Cheryl Ntumy - Crowned

I grin. “Wiki’s gifted, but not in the way you’re thinking.”

He nods, finally satisfied. “I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

“From what?”

“Who knows? Werewolves, or whatever.”

“Werewolves, Dad? This isn’t a movie.”

He glances at me. “No werewolves?”

I give him a look. “Either you can shape shift at will or you can’t.”

He raises a sceptical eyebrow. I’ve told him before that my world isn’t all that different from his, but I think this is the first time he’s actually paying attention.

I fish my phone out of my pocket to check the time. “Oops. I’m going to be late.”

“Go on, then. Will you see your grandfather later? He says you’re training again.”

I turn at the door. “I’m seeing him tomorrow.”

I’m relieved Dad and Ntatemogolo have stopped using me as a messenger now that they can talk on the phone without hurling insults. Last year, when they started working on a big project for the Salinger Biological Institute, I was sure they’d put aside their differences. It didn’t quite work out that way, since the Ntatemogolo who agreed to work on the project was actually the Puppetmaster. He disappeared without submitting a single thing, leaving Dad in the lurch. But all that’s sorted out, and now the two of them have a new project to bring them closer – protecting me.

“That’s good,” he replies earnestly. “You need to be able to protect yourself.”

Poor Dad. I wish he’d stop worrying. “I need to go before my friends kill me.”

“Right.” He takes out his wallet and shoves a P20 note at me.

I thank him and sprint out of the building.

* * *

Lebz and Wiki are waiting in a corner of a restaurant when I reach the mall. I slide into the seat opposite them.

“Sorry I’m late.” I snatch up Wiki’s menu. “I’m dying for a milkshake.”

Lebz snatches it back. “First things first. What happened with the Puppetmaster?”

I roll my eyes in mock boredom. “Oh, that.”

“Don’t joke,” Wiki chides me, frowning. “We’ve been worried. You haven’t said anything besides that SMS describing the meeting as ‘cryptic’.”

“It was cryptic. I feel as though I understand him a little better now, which was probably the point, but it was nothing like I expected.”

“Now you’re being cryptic,” Wiki protests.

“Details!” Lebz hisses. “We’re not ordering until you give us a full report.”

My stomach growls on cue, so I launch into a detailed account of the meeting.

“He’s nearly two hundred years old,” whispers Lebz with a shudder, when my report is done. “That’s just wrong.”

“There are still a lot of questions,” says Wiki. “What is he after?”

“And did he mean it when he said he’d take action against anyone who hurt you?” Lebz looks uncomfortable at the idea.

I shrug. “I think he meant it. Emily said the same thing. But it’s not like he really cares – it’s just that I’m useful to him. It’s like the way you’d protect your phone. Speaking of phones, have you guys heard the news? Flights being delayed, signals disturbed and stuff? It’s happening in other places.”

“Isn’t it meteorological?” asks Lebz. “Weird weather patterns, climate change?”

I give her a sceptical look and turn to Wiki. “Any theories?”

“Military,” he says. “You think it might be freaky weird, don’t you?”

Freaky weird means supernatural weird, the kind of weird that is my specialty. I nod and share my theory that the disturbances are linked to my growing gift and the changes other gifted are experiencing. “But I have nothing concrete to go on.”

“I can look into it, if you like.” As always Wiki seems thrilled at the prospect of extra-curricular research.

“You’re a superstar,” I tell him, and then pick up his menu again.

We place our orders. I tell them about Thuli’s new job, they’re horrified and sympathetic, and we move on to more frivolous topics. Inevitably, the conversation winds back to the Puppetmaster.

“Be careful,” says Wiki, sipping his soft drink. “I don’t like these meetings. I think he’s using them to manipulate you.”

“Hey, ye of little faith,” I protest indignantly. “Why do you think I can be manipulated? I’m trying to stop his evil plan.”

“The plan we haven’t figured out yet.”

“Well, it’s obvious he’s involved in Marshall’s disappearance.”

Lebz glances over her shoulder and leans closer. “What would he want from Marshall?”

I lower my voice. “Ntatemogolo says Marshall’s gifted.”

They exchange surprised glances.

“Remember that dream I told you about? The second one. I think that’s what it’s about. Gifted people are in danger because the Puppetmaster’s kidnapping them. Only one so far, but still.”

Wiki shakes his head. “He doesn’t need other people’s gifts. Maybe he wants you to go chasing clues in the Marshall case while he works on his real plan – the one involving you and Rakwena.”

Lebz’s eyes widen. “Wiki’s right. You can’t trust a word that comes out of that guy’s mouth. He knows you have the anklet on so he can’t trick you with his gifts, but he can tell you all the lies he wants.”

I don’t think the Puppetmaster was lying. He’s lied to me before. He lied to me the entire time he pretended to be my grandfather, but I’m convinced he was honest during the meeting and I’m even more convinced he’s behind Marshall’s disappearance.

There’s a dangerous sliver of anticipation stirring inside me. It’s hard to believe, but I’m looking forward to my next meeting with the Puppetmaster. That scares me. Am I exhibiting a healthy curiosity about my enemy, or am I falling into the trap he set long before I was born?

* * *

It appears Thuli is campaigning for the title of Most Annoying Person to supplement his medals in egotism and general wickedness. For the next week he harasses me at work every chance he gets, dropping in while I’m at the photocopier, following me around and offering to help me carry things. His presence makes my gift quiver. His energy is murky and weird, and I want to put as much distance between us as I can.

“Go away,” I snap for the billionth time as he reaches for the pile of copies I’ve just made. “Don’t you have a press conference to plan, or something?”

“I’ve done my assignments for the day,” he replies with a slow grin. “Marketing isn’t rocket science, you know. Isn’t it time for your tea break? Oh, look – it is!”

I glare at him, but he’s immune. He follows me across the main reception area. It’s almost empty – the cast and crew are on location today.

I drop the copies in the in tray on the director’s desk, then whirl around to face my stalker. “What will it take to get rid of you? A drop of blood? A kidney?”

Thuli laughs. I’m glad he finds me so amusing. “Have a cup of coffee with me. Just one cup, and you won’t see me for the rest of the day.”

“The rest of the month .”

“I’ll give you the next two working days.”

“The whole of next week.”

He grins. “Let’s do this: spend your tea break with me, and I’ll give you all of next week to yourself. But if you come looking for me, the deal is off.”

“Like that’ll ever happen,” I snort. “Fine. But we’re sitting here, not in your office.”

He nods, looking very pleased with himself. He’s becoming more and more like the Puppetmaster. I should find out whether they might be related. It would explain a lot. We stop at the kitchen to make two cups of coffee, then head back to the reception area and settle in a quiet corner.