past our defenses?" The prince spoke.
I nodded, "We hadn't killed anyone, they were unconscious."
"Why have you come here?"
"My mother used the last of her power to find help here. We came to take her home and allow her body to rest."
The princess stood behind us, "Where are you from?"
"An island, it's hidden like yours. Peto Island." Clio turned her head towards the princess.
"I swear to Pisits, we are telling you the truth. We have to get home, our father will be searching for us." I bowed my head, "Please, we will leave and never return."
Shuri's pov
The two princesses kneeled in front of me suddenly felt so far away. The walls zoomed out of my view. My head felt light but my chest burned, "Mother."
I could feel myself sway back and forth, "I don't feel well."
My vision went black and my ears rang, but before I could hit the ground someone caught me. I couldn't hear or see who it was. I let my body relax and gave into the overwhelming feeling of faintness.
I peeked open my eyes, scanning what looked like my bedroom. Two people hovering over me speaking in slurred English. "Clio can take the marking, but we have to go back to her homeland."
"Absolutely not." My mother's voice spoke so clearly.
"If not she will slowly die. It'll poison the holder." Thea said. I slowly sat up and reached for my mother, "Mama…"
Thea and my mother lunged towards me, urging me to lay back down. "Rest my child."
"Oh gods." Thea whispered, "It's getting worse."
"What happened?" My voice cracked.
"My mother gave you an Acropolis marking, it's supposed to grant you temporary powers to protect my home from intruders. Much like your herb." She explained, "But if it is mixed with any other plant, it can be lethal over time. You have ingested your herb, so-"
"It's slowly killing me."
Thea nodded, "Forgive my mother, she was just trying to help her people."
"The same people that turned on her?" I snapped back. Her worried face frowned. I could see tears build up in her eyes, "You're in pain. I understand." She left the room, "I can take her to my Island, your prince may accompany us but your soldiers will be perceived as a threat."
"Fine." My mother glared at Thea as the door closed. My mother turned back to me, "How do you feel?"
"Am I going to die mama?" I said in a child-like voice. My mother shook her head, "Of course not. I'm going to send you to Thea's Island so she can help you."
"I don't wanna go alone." I tightly gripped her hand. The pain from my hands quickly shot through my body and into my head.
"You're brother and cousin will keep you safe. I'll send M'Baku if I can-"
"Queen Ramonda." M'Baku came in with a solemn look, "How is the princess?"
"She's stable for now. Have you made your decision?"
"I'll accompany her in place of N'Jadaka. If I may." He explains, "He wishes to stay with you for protection."
"Fine." My mother stood up and headed towards the door, "You all leave at sunrise."