Chaos and Magic Excerpt

Chaos and Magic Excerpt

“THE WILD WEDDING”KWELI GARDENS, 15 –

“Give me a boat, I’ll make us a paddle. Give me tales that I can tattle. Build us a home, Whose walls we will rattle. Give me Faith, Or nothing at all. Most of all, Give me free. Then, answer this question for me...

“You gonna share my love for me with me?” Zola Reaux asked, finishing the poem with a reference to The Black Book. When the audience cheered, Zola felt like she had arrived. She was in Kubu performing at Princess Hyrax’s wedding with at least 500 people in the audience, and they were cheering. For her. After a while, Kela Freewoman came to the stage. As she began ushering Zola away, Zola was starstruck. Never in a million years did she think she would cross paths with Kela Freewoman.

She had heard about Kela in stories, but now they were face to face. “I like your jacket,” Kela complimented. Zola nodded. “Thank you.” Zola started to exit the stage when she spotted Officer Nez Jru. She tried to zip off and pretend like she didn’t see him, but then he said her name. “Zola,” he pronounced. Zola sighed and turned around. “A’nez.” “A’nez? That’s very formal of you,” he noted.

Zola nodded. “After your last scroll, what other disposition do you expect?” She challenged. In the last scroll, Nez had asked that Zola never speak to him again. Now, he was contradicting his own request. “That’s fair. I’m just surprised to see you here.” “I’m surprised to see me here too,” Zola responded candidly. After Zola said this, Nez laughed.

He knew her well enough to detect her sarcasm. Then, he offered her a hug. Despite her misgivings, Zola accepted the hug. Zola Reaux and Nez Jru had been through Hell and back, yet here they were. Hugging. Being cordial. This was the moment when Zola realized she had finally let go.

Zola Roux breaks free.

(PHOTO: Javanna Plummer)

The thought of an armistice prompted a poem for Zola. “You are finding how resilient you are… To be healed. To be gifted. To be found. “To be free,” Zola recited softly to herself as they pulled away from the hug. When wedding bells began ringing, Zola and Nez found their respective spots. Nez took his place at the altar while Zola grabbed a seat in the front row.

For Zola, this was bittersweet. It was satisfying because she had just completed the biggest performance of her life and she was being treated like a Chalan, not a Serene. Yet, in the same vein, it was piercing to think that she literally had a front row seat to her ex lover’s ascent into the royal family. Before she got too distracted by optics, Zola caught Princess Hyrax’s eye. Then, she remembered: none of this was true.

Princess Hyrax Aten Crowe was welcomed into Kubu’s Garden with hundreds of white doves. Servants carried the 30-foot train of her posh wedding dress, and audience members stood to greet Afromerica’s sweetheart. Hyrax treated the carpet like a runway and took slow strides, for she was ready to give guests a show they wouldn’t soon forget.

Hyrax was gliding down the aisle, sashaying left and right, when she spotted Kela. Immediately, Hyrax began bawling. Audience members assumed she was excited about the wedding, but these tears were not for Nez. They were for Kela. After 8 years apart, Kela’s presence was a sight for sore eyes.

In the middle of the aisle, the Aten sisters embraced. “It’s time for them to hear your Melody,” Kela whispered. Hyrax nodded and collected herself. She had tried to coach herself so that she wouldn’t be too emotional to carry out the plan, but she missed her sister. Kela wiped Hyrax’s tears. “I’m home,” she told her sister. Hyrax smiled and sucked up the last of her tears. Kela’s words were the affirmation she needed to continue their resistance.

Once Hyrax was calm, Kela walked her down to Nez. From the front row, King Crowe watched his daughters closely. He wondered what they might have planned. He had already been skeptical about having the wedding in a rebel country, so his guard was up. Yet, nothing popped off. Kela handed her sister off, and the wedding commenced.

Rula De La Wor, the leader of Serenity, lights the way to freedom.

(PHOTO: Javanna Plummer)

As Nez unveiled her, Hyrax made eye contact with Zola. Zola tightened her bow and gave a nod. After this, Hyrax turned back to Nez with a smirk. “Are you nervous?” He whispered, picking up on what he assumed was apprehension. “Yes…for you,” Hyrax replied. “For me…?” Nez said to himself. Then, he realized something was up. Nez started to warn his King, but the priest began reading the vows. This meant that everything was going according to plan.

Hyrax took Nez’s hand and smiled. “Get ready,” she whispered to him. Once their hands embraced, Nez was rendered speechless by Hyrax’s muffler spell. “Halcyon,” Nez heard in his head. He wanted to scream, “This is a trick,” but he couldn’t. As Nez fought to recapture his voice, the High Priest finished the vows and asked if there were any objections. This was when Zola stood. Horrified looks flooded the audience while her hands shook. This is the resistance, she told herself. Then, Zola recited a poem from Lasana:

I come from a long line of women warriors who waited in the water, but I will Wade because I am the tide.

“I am not a mother,” Madame Rula interjected, revealing her childless belly. “I am not a Bride,” Hyrax added, throwing off her veil. “I am a hurricane, category five,” Zue Aminale continued, breaking the cuffs around her wrists. Together, the Queen Suits said:

I am a tornado destroying everything in my path. I am a liberated woman. Feel my wrath.

At this moment, Lasana’s Garden came to life, creating a montage of chaos and magic.