The Dancing Bride And Her Spirit Warrior - Episode 15

 

Vuyanzi was with her team behind a stage. There was a buzz in the air because a chopper had just landed in the wide football pitch that was adjacent to the cultural centre. The field was being used as an extra parking space. The normal space was not enough. Vuyanzi had never seen so many people in her life. Her town was used to influx of tourists during the December holidays but the amount of people she saw now was triple that . She was afraid her small town people would be overwhelmed but they seemed to glow in it. The MC had just boomed in the mic that the guest of honor Mr. Koni Jasiri had arrived. Her dance group was required to perform a dance for him before the other exhibitions could go on.

Their make-up artist came back to retouch their up do. They had painted their faces like the wild cats, they were painted tear stain marks on the faces. Face whiskers were added and their afro hair decorated with wild flowers. They all had on leopard printed costumes. The sleeveless tops covered their chest leaving their collar bones and stomachs open. A short skirt covered their legs stopping mid-thigh. The skirt was flexible to allow movement of their hips. Leopard dots covered their legs and wide gold bracelets decorated their arms. The town had not spared expenses when it came to their attire

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. They looked good.

Then the MC called them to the stage. Vuyanzi being the soloist organized their group in a formation that they would use to enter the stage. The drums started. Vuyanzi smiled. Show time.

When the wide curtains were opened, Vuyanzi nearly fell on her step. The presence was here. She could fill his presence, a calming effect took over her. Caro poked her in the back and Vuyanzi fell in the flow. She continued singing but subtly looking around the around, trying to find the source of her feeling. He is here, her heart was elated. They entered the stage and waited to be introduced.

Vuyanzi look at me, the gentle breeze hit her and she looked at the front table the one with dignitaries. There he was seated before her. Vuyanzi could just feel it was him. Her heart was filled with joy and time stood still. They looked at each other. Vuyanzi could feel his gaze on her even though, he was dressed in sunglasses, and her body tingled with his obvious perusal. She could feel his intense gaze on her. He was dressed in a long loose white shirt, with long sleeves fitting his muscular arms. He had on a well-trimmed beard. His shoulder length dreadlocks were held on a ponytail in his head. He had an air of arrogance and wildness around him and Vuyanzi found it exciting her.

‘’…begin,’’ the Chief was saying and the beats started beating.

Vuyanzi jumped in front as if on cue and started singing. The dance was about a girl pleading for a man’s love. The girl was s*ducing the man to fall for her charm and Vuyanzi sang it with passion. She moved her hips with the beats of the drums stamping her feet with the steps. All this time maintaining eye contact with him. She knew he was looking at her. The whole room disappeared and it was just the two of them. At the climax of the song, she wiggled her hips with emphasis and she was rewarded to see him suck his breath, his nose widening as if taking in a deep breath.

When the beats started slowing down, another dancer took over singing and Vuyanzi focused on her dancing. It was a move she had practiced for years and it always earned her marks with the adjudicators in the drama festivals. She jumped from the stage as if on a trance and walked towards his sit, the soloist crooned her voice and Vuyanzi’s hips swayed her eyes on him.

Come to me my bride, the voice in the breeze said. Vuyanzi was entranced, she followed his voice her steps never stopping or slowing. Her whole body was buzzing with energy, it was as if it recognized him. The beatings stopped immediately and the room erupted to a standing ovation.

My bride, the voice said a bit possessive but in a gentle tone nonetheless. The hooting of people broke the spell that seemed to bind Vuyanzi. She looked around and saw she was standing before Koni Jasiri if the golden placate before him was anything to judge by.

Vuyanzi bowed before him and the crowd before joining her team on the stage. They held hands and bowed one last time before the heavy curtain fell.

………………………

Lishevi watched her granddaughter dance before the audience. She had always known that Vuyanzi was a remarkable dancer the trophies decorating the drum table in her bedroom was evidence but today it was something else. It was as if Vuyanzi was under a spell, her movements were same yet so different. To someone else watching, it would seem like a normal dance but Lishevi recognized that dazed look in her granddaughters eyes. The same look she had a year ago when she was looking outside her window to the trees and at the chief’s compound that horrible night. Vuyanzi’s gaze seem to be focused on someone on the top table. Lishevi watched with apprehension as her granddaughter jumped from the podium down to where the head guests were seated with so much grace as a wild cat jumping from a tree to unsuspecting prey. At the thought of the wild cat Lishevi’s walls started to close in her. She remembered Guma’s words about how the beast will come back to claim Vuyanzi and there was nothing to do to stop it.

It was inevitable.

Guma had claimed that the beast was trying learning to control its body transformation from beast to man. The moment the beast could control his transformation, he would be back to claim his bride. Lishevi had a feeling that the beast had controlled the transformation and it walked among men. Looking like a human being. Like a man. She remembered the drawing she had drawn she had taken from Guma’s medical hurt, a shiver running through her.

Guma pleaded with her to tell Vuyanzi about her fate but Lishevi was adamant. How could she tell Vuyanzi that she was engaged to an ancient creature that was more of a myth than real? When Lishevi had been a young girl, her grandmother had always told her about how amanani roamed the land and destroyed people’s livelihood if they were not fed huge amounts of livestock. The amanani being horrible as they were also demanded young pure girls untouched by men as a form of offering from the community. The people pleaded with their spirits to help through the help of spiritual leaders.

Read " Jabali's Redemption " by the same author ( Razia Iminza )

. The gods offered solution in the form of beasts which would change shape into  lions, cheetah and leopards. The beast would fight off the beasts but wanted something in return, brides. That was how the deal worked. So throughout time whenever an amanani appeared there was a beast to fight it. The bride was born marked for the beast.

‘’Vuyanzi can really dance,’’ Guma’s voice cut through her thoughts. Lishevi was startled to see Guma standing beside her in all his traditional regalia, the ostrich feathers and everything in between. He was standing beside her his intelligent eyes twinkling with amusement.

‘’Guma, what are you doing here? I thought you were dead?’’ Lishevi asked. She was surprised to see him, ever since that night almost a year ago she had not heard a word from him though she had followed his instructions, she stopped giving Vuyanzi that brew. The noise in the hall was so loud that Lishevi had to practically shout for Guma to hear her.

‘’I had to visit someone,’’ Guma answered flippantly he had a faraway look in his eyes and if Lishevi had not strained she might not have heard him.

‘’Can we get somewhere to talk. There are things we have to talk about,’’ Guma asked in a loud voice.

‘’Of course come to my stall,’’ Lishevi said leading Guma off.

Hey Lovelies.

I hope my story is no boring you. Is my pacing okay? Should i increase or reduce it?

I want you guys to enjoy it as much as am enjoying writing it.

Lovely weekend.