THE COVEN’S BRIDE
CHAPTER 6
THE GUMBI FAMILY HOUSE
It’s 7 in the morning, and all the elders of the Gumbi family were requested to meet at the family house at exactly 7:30 am. They are complaining about how the meeting was on short notice and that they have important places to be. At the same time, they know very well not to miss a family meeting. Mzilikazi, the oldest man in the family, is the one who called the meeting.
The man has been in the Gumbi family for 95 years, yet he is still as strong as an ox. Sometimes the grandchildren even joke about how he should be one of the Walking Dead characters. He is so old that every time someone mentions his name, they assume that he has passed away. Many have passed away, people much younger and healthier than Mzilikazi, but the old man is still alive and strong.
Mzilikazi even jokes about how everyone will die and leave him. The Gumbi family is meeting at his house, which is also the Gumbi family’s house. Mzilikazi claims that his house is 190 years old and that all generations of the Gumbi family have lived there. He claims that when he passes away, another Gumbi leader has to take over.
“Do you have any idea why we were summoned so early in the morning?” Mkhonto asks his brother. Mkhonto is Sibusiso’s grandfather.
“I have no idea, but if it’s about taking over after Mzilikazi, then I don’t want the title,” Zolani answers. He is Mkhonto’s older brother.
Mkhonto says, “You are the eldest in the family, and if there is anyone who should take over after him, it is you.”
“What did I miss?” Ntombizodwa walks into the room. She is Zolani and Mkhonto’s little sister. They are all children of the late Charles and Nomthandazo Gumbi. Their parents even passed away before Mzilikazi.
“We also just got here,” Zolani answers. He would rather be forced to watch his grandchildren dancing to loud music than be at the family house. He knows very well that whenever a family meeting is called, nothing good comes out of it. It’s never good news when Mzilikazi calls a meeting.
“I am not dead yet if that is what you are murmuring about,” Mzilikazi limps into the room with his walking stick.
“Come now, we would never wish that upon you,” Ntombizodwa answers, pouring herself some tea. “What are we here for? We all know you are not dying anytime soon. What is so urgent that we had to come here so early?”
Mzilikazi sighs heavily, leaning back on the couch. “I saw it last night. It visited me just after midnight.”
The three siblings share looks because they know very well what that means. Zolani asks, “What does it want this time?”
“It showed me a girl, a girl that will save us all.”
“What girl, and how will she save us?” Zolani asks impatiently. This is the miracle they have been hoping for.
“I have never seen her before, and I don’t think she is in our lives yet, but with her by our side, we no longer have to perform the rituals anymore. She will be the coven’s bride forever,” Mzilikazi explains.
Not having to perform rituals forever is good news to the Gumbi family. Not having to perform rituals forever means money flows until they die. They love the riches and everything, but they hate having to do the rituals.
“How do we get this girl?” Ntombizodwa asks, unable to hide her impatience. She hates the rituals because she always has to watch. She is a woman and not much is required of her during the rituals, just her presence.
“The girl will come to us. When she does, I want everyone to treat her like royalty because she will be in the family to save us,” says Mzilikazi.
“Whose family should we expect her from?” Ntombizodwa questions.
With his eyes fixed on Mkhonto, Mzilikazi says, “One of Mkhonto’s grandsons will marry her and our family will be rich forever. She is just what we have been looking for.”
“Which one of my grandsons?” Mkhonto asks, visibly worried. He loves his grandchildren very much and had hoped this curse in the family wouldn’t reach them.
“Only it will choose.” Mzilikazi gets off the couch and leaves the room. Leaving the room is his way of saying goodbye.
Zolani looks at his brother who now looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “You don’t have to tell them yet. And relax, it’s not like it will ask us to k*ll the girl.”
“How do we know that? We all know how it sometimes asks for the most ridiculous things. We are talking about my grandchild here,” Mkhonto answers, visibly angry.
“This is our chance to be saved, Mkhonto. We have been doing this for years now. My children have been through the same fate. We know this is how things are done,” Ntombizodwa says.
Mkhonto knows this is how things are done, and he was hoping he would be dead by the time this thing reaches his grandchildren. Now he has to call his two sons and try to fish out information on who has a son who wants to get married, so he knows how to tackle this situation.
“What are you going to do now?” Zolani asks Mkhonto.
Mkhonto sighs heavily before answering, “I am going to pay Sipho and Rosa a visit. They are the ones with sons who are doing something productive with their lives. Maybe they are ready to settle.”
“It could be your son Ruben’s children,” Ntombizodwa tells him.
“As I said, I will start with Sipho.”
“How do you think they are going to take it? With Rosa, Sipho spent 5 years not talking to you. He will lose it with his children.” Zolani asks him.
“I don’t know!” Mkhonto sounds defeated. “I don’t know, okay! I need time to think.”
“Think fast – the fate of the family depends on it.” Ntombizodwa gets her bag and leaves.
“I am sorry, brother, but this is how things are.” Zolani gets off the couch and also leaves.
Mkhonto furiously kicks the table in front of him, spilling the tea that is on the table. He hates that they chose him. Why didn’t they choose Zolani’s children? Not so long ago, Sipho finally started talking to him, and now this might ruin their relationship again. Sipho loves his children, and he specifically told his father that it ends with him and Rosa.
Too bad it doesn’t work like that. This thing has been in the Gumbi family for more than 200 years. They tried to get rid of it before but failed. The only thing they can do is give it what it wants. If they don’t, they will lose all their riches and their lives. We all know everyone wants to live, even at a price.
SIBUSISO
“Good day, good people!” I say, walking into the dining area. My mother is knitting, and Jasmine is glued to her phone as always. The TV is running with no one watching it. I am sure my father is somewhere in the house, sipping on whiskey and complaining about wanting grandchildren.
“What are you so happy about?” Mother asks when I sit next to her.
“I didn’t know I was not allowed to be happy when I wanted to.”
Mother answers, “You know that is not what I mean. And I know that smile. Your father gave me the same smile when I first met him. Is a woman making you smile like that? Who is she?”
“I do not kiss and tell.”
She laughs, “Come on, it’s me. I know how to keep a secret. Tell me.”
I lean and whisper to her, “Her name is Snowy, and she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
“I cannot wait to meet Snowy.”
I pick up the couch cushion and toss it at Jasmine. “Leave that phone alone. One day, you will get b*mbed while on that phone.”
Jasmine finally puts her phone down. “Hey, when did you come back, and why didn’t you get my calls? I was very worried about you.”
“You didn’t look worried when I got here. You didn’t even see me until now.”
Jasmine folds her arms across her chest. “I did call, didn’t I? And don’t tell me you were with that lady from the party.”
I get off the couch and say, “I am going to rest. See you guys at supper.”
One of the helpers enters the room and announces that Grandfather Mkhonto is here. Mom gets off the couch and leaves the room. Mom and grandfather don’t get along for reasons I don’t know. Grandmother passed away about 7 years ago, and grandfather never remarried. Well, he is old and doesn’t need to remarry.
“There’s my favourite granddaughter,” Grandfather walks into the room. Jasmine gets off the couch to go hug him.
I say, “Here I was thinking I was your favourite.”
“You know I love you all equally. How was Germany?”
I shake his hand and say, “It was good, but I missed home. It’s lovely this side.”
“Did you bring us a daughter-in-law at least?” Mkhonto asks, laughing.
“I want a wife from home, someone who will understand my culture.”
Mkhonto nods, “I hear you, son. We don’t want a daughter-in-law who doesn’t know we eat chicken feet.”
“Let me go freshen up, and I will see you in a bit,” I say, leaving for my room. On my way there, I check on my beautiful future wife.
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